Energy Saving Trust and the Department for Transport today (15 February 2022) announce the 14 successful local authorities that have secured funding from the £1.2 million eCargo Bike Grant Fund 2021 local authority scheme.
The aim of the 2021/22 scheme has been to encourage the large-scale uptake of electric cargo (ecargo) bikes to support sustainable active business travel and to provide opportunities to trial ecargo bikes, while promoting their benefits within the business sector.
This follows the success of the eCargo Bike Grant Fund Local Authority Scheme 2019/20, in which local authorities in England were invited to bid for grant funding to procure ecargo bikes for their area. Funding was previously awarded to the top 18 local authority applicants assessed on a point-based system. The next 14 top-scoring local authorities were funded in 2021/22.
Those successful applications awarded in 2021 offered a broad range of inspiring, exciting initiatives. Coventry City Council, for example, plans to introduce a project called the City of eCargo Culture, which will demonstrate to a large audience how ecargo bikes are a viable last mile solution in the compact city centre environment.
Meanwhile, Salford City Council aims to offer a ‘try before you buy’ scheme for local businesses, where they can trial a range of ecargo bikes by making use of a bike library.
Tim Anderson, head of transport, Energy Saving Trust, said: “We are inspired by the quality and innovation of those local authority applications to the eCargo Bike Grant Fund local authority scheme 2021. eCargo bikes are an attractive low carbon transport option and offer impressive fuel cost savings, while contributing to improved local air quality. We hope this funding will encourage local authorities to benefit from an ecargo bike culture as we look to the future and continue to drive the transport agenda.
Cycling and walking minister Trudy Harrison said: “eCargo bikes have huge potential in helping us to decarbonise transport, cut congestion and clean up the air in our towns and cities across the country.
“We’re committed to helping businesses switch to greener forms of transport, so I’m delighted the UK Government is funding worthwhile initiatives such as these.”
The full list of 14 local authority recipients is detailed below.
| Local authority | Number of ecargo bikes, trailers and storage units funded |
|---|---|
| Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council (joint bid) | 30 |
| Coventry City Council | 5 |
| West Yorkshire Combined Authority | 32 |
| Salford City Council | 21 |
| Oxfordshire County Council | 13 |
| Lewes District Council | 23 |
| London Borough of Brent | 1 |
| West Berkshire Council | 3 |
| City of York Council | 5 |
| London Borough of Waltham Forest | 11 |
| Stratford District Council | 28 |
| Manchester City Council | 32 |
| London Borough of Hackney | 6 |
| Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council | 14 |
| Totals: | 224 |
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, low carbon transport and sustainable energy use. We aim to address the climate emergency and deliver the wider benefits of clean energy as the UK transitions to net zero.
We empower householders to make better choices, deliver transformative programmes for governments and support businesses with strategy, research and assurance – enabling everyone to play their part in building a sustainable future.