Swedish Voi is new shared e-scooter provider in Antwerp

Antwerp has a new shared scooter provider. After Poppy and Lime, Bird was the third platform operational in the city, but the latter’s permit recently expired. The city started looking for a new provider and issued a license to the Swedish Voi.

Voi was founded in Stockholm (Sweden) and pioneered e-scooters in Europe. The company recently received a permit to operate 1,000 shared e-scooters in Antwerp. That is as many as Lime and 350 fewer than Bird had. Poppy currently has 550.

City regulation

Antwerp authorities regulate shared mobility platform operations to safeguard public order and safety and prevent proliferation and oversupply. In addition, the regulations provide that the city can establish zones where it is prohibited to use shared vehicles (no-go zones), to drive fast (slow speed zones), to leave them behind (no park zones), or where it is recommended to park them (drop zones).

Voi’s e-scooters are equipped with the latest technology. The red vehicles also have larger tires to avoid accidents caused by potholes. Some of the scooters have an integrated camera to monitor riders’ behavior. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, users riding on the sidewalk—which is prohibited—will get an immediate warning.

Voi also offers helmets. Users who unlock the vehicle via the app can detach and put on the helmet attached to the vehicle.

Tailor-made price packages

The scooter provider offers various tailor-made price packages for students, healthcare employees, and people looking for a job and registered with the Flemish employment service, VDAB. “Everyone should be able to ride a shared scooter,” says Yassin Aattache, country manager of Voi Belgium.

Voi also has a subscription formula similar to some bike-sharing systems. Users pay a fixed amount of 7.99 euros per month. For every ride – no matter how long it takes – they pay a maximum of 1 euro.