Please note that this page contains information and links most relevant for people living in England.
*Update 24 January 2022* Following the phenomenal success of the £400,000 national eCargo Bike Grant Fund 2021/22, Energy Saving Trust and Department for Transport are pleased to announce that an additional £300,000 was made available to applicants.
The fund, which has now closed, was extremely popular among small businesses and sole traders, giving them an opportunity to introduce ecargo bikes into their everyday transport operations.
Initially made available across England on 30 July 2021, the eCargo Bike Grant Fund invited organisations to apply for 40% of the total cost of an ecargo bike, with a maximum of £2,500 for two-wheel models and £4,500 for three-wheel models. Applicants were able to opt for up to five bikes per organisation and were also able to submit joint ‘high-street’ applications for shared ecargo bikes.
Due to the success of the fund, the application portal closed on 8 October 2021 as the application threshold was reached. An additional £300,000 was then made available to applicants with applications already submitted on 3 November 2021.
£400,000 has been made available by the Department for Transport in 2021 for the purchase of ecargo bikes, to support businesses switching to a sustainable transport solution.
Funding covers up to 40% of the total cost of an ecargo bike, up to a maximum of £2,500 for two-wheel models and £4,500 for three-wheel models.
Applications will be capped at five bikes per organisation. Larger applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Applications may include more than one organisation. In these joint ‘high-street’ applications, a lead applicant will be responsible for submitting the application.
The application deadline is 14 December 2021. The claim deadline is 14 February 2022. eCargo bikes do not need to have been delivered for the grant to be paid.
Local authority project directory
The ecargo bike scheme, funded by Department for Transport and administered by Energy Saving Trust, has seen 14 local authorities secure funding from the £1.2 million local authority eCargo Bike Grant Fund in this financial year. A further 18 local authorities secured £1.4 million from the 2019/20 eCargo Bike Grant Fund.
The aim of the scheme has been to encourage the large-scale uptake of ecargo bikes to support sustainable active business travel, to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
The eCargo Bike Grant Fund Information Pack answers essential FAQs, and includes an initial list of suppliers and retailers whose ecargo bikes are eligible for the funding. Please note we are no longer maintaining this list of suppliers and retailers.
Want more information on ecargo bikes? See our guides and webinars:
UK dealers/retailers. Most bike shops don’t stock or have expertise in ecargo bikes, but there are a number of specialist retailers across the UK.
UK manufacturers/importers who supply direct to users.
Other European manufacturers or retailers. Note that some European manufacturers may have distribution arrangements in the UK and will direct you to their UK retailers, or perhaps only supply direct for larger orders. It is not usually an economic proposition to import cargo bikes from outside Europe.
Some specialist dealers may offer leasing arrangements, but the ecargo bike market is not yet well developed in this area. Buying an ecargo bike may be more straightforward, for which this grant would be of assistance. We will strive to include known companies offering leasing packages to the list of suppliers in the information pack.
The nature and capabilities of the ecargo bike should be considered before purchasing, as well as future maintenance and storage.
When purchasing ecargo bikes, be aware of the availability of the bike and timescale of delivery.
Case studies
Read about organisations that have accessed the eCargo Bike Grant Fund, and how this funding has benefited them. If you are a recipient of this fund and want to contribute a case study, please contact ecargobikegrant@est.org.uk.
