Author Archives: Annick Roetynck

About Annick Roetynck

Annick is the Manager of LEVA-EU, with decades of experience in two-wheeled and light electric mobility.

• Bafang at Pro-Day Paris

  26/07/2021 19:28 Comments Off on Bafang at Pro-Day Paris

  Paris, July 2021 – LEVA-EU member Bafang welcomed enthusiastic cycling professionals at Pro-Days.

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  Earlier this month, the French cycling-industry exhibition Pro-Days was held in Paris at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

  Bafang presented drive systems for e-mountain, e-road and e-city bikes at the show, showcasing the provision of high-quality power solutions. Many bike professionals came to visit the stand, undertake intensive discussions and test products!

  At the Bafang stand, several European and international partner bike brands were presented, featuring different Bafang drive systems. The partner bike range was augmented by special Bafang test e-bikes, which included a demonstration of the brand-new H700 automatic 2-gear rear motor, a highly integrated, compact and concise system developed for e-city bikes.

  Visitors learned about the latest models, technologies, and future market trends. In the test riding area, attendees were able to directly experience various latest e-bike models and vehicles displayed by brand manufacturers.

• New Rules for E-Scooters in Helsinki

  17:59 Comments Off on New Rules for E-Scooters in Helsinki

  July, 2021 – Source: Finish Ministry of Transport and Communications. Speed limits for e-scooters will soon be tightened force in Helsinki as the three shared electric scooter operators agreed on ways to promote traffic safety in a meeting with Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka earlier this month.

  The rental companies in Helsinki voluntarily undertook to limit speed at night throughout the city and, during the day, also in the city centre. For the moment, it is not clear yet which speed limits will be implemented. Joint measures are being prepared under the leadership of the City of Helsinki and the operating compagnies have already announced their acceptance of restrictions. Some rental companies are prepared to completely block the use of e-scooters at night or restrict availability in the most popular restaurant areas. 

  The City of Helsinki is also preparing measures to organise the parking of electric scooters in such a way that danger to other road users can be avoided. 

  Read the entire press release here.

  Photo: Segway-Ninebot

• Obsessing over electric cars is impeding the race to net zero: More active travel is essential

  10:48 Comments Off on Obsessing over electric cars is impeding the race to net zero: More active travel is essential

  Source: University of Oxford – Globally, only one in 50 new cars were fully electric in 2020, and one in 14 in the UK. Sounds impressive, but even if all new cars sold were electric, it would still take 15-20 years to replace the world’s fossil fuel car fleet.

  Christian Brand, Associate Professor in Oxford’s Transport, Energy & Environment, Transport Studies Unit, writes.

  • Focusing solely on electric vehicles is slowing down the race to zero emissions.
  • Even if all new cars were fully electric, it would still take 15-20 years to replace the world’s fossil fuel car fleet.
  • Emissions from cycling and e-biking can be ten times lower than driving an electric car.
  • Active travel can contribute to tackling the climate emergency earlier than electric vehicles while providing affordable, reliable, clean, healthy and congestion-busting transport.

  The emission savings from replacing all those internal combustion engines with zero-carbon alternatives will not feed in fast enough to make the necessary difference in the time we can spare: the next five years.

  Tackling the climate and air pollution requires curbing all motorised transport, particularly private cars, as quickly as possible.

  Focusing solely on electric vehicles is slowing down the race to zero emissions. This is partly because electric cars are not truly zero-carbon. Mining the raw materials for their batteries, manufacturing them and generating the electricity they need for fuel produces emissions.

  Transport is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise because of its heavy fossil fuel use and reliance on carbon-intensive infrastructure – such as roads, airports and the vehicles themselves – and the way it embeds car-dependent lifestyles. One way to reduce transport emissions relatively quickly, and potentially globally, is to swap cars for cycling, e-biking and walking – active travel, as it is called.

  As many as 50% of car journeys are less than five km and could easily be replaced by active travel. Electric bikes increase this range to 10 km or more. They have become more popular over the past few years as prices have come down. These bikes allow older people to cycle and help riders cycle in hilly areas. But they still provide physical activity. In the Netherlands and Belgium, electric bikes have become popular for long-distance commutes of up to 30 km. They could be the answer to our commuting problems.

  Active travel is cheaper, healthier, better for the environment, and no slower on congested urban streets. So how much carbon can it save on a day-by-day basis? And what is its role in reducing emissions from transport overall?

  In our own research, colleagues and I show that people who walk, cycle or use e-bikes have lower carbon footprints from all their daily travel, including in cities where lots of people are already doing this. Despite the fact that some walking and cycling happens on top of motorised journeys instead of replacing them, more people switching to active travel would equate to lower carbon emissions from transport on a trip-by-trip and daily basis.

  What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours

  In one study, we observed around 4,000 people living in the cities of London, Antwerp, Barcelona, Vienna, Orebro, Rome and Zurich. Over a two-year period, our participants completed 10,000 travel diary entries, which served as records of all the trips they made each day, whether going to work by train, taking the kids to school by car or riding the bus into town. For each trip, we calculated the carbon footprint.

  Strikingly, the carbon footprint for daily travel is up to 84% smaller for people who walk or cycle than for people who use other modes of transport.

  We also found the average person who shifted from car to bike for just one day a week cut their carbon footprint by 3.2kg of CO₂ – equivalent to the emissions from driving a car for 10km, eating a serving of lamb or chocolate, or sending 800 emails.

  We found  emissions from cycling can be more than 30 times lower for each trip than driving a fossil fuel car, and about ten times lower than driving an electric one.

  While public policy tends to focus on commuting, trips for other purposes such as shopping or social visits are also often done by car. These trips are often shorter, increasing the potential for a shift toward walking, cycling or e-biking.

  E-cargo bikes can carry heavy shopping and/or children and can be the key ingredient needed to make the shift to ditching the family car.

  The rest of the article is here: https://bit.ly/3iywm3h.

  Photo by Divjot Ratra on Unsplash.

• Taito raises funding

  08:43 Comments Off on Taito raises funding

  LEVA-EU Member Taito is developing a three-wheeled e-scooter for which safety, quality and design are central. This is in response to the proliferation of e-scooters that offer poor driving comfort and are difficult to repair. The 3 young, Belgian founders have finished the first prototypes of their e-scooter and want to realize the first sales in the rapidly growing market of e-scooters at the beginning of 2022.

  Taito has previously obtained funding from business angels and subsidies from the Flemish Innovation & Enterprise Agency. Now the company wants to collect loans from the crowd to further invest in research & development, sales & marketing and the pre-financing of the e-scooters. Through their campaign on WinWin, they raised almost € 20,000 in the first week.

  Further details on https://invest.winwinner.be/nl/projects/234-taito

• Like LEVA-EU, JRC advocates new, separate battery category for Light Electric Vehicles

  22/07/2021 16:24 Comments Off on Like LEVA-EU, JRC advocates new, separate battery category for Light Electric Vehicles

  JRC has completed its study for the European Commission on alternative collection targets for Light Means of Transport (LMT) batteries. JRC concludes that the best way forward is to introduce a new separate category for LMT batteries. That is exactly the solution, which LEVA-EU has been advocating since the Commission has published the new battery Regulation proposal. The JRC report is therefore a major boost for LEVA-EU’s lobby campaign towards the European Parliament and Council.

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  In its original proposal, the European Commission suggested to include batteries for so-called Light Means of Transport (LMT) in the portable battery category. The proposal defined LMT-batteries as sealed, up to 5 kg and for use in vehicles with a seat and a motor of no more than 750 Watts. All other batteries, such as those in electric scooters, mobility scooters, e-mopeds, e-motorcycles and other electric vehicles in the L-category would be categorized as electric vehicle batteries.

  Hugely problematic proposal

  LEVA-EU immediately pointed out to the Commission that this definition would create huge problems for light, electric vehicles (LEVs). The main issue is the fact that the electric vehicle battery category is subject to information and sustainability requirements, which are simply not feasible for LEV-manufacturers. Another issue was the requirement for a seat, pushing all e-scooters into the electric vehicle battery category. Also, the limit of 750 Watts was meaningless because the meaning of Watts remained unspecified.

  On top of these issues, the Commission was also confronted with questions from the Member States on the effect of the proposal on LMT. The Commission acknowledged the issues and asked the Joint Research Centre (JRC) for research into how to set a collection target for LMT batteries. JRC is the Commission’s science and knowledge service, which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy.

  Unknown and uninteded consequence

  In its research and through consultation with stakeholders, among which LEVA-EU, JRC easily established that the definition of LMT batteries as proposed by the Commission was flawed. The definition was found to be “troublesome in its reference to motors ‘of less than 750 watts’. It is found to be problematic in referencing to ‘on which travellers are seated’ with a significant amount of smaller LMT products without a seat. Both types of parameters effectively discriminate between products with comparable battery characteristics.”

  However, there were deeper issues with the Commission’s proposal to classify LMT-batteries as portable batteries. The proposal holds collection targets for portable batteries based on the so-called Put on Market (PoM) parameter. The JRC-study was exactly meant to determine whether that method and the targets set for portable batteries could be simply extended to LMT-batteries or whether alternative collection methods and targets for LMT-batteries were needed.  In its research on collection targets for LMT batteries, JRC stumbled upon an “unknown and unintended consequence of the originally proposed target basis”.  JRC’s conclusion on the proposed PoM-method and resulting targets for LMT-batteries was: “(…) due to increasing sales of rechargeable and LMT batteries, plus potentially more durable primary batteries as well, there will be a growing discrepancy between the placed on the market (POM) volumes and the waste volume becoming available later. This means that the currently proposed POM based collection target, based on 3 preceding years of sales, will not be ‘steadily ambitious’, but relatively more challenging for the years 2025 and 2030 when the newer target levels are respectively set at 65% and 70%. Reversely, in later years it will become less challenging.”

  Growing discrepancy

  The following example illustrates JRC’s findings. According to some prognoses, European electric bike sales could reach 17 million in 2030. In that year, the PoM collection rate will go to 70% based on the 3 preceding years. Hypothetical sales of 13.25 million in 2027, 14.5 million in 2028 and 15.75 million in 2029 would result in 10.15 million e-bike batteries targeted for collection in 2030. Let’s assume an average lifetime for e-bike batteries of 6 years. That means that the batteries becoming available for collection will effectively be put on the market in 2024. Sales in 2020 were estimated at 4.5 million. It is therefore totally unlikely that in 2024 sufficient sales will be achieved to reach a collection target of 10.15 million batteries in 2030. Even if sales reach 10 million in 2024, it is impossible for 100% of those  batteries to make it to the collection points.

  To overcome this problem, JRC proposes what it calls a “future-proof solution”. That includes the creation of a separate LMT battery category, next to industrial, automotive, electric vehicle and portable battery categories. Secondly, the basis for the collection target for this new category should be changed from Put on Market (PoM) to Available for Collection (AfC).

  All batteries from non-type-approved light, electric vehicles as well as from L1 to L7 vehicles would come under the new category. This proposal is almost fully in line with what LEVA-EU has asked for from the start. Nevertheless, JRC proposes to include all LEV-batteries but only up to 25 kg. It is unclear how JRC has determined this 25 kg limit, which would still send heavier L-category vehicle batteries, for instance on motorcycles, tricycles or quadrimobiles into the electric vehicle battery category.

  Benefits

  JRC quotes several benefits in creating a separate LMT battery category. First of all, it would allow the inclusion of heavier batteries, “that would otherwise not fit in the collection infrastructure for portable batteries.” Secondly, JRC states that 70% of AfC by 2025 and 75% by 2030 will be a much more realistic target for LMT waste batteries. Changing to AfC will require a revision clause in the Commission’s proposal to adapt the common methodology parameters and potentially also the target level specifically for the new category. LEVA-EU believes that the AfC calculation methodology must be adapted to the lifespan of the various vehicles in the category. The lifespan of an e-scooter for instance is different from the lifespan of an electric bike. It will also require specific consideration for batteries which are not returned through this collection infrastructure. There will undoubtedly be some hoarding to be taken into account, as well as batteries which will be treated for re-use for instance. Furthermore, all vehicles excluded from the L-category are subject to the WEEE-Directive. It is quite likely that some batteries will not be removed from end-of-life vehicles.

  Another benefit of JRC’s proposal is that the creation of a separate LMT battery category will allow for faster introduction of more collection points and will improve the handling and the safety attention for end-of-life batteries. And last but not least, JRC points out that the creation of a separate LMT category offers an additional possibility to adapt other than collection requirements, such as sustainability, safety and information requirements, “to the distinctive character of LMT batteries.” In doing so, JRC agrees with LEVA-EU’s request not to simply subject LEV batteries to the particularly extensive and strict requirements for electric vehicle batteries. Instead, the EU institutions should consult with the LEV-sector as to appropriate and adequate requirements. Ideally, the Commission should order new research into such requirements.

  Confusion in Parliament

  In the meantime, even before this JRC report was published, 3 parliamentary committees had started working on the original Commission proposal. Normally, only 1 parliamentary committee is responsible for a file. In this case, the work was entrusted to IMCO, ITRE and ENVI while TRAN was allowed to issue an opinion. Since, the IMCO and TRAN Rapporteurs and the ITRE committee have effectively proposed amendments. As a result, a particularly confusing situation has now arisen for LMT batteries, with diverging amendments for the same articles in the proposal. LEVA-EU will resume lobbying after the summer break to try to align all relevant parliamentary committees with JRC’s recommendations for LMT batteries.

• Call for Life Cycle Assessment Results of Light Electric vehicles

  19/07/2021 17:00 Comments Off on Call for Life Cycle Assessment Results of Light Electric vehicles

  LEVA-EU in an alliance with the International Cargo Bike Festival and other partners representing the light electric mobility sector are commissioning expert research for the global COP26 climate conference. The research will be aimed at modelling what transport will look like if we succeed in meeting the Paris Agreement emissions commitments for transport. This will involve dramatic increases in the prevalence and use of light electric vehicles (LEVS), from e-scooters and e-(cargo)-cycles, through e-mopeds and motorcycles to 4-wheeled e-vehicles across all the EU L-category and what is excluded from this category.

  As part of this work, we are in need of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) figures for every category of these vehicles, many of which are not publicly available.

  Do you have a systematic analysis of the potential environmental impacts of your LEVs during their entire life cycle, or do you know of LCA results that others have available? Would you be willing to share them to contribute to this ground-breaking research, which will for the first time advocate the case for universal light mobility to a global audience? It would be extremely useful to receive LCA figures or suggestions of where these can be found. We will be able to use them on a named vehicle or, if desired, on an anonymous basis.

  The research will feature details on emissions from the various categories, and there will be opportunities to showcase specific vehicles and manufacturers both in publicity and in the final scientific report, to be launched in the run up to COP26 in Glasgow this November.

  If you can help, please get in touch with LEVA-EU Manager, Annick Roetynck, tel. +32 475 500 588, email annick@leva-eu.com.

  Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

• Six Steps Towards Sustainability

  11:43 Comments Off on Six Steps Towards Sustainability

  Source: LEVA-EU member Promovec – For being a sustainable and green company, you need more than just “keeping up appearances” or doing it because it is a “trendy thing”; it is about working hard and have a clear strategy on how to be as green as possible throughout the whole supply chain and organization. Furthermore, all green values should be shared by all within the organization. The usual business should be green instead of “just” falling back to doing business as we did before.

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  1. STEP – sustainable packaging box. At Promovec, the company is continuously looking for improvement internally. Their plan for the immediate future shows ambition to innovate and contribute to the world’s challenges. They have gone from the black, colorful battery packaging boxes to a reasonable and sustainable packaging box. The new packaging boxes are recyclable and entirely made from cardboard. The material has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and they get it from a local source.

  2. STEP – healthy lifestyle. Internally Promovec encourages all employees to have a focus on a green and healthy lifestyle. The company has become a certified Bicycle-friendly Workplace. The campaign helps to increase the focus on a healthy and sustainable mode of transportation. By cycling, we can save the climate a tremendous amount of CO2 and help to supplement a healthy lifestyle.

  3. STEP – renewable energy. Overall, Promovec is always seeking to become more sustainable. Their battery production facilities use 100% renewable energy and is supplied by sustainable energy sources. Furthermore, they use a CO2-neutral server for running the website and LED lights with 60-75% improvement in the overall energy efficiency.

  4. STEP – sustainable bonds. In order to be as sustainable as possible, the company has changed the company’s pension fund. By doing so, they can now buy sustainable bonds. It fits the vision and philosophy regarding Promovec’s green values.

  
  5. STEP – new sustainable HQ. In 2022 Promovec will move intoa new headquarter just outside Aarhus. The building will be the first in Denmark to reach a golden certification standard in DGNB. The measurements of the DGBN system are based on three key factors; sustainability areas of ecology, economy, and sociocultural.

  6. STEP – green ambitions. When it comes to the batteries, recycling is essential for Promovec, as they contain valuable and hazardous materials. To reduce the environmental footprint even further and incorporate green ambitions into daily routine, they gave the waste management system an overhaul to make sure that the company recycle as much as possible.

  Photo credits Promovec.

• Expanding Service Hubs and certified workshops VanMoof

  09:38 Comments Off on Expanding Service Hubs and certified workshops VanMoof

  LEVA-EU Member VanMoof is expanding their service footprint from 8 to 50 cities across the world so that their riders have better access to service. To make sure that riders are never off the road for long, VanMoof has opened Service Hubs that can offer services of every kind to its growing community of riders. They have also partnered with independent bike shops so that riders can get help in the local area.

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  VanMoof’s state-of-the-art Service Hubs anticipate everything a VanMoof rider might need – from test-rides and tune-ups, to faster-than-ever repairs and services of every kind. Service Hubs aim to bring them closer to the riders, so riders can access services easier and faster than ever before. Riders are welcome to stop by the Service Hubs in hometowns for a test ride, a tune-up, repair, or just for a great cup of coffee.

  A certified workshop is an independent bike shop certified and trained by VanMoof to perform maintenance and repairs on VanMoof bikes. This means riders have access to almost the same level of VanMoof service they would get from a Service Hub or Brand Store even if their city doesn’t have one just yet. Test rides are available at selected certified workshops.

  Due to current Covid regulations, riders must book their appointment in advance. Riders can book an appointment via their My VanMoof account. They’ll be directed to the booking tool via the ‘Bike Doctor’ page. Click on ‘Find a solution’ option, and simply follow the steps.

  Find all Service Hubs and Certified Workshops here.

  Photo credits: VanMoof

• Batteries For The World of Tomorrow

  12/07/2021 11:00 Comments Off on Batteries For The World of Tomorrow

  Source: Promovec – Climate change and global warming define the global agenda, not just in the political sphere but in private households and corporations. People can no longer pretend that they are not affected by it or not affect it. Article by LEVA-EU member Promovec.

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  In the globalized world, everything is connected. What inhabitants do in Denmark has worldwide consequences and what happens in the world has consequences for Danish citizens. Furthermore, this entails that all companies and citizens share responsibility.

  As professor emeritus Steen Hildebrandt has remarked, business as usual is no longer an option. Global warming is more than a problem; it is a call to action. An ethical demand from future generations to leave them a habitable and prosperous planet.

  Predicting the future is all but easy. One thing, however, is sure: the demand for sustainable ways of transportation will only increase. Here batteries are a crucial element not only for electric transportation but for all electronic products and devices. Soon it will play a massive role in storing clean energy from sustainable sources.

  In 2019, Promovec established their battery production facility in Aarhus, Denmark. By doing so, they assure to remain at the forefront of the e-bike market and development of developing sustainable batteries.

  

  The first step is to become self-sufficient with battery packs and in the long run, they have a mission to make sustainable battery packs available for a wide variety of products. With the production facility, there is control over the process and development te become more sustainable in the years ahead.

  Their components adhere to the strictest safety, efficiency, performance regulations and products are tested to meet relevant standards. All are fitted with integrated intelligent BMS systems. Also, Promovec is committed to the responsible sourcing of raw materials for all components going into production.

  At Promovec, they are constantly looking for ways to improve continuously setting high goals. Plan for the immediate future clearly shows ambition to innovate and contribute to the world’s challenges.

  Promovec will significantly reduce all environmental impacts and look forward to giving their customers better battery experiences with sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation. Their vision is to play a significant part in the development of the future of sustainable modes of transportation. Batteries and e-mobility can play a vital part in ensuring optimal conditions in the future of urban areas, while these will with certainty keep expanding rapidly. Not only does e-mobility offer a sustainable mode of transportation, but it is also an easily accessible and agile vehicle made for the urban lifestyle.

  Recycling is essential when it comes to batteries, as they contain both valuable and hazardous materials. In 2019 Promovec gave their waste management system an overhaul to make sure that they recycle as much as possible. To reduce the environmental footprint even further and incorporate green ambitions into daily routins. They have introduced sustainable products in the office and production facilities, such as FSC paper products and green energy solutions. Moreover, they have also become a certified Bicycle-friendly workplace.

  To be green and sustainable is more than just “keeping up appearances”; it is trying to be as green as possible throughout the whole supply chain. If green values are shared by their employees, making green decisions become an easy choice. They cannot fall back to business as usual. Instead, Promovec does strive to make the usual business green.