An ambitious European initiative: to restore 200,000 electric bicycle and scooter batteries each year

Repairing 200,000 electric bicycle and scooter batteries per year: a major industrial and ecological challenge

In recent years, the rapid growth of electric urban transport – bicycles, scooters, and scooters – has raised a crucial issue: the sustainable management of their batteries. These batteries, the technological heart of vehicles, raise complex issues of cost, maintenance, and environmental impact. In 2025, the European Union clearly affirmed its desire to regulate these issues through binding and innovative regulations to promote sustainability within the rapidly expanding electric mobility sector.

Among the committed stakeholders, Nowos, founded in 2019 by Prins Doornekamp, ​​stands out with an ambitious goal: to restore 200,000 electric bicycle and scooter batteries per year. Based in France with a factory near Lyon and several locations across Europe, this company exemplifies an approach that goes beyond simple service. It embodies a movement toward the circular economy applied to urban mobility.

To understand the scope and importance of this initiative, it’s important to delve into the multiple technical, economic, and ecological challenges of battery repair. Unlike simple mechanical maintenance, refurbishing these components requires specialized skills, quality processes, and compliance with safety and performance standards. Doornekamp’s personal experience, discussed in Bike Europe, demonstrates the pitfalls users encounter when it comes to traditional service provided by bike shops, which are often insufficiently equipped or trained.

This reality highlights a paradox: while the average annual maintenance cost of an electric bike remains reasonable, at around €51, battery failures – which can cost several hundred euros to repair – remain a significant obstacle to the adoption of electric mobility and its sustainability. Nowos’s goal is therefore to offer a financially accessible solution, sometimes reducing the price by up to 70% compared to a complete replacement.

This repair activity, extended by the recycling of end-of-life batteries, is thus part of a virtuous approach. It not only contributes to reducing waste, but also to limiting Europe’s dependence on imported materials by supporting a more circular and resilient economic model. From this perspective, the company’s commitment illuminates a path fueled by regulatory requirements and ambitious economic objectives, perfectly aligned with current directives such as Battery Recycle Europe and CycloRebat. Specialists in battery restoration for bicycles and scooters: diagnosis, repair, and refurbishment to extend the life of your electric batteries. Fast and reliable service.

The electric vehicle battery sector has been undergoing major legislative upheavals in Europe since 2024. The gradual implementation of rules enacted under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework requires all manufacturers to recycle their batteries. These regulations apply to light vehicles such as bicycles and scooters, as well as electric cars.

This policy clearly aims to harmonize a European legal framework that did not previously exist. From now on, producers must finance the collection, repair, reconditioning, and recycling of batteries. This new regime has both ecological and economic ambitions: it reduces pressure on critical natural resources while promoting industrial competitiveness.

Among the flagship measures is the obligation to comply with sustainability and safety standards throughout a battery’s life cycle. This includes complete traceability, from initial design to final recycling, including potential reuse in secondary applications.

A concrete example is provided by programs such as Rebat’Innov and Urban Green Mobility, which support these European initiatives by facilitating innovation in battery repair and reconditioning. Thanks to these initiatives, battery-related waste management is taking a leap forward, notably preventing many electronic components and valuable materials from being lost or neglected.

This comprehensive policy is also reshaping the industrial landscape in Europe. It stimulates the emergence of specialized repair and recycling centers, such as the Nowos site near Lyon, and encourages investment in clean and circular technologies. Economic players such as VéloPower Restore and BatCycle France are taking advantage of this momentum to develop their services and strengthen their market share.

It must be emphasized that these European rules are not only restrictive: they also establish a framework favorable to collaboration between manufacturers, service providers and communities, with a common goal of reducing the carbon footprint and boosting the circular economy. In 2025, the movement towards a green and responsible Europe in the field of batteries will become an essential standard.

Nowos: the example of a pioneering European company which extends the lifespan of electric batteries

Since its creation, Nowos has established itself as a key player in the sector of recycling and repair of batteries linked to urban electric mobility. Nearly 90,000 batteries repaired in 2024 is an impressive milestone for a company specializing in complex and technical technology.

This success is based on several factors. On the one hand, the quality and diversity of the batteries processed: the company operates on more than a hundred different models, which requires a capacity for technological adaptation and in-depth expertise. On the other hand, the economic aspect is crucial. The price of the repair being 40 to 70% lower than that of a replacement, this is an essential lever for users to extend the life of their battery rather than throwing it away.

Major partnerships also demonstrate the credibility of this approach. Thus, groups like Decathlon, La Poste, and electric bike rental companies like Swapfiets have opted for Nowos solutions, combining ecology and cost optimization, with significant savings – 841,000 euros in three years for Swapfiets.

The €6 million investment in a fundraising round in 2024 has accelerated this growth, notably through the opening of a new factory near Lyon. The transfer and expansion of production capacity are strategic to achieve the ambitious target of 200,000 batteries refurbished per year. In addition, the company plans to expand its centers in Poland and Germany, highlighting a pan-European growth.

Beyond the figures, this trajectory illustrates a profound transformation in resource management, consistent with the values ​​of sustainable energy and mobility and aspirations towards a responsible European industrial identity. The Nowos business model is an inspiring example of innovation driven by the community ecosystem.

The practical and human challenges of battery repair in urban electric mobility

The refurbishment of electric batteries, whether for bicycles, scooters, or mopeds, requires specific skills. Prins Doornekamp, ​​founder of Nowos, emphasizes that repairing a battery is nothing like repairing traditional mechanical components of a bicycle, such as a valve or a wheel.

Indeed, handling lithium-ion cells and electronic circuits requires a thorough understanding of safety and constantly evolving environmental and technical standards. Improper handling not only risks worsening the breakdown, but can also lead to risks of overcharging, overheating, or even fire.

The complexity is also reflected in the dedicated service chain: while individual users often struggle to get their batteries repaired, relying on bicycle repair shops or traditional networks, Nowos offers an industrialized solution enabling reliable and standardized processing. This largely eliminates the trial and error processes and friction that have long hampered confidence in repairability.

Beyond the technical aspects, it’s also a question of organization and awareness among stakeholders. Collaboration between manufacturers, repairers, public authorities, and consumers is essential to ensure an efficient and sustainable system. Initiatives such as TrottiRenew and Rénove2Roues play a key role by fostering partner networks focused on battery repair and renewal.

Finally, this challenge requires a strong educational approach: users must be informed about the importance of these practices and benefit from easier access to effective services. For example, some urban green mobility programs now incorporate improved collection and maintenance points, thus fostering the emergence of a greener and more responsible mobility culture.

The environmental and economic impact of battery restoration: towards a new era of sustainable mobility in Europe

The restoration of used batteries is part of a comprehensive ecological transition strategy where every action counts. Recycling and repairing, rather than systematically replacing them, reduces the consumption of scarce raw materials such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel, thereby weakening Europe’s dependence on often problematic imports.

This movement also responds to economic awareness: extending the lifespan of batteries generates a significant financial gain for all stakeholders. For example, reducing costs through repair directly benefits consumers, while providing substantial savings to companies that operate large fleets of electric bikes and scooters.

The European Union, through strengthened regulations and support for pilot projects, is demonstrating a tangible commitment to establishing an efficient and visible circular economy. The conjunction of public and private initiatives, illustrated by players such as Battery Recycle Europe or BatCycle France, is boosting the search for more efficient and less polluting processes.

Finally, this dynamic has a significant social impact. The ramp-up of specialized workshops and factories contributes to the creation of green, local and qualified jobs. It weaves a European industrial network in line with the contemporary imperatives of sobriety and respect for natural resources.

In the broader field of sustainable energy mobility, the annual restoration of 200,000 batteries represents a formidable lever to intensify the diffusion of soft mobility, while consolidating viable economic models for the years to come. This virtuous articulation between innovation and responsibility opens the way to a more connected, cleaner and more autonomous Europe.

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