Zurich First-HandCity pays half the price of an electric cargo bike for businesses
Under the "CarGoVelo für Züri" programme, the city pays half the purchase price of an electric cargo bike for businesses and organisations. The budget is 390,000 francs.
Businesses and organisations that want to deliver goods or services by bike instead of by car can now get money from the city: under the new "CarGoVelo für Züri" programme it pays half the purchase price of an electric cargo bike (E-Cargovelo). The city says buying one is often a big investment, especially for smaller firms.
What the city pays
| Item | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Price of the e-cargo bike | 50% |
| Service after one year | 50% (included in the quote) |
| Lettering/branding | up to 1,000 francs |
| Riding course | contribution, from 2027 |
Extra features and custom builds beyond what the business needs are not counted in the subsidised price.
How it works
- The business must be registered in the City of Zurich (confirmation required).
- It gets a quote from a bike shop and applies to the city's civil engineering office (Tiefbauamt); a decision follows within one to two months.
- After the purchase, the city reimburses half the price and half of the first service against the invoice.
- Participants fill in a questionnaire after six months and after one year. The branding contribution is paid only once the second one is in.
Budget and duration
The programme runs until its budget of 390,000 francs is used up, for at most three years. It goes back to a proposal in the Gemeinderat (city parliament), GR no. 2022/457, and is part of the city's overall electric-mobility strategy (Gesamtkonzept Elektromobilität). Simone Brander, the Stadtrat (city executive) member who heads the civil engineering and waste department, says the switch frees up road space and helps the city's climate targets.