Scotland to offer up to £1,000 grants for electric bikes and cargo bikes in line with their low emission zones

LEZ’s (low emission zones) are soon to be introduced in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh and polluting vehicles will face penalties when they enter. The applications for electric bikes are now available to the residents living near Scotland’s planned LEZs. Residents can apply for up to two £500 grants to use to purchase an electric bike, normal bike or even public transport vouchers. Furthermore micro-businesses and sole trades will have access to the LEX Mobility Fund which will provide £2,500 to replace every non-complaint vehicle with a suitable one, an electric vehicle or e-cargo bike for example.

A city wide LEZ area has been proposed in the capital for buses and commercial vehicles, but polluting cars will be subject to a more specific, city centre zone. This zoning was intended to be introduced in 2020 but was pushed back due to the pandemic.

£2m is being allocated for the LEZ Mobility Fund by Transport Scotland and intends to provide households within 20km of the LEZ with a grant up to £2,000 to purchase an alternative and less polluting vehicle to their current one. This is alongside the £500 grants for each adult in the household (up to two adults) for purchase of a sustainable mode of transport.

Businesses with nine employees or fewer (classified as ‘micro-businesses’) will have the opportunity to secure £2,500 per vehicle to replace their current ‘non-complaint’ vehicle.

It is refreshing to see such support for households, individuals and businesses regarding the move of the city to a more electric based transport model. Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity commented that the transition in our four biggest cities must happen in a fair and a just way”

This is important because we see in other cities that those most directly impacted by this new wave of sustainability movements by cities, is those from lower-income households, gig - economy workers and others who cannot afford the high entry-level prices of electric transport.

Let’s hope that this sustainability project will bring positive changes in the air quality of the cities and, in the greater picture the global climate, without disenfranchising those who are already struggling the most.

Purchase electric bikes, electric scooters, electric transport and more at URBAN ELECTRO Northampton. We have a delivery service available for those who are in the greater area for a fee.

Voi now adding electric bikes to their fleet, along with number plates

Voi are also intending to introduce electric bikes to complement electric scooters as an option for longer journeys.

Voi, the micro-mobility operator focusing on electric scooters, is now adding electric bikes into certain areas of the UK. The initial areas include Cambridge, Kettering and Peterborough. These bikes will cost £1 to unlock and £0.15 per minute of usage. Voi are making these bikes available for free to NHS and emergency services workers.

Voi electric scooter

James Palmer, the Mayor of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire commented that “the coming weeks are going to be challenging for key workers“ and that they are pleased to be offering free public transport to emergency workers. The Mayor further added that the “e-bikes will help key workers go further where it’s needed.”

20 electric bikes will be provided to each region and will be parked next to the electric scooters. The electric bikes will have to follow the same geographical and parking restrictions as the scooters. The bikes, like the scooters, will be limited to 15.5mph to stay in line with the current UK legislation. The bikes have to stated to have a range of 31 miles, which is actually quite short compared to many electric bikes on the market, but the Voi team are said to ensure they are always filled topped up by swapping them out overnight.

The bikes will also be fitted with number plates to make them identifiable and easy to report. The scooter plates are only going to be micro number plates so really only identifiable when parked. A definite improvement to stop disruptive parking but perhaps more could be done to report unruly and dangerous riders.

The Regional General UK Manager Richard Corbett, comments that electric bikes would be the perfect additional to the shared electric scooter hire team and could potentially bring dramatic transformation.

The Voi shared scooter scheme as received varying reports from across the UK, with some counties suspending the scheme within weeks due to unsociable behaviour and safety concerns, with others praising the scheme for bringing affordable transports to the masses.

Within a decade, electric bikes estimated to outsell cars in Europe

By 2030 the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) are predicting that electric bike sales will surpass car sales. By 2025 the e-bike market is expected to grow to 6.5 million units.

ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers Association) released information that the car market decrease by 23.7% down to 9.9 million units in 2020, however it is impossible to decipher the degree to which the pandemic had an effect on this figure. Another estimate, displaying the decline in the car market is from Bloomberg, whom predicate 2021 sales to finish down 15% compared to 2019. Taking into account the pandemic, the car industry has only seen single digit growth in the last few years anyway. In comparison to the electric bike market, which is predicated to triple by 2025, it is easy to see how one may overtake the other in the coming decade.

Bringing things a little closer to home, in the UK one round in every five that was spent on bicycles, between January and October 2020, was spent on an electric bike. During 2020, and even into 2021, the demand for electric bikes has been at an all time hight but the supply has been difficult due to the pandemic, meaning the figures could have been even higher.

To further boost the potential heights of electric bike sales, the Bicycle Association has pressured the government to subsidise electric bikes, suggesting that a £250 financial incentive towards an e bike could assist in doubling sales. Since this suggestion, the government has toyed with extending the 30% subsidy currently available on other forms of electric transport to include electric bikes.

Scotland has taken further measures but allowing those in low emission zones to apply for a maximum of two £500 grants (totalling £1000) to purchase a bike, electric bike or even public transport vouchers. This seems like an excellent measure to combat the argument that moving towards electric transport so quickly is unfairly punishing those who cannot afford to upgrade or switch.

‘Pollution-fighting’ electric scooter; Voi reveals new model

The new, and excellently named, ‘Voiager” contains contactless unlocking, a more powerful motor and ‘air quality sensors’. Richard Corbett, manager of Voi UK and Ireland, comments that ““We know that our communities require greener, convenient transport to replace shorter-distance car trips and reduce congestion”

The Voiager 4 can now measure noise levels and air quality and can also share this information with its respective councils. This data could lead to even further improvements in the realm of ecology if the councils collect and use the data properly and effectively.

The new Voiager scooters also includes an ‘audible alert system’ (a fancy name for a bell) that can be used to indicate the riders presence and warn pedestrians. The new indicators are said to be viable from a 360 degree angle to further improve the safety of the scooters. The riding performance has also been improved with an increase in motor power. Voi now claim a 35% increase in performance when going uphill. This is accompanied with improved,  high-quality tyres and better suspension.

These changes also come with some minor software adjustments. The Voiager is now unlock able via contactless technology, using a smartphone, transport card or smart watch. It will also have the ability to run its own self-diagnostic checks. It is now capable of recognising 55 different error codes and if triggered, will render the scooter inactive and unavailable for hire. The Voiager 4 will be rolling out to select UK markets sometime this spring.

Welsh social enterprise offers conversions to promote lockdown cycling boom.

A social enterprise, Drosi Bikes based in Ruthin, is aiming to get more people out of cars and onto bikes. This was spurred by the rapid increase in cycling during lockdown. Drosi are offering electric bike conversions at no profit. 

Drosi, which means ‘to convert’ in Welsh, was launched during the first, original lockdown last year. The founders have given up their full-time jobs to pursue this enterprise, where all profit will be re-invested.

Drosi saw that the electric market was still expensive to enter and wanted to offer an option to a larger demographic by making the price point more accessible. The enterprise uses bikes that are already in the system, or convert those that customers bring in. By only adding the motors and batteries they are reducing the overall cost. Their prices start at £725 for a full fit.

Wireless electric bike charging points; the future?

Charging electric bikes is one of the few minor issues that come with owning one. Some electric bikes provide removable batteries which allow for indoor charging of the batteries whereas some bikes choose non-removable (or difficult to remove) batteries in order to focus on the aesthetic of the bike.

A company named Tiler have created a ‘charging tile’  and kickstand that is said to use induction to ‘wirelessly charge’ the bike. This innovation is being put forward as a most cost-effective and space saving solution to charging and docking stations.

The charging tile is installed in the ground, like a paving slab, and works through induction on electric bikes with a compatible kickstand when the bike is parked on a tile. The first on which has been installed on a Rotterdam Ahoy convention centre. Software packages are looking to be installed in the future that will then make it possible to check availability and status. Currently, the charging tile and kickstand are being sold together as package, excluding installation costs, for €699.

Shop electric bikes and more electric transport alternative at URBAN ELECTRO, Northampton’s only dedicated electric bike shop.

“Car e-bike”? - City Q showcases new vehicle

City Q, a mobile car valeting company, unveil a new covered flour-wheel e-cargo bike. City Q claim this is a unique exploration of the gap between bike and car. The City Q is an e bike that includes full weather protection and also includes doors. This bike can then be further fitted the rear seats and a cargo bed.

The City Q is claimed to provide “car technologies and comfort” but also complies with the EU regulations for electric bikes. The City Q has a 250W motor and is limited to a maximum speed of 15mph.

The City Q bike has reached a deal with UpSteam, a mobile car wash firm, and will make 10 cargo CityQ bikes that will come fitted with cleaning equipment, steamers and vacuum cleaners. By replacing the UpSteam car fleet with a bike fleet would create a big difference in their carbon output but will also benefit them by not having to worry about parking, car-free areas or parking.

Replacing vehicle fleets with electric alternatives contains a multitude of benefits that range beyond the environmental benefits. By using an electric bike you can circumvent the newer restrictions put on parking, car lane reductions, speed limit reductions and low emission zones.

Free Electric Bikes: How Halfords is helping the youth

Halfords is planning on gifting electric bikes, up to a value of £999, to a selection of young people currently experiencing financial hardship. Former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion, Victoria Pendleton will be assisting in selecting the applicants.

To begin, Halfords will be giving away Pendleton Somerby electric bikes, the Carrera Crosscity and the Apollo Transport e-bikes to the demographic age group of 18 - 24 who do not current have any access to a car.

A total of twenty electric bikes will be gifted to struggling young adults. In order to apply, potential applicants need to visit the Halford’s website where they will have to fill out a questionnaire regarding their personal circumstances and their intentions with the e-bike. This scheme arrives at a pertinent time with unemployment in youth rising dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic, due to younger workers being the majority of service industry workers and impacted the most directly through travel and movement bans. 

Halford's have had an increase in electric bike and electric scooter sales during the pandemic as the rise of ‘e-mobilty’ slowly takes over the UK. This could be due to many factors; avoiding public transport, desire for exercise, increased anti-car measures and many more.