Leeds city council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford council have secured a Department for Transport and Energy Saving Trust grant to fund 32 new electric-cargo bikes to the value of £160,000.

The Energy Saving Trust’s £2 million fund aims to help businesses and local authorities purchase cargo bikes in an effort to combat congestion and pollution in city centres.

Leeds city council and Bradford council adopted the e-cargo bike loan scheme in March 2021 and have since provided local businesses the opportunity to trial the new delivery method. 

The trial scheme allows organisations to experience how e-cargo bikes could provide a cost-effective alternative to cars and vans for heavy, bulky local deliveries. 

Each bike allows for up to 40 miles assisted cycling and has a load capacity of up to 100kg or 900 litres.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: "I am delighted that businesses in West Yorkshire will benefit from the opportunity to be even more sustainable through innovative technology such as e-cargo bikes and be part of our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038."