Tax breaks on the way for electric bikes?

CYCLISTS could be offered subsidies in a Government push to get people on their bike – but only if it’s electric.

Electric bikes, or ‘ e-bikes’, have a small electric motor that can provide a boost to help cyclists get up hills.

They are becoming increasingly popular with novice or older cyclists who struggle to complete arduous journeys with pedal power alone.

Roads minister Jesse Norman suggested providing tax breaks for e-bikes could encourage more people to cycle, helping tackle concerns about pollution and Britons’ lack of exercise.

But like electric cars, e-bikes can be prohibitively expensive.

Most advertised on the Halfords website cost more than £1,000, with some costing upwards of £3,000. Those buying an electric car can receive up to £4,500 off the purchase price through a Government subsidy scheme, which contributed to a surge in sales. yesterday Mr Norman said the Government had been considering offering a separate subsidy scheme for e-bikes.

‘We’ve done some work on that already, and I haven’t looked at the outcomes yet ... There’s a case in principle,’ he told The Guardian. He added that there was a ‘tremendous opportunity’ for firms to use e-bikes rather than vans to deliver lighter packages. Mr Norman also said he was ‘not ruling out’ the idea of the Government increasing pressure on local councils to do more for cyclists.

A bike qualifies as an e-bike if it has pedals, the electric motor provides no assist- ance when the bike is travelling at more than 15.5mph and the power does not exceed 250 watts.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said subsidised e-bikes would make sense to many people seeking to cut costs. ‘This is one way drivers and young people could avoid rip off prices at the fuel stations,’ he said.