Starting Friday 30 November, anyone with a Vel’oH! subscription will be able to take advantage of the electrified fleet. By mid-December all stations in the capital should be equipped with electric bikes. The roll-out was postponed twice, because of a shortage of batteries, Luxembourg City mayor Lydie Polfer said at the beginning of November.

The cost of the €14.6 million project will be borne by an increase in the annual subscription fee, from €15 to €18.

There are some 70 self-service bike stations in the capital, Bertrange, Hesperange and Strassen. The scheme of non-electric-assisted self-service bikes was first introduced in the capital over ten years ago.

The electrification of the fleet was adopted because of the hilly nature of the city. Electric bikes for public use have already been introduced in Bettembourg, Differdange, Dudelange, Esch-sur-Alzette, Sanem, Schifflange and Kayl under the Vël’OK scheme.

Bike-sharing schemes like these are among a handful of strategies from communes and the government to reduce congestion and carbon emissions.