Transport Scotland has committed a further £900,000 towards the eBike Grant Fund in 2022/23. Local authorities, public sector agencies, further and higher education institutions, active travel hubs and community groups are invited to apply for funding to adopt ebikes, etrikes, ecargo bikes, cargo bikes and trailers, tandems, adapted cycles and trikes for projects that will provide opportunities to trial ebikes.

To encourage the uptake of funded cycles, applicants can also apply for extra funding, limited to 5% of the total project to support subsidised access to ebike hire/loan schemes for people with mobility issues, those on a low income, jobseekers, modern apprentices, young people and students. This is to ensure that these target groups have equal access to ebike opportunities and to encourage uptake of the fund.

The newest commitment builds on four successful previous rounds of funding; year 1 in 2018/19 allocated over £932,000 to 46 projects, year 2 in 2019/20 allocated over £1,050,000 to 58 projects and year 3 in 2020/21 allocated £543,000 to 41 projects. Alongside the eBike Grant Fund in 2020/21, £223,000 was allocated to 12 ebikes for key worker projects and ecargo research bike projects, with costs totalling £78,000. In 2021/22, funding was awarded to 41 projects totalling £921,650

Energy Saving Trust will be running an ongoing application process and the application can be submitted at any point up until Friday 18 November 2022.

The eBike Grant Fund will continue to be split into two separate streams:

Category A offers up to £25,000 towards projects that will provide opportunities to their communities to trial ebikes. The following dates are for review of Category A projects:

• Friday 22 July 2022
• Friday 16 September 2022
• Friday 18 November 2022

Category B offers up to £200,000 per application towards large-scale fleets of pool bikes or public bikeshare/hire schemes and promoting large-scale uptake of ebikes. Category B submissions will be reviewed on receipt of a completed application and can be submitted at any point up until 18 November 2022.

If all funds are allocated before the deadlines stated above, the fund will close to applications. To request an application, email ebikegrantsscot@est.org.uk.