Car rental company Hertz has claimed an industry first by offering electric bicycles for hire.
The scheme is initially only available in London, with a total of 12 bikes, but if successful it could be rolled out to other cycling friendly cities such as Amsterdam.
Ultra Motor electric bikes, which reach speeds of up to 15.5mph, can now be hired from Hertz’ Marble Arch branch for £20 per day.
The models chosen by Hertz are the Fast4ward Edge, a folding bike which offers the choice of using throttle and cruise power or to pedal, and the A2B Hybrid 24, which has a sensor that detects the amount of pedalling and applies power in tune with that pace.
Bikes come with a charger (that can be plugged into any mains socket), lock, helmet, and guide to popular cycle routes in London.
Michel Taride, president of Hertz International, said: “The Ultra Motor bikes are a fast, green and economical mode of transport.”
www.hertz.co.uk