Beam, Asia-Pacific’s largest and fastest growing shared micro-mobility company today launched a new campaign that seeks to educate Malaysians on alternative, convenient and more sustainable modes of transport. Called ‘Drive Something New Today’, the company is looking to demonstrate the key role that its shared e-scooter services play in solving the everyday issue of completing first and last mile journeys when using public transport.
According to the company, its mission is to turn little drives into better rides and make cities flow better for everyone. During an event in Kuala Lumpur earlier today, we experienced first-hand how Beam’s shared e-scooters could fill a long-time gap in Malaysia’s public transportation system.
Indeed, the e-scooters are able to connect people to transit points, popular destinations and hotspots with ease thanks to its affordable sharing concept. Furthermore, Beam is also seeking to reduce dependency on private vehicles which in turn decreases CO2 emissions. In fact, the company claims that with every 10km ridden on its e-scooters instead of a car, riders save 2.65kg of CO2 emissions.
In a recent poll among micro-mobility riders in May 2022, Beam found that almost 50 percent of 1800 Beam riders surveyed said that its services had made them more likely to consider using public transport as an option. Furthermore, 77 percent of regular riders said that they always, usually or sometimes use an e-scooter to connect to or from public transport.
During the same event, Beam also elaborated on the technology that it used to safeguard the safety of its riders. One of the most notable features are its speed-limiting technology which caps the e-scooters to 25km/h, even when riding downhill, which is in line with the proposed regulation for micro-mobility vehicles in our country.
This is thanks to a sturdy aircraft-grade aluminium chassis underneath Beam e-scooters that houses an efficient electric powertrain and a high-grade IoT communications device. The latter also enables Beam’s proprietary virtual parking technology as well as a geofencing technology that ensures riders stay within designated areas approved by the local authorities.
In addition to utilising various technologies, Beam is also safeguarding riders’ safety with an in-person flagship safety programme called the ‘Beam Safe Academy’. Conducted by the company’s certified instructors, the programme educates attendees on proper e-scooter usage.
Besides that, the Drive Something New Today campaign also introduces the Beam Booster programme that the company asserted as having the potential to boost the local economy and tourism. A platform that highlights local businesses through Beam’s virtual parking technology, riders are encouraged to make pit-stops or end their journeys right in front of a Beam’s partner doorstep, which could generate interest and even gain revenue for local businesses.
Furthermore, Beam is also an MDEC e-Rezeki partner that has created employment opportunities in the gig economy for locals. Currently, the company employs over 250 Malaysian gig workers as Beam Rangers to conduct important maintenance tasks on its e-scooters.
Striving to ensure that its e-scooters are accessible and affordable, the #BeamForAll campaign advocates for equitable access to transportation services for all Malaysians. This is more significant than ever now, considering how microbility has been recognised as an essential part of the public transport framework in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
So, what do you guys think of Beam and its shared e-scooters service? Have you tried riding one before? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and beyond!
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