Author Archives: Annick Roetynck

About Annick Roetynck

• DLR-Study: can shared E-scooters reduce CO2 emissions by substituting car trips in Germany?

  27/06/2022 12:55 Comments Off on DLR-Study: can shared E-scooters reduce CO2 emissions by substituting car trips in Germany?

  Highlights

  • E-scooters’ car-trip substitution potential for e-scooters estimated on basis of based on German mobility data.
  • 13 % of daily car trips or 2 % of vehicle-kilometers traveled suitable for replacement.
  • Calculation of daily potential greenhouse gas reduction through by switching to e-scooters.
  • Maximum savings of 1.2% of transportation GHG achievable if replacing gasoline cars.
  • Savings highly dependent on use case; potentially negative for BEV-replacement potentially negative.

  Abstract

  This DLR-paper explores which trips currently made in Germany by personal motorized transportation could be replaced by e-scooters and what effect this would have on greenhouse gas emissions. This potential for substitution is estimated on the basis of data from the national household travel survey in Germany. The DLR-analysis shows that 13% of the daily car trips, corresponding to 2% of the car kilometers in Germany, are suitable for replacement. Based on these results, the researchers show that saving potentials of greenhouse gas emissions are heavily dependent on the general conditions of the specific use case (e.g. e-scooter lifetime) and the type of vehicle replaced. At best, a saving potential of about 5.8 kt of CO_2eq per day could be achieved when trips with conventional cars are replaced by e-scooter driving. However, if battery electric cars are replaced, an increase in emissions may even occur under certain conditions.

  The full study is here: Can shared E-scooters reduce CO2 emissions by substituting car trips in Germany? – ScienceDirect

  Photo by Christina Spinnen on Unsplash

• Staff Changes at LEVA-EU

  20/06/2022 15:08 Comments Off on Staff Changes at LEVA-EU

  Goodbye to Thoa

  Last week, Thoa Nguyen moved on from her position as LEVA-EU Policy Officer to another challenge in the sustainability business. Thoa had been working for LEVA-EU since October 2021. We wish her all the best in her new job

  

  Hello to Vladislav

  

  LEVA-EU is still in the process of recruiting a Sustainable Transport Policy Officer. In the meantime, Vladislav Baidakov will take over from Thoa in July and August. Originally from Kazakhstan he studied in Spain and Belgium. He has a Masters of Law from the University of Antwerp and an Advanced Masters in International Business Law from the University of Gent.

  Contact: vladislav@leva-eu.com

• LEVA-EU Information Meeting at Eurobike

  12:28 Comments Off on LEVA-EU Information Meeting at Eurobike

  On Thursday 14 July 2022, LEVA-EU organizes an Information Meeting about current hot topics on the EU-agenda:

  1. Review of technical legislation for E-Bikes and all other LEVs
  2. State of play in standardization for E-Bikes, E-Cargocycles and Personal Transporters
  3. EU proposal for a new battery Regulation
  4. DLR-report emission saving potential of LEVs

  The meetings are free for LEVA-EU Members. Non-Members pay an entrance fee of € 110 per person. Should you join LEVA-EU within 3 months following the meeting, we will deduct that amount from the membership fee.

  Tickets for the Information Meeting at Eurobike must be booked in advance on the following website: https://www.eventbrite.be/e/leva-eu-information-meeting-at-eurobike-lev-topics-on-eu-agenda-tickets-370306906927

  Should you wish to book an appointment with LEVA-EU Manager, Annick Roetynck, go to: https://leva-eu.com/come-and-meet-leva-eu-at-eurobike-2022-2/

  We are really looking forward to seeing you!

  Annick Roetynck,
  LEVA-EU Manager

• Come and Meet LEVA-EU at Eurobike 2022

  12:25 Comments Off on Come and Meet LEVA-EU at Eurobike 2022

  At the forthcoming Eurobike Show in Frankfurt, LEVA-EU offers the opportunity to meet in person after the COVID-crisis restricted contacts to online meetings. Book a 30 minutes bilateral meeting at the LEVA-EU Meeting Room or join us for our Information Meeting on Thursday.

  ---

  How can your company benefit from LEVA-EU membership and how much will it cost? Can LEVA-EU answer all your questions on EU rules and regulations for electric bikes and all other light, electric vehicles (LEV)? Could LEVA-EU’s network offer your business interesting opportunities?

  Find out by booking an appointment with LEVA-EU Manager, Annick Roetynck, and/or LEVA-EU Technical Director, Bram Rotthier. At Eurobike, we have a quiet meeting room, Ratio in Hall 9.1, where we can discuss your questions over a cup op coffee.

  To directly book an appointment, please click here: https://calendly.com/annick_leva-eu/eurobike-meeting?month=2022-07

  On Thursday 14 July, at Eurobike, LEVA-EU organizes an Information Meeting about the current hot topics on the EU-agenda. For further details on this Information Meeting, go to: https://www.eventbrite.be/e/leva-eu-information-meeting-at-eurobike-lev-topics-on-eu-agenda-tickets-370306906927

  We are really looking forward to seeing you!

  Annick Roetynck,
  LEVA-EU Manager

• Change in the management structure at Stromer

  13/06/2022 17:44 Comments Off on Change in the management structure at Stromer

  Speed Pedelec specialist myStromer AG is implementing a new management structure. The future management of the brand will be made up of joint managers, represented by Tomi Viiala and Karl Ludwig Kley, and a Management Board, which includes the management team, the CEO of Desiknio and the company’s division managers. Jakob Luksch will be leaving the company.

  This new management structure allows the responsibilities to be better divided up within the organization, decisions to be made faster and the participation of all Stromer employees to be increased. Stromer is thus laying the foundation to improve the future growth and innovative power of both the Stromer and the Desiknio brands.

  Over the last four years, CEO Jakob Luksch has repositioned myStromer and successfully turned it into a profitable brand. His measures helped to achieve Stromer’s turnaround three years ago, which was followed by strong brand growth. Decisive for the success were above all the focus on 45 km/h, the relocation of the bike assembly from Taiwan to Switzerland, the expansion of the European market and incorporating the brand Desiknio to Stromer’s portfolio.

  Today Stromer is a change-maker in the field of mobility, a commuting solution with a future. Now Stromer is taking the next step with this reorganization.  Both brands will maintain their course — but will focus more intensely on quality, innovation and growth. In order to continue growing, to develop its portfolio further and to remain a leading innovator, Stromer is planning to continue investing with major support from its owner, Naxicap. Despite the current challenges in the procurement market, myStromer AG is heading toward to a positive future and is looking forward to further shaping the new era of mobility.

  

  Dr. Karl Ludwig Kley (49, D)
  After various management positions in Germany and abroad, Karl Ludwig Kley was most recently a partner in the investment firm PMG in Frankfurt. He joined Stromer as CFO in September 2021.
    
  

  

  Tomi Viiala (47, CH/FIN)
  Tomi Viiala has been a member of the management at myStromer for 8 years and, as VP Sales, was most recently responsible for global sales, retail support, Service Center NL and Stromer USA. Before that, Viiala spent over 8 years in different management positions at international corporations in the sports and textile industries.

• EP votes ICE-cars and vans out by 2035

  10/06/2022 14:10 Comments Off on EP votes ICE-cars and vans out by 2035

  
  In a plenary vote on 8 June, Members of the European Parliament adopted their position on proposed rules to revise the CO2 emissions performance standards for new cars and vans with 339 votes in favour, 249 against and 24 abstentions.

  With the adopted text, which constitutes Parliament’s position to negotiate with member states, MEPs support the Commission proposal to reach zero-emission road mobility by 2035 (an EU fleet-wide target to reduce the emissions produced by new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 100% compared to 2021). Intermediate emissions reduction targets for 2030 would be set at 55% for cars and 50% for vans.

  Additional details of Parliament’s proposed measures are available here.

  Quote

  Rapporteur Jan Huitema (Renew, NL) said: ‘An ambitious revision of CO2-standards is a crucial part of reaching our climate targets. With these standards, we are creating clarity for the car industry and can stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers. In addition, purchasing and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers. I am thrilled that the European Parliament has backed an ambitious revision of the targets for 2030 and supported a 100% target for 2035, which is crucial to reach climate neutrality by 2050.’

  Next steps

  MEPs are now ready to start negotiations with EU member states.

  Background

  On 14 July 2021, as part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, the Commission presented a legislative proposal for a revision of the CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The proposal aims to contribute to the EU 2030 and 2050 climate objectives, to deliver benefits to citizens by deploying zero-emission vehicles more broadly (better air quality, energy savings and lower costs for owning a vehicle), as well as to stimulate innovation in zero-emission technologies.

  Photo by Matt Boitor on Unsplash

• Belgian Speed-Pedelec market recovers

  23/05/2022 13:03 Comments Off on Belgian Speed-Pedelec market recovers

  After a faltering 2021, with 3.3% less registrations than in 2020, the Belgian speed pedelec market seems to be recovering this year.

  From January to April, a total of 4,225 vehicles were registered, that is 11.7% more than last year. However, recovery only started in March and strengthened in April. In January and February, registrations still went into the red, with – 10.8% and -2.5%. Registrations in March 2022 were 7.5% higher than the year before and April even 15% higher.

  The electric mopeds up to 25 km/h were also successful with an increase of 4.2% to 297 registrations from January til April. Their 45 km/h counterparts however did a lot worse than in 202, i.e. 807 registrations, which is almost 30% less than in 2021.

  Further good news for speed pedelecs in Belgium: it is now finally possible to register a new speed pedelec on the website of the Belgian Office for Vehicle Registation. So far, there was a technical issue due to the fact that speed pedelecs in Belgium are not subject to a motor vehicle insurance>

  Important to note is that it must be explicitly indicated in WebDIV that the registration involves a speed pedelec. This is done by indicating the following two items in the WebDIV application:

  • Speed pedelec: YES
  • Pedal assistance only

  Only when these two elements are selected in WebDIV, the vehicle will be correctly registered as a speed pedelec.

• No reduced VAT for e-bikes and speed pedelecs in Belgium after all

  12:02 Comments Off on No reduced VAT for e-bikes and speed pedelecs in Belgium after all

  In 2019, Belgium announced a law to lower the VAT rate by 15% from 21% to 6% when purchasing bicycles, electric bicycles and speed pedelecs. This law would only become enforceable when the EU would allow, through a Directive, the application of the reduced rate to bicycles, electric bicycles and speed pedelecs. This permission was granted on 5 April, but immediately afterwards the Belgian Government published a Royal Decree to repeal the law of 2019. As a result, the VAT reduction on the purchase of bicycles, electric bicycles and speed pedelecs will not be applied.

  The official explanation for this U-turn is that “unpredictable global developments have forced the Government to take diverse and fiscally burdensome measures to support the Belgian economy and Belgian families in these difficult times.” This unforeseen budgetary context has prompted the Government to “reconsider its budgetary priorities“, in other words, to maintain the standard rather than the reduced VAT rate.

  However, the budget that was reserved for the measure, i.e. €80 million, will be reallocated to the promotion of cycling in the context of commuting. The idea seems to be to index the commuting allowance, currently tax-free up to € 0.25 per trip, and to make the allowance compulsory. The employer now has the choice of whether or not to grant the allowance.

• EU Court annuls anti-dumping & anti-subsidy Regulations for Giant

  16/05/2022 18:21 Comments Off on EU Court annuls anti-dumping & anti-subsidy Regulations for Giant

  End of April, the EU General Court has ruled that the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy Regulations on imports of electric bicycles from China must be annulled in so far as it concerns the applicant, i.e. Giant.

  The judgment is clear and simple. The Commission has made a methodological error in the determination of price undercutting which cannot be overcome. This error invalidates the causal link between the alleged dumped imports and the injury to the EU industry. As a result, the Court has annulled both the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy Regulations for Giant.

  More importantly, the Court has stated that the methodological error has a bearing on the calculation of price undercutting established in respect of the other sampled exporting producers. In other words, the Regulations are in theory not only invalid for Giant but for all parties involved. However, only Giant took the case to Court and, therefore, the Court can only rule for Giant.

  This judgment proves how shaky the Commission’s evidence in this case was. And because the evidence was so shaky, the Court had no trouble in overturning it.

  LEVA-EU is currently seeking legal advice on the wider implications of this judgment. The Anti-Dumping and Anti-Subsidy Regulations in question continue to have a very negative impact on European companies. Partly because of the intertwining with the anti-circumvention rules on bicycle parts, it is nearly impossible to start up a new e-bike business in the EU. At the same time, life is also continually made difficult for e-bike importers and assemblers outside Europe and China.

  The court has exposed part of the injustice. Hopefully, this verdict will lead to the elimination of all other trade barriers resulting from these two fundamentally flawed EU regulations.