The Canberra Electric Bike Library
Operated by SEE Change and Switched on Cycles, and supported by the ACT Government
Welcome to the The Canberra Electric Bike Library!
Want to reduce your carbon footprint, save money and increase your physical and mental health? Don’t enjoy riding somewhere and arriving covered in sweat? Need a hand carrying those bulky items? Tired of looking and paying for parking?
Try an electric bike and discover a new lifestyle!
Carrying bulky items is easy and fun with the different types of cargo style electric bikes on offer in our Library.
See below for the full list of bikes. Included are cargo style bikes for carrying kids, groceries and anything else in your busy lifestyle, as well as normal electric bikes for commuting and errands. The bikes come fitted with accessories such as child seats, panniers, lights and locks so that you’re all set to carry what you need.
We can guide you in finding a bike to borrow that suits your needs and let you know which bikes are available at any point in time. Bikes are available to borrow for 14 days, without charge except for a small fee for insurance. Bikes are available to borrow on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
How to borrow a bike from us:
Scroll down the page to have a look at the different types of bikes available in our fleet.
Pick a bike that you’d like to loan.
Fill in our loan enquiry form below.
Our team will be in touch to book in a loan for you when your preferred bike is available! Please note the waiting times listed below.
For general enquiries regarding the Canberra Electric Bike Library please email
ebikelibrary@seechange.org.au
Loans of our bikes are free, but you will need to purchase insurance.
When borrowing a bike from us, you must be covered by Pedal Power insurance. This insurance is in the form of:
A $35 temporary membership for individuals
A $50 temporary membership for a household (2 adults and up to 4 children).
Current Pedal Power members are exempt from purchasing this insurance through us. However, please ensure that you provide us with your Pedal Power Membership Number so that we can make sure you’re covered!
This fee can be credited towards a Pedal Power annual membership if you choose to opt in after loaning from the Canberra Electric Bike Library. Credit will be valid for 12 months; Pedal Power will keep the details you provide on their database for this period so they can contact you with information regarding annual membership. View Pedal Power's Summary of Insurance Cover and check the Pedal Power website for more details.
Insurance purchased through SEE-Change is valid for one month from date of purchase, not loan date.
Waiting Times:
We’ve recently added more bikes to our fleet, which is resulting in reductions in our wait time. At the moment, the time between putting through a loan enquiry and receiving a loan offer is one to two months. Wait times for the Tern HSD and Benno Boost are in currently excess of three months.
Have a look at our fleet of bikes below, and fill out a loan request at the bottom of the page!
Our Fleet of Electric Bikes:
But first, some general recommendations on the bikes in our fleet that suit different uses:
For Carrying Children & pets:
Yuba Supermarche
Yuba Boda Boda
Nihola Medium
Krankie
Sweet Curry
Tern HSD*
*The Tern HSD can only carry one child
For Carrying You & Your Bag:
E-City
Metro
E-Commuter
AVE TH9
Pedal Lightning
Low Down
Tern HSD*
*Fitted accessories can provide the Tern HSD more capacity
For Carrying Large Cargo:
Yuba Supermarche
Yuba Boda Boda
Nihola Medium
Krankie
Sweet Curry
E-Scape Trike*
*The E-Scape Trike has a singular rear basket
Benno Boost
Retail Price: $7,400
The Benno Boost is a beast of a bike. The bike has a range of around 100km, and a Bosch Motor. The bike’s included wheels are 24”, and it rides like a standard bike. The main feature of this bike is the built in cargo capacity - the rear rack can carry up to 60kg, and can be equipped with up to two Yepp Maxi child seats. Alongside the motor assist, the bike is fitted with a 10-speed Shimano Deore derailleur gear system. The bike can accommodate riders from 155 - 190 cm tall, and is a fantastic all-rounder bike for carrying both cargo and commuting.
Tern HSD
Retail Price: $6,700
This small cargo bike is the same size as a standard e-bike but can haul 60kg at the rear plus the rider. It has a step-thru frame, a low centre of gravity for extra stability and can fit riders from 150-195cm tall. The HSD has hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tyres, a Bosch motor and foldable handlebars which allow easier storage and transportation. We can provide a range of accessories including child seats, baskets and a dog carrier but note that the HSD can only transport one child – if you want to carry two kids, check out our other longtail cargo bikes!
Yuba Supermarche
Retail Price: $6,800
This lightweight aluminium front loader cargo bike hauls up to three passengers plus groceries and the family pet with ease. Nimble steering is achieved through a double redundant cable system and the step through frame with adjustable seatpost fits almost every rider. The Supermarche is an extremely versatile hauler and is designed to suit everyone from active parents to small business owners, with the ability to carry 135 kg in the front. Our Supermarche is fitted with a 250W 48V front hub motor and 14 amp hour battery. It also comes with a new bamboo box and seat kit, perfect for strapping in the little ones on the school run.
E-scape Trike
Retail Price: $2,800
The E-Scape electric tricycle makes a ride to the grocery store or down to the lake more accessible with the balance of a trike and an electric motor and battery that is capable of travelling up to 50 km. This is a tricycle that is great for people of varying physical abilities and has smaller (24”) wheels that add to the stability. A low step-through frame makes the trike easy to mount and dismount. The frame provides an upright riding posture that’s comfortable and easier on your back, especially if you’re recovering from an injury or have mobility issues. The E-Scape trike is ideal for carrying cargo and has a 57cm by 47cm rear steel basket for loading up with shopping or packages (or dogs!).
Pedal Lightning
Retail Price: $1,900
The Pedal Lightning is a standard electric bike that comes in at a lower price point (<$2000) than our Switched on Cycles bikes ($2600-3000). With a 250W rear hub motor, 27 inch wheels, a step-through frame, kickstand, mudguards and pannier rack, the Pedal Lightning comes with all the expected basics. It has a smaller, 10.4 amp hour battery built into the frame and Shimano Tourney Derailleur gears. The Pedal Lightning is a great option to borrow if you’re looking for a more affordable model of standard e-bike.
Metro IV & V
Retail Price: $2,600
The Metro is a lightweight electric bike from Switched on Cycles which has a pannier rack and basket. This bike is suitable for someone who doesn’t need the cargo-carrying capacity provided by some of the other bikes in our library. The Metro features a low step through frame and is fitted with a lightweight 250W Bafang front hub motor to make pedalling from A to B a breeze. It has adjustable handlebars, hub gears for easy gear changing, an adjustable suspension seatpost, a bright front and rear light and a heavy duty stand. The Metro is equipped with many well thought out details such as mud guards and a chain guard so you can confidently ride to your destination without having to wear special cycling clothes. We’ve got this bike in both the 2020 (Metro IV) and 2022 (Metro V) models.
E-City III & IV
Retail Price: $3,000
Like the Metro, the E-City is a step-through electric bike from Switched on Cycles with a pannier rack and basket. It has a slightly larger frame with 28 inch wheels, making it suitable for a wide range of heights. The E-City is ideal for those wanting a bike that looks and feels just like a normal pushbike - but is much easier to ride, of course! The electric assist comes in the form of a 250W Bafang motor that allows you to ride much further, faster and with a bit more cargo than your run-of-the-mill human powered set of two wheels. The 14 amp hour battery lasts 40-70kms, meaning you can ride freely without worrying about the range. To complete the deal, the E-City has easy change Shimano hub gears, mud guards, chain guards, bright front and rear lights and a heavy duty stand. This bike comes in both hub drive (the 2021 E-City III) and mid drive (the 2022 E-City IV) motors.
Nihola Medium
Retail Price: $6,500
The Nihola is a fantastic trike for nimble city riding, with the three wheels providing extra stability for child carrying and stopping. Unlike the Krankie, the front wheels remain upright on this bike as opposed to having a tilt feature. This makes the bike substantially easier to ride at lower speeds, but it can still ride well at high speed.
There’s room for two children in the front bucket with a weight limit of 100kg in the front tub.
Krankie Whip E1
Retail Price: $6,500
This Australian designed and built cargo trike gives combines the stability of three wheels with the agility of two. The unique tilting system means you can lean into a corner and use your body weight as you naturally would on two wheels, while the trike keeps you steady. The front cabin carries up to 80 kg and the high torque Bafang motor plus 17Ah battery make transporting kids, dogs, groceries and hardware a breeze. Hydraulic disc brakes, front mono-shock suspension, 24” front wheels and a bright blue colour complete the deal.
Yuba Boda Boda
Retail Price: $5,400
We have two Yuba Boda Boda electric bikes, with a choice of a step-through or step-over frame. The step-through version is better suited for slightly shorter riders, whilst the step-over version has a slightly larger frame. Both can haul heavy loads and a couple of kids easily. The Boda Boda comes with the Shimano STEPS motor, which is an intelligent and powerful pedal assist system which masterfully offers just the right amount of assist for a natural feel under your feet. Rated to carry 100kg of cargo (in addition to the rider), the battery range is 32 to 149km, dependent on load and terrain. Both our Boda Bodas come with a strong and stable 25kg-rated front baskets, pannier racks and running boards. They can be fitted with a range of accessories like child seats, hold on hoops, seat pads, monkey bars and panniers.
AVE TH9 Touring
Retail Price: $4,000
The AVE TH9 Touring bike is a fantastic commuter bike, with a 140 Kilogram frame rating, great front suspension, and a Panasonic Drive System. Featuring up to 160 Kilometres of range, and four levels of assistance, this bike is sure to impress. Built-in front and rear lights and a seat with excellent suspension seal the deal.
Yuba Sweet Curry
Retail Price: $3,400
The Sweet Curry is an electric cargo bike that has a longer wheel-base, making it ideal for carrying a couple of children as well as long or bulky cargo. It has a strong but light aluminium frame, a smaller (20”) rear wheel for added stability and safety, and a long rear deck for maximum hauling capacity (ready to haul up to 130kg!). It has been retrofitted with a mid drive Bafang motor with bottle style battery, delivering about 40-50km of range, and suits riders 1.5-2m tall. Our Sweet Curry comes with accessories such as a strong and stable 25kg-rated front basket at the front, enormous and adaptable panniers and accessories such as running boards, child seats, monkey bars, seat-pads and foot pegs to make it safe, secure and comfortable for your little passenger (or two).
Low Down IV
Retail Price: $2,600
The Low Down IV from Switched on Cycles is the lightest electric bike in our library, at a low 20 kg including the battery. It folds smoothly and can fit into the passenger seat of a car, making it a fantastic option for those wanting a transportable bike or one that can easily be carried upstairs and stored in a small apartment. With 7 speed Shimano hub gears, suspension seat post, adjustable handlebars, 20” wheels, a 14 amp hour battery and Tektro disc brakes, this bike is super easy to ride. The Low Down IV does have a carrying capacity limit of 100 kg, so this is not the best option if you’re after a cargo bike – although it still has a sturdy pannier rack for small loads. But for those who simply want an easy commuter bike that can be safely stored in small places, you can’t go past the Low Down IV.
E-Commuter
Retail Price: $3,000
As the name suggests, the E-Commuter is a standard electric bike ideal for commuting. With a large step over frame, the E-Commuter suits riders of taller stature than our other standard e-bikes, up to about 6’2”. Like the E-City, the E-Commuter has 28 inch wheels, a 250W Bafang motor, a 14 amp hour battery that lasts 40-70kms, Shimano hub gears, mud guards, a chain guard, bright front and rear lights and a heavy duty stand. It also has Tektro disc brakes and levers with an incorporated bell. This bike comes in both mid drive and hub drive motors, and is also a Switched on Cycles bike.
Accessories
If you’d like to borrow one of these in conjunction with your loan, please mention it in your loan request application.
Croozer Kid Carriage
This is a detachable carrier that can hold up to 60kg. It simply bolts to the back wheel of any standard e-bike, and is pulled behind the bike. It has two seats with belts for children, a storage pouch at the back, and both a rain cover and mosquito shield! It makes dropping the kids off at daycare or school easy, as you can then detach it and commute to work as normal.
Yepp Child Seat
The Yepp child seat easily clips on to the rear rack of any of our cargo bikes. It’s ideal for kids up to 18kg. We can add this to the Sweet Curry, Boda Boda, Tern, and Benno Boost bikes. The Yepp child seat can be used in conjunction with seat pads for other passengers.
Basket
This is a simple basket that can be attached to the rack of any of our commuting bikes. This basket can easily carry bags and locks, and can make a commuting bike more versatile.
Helmet
We have both kids and adults helmets for loan with the bikes. These are in limited supply so please bring your own if you have one! It is mandatory for all cyclists in the ACT to wear helmets while cycling.