The Department for Transport (DfT) has made £2 million funding available for the purchase of e-cargo bikes, to support green last mile deliveries.
The eCargo Bike Grant Funding Information Pack includes an initial, but not comprehensive, list of suppliers and retailers whose e-cargo bikes are eligible for the funding scheme.
Ax per the DfT, the funding is available to limited companies, partnerships, sole traders, charities and non profit organisations. Public, community or third sector organisations are also eligible providing they meet the correct criteria.
The E-Cargo Bike Grant funding covers up to 20% of the cost of an e-cargo bike, up to a maximum of £1,000 per bike unit. To be eligible for this funding, an e-cargo bike must have a minimum of a 125 litre cargo capacity and minimum 130 kg weight capacity which is the combined weight of the rider and cargo.
The initiative was announced in 2018 as part of the international Zero Emission Vehicle Summit held in Birmingham 2018. September. While the move has been warmly greeted, there is some incredulity that there is not yet any backing or incentives for the private person wanting to purchase an e-cargo bike rather than buy a polluting car.
Green last mile deliveries appear to be on the government’s agenda lately, as last month Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and TfL unveiled a new idea to transform how deliveries are made throughout London, reducing road accidents and helping to clean up London’s polluted atmosphere. The plan includes the start of micro-distribution centres in specific locations to support sustainable last mile deliveries to areas across the city via bicycle sand other green modes of transport.
