Businesses in France offering employees company e-bikes rather than company cars

An increasing number of companies in France are using e-bikes to make themselves more attractive to prospective employees. Tech Xplore reports that according to the Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB), there are between 10,000 and 20,000 bikes owned and used by companies in France, a number which is growing rapidly.

The specifics of each scheme vary, but typically, a company acquires a fleet of e-bikes, which they service every few months, and which employees can access for commuting to and from work. Sometimes the bikes are available free of charge, and sometimes the companies request a modest contribution of around €30 a month.

One such company is Coexya, an IT business based in various cities in France. Speaking to Tech Xplore, the company's administrative and financial director, Leila Julien, said:

"Our employees are young and either don't have a driving license or don't have a car. Our area is poorly served by public transport. And as we're in a very tight job market, we've sought to be more attractive".

The company has a fleet of 120 e-bikes, which employees can gain access to for just €35 a month, which includes insurance, theft protection and maintenance. Additionally, employees are given a €120 allowance for cycling accessories like panniers, helmets and clothing.

France is trailing other European countries in its adoption of e-bikes, with Germany seeing dramatic increases in e-bike use and Northern European countries famed for their cycling culture. In Germany, there are around a million bikes in circulation as part of these company employee schemes, a figure that makes France's 10-20,000 look meagre.

Read more: E-bike sales are soaring in Germany, and car makers are taking note

Nonetheless, a host of startups have sprung up to supply and service e-bikes for French companies. The 'fédération des acteurs du vélo en entreprise' (FAVE) is an association that brings together five companies: Zenride, Tandem Company, Tim Sports, Azfalte and Bee.Cycle. They're coming together to advocate for e-bikes at the workplace, and hoping to secure tax breaks and other incentives to make it easier for companies to offer e-bikes.