Author Archives: Daan van Dieren

About Daan van Dieren

• Santos Delivers New Bicycles to Belgian Police Forces

  18/01/2021 09:53 Comments Off on Santos Delivers New Bicycles to Belgian Police Forces

  LEVA-EU Member Santos has recently won a public tender to supply their Bike Patrol to Belgian police forces in Gent and Antwerp. Production of the first batch has just started in Santos’ factory in Nieuw-Vennep (NL) and is expected to be delivered within a few weeks.

  This public tender has been quite unique. In the near future, other Belgian forces who want to purchase the Bike Patrol will be able to do so under exactly the same conditions as for Gent and Antwerp. They can contact Santos directly since a new tender is not necessary anymore.

  The Bike Patrol bicycle is equipped to cope with the sometimes demanding situations police bikers have to deal with. It has disc brakes with very considerable breaking power and 27.5 inch wheels that guarantee a comfortable and agile ride. The bike has an internal gear hub offering 14 gears as well as a belt drive. All in all the Bike Patrol is extremely durable and most of all maintenance free.

  Santos constantly optimizes the Bike Patrol and has been supplying Dutch police forces with the bike for more than 15 years.

• PLEVs and Traffic Accidents in Germany

  11/01/2021 19:25 Comments Off on PLEVs and Traffic Accidents in Germany

  The German Federal Bureau of Statistics (De Statis) has for the first time published statistics on accidents with personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs), such as electric scooters.

  From January until September 2020, the German police registered a total of1,570 accidents in which riders got injured or died. A total of 7 riders have lost their life, 269 riders had severe injuries and 1,096 riders had minor injuries.

  In the press release, De Statis mentioned that they are now able to make comparisons with other vehicles such as (electric) cycles. In the first 9 months of 2020, the German police registered 73,293 cycle accidents . 351 of the cyclists were involved in fatal accidents, 14,128 had major injuries and 59,633 minor injuries.

  The PLEV share in the overall accidents statistics is relatively low compared to other vehicles. A reason for this could be that PLEVs are only allowed on public roads since the decree of 15 June 2019 and are therefore still unknown to many people. In Q1 of 2020, 252 accidents with personal injuries were registered, in Q2 412 and 901 accidents in Q3. For Q3, 4 riders died, 145 had severe injuries and 627 had minor injuries. It is not possible yet to make a comparison with the number of PLEVs riders and increasing number of accidents to see if there is a relative growth of accidents as well.  

  The overall volume of traffic has decreased over the course of the year due to the pandemic in 2020 which resulted in a lower number of accidents. In the first 9 months of 2020, 1,68 million accidents were registered. Compared to the same period in 2019, there is decrease of 15.4% in accidents.

  PLEVs in Germany are allowed since 15 June 2019. Riders must use cycling infrastructure if present, driving on pavements is forbidden and wearing a helmet is encouraged. A driving license or moped certificate is not required but the driver needs to be at least 14 years old. PLEVs must be insured, which must be indicated by an insurance sticker. For more information on PLEVs, go to Federal ministry of traffic and digital infrastructure.

  The press release of De Statis is here and the decree on PLEVs here. If you are interested in the PLEV traffic rules and technical requirements in other European member states, LEVA-EU is preparing a briefing which will list all requirements. Please contact daan@leva-eu.com for more information.

  Photo by Okai Vehicles on Unsplash

• Insync Bikes Reports 200% Sales Increase in 2020

  19:05 Comments Off on Insync Bikes Reports 200% Sales Increase in 2020

  LEVA-EU member Insync bikes is reporting a 200% sales increase on the previous year. The brand sold more than 50,000 bikes in retail in the year to November 2020. Insync Manchester will now grow in staff to reflect the sales expansion, leading up to a new range of e-bikes for the UK and European market.

  Insync’s head of business Gopal Krishan said the uptick in sales has been driven by surge in the demand for bikes as a healthier form of commuting and exercise during the COVID pandemic.

  The lockdown in 2020 saw cycling increase by as much as 300pc according to Cycling Industry News with interest also being encouraged by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s investment of £2bn in a cycling and walking strategy. In another boost to Insync, when Mr Johnson announced the strategy in August he rode one of Insync’s Viking bikes at a press call.

  Mr Krishan said (electric) women’s hybrid and mountain bikes and children’s bikes in the affordable range of £350-£500 experienced unprecedented levels of demand and the business is now looking to expand its offering.

  He said: “We are delighted with the success we have achieved during 2020, which reflects the soaring popularity of cycling as a pastime for the whole family. We now plan to double the sales in 2021 with a focus on a premium range of bikes and new range e-bikes, launched as part of our new partnership with the German e-bike manufacturer HNF GmbH, which is also a Hero International company and will bring German precision research and development to the UK.”

  Mr Munjal said the Insync Manchester operation will now grow to reflect the sales expansion. “We expect to increase the size of our sales team, both in telesales and field reps, to support our growing IBD network,” he said. ”We currently have four members in our design team who work closely with Hero International’s Global R&D Centre in Berlin on e-bike design, leading up to our new range of e-bikes for the UK and European market, which we see as a prime growth market for Insync. We also plan to grow our warehouse capacity and warehouse staff significantly to support operations.”

  Insync is owned by Hero International – the European bike and e-bike arm of Hero Motors Company (HMC). HMC, headquartered in India with a $1.2 billion asset base, is the world’s largest integrated manufacturer of bicycles with an automotive vertical supplying high-precision components to premium European and Japanese automotive OEMs. Hero International also owns HNF GmbH – a leading premium German e-bike brand.

• Van Raam Expands to Poland

  09/01/2021 12:59 Comments Off on Van Raam Expands to Poland

  LEVA-EU member Van Raam has taken over a factory in Wykroty (Poland) in order to meet the high demand for their special needs (electric) cycles.

  Take-over of factory in Poland

  The factory in Wykroty, just across the German border at Görlitz/Dresden is 6,500 m2 and stands on a plot of about 5 hectares. This factory was until recently owned by Royal Lovink Industries of Terborg.
   
  Monday 14 December 2020 was the signing moment between the management of Van Raam and Lovink. The official name will be Van Raam International Sp. Z o.o. Van Raam International also has its own logo.
   
  Dirk Jan van den Hout (director of Lovink) is pleased that the building in Wykroty is taken over by another company from the Achterhoek (NL). That is the same region where Van Raam is located. Van Raam will also take over part of the staff.
  
  The management of Van Raam with Marjolein Boezel, Jan-Willem Boezel and Ronald Ruesink is satisfied with this big step. The 13.500 m2 building in Varsseveld where Van Raam has been located since 2019, had already become too small due to the great demand for special needs (electric) cycles.

• CAKE Launches CAKE Connect

  08/01/2021 15:08 Comments Off on CAKE Launches CAKE Connect

  CAKE launches new mobile app that integrates cellular connectivity to the entire line of motorbikes, unlocking an extensive digital services ecosystem for consumers and B2B operators.

  Stochholm, Sweden – January 2021 – LEVA-EU Member CAKE announced the launch of CAKE Connect. This mobile app integrates with a brand-new connectivity module on CAKE’s motorbikes to enable various connectivity-based features and remote software updates. All new CAKE bikes come standard with this connectivity feature, while existing models can be retrofitted to include the connectivity module. CAKE Connect is available for iPhone iOS users and will be available starting in April 2021, with additional features launching in early 2022.

  The new CAKE Connect app consists of a telematics system with cellular connectivity and cloud infrastructure. It introduces features that include ride parameter customization of the bike’s braking and engine torque modes as well as a theft alarm, GPS tracking, battery status monitoring, ride statistics, and the ability to unlock and lock the bike. The CAKE service team will also be able to issue remote software updates and conduct remote troubleshooting.

  

  “Being able to detect, analyze, and service bikes from a distance…it’s like magic,” commented Robin Karlsson, Product Development Manager at CAKE. “Customize riding modes, limit riding territory through geofencing, trace stolen bikes, and check the bike’s status are all basic functionalities with more to come in the next generations of the service.”
  
  Users can expect to see several innovations and releases that will add new digital functionalities and services for CAKE riders in the coming months. One customer segment that will benefit significantly from these updates will be those in the emergency services sector and those who operate a fleet of CAKE’s motorbikes. 
  
  “As we expand the CAKE Connect app, we are first going to release features that target safety, emergency, and rescue as well as business-to-business solutions,” remarked CAKE founder and CEO, Stefan Ytterborn. “This digital safety layer will include various services like crash-detection systems, rescue-search functionalities, live hazard notifications, risk reduction navigation, and more. That brings connectivity to a truly meaningful level.”
  
  CAKE Connect requires users to have an active subscription to the service. Pricing information and additional product details will be announced in April 2021. Additional in-depth info, walkthrough presentation, and imagery are available at ridecake.com/en/ces/

• Bafang Launches Dealer Direct Service for Complete eBike Drive Systems

  04/01/2021 21:02 Comments Off on Bafang Launches Dealer Direct Service for Complete eBike Drive Systems

  4 January 2021 – LEVA-EU member Bafang optimizes its service structure to better serve bike brands and dealers and enhance customer satisfaction with the ever-growing local after-sales support team.

  E-drive systems manufacturer Bafang reports rapid growth during 2020. As a result of the growth and changes in market demand, Bafang has analyzed its service model, making revisions and expanding the service team to ensure ongoing customer support at a higher level.

  In addition to the individual Bafang products offered to brands, Bafang has seen enormous growth in requests for complete Bafang eBike Drive Systems which include a Bafang battery. As a result, the battery range has been expanded beyond carrier batteries, with in-tube, integrated and semi-integrated options.

  For brands using a complete, closed Bafang e-set, Bafang has been developing a Dealer Direct Service model, soon to be launched into the market in 2021. 

  The Dealer Direct Service will be launched in phases from February 2021 in the Netherlands, initially with complete Bafang systems for several selected brands. Later phases will support dealers for more brands, throughout the whole of Europe.

  To further support dealers, a Bafang dealer service online portal has been created, with all necessary information for dealers in one place. Simple and clear details on applying for and following guarantees, warranty conditions and working methods are available, alongside technical manuals, dealers training announcements, e-learning videos, and information on products, troubleshooting and of course the Bafang BESST Tool.

  Bafang plans, when restrictions allow, to provide physical trainings from the Bafang Service Center in Wijchen, to introduce dealers to products and available tools in detail. Several training options will be available according to different e-drive systems.

  Contact service.nl@bafang-e.com to find out more about the Bafang Dealer Direct Service.

• CityQ Awarded Green ICT Grant

  17/12/2020 07:08 Comments Off on CityQ Awarded Green ICT Grant

  December 2020 – LEVA-EU member CityQ and their project with UpSteam resulted in a Norwegian and Estonian grant, ICT Green. CityQ will deliver 10 customized cargo ebikes for the mobile carwash teams of UpSteam by the beginning of 2021.

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  The project between CityQ and UpSteam has been awarded a Norwegian – Estonia grant, ICT Green. This award is a business development program aiming to increase value creation and sustainable growth in the Estonian business sector.

  UpSteam ordered 10 customized cargo ebikes from CityQ this year in Autumn. The LEVA-EU member plans to deliver their vehicles early 2021. This will enable UpSteam to deploy mobile carwashing teams with high tech, weather proof ebikes.

  “UpSteam is a green clean tech company, so replacing our own car traffic with cycling makes sense. And with CityQ we can bring all our equipment by ebike – and not having to worry about traffic, parking or car free areas. It is efficient, sustainable and innovating – aligned with our UpSteam mission,” says Martin Kristerson in UpSteam.

  

  “In order to replace car traffic with cycling, cities need this type of innovation. Only 30% of us cycle in bad weather. CityQ makes cycling more convenient. And similar to electric cars we replace mechanics with software and connectivity. As with a Tesla car or your smart phone, CityQ can be repaired, updated and added newfunctionalities via the web – by automatic software updates and new App versions,” according to founder of CityQ, Morten Rynning.

  For more information, go to www.cityq.biz or watch their introduction video.

• Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators benchmarking Tool launched

  07:04 Comments Off on Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators benchmarking Tool launched

  Source: Eltis – The European Commission has released a comprehensive set of urban mobility indicators, which can be used by cities to monitor and evaluate the implementation of their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). 

  An important dimension in the implementation of SUMPs is the monitoring and evaluation of the progress made by the measures contained within these. This is important to ensure that the SUMP is delivering for the city as anticipated or, if not, to enable changes to be made. At the same time, such monitoring is able to demonstrate how a city is contributing towards the delivery of relevant national and EU policy goals.

  Cities and regions have at their disposal tools to identify the strengths and shortcomings of their mobility system: sustainable urban mobility indicators are essential for this exercise. In order to support this, the European Commission has made available a comprehensive set of indicators to assist cities in the process of monitoring and evaluating their mobility systems. The indicator set has also been designed to enable cities to measure improvements stemming from novel mobility policies or practices.

  The sustainable urban mobility indicators (SUMI) benchmarking tool, not only allows cities to assess the performance of their own policies, but also to compare their performance to that of their counterparts. The tool’s indicator set is divided between core and non-core indicators, covering a wide array of mobility-related dimensions. These range from the affordability of public transport for mobility-impaired groups to road deaths and energy efficiency, among others.

  Find the sustainable urban mobility indicators tool by the European Commission here.

  Photo by sergio souza on Unsplash.

• New Spanish law to require 30 km/h speed limit in urban areas

  07:02 Comments Off on New Spanish law to require 30 km/h speed limit in urban areas

  Source: Eltis – The Spanish Minister of the Interior has announced that the Council of Ministers has approved a proposal to significantly amend traffic legislation in order to improve road safety. The aim is to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries in road accidents by 50% over the coming decade, in line with European Union and World Health Organisation recommendations. The long-term target will be to reduce these figures to zero by 2050.

  Amongst the package of legal reforms, a Royal Decree was approved to amend the General Circulation Regulations and the General Vehicle Regulations on urban traffic measures. The purpose of these changes is to reduce the death toll on roads in cities, which increased marginally between 2018 and 2019, whilst regulating newly emerging modes of urban mobility.

  The standard sets the new speed limits on urban roads, based on their classification:

  • The speeds on single lane roads with a pavement which does not differ in height from the road’s surface will now be limited to 20 km/h.
  • Roads with a single lane each way will be limited to 30 km/h.
  • Roads with 2 or more lanes each way will remain unchanged with a limit of 50 km/h.

  The new limits will be applied 6 months after their announcement in the Official Gazette of the State. This will allow time for drivers to familiarise themselves with the changes and for local authorities to implement the necessary signage.

  The Minister emphasised that changing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h could reduce the likelihood of deaths in road accidents five-fold. Moreover, this change is not expected to impact urban traffic journey times.

  Meanwhile, similar reforms are being made in other European Member States. In the Netherlands a majority in the House of Representatives recently approved a proposal to reduce the speed limit on streets in built-up areas from 50 km/h to 30 km/h. Other regions are following suit, with the governing coalition of the Belgian capital Brussels agreeing to apply a default 30 km/h limit throughout the city, starting in January 2021.

  At EU level, in October, the European Commission and the Florence School of Regulation organised a seminar with experts, researchers and stakeholders on speed and speed management in European road safety policy. The Conclusions are available online. Participants highlighted the current state of play with regard to speed in the EU and supported the issuance of guidelines on speed at EU level.

  Original article first published 10 November 2020 by La Moncloa.

  Photo by Jonas Stolle on Unsplash.