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How ZÆT’s E-Bike Subscription Is Transforming Cities

  • Writer: Tim Grootjans
    Tim Grootjans
  • 2 days ago
  • 3 min read

Hello, it's Tim again. Today I want to share why we created ZÆT’s long-term e-bike subscription service, and how it’s poised to change the way people and cities think about cycling.

The Daily Bike Dilemma

Across the world, city streets brim with potential: short trips to work, quick errands, or a leisurely coffee ride. Yet too often, residents face a painful choice: invest in an expensive e-bike they must maintain themselves, or hope a shared bike is available (and functional) when they need it.


I first saw this “bike dilemma” unfold in Shanghai, where I was working on e-bike design. Cramped sidewalks groaned under abandoned shared bicycles, and riders scrambled to find working models at rush hour. It wasn’t a green revolution, it was a cluttered, unreliable mess. That experience stuck with me, and planted the seed for ZÆT.


A Subscription Model Built for Real Life

In early 2025, we officially launched ZÆT with one simple promise: give every subscriber a dependable e-bike they can call their own, backed by seamless service and smart data. Here’s how it works:

  1. Your Bike, Every Day When you sign up, you’re assigned one high-quality e-bike for as long as you need—weeks, months, or even years. No more hunting for a bike, no more squeeze-into-shared fleets.

  2. All-Inclusive Care Regular tune-ups, part replacements, even emergency repairs are handled through our network of local bike shops. Predictive maintenance alerts keep each bike in top form before small issues ever become big frustrations.

  3. Safety & Security Integrated sensors, GPS tracking, and smart locks deter theft and ensure peace of mind, whether you’re parking outside your office or your front door.

  4. Smarter City Planning Each ride feeds anonymized heat maps and route analytics into our platform. Cities and planners gain real-time insights into where bike lanes, parking hubs, and new routes will make the biggest impact.

  5. Seamless Experience Your subscription, billing, and support all flow through one branded portal and app, no multiple logins, no confusing fees. You sign up, ride, and enjoy.


Why Cities and Organizations Choose ZÆT

  • Zero Capital Outlay:  There’s no massive bike purchase or IT build on your balance sheet.

  • Rapid Deployment:  Launch a pilot fleet in 8–12 weeks, not 12–18 months.

  • One Partner, One Invoice:  We handle bikes, software, maintenance, financing, and grant applications—so you can focus on your core mission.

  • Local Economic Boost:  By routing service through neighborhood bike shops, we create predictable revenue for small businesses.

  • Actionable Data:  Real-world usage patterns replace guesswork, helping you invest where it counts.

Our Upcoming Pilot in Limburg

We’re thrilled to be gearing up for a pilot across Limburg in the Netherlands by the end of 2025. This launch will test our end-to-end model, from deployment logistics to service workflows to data dashboards.

Over the summer, we’ll be finalizing partnerships with local councils, recruiting enthusiastic early adopters, and customizing each bike’s branding to reflect the community spirit of Limburg. We can’t wait to share the first usage insights and rider stories with you.

Looking Ahead: A Global Vision

While we’re starting in Limburg, our ambition doesn’t stop there. Over the next three years, ZÆT aims to expand into European, Asian, African, and North American cities, scaling to 30,000 active subscribers by 2028. Along the way, we’ll license our white-label platform to operators and transit authorities worldwide, helping every community make cycling a practical, everyday choice.

Join Us on the Ride

Are you a city planner seeking smarter mobility solutions? A corporate campus looking to offer sustainable commuting perks? Or simply someone who wants a hassle-free, high-quality e-bike for daily use? Let’s talk.

Visit us at www.zaet.nl or drop me a line at tim@zaet.nl. Together, we can build cleaner streets, healthier communities, and smarter cities.

Tim Grootjans Founder & CEO, ZÆT B.V.

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contact@zaet.nl
+31634376826

Oirsbeek, Netherlands

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