You can buy an electric bicycle in most bicycle shops. Two specialist electric bicycle dealers here in Cork are City View Wheels on Blarney Street (who are part of the we-bike stakeholder team) and GreenAer on Monahan Road.
Most dealers will let you try out an electric bike before buying it. You can even ask to rent one to try it out on your commute or everyday journeys. An entry-level electric bicycle starts at about €1,799 and mid-level electric bicycle is €2,750–€3,250.
Cycle to Work scheme
The Cycle to Work scheme is a government incentive to make buying and paying for a bicycle cheaper and easier. It works by your employer paying for the bicycle and you paying it back through your pay over the course of a year. Because the cost of the bicycle is taken out before the tax on your pay, you make savings of up to half the cost of the bicycle.
Since August 2020, the bike-to-work scheme will cover electric bikes up to €1,500. That’s enough to get going on an entry-level electric bicycle or to help along with the cost of a more expensive one.
Credit union loan
There are 27 Cork Credit Unions providing member-owned financial services to their members, with even more offices located throughout the county. If you need a loan, your local credit union will provide loans to buy an electric bicycle. You can use this to buy a bicycle outright, purchase any additional equipment or to cover the shortfall between the cost of the bicycle and the Bike to Work scheme. Cork Credit Unions are here to help you get the wheels rolling!
Each credit union is independent so it is up to individual ones to set their own rates, but interest rates are typically between 8–12%. Some credit unions offer an introductory rate for first-time borrowers. Find your credit union here and talk to them about an electric bicycle loan today.
A typical example would be a loan for an entry-level electric bicycle costing €2,000 over 12 months at 9.98% (10.4% APR). This would be paid back using monthly repayments of €176.20. The total amount repaid would be €2,114.45 with total interest paid €114.45.*
There are no fees or charges with your credit union and you can repay a loan quicker than agreed without penalty. The monthly repayments can be reduced if the loan is taken out over a longer term.
*This example is for information purposes only. Please contact your credit union to find out more. Loans are subject to approval. Terms and Conditions apply. Warning: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.