Five London businesses are being given the chance to trial electric cargo bikes for free, as pressure mounts on companies to cut costs, reduce emissions and navigate the capital’s increasingly congested streets.
Vok Bikes, in partnership with Electrify London and Fully Charged, has launched a five-week initiative to demonstrate how eCargo bikes can replace vans and cars in day-to-day operations. Each selected participant will receive a commercial-grade Vok eCargo bike for one week, along with onboarding support.
The launch comes as London faces intensifying transport challenges. According to the TomTom Traffic Index, the city is the slowest in Europe for drivers, with average peak-hour traffic speeds of around 9 mph in central London. Meanwhile, diesel vans have become the biggest road source of NOx emissions in central London.
Chris Cayford, UK Country Manager at Vok Bikes said: ‘London is one of Europe’s leading cities for cargo bike adoption, but many businesses still haven’t experienced how practical they can be. This trial is about turning curiosity into real-world insight.’
Zak Bond, Campaign Manager at Clean Cities, added: ‘Our analysis has shown that diesel vans are now the biggest road source of dirty air in central London. Shifting as many deliveries as possible to cargo bikes is essential. We are excited to support this trial, which will help companies think differently about their operations.’
The trial is aimed at businesses currently relying on vans or cars for deliveries or operational tasks within London. Industry and policy studies suggest that around half of motorised trips involving goods in cities could be shifted to cargo bikes.
Dan Parsons, co-founder of Fully Charged, commented: ‘Since 2014, Fully Charged has been offering cargo bike solutions to businesses and organisations of all sizes. We are excited to be partnering with Vok and Electrify London to offer these free trials, removing a barrier to entry and offering businesses the chance to put a Vok through its paces, seeing firsthand how one might benefit their business.’
Applications opened today (21st April) and close on 6th May, with trial weeks running from mid-May to early June. A follow-up report compiling insights and case studies will be published later this summer.
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