By Lauren Hermon
Dutch native Hugo van Roermund is not just setting trends on the streets of Adelaide, but also with city businesses.
After migrating to Adelaide from the Netherlands just a couple of years ago, the Malvern resident’s idea to create Trendy eBikes, a mobile shop with a range of electric bikes to reduce gas emissions, has come at the right time.
Hugo attended the State Government and Adelaide City Council’s Carbon Neutral Adelaide workshop yesterday (June 29), exploring ideas to help Adelaide become the ‘world’s first carbon neutral city’.
Launched by Climate Change Minister, Ian Hunter, and Adelaide Lord Mayor, Martin Haese, the workshop shared Adelaide’s vision for energy efficient buildings and electric vehicles, including the use of eBikes which are bicycles with built-in quiet electric motors.
Hugo is joining the mission to make Adelaide the ‘world’s first carbon neutral city’
While the aim of his new business venture is to “get more people out of their cars”, another mission of Hugo’s includes educating Adelaide businesses on the benefit of using eBikes as a replacement for their company car fleets.
He believes eBikes, for example, may be helpful for staff involved in the new Royal Adelaide Hospital project.
Hugo has worked on the new RAH project and says he saw many people who were required to travel between the old and new site.
“This was happening daily and it was probably the ideal distance where a fleet of eBikes may have been beneficial,” he says.
Pictured is an electronic bicycle from Trendy eBikes
With free parking and no registration or fuel needed, eBikes are common in the Netherlands.
“Cycling is an integrated part of my life, as was using eBikes when I was in the Netherlands. When I first came to Adelaide, I discovered it’s not really that normal to be cycling here,” he admits.
“Cycling in Australia is a sport, but in the Netherlands it’s a mode of transport… I think the eBike could help bridge that gap in Adelaide.”
Hugo says one in three eBikes are sold in the Netherlands.
“It’s really growing there. The principle of the eBike is that it operates on electric power, but it needs to come from a green source like solar energy… if this can be done, then it’s a pretty green alternative to cars.”
Trendy eBikes is a mobile electric bike shop
His original idea was to import Dutch eBikes to Adelaide as they are often more technologically advanced.
“You don’t see enough eBikes here but, until it becomes financially viable and the market grows, I have started by using a few suppliers in Australia,” he says.
“I ride my bicycle on Greenhill Road daily and the amount of traffic I see is unbelievable… it’s a shame to see how many travel to work in their cars when their workplaces are probably just five kilometres away.”
“It’s such a waste of energy and resources, and I think the city would really benefit if it had half the amount of cars it has now.”
Hugo will start conversations with local councils and department agencies interested in the way eBikes may potentially help Adelaide become carbon neutral.
Climate Change Minister, Ian Hunter, claims South Australia has already achieved a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2007.
“Carbon Neutral Adelaide will see this reputation continue as our city becomes a showcase for transitioning to renewable and clean technologies,” he adds.
People are encouraged to add to the ideas formed at the recent Carbon Neutral Adelaide workshop by visiting www.yoursay.sa.gov.au/carbonneutraladelaide.
Opinions and ideas will form part of an action plan to be released later in the year. Consultation is open until the end of July.