Hey there, we know that buying a Lumo Bike can be an important purchase, but we also know how it can change your life and your commute! Luckily, many European cities and regions also see it that way and have put in place financial help for the purchase of an electric bike. The types of aid are in each area may have different conditions and subsidy amounts.
In the Netherlands, there is currently no national level subsidy for the purchase of electric bikes. There was a national programme on congestion reduction called “Beter Benutten”.
Bicycle facilities and mileage allowance provided by employers
Employers, too, benefit from employees cycling to work. Employees who cycle are in better shape and are less prone to absence through illness. Moreover, companies may be able to save on parking costs when more employees commute to work. For that reason, the government is encouraging employers to provide good facilities for cyclists:
- A mileage allowance for cyclists: employers may pay cyclists a (tax-free) mileage allowance of up to EUR 0.19 a kilometre, the same rate available to staff who travel to work by car.
- Simpler tax rules on using a company bicycle for private purposes: Since 1 January 2020 the tax rules for people who use a company bicycle for private purposes is simplified. Each year, these employees will have to add 7% of the recommended retail price of their bicycle to their taxable income. This applies to bicycles, e-bikes and speed pedelecs paid for by the employer.
The city of Utrecht offers two subsidy schemes:
- Grants of 1000€ per vehicle for companies that purchase speed pedelecs for employees who live at least 10 km away from their workplace
- Grants of 1500€ for the leasing or 1000€ for the purchase of speed pedelecs or electric cargo bikes by companies or organisations for their daily business use (at least 3000 km per year, excluding travel from home to the workplace by employees).
Contact the City of Utrecht for more information.