A new initiative designed to encourage employees to cycle to work using electric bikes has launched in the UK.
The Green Commute Initiative has teamed up with Axcess Electric Bikes in order to improve the air in our cities by offering workplace electric bike package deals to help get traffic off the roads and more people cycling.
For commuters who perhaps can’t make such a long journey on a push-bike, the Green Commute Initiative will allow employees to own an electric bike through a salary sacrifice arrangement, much like the existing Cycle to Work scheme. With 80% of pollution in the air coming from vehicle traffic, the Green Commute Initiative is focused on ensuring that anyone who wants to cycle their commute to work is given a fair chance at owning a bike.
Here at Axcess Electric Bikes we have a wide range of electric bikes and accessories for you to choose from to make your commute easier, healthier and more enjoyable.
How does the new e-bike scheme work?
The Green Commute Initiative have put together a very simple package that not only helps to save you mo ney on owning a bike but also financially benefits your employer too. Their specially tailored finance plan means that the employer doesn’t even have to buy the bike – meaning a desirable plan that your workplace will be inclined to go for.
You will agree to Hire Purchase the bike or bikes required by your employees. Their salary sacrifice and your savings on their National Insurance payment will cover the cost of the bike.
You may also be able to claim the capital allowances.
The Hire Purchase arrangements pay for the bikes and your employees pay for the Hire Purchase through the salary sacrifice, meaning you don’t need to find any money at all.
If you don’t want to use the Hire Purchase arrangement, you can buy the bikes yourself as long as you register with the Green Commute Initiative.
If the employee leaves during the arrangement, they will have to pay the remaining balance of the bike.
Your employees can choose any bike they want (and accessories, if needed), as long as it’s from one of the Green Commute Initiative retailers.
Your employer will provide the bike to you under a salary sacrifice agreement. This means part of your salary will be withheld in order for you to purchase the bike.
You don’t pay tax on the salary that you sacrificed and therefore, will save tax and National Insurance.
You are responsible for the safety and security of the bike at all times. If it’s stolen or lost you will still have to make the salary sacrifice payments.
You can have whatever type of bike you want, but electric bikes are newly available on the scheme and easier to ride on longer commutes.
You should mainly use the bike for commuting, but you don’t have to ride it every day.
Many people won’t realise the damage that sitting in traffic on the way to work is doing. Pollution is becoming more of a serious problems across the UK, so not only will the Green Commute Initiative reward you with a second vehicle, it will also improve your health.
Two of the chemicals in pollution are Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and diesel particulates (DPM). The two chemicals, when mixed with our air, are extremely harmful and can cause long-term damage to our hearts and lungs.
Over 23,500 people die each year due to NO2 poisoning, and 29,000 from DPM poisoning. Children and older people are especially at risk, but the pollution affects everyone.
1 in 11 people in the UK suffers from asthma.
The NHS spends £15 billion per year on air pollution-related illness.
London, Derby, Southampton, Nottingham and South Wales all have major problems, with many other UK cities just below EU directive levels.
This is a relatively recent phenomenon caused by the rush for diesel to reduce CO2 emissions.
The reputable ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme from the UK Government has proved popular with employers and employees alike so it was only a matter of time before electric bikes got in on the action too. Here at Axcess Electric Bikes we’re very proud to be involved in such a positive scheme and encourage you to visit their website and download the form to show your employer.