UK micromobility provider Beryl partners with National Grid to expand Norwich scheme

British micromobility operator Beryl has partnered with the National Grid to expand its transport offering in Norwich.

The new partnership, announced on 28th December, will see Beryl join forces with the electricity distribution business to encourage more people to use sustainable transport. 

National Grid will sponsor Beryl’s Norwich fleet of electric vehicles, allowing Beryl to run more projects with businesses, charities and community groups.

The aim is to reduce motor vehicle congestion and carbon emissions in the area. 

Beryl CEO and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to partner with a globally recognised organisation that shares our outlook and values around the decarbonisation of transport.

“Our Norwich scheme, with its three modes, has proven incredibly popular since we first launched back in March 2020, generating over 761,000 journeys and, according to industry calculations, saving nearly 30 tonnes of CO2. 

“We already play a significant role in decarbonising regional transport and I’m confident that this partnership will allow us to build on the work already undertaken and contribute towards a cleaner, greener future.”

Launched as a bike share scheme in March 2020, e-bikes were added to the Norwich scheme on Monday 27th July 2020, followed by e-scooters on Monday 25th January 2021. 

Feedback from these e-bike and e-scooter journeys (over 4,000 responses) revealed that almost a third (31.3%) of these journeys have replaced road transport journeys, including driving or being a passenger in a car or using a taxi or a motorbike. 

Rhian Kelly, chief sustainability officer at National Grid, said: “At National Grid, we’re committed to playing our part in delivering a clean energy transition and tackling high emitting sectors such as transport. Partnering with the communities we serve on projects that will cut carbon emissions strongly aligns with our sustainability values and ambitions, and we’re pleased to collaborate with Beryl on this scheme in Norwich.”

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Councillor Lana Hempsall, sustainable transport champion at Norfolk County Council said: “The green bikes and e-scooters are now well known across Norwich and many of our locals and visitors have become ‘Beryl converts’ using them to make those shorter journeys to work, education and leisure, rather than taking their car.

“Having National Grid on board is going to create some great opportunities for our scheme and will allow us to do even more to develop the scheme and encourage even more people to leave the car at home which is key in helping us to achieve our ambitious net-zero objectives.”