Ford-owned Spin is working with sight loss charity London Vision to incorporate a framework of training material into a disability awareness safety module.
It marks the first concrete plans to roll out the three-wheeled e-scooter, the Spin S-200, which has been co-developed with Segway-Ninebot, via a partnership between Spin and Tortoise.
Through a partnership with Drover AI, the Ford Motor Company unit will use the technology to detect improper sidewalk riding and parking in cities across the US and UK.
Research will focus on the various safety aspects of e-scooter use as well as rider travel behaviour and the challenges and opportunities of the integration of e-scooters within a city.
The Ford micro-mobility company will seek to achieve sustainability goals through a combination of electrifying operations, renewable power and “aggressive mode” shift away from private automobiles.
The first trials, due to last for 12 months, are expected to begin next week and will be closely monitored so the government can assess the benefits of e-scooters and their impact on public space.
The Ford Motor Company subsidiary’s e-scooters can be rented for €0.30 per minute and further deployments will follow in the German cities of Dortmund and Essen.
