Applications open for £400,000 in eCargo bike for biz grants

Businesses wishing to make the jump from motoring to eCargo bikes as a means for delivery of their services and products are now invited to apply for a pot of £400,000.

The eCargo Bike Grant Fund 2021/22 applications process is now live, offering up to 40% cost coverage for a pedal assisted cargo bike up to the retail value of £2,500 for a two-wheeled unit and £4,500 for a three-wheeled eCargo bike.

The will be a cap on applications for those wishing to buy a fleet, with up to five bikes per organisation the application limit. Each will be considered on a case-by-case basis and so there is no guarantee that the maximum number applied for will be delivered.

The applications process is now open until December 14th of this year, with a subsequent claims deadline of February 14th, 2022. Funds will be cleared direct to the bank account of successful business claimants following approval by the Energy Saving Trust which is again managing a Government cycling initiative.

There is strong evidence that switching to cargo bike delivery – in particular in the urban environment – is beneficial to businesses in terms of cost and time savings. Raleigh recently told CI.N that its trial partners had realised up to 90% cost savings when switching from vans to eCargo bikes.

Likewise, London-based PedalMe has offered up a forensic analysis of its fleet’s efficiencies based on thousands of journeys, which is well worth a read if you or a customer of yours is currently on the fence about a switch.

For more detail on the eligibility criteria for the eCargo grants, view the guidance document here.