A Scottish retailer is saving £100 a month in fuel and cutting his delivery time by 20 minutes after investing in an electric scooter through The Fed.
Tony Rook, of Buckley’s Newsagent in Lossiemouth, told Better Retailing he bought the Eskuta e-bike three weeks ago, and it has helped reduce his delivery time, fuel costs and carbon footprint.
“A paper round that used to take one hour in a van now takes around 40 minutes because I can take shortcuts,” he said.
“I do around seven miles a day, and my fuel bill would normally cost £100 per month, so I’m saving time and also saving money.
“I’m really enjoying being out and taking in stunning views.
“With what I will save in fuel, the bike will pay for itself in around 18 months.”
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Rook bought the Eskuta bike after seeing that members of the federation could get an exclusive a £300 saving.
The SX-250 e-bike model does not require any tax, licence or insurance to ride and can be ridden by anyone over the age of 16. The bike itself, alongside its delivery box can also be custom branded.
“It’s heavy and sturdy, and many of my customers who have seen it outside the shop have come in to ask me about it. It’s become quite a talking point,” he said.
Rook, who used to do deliveries mainly by van, added that he hopes to continue using the e-bike during winter, but stressed this will depend on the temperature. “I may end up alternating between the van and the bike, but I’m going to try riding it with warm clothing to see,” he said.
Established in 2015, Nuneaton based e-mobility brand Eskuta has become a leading e-cargo bike manufacturer in the UK. Since The Fed teamed up with the company in July, many retailers, including national deputy-vice president Mo Razzaq, have invested in one of its bikes.
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“It’s saved me around 40% in time on deliveries, and one year of my petrol costs will pay for the bike,” said Razzaq.
Eskuta managing director Ian O’Connor said: “Our aim is to empower store owners to take control of their own delivery service and not rely on costly third-party companies.
“This means retailers retain their profit margins, which in turn means they can scale their delivery service and maximise their store’s exposure through the branding of the bikes in their local area.”
The Fed’s national president, Jason Birks, added: “This is another great deal for Fed members. With fuel prices rising all the time, an e-bike can save retailers a lot of money on deliveries – and it is good for the planet.”
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