Up to £900,000 is being made available to help increase the use of the sustainable method of transport

Investment in electric bikes in Scotland is set to increase.

The Scottish Government is providing £900,000 to encourage the uptake of e-bikes across Scotland. Local authorities, public sector agencies, community groups and further and higher education institutions can now apply for money to adopt e-bikes, adaptive bikes and e-cargo bikes as an alternative to car journeys.

For the first time, the eBike Grant Fund delivered by Energy Saving Trust will also launch a Business e-cargo project to offer businesses the chance of a free trial of an e-cargo bike for a 12-month period. This will allow Transport Scotland and Energy Saving Trust to gather new data on the real potential for e-cargo bikes to address business needs.

In addition, as a response to the Covid-19 crisis, the trust is offering previously funded e-bike grantees the chance to apply for a further £20,000 funding award for e-bikes for projects which support Scotland’s key and essential workers.

This latest allocation of funds is expected to continue the success that the scheme has achieved to date. Across three previous rounds of funding over £1.9 million has been allocated to 104 projects, equating to 875 e-bikes and 41 e-cargo bikes provided to organisations and communities across the country.

Transport secretary Michael Matheson said: “I’m pleased that we can again fund the eBike Grant Fund in 2020. Through previous rounds of funding we have witnessed what is possible when people are provided with the financial means to replace single occupancy car journeys with a more sustainable alternative through e-bikes.

“With this new round of funding we hope to provide those same benefits to more organisations and better learn how e-cargo bikes can meet their needs whilst improving Scotland’s air quality, health and sense of wellbeing.

“Through this scheme we are also continuing to provide our key and essential workers with the means to use e-bikes as they continue to support our country through the Covid-19 crisis. The increase in the numbers of people walking and cycling across Scotland during lockdown is extremely encouraging and we will continue to provide support to develop an Active Nation.”

Ellie Grebenik, senior programme manager for Energy Saving Trust said: “Ebikes are a great alternative to the car with the electrical assistance helping you travel further and for longer.

“The eBike Grant Fund is available to community groups, public sector organisations and local authorities to help promote the widespread uptake of e-bikes in Scotland. Funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by Energy Saving Trust, the fund has granted almost £2 million to date, funding in excess of 900 ebikes and ecargo bikes and includes a number of projects which are actively supporting those affected by Covid-19.”