[LUM#2] By bicycle

[LUM Magazine] - Published on May 24, 2016 in Science-Society

With its built-in motor, the electric bike is attracting more and more users. It is also winning over local authorities: in Montpellier, the e-bike is on the right track.

When he embarked on his electric bike adventure in 2009, those around him were frankly pessimistic. It won't work, it's doomed to failure, no one is going to give up their car for a bike... he heard people say around him. Six years later, Jean Daunis has reason to celebrate."One in ten bikes sold today is electric, compared to just 2% at the time," explains the founder of Mobileco, a company specializing in electric vehicles. These trendy two-wheelers are now a credible alternative to cars for urban travel. They are more environmentally friendly, more economical... and faster. "No traffic jams, no more hassle finding a parking space: for short trips in town, you can get around much faster by bike," confirms Jean Daunis.

Trendy

When he created Mobileco, electric bikes were still unheard of in Montpellier. "There were a few specialist shops in Paris, but nothing here." The former economics student was quick to fill this gap. "I set up the company during my master's degree in project engineering and public policy , " explains Jean Daunis.

His plan? To offer local authorities, government agencies, and businesses the opportunity to provide electric bikes to their employees. The gamble paid off, and today Mobileco supplies a fleet of two-wheelers to the Hérault General Council, the Béziers Urban Community, the Nîmes Local Mission, and even the SNCF. "We offer them a turnkey solution that includes rental, maintenance, repairs, and battery replacement."

Practical

Why did these local authorities opt for electric bikes? "Primarily to reduce the number of parking spaces required, but also because it's good for their image." And because it's very practical."To get from one branch of the General Council to another, for example, it takes 40 minutes by car, compared to 15 minutes by electric bike." That's a lot of working time saved...

Is the two-wheeler the new king of the urban jungle? It has not yet dethroned the roaring representatives of the good old combustion engine. Even though the wind is blowing in the right direction in Montpellier, "we still lack a real national public policy to develop bicycle use," laments Jean Daunis.

Keywords: Ecology, LUM#2, LUM Magazine