The firm running a public e-scooter share trial in Colchester is investigating after one of its vehicles was put up for sale on Facebook Marketplace for £40.

Trials of rented e-scooters covered by a motor vehicle insurance policy are taking place in a number of towns and cities around the UK after the government lifted a ban in July 2020.

The Colchester trial is being run by Ford’s micromobility subsidiary, Spin. Gazette News reports that the firm was recently notified by a member of the public that one of its e-scooters was being advertised for sale.

It remains illegal to use privately-owned e-scooters in public places and in any case Spin’s need to be unlocked via its rental app.

The advertiser does in fact admit that the vehicle doesn’t work, while also stating that it is in “mint condition.”

A spokesperson for Spin said: “We have been made aware by several members of the public of a Facebook ad displaying a photo of one of our Spin e-scooters in public space and saying it’s for sale.

“Our e-scooters operate only as part of the Department of Transport’s trial hire scheme that Spin operates in four locations in Essex and in Milton Keynes. They are not for sale. In cases like this we’ll work closely with the police.”

Over in the US, Spin is currently trialling a three-wheeled scooter that can be remotely operated and manoeuvred out of the way when it has been parked inconsiderately.

Making use of front- and rear-facing cameras, the Spin Valet aims to ensure that e-scooters don’t clutter up pavements and get in people’s way. However, there are also hopes that users will ultimately be able to ‘hail’ a scooter with the vehicle driving itself to an agreed meeting point.