E-bike subsidy to counter cost of living crisis

France has introduced generous subsidies to boost cycling and help counter the cost of living crisis. The grants are weighted towards utility e-bikes and folk who need the most help.

The so-called 'ecological bonus' ranges from €300 for those whose taxable income is less than €13,489 to a maximum of €400 for those who earn less than €6,300.

Those on the lowest incomes as well as people with disabilities are also entitled to grants of up to €2,000 for cargo, folding, or adapted bikes as long as the subsidy does not exceed 40 per cent of the total purchase cost. and there's even more help available for those who trade-in an older, polluting car as part of their move to cycling.

Meanwhile, here in the UK, e-bikes continue to be only type of EV to benefit from absolutely no grants whatsoever. However, two-thirds of us would consider buying e-bikes if helped by a subsidy scheme, according to a poll conducted by Bosch.

The study polled over 2,000 people across the the country including non-cyclists. Of those who had already bought an electric bicycle, 81% felt it was a good investment.

Commenting on the research, Tamara Winograd at Bosch said: “It’s encouraging to see the rapid development of e-Biking as a sustainable and enjoyable travel option and these findings confirm what we’ve been seeing over the past year, as more people discover the benefits of e-mobility.”

{{cta-cycling}}

| Mass use of electric bicycles could create more than £2bn in health benefits...

Mass use of electric bicycles could create more than £2bn in health benefits and cut one million tonnes of emissions annually according to an evidence review by academics at Westminster University, commissioned by the campaign group Bike is Best.

Grants are available for low-emission cars but there is no such 'plug-in' grant for electric-assist bikes despite the fact they require no special charging infrastructure, reduce congestion and road danger and produce a fraction of the pollution. The same research found that 53% would buy an electric bicycle if there was a 25% subsidy.

| 'pedelecs can be recharged from a household electricity supply so there's no need for the costly infrastructure that's slowing the uptake of electric cars'

Electric bicycles offer numerous advantages over electric cars; Not only do they consume far fewer natural resources to build and run, but they occupy less road space, contribute very little towards road danger, create no tailpipe emissions and constitute active travel. Another key advantage is that e-bikes can be recharged from a household electricity supply so there's no need for the costly infrastructure that's slowing the uptake of electric cars.

However, perhaps the thing about e-bikes that should be most attractive to those in power is their potential to tempt drivers away from their cars - especially now that cities are imposing charges on the most polluting older vehicles. In many respects, electric cars are a red herring - the only way to deal effectively with road danger and to promote liveable neighbourhoods is for there to be far fewer cars (of any type) on the roads.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.