A user-centric analysis of preferences and performance of speed pedelec commuting in Flanders

Europe is facing challenges to transform into the fair and prosperous society it wants to become by 2050. The European Green Deal sets out the growth strategy to meet those challenges. One of the sectors in need of action is mobility. Each year, the vehicle fleet, predominantly cars, grows in numbers, size, and weight. For the near future, the European Union wants multi-modal transport that is less polluting and more sustainable. Despite the introduction of the EU regulation 168/2013 by the EU council and parliament about the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles, a lot of new light electric vehicles entered the market. These vehicles could fit the vision of the European Union. For the specific case of Belgium, a country
plagued by road congestion and bad air quality, the speed pedelec is a highly promising light electric vehicle. In the trail of the already popular electrically power assisted bicycle, manufacturers experimented with two-wheeled vehicles with more power and higher assisted speed, to which the legislature created a suitable framework. In the first year with clear local regulation, more than 6000 speed pedelecs were registered. In a few years, more than 25 brands entered the EU market. The reaction of riders, other road users and policymakers to this new vehicle were divergent. There was a clear need for data about road behaviour, technical quality, control algorithms, human power amplification, cruising speeds, . . . in order to decide on the right measures to ensure safe, sustainable commuting with these vehicles and to instruct manufacturers and policymakers to come up with the right answer on clean mobility.

This work investigates the performance of speed pedelecs and the users’ perception and preferences towards the speed pedelec for commuting in Flanders. The experimental work performed in the 365SNEL project lies at the basis of this PhD. In this project 105 participants were given the opportunity to commute with a speed pedelec for three-week test periods. The fleet of 15 speed pedelecs was lent out to 10 Flemish companies and provided qualitative, quantitative, naturalistic speed, technical and anecdotal data. Focus groups were undertaken before and after the test periods, surveys inquiring about the intention to adopt were collected, and the speed behaviour of the users was tracked using GPS signals. Outside the context of the 365SNEL project additional research was undertaken: a study into legislation was performed, a measurement module was developed to measure power input and energy output of a speed pedelec, practical road tests were performed and a multi-criteria calculation tool was
created to calculate the effects of a one-to-one switch from a car to a speed pedelec for commuting. Finally, a survey was launched to gather cyclists and non-cyclists preferences towards road-separate cycling infrastructure.

This research brings forth clear insights into the subject of ’speed pedelecs’: (i) The perception towards the vehicle of non-users and users is different before and after the test period. A main motivator was time gain before the test. After testing, time predictability, mental and physical benefits, exercising and mentally relaxing during the commute were more important. The barriers remained initial purchase cost and perceived traffic safety. Lack of reliability was an added barrier after testing (ii) The deciding factors in speed pedelec intention to adopt remained after the testing period ‘Design’ and ‘Ease of Use’. A change in ‘Trust’ and/or ‘Ease of Use’ had a significant impact on a change in ‘Intention to adopt’. (iii) Practical cruising speeds are below the 45 km/h maximum pedal assisted speed. This work shows that the cruising speed is dependent on the vehicle, the users’ behaviour, the users’ capabilities and their preferences. (iv) The division into 19 component groups facilitates comparison and shows the diversity of the vehicle. Four parameters (i.e. assistance speeds, power consumption per assistance level, assistance factor per assistance level and the wind dependency) together with measurement strategies were proposed to objectively compare the performance of speed pedelecs. (v) For an average Flemish person, a speed pedelec outperforms a car for commuting in four criteria: time predictability, moderate to vigorous physical activity, total cost of ownership and lower CO2 emissions. (vi) With regard to preferences towards road-separate cycling infrastructure, the only difference between a conventional cyclist and an electric cyclist is the need for charging points at stops along a cycling route. Every road user wants wide quality cycle paths with safe crossing points, smart traffic lights and secure bicycle parking if they are or were to cycle.

These results first and foremost provide the first scientific data sets on such a scale for speed pedelecs. Secondly, the text proves that certain key preconceptions about the speed pedelec are wrong.  Thirdly, the study shows the promise the vehicles hold to combat the challenges Belgium and the European Union faces, if they replace larger and heavier (internal combustion engine) vehicles. Finally, the work ends with policy advice and new avenues of future research in the field of speed pedelecs.