If you’re picking an e-bike, you’ll want to know how much charge is already available in its battery before you set off. Handily, you can check the percentage on all of the available bikes on the self-charging stands before you even get to the bike station. Then, once you’re standing next to the bike, you can also triple check its battery percentage using the clear, built-in indicator on the bike frame.
A few taps of the app, followed by a satisfyingly mechanical clunk of the bike uncoupling, and we’re ready to begin our journey and start learning how OVO Energy’s e-bikes work. “It literally takes minutes to register with the nextbike app, find the nearest bike station, plan your route and get cycling”, Leigh says. “The app lets you see live locations of all the bikes throughout your city and availability at each station, and even check the amount of charge each e-bike has. It also has all your account details, how to share feedback, and how to reach customer service, too.”What are OVO Energy’s e-bikes like to ride?
With the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral city by 2030, Glasgow is the perfect location for OVO Energy and nextbike’s bike-hire scheme. In fact, since nextbike first started its bike-share scheme in 2014, Glaswegians have racked up an astounding 1.2 million rentals around the city, helping to reduce CO2 emissions and congestion while also keeping the population fit and healthy.It only takes a couple of minutes of riding to see just how easy OVO Energy’s e-bikes are to use. They’ve clearly been designed for anyone to grab, go, and get pedalling. Unlike some bike-share models available across the UK, the front forks on nextbike’s latest-generation e-bikes feel perfectly weighted. The electric assistance offered by the e-bike’s motor and battery is equally seamless – and incredibly welcoming.
As a hilly sprawling city, Glasgow can be tiring to ride over long distances, meaning that a helping hand of battery power can open up cycling to even more users. Depending on which of the five gear ratios you’re in, the bike will provide an extra push of electrical assistance as you pedal away, taking the effort out of any journey.