ESB recently launched its eBike pilot project across several Dublin commuter suburbs in conjunction with two of Ireland’s leading micro-mobility providers, Bleeper and Moby, research partner Trinity College Dublin, innovation partner Dogpatch Labs and co-funding partner Interreg North-West Europe. The pilot programme, ESB eBikes, will run from Wednesday 17th August for a ten-month period and includes 112 bikes with 14 charging stations in some of Dublin’s busiest commuter locations including the South Dublin County Council area.
Bleeper and Moby will maintain and operate the eBikes with the charging infrastructure provided by ESB. Bleeper’s ESB eBikes scheme is available and is accessible via the Bleeper app. The Moby scheme, which will be operational over the coming weeks, will be accessible via the ESB eBikes app. The daily cost of hire has been subsidised by ESB, starting from just €5 per day in addition to a €30 monthly subscription, to ensure the initiative is accessible to all.
Speaking at the launch of the ESB eBikes pilot project, Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director, Strategy, Innovation and Transformation at ESB, said: “A number of years ago, ESB established the X-Potential Incubator programme to develop innovative, sustainable and commercially viable business ideas. We are very proud to unveil one such idea – our eBike pilot – which is a new concept in Ireland and was conceived and developed by X-Potential. Investing in low-carbon, sustainable mobility infrastructure for Ireland is a reflection of our commitment to leading the transition to a net zero energy future. With this project, we are delighted to be part of the broader Interreg North-West Europe eHUBS programme and that Dublin will now join other member cities, such as Amsterdam and Manchester.”
The eHUBS programme provides funding for on-street e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, e-scooters and e-cars with the aim of developing a blueprint for replication in other cities and regions to reduce air pollution, congestion and CO2 emissions while developing a market for commercial shared e-mobility providers aligned with local policy. With the launch of its eBike project, ESB is now a proud partner of the eHUBS programme and will co-operate with other consortium partners for the duration of the pilot to help further develop low-emission shared transport solutions throughout Ireland and Europe.
As strategic research partner to the project, Trinity College Dublin will analyse commuter behaviour in relation to e-mobility transference from private cars to a shared low-carbon travel solution and will identify key mobility patterns, calculate carbon savings, and evaluate commercial potential based on data collected from ESB eBikes. Local locations include Maldron Hotel, Naas Road Newlands Cross Clondalkin, Old Bawn Road Tallaght, St. Peter’s Road Walkinstown, Park West Business Campus Cherry Orchard, Firhouse Road, Tallaght. For more information, visit www.esb.ie/ebikes
Image Credit ESB/Johnny Savage.
