London housing association Peabody has taken delivery of its first electric micromobility vehicle from Northgate as part of its effort to reduce carbon emissions, minimise noise pollution, and promote sustainable transport solutions.

By adding the electric cargo bike, the housing association aims to halve the time caretakers spend travelling between homes in the Earl’s Court area of West London, allowing them to dedicate more time to maintaining communal areas for residents.

The electric cargo bike has a range of approximately 25 miles on a single charge. It is permitted to use bus lanes, reducing time spent in traffic and making it easier for caretakers to navigate red routes where parking is limited.

The bike will primarily operate between homes on West Cromwell Road, Earls Court Road, and Fulham Road, where parking restrictions often pose challenges.

Eugene Brown, head of estate services for North West London at Peabody, said: “There are lots of benefits to having a micromobility vehicle like this on our fleet.

“It is kinder to the environment than our traditional vehicles and will make it much easier for caretakers to move between estates with their equipment.

“By using bus lanes, it can avoid traffic jams and parking will be much easier as caretakers can park it in communal paved and garden areas while they service sites.”

Switching to electric vehicles (EVs) is part of Peabody’s Sustainability Strategy, which includes pledges to reduce its carbon footprint.

Northgate provided the cargo bike under a four-year long-term hire contract, which includes battery charging. The operating cost is approximately half that of the smaller diesel vans currently used by Peabody in London.

The diesel vans emit nearly two tonnes of carbon annually, whereas the electric cargo bike produces zero emissions.

If the trial proves successful, Peabody’s Estate Services team said it plans to introduce more bikes across other neighbourhoods.

Peabody’s current fleet includes three electric vehicles, with plans to install additional chargers to enable more caretakers and other mobile staff to transition to electric transport.

Melanie Creedy, EV business development manager at Northgate, said: “Since we launched our electric micromobility proposition in 2024 we have had many fleets like Peabody trial the different types of vehicles that we have on offer.

“Feedback has been very positive as electric cargo bikes offer numerous benefits over standard vans in urban areas like London where manoeuvrability, restricted parking and emission reduction are big considerations for operators.

“We look forward to supporting Peabody as it continues to grow its electric fleet.”