JEV Company Limited, the owner of the EVie shared mobility business, has announced the cessation of its dockless bike business.
Following withdrawal of cost-effective insurance coverage for the bike business (for reasons that are related to the Jersey market and are entirely out of the control of EVie), the directors are no longer able to support this loss-making public service.
In early March, EVie proposed a set of options to the ministers to avoid closing down the bike business. Ministers’ views on these proposals were included in the responses given by the Infrastructure Minister, Andy Jehan, to questions in the Assembly on 30th April.
Following Andy Jehan’s responses in the Assembly, a spokesperson from EVie told Channel Eye: “We have concluded the government has no interest in harnessing the EVie shared dockless bike scheme to support its own Carbon Neutral Roadmap, Sustainable Transport or Climate Emergency policies.
“EVie bikes are not merely an alternative to traditional bus services or bike hires as suggested by the Minister; they are a component of a progressive public transport system, enhancing connectivity across areas of the island currently underserved by existing services. Targeting significant areas such as youth engagement, healthy living, tourism, economic development, and decarbonisation. Most crucially, this decision is in direct contradiction to the ‘Just Transition’ objectives laid out in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap.
“This U-turn may well change with the next government. It would be easier and far better value for the public to support an existing service rather than relaunch one at a later date. We extend our gratitude to our team members associated with the bike service. Their passion and commitment have been instrumental to its success, and we are deeply saddened by the redundancies that this cessation may entail.
“We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the over 20,000 customers, islanders and visitors, who signed up to the shared electric bike scheme via the EVie App. We hope they enjoyed their 270,000 dockless bike trips taken over the past three years.
“EVie will continue to grow its fleet of fully electric vans, cars and microcars to provide islanders with affordable, flexible and sustainable transport options and we deeply regret the loss of a key component of our shared transport initiative. We remain committed to advancing shared, affordable electric travel solutions in the Channel Islands.
“Should they be interested, we remain open to discussions with the government.”
