The LEVA-EU member explains its relevant connection between cycling and nature, as it aspires to make a meaningful contribution to environmental areas that need it most. By supporting WWF, it joins the organisation in helping nature in over 200 regions worldwide.
About the partnership, the Dutch e-bike manufacturer states that it believes that freedom and mobility go together simultaneously with respect for the living environment. It emphasises that with its bikes bringing people closer to it, it feels a responsibility to protect nature and provide a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.
Lacros’ partnership with WWF results in the brand directly contributing to the initiative “More nature worldwide”. It supports more than 200 regions across the world that are experiencing a difficult time, from helping to reconstruct Asian coral reefs, protect vital forests in South America, and preserve fragile ecosystems, from the savannah in Africa to the Arctic’s icy plains.
Together with its customers and partners, Lacros looks forward to making a positive contribution to a world of people and nature living together in better harmony.
The LEVA-EU member has recently introduced its new e-bikes in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, with the brand describing the move as representing its product development phase, which places an emphasis on design and everyday use. The news coincides with the re-appointment of René Stubbmann, for strengthening brand development and dealer network expansion in Germany.
QWIC highlights that both bikes have been developed on the concept of “daily riding that feels smooth, looks sharp, and fits who you are.”
Powered by the Bosch Smart System, the Elan has been innovated to deliver all-day comfort, while The Signal is QWIC’s lightest e-bike ever, weighing 20.6 kg.
The newest additions to QWIC’s e-bike line-up
CEO Steven Uitentuis describes the significance of the latest models:
“With the Elan and Signal, we demonstrate what QWIC stands for: distinctive design and a smooth daily user experience.”
The company has prioritised comfort and reliability features as being central to their design, as well as customisation options (including color and finish) to provide riders with smooth and personalised daily riding experiences.
“The bike should not only be pleasant to ride, but also align with who you are and how you live,” says QWIC’s marketing manager Carolin Wenk.
QWIC Elan electric bike
Developed as a premium all-round e-bike for both commuting and recreational scenarios, this model supports a comfortable riding position, and is equipped with the Bosch Smart System.
This is the first time a QWIC model has incorporated Bosch technology in its design. It adopts the latest Bosch Performance Line drive (75 Nm), to bring smooth and supportive riding for both the city, and for longer journeys (500 Wh, alternatively 625 Wh).
QWIC Signal electric bike
Positioned as a lightweight e-bike for short trips in urban riding scenarios, with its design it focuses on ease of use and high maneuverability. It is QWIC’s lightest e-bike ever, weighing 20.6 kg.
Pricing and availability
Elan’s recommended retail price starts at €2,999, and Signal at €2,399.
Both models are available via QWIC dealers in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, and more information is available on the company’s regional websites.
QWIC strengthens sales team in Germany
QWIC’s launch news coincides with the brand welcoming back René Stubbmann to the team, who previously worked there for several years. He will bring his comprehensive market knowledge and network to take his new role of Senior Sales Representative for Northern Germany, where he will work closely with the Managing Director of Sales at QWIC, Rasched Abu-Isbeih, to strengthen brand development and dealer network expansion in Germany.
“With René, we are not only gaining back an experienced sales expert, but also a person who understands our brand, our partners, and the dynamics of the market perfectly. His experience and network will play a key role in strategically expanding our presence in Germany,” said Rasched Abu-Isbeih about Rene’s appointment.
The brand of LEVA-EU member, Bizbike, has experienced great results in the first quarter of 2026, exceeding its sales expectations with 71% more electric bikes sold. Beaufort also reported it has sold more than it planned for in January and February, as well as double the sales it anticipated for March.
Brand Manager Pieter Vander Linden described Beaufort’s positive Q1 2026 results as the following:
“A wonderful feeling. On the one hand, the targets have been quite high over the past few months, so it was a risk to put so much weight on the scales. On the other hand, we already felt during Velofollies that there was a lot of interest in our models, so we are confident that we could meet our target. However, I never would have dared to dream that we would exceed it by 71%.”
Vander Linden declares these latest results, and an 11% sales increase from 2025, as a testament to the cutting-edge designs of Beaufort’s e-bikes, while also highlighting the positive feedback the brand has received:
“This is also evident from the number of retailers lining up to represent the brand since Velofollies and the B2B FESTIVAL this year. Year-to-date, we are performing 11% better in terms of sales. The greatest gift you can receive is the trust your customers place in you and your policies. I am grateful that they stand behind the brand and see the added value as an addition to their current offerings. We hope to be able to continue this trend.”
Testaankoop credentials simplify Beaufort sales to end-users
In late 2025, Testaankoop, Belgium’s largest independent consumer organisation, awarded Beaufort’s bikes with ratings of Best Buy, and Best Tested, with Bay receiving the first label, and Bay Infinite the latter.
When asked if the impressive credentials have had an impact on sales, Vander Linden answered:
“Yes and no. The Bay and Bay Infinite have been the brand’s flagship models since their introduction two years ago. These labels do simplify resale to the end consumer, because retailers make optimal use of the momentum.”
On behalf of the STAAT-E-LEKKER campaign, PanelWizard surveyed over 1,000 e-bike owners in the Netherlands, revealing that many are taking insufficient measures for tackling theft.
With increasing amount of bicycle thefts occurring, according to the survey of Dutch e-bike owners, it appears that a significant amount of users do not secure their e-bikes well enough in compliance with recommended guidelines.
The Vehicle Crime Insurance Bureau Foundation (VbV), initiator of the STAAT-E-LEKKER campaign, believes that theft can often be linked to user behaviour, with theft opportunities more likely in the event of users making short stops on their bicycle, with a lack of additional security.
PanelWizard’s survey reveals that 45% of respondents use just one lock when outdoors, and only 37% of users always lock their bike to an object (such as a bike rack or pole, for example).
Furthermore, 70% of these respondents think that their e-bike is safe generally, with 29% scoring the risk of theft as high.
The role of convenience and routine in users protecting their e-bikes sufficiently
In the survey, 30% of respondents indicate taking fewer security measures when away from their bike for a short time, as 26% believe their bike is safe at specific locations.
Meanwhile in terms of practicality: 21% have stated that they find extra security inconvenient and 25% say they can’t always identify a suitable object for locking their bike to.
The study also shows other security precautionary steps have not been taken by users:
41% of e-bikes haven’t been insured against theft, with some users not knowing whether their lock complies with minimum security requirements. Furthermore, 48% of respondents stated that by default they leave the battery on their bike, despite its high value.
Over half of respondents (56%) have directly or indirectly experienced e-bike theft. However, 46% of them haven’t adopted additional security precautions after this experience.
The STAAT-E-LEKKER campaign
The campaign, which was launched during the Week Against Bicycle Theft (April 6 to 10) and operates through to October, focuses on improving user behaviour for protecting bikes against theft. It advises owners to always use at least 2 locks (with at least one being ART-2 certified) for securing their bike to an object, even during short stops.
The STAAT-E-LEKKER campaign will involve awareness activities being held in Dutch cities that have relatively high numbers of bicycle theft, such as including Den Bosch, The Hague, Amsterdam, Zwolle, and Groningen.
Furthermore, to improve bike security, there are efforts being made to introduce supplementary measures including improved bicycle registration, using decoy bikes, and additional information being provided online and in various locations such as train stations and bicycle parking facilities.
The UK city region has announced a new scheme which will enable eligible citizens to save between £300 to £1,000 when purchasing an electric bike, e-cargo bike, or an adapted e-cycle bike, and associated accessories.
The TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) vouchers are available through specialist retailers on a first-come, first-served basis, courtesy of the UK Government’s body Active Travel England.
Vouchers for making e-biking more accessible
The subsidy scheme is targeted at residents in the Greater Manchester area who are over the age of 16 for individuals with:
Lower incomes
Living in high-deprivation areas
Limited access to affordable transport
Less likelihood to be part of typical cycling demographic groups
About the voucher eligibility, the Beeactive Transport for Greater Manchester website says, “The e-bike voucher scheme actively aims to increase access to e-bikes for those who stand to benefit the most. Higher value vouchers may be offered to applicants with greater need, helping to reduce cost barriers and support more people to begin or sustain cycling.”
Transport for Greater Manchester adds “You may be able to use your TfGM e‑bike subsidy voucher with a Cycle to Work scheme. This depends on whether the retailer supports both the voucher and Cycle to Work scheme and accepts them together.”
At the same time, residents can test e-bikes for free for the short-term before committing to a purchase by applying for a “Borrow an e-bike” scheme.
Voucher exclusions
The terms and conditions of the scheme mean that e-bike conversion kits aren’t eligible for purchasing, nor any vehicle that is throttle-controlled (and therefore unlikely to be an e-bike outside of certain exceptions). For lock purchases using the funds, they must be a diamond-rated security item.
E-bike media, Cycling Electric, are also playing a role in encouraging e-bike awareness in the UK by holding free testing events in Bath, Leeds and London this year.
The LEVA-EU member’s recumbent Easy Rider Explore and city cruiser Thuja models were put to the test by German electric cycling publication ElektroRad, in its annual E-bike Test, achieving assessments of Very Good and Good respectively.
The ElektroRad testing procedure is thorough, following a complex evaluation system which comprises more than 120 test parameters. Both Easy Rider Explore and Thuja were tested in the Specialty models section of the Trekking Bikes section, which included three-wheeled variants.
Easy Rider Explore
This recumbent trike is described by the ElektrodRad tester as “a comfortable e-recumbent bike, well-suited for everyday use as well as touring.”
The tester found the riding experience to be comfortable, thanks to features such as spring suspension on the rear axle, a seat with a backrest, and a very relaxed riding position. The drivetrain is noted for the silence of the hub motor, which provides three assistance levels enabling easy tackling of hill starts, and generously spaced 11 gears.
The tester also encountered ice on the testing path, and found that the Easy Rider Explore felt secure in these conditions, concluding that the trike is “perfect for less confident cyclists and novices.”
Thuja
The tester states that the Thuja“offers maximum comfort and versatility, making it suitable for touring, commuting, and cargo.”
Its innovative design is highlighted by the Ackermann steering system, which enables stable, easy manoeuvring, as each wheel turns at a different angle when cornering. Comfort is also prioritised, with a low step-through frame and upright seating position, which enables good visibility of traffic.
The Thuja is powered by a vanRaam mid-drive motor that offers maximum torque of 75 Nm, and is paired with a continuously variable Enviolo hub.
LEVA-EU member CONVOY has collected a trio of accolades at the Wonder Global Design Awards (WGA), with their innovative e-trailer gaining recognition for its ability to swiftly transform any adult bicycle into a family-friendly electric cargo bike.
The WGA judges commended the CONVOY trailer’s ability to allow riders to carry children, pets or cargo easily on their existing bikes, and praised its features: “The patent-pending inline e-trailer architecture delivers true innovation: a wireless handlebar sensor combined with an actuated rear-wheel steering system keep bike and trailer perfectly aligned, offering the safety and ride feel of a longtail e-cargo bike with the versatility, lightweight, and easy storage of a trailer.”
In a LinkedIn post, the CONVOY team stated that the WGA recognition is a “huge credit to our team, partners, and early believers. This is fuel.”
Figures published by the German Federal Statistical Office, Destatis, have revealed that private ownership of electric scooters and bikes in Germany is soaring. 2.9% of households own at least one e-scooter, and numbers of e-bikes not requiring a licence reached 12.2 million in 2023.
The private ownership of electric micromobility devices can be assessed in comparison to the increasing popularity of shared-use schemes for urban travel and last-mile connectivity, with access to shared-use vehicles being subject to shifting policy and regulations.
Germany is seeing strong growth towards electric mobility of all kinds, and it has been reported that there are now in total over 17 million e-bikes on the country’s roads – a marked contrast to its approximately 2 million electric cars.
Figures show that there is at least one standard e-bike (excluding speed pedelecs) in every fifth German household, at 20.6%. This is in contrast to figures for 2018, where 3.8 million e-bikes represented only 7% of households. Ownership of any type of bike is high in the country, with 78.4% of households containing a total of 74.9 million bicycles in 2023.
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Source: Fiestberaad Image credit: Luba Glazunova, Unsplash
According to research conducted by Nielsen IQ, the Netherlands’ bicycle industry saw a 7% reduction in 2025 compared to the previous year, with electric bikes accounting for 73% of the total revenue, and almost half of the units sold.
49% of new bike sales in the Netherlands in 2025 were electric – a total number of 391,318, representing a 4% decrease compared to the previous year. Traditional city and e-bikes are the biggest sellers, with city bikes taking a 19% share.
Sales prices have risen across all types of bikes by 7% to an average of €1,925, while the average e-bike price increased by 6% to €2,872. Over two-thirds of new bike sales are made in bike shops, which are responsible for 82% of the total sector turnover. Within bike shop sales, 63% of units sold are e-bikes, which account for 83% of the shops’ turnover.
In contrast, online bike sales fell by 5% in 2025, and saw lower prices – new bike prices online fell by 3% to €1,190.
