There’s a quiet revolution happening on our roads. Without the benefit of the government subsidies, costly charging infrastructure and advertising on which the success of electric cars relies, sales of e-bikes are soaring.
The benefits of e-bikes can include a significant and long-term effect on how people travel. The University of Lausanne examined this so-called ‘modal shift’ and discovered that over half of e-bike owners in one Swiss city use their cars less after getting an e-bike, and almost 20 per cent get rid of their car completely.
The researchers conclude that e-bikes should be at the core of planning for decarbonised transport in towns and cities.
Crucially, the report revealed that most e-bikes owners (58 per cent) use them for both utility and leisure. Almost one third used their e-bike for only utilitarian trips.
Forget electric cars, e-bikes are waiting in the wings ready to replace many cars in urban areas at a moment’s notice. After all, their batteries don’t require bespoke charging infrastructure and can save families thousands when used to replace a household’s car.
It’s not clear why the UK government refuses to include e-bikes in the subsidies available for every other class of electric vehicle, but one thing’s certain; there’s a huge group of potential e-bike customers who’d buy if helped with the purchase price.
Two-thirds of us would consider buying e-bikes if helped by a subsidy scheme, according to a poll conducted by Bosch. That’s almost 30 million people ready to buy an e-bike – a figure that would dramatically alter the UK’s transport landscape for the better.
Get free Cycle Rescue with ETA cycle insurance
ETA cycle insurance includes the following as standard:
• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue (covers breakdowns including flat battery)
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)
Read a full list of everything we include as standard.
ETA Cycle Rescue covers breakdowns – including a flat battery
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