LIFESTYLE
PEOPLE WITH STYLE
Tim Blackman of Axcess Electric Bikes
Island people are astute and forward thinking, says Tim Blackman, which is why they are embracing the new generation of electric bikes
Tim Blackman was “completely astounded” when he first tried riding an electric bike. “Going up hills like you do when you’re 13 – it was a revelation.”
New battery technology has revolutionised the electric bike, making it a viable form of transport for virtually all ages. They will do up to 80 per cent of the work, or none at all if that’s your choice. Bringing them to the Island made absolute sense, he says. “We have less rampant traffic than the mainland so it’s an ideal place to look at an additional form of transport. People think we’re permanently 20 years behind the times, but the people here are actually very forward thinking in the way they embrace alternative things.”
Tim’s enthusiasm boarders on the evangelical when he considers the implications of his bikes. “There’s a pan-European growth in electric bike usage. And I think it presents a unique opportunity to do something rather special with our transport here.”
STYLE IS . . . ?
It is looking all the time at ways to improve our environment and the way we conduct our lives to make them easier and less stressful. And finding ways not to be in the rat race, so we can follow what we want to do.
MONEY EQUALS SUCCESS? We’ve seen decades of success measured by money and in the last couple of years we’ve seen that is hollow. So success is measured by how you can adapt to the economic and social situation that has come along. It is adapting cleverly to this changed world and finding a way to get through it successful.
WHAT DOES ISLAND LIVING MEAN TO YOU?
It means a much improved way of life. When I first came back to living here full time (and I’d lived here quite a bit as a child) part of the enjoyment was being able to go off the Island and do a huge amount of driving and be very important and very busy. Now I find the secret is finding ways of not having to get off the Island, to work smartly so you can do business from the Island, so the furthest you ever drive is five miles.
ICONS OR INSPIRATION?
At 58 I find it inspirational the quick ease with which young people turn technological breakthroughs to their advantage, while also satisfying their insatiable urge to go off and see the world. As the saying goes, always employ somebody under the age of 20 while they still know everything!
TYPICAL CUSTOMER?
We have a number. The typical customer I didn’t anticipate is the hard working couple who have bought an electric bike on which he can get to work, the daughter can go to sing in a choir, the son can go to football practice – and they’re stopped this pointless, expensive, driving around. They know its a lifestyle change which will give them big benefits in the longer term: cycling these electric bikes is far more exercise than any of us get from driving a car.
BLUNDERS? AND WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT? The marvellous thing about blunders when you’ve only run your own businesses (I’ve never had a job) is that the more recent blunders get quickly smeared over and you move on. I can’t think of any as I’ve already forgotten about the older ones!
TOP TIPS?
When starting a business it’s very easy to be carried away with your own enthusiasm. You need to approach it as if it may not be successful, so you don’t stake your whole life on it. Take counsel from others and look at ways to do things carefully. Unlike me. I’m as gung-ho as anything!
FACING THE FUTURE?
In Germany out of 4 million bikes sold in a year 13 per cent are electric. Over here it is two per cent. And the future is to demonstrate to people it’s not a replacement for everything – but it is a tool we should have in our tool of devises at home to keep the car on the drive more frequently than we do at the moment. First and foremost, electric bikes definitely make you feel better. The second is that as a family you can save money. It’s also going to help with the environment – be that reducing congestion or emissions.
As fuel costs escalate and the economy is likely to be in the doldrums for some years to come it is an excellent way of managing the home logistics. So I believe there’s significant growth in this form of transport to be achieved.
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