Although subscription services may have taken the home entertainment world by storm, and services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime are now household names, it can be said that electric bike equivalents have so far been relatively unnoticed. This is especially true compared to continental Europe, where "as-a-service" e-bikes have become popular—especially in famous bicycle-friendly cities like Amsterdam, which already have a large number of existing riders.
Electric bike subscription services are now also beginning to appear in the UK, and services such as Hurrecane and Swapfiets will enter the market in 2021. Recently, Matt announced his intention to join the British Party.
Of course, only time will tell whether this is the e-bike subscription bubble or the beginning of a real long-term trend, which will eventually go far beyond London and the southeast where most e-bike subscription services started.
Most subscription services are different from rental plans ("by the minute" bike sharing plans, such as Jump and holiday rental plans), because the subscription period is longer, as long as you subscribe to the service, you can treat the bicycle as your own. Subscription fee It usually contains other services, such as repair calls and insurance, but the specific content varies from provider to provider.
So why subscription might be right for you? It's like renting a bicycle under a rental contract, but it's easier in theory because you don't have to pay for repairs and wear and tear, so you know exactly your monthly budget. Those who do not want to participate in bicycle repairs may welcome subscription services that provide repair or bicycle replacement call services. This may also be attractive if insurance and replacement electric bikes are included in the subscription payment.
If you are not familiar with electric bikes, then subscription services are likely to be an attractive way for you to try out electric bikes before buying. In fact, some of the companies listed below do have the option of "lease purchase".
If you plan to use an electric bike for self-employed work purposes, day in and day out, then a subscription might also make sense-it should be classified as a tax-free fee, and a backup service should provide something if you rely on a bicycle for daily work, keep in mind .
Electric bike subscriptions are still in their infancy in the UK (more companies offer it in countries such as the Netherlands and Germany), so it is still subject to geographic restrictions. However, at least on paper, it can provide real benefits to some electric bike users. If existing subscription companies continue to expand their coverage and new operators emerge, we may only see the snowball effect of electric bike subscriptions.
The name identifies Swapfiets in Dutch-fiets means bicycle in Dutch. In the field of bicycle subscription services, it is a veritable veteran, established in 2014. In fact, it claims to be the world's first "bicycle-as-a-service" company, saying that the service it provides is "between bicycle sharing and bicycle ownership." '
Their clever marketing methods mean that all of their bicycles can be immediately identified from the blue front tires, and they now have 260,000 members in various countries in Western Europe. They provide ordinary bicycles and electric bicycles, which are only operated in London in the UK, and are only allowed for personal use. (Swapfiets does offer electric bicycles for commercial use, but not in the UK.)
Swapfiets currently only operates in central London. Their shop is located in Spitalfields, East London, and the map below shows the area where repairs and bicycle replacement services are provided.
In London, you can only subscribe to the Power 7 electric bike, which is equipped with a high-quality Shimano E6100 mid-drive (we rate it highly) and a very suitable size 504Wh battery. It has a lower top tube, so Swapfiets classifies it as a "unisex" model and comes in two frame sizes (49 cm and 53 cm). Spec aims to make its maintenance cost low rather than lightweight. It has seven hub gears, a hub-style closed brake (the rear is a pedal-back coaster brake) and a mudguard. A strange omission is the rear frame, although it does have a front frame connected to the fork.
The subscription is monthly and there is no minimum period. The Power 7 electric bike costs £75 per month-although at the time of writing, there seems to be a waiting list to get one. The terms and conditions of Swapfiets state that you can travel up to 620 miles per month on an electric bike.
Swapfiets London also offers several non-electric options, priced at 12.90 pounds and 14.90 pounds per month.
Swapfiets is a monthly service and can be terminated with one month's notice. After registration, Swapfiets can be delivered to you, or you can pick up the goods from their East London store.
Swapfiets said that for a fixed monthly fee, “you will get a bicycle that will always work.” They continued: “Need repairs? Just contact us via email, Swapfiets app, WhatsApp or phone to make an appointment. In the store or The location of your choice."
Once you make an appointment, Swapfiets says they will come to repair the bike or change to another one within 48 hours.
Swapfiets' terms and conditions clearly state that if your electric bike is damaged, you can replace it, even if the damage does not really prevent you from riding. Free repairs or replacements apply to defects, including "flat tires, broken chains or chain covers, torn saddles, and damaged lighting."
Although Swapfiets does not guarantee that it will not be stolen, you do not need to pay the full value of the bicycle. You need to pay a "deductible", which is obviously lower than the value of a new electric bike of similar specifications. As part of the subscription fee, you will get a wheel lock fixed to the frame, a heavy chain lock and a key. In the case of bicycles and electric bicycles being stolen, Swapfiets said,'We will fill out a theft report for the police together. In addition, you need to pay a deductible, provided that your bike is properly locked and you still have the key.
Subscription type established deductible
Power 7 subscription with battery £720 (if the battery but not the bike is stolen or lost, it is £500)
Zoomo is mainly aimed at gig economy workers in areas such as food delivery-perhaps not surprising given that it was founded by former Deliveroo executive Mina Nada in 2017. They now also want to provide the company with the entire fleet, but their electric bikes are open to anyone.
It is clear from the technical section on the Zoomo website that although their electric bicycles look like ordinary in-wheel motors, the company has paid attention to the use of high-quality batteries and more efficient control electronics to maximize the range.
They even claimed: "The key battery parameters of each bicycle will be sent to the cloud via a network hook. Zoomo records key battery-related data multiple times a day. This includes the number of times the battery pack has been charged and the temperature of the owner. Then, Zoomo can Monitor these parameters in the cloud and automatically flag the battery pack with problems before the battery pack encounters charging problems or similar problems." If it really works, it sounds like a good system of preventive measures.
Trustpilot's comments on Zoomo's global business (including the UK) are generally positive, but there are also some negative comments.
Zoomo currently operates retail and service outlets in London (in Tower Hamlet and Fulham) and Manchester (in St Anne's Square).
At 40-50 pounds a week, Zoomo is on the expensive end of the subscription service, but bicycles and backups are clearly designed for day-to-day use, and support services are launched. Zoomo UK currently offers five different electric bicycles.
zero. Stepping of the thick rear frame with 30 kg load limit and 630Wh large built-in battery. 45Nm rated front hub motor. Electric motor lock and fast charging. 50 pounds a week. It is said to be the favorite of food delivery staff.
sports. Low stride frame and 468Wh battery in the frame and 45Nm rated rear hub motor. Electric motor lock and fast charging. 50 pounds a week.
Trekkers. Inclined top tube model, equipped with 768Wh battery and 70Nm rated rear hub motor. 45 pounds a week.
Hybrid car. Zoomo's e-MTB style product is equipped with a 468Wh frame battery, a 40Nm rated rear hub motor, a considerable amount of front suspension travel and 21 gears. £40 a week.
Ranger. This is actually another name called Rad Power Radrunner-a bicycle we take very seriously. When we reviewed it, we liked everything about it, from the sturdy structure and abundant practical functions to the powerful 80Nm rated rear hub motor. 45 pounds a week.
The subscription fee is once a week as described above, but Zoomo also offers direct purchase and rental purchase options, and provides complete details on its website.
Zoomo stated that they will provide a full backup when repairs are needed; repairs and services are included in your subscription. "You can book your service or repair in the'Rider Hub' (subscribers only)... If there is an emergency, please send us a message directly via chat or email us."
In the event of a theft, Zoomo’s suggestion is to “... immediately call the police and notify a Zoomo representative. You include a security lock in your Zoomo rental, and we will also provide you with a guide on how to securely lock the bicycle. We also recommend that you purchase damaged and Loss insurance options to reduce your liability."
The damage and loss option is actually a basic theft insurance plan with limited liability for theft (£300 if the bike is locked correctly) and an additional £5 weekly subscription. This is a bit disappointing, because Zoomo claims to have invested in motor locks and GPS tracking technology in some of their models — even claiming that their bikes are "almost impossible to stolen."
Hurrecane is a newcomer in the field of electric bicycle subscriptions, and it hopes to provide services covering England at a lower price than some other electric bicycle subscription companies. Although this is an admirably ambitious approach, it should be noted that some of the social media comments they received were a bit bad.
The Hurrecane website lists most UK counties, but the service does not appear to be available in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. After selecting the bicycle, you select the county, and the pricing options will pop up. Their website provides the office address and phone number in the Southeast.
The bike appears to be a cheap model of the Freedom brand (not the name of the electric bike we encountered before), starting at £55 per month, and offering more expensive options, including extra batteries and a 48-hour repair turnaround time.
So, for example, if you want extra batteries and 48 hours of repair calls (calls within 7 days are standard), the cost of the same £55 per month model (Freedom 400 Step Through) rises to £132 per month. You will need to pay a deposit of up to £380 before delivering the bike to your door.
Most Hurrecane electric bicycles follow the above pricing structure, but some will charge a premium. For example, depending on the option selected, the monthly cost of the RS8 off-road fat bike is between 110 and 165 pounds.
Hurrecane also provides a "fleet leasing" service they claim to provide for businesses under the brand name Deliver-E.
The website showcases similar bicycles with the Deliver-E brand. It indicated that one-wheeled trailers could also be selected, but they invited interested parties to get in touch instead of publishing the full cost on the website.
Hurrecane's terms and conditions stipulate that the minimum subscription period is four months, after which the monthly subscription will continue (you can notify one month in advance or change to other models).
Disappointingly, Hurrecane’s terms and conditions seem to require subscribers to “obtain and maintain the following insurance at their own expense...The insurance value of the equipment is not less than its full replacement value, and it is fully protected against all common risks of loss and damage Or damage caused by fire, theft, or accident, and other risks that the lessor may specify in writing from time to time..." With similar broad and vaguely worded clauses, it seems that third-party or public liability insurance risks are required. Contrast this with car rental, which usually includes decent insurance.
Although Hurrecane stated that they will perform fair wear and tear repairs for free, subscribers “will be responsible for all costs and expenses associated with correcting any damage...this is unfair wear and tear.” They added that Hurricanes “will be entitled to charge... ... 30.00 GBP + VAT collection fee to cover the collection fee in this case."
Although Hurrecane sells helmets or locks separately on the website, the subscription price does not seem to include helmets or locks.
Dash's services are for employers and employees in the Southeast. They work with the Cycle to Work program to make their subscriptions more valuable by ensuring that the tax bargaining chips are proportional to the price.
They said they plan to open up their services to those who are not in the PAYE tax system, but currently you must be hired in this way and pay taxes, and your employer must also sign a contract with Dash.
There are four well-known high-quality electric bicycle brands on their website, which attracts a lot of people, and said that once someone subscribes, they will provide more models. They describe themselves as providing "premium" electric bicycles.
At M25 and Surrey. However, they stated that they also hope to promote it nationwide "in the near future."
Dash advertises four electric bikes that you can subscribe to on their website:
Brompton Electric. Arguably the best (and of course the most ingenious and compact) high-quality electric version of a folding bicycle in the world.
Rad Power RadMission Intermediate step. Single-speed electric bicycle, equipped with a moderately sized battery, a powerful rear hub motor and a gear.
Cowboy 3. A beautifully equipped city electric bike with stylish integrated lights and fenders, but our review found that there is a problem with the battery size/position and potential problems with the battery contacts.
Volt Kensington/Burlington/Pulse. There are three models to choose from, including two step-by-step models, which are fully equipped and suitable for urban commuting.
There are many different designs that can attract riders with different needs. Dash said that there will be more brands and models available for registered people.
In terms of cost, there are multiple options based on the distribution of subscription payments between employers and employees. If the employer pays 50%, the employee will pay approximately £30 per month. The exact cost depends on the bicycle, the duration of the subscription, the tax class of the employees, and whether the business contributes to the cost. Employees must pay 14.99 pounds for shipping at checkout.
The subscription price includes service, maintenance and insurance, and if you need a helmet, it also includes a helmet. Insurance coverage sounds particularly attractive. It covers theft, rider and third party liability. Therefore, if your bike is stolen or damaged, their insurance will cover the cost.
Although most traditional electric bike rental outlets tend to provide daily rental services in popular tourist attractions, the long-term loans provided by British Bike Hire are unusual. Although they don't classify themselves as a subscription service because they don't include additional services as a standard, they can actually arrange insurance for you. Therefore, in practice, they can provide as many or more services as some self-proclaimed subscription services.
Another possible subscription service includes the direct purchase of bicycles, but you can choose to subscribe to "on-demand" maintenance and troubleshooting services. High-tech city brands Cowboy and Van Moof also have similar products that cover any work required for regular bicycle use, including any parts that need to be replaced (paid for by them). Cowboy Care costs £20 a month, while Van Moof Peace of Mind is priced once every three years with insurance options. The three-year maintenance cost is 278 pounds, the three-year theft insurance is 328 pounds, and the total three-year theft and maintenance costs are 550 pounds.
After working in an office and as an English teacher abroad, Richard Peace began to work full-time outdoor writing/photojournalism. His bicycle route guide books include the best-selling Ultimate C2C Guide and Ultimate UK Cycle Route Planner plus Electric Bicycles. He has written articles on many aspects of cycling for various media
E-MTB central motor shooting
eBikeTips editing and general enquiries: info@ebiketips.co.uk
Advertising and business: sales@ebiketips.co.uk Check out our media kit
Electric bike reviews, buying advice and news. ebiketips.co.uk is committed to providing you with the best e-bike reports in the UK
Our sister road bike site... road.cc
Our sister site provides mountain biking, bicycle packing, gravel riding, etc... off.road.cc