Light electric vehicles: promising, but not yet a game changer for car use

Light electric vehicles: promising, but not yet a game changer for car use

04/22/2026 - 13:01

Electric bicycles and other light electric vehicles (LEVs) contribute to more sustainable mobility, but are not yet replacing the car on a large scale. That is the main conclusion of new research by Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas), HAN University of Applied Sciences and Eindhoven University of Technology in the LEVERAGE project.
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Nearly 2,000 residents from Noord-Brabant and the Arnhem-Nijmegen region took part in the study. The e-bike has become commonplace: 44% of households own at least one. Other LEVs such as e-scooters and e-microcars remain a niche phenomenon, only 4% use them regularly. The car remains dominant, with 81% of households owning one.

There are nevertheless encouraging signs. Among half of frequent LEV users, car use declined. E-microcars stand out as potential car replacements: 43% of their users are considering owning fewer cars.

The main motivations for choosing a LEV are environmental friendliness, enjoyment and comfort. Barriers include cost, poor weather and safety concerns. Nearly a quarter of respondents said they would like to use small LEVs in the future, including outside urban areas.

On the policy front, there is broad support for regulation, such as rules around fat bikes (84–92%). Investment in charging infrastructure and better connections to public transport are seen as most effective.

The conclusion: LEVs are no silver bullet, but they are a valuable building block for a sustainable mobility system.

Read the full report (in Dutch) on the LEVERAGE project website: LEVs kunnen bijdragen aan minder autogebruik, maar zijn geen wondermiddel - Leverage Research

About LEVERAGE LEVERAGE is a research initiative by BUas, HAN and Eindhoven University of Technology, together with a broad consortium of public and private partners. The project focuses on the role of LEVs in the Dutch mobility system and is funded by Regieorgaan SIA. LEVERAGE maps the potential of LEVs and develops practical guidance for governments, transport operators and shared mobility providers.