Australia's Top End this week became the latest in a string of locations across the country to jump on the electric scooter bandwagon, with 100 e-scooters now available to ride throughout Darwin's inner-city.

Key points: Darwin Council commenced its 12-month e-scooter trial on Wednesday

Darwin Council commenced its 12-month e-scooter trial on Wednesday The scooters will be available from 37 locations, including around the Darwin CBD

The scooters will be available from 37 locations, including around the Darwin CBD A new e-scooter model, designed to suit tough NT conditions, has been rolled out for the trial

While e-scooter trials across the nation, including in Brisbane, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, have had varying levels of success, the concept of e-scooters zooming around the tropical city has been met with excitement by some and trepidation by many.

Launching their 12-month Top End e-scooter trial to a backdrop of heavy rain during the middle of the tropical wet season, e-scooter company Neuron assured Territorians its new design was built to "withstand tropical conditions".

But aside from just how these scooters will stay safe and upright on the Territory's tough terrain, there are plenty more things you might want to know before hopping on.

The scooters are now prominent on footpaths throughout the CBD. ( ABC News: Michael Franchi )

Where are these scooters?

If you haven't seen the distinctive bright orange e-scooters yet, it won't be long before you do.

The e-scooter trial is operating in Darwin city, the Waterfront and Cullen Bay, with 100 scooters available to ride in these areas before another 150 scooters are delivered in February.

The easiest way to find a scooter is via the Neuron app, which has a map of every scooter available for use across Darwin.

Commuters can find e-scooters by checking the Neuron up for real-time locations. ( Supplied: Neuron )

Where can I ride them?

The e-scooters can strictly be ridden within a boundary between Cullen Bay and the Waterfront and, in the city, inside McMinn St and the Esplanade. Anywhere else is off-limits thanks to Neuron's 'geo-fencing' technology, which shuts the scooters down when they venture into prohibited areas.

People can ride the scooters on footpaths and shared bike and pedestrian pathways.

Riders may not travel along roads unless there is an obstruction. In such an event, the scooter must travel less than 50 metres along the road to avoid the obstruction.

Riders also cannot park their scooters near water or take them on busses.

There are two key locations in the city where the scooters are prohibited: the Smith Street Mall and the Parliament precinct, including areas around the Supreme Court and Chan Building.

There are also 'go-slow' zones and 'no-go' zones in the city, which are detailed on a map in the Neuron app.

At the conclusion of a ride, e-scooters can be left at various parking stations around the city or safely on the side of a pathway.

A key test of the trial will be whether the e-scooters can deal with Darwin's tropical climate. ( Photo: Ian Redfearn )

How much does it cost?

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The first thing you need to know is that all rides need to be paid for using the Neuron App.

'Unlocking' a scooter incurs an automatic $1 fee, and riders are then charged $0.38 per minute thereafter. A 10-minute ride would therefore set you back $4.80.

There are also daily, weekly and monthly passes available via the app, which can reduce costs for regular riders.

What exactly are the rules?

Who can ride? Anyone over 18 can hire and ride e-scooters. A driver's licence is not required to ride, however, owners of a driver's licence can incur demerit points, be fined and even have their licence disqualified if road rules are broken while riding.

How fast do they go? 15 kilometres per hour is the maximum speed limit, but in designated slow zones the speed limit is 12 kilometres per hour.

Riders can travel a maximum of 15 kilometres per hour on the scooters. ( ABC: Michael Franchi )

Do I need a helmet? Yes. All scooters had a helmet fitted to them at the start of the trial and one must be worn while riding. As the scooters are fitted with a motor exceeding 200 watts, the NT Government says the failure to wear a helmet could result in a discretionary fine of up to $3,100.

Can I use my phone? Like the NT's driving laws, phone use is strictly prohibited while riding e-scooters. Fines for mobile phone use can also attract a discretionary fine during the trial period of up to $3,100.

Can I drink and ride? Riders must not have a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.05 or more.

More information around road rules while using the e-scooters can be found here.

Are they safe to ride in the rain?

It's been a wet and wild week in Darwin, and when it rains in the Top End things can get a little dangerous on the roads.

Neuron says its new N3 scooters are designed to withstand tricky terrain, with larger wheels and a wider base setting it apart from models in other cities.

Neuron says its N3 scooter is made with larger wheels to "handle uneven terrain". ( Supplied: Neuron )

What happens after the trial?

Darwin Council says it will monitor and evaluate the trial before e-scooters potentially become a mainstay in the Top End.

If the 12-month trial is a success, the council says it will put out expressions of interest for companies to apply for a licence to operate e-scooters in Darwin.

While Neuron could be in the box seat to win the licence, other operators such as Lime, which pushed hard to trial its e-scooters in Darwin last year and whose scooters co-exist along with Neuron scooters in Brisbane, might also attempt to bring their e-scooters to the Territory.