AMERSFOORT, Netherlands - Dutch battery repair specialist Nowos has raised €6 million in new equity funding to accelerate its pan-European growth and push lithium-ion battery repair as a main component to developing a circular economy. The round's lead investor is Paris- and Singapore-based venture capital fund Shift4Good, with participation from Fair Capital Impact Fund and Goeie Grutten Impact Fund. An additional €3 million in debt financing is still being secured.

On April 23, the 'Right to Repair' directive was adopted by the European Parliament. The proposed law should encourage repair and reuse of defective devices instead of replacement, with the aim of minimising 'e-waste' caused by these devices. The guidelines that the EU will prescribe to its member states in the coming years are becoming increasingly clear: repair must become the standard for all electronic consumer goods, even after the legal guarantee period. What does this mean for the e-bike industry?

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Members of European parliament (MEPS) have adopted measures to stimulate consumers to repair products instead of buying new ones. First presented by the EU Commission in March 2023, the scope of the 'right to repair' proposal has also been extended to include bicycles. It aims to ensure favourable conditions for an independent repair market and prevent manufacturers from hindering repairs.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - KwikFit is set to play an important role in VanMoof's service network in the Netherlands as an official certified service partner. VanMoof has been thwarted by servicing issues in recent years, and this partnership will increase their service points to 80 across the country.

LONDON, UK - Operating over 600 automotive servicing and repair centres across the UK, Kwik Fit is now diversifying into the bicycle sector through a strategic partnership with bike repair network, Fettle. The decision to enter this rapidly expanding market came after the success of the Dutch e-bike service concept introduced by Kwik Fit last year.

The global e-bike market should reach more than $120 billion in 2030, with an annual increase of 11.5%. If the attractiveness of the electric bicycle is no longer in question, there are still challenges to be met to improve the experience of cyclists. One of them is maintenance, more difficult to manage on an electric bike, requiring regular servicing and the frequent intervention of a professional.