Source: University of Leeds Image source: Steven Lewis, Unsplash

The University of Leeds led an ELEVATE project, conducting month-long trials for families to use e-cargo bikes instead of the car in the UK cities of Leeds, Brighton and Oxford. Results revealed that e-cargo bikes covered over half of the distance normally travelled by car, with 20% of participants purchasing a cargo e-bike after the trial.

After publishing their ELEVATE (Electric Vehicles for Active and Digital Travel) study “E-liveable – unlocking the potential of electric micromobility through e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-scooters”, researchers from the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds are calling for trials to be implemented elsewhere.

The team previously published positive results on the effects that e-cargo bike usage had on the exercise levels of participants.

The trial, which consisted of 49 households families using e-cargo bikes for month-long trials, saw participants use the practical and sustainable mode of transportation for shopping, leisure and commuting, showing their potential in reducing car use and improving health.

Dr. Ian Philips from the University of Leeds Institute for Transport Studies stated the implications of the study:

“The ELEVATE project shows that e‑micromobility – especially e‑bikes and e‑cargo bikes – has significant untapped potential to reduce car use, improve health, and enhance everyday life beyond large cities. But realising this potential will require coordinated action by policymakers around promotion, affordability, infrastructure, safety and regulation, rather than relying on individual behaviour change alone.”

Adam, a trial participant said the following about his experience trialing an e-cargo bike:

“The benefits of this have been transporting the kids – the fact that I can put them in there with all their bags from whatever they’re doing, whether it’s nursery, taking them to a friend’s house or taking them to a sports club, I can get it all in. It’s perfect for local journeys, I absolutely love it. Riding on this, I feel people do give you a lot of space compared to when I’m in Lycra on my road bike. When somebody sees that it’s a bloke stood upright with two kids in the front clearly doing a chore rather than a pleasure ride, I think people do give you more space and patience.”

Study findings

Trials consisted of households being offered the use of an e-cargo bike for free in the suburban areas of Brighton, Leeds and Oxford. Training was offered, and accessories (such as child seats) were provided to study participants.

E-cargo bikes trialled for use by households were either: a long john, which was equipped with a cargo / passenger area at the front, or a longtail, equipped with a long rack at the back for panniers and child seats.

Impacts of the trial were uncovered through interviews with participants, travel diaries, bike GPS tracking data and car mileage records.

Key findings included:

• E-cargo bikes were used for a variety of purposes, most commonly for transporting children to education, as well as shopping and commuting, with distance travelled being an average of 38-42 km per week.
• Over 50% of e-cargo bike distance ridden during the trials substituted car use
• 20% of participants purchased an e-cargo bike after the trials, demonstrating the applicability of “try before you buy schemes” encouraging longer term adoption.
• Barriers to widespread use included purchasing cost, theft, negative battery safety perspectives, vehicle legality confusion and lack of suitable infrastructure such as parking facilities and charging stations.

As well as the e-cargo bike trials, researchers commissioned a YouGov national survey of 2,000 respondents in England with the results showing that over half would like to trial using an e-bike, e-cargo bike or e-scooter.