Colchester law firm helps spearhead national electric bike leasing scheme

Colchester solicitors Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP is helping to spearhead one of the UK’s most innovative green businesses, Light Electric Vehicles Ltd (LEV), by providing contract and business consultancy advice for its leasing division.

Leiston-based LEV offers electrically assisted bicycles for sale, day hire, longer-term leasing and as part of the Department for Transport’s Cycle to Work scheme. Current clients include Adnams, BT, Southern & Scottish Energy, Suffolk County Council, Sheffield City Council and the Yo! Company.

Tony Fisher, senior partner at Fisher Jones Greenwood who uses one of LEV’s electric bikes to commute into work, said: “Many regional and local authorities and large corporations are actively looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and are set regular targets for decreasing their CO2 emissions. LEV offers a product that can help meet these targets.

“Cycling is being promoted more and more as an alternative to driving into work. Colchester is just one of 18 towns and cities in England to be awarded Cycling Town Status and as a Colchester-based company, we are proud to support LEV. The business is ripe for expansion and the partnership between Fisher Jones Greenwood and LEV will ensure that there is a solid structure in place for future investment.”

LEV’s bikes can travel at 15mph for 30 miles on a single charge that costs 2p. The bicycles can be powered using off-grid solar charging stations and users are provided with on-site training, service and maintenance. A key advantage of electrically assisted bikes over conventional bikes is that e-bike commuters do not need a shower on arrival at work, and crucially, employers don’t need to find the space and money for shower and changing facilities.

Local entrepreneur and owner of LEV, James Fitzgerald, said: “Organisations, such as councils, can lease our bicycles for just £15 a week per bike. Offering such a scheme can help companies reduce carbon emissions in a measurable way. Recognising the importance of this, we are currently developing secure data-logging and real-time GPRS tracking systems to monitor usage.

“The legal and strategic planning advice provided by Fisher Jones Greenwood has been invaluable in pushing the business forward. We are entering an exciting period of growth; never has environmental awareness been so high up on the public and political agenda.”

For more information about LEV’s fleet leasing program, log on to www.levfleet.co.uk.