An annual measurement by Zuid Limburg Bereikbaar shows an increase in the number of people using e-bikes and speed pedelecs for commuting between 2022 and 2023.
The Clustered Effect Measurement 2023 asked more than 8,000 respondents, employed at Zuid-Limburg Bereikbaar (ZLB) and participants in the ZLB panel, about their commuting and work from home habits.
The results showed that in 2023, almost 30% of commuting trips in South Limburg were made by bicycle, e-bike, or speed pedelec. The percentage of trips commuted by bicycle was higher for those working at ZLB than the general population for the region. Maastricht has the largest share of the modal split for bikes and e-bikes. The share of commuting bike rides from Maastricht as a place of residency is 60% and 37% as a work area.
The share of e-bikes and speed pedelecs in the modal split for commuting has increased from 9% to 14% between 2022 to 2023. These changes indicate a clear switch from car to electric bike for people’s commutes. In 2023 trips up to 15km were made more often by e-bike and less often by car, however there is still potential to increase cycling for this distance. One of the recommendations is to continue the #posifiets campaign, as this appears to have made a significant contribution to reducing the number of car journeys.
Legislation to fast-track standards for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries has unanimous, bipartisan support. But standards that will have the power to change the industry are still months if not years away
To address the hazards posed by poorly manufactured batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters, New York City officials have implemented measures to curb the rising incidents of fires and injuries caused by these devices.
Within the first three weeks of 2024, there were nine fires linked to these batteries, resulting in eight injuries. FDNY reported that since 2019, injuries related to battery fires have surged by 1,053%, reaching 150 cases in 2023. Last year, 18 people died in battery-related fires, up from 6 deaths the year before.
To counter this alarming trend, officials have passed local legislation to prohibit the possession or sale of refurbished lithium-ion batteries. A City Council committee hearing is scheduled to discuss additional e-bike safety measures, and Governor Kathy Hochul plans to propose a bill banning their sale. Public housing leaders in the city have also moved to limit the number of e-bikes per household. Despite these efforts, safety experts argue that true mitigation requires regulation at the manufacturing source.
Achieving this goal necessitates federal legislation, a challenging prospect given the divided and unproductive state of Congress. Surprisingly, there is bipartisan support for regulating the batteries, as evidenced by a pending bill in Congress. This legislation aims to empower the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish federal standards for the safe construction and import of these batteries.
New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Representative Ritchie Torres, have been advocating for such legislation since last year. Without this authorization, the Consumer Product Safety Commission lacks the regulatory authority to impose mandatory standards. The absence of mandatory standards allows manufacturers to adhere to safety measures voluntarily, leading to an influx of poorly made products and subsequent battery malfunctions, explosions, and fires.
The bill has garnered significant support during its progression through the House of Representatives, receiving unanimous approval in both a subcommittee and the Energy and Commerce Committee. Though viewed as a positive development by consumer product safety experts, the journey ahead involves Senate consideration and, if successful, a significant delay before the mandatory standards take effect, potentially extending to at least another year.
Despite the extended timeline, consumer product safety experts view this legislation as a crucial step. However, the process involves Senate deliberations and, as of now, there is no immediate information on its status. Regardless of the legislative outcome, the implementation of mandatory standards would represent a pivotal move to address the widespread issue of e-bike and e-scooter battery fires and associated risks.
Guidance includes information on how to safely buy, store and charge e-cycles and e-scooters.
Information around how to safely purchase, charge and use e-bikes and e-scooters has been published by the UK government to improve consumer safety.
After thorough consultation with the industry, guidance on battery safety has been developed for both e-scooters and e-bikes, which aims to enhance awareness among owners regarding the safe purchase of e-cycles or e-scooters, ensuring compliance with manufacturing requirements, and promoting transactions with reputable sellers. The documents cover information on secure storage and charging, the warning signs for fire risk and how to address them, and responsible battery disposal. The guidance also emphasises that legal use of e-scooters on roads is restricted unless they are part of an official rental trial.
Minister Anthony Browne, responsible for Technology and Decarbonisation, affirmed that “Safety has always been our top priority, which is why our latest guidance aims to improve the awareness of e-bike and e-scooter users in the trial areas where they’re authorised.”
This announcement follows the Home Office’s advice on fire safety for e-scooters and e-bikes published last year. To further understand the safety of lithium-ion batteries used in e-cycles and e-scooters, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is presently conducting a safety study and taking enforcement measures when unsafe products are found.
The extension of e-scooter trials until May 2026 will facilitate further insights across various areas, including usage, safety and environmental impacts, and the exploration of travel behaviour changes since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comments Off on AureusDrive announces new partner plus service discount for end users
Swiss e-bike manufacturer and retailer, AureusDrive has announced a new store partnership and servicing offer for consumers in select locations.
New partner
The brand has stated its new partner Velo-center is based in Biel, Switzerland, and is offering in-store test rides and servicing.
Available e-bike models for testing are:
Power45 in White, Size M
Comfort 25 in Black, Size S
Interested riders can book a test ride with this link.
E-bike servicing discount
AureusDrive is also offering a 15% discount on e-bike servicing in its Lucerne and Lausanne stores, where its team will be on hand to inspect and help customers prepare their rides for the winter season.
Riders can take advantage of this special offer until December 15th by scheduling an appointment through AureusDrive’s website.
Name selection for upcoming electric bike model
More exciting news to come out from the company is its request for users to vote on a name for the successor of its Classic/Comfort models online. The new e-bike will be a successor of the Classic and Comfort e-bikes, with customers being able to select whether they’d like a high top tube, or no top tube with their electric ride.
Almost one-third of ANWB members who own an e-bike occasionally opted not to ride it due to theft concerns in 2023. This is twice the rate of non-electric bike owners. This insight stems from ANWB’s study involving over 1,400 members.
The number of electric bike users among ANWB members has increased significantly in recent years. Over the past decade, there has been a nearly fivefold increase in e-bike ownership, from 9 percent in 2013 to 42 percent in 2023. Presently, the use of electric bikes (42 percent) nearly equals that of conventional bikes (46 percent).
Fear of theft
The surge in e-bike ownership is accompanies by a heightened apprehension about theft among riders. In 2018, 21 percent of respondents refrained from using their bike once to several times a month due to security concerns, this increased to 29 percent in 2023. Notably, over 30 percent of e-bike owners report leaving their bikes at home in 2023 due to theft fears, compared to 16 percent of regular bike owners. The primary reasons for abstaining from riding include heavy traffic at destinations and insufficient secure parking options. These issues are mentioned more frequently by e-bike owners than from ANWB members with a regular bike.
Loss due to theft
The risk of financial loss due to theft is also greater for e-bike owners, with 70 percent experiencing such losses compared to 62% among regular bike owners. Given the higher purchase cost of electric bikes (averaging €2,237 versus €750 for non-electric bikes), 69% of e-bike owners opt for insurance, compared to 22% among non-electric bike owners. Interestingly, emotional attachment to bikes appears stronger among regular bike owners, with 37% reporting to dread the emotional loss compared to 24% of e-cyclists.
Safe Storage
E-bike owners demonstrate a stronger inclination towards anti-theft measures than regular bike owners, securing their bikes significantly more often (71 percent versus 53 percent), employing 2 or more locks (67 percent versus 39 percent), and utilizing monitored bicycle sheds (49 percent versus 35 percent). Additionally, e-bikers are more likely to own connected bikes equipped with GPS tracking.
Undesirable development
According to the ANWB, the escalating fear of theft concerning, especially at a time when cycling on an e-bike is on the rise. The group advocates for safer bicycle storage options, advising cyclists to double lock their bikes and detach the battery when stored at home.
Research
This study marks the third time ANWB has investigated the impact of bicycle theft on usage, maintaining consistency in survey questions across 2013, 2018, and 2023 for comparative analysis.
Comments Off on Interview: ten years of Pendix – e-bike drives from Zwickau
At the end of 2013, five founders launched a concept for retrofittable e-bike drives. Pendix GmbH was born. Today the company has developed into an internationally known manufacturer in its field. In an interview, CEO Thomas Herzog talks about unforgettable moments, milestones and new opportunities.
Mr. Herzog, ten years ago Pendix started with its idea for retrofittable electric bicycle drives. Is there anything from the early days that you remember as if it were yesterday?
Yes, the entry in the commercial register on November 18, 2013 is a day for our founding team that we will probably never forget. The product idea for Pendix was already there at the time. In January 2014 we had a workshop in the ADAC Tower at Sachsenring with all employees and investors. This meeting from the early days is still very present in my mind today: We approved a strong roadmap there and had the first prototype on the test bench three months later. Sales then started almost a year and a half later, in August 2015.
What has changed in the company since the early days; What, on the other hand, has remained completely the same?
At the beginning we started with strong and promising ideas. We were brimming with entrepreneurial spirit and energy. The strength and creativity remain to this day. In addition, we have also greatly professionalized our structure in recent years. You ask me what hasn’t changed for us? All I can say is: the people, the atmosphere and the togetherness. The topics at the lunch table have remained the same. (smiles)
What were the two biggest milestones of the stage so far?
By taking over VSC.BIKE in 2019, we were able to merge our expertise in drivetrain construction with the skills of a frame builder. Since then, we have been offering a unique combination of skills from a manufacturer in our industry. This benefits customers, among other things, in the development and coordination of cargo bike solutions. The next big milestone was Johnson Electric joining us in 2022. By working with the world’s leading industrial engine manufacturer, we have, so to speak, put the turbo in place for our future. We can rely on our partner when it comes to issues such as sustainability, scalability of our product range and securing our supply chain.
What has shaped your company more than anything else – are there people or circumstances that you are particularly grateful for today?
Everyone who has walked the journey with us to this point or who has accompanied our company for a while has helped to shape us. Above all, of course, are our employees, who remain loyal to us to this day. I am and we are all very grateful to you. I would also like to mention two other names that were and are very important for our development: Firstly, there is Mr. Stier from the TGFS in Leipzig. That was our first investor back then. A big thank you also goes to Stephen Dowling from Kator PTY, our investor from Australia. Without these people, Pendix wouldn’t be what it is today.
How would you summarize in one sentence the characteristics that have carried your company throughout its history?
It’s not just strength and speed that have led to our success so far, but also inner strength.
What are you currently focusing on, what goals will you pursue with Pendix in the next few months?
What we are all really excited about right now is the introduction of the Pendix gDrive. This is the first mid-engine with gearbox permanently installed on the bike in our company history. We built a first sample with which we carried out driving tests. The software and hardware came together for the first time – such a test is always a big moment for our team. We developed the new gDrive specifically for city and trekking bikes. Because: A mid-engine position on the bike is ideal when it comes to a natural riding experience. The start of production is planned for early 2025.
Thought experiment: We’ll do this interview again in a decade; Where do you see your company then?
I like to look into the crystal ball. What I see is: We have become one of the top five European manufacturers of electric drives for bicycles. I can also see that we are still based in Zwickau, here in Saxony.
In Denderleeuw, Belgium, the local police department will now see its staff going on patrol on new Trenergy e-bikes, after a batch were recently delivered.
Needing to replace its existing fleet, the Denderleeuw Police Department put out a public tender with a view to purchasing more modern models. Those entering the tender had to ensure specific requirements were met, including the e-bikes’ colour (white), weight, carrier weight, service, price and battery.
The chosen dealer was Fietsen ‘t Sjepapke in Denderleeuw., who felt that the Trenergy Performance 2.3 with belt drive and Enviolo hub best met all the requirements. The dealer also offers a service whereby the bicycles can be repaired on-site at the police department, for greater convenience.
Pascal Chow has responsibility for Trenergy’s Belgian market, and was in charge of handing over the first bicycles to the Police Department. He said, “We are very happy with this collaboration and see it as a first step for a long-term relationship. The bicycles are regular models that are available to everyone. We didn’t make any special adjustments, like bulletproof tires or anything like that.”
After a short test drive by one of the police officers, the first impression was that the Trenergy e-bikes also ride smoothly without power-assisted support, which had not been the case with previous models.
LEVA-EU member Eskuta is expanding its UK premises in Nuneaton, with the strategic installation of a new mezzanine.
This step will enable the manufacturer to double its stock capacity, and is expected to be completed by early September 2023.
To be installed in both units of Eskuta’s facilities, the mezzanine will provide an additional 160 sq m of space, allowing Eskuta to both serve a larger customer base, and reduce waiting times for their moped-style e-bikes, which are assembled on-site by the company’s team of technicians. New job opportunities are expected to be generated by this step.
Eskuta managing director Ian O’Connor, who founded the company in 2015, said: “The expansion marks an exciting time for Eskuta, the new mezzanine installation is the first stage of our expansion plans, and the additional capacity will allow us to reduce lead times and enter new developing markets.
“We are passionate as ever about shaping the future of e-mobility and championing the importance electric bikes and Light Electric Vehicles will play in the future, as we head towards net zero and aim to reduce congestion in our towns and cities.
“Coventry, Birmingham, and the surrounding areas have been the birthplace of many leading motorcycle and cycle manufacturers over the years, and we are proud to be continuing that legacy as we all transition to a sustainable and electric future.”
Eskuta has received several recent accolades, included winning Reach Media’s BusinessLIVE’s ‘Small Business of the Year 2022’, and the SX-250 e-bike being recognised in a recent article as ‘Best Moped Style e-bike 2023’ by Expert Reviews.
Comments Off on Pivot Cycles reveals new Shuttle AM eMTB
LEVA-EU member Pivot Cycles’ new Shuttle AM promises “Unmatched Performance, Endless Possibilities”: crafted to be the ultimate all-mountain machine, it comes equipped with everything you need to conquer any trail on the mountain.
Shuttle AM doesn’t shy away from touting itself as an all-mountain masterpiece that dominates the realm of e-mountain performance. This awe-inspiring e-bike strikes the perfect chord, delivering an unmatched blend of lightweight agility and long-travel prowess that hits the all-mountain sweet spot. So, brace yourself as Pivot introduces the Shuttle AM, an e-bike that conquers every type of terrain with ease, from fast-flowing singletracks to breathtaking back country descents.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Shuttle AM to the world,” says Chris Cocalis, founder, and CEO of Pivot. “The Shuttle AM is our first project partnering with Bosch and showcases our commitment to pushing the limits of innovation and design. This bike embodies the perfect fusion of versatility and performance. It’s an eMTB that every rider will enjoy. The Shuttle AM hits that all-mountain sweet spot.”
Completing Pivot’s all-star lineup of e-bikes, the Shuttle AM shines as a crown jewel. Powered by the latest Bosch Performance drive systems, all Shuttle AM models deliver class leading performance. The range-topping Team build features Bosch’s all new, limited-edition Performance CX Race motor, 750Wh battery with Bosch PowerMore range extender capability. Designed with 148mm of rear travel, a 160mm Fox fork and purpose-built all-mountain geometry, the Shuttle AM inspires total confidence on any trail.
Pricing, Specifications, and Availability: The Shuttle AM will be available in Blue Neptune and Mojave Willow Green colors and can be purchased in three different complete build options priced from $8,999 to $13,999. Available now, in sizes S through XL, at key Pivot dealers worldwide. For more information visit: https://global.pivotcycles.com/products/shuttle-am. For immediate download of complete technical details on the Pivot Shuttle AM, as well as photos, video, Instagram edit, specifications and more, please follow this link.
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