eCargo bikes provide a multitude of benefits to businesses and organisations choosing to use them.
eCargo bikes start at less than £2,000 new, with a typical mid-range model available for around £5,000. This compares with a minimum of £14,000 for the smallest new petrol van, or almost £30,000 for an electric van.
eCargo bikes have vastly reduced running costs compared to vans. The Energy Saving Trust estimate fuel costs of £24 per year for an eCargo bike vs £494 for an electric van or £855 for a diesel van. eCargo bikes also carry no risk of parking fines, congestion/low emission zone charges or vehicle excise duty, and insurance/servicing is typically cheaper than the equivalent for motor vehicles, too. The use of ecargo bikes by trades people is not constrained to traders permits, which can cost up to nearly £1,400 for high emission emitting vehicles.
A report by Possible, a climate action charity, says that eCargo bikes have been shown to deliver up to 60% faster than vans in urban areas due to avoiding congestion, using bus and cycle infrastructure, and reduced time finding a place to park. Due to being able to filter through queueing traffic, journey times are also more reliable. eCargo bikes can also comfortably keep up with traffic – they are electrically assisted up to 15.5mph, whilst the average speed of motor vehicles on Brighton & Hove local A road network is 13mph.
Cycling provides physical and mental health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and strokes, as well as improved mood. Using an eCargo bike for work can help meet the NHS-recommended 150 minutes of physical activity a week.
