While Véligo recently took measures to limit the use of its electric bikes for professional purposes, home delivery people seem to have set their sights on another solution: Swapfiets. A Dutch company which intends to establish itself in the Paris region.
Impossible to miss, as they are now part of the Parisian decor. With their blue front wheel and modern design, Swapfiets bicycles – offered for long-term rental – are more and more popular with Parisians, and more particularly, by home delivery people.
This enthusiasm can be explained in particular by the rental system set up by the Dutch company, whose head office is in Amsterdam (the Netherlands): free home delivery, removable battery, repair service within 48 hours. .
Two electric models available in Paris
In Paris for a year, Swapfiets has been offering 4 models of bikes for long-term rental, including two electric bikes – the “Power 1” and the “Power 7” – for a non-binding subscription of between 49.90 and 75 euros per month .
With a range of 80 km, the “Power 1” – because it has only one speed – can reach 25 km / h and recharges in 4 hours, while the “Power 7” – because it has 7 speeds – recharges in 7.5 hours and holds 100 km.
A special “intensive use” subscription
As to whether Swapfiets bikes are made for professional use, the group is very clear: “we will not limit the use of our bikes to personal use. […] and we also offer electric bicycles for professional use, including delivery ”.
Better, he even intends to set up a special “intensive use” subscription, specifically designed “for those who use their bike more than 1000 km per month or for deliveries”.
Convinced that “electric bicycles can play an important role and free our cities from polluting motorized vehicles”, Swapfiets believes it has a role to play, “in order to” make cities more pleasant to live in thanks to our “velo as a service” model. and by encouraging people to get on the bike, both professionally and personally ”.
Now established in more than a hundred cities in 9 different countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, this company already had more than 250,000 subscribers in last September.