Beam Mobility’s purple reign in Tasmania has come to an end, with the company’s e-scooter and e-bike services in Hobart officially ceasing after its permit expired on June 30.
The company has confirmed it will not seek a new contract.
Launceston services will follow on July 14, with Beam saying it cannot sustain a standalone operation in that city without its Hobart base.
The withdrawal means Beam will leave Tasmania entirely.
The exit follows Hobart City Council’s decision in April to scrap its mixed e-scooter and e-bike hire scheme and shift to an e-bike-only model.
The council favours smaller, compact bikes better suited to the city’s narrow streets and footpaths.
Years of complaints about dumped scooters blocking footpaths, safety risks and poor rider behaviour drove the change.
Disability advocates had repeatedly raised concerns about trip hazards for people with limited mobility or vision.
Beam had been the sole operator in Hobart since March 2024 after rival Neuron was phased out.
Michael De Almeida, Beam Mobility’s head of operations for Australia and New Zealand, said the decision came down to seasonal demand and the company choosing not to participate in the next tender.
“Beam has worked hard to provide continuity of service in Hobart however, due to lower demand during the winter months and our decision not to participate in the next tender, we are unable to extend operations further,” he said.
Since launching Tasmania’s first shared e-scooter program in December 2021, more than 1.1 million trips have been taken on Beam devices across Hobart and Launceston, covering close to two million kilometres.
In Hobart alone, riders clocked more than 800,000 trips, with 45% replacing a car journey and 66% resulting in a purchase at a local business.
Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the loss would be felt in his city.
“Whether you used them regularly or just every now and then, they provided an affordable way to get around the city and offered an alternative to jumping in the car,” he said.
City of Hobart chief executive Michael Stretton thanked Beam for its role.
“Since launching in December 2021, more than 800,000 trips have been taken, showing strong demand for convenient, low-emission travel options across Hobart,” he said.
The council is now running a public tender for a new e-bike-only operator, with services expected to start from mid-August.
