Green Energy Charging the e-bike
The rapid increase in the popularity of e-bikes is a sign of the benefit for their users. Employers and venues welcoming e-bike riders can also capitalise, not least through a contribution to their sustainability commitments.
Spelsberg e-bike charging station, encased in a durable enclosure that prevents ingress from dust and water. T
his is a key factor behind the government’s support for electric bikes, and now that easy charging infrastructure is available, the barriers to optimal e-bike take up are being removed. Spelsberg UK’s managing director and keen cyclist, Chris Lloyd, explains.
This year, 165,000 e-bikes are likely to be sold in the UK, and that figure is expected to rise fast. With a forecasted growth rate of over 10.5%, the UK e-bike market value in 2027 is set to reach nearly £400m . While the Covid lockdown saw a stimulus in exercise and cycling take up, the Department for Transport’s (DfT) figures says the general increase in cycling is continuing. In fact, Cycling UK, the cyclists’ touring club charity, reports in figures from January to July this year
16 | electrical wholesaler February 2023
“The infrastructure required for e-bike charging is relatively low cost to install, easy and universal to use, and requires just a relatively small footprint.”
that weekday cycling is up by 47% and weekend riding by 27%.
Multiple factors are driving the increase. Fuel costs have risen, and with 71% of all car journeys in the UK under five miles, cycling is a viable alternative to save significant cost. While riding a bike can be an extremely enjoyable way to travel, electric power can enhance this further. E-bikes delivering from 250 Watts and upwards can
enable speeds far in excess of 20mph, making cycling inherently easier – especially up hill. There’s also rider choice over how much assisted power to draw on, meaning that e-bikes can also provide vital exercise.
Government support
The government is actively encouraging cycling and e-bike use in particular to reduce emissions and contribute to net zero, as well as lowering congestion and improving public health. This ambition has been met with a £2Bn funding package, including initiatives such as the DfT’s National e-cycle programme, launched this year as a pilot scheme to provide short- and long- term loans of electric bikes. Plans like these have also been deployed regionally, such as Islington’s
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