The Singaporean-based company has been in the spotlight after accusations it has been cheating on the number of scooters it uses on city streets.
The scooters have been banned in Auckland. The company had to deactivate its distinctive purple scooters by midnight last night and to have all its devices removed from the streets by 5pm.
An investigation in Auckland found that Beam had been putting e-scooters out on the road well above the permitted licence number.
It then gave the Auckland council misleading data in reports which did not reflect the number of scooters on the roads at one time.
Beam's licence permits allow the company to deploy a maximum of 1400 scooters across Auckland, including 450 in the CBD and inner city, and 500 in suburban areas.
But in Queenstown, Beam operates differently than in other cities as the council does not take any money from the scooter operator. No public land can be used to park the scooters.
A council spokesman confirmed the company was in the middle of a two-year trial. Queenstown is the only area in the South Island to have Beam scooters.
"Operation of Beam e-scooters in Queenstown is based on a different approach to other cities in the country," the spokesman said.
"A two-year trial currently under way is due to end in April next year. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Beam Mobility and QLDC outlines that a maximum of 400 e-scooters are permitted at any one time, and current operational levels see fewer than 150.
"On completion, results of the trial will be evaluated with council to confirm how shared e-scooters and e-bikes can operate in the district going forwad. Under the MOU, e-scooters operate out of dedicated parking zones on private land,with Beam having a profit-share arrangement with the landowners; e-scooters are not permitted to be left outside of these locations. E-scooters are not parked on public land and hence there is no payment exchanged between Beam and QLDC.
"We expect the evaluation of the trial will consider if e-scooters can be permitted on public land in the future, with associated permits and payment decided at that time."
No payment is sent to the council despite the scooters riding on council roads.
Payment to other councils in the country is based on using public land for parking the scooters, not for where they are ridden.
The spokesman said post-trial evaluation would help the council understand the potential for micro-mobility use in the future and what any usage model might look like.
Beam Scooters has come to agreements with various businesses such as hotels, cafes and supermarkets to park their scooters.
Beams Scooters are also in Whangarei, Tauranga, Napier, Taupo, Wellington and Porirua. Auckland has already been removed from Beam Scooters’ website .
