Inger Hanne Vikshåland loosens the support on the electric cargo bike, sits on the seat and stomps on the pedals. – It is absolutely fantastic. It feels so free and it goes so fast, she shouts enthusiastically as she speeds off on the new bike. The 34-year-old, like many others, has become hooked on electric bikes. At the same time, she believes that buying an electric bike is good for the wallet. – Everyday life flows a little better, says Vikshåland, who previously preferred to take the bus. Now only bicycles apply. Photo: Marte Skodje / news Vikshåland therefore chooses to rent instead of own. That way, she avoids paying the entire amount of NOK 80,000 at once. Instead, she is deducted around NOK 1,700 from her salary by her employer every month. The plan is to eventually buy out the bike. In practice, the scheme is a repayment over three years. – Then I don’t have to spend so much money at once and there won’t be such a big dent in the economy. It made me become a cyclist. From not cycling at all, says Vikshåland. Best with battery Interest in electric bicycles has long been great in Norway. Sales of electric bicycles have exploded from 2013, when a few thousand bicycles were sold annually, until sales in recent years have stabilized at a level of around 80,000 a year, writes the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association (external link). In a study from 2023, the Norwegian Road Administration found that the share of electric bicycles in this country is greatest among those with higher education and over 30 years of age. This is probably connected to the fact that electric bicycles are expensive, they write in the report (external link). Today, there are many people who leave the car behind in favor of the electric bicycle. At the same time, the price tag for such a bike can become an obstacle. Eirik Skagen says that he recently replaced a normal bicycle in favor of one with a battery. Eirik Skagen leases an electric bike through his employer and has to fork out just over NOK 700 a month. Photo: Marte Skodje / news He also chose to rent instead of own. – Previously, I was young and fit and could cycle from Sandnes to Stavanger without a problem. But now electric bikes are the way to go, says the 42-year-old and chuckles. Popular with leasing bicycles Several municipalities and companies in Norway today offer their employees leasing agreements on electric bicycles. Some businesses that offer this include: Trondheim, Kristiansand, Skien, Porsgrunn, Siljan, Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg and Stavanger municipality. Neither Oslo nor Bergen municipality has such an agreement for its employees. In these cities, there are nevertheless other companies that offer bicycle leasing to their employees. The scheme is particularly widespread in Rogaland. Here, large investments in bicycle trunk roads and various support schemes for bicycles have probably influenced more people to bet on two wheels. Stavanger was recently named Norway’s cycling city in 2024 by the Cyclist Association (external link). The Cyclists’ Association believes that the city scores the highest for safety, access to cycle paths and that residents feel that the municipality prioritizes cycling. Roar Næss is an advisor at the Cyclist Association. Photo: The Cyclist Association – There is no doubt that Stavanger is ahead of the pack. What they achieve for cyclists means a lot, says Roar Næss, who is an adviser at the Cyclist Association and continues: – We are very happy that there will be alternative models for using bicycles, so that electric bicycles will be available to more people. Whether it’s leasing, subscription solutions or shared bikes. All of these are very good options to buy. In the bicycle garage of Stavanger municipality, there is a battle for places. Almost 2,000 employees in the business have chosen to lease e-bikes. Stavanger municipality is one of the businesses that offers bicycle rental to its employees. Many of the employees here cycle to work on leased bicycles. Photo: Marte Skodje / news – Yes, it fills up. There are many electric bikes here that are leased, says Imme Dirks Eskeland, project manager in Stavanger municipality. – Why do you have this arrangement? – We have ambitious climate and environmental targets to achieve in Stavanger municipality and we must get more people to switch from private cars to more environmentally friendly forms of transport. Then we have to start with ourselves, and then we offer our employees to lease electric bikes, she replies. Imme Dirks Eskeland, project manager in Stavanger municipality. Photo: Marte Skodje / news They are well aware of this at the company Paahjul. The bicycle workshop has a service agreement for leasing bicycles and tells of great demand. – We receive an awful lot of these. It has clearly been a popular offer, says bicycle repairer Tolleiv Thorkildsen at Paahjul. He says that the working day goes by in one. The last time has been particularly hectic. – What do people most need help with? – Brakes, drivetrain, washing, adjustments, everything possible, he replies. Tolleiv Thorkildsen (44) has worked at Paahjul since it started in 2017 and really enjoys it. Photo: Marte Skodje / news – What is the progress of people who have loan agreements on electric bicycles? – It is increasing, I would say. There has been a lot all along, but there is more now, replies Thorkildsen. Replacing the car In the last five years, almost 7,500 people in 50 different companies have entered into a leasing agreement via their employer in Rogaland, according to the collective company Kolumbus. The company makes it possible for companies to test or borrow electric bikes through the HjemJobbHjem scheme (external link). Employees who want to lease a bicycle will have a fixed amount deducted from their salary for three years, and can then choose to buy the bicycle after this period. This has caused several people to leave their cars. Paul Tumyr. Photo: Kolumbus – Surveys show that around 70 per cent of those who lease an electric bicycle had not planned to buy one, says Pål Tumyr, head of New Mobility in Kolumbus and continues: – Many people change their cycling habits after acquiring an electric bicycle. The electric bicycle often replaces driving both for work and leisure, also in winter. Published 30.10.2024, at 06.00
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