Comments Off on Ellio reveals its new speed pedelec model, the Max
LEVA-EU member Ellio has unveiled its new Max model, which the company describes as a powerful combination of in-house expertise, innovation and insights from the Ellio Rider community
The speed pedelec features integration of sustainable materials and components, including a Gates Carbon Drive CDX drive belts, hydraulic disc brakes and Ellio’s own two-wheel drive featuring an automatic gear-shifting system.
Ellio says that the Max has been designed to get riders to their destination smoothly, every day, and is confident that, whatever the road conditions and distance, smooth and reliable commuting is assured.
Funded by the Welsh Government, the E-Move project has been in operation since 2021 and has provided many in Wales with a free electric cycle loan. Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit (RMU) team have collaborated with Jack Kinder, an MSc research student from Cardiff University, to analyse interview data from those who have taken part in the project.
Sustrans have been interviewing those who have taken the government loan, to see how it has treated them and indeed, what their experiences of e-bikes and e-cargo bikes are like. This data was cleared by participants and shared with Jack, who was already interested in researching e-cycles, how e-cycles might affect rural Welsh communities, and wider carbon emissions.
Jack used practise theory in his E-Move analysis, based upon behaviour change. This theory considers the impact that our society has on us in addition to individual behaviours and evaluates decision making as social practises that are influenced by wider environmental and social conditions and our individual life experiences.
The interview data identified many common barriers to cycling that significantly pushed people towards motorised transport in rural Wales. These included: • terrain and landscape • lack of dedicated cycling infrastructure • not feeling welcome on roads • negative views about cycling • perceived danger • stigma from other road users and people cycling.
One respondent commented that although the route into town was flat for them, they ‘prefer not to go down the main roads because I don’t feel particularly safe on a bike with the traffic.’
The wide range of demographics in the data also concluded on alternative barriers to choosing pedal power over motors, in the older generation over the younger, for example, ‘You see a few people cycling, but it’s so hilly that it’s impractical unless you are 21 and super-fit.’
The e-cycle solution
One significant advantage of electric-powered cycles is their ability to overcome many of the barriers that were highlighted. Those aforementioned hills can be defeated, for example. E-Move has also enabled capabilities for those taking up the task to cycle further and more often, wonderful for the health of the nation and a certified boost for confidence and independence. The agility of the electric bicycles and cargo bikes has also installed confidence in sharing the road with traffic, with one participant commenting,
‘A couple of times I’d just go into Newtown to do some shopping, which I wouldn’t have done on a standard bike… by the time you’ve put 5kg of shopping on, you’re not going to do that on a standard bike 8 miles out of town, so yeah very positive!’
Participants using those e-bikes fitted with child seats also commented that it made their child-caring responsibilities easier to fulfil than using a car or taxi, another positive endorsement.
E-Move Continues
The success of the E-Move project has meant expansion into a third year. Sustrans’ RMU does relay that there are still barriers that need to be defeated, particularly the cost of an electric bicycle, but also personal safety and uncertainty of where e-bike users belong on the road. Training with an accredited provider is advised. In addition, there are challenges from the UK Government’s funding cuts to active travel.
Data collaboration
The project between Sustrans and Cardiff University was an opportunity to explore the E-Move project in more depth and study the highs and lows of those taking part. In addition, the project brought real benefit to Jack’s studies thanks to working with real-world data.
The conclusion was that E-Move should be expanded so that it can reach as many people as possible. This is obviously a positive deduction, one that goes some way in increasing the health of the nation and bringing back cycling enjoyment to those who may have been missing out. There are so many positive aspects to cycling over motor vehicles, and the Welsh Government’s 2024 extension of the E-Move project is very welcomed.
The first quarter of 2023 has been a challenging one, and cities and shared mobility operators are changing tack on transport innovation. Some cities are limiting the number of vehicles that can be present at one time, with Paris even banning shared scooters in April. Operators are finding little profit in the shared transport city solutions, but there is a lot more to discover and rider numbers are still increasing.
Fluctuo predicts that some cities have reached full capacity for electric scooters, whereas others, particularly Eastern Europe, haven’t. Shared bikes are expected to catch shared scooters in terms of user numbers, while improved efficiency will see more people using the systems.
It is commonly accepted that urban density plays a huge part in public transport logistics in our cities. In the most densely populated areas, there is a shift away from private car usage, instead encouraging other modes of transport and more simplified means of getting around, particularly when the focus on the city is in one place, for example workplace communities. Here, amenities are close by, so use of walking, cycling and public transport is encouraged. This benefits our health and reduces our carbon footprint.
Shared mobility – namely bikes, scooters and mopeds – is also urged, and Fluctuo has collected data from over 90 European countries that shows cities with a population of 5000 km2 have over 10,000 shared vehicles. At 8,600 vehicles, Copenhagen is the only exception. Some of these cities are, of course, Europe’s largest, so this may not come as a total surprise. Outside of this 90-city quota, an additional 6 cities with a dense urban population were found to have fewer than 10,000 vehicles. Fluctuo suggests that these cities may not yet be at full capacity and hence, these figures may well change going forwards. Access to shared vehicles is a key factor in improving the environmental impact of our cities.
An accurate way of quantifying the success of shared vehicles is by looking at the trips per vehicle per day (TVD). Popularity is gathered by the amount of shared vehicles but the TVD tells the real success story. Fluctuo’s investigation found that high population density increased shared vehicle use. This is optimistic and reflects the EU’s overall quest to make city residents healthy and reduce the detriment to the environment.
Julien Chamussy, CEO at Fluctuo commented, “After 5 years of hyper-growth made possible by massive VC-backed investments, shared mobility operators now have months to become profitable.” further adding, “It may seem counterintuitive, but the growing number of calls for tenders and the increased demands of European cities (parking, user safety, environmental impact) could actually help operators. With fewer competitors and smaller fleets, performance metrics on the vehicle level should greatly improve.”
LEVA-EU member FRIKAR has announced that it is shifting to small-batch production of its limited-edition Signature model, allowing them to enhance their construction model.
Only 180 units of the model will be produced, and entirely hand-built to ensure tight quality control. Previously, each was stick-built piece by piece, but now FRIKAR has hired another assembler, allowing the shift to more efficient small-batch production. Instead of working on one bike from beginning to end, each will now be built in batches, with the team working on the same stage on every bike in each batch, saving preparation time for each stage.
This shift is seen by FRIKAR as a way to modestly boost output and increase efficiency, without sacrificing quality.
FRIKAR Awards
FRIKAR sees their Podbike concept as the next step in the evolution of green mobility, and last year received a handful of awards: Innovators Award at the Eurobike trade fair in Frankfurt, and Most Innovative Urban Mobility Company and E-Bike of the Year at the Scandinavia Business Awards. They have teased that another prestigious award is coming their way, with details to be revealed in due course.
LEVA-EU member Neomouv, electric bike design specialist, has announced the purchase of Unibike, a Portuguese company with a new assembly plant. Based in La Flèche (Sarthe, France), Neomouv formed a partnership with Unibike in 2018, of which 80% of capital is now acquired by Neomouv.
Philippe Vaxelaire, Neomouv Founding Director
The alliance between the two bicycle specialists saw each with their own tasks. Designs were made by La Flèche-based Neomouv, while assembly and paintwork were completed by Unibike, whose new assembly plant located between Porto and Lisbon boasts a construction capacity of 250,000 electric bikes per annum. Built in 2021, the plant covers 15,000 m², and operates an automated system.
A statement about the purchase concluded, “This acquisition is made possible thanks to the support of the group’s shareholders, including Sodero Gestion, a historical investor.” €2.7 million was raised by the acquisition that keeps Founding Director Philippe Vaxelaire as the majority shareholder.
Although Neomouv and Unibike will continue to operate separately, the purchase will allow Neomouv “to accelerate its development in the electric bicycle market, secure its production and make it gain agility and innovation capacity.” Unibike is set to benefit from Neomouv’s expansive knowledge in design, purchase and supply of electric bikes.
Comments Off on LEVA-EU calls for evidence of damage to EU e-bike companies by dumping measures
The Commission has announced the expiry of the measures against electric bicycles from China in the Official Journal. LEVA-EU is anticipating a review and potential renewal of the measures. In the meantime, the Kafkaesque legislation and the multiple actions by national customs services and OLAF, cause unacceptable disruption and damage to many European companies. Ahead of the review, LEVA-EU calls on all companies affected by the measures for evidence.
In the EU Official Journal of 2 May, the European Commission has published a notice of the impending expiry of the anti-dumping and countervailing measures against electric bicycles from China. This notice only results from normal procedural rules. The deadline for the current measures is 19 January 2024. Article 11.2 of the basic Dumping Regulation stipulates: “A definitive anti-dumping measure shall expire five years from its imposition (…), unless it is determined in a review that the expiry would be likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury. Such an expiry review shall be initiated on the initiative of the Commission, or upon a request made by or on behalf of Union producers, and the measure shall remain in force pending the outcome of that review.”
It seems a foregone conclusion that EBMA will request a review. However, the main question is what arguments the organisation will use to extend the measures for another five years.
In the past 4.5 years, EBMA has developed a surging discours on bringing industry back to Europe and especially on the large number of jobs that will come with it. The whole campaign culminated in a European Parliament Motion for a resolution on developing an EU cycling strategy which, very triumphantly announced that “the EU cycling ecosystem can scale up to 2 million jobs by 2030”.
Much, of course, depends on the definition of the ‘EU cycling ecosystem”, but the fact is that we are still very far from those targeted two million jobs. In a report on employment in the (e)bike business, CONEBI concluded that there were 155,00 jobs in 2021. Incidentally, it appears that the violins in the (e)bike business are not quite tuned in unison. In their 2022 market report, the German (e)bike industry association stated: “The ZIV anticipate no large-scale relocation of production (reshoring) to Europe at the current time. However, it does expect production in The EU to grow in importance.”
And, contrary to what EBMA might claim, the anti-dumping measures are all but helpful to achieve the objective of 2 million jobs, since they are a major obstacle in starting up new companies, whilst causing extensive damage to existing companies in the European Union.
EBMA shouts so loudly that the measures are absolutely necessary for “reshoring for better sustainability, more EU green jobs and EU investments/innovation”, that everyone, including the EU authorities seem to forget what dumping is really about. It is of course not about reshoring, green jobs nor about investments or innovation. The WTO defines dumping as “in general, a situation of international price discrimination, where the price of a product when sold in the importing country is less than the price of that product in the market of the exporting country.” Another important element of dumping is the injury it causes to the EU-industry. And here lies the crux of the matter: what is the European ebike industry? In the end, everyone does the same thing: buying parts and assembling them into electric bikes. The net result of the measures against China however is that one part of the European ebike “industry” proffers from the measures, while another part is getting severely injured.
The anti-dumping measures on electric bicycles from China have nothing to do with “a situation of international price discrimination“. They prove to be a huge barrier for those European companies that have had to find an alternative to assembly in China and equally for all those trying to start a new e-bike business in Europe since the introduction of the measures.
As for assembly in Europe, anti-dumping measures have become completely intertwined with the extension of anti-dumping measures on bicycle parts from China. Furthermore, the Commission has created a highly discriminatory legal distinction between companies that assemble both conventional and electric bicycles and those that assemble electric bikes only. Furthermore, the Commission has recently made it quite a bit more difficult to obtain an exemption for assembly of conventional and electric bicycles. The entire legislation is so complex that no manufacturer can be assumed to understand the rules on their own. Start-ups are forced to pay anti-dumping duties on electric bike components for quite a while, before obtaining the necessary authorization to be released from duties on components. Who can afford this?
However, after having paid duties on e-bike components, which according to Sabine Weyand, Director General of DG Trade are not subject to anti-dumping duties, they are then subject to extensive financial guarantees. In addition, shortly after introducing dumping duties on e-bikes from China, the European Commission also changed the rules of origin for imports of electric bikes from non-preferential origin countries overnight.
In the meantime, both national customs authorities and OLAF are constantly investigating companies, electric bike imports and assembling facilities in and outside Europe. The companies involved usually have no idea what they are suspected/accused of, nor are they given any information about the progress of the case. Some, meanwhile, have been waiting for news for three years and live with the threat of fines that may push them into bankruptcy, sometimes even imprisonment!
LEVA-EU has been working relentlessly to explain all legislation pertaining to this e-bike case. In meetings with the European Commission, we have explained the many aberrations an discrimination in the rules, the net result of which being that it’s virtually impossible to start-up a new e-bike business in Europe, while many existing businesses are under threat due to unfair rules. Ahead of the review, we will continue to do so. To this end, we want to draw up an inventory of as many cases as possible of European companies that are being investigated by customs and/or OLAF.
So, are you or have you been investigated by customs and/or OLAF and are you or have you been accused of for instance:
Buying from a European supplier who is suspected of circumventing anti-dumping duties on electric bicycles from China
Not paying anti-dumping duties on bike components for e-bike assembly
Using incorrect HS codes to avoid anti-circumvention duties on bicycle components
Assembling in the EU or buying from an assembler without an exemption or end-use authorization
Illegal application of rules of origin for e-bikes that are produced outside the EU and China
We kindly request you to report your problems to LEVA-EU. We guarantee absolute confidentiality. Cases may be reported to LEVA-EU Manager Annick Roetynck by phone, +32 475 500 588 or by mail, annick@leva-eu.com. Alternatively, you can also book an appointment at the forthcoming Eurobike, here: https://calendly.com/annick_leva-eu/eurobike-meeting
On average, insurance costs €14 per month. The most popular provider in this insurance market is ANWB. Hybrid bicycles are most often insured (73%). This is evident from the third edition of the E-bike Monitor, a large-scale study by Multiscope among more than 5,000 Dutch people.
Sharp increase in the e-bike insurance market
The total e-bike insurance market currently has an annual value of €550 million. Last year it stood at €313 million. This increase is due to the growth in the number of e-bikes, and higher monthly insurance costs. On average, these costs currently amount to €14 per month. Insuring a hybrid bicycle is the most expensive, costing an average of €16 per month. 5% of e-bike owners report a bike having been stolen in the past.
ANWB most popular insurer
Most e-bikes are insured through ANWB. In addition to ANWB, ENRA, Kingpolis and Univé also occupy a large part of this insurance market. Unigarant, Allianz and Interpolis follow at some distance. It is striking that 13% of the Dutch do not know with whom their electric bicycle is insured.
Hybrid bicycles most insured
Six out of ten electric bicycles are insured. This share is remarkably higher for electric hybrid bicycles (73%). Electric cargo bikes and folding bikes, on the other hand, are insured less often, at 40% and 30% respectively. In general, it can be said that the higher the value of an electric bicycle, the more often it is insured.
About Multiscope
Multiscope is a specialist in online market research. We support companies and organizations in making the right decisions through online panels, market reports and innovative research solutions.
The results in this press release come from the third edition of the E-bike Monitor, a large-scale survey of electric bicycles, electric scooters and light electric vehicles in the Netherlands. The survey surveyed 5,063 respondents aged 18 and over, representing the Dutch population.
LEVA-EU member and automotive innovator CityQ becomes one of the latest eSync Alliance members, allowing it to provide OTA updates and diagnostics for the first time
On May 10, 2023, the eSync Alliance, a global automotive initiative for the standardization of over-the-air (OTA) updates and diagnostics, welcomed LEVA-EU member CityQ and Luxoft as new association members. The pair join a rapidly growing network of automakers, Tier-1 suppliers and digital software companies already enjoying the benefit of the eSync bi-directional data pipeline.
CityQ’s range of four-wheeled e-bikes aim to maximize comfort, capacity, efficiency, and safety by providing users with an attractive alternative to a car for urban personal transport. Manufactured in Germany, the bikes can travel at speeds of up to 25km/h and can be fitted with a modular storage compartment for last-mile logistics and deliveries.
An example of CityQ’s four-wheeled electric bike
Mike Gardner, Executive Director of the eSync Alliance, said: “The eSync Alliance is growing rapidly and the addition of CityQ and Luxoft – two companies working in diverse and important areas of the automotive sector – demonstrate how important a standardized OTA specification is to the industry’s future. We’re confident that both businesses will prove to be valuable partners and we look forward to their unique perspectives contributing to a stronger standard in the months to come.”
Morten Rynning, CEO at CityQ, said, “Working with the eSync Alliance will enable CityQ to add connectivity for OTA, and to remotely diagnose and upgrade the vehicles. As well as improving the service we can offer to CityQ owners, this will be particularly useful for fleet management, one of our major markets.”
Proven in millions of vehicles globally, eSync is a robust, repeatable solution for OTA deployment. The only universal bi-directional pipeline, eSync is currently used by more than 30 OEMs and Tier-1s, helping to simplify the development process and speed up the transition to SDVs.
About CityQ
CityQ is the first vehicle platform for city pods and 4-wheel e-bikes, with doors and full weather protection, as well as a cargo bed for luggage and rear seats for 2 children. The e-bikes feature connectivity and pedal by wire instead of mechanical chain or gears. CityQ is the new e-bike with car capabilities, making the shift from car to bicycling easier. See CityQ
About the eSync™ Alliance The eSync™ Alliance is a non-profit trade association driving a multi-company solution for Over-the-Air (OTA) updates and diagnostics data in the automotive electronics space, potentially saving billions of dollars per year for automakers. By working together in the Alliance, companies benefit from a simplified development environment made possible by a standardized yet customizable platform. The Alliance is based around the eSync platform of cloud and embedded components, providing a secure data pipeline to devices within a vehicle. Further information is at https://www.esyncalliance.org/
VanMoof distills 13 years of in-house innovation into its most accessible and reliable ride yet. The S4 & X4 come equipped with iconic tech and in four vibrant new colors.
The very best of VanMoof, ingeniously simplified
The latest release from the city e-bike pioneers distills 13 years of in-house innovation, expertise, and rider feedback. The new VanMoof S4 & X4 share the iconic frame shapes of the best-selling VanMoof S3 & X3, but have been entirely rebuilt to offer the very best of the brand’s technological innovation in its most simple, accessible, and reliable models to date.
“One of the hardest things in life is to make things more simple. With the S4 & X4, we’ve mastered the art of simplification to make our e-bikes more accessible and reliable than ever.”
Taco Carlier, Co-founder of VanMoof
Signature VanMoof tech, streamlined design, and all-new parts
Optimized for fast, frequent rides, the S4 & X4 feature automatic 2-speed gear shifting and an integrated Gen 4 Kick Lock that secures the rear wheel with a tap. VanMoof’s signature anti-theft tech including onboard alarms and location tracking is built-in for worry-free riding. The rider-favorite Turbo Boost provides on-demand acceleration, and dynamic motor support creates an effortlessly intuitive ride. A built-in phone mount allows the VanMoof app to be used as a dashboard, tracking every ride’s speed, duration, and distance. The S4 & X4 come in four vibrant colors: Evergreen, Sunbeam Yellow, Purple Fog, and Foam Green.
“We spend a lot of time listening to prospective riders. And what we heard clearly was the desire for our key features and iconic VanMoof design – in an e-bike that was even more simple, more accessible, and more reliable. We designed the S4 & X4 specifically to meet their needs”
Ties Carlier, Co-founder of VanMoof
The VanMoof S4 & X4 launches worldwide via vanmoof.com from May 9 for $2,498 / £2,198 / €2,198. In the EU, Evergreen will be on sale from May 9. Purple Fog will be on sale in late May, Sunbeam Yellow in late June, and Foam Green in late July. In the US, Evergreen will be on sale in late May, Purple Fog in June, Sunbeam Yellow in July, and Foam Green in late July. In the UK, Evergreen will be on sale in early June, Purple Fog in late June, Sunbeam Yellow in July, and Foam Green in August. Riders can join the waitlist to be notified before each color goes on sale.
About VanMoof
VanMoof was founded in 2009 by Taco and Ties Carlier, two Dutch brothers who dreamt up the perfect city bike. Today, its sleek, multi-award winning e-bikes offer a high-tech and feature-rich experience for a global community of riders. As the world’s fastest growing e-bike brand, VanMoof is on course to redefine the future of urban mobility and get the next billion on bikes. VanMoof sells its e-bikes directly to riders online, with hubs in over 50 cities worldwide, from Paris and New York, to San Francisco and Tokyo.
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