A new e-bike employee lease scheme that’s believed to be a UK-first is now available from Arval.

Believed to be a UK-first, Arval’s e-bike leasing scheme enables employees to choose from a range of models; typically leased over three years at a set monthly rate

Unveiled as sustainability comes to make headline news during the COP26 summit, the new scheme means employers can give staff across the country easier access to both a zero-emission and affordable means of travel via an e-bike.

The scheme is basically an adaptation of Arval’s existing personal contract hire scheme, extended to e-bikes. It’s initially being offered through a group of 20 employers that Arval already has employee car leasing schemes in place with and is also available for Arval’s own employees to evaluate.

Paul Hyne, Arval UK’s commercial director, explained that the scheme was born from the company’s strategy to provide zero-emission mobility options for its customers and makes e-bikes far more accessible.

He said: “With e-bikes costing from around £500-£5,000 or more, leasing helps employees to spread the cost at a monthly rate they can afford, something that we believe Arval is the first to offer in this manner in the UK.

“The proposition we have developed is very much designed to sit alongside cars leased by employees. Our view is that businesses and their staff will increasingly be looking at a wider selection of mobility solutions and that a car – potentially an electric vehicle – and an e-bike will each be the right solution at different times. However, people will also be able to lease an e-bike on its own.”

The scheme draws on Arval’s experiences from its global network where similar products are being offered to customers and with high take-up.

“We feel it’s a good first step here to test the British appetite for e-bikes for work-related or leisure travel,” continued Hyne.

In the UK, employees can choose from a range of models which are typically leased over three years at a set monthly rate. Models available include mountain, commuter and folding e-bikes, and there’s the option to add insurance.

Hyne finished: “Initially only offering e-bike leasing to our own employees gave us great insight and feedback, which has now enabled us to launch the scheme to our customers with corporate personal contract hire available for employees – the interest since launch has been fantastic.”