Tag Archive: ebikes

  1. Speed pedelecs given towpath permission in Belgium

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    Source: HBvL

    Formerly off-limits to speed pedelecs, Flemish towpaths are now open to their use, as long as 30km/h speed limits are adhered to. The updated ruling is to coincide with new road signs dictating the information.

    Nearly 2,000 km of paved towpaths and dyke roads span the length of the waterways in Flanders. Traditionally used by those managing and maintaining the waterways, they are also popular with walkers and cyclists, with speed pedelecs omitted unless the route is part of a highway navigation.

    The Flemish Minister for Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) and De Vlaamse Waterweg have readdressed this, however. Wies Callens of the Fietsbond was delighted by the decision, commenting, “We have been asking for this since 2019, because towpaths invite people to travel long distances, for example for commuting. But also because it is absurd to make a distinction between bicycles with pedal assistance. In a 30 km/h zone it is not forbidden to drive a Ferrari because it can reach up to 300 km/h, as long as everyone uses their common sense and keeps to the permitted speed.”

    Due to take place from the summer, Aidan Reinquin, spokesman for Minister Peeters, added, “This does not require a change in the law, but new road signs. They will now be placed as soon as possible. We start in Ghent. The new rule, let it be clear, will only take effect when those new signs have been placed. These are signs with a P on them. Signs that are now there in some places and that indicate that speed pedelecs are prohibited will be removed.”

    To safeguard activities and pave the way for better towpath usage, Minister of Mobility Peeters has mapped out a new vision ‘Functional and recreational co-use of towpaths’ with De Vlaamse Waterweg. He announced that in addition to speed and safety restrictions, there is a recognition that the towpaths are in total darkness at night: “Proper maintenance is important and lighting can be installed in well-considered locations based on safety considerations.”

  2. Marc Burkhardt joins QWIC as Sales Representative Germany

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    E-bike manufacturer and LEVA-EU member QWIC is excited to announce the addition of a new team member, Marc Burkhardt. As of April 3rd, Marc starts as the new Sales Representative for the Western part of Germany

    Marc is a highly experienced sales professional with over 30 years of sales experience, including over 20 years of experience in the specialist retail sector in the mobile phone industry. With his track record, he brings a wealth of experience to the QWIC team.

    Marc Burkhardt: “I am excited to join the QWIC family and promote the brand’s e-bikes to existing and new dealers. QWIC is an exciting and innovative company, and I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues to drive the growth of the brand.”

    His focus will be on continuing the good cooperation with the existing dealers and also expanding the dealer network, and on securing and expanding the brand positioning in his sales territory.

    More vacancies available
    QWIC is constantly looking for enthusiasts who want to contribute to the growth of QWIC. Do you want to be part of QWIC’s success? Check out all vacancies here.

  3. CARLA CARGO’s maturing range

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    LEVA-EU member CARLA CARGO has made some recent upgrades to the range and continues to showcase the very best in sustainable cargo transportation. If you are looking to transport cargo of up to 200kg, the CARLA trailer can help by way of easy manoeuvrability and connection capacities with most bicycles. What’s more, two e-assist models are offered alongside the traditional versions, meaning even more challenges can be tackled.

    Carla Comp:
    Configuration:
    Mechanical brake / B&M lighting system
    Price: 2.836,36 € net

    Carla Pro:
    Configuration:
    Hydraulic brake / SON lighting system
    Price: 3.100,84 € net

    e-Carla Comp
    Configuration:
    Mechanical brake / B&M lighting system
    Price: 3.936,97 € net

    e-Carla Pro
    Configuration:
    Hydraulic brake / ILU – Curana C-Lite
    Price: 4.109,24 € net

    A recent partnership with Samagaga means robust die-cast aluminium wheels are available for new CARLA Pro and eCARLA Pro models, at a surcharge of 420,17 € net on the basic CARLA Pro versions. Upgrades to existing sCARLA models can also be made for 546,22 € net.

    For safety and security solutions, CARLA has buddied up with Zack Zarges. The verified Zarges trailer box is one that protects vital goods and provides outstanding load capacity, and is highly recommended. Just ask Carla Cargo’s Netherlands-based partner Cycloon – they use 100s! Sustainable deliveries are high on the agenda and all at the price of 1.672,00 € net.

    More information, support and technical reading can be found on the CARLA website.

    CARLA are also delighted to announce a partnership with JobRad. This permits all self-employed people to lease CARLA CARGO products via JobRad for self-employed people. You can also insure CARLA CARGO products via a bicycle insurance policy from insurance partner Zurich.

    If you have any questions, please contact JobRad for the self-employed.

    Time to forget the combustion engine and set those world-friendly wheels in motion!

  4. Incentives to enable e-bike purchases for staff considered in Australia and New Zealand

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    Source: MicromobilityReport, S. Green / Stuff.co.nz, S. Edmunds

    In Australia and New Zealand, active transport lobbyists and Green MPs are pushing for the introduction of financial purchase incentives to encourage corporate e-bike purchasing schemes

    WeRide Australia officials were scheduled to meet on 23rd March with the Federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Catherine King, to push for salary packaging assistance to be extended to e-bikes. This would bring provisions in line with those recently introduced for electric cars in Australia, in a move designed to tackle emission reduction goals.

    WeRide Australia executive officer Peter Bourke stated, “We know even if every single vehicle purchased from today is an electric car, we will not get anywhere near the emission reduction goals the government has signed up to for the transport section. We’re saying electric cars are part of the solution but they are not the complete solution.

    “Anyone in the bicycle sector is well aware of the benefits of the bicycle, whether it’s the health benefits and reducing congestion but right now we’re talking about emissions reduction. The transport sector needs to do some heavy lifting in terms of reduction of emissions and e-bikes are certainly part of it, so they should be considered the same way at e-cars when it comes to incentives for more people to buy them.”

    He also referenced the UK’s Cycle to Work scheme, pointing to the potential to persuade people onto two wheels: “In the UK, 40% of people who took out a bike through the Cycle to Work scheme hadn’t been considering buying a bike and 40% were women. It simply makes bike riding more attractive.”

    In New Zealand, a Taxation Bill is going through parliament, with a supplementary order paper from Green MP Julie Anne Genter proposing a scheme for employers to offer their staff e-bikes without incurring fringe benefit tax.

    Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker said, “There is definitely a trend toward employers wanting to provide benefits which have health benefits, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a popular option – and more popular than providing public transport.”

  5. Plans for UK-wide e-bike battery collection and recycling service

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    Source: MMB, D. Blackham

    E-Bike battery collection and recycling service to trial in the UK later this year

    In line with the anticipation for significant growth for electric bike sales in the UK, the Bicycle Association (BA) announced plans to set up UK wide collection and recycling for bike batteries.

    The service plans to run in partnership with the European Recycling Platform (ERP), who the BA has appointed to deliver this programme. In other European markets there is already a single collection programme running, with manufacturers participating alongside retailers who act as collection points. The perceived benefits of the scheme are simplicity at retail level, reducing the costs and complexity for bike companies, and a clear and convenient way for customers to return batteries.

    Stephen Holt, BA retail trade manager said “With millions of electric bike sales ahead of us, this is an exciting initiative that will make it easy for retailers to safely store faulty and expired batteries in one fireproof rated drum – with one phone call when full to get it swapped out. With the support of electric bike producers, we hope to provide a national network of hundreds of collection points convenient for customers. We are looking forward to working closely with ERP, who are experts in the construction and implementation of such initiatives.”

    The BA and ERP plan to begin a trial, which will contribute to a proposed national rollout later this year.

    This follows an update on the scheme to members at the BA annual conference in Birmingham where 150 delegates representing more than 90 UK bike businesses attended.

    John Redmayne, managing director of ERP UK, said: “ERP UK are delighted to have been chosen by the Bicycle Association as their partner in developing a battery collection service for the sector. With growing numbers of e-bikes in use, the need for the sector to safely and responsibly deal with end of life batteries has been highlighted. We are looking forward to working with the association and using our experience in engineering circular economy solutions to develop a sector-specific service.”

    Read the article here.

  6. Laka and ListNRide partnership announced

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    A partnership between Laka and ListNRide had been launched to offer assurance and a better riding experience for bicycle riders and rental listers alike

    • Laka and ListNRide have partnered up to offer a seamless insurance integration 
    • Bike listers in the EEA will automatically receive insurance for  their bike rentals through listnride.com
    • This partnership aims to offer peace of mind for both the rider and the lister when renting out bikes and transform any place into the perfect ride. 

    Munich, 14/03/2023  – Laka, the award-winning micromobility insurtech that offers a unique collective insurance model in the UK, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany, is pleased to announce a partnership with ListNRide, the leading European bike rental platform.

    With ListNRide you now know where to rent any bike with peace of mind. Is there a bike that you have always had your eye on, but never got to try? Perhaps you are visiting a new city or country, but bringing your own bike is too much hassle? Maybe you just want to try something new? With ListNRide, finding the right bike for your needs is easy and convenient!

    Laka and ListNRide recognise that borrowing anything from someone else can be a risky business but with integrated fuss free insurance – there is no need to worry. Reducing the barriers when trying new things or exploring new cities is central to this likely pair.

    Laka’s commercial insurance is a great way to insure bikes for companies that rent them out, especially because it eliminates the need for them to create and manage their own insurance program, which can be time-consuming and costly. Additionally, by using Laka, ListNRide can take advantage of Laka’s expertise in the micromobility insurance market, which allows them to offer their customers comprehensive coverage at competitive rates. This is a win-win situation for both ListNRide and their customers.

    “We are really pleased to be able to offer ListNRide customers peace of mind and to protect the image of ListNRide as the best place to rent a bike.” said Tobias Taupitz, CEO of Laka. “As a disrupter in our own right we are continually looking for partners changing the way we cycle.”  

    “Through extensive conversations with both our private and commercial listers, we learned that insurance coverage, that provides both peace of mind and convenience, is an important and natural next step, as we continue to innovate and bring value-add solutions for our loyal customers and trusted partners”, said Gert-Jan van Wijk, MD of ListNRide.

    For more information about Laka and ListNRide please visit https://laka.co/de/gewerbliche-fahrradversicherung  and https://www.listnride.com/renting-a-bike

    About Laka

    Laka, winner of the ‘Best Cycle Insurance Provider’ Award five years in a row, was founded to better serve individual cyclists and businesses with a fairer, collective-driven approach to insurance. With a tech driven and customer centric approach, Laka has built on being an award-winning cycle insurer, to now being uniquely positioned as the go-to micromobility insurance provider in the UK and Europe. www.laka.co

    About ListNRide

    Launched  in 2017, ListNRide exists as an online booking platform for high-quality bike rentals anytime, in anyplace. Dedicated to transforming every place into the perfect ride, we foster a global cycling community through connecting riders with individual listers, mom and pop shops, and bike brands.

  7. E-bikes in the fast lane: record year reported for Germany’s bicycle trade

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    Source: ZIV

    The ZIV Bicycle Industry Association and VDZ Association of the German Bicycle Trade have published market figures for bicycles and e-bikes in 2022, reporting another record year for the German bicycle trade.

    E-bike production in Germany reached an all-time high, increasing to 1.72 million units (+20% from 2021), while sales also reached a new peak with 2.2 million units sold (+10% from 2021). A key driver of this growth is the clear trend towards second bikes. In addition to an urban bike or e-bike, consumers often opt for a second sporty or cargo bike.

    E-bikes hold a market share of 48% in Germany and, according to Burkhard Stork (Managing Director of the ZIV), are expected to overtake non-motorised bicycles in terms of unit numbers for the first time this year. In some product categories, such as mountain and cargo bikes, there is now a clear dominance for power-assisted bikes.

    The average sales price including VAT across all sales channels and models was €2,800 for e-bikes (this data includes the increasing share of high-priced cargo bikes, which pushes up the average price). Demands have changed and customers today want higher quality components, such as the gearshift, brakes, tires, and lighting, as well as a strong battery, suspension, app connection, good design, and long service life.

    The ZIV estimates the total stock of e-bikes in Germany at the end of 2022 to be 9.8 million units, meaning that there are significantly more than 10 million e-bikes on the road today. With regards to health benefits and mobility transition, e-bikes are used much more often and over longer distances; an average of 1,500 to 2,000 kilometres per year.

    E-mountain bikes have overtaken e-trekking bikes as the most popular type of e-bike among buyers, a shift that occurred in 2021 and has continued in 2022. There were 836,000 e-mountain bikes sold in 2022 (+23% from 2021), compared to 616,000 e-trekking bikes (-4% from 2021). In addition to e-mountain bikes, the biggest increases in demand have been for sporty e-bikes such as road, gravel, and fitness bikes, as well as e-cargo bikes and speed pedelecs.

    1.45 million e-bikes were imported in 2022, with the share of imports from EU countries being around 69% and the import share from Asia increasing slightly to 27%. This is due to the expansion of production in the EU/production sites in neighbouring EU countries, independence within the EU from developments in customs, and anti-dumping duty on imports of e-bikes from China.

    Around 98% of e-bike exports went to countries in the EU and EFTA. The Netherlands remained the most important export country with 24% (139,000 units), however this represents a significant decrease compared to 2021 (34% or 209,000 units). Austria and France followed at a distance with 12% each (same as 2021), Switzerland with 11% (+9% from 2021), Belgium with 11% (+8% from 2021), and Italy with 6% (same as 2021).

    Read the full report here.

  8. Micromobility Global Incentives and Subsidy Tracker for small electric vehicles launches

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    Source: Ride Review

    New tracker provides accurate information on 400 government incentives and subsidies for small electric vehicles in over 30 countries, allowing users to compare and choose preferences.

    A ground-breaking new tool developed by Micromobility Industries and Ride Review, has been launched to aid individuals in the purchase of small electric vehicles, e-bikes, scooters and mopeds, for example. The Micromobility Global Incentives and Subsidy Tracker is a unique database of information on over 400 government directives from over 30 countries, detailing information on relevant regulations and policies, and links to each program on the government’s website. This allows users to compare and choose the best option for them.

    With a focus on sustainability, health, enjoyment and cost-effective transport modes, small electric vehicles have surged in popularity in more recent years. The initial outlay remains the primary stumbling block for users, so any information on government incentives and subsidies that will encourage use and promote sustainability are essential.

    James Gross, CEO of Micromobility Industries and Ride Review commented, “The first challenge is people don’t know these incentives might be available to them and the second challenge is that many government websites are hard to parse and understand. By providing a centralized database of information on incentives and subsidies for small electric vehicles, the tracker will help individuals make more informed decisions. It will also support policymakers and industry stakeholders in understanding the landscape of incentives and subsidies for small electric vehicles, and how they can be improved to better support sustainable mobility.”

    Co-Founder of Micromobility Industries, Horace Dediu, declared, “The launch of the tracker is an important step forward for the micromobility industry as a whole. As more individuals, organizations and governments recognize the benefits of small electric vehicles for sustainable and cost-effective transportation, this tool will play a critical role in supporting their adoption and promoting micromobility around the world.”

    About Micromoblity Industries and Ride Review

    Micromobility Industries is a leading research and advisory firm focused on the micromobility industry. This includes ebikes, mopeds, scooters and other small electric vehicles. Micromobility is the fastest growing mode of transportation and the company organises large events and supplies media products like The Micromobility Landscape to the market. Tactical consulting, research and analysis are also offered to governments and organisations looking to explore the rapidly growing sector. See more at https://micromobility.io/
    Ride Review is the largest collection of reviews from independent experts on small electric vehicles. You can see more at https://ridereview.com/https://ridereview.com/

  9. MAHLE X20 ePowers the first e-Gravel bike from Mondraker

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    LEVA-EU member, MAHLE SmartBike Systems, is the core of Mondraker’s adventure, long-distance, and technical terrain-focused gravel e-bike.

    Mondraker has embraced the Gravel category, launching the Dusty, its first electric gravel bike, as a way to return to the origins of cycling based on fun, the ability to go further, and the pleasure of pedaling over more complicated terrain. All of this comes with a very marked off-road character, something that is in perfect alignment with the philosophy that Mondraker applies to all its mountain bikes.

    The versatility of the new Dusty ePowered by MAHLE X20 looks to encompass the three most in-demand disciplines of gravel bikes: adventure, long-distance, and technical terrain.

    The e-Gravel adventure bike
    For short and explosive rides when there is only an hour or for those 1-2 days, the Dusty offers all the range a rider could ever need by just choosing the length and intensity of the ride.

    e-Gravel bike for long distances
    The new Dusty ePowered by MAHLE X20 System can travel up to 180km with its 350Wh internal battery, depending on the level of assistance and altitude gain. The Range Extender e185 applies 171 Wh of extra power, allowing the rider to go farther than ever by extending the electric range for up to 60 kilometers.

    e-Gravel riding on more technical terrain
    The new Dusty has been designed to offer unparalleled damping, providing significant comfort and control over technical terrain, enabling the rider to take the eBike far beyond what is imaginable.
    Mondraker has collaborated with MAHLE to develop specific firmware to define the assistance characteristics of the motor for use on gravel eBikes, with the goal of simulating the effort always made by the rider. This concept is called “WATTS ON DEMAND,” and follows these three core principles: Non-intrusive system, sufficient support to satisfy use for gravel riding and an “unlimited” range.

    MAHLE X20: The most natural assisted pedaling experience
    The new Dusty is ePowered by MAHLE X20, the lightest system on the market, weighing in at only 3.6 kg (iX350 battery included), and the most advanced in its class, offering a frictionless 55 Nm of torque with a seamless start and cutoff to the assistance.
    The Dusty has three levels of assistance that are fully configurable through the MySmartBike App. Regardless of which of the three available assistance levels is selected, the lack of aggressive pedaling transitions provides an excellent balance between the power applied and the assistance provided by the MAHLE X20 System. As such, the assistance of the motor at all three levels is applied progressively and is proportional to the cadence. Regardless of the selected level, the contribution is progressive and completely natural.

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