Request ID: FOI-2720-2122 Date published: 24 March 2022
You asked
I request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:
1. How many e-scooters are currently deployed in the London hire trial, broken down by the three providers, Dott, Tier and Lime, and, if possible, by participating borough?
2. Does TfL know what proportion of e-scooter hirers are car owners?
3. What is the average lifespan of a hire e-scooter in London?
4. Are all e-scooter batteries recharged using renewable electricity; or, if not all, what proportion are charged with renewable electricity?
5. Are all batteries serviced by zero emissions vehicles; and, if not all, what proportion of service vehicles are fossil-fuelled and what proportion zero emissions?
6. What were the selection criteria applied in choosing from the e-scooter providers who tendered for the e-scooter hire trial?
7. Why was Voi not chosen to participate in the London e-scooter hire trial?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2720-2122 Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 25th February 2022 asking for information about the current e-scooter trial in London. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below: Question 1. How many e-scooters are currently deployed in the London hire trial, broken down by the three providers, Dott, Tier and Lime, and, if possible, by participating borough? Answer:The maximum permitted fleet size for the London e-scooter rental trial can be found on the TfL website here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/electric-scooter-rental-trial. Please also find attached the maximum daily deployment data from 7 – 27 February 2022, broken down by each participating borough, showing the number of scooters aggregated across operators. In regard to the request for the data to be split by operator, this information is exempt from disclosure under section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act. Section 43 applies to information where release would be likely to be commercially prejudicial, to TfL or anyone else. As the e-scooter rental market continues to be shaped the operators are engaged in live fundraising discussions with investors, upon which the future of those companies may depend. The exposure of fleet size data by provider - without due consideration and understanding of the related complexities and context as to why such differences may exist - could have material consequences for those discussions with investors, to the detriment of the providers as well as to TfL in any future negotiations. The use of the section 43 exemption is subject to consideration of the ‘Public Interest Test’, to determine whether the overall balance of the public interest rests in applying the exemption and withholding the information or in releasing it in any case. We appreciate the need for the openness and transparency in the operation of our services, and the fact that you have requested the information is in itself an argument for release. However, in this case we believe that the balance of public interest favours the application of the exemption. As the market continues to emerge it is in the public interest that best value for money is obtained from the operators and this in part depends on the competitiveness of the market. We do not see an overriding public interest in the data being released - which would be of most value to rival operators - and therefore believe that the balance of public interest rests in withholding the data.
Question 2. Does TfL know what proportion of e-scooter hirers are car owners? Answer: TfL does not hold this information.
Question 3. What is the average lifespan of a hire e-scooter in London? Answer: The models being used in the London trial are built to last for at least five years.
Question 4. Are all e-scooter batteries recharged using renewable electricity; or, if not all, what proportion are charged with renewable electricity? Answer: Yes, all three London e-scooter operators use 100% renewable energy to charge the e-scooter vehicle batteries.
Question 5. Are all batteries serviced by zero emissions vehicles; and, if not all, what proportion of service vehicles are fossil-fuelled and what proportion zero emissions? Answer: All the three London operators use a fully electric fleet made up of electric vans and electric cargo bikes for the London trial operations. These vehicles are all charged using 100% renewable energy.
Question 6. What were the selection criteria applied in choosing from the e-scooter providers who tendered for the e-scooter hire trial? Answer: This information has been released previously under FOI - see the response published on our website here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0155-2122 In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
Question 7. Why was Voi not chosen to participate in the London e-scooter hire trial? Answer: All information regarding the tender scoring and selection criteria can be found in the documents attached to the response referred to above in answer to question 6.
In particular, see the following documents:
I. Instructions to Tender II. Stage 1 Eligibility and Capability Assessment (ECA) III. Stage 2 Qualitative Evaluation (QE) The winning bidders met all the relevant thresholds and were the top three scoring tenderers (so meeting the selection criteria of the Invitation to Tender and the intention to award to the top three scoring tenderers). In their response to a number of the questions, the selected operators were able to demonstrate above average and exceptional ability, understanding, experience skills and resource and quality measures required to perform the trial. Their responses also identified factors that will offer potential added value and some continuous improvement, with evidence to support the response. If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed. Yours sincerely, David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
