Fifty electric bikes hit the streets of Cardiff last week, allowing riders to travel between Penarth and the city more easily.

The fleet of 50 OVO e-bikes and six electric stations launched last Thursday, when the public were able to see the OVO Bikes in action for the first time in the city. A further 75 e-bikes and nine stations will be rolled out at a later date, taking the fleet up to 125 e-bikes.

The launch means that riders will be able to use an OVO e-bike to cycle between Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, as the schemes are linked for the first time - which has long been an ambition for nextbike, Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

A fleet of 50 e-bikes was launched in Penarth last year, and have proved incredibly popular with the public.

E-bikes are a combination of a conventional bike with a motor that take some of the effort out of pedalling for the rider. With top speeds of 25km per hour, the e-bikes can cover greater distances faster and with less effort.

The OVO e-bikes, which will join the existing Cardiff fleet of 1,000 standard OVO bikes, were made possible thanks to funding from Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government. Green power supplier OVO Energy was unveiled as the new title sponsor of the city's bike scheme earlier this month (August) in addition to the Glasgow scheme.

E-bike rental will cost £1 per 30 minutes for customers with monthly or annual membership or £2 per 30 minutes on a pay as you ride basis. E-bikes must be returned to e-bike stations or additional fines will be applied.

Nextbike MD, Krysia Solheim, said she was excited to be bringing OVO e-bikes to the city.

"The launch of Cardiff's OVO e-bikes is not only fantastic news for the city, but also for everyone who uses the Vale of Glamorgan e-bike scheme too. Being able to link the two schemes means that people will be able to travel sustainably between the town and the city with ease.

"E-bikes are not only great for reducing journey times and taking on steep hills, they're also a great way of increasing inclusivity and getting people of all abilities and fitness levels into cycling."

"We'd like to thank our partners for their support in making this ambition a reality, including Cardiff Council, Welsh Government, Vale of Glamorgan Council and our scheme sponsors OVO Energy."

Cllr Peter King, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood services and Transport, said: "Having become the first Council in Wales to introduce public electric bikes, I'm delighted that the scheme has now expanded, offering users even more opportunity to enjoy them.

"In keeping with the climate emergency we declared in 2019, it is vital that we continue to support active and sustainable methods of transport. The bikes are simple to use and their modest tariffs compare favourably with the cost of travelling by car, bus or train. They also offer anyone thinking of buying an electric bike the opportunity to sample their benefits prior to purchase.

"This initiative will improve the health and wellbeing of commuters and residents and should also be attractive to tourists."

The Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for Transport, Lee Waters said: "I am very pleased to welcome the first fleet of e-bikes to Cardiff, linking into the Vale of Glamorgan's scheme. They will help encourage more people to use active travel as a way of getting around the city and into the Vale for work and leisure, improving people's health and wellbeing whilst creating cleaner air and ensuring our roads are less congested."

To find out more about OVO Bikes, the Green Route and to download the map, as well as keep an eye out for more OVO Bikes initiatives in the future, visit: www.ovoenergy.com/ovo-bikes .