Here’s Why It’s Safe To Ride A Beam E-Scooter

Beam’s e-scooters are currently available to use in six cities across Malaysia, which include Kuala Lumpur, Ampang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Kuantan, and Langkawi. Recently, the company deployed these vehicles at several local universities as well to help students get around their respective campuses.

The premise for using e-scooters is that they help bridge the gaps in public transportation services. This is especially true of the first and last mile of one’s journey. That said, it’s also a convenient way of getting around several city blocks without having to make the journey on foot or take the bus.

The recent fire in front of KLCC, which caused damage to a Beam e-scooter as well as several motorcycles, has shone a spotlight on the importance of having a safe and well-regulated fleet of battery powered vehicles. As you may know, electric skateboards and scooters have developed a bad reputation over the years for spontaneously catching fire when left to charge.

This problem stems from corner cutting made by manufacturers during battery production and ignoring safety protocols set in place by various regulatory authorities. Beam would like to reiterate that it equips its e-scooters with state-of-the-art hardware that adheres to the highest standards of safety.

Each e-scooter is equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) devices on par with global standards. This allows the company to track every e-scooter with precision to ensure that any inappropriate use or placement can be identified and resolved. Its operations team on the ground, which it calls Beam Rangers, are tasked with monitoring vehicle movement and placement.

The geofencing feature allows operators to control these e-scooters remotely to ensure that they are being used in permitted areas. If a rider ventures out of said areas the respective e-scooter will automatically sound a loud alarm and immediately slow down to a stop.

Beam’s e-scooters also have a speed limit of 25km/h, which cannot be exceeded even when riding downhill. To ensure robustness, the vehicles are made from aircraft-grade aluminium. The batteries undergo rigorous tests including extreme fire conditions and are certified with the highest levels of international safety.

These e-scooters also undergo regular checks and maintenance service by the operations team to ensure that they are safe to use. Each vehicle is identifiable due to the presence of a unique license plate installed on each one. Users are required to register for an account using personal details and verify their age before being permitted to use Beam’s e-scooters.

“At Beam, we believe that operating all types of micromobility vehicles in a regulated space provides certainty and safety for all stakeholders. We will continue to ensure that our e-scooters on Malaysian streets are of the highest quality and support the government in their aim to make Malaysian cities flow better and safely,” said Justin Tiew, General Manager of Beam Mobility Malaysia.

Beam also says that it continues to work closely with Malaysian Federal Agencies and authorities to run safe and secure operations.