Grant schemes for energy conservation and renewable energy technologies, such as photovoltaic or wind turbines, are surely not unknown for some of us. The German KfW Banking Group, for example, provides subsidies for the energy-oriented refurbishment of urban quarters. The USA currently provides several subsidy programs for clean energy projects.
France Promotes Electric Bicycle Market and Thus Follows Norway
But how many of us are familiar to e-bike subsidies? Which government or organization in the world is providing grants to foster e-bike sales and, therefore, clean transport? A right answer would be Norway. Only recently, as Treehugger wrote, France promotes the electric bicycle market with a €200 grant, too. Each French citizen is entitled to receive the grant once to buy a pedal-assist e-bike with a maximum net power output not exceeding 3 kW. The funding program shall run until 31 January 2018 as the French government site Legifrance states.
Hopefully, the French government evaluates its funding program. It would be interesting to know how many French citizens are taking advantage of the e-bike subsidies. In particular, how does the demand spread over the individual age groups and genders? Is the demand higher in urban or rural areas? How is about the demand in the different price segments also depending on age, gender or occupation, education, income, etc? In the end, it’s maybe possible to draw conclusions about the possible ways of future promotions.
How Do Other Cities Perform?
Subsidies for electric bikes are quite rare. Nevertheless, some other countries and cities try to encourage the use of bicycles in various ways, such as London, Singapore, Portland, Munich, or, of course, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. The Moroccan city of Marrakech even became Africa’s first commune providing a bike-sharing scheme.
Especially for the British capital, such a funding program might be a worthwhile option to reduce hazardous air contamination. The current Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is trying hard to tackle air pollution. Since taking up his post, he takes the subject very seriously as several initiated and developed measures and projects demonstrate.
