Exploring London's Electric Boris Bikes: Are They Really Electric?

In 2021, Transport for London (TfL) announced that it would be adding 500 electric bikes to its fleet of 'Boris bikes'. The move was intended to 'break down the barriers that stop some people from cycling, including fitness, age and journey length'. The rollout of the 15mph battery-powered vehicles was originally planned for summer 2022, but was delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The bikes were eventually introduced in September 2022, alongside an increase in charges for the scheme.

500 e-Boris bikes were introduced in September 2022

Yes, some Boris bikes are electric. In September 2022, 500 e-Boris bikes were introduced to the fleet of 'Boris bikes' in London. The bikes are battery-powered and have a 'power assist' motor, which cuts out at 15.5mph, the standard UK limit for e-bikes. The move to electric bikes was to encourage more Londoners to cycle by 'breaking down the barriers that stop some people from cycling, including fitness, age and journey length'. The bikes were originally due to be rolled out across key central London stations in September, but this was delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The bikes have a 'power assist' motor

The bikes have a power assist motor, which means they are battery-powered. The motor will cut out at 15.5mph, the standard UK limit for e-bikes, but higher speeds will be possible when riding downhill. The 500 e-bikes were due to be rolled out across key central London stations in September 2022, but this was delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The bikes cost £3.30 to hire for 30 minutes

The Santander Cycles bike share scheme in London has expanded to include 500 electric bikes, which are known as 'e-Boris bikes'. The scheme, which launched in 2010, is one of the most popular bike share schemes in the UK, with 10.9 million rides taken on the scheme's 11,500 non-electric bikes in 2021. The move to electric bikes is intended to 'break down the barriers that stop some people from cycling, including fitness, age and journey length'. The bikes cost £3.30 to hire for 30 minutes, which is the same as the cost of a bus fare. The 'power assist' motor on the battery-powered bikes will cut out at 15.5mph, which is the standard UK limit for e-bikes, but higher speeds will be possible when riding downhill.

The bikes are 15mph battery-powered vehicles

The Santander Cycles bike share scheme in London has expanded to include 500 electric bikes. The scheme, originally known as Barclays Cycle Hire and sometimes referred to as Boris Bikes, has grown to be one of the most popular bike share schemes in the UK. The 500 e-bikes were due to be rolled out across key central London stations in September 2022, but this was delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The rollout finally took place in September 2023. The bikes are 15.5mph battery-powered vehicles, with the "power assist" motor cutting out at this speed, which is the standard UK limit for e-bikes. However, higher speeds are possible when riding downhill.

The introduction of the e-bikes was intended to encourage more Londoners to cycle by breaking down barriers such as fitness, age and journey length. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "Cycling has been a lifeline for many Londoners over the past year and I'm determined to make it even more accessible to help us rebuild as a cleaner and greener city."

The e-bikes cost £3.30 to hire for 30 minutes, mirroring the cost of a bus fare. This is an increase on the cost of hiring a conventional Boris Bike, which is £1.65 for 30 minutes.

The bikes are part of the Santander Cycles bike share scheme

In 2021, Transport for London (TfL) announced that it would be adding 500 electric bikes to the scheme, with the rollout beginning in summer 2022. The move to electric bikes was intended to 'break down the barriers that stop some people from cycling, including fitness, age and journey length'. The authority also extended its agreement with Santander to supply the bikes for another three years until May 2025.

The rollout of the electric bikes was initially delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, but they were eventually introduced in September 2022. The electric bikes cost £3.30 to hire for 30 minutes, mirroring the cost of a bus fare. The 'power assist' motor on the battery-powered bikes cuts out at 15.5mph, the standard UK limit for e-bikes, but higher speeds are possible when riding downhill.

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