Measures that encourage employees to cycle to work in the Netherlands are still effective not only in the short term but also after a number of years. In particular, remuneration campaigns and purchase allowances reduce the number of car journeys among employees. This is the result of a study by MuConsult based on data from Zuid Limburg Bereikbaar.
Many employers try to encourage their employees to come to work by bike with measures such as e-bike borrowing, purchase subsidies and the provision of showers. They usually evaluate these measures only during and shortly after the project, and the results are almost always positive.
Accessibility organisation Zuid Limburg Bereikbaar has been carrying out studies into the effects of its cycling programmes for some time. Because the incentives have remained roughly the same over that period, the data from those studies provide an opportunity to examine the longer-term effects. Employees of mobility consultancy MuConsult carried out this research and wrote an article about this that recently appeared in NM Magazine.
Over a period of ten years, Zuid Limburg Bereikbaar conducted a total of twelve surveys among commuters. Many of them have joined a panel where there is data at the individual level over the years. There were 30,000 completed surveys available with at least two measuring points over time. The data provides insight into the mobility behaviour and car ownership of commuters and any changes therein.
With a model study, the MuConsult researchers mapped out the effects in the short term and the longer term (about five years). In doing so, they took into account, among other things, autonomous developments, such as the Corona crisis, which led to a decrease in car journeys. Most measures led to 10-20% fewer car trips among the user group in the short term. In the longer term, this effect decreases by a few percentage points.
Reward actions and purchase subsidies had the greatest effect. Reward actions led to 18% fewer car trips in the short term and 16% in the longer term, and purchase subsidies of up to 13% in the short term and 12% in the longer term.
Understanding consumer needs is the key to long-term success for those operating in the shared mobility sector
Shared mobility can resolve many challenges of the urban mobility ecosystem and is an exciting opportunity for companies in the three main shared mobility sectors – hailed mobility, shared micromobility (to include e-kickscooters, traditional or e-bicycles, and traditional or electric mopeds), and car sharing . Shared mobility is on the rise, with an estimated current market value of $10 billion to $15 billion, compared to market values of $110 billion to $130 billion for hailed mobility and $4 billion to $5 billion for car sharing. Understanding the consumers’ preferences will only further increase the market revenues.
Consumer Survey
The McKinsey Mobility Consumer Pulse Survey asked worldwide mobility users’ views on the future of mobility, with a focus on shared mobility. A move away from a car-centric means of transportation was a repeated wish among all demographics, with shared and more sustainable mobility and a reduction in private vehicle usage high on the agenda.
Over a quarter of urban dwellers who responded to the survey mentioned replacing their private vehicles with other transport means in the future, although fewer than 15% of rural respondents suggested the same. The survey concluded that sustainability, travel efficiency, and improved inner-city livelihoods were central to perspective change in mobility choice, more than incurred costs.
Mobility modes with the largest influence
McKinsey suggests that three main transport modes will alter the current trend; shared autonomous shuttles; micromobility solutions, such as e-kickscooters, (e)mopeds, and (e)bicycles; and minimobility alternatives. Minimobility references L6 and L7 electric vehicles with three or four wheels, an unladen mass of over 100 kg, and capacity for one to two passengers.
The mobility survey also found that over 60% would consider a shared, autonomous shuttle service in the future, while 42% suggested that it could replace their private car trips. This could dramatically reduce the number of vehicles on the road, aiding in pollution directives, parking, and road safety. City center–airport connections (26%), supermarket runs (26%), and commutes (24%) were the most common responses from respondents regarding shuttle services.
Micromobility endeavours are seen as convenient and a genuinely sustainable alternative. The McKinsey survey reported that a third of respondents aimed to use micromobility more often. 37 percent of urban respondents mentioned that an improved micromobility infrastructure would help them make their first step, with 33% agreeing it could replace up to 50% of their car trips. In addition, 60% of respondents showed an interest in owning their own kickscooter, only requiring the need for shared mobility on occasion in the future.
Minimobility also generated considerable interest in the survey. 27% of the urban respondents suggested the introduction of microcars to their collection within the next 10 years, 50% of whom could see one replacing their private cars in the long term. The usage for microcars bore similarities to micromobility results; grocery shopping (48%), leisure activities (47%), and commuting (35%). Although 20% of those surveyed would consider sharing a minimobility vehicle, most had a preference for acquiring their own.
Public transport will continue to play a key role in urban mobility, although three reoccurring themes need addressing; people want integrated user experiences, safe and accessible infrastructure, and continued electrification. Understanding these dynamics is key to future success.
E-scooters can provide significant benefits in congestion relief, time savings, emissions reduction, and cutting car use, according to research conducted by University College London (UCL), commissioned by leading UK shared e-scooter company, Voi.
The latest study, by researchers from the Energy Institute at UCL, is one of the first academic studies into e-scooter use that incorporates a first-hand environmental assessment of the service and uses real-world trip data – and also takes into account the full lifecycle of transport mode emissions, from the factory floor to end life.
Analysed data was taken from 190,000 e-scooter trips in Bristol, UK, over a three-month period in 2021 to examine Voi e-scooters’ environmental impact, emissions included.
The types of e-scooter trips analysed included not only those that replaced motorised transport such as cars, buses, and taxis which see a much bigger reduction in emissions, but walking and cycling too, which create a small increase in emissions, resulting in an overall reduction of 45%.
The study found that emissions savings are positive in scenarios with average or long vehicle lifespan (over 6,500km) and with average or better operational efficiency. Voi has invested in both areas to minimise its footprint and maximise environmental benefits for cities and communities.
Researchers also found that e-scooters cut commuting times, especially during peak hours, helping to save users a total of 4,000 hours during the course of the study. In addition, e-scooter trips replaced more than 30,000 miles of motorised transport journeys, helping to reduce pollution and congestion in the city.
Reducing car dependency and decarbonising urban transport is seen as a vital step in achieving the UK government goal of achieving net zero and improving the well-being and efficiency of cities.
In addition, congestion has a significant economic burden, costing the UK economy around £6.9 billion a year, according to a 2019 INRIX study.
Emmanouil Chaniotakis, one of the authors for this study has said: “Essentially, the findings suggest that shared e-scooters have the potential to provide significant benefits in terms of mode shift, congestion, time savings, and emissions reductions if implemented effectively. By replacing trips previously taken by more polluting modes of transportation, shared e-scooters can reduce emissions and congestion during peak periods.
“Local governments should make sure that they invest in those shared e-scooter programmes which are well-regulated and show proof of good fleet management and maintenance, leading to high kilometre lifespan, responsible end-of-life practices and efficient operations.
“Local governments should also introduce and monitor compliance regarding operations, use, manufacturing and end-of-life practices. To see greater impact, they could also work with e-scooter companies to incentivise more effective use (e.g. reduce fares over peak hours or demand-informed deployment that complement public transport and support active travel) to reduce congestion and emissions.”
Jack Samler, Voi general manager UK, Ireland and France said, “It’s great to see the massive impact e-scooters can have in transforming cities, reducing emissions, and cleaning the air around us.
“At Voi, we have invested in building durable e-scooters and ensuring they provide as many rides as possible to reduce their impact throughout their whole life cycle. We are committed to managing our operations as efficiently and sustainably as possible.
“We aim to transform how people move in cities, freeing us from car dependency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, working all the time to reduce the environmental impact of our value chain and operations in the process.”
The Urban Logistics Green Deal brings together a community of pioneering organisations with a shared ambition of moving faster with the transition to greener logistics in Brussels. This call for collaborative projects is one of the supports offered to green deal members and aims to generate new partnerships with existing and potential signatories.
The Urban Logistics Green Deal has the following aims: • stimulate the Brussels-Capital Region’s Urban Logistics Green Deal • support a minimum of 3 projects aimed at reducing logistics emissions • fund selected projects to the tune of €10,000 to €300,000 per project • support selected projects during the 2024 calendar year • support selected projects with the expertise of the Mobilise research group
Brussels launched the Green Deal Urban Logistics in April 2023 as part of its ‘Shifting economy‘ strategy and the ‘Good Move‘ plan. A credible alliance of public and private like-minded groups and organisations, the aim is to speed up measures aimed towards a less polluting logistics sector. Freight and logistics transport has many negative consequences, for example air pollution, congestion and road accidents. The Urban Logistics Green Deal aims to find an ecological solution by addressing the transport and storage of goods based upon measures that include: promotion of multimodality, connection between logistics players, development of local logistics real estate or logistics hubs, optimisation of deliveries and orders in large companies, and the use of cargo bikes or electrification of vehicles. Find out more about the Green Deal here.
In addition to the Brussels ambitions and commitments, each of the signatory organisations individually commits to implementing their central measures by 2025. Details of signatory organisations and their commitments can be found in the Urban Logistics Green Deal convention.
The SSH CENTRE project, which includes Mobilise as one of its consortium members, is providing funding for 30 PhD and Early to Mid Career Researchers in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH).
This funding is intended to support their participation in an initiative focused on knowledge brokerage for policymaking in the areas of climate, energy, and mobility. Each participant will receive an honorarium of €2,000 for their involvement in the entire program, which will take place from July 2023 to July 2024.
To be eligible, applicants must be SSH researchers who have not previously served as principal investigators on grants exceeding €100,000.
The program will involve various activities, including online training on knowledge brokerage for policy work. The participants will be divided into six groups and tasked with developing and implementing an online knowledge brokerage initiative. This initiative aims to assist six European partner cities in achieving their decarbonization goals by identifying, organizing, and sharing relevant SSH knowledge. Each research team will collaborate with city representatives, initially through online meetings and later during in-person workshops held in the respective cities, to help shape their knowledge brokerage initiatives.
The deadline for applications is Monday, July 3rd at 11:59 (CEST).
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.
Research from MSI Consultants has concluded that the majority of the Dutch would like to see electric cyclists wear a helmet. In addition, age restrictions for young and old are favoured, all of which address safety concerns for this group of cyclists.
Percentages
The topic of MSI’s National Choice Stress Monitor changes monthly, with this particular research surveying 1,000 Dutch people aged 18-years and older on the use of electric bicycles versus regular bicycles and in particular, any safety concerns. 41% of those who responded own an electric bicycle while 34% are considering buying one. The cost of purchasing a new electric bicycle remains the stumbling block. The vast majority believe that they are not affordable for everyone, and those considering the move from regular bicycles have smaller budgets.
Additional findings from the survey include usage of the e-bikes. Grocery shopping was the most common use at 58%, while sports activities and meeting family members were also popular at 49%. Usage on holiday and recreational activities that aren’t a daily occurrence ranked at 38%, while commuting use amounted to 37%. Bad weather was the fundamental barrier to daily two-wheeled commuting.
Safety in numbers
Road safety remains a concern for those surveyed, particularly for e-bikes reaching higher speeds. For example, 55% are adamant that bicycle helmets should be compulsory for any e-bikes that reach 25 km/h. For those aged 50+ who took part, the percentage was even higher. One respondent commented, ‘Electric bicycles go faster than you think and the impact is greater in an accident than with regular bicycles.’ Customised electric bicycles were also a concern with 65% surveyed (and 73% of women) wanting police to enforce some regulation.
The safety concerns and helmet obligation suggestions haven’t waned the popularity of e-bikes, except among the younger generation, who said that they would lose some interest in electric bikes if helmets were compulsory.
54% of those surveyed also favoured minimum and maximum age restrictions for electric bike riders at 16-years and 75-years accordingly. Recklessness in the younger generation and fragility in those older riders was seen as a concern amongst both regular and e-bikes users, with one commenting, ‘Children go too fast and the elderly are fragile’.
Of course, those over 60 saw it differently and less discriminately, highlighting that it was down to ‘personal alertness, fitness and attentiveness’ rather than age. MSI Consultants were also reminded that it was good for the well-being of the older generation, with one respondent adding that the electric bicycle, ‘can be a fun outing for the elderly.’
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.”
Comments Off on MAHLE SmartBike System in Eurobike 2023: Unveiling Smart solutions to expand Smart Mobility
MAHLE SmartBike Systems will show its cutting-edge solutions for the eBike industry in Eurobike 2023 in its main booth in Hall 8, Stand H14 and in the Demo area in F28 Pavilion 12, taking place from June 21st to 25th in Frankfurt. It does so with the focus on three strategic areas: Smart Accesories, innovative App features and drive systems designed for all segments including Gravel, Urban and Road.
The range of offerings includes the X20 rear hub system, which is not only the lightest on the market but has also been recognized with the most relevant awards in the industry. Additionally, the company will be presenting a complete variety of smart accessories and new App features that will take the connectivity with the SmartBike to the next level.
This year, Eurobike, the major international trade fair in the bike industry, arrives exceeding last year’s number of participating exhibitors. The second edition of this leading trade fair in Frankfurt will see even more exhibitors on board, making it an event not to be missed.
Following its SMART premise, MAHLE SmartBike Systems will present its latest innovations with the aim of leading smart mobility in the Bike industry. Highlights include the new Range Extender e185, recently launched by the company and now joined by the charging base Energy Hub, as well as the new functionalities of My SmartBike APP to take connectivity between the Bike and rider to the next level. Visitors to the booth will also be able to see disruptive drive system solutions for eBikes, especially suitable for segments such as Gravel, Urban and Road and try them out in the Demo Area.
The new Range Extender e185 from MAHLE represents a revolution for riders who want to go further or tackle the most demanding routes. Weighing only 1.1 kilograms, the company says it is the lightest on the market and has the best weight-to-capacity ratio, providing 171 Wh of power to increase the range up to 60km.
The Range Extender e185 is said to be the only range extender on the market that fits into a standard bottle cage and is compatible with any electric Bike ePowered by the successful MAHLE X20, the lightest drive system on the market, providing extra range for the battery with minimal additional weight.
Now, on top of that, the new Energy Hub is a charging base for the Range Extender e185 that allows hassle-free charging by simply resting your device on the Energy Hub and starting charging, ensuring the rider never runs out of battery. Nevertheless, this game-changing accessory goes beyond charging your Range Extender e185 with ease but also turns it into a cutting-edge power bank to charge other devices like cell phones or computers, becoming the perfect accessory to expand all the possibilities of your MAHLE X20 System.
In addition, and in line with the digital DNA of the company to lead smart mobility in the eBike industry, MAHLE One ecosystem will be presenting some new features designed to enhance the riding experience in a more active way:
Smart Assist
Smart Assist is a personalized mode within the System that, based on the inclination of the terrain and the weight of the user, adapts the behavior of the MAHLE X20 System to guarantee a seamless and intuitive riding experience at each moment of the ride.
Bike Update Through App
Also showing is a convenient feature that allows the rider to update the System software with their mobile phone from My SmartBike App via Bluetooth® in just a few minutes.
Strava Integration
In addition, MAHLE SmartBike Systems is thrilled to offer Strava Integration, so the riders can now record their activities with any device that can be linked to the platform, and once uploaded, the activity can be imported into the My SmartBike App, transforming communication between the two platforms into a two-way communication.
Routing
Finally, the brand is introducing Routing, a feature that allows the rider to create routes based on their Strava activities or a GPX file, not only riding from point A to point B but also receiving clear guidance and instructions to enjoy the route in My SmartBike App along the way.
Next generation e-Light Drivetrain Integration
This year, in Eurobike 2023, the company will present the integration project of the MAHLE X20 System with an innovative electric drivetrain technology for eBikes. A joint project between Pinion Smart.Shift, Desiknio and the intelligent and lightweight MAHLE X20 drive system, it is designed to take electric shifting in the e-light eBike segment to the highest level. These unique e-light bikes, equipped with a MAHLE X20 hub motor and an integrated 240Wh battery, are the first to combine the maintenance-free Pinion gearbox with the Smart.Shift technology, and a Gates belt drive made of carbon to create an innovative and worry-free drivetrain for sleek and lightweight eBikes.
X20: the lightest and most awarded drive system on the market
MAHLE X20, the lightest system on the market, weighing in at only 3.2 kg, is also the most advanced in its class, offering a frictionless 55 Nm of torque with a seamless start and cutoff to the assistance.
Additionally, because of the way the system is integrated in the frame, the natural pedaling feeling and the functional and minimalistic HMI, X20 is a great help to the rider in not getting distracted from the road and the ride. Thanks to all this, MAHLE X20 has been awarded as the most innovative system in the latest two edition of the two leading awards in the industry: Eurobike Innovators Prize and Design & Innovation Awards.
X35+: the most balanced solution
X35+ System provides the perfect solution for daily use, combining extremely light and ideal power performance to assist and offer the right support for natural riding. The system can easily switch on at the touch of a button, helping safety in urban mobility.
MAHLE SmartBike Systems stand is in Hall 8, Stand H14, and in the Demo area at F28 Pavilion 12, where visitors will have the chance to personally test the innovations and technologies that ePower the most innovative eBikes on the market.
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