Thursday, 28 March 2024
Electric BikesNews

E-cargo bikes receive £2 million Government funding boost

The government has announced it will provide £2 million to support the uptake of e-Cargo bikes, driving UK companies towards a greener future.

The funding will pave the way for electric delivery bikes to replace older, polluting vans, which will help to improve the environment and reduce congestion.

Electronic cargo bikes have the capacity to carry several customer orders at once, and offer a greener alternative to traditional delivery vehicles, producing zero emissions and no noise pollution.

The announcement is part of the international Zero Emission Vehicle Summit being held in Birmingham this week, which brings together industry experts from around globe to tackle carbon emissions and air quality.

Jesse Norman, Minister for Low Emission Vehicles, said: “Support for e-Cargo bikes will help to ensure that Britain leads the way in the development and deployment of the technologies of the future.

“Encouraging electric delivery bikes on to our city streets will cut traffic and improve air quality, and will show how these vehicles have the potential to play an important role in the zero emission future of this country.”

Further detail about the distribution of the funding will be outlined alongside the government’s response to its call for evidence, which asked for views on how to harness opportunities for greener delivery.

The announcement builds on previous government-funded trials of e-Cargo bikes that took place earlier this year.

Sainsbury’s trialled the electric delivery bikes in South London, deploying around 100 online orders per day, in a bid to reduce emissions and improve delivery schedules.

The trials showed that the electric delivery bikes exceeded expectations in potential commercial viability and efficiency. According to the supermarket, 96.7% of orders could be fulfilled in a single e-cargo bike drop.

This funding builds on the government’s Road to Zero strategy, which outlines the government’s ambition to lead the world in the design and manufacturing of zero emission vehicles.