Complaints have ranged from batteries not keeping charge well in the cold, making for difficult pedaling to electrical assistance and customer service issues.

The vel’OH! bikes have electric assistance with a range of up to 40km, but generally speaking the battery tends to be the most sensitive part of an electric bicycle, with some e-bike manufacturers suggesting batteries even be stored indoors during winter months.

The city alderman in charge of mobility, Patrick Goldschmidt, told L’Essentiel he was aware of the problems--not just with the batteries, but also with issues related to bike supply and electrical assistance--and that the supplier JC Decaux has been alerted. 

The daily further reports Jérôme Blanchevoye, a deputy general manager at JC Decaux, as saying that the company was still in an observation phase, given the system was still new, adding: “We will create a statistical database to enable us to be as efficient as possible and as soon as possible.”