Why a véli?
A véli is a light intermediate electric vehicle: more than a bicycle, less than a car. Enough to carry people and loads, little enough to remain a bicycle in the eyes of the law.
The three arguments fit in three sections: what the figures say, what it costs, and what the state pays back.
What the figures say
Because people in Belgium need a practical, affordable and green alternative for their daily journeys. Studies by the federal mobility service (2019 and 2025) show that:
Most journeys in Wallonia are short
- 50 %< 10 km
- 70 %< 20 km
- 80 %< 30 km
Those are distances a véli handles perfectly (50 km of range, double that with a second battery).
Cars carry very few people
- 80 %just 1 person
- 1,2person per car on average
Journey times are long
- 15' - 25'for 10 km
- 25' - 35'for 20 km
- 35' - 50'for 30 km
On a véli those journeys take just as long, sometimes less, thanks to no traffic jams and access to cycle paths (for some models).
What it really costs
- Petrol or diesel car7 250 €per year
- Electric car9 350 €per year
- Véli2 940 €per year
| Petrol or diesel car | Electric car | Véli | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase not in the yearly totalFrom second-hand to new: €10,000 to €30,000 for a petrol or diesel car, €25,000 to €40,000 for an electric one, €8,000 to €17,000 for a véli. Shown here but replaced by depreciation in the total. | 20 000 € | 33 000 € | 12 000 € |
| Depreciation (5 years)The purchase price spread over five years. | 4 000 € | 6 600 € | 2 400 € |
| Insurance €600 to €1,200 a year for a car. Nothing is compulsory for a véli: at 250 W and 25 km/h it is legally a bicycle, covered by household liability insurance. Comprehensive theft and damage cover is still possible, around €570 a year for a €10,000 vehicle. | 1 000 € | 1 000 € | 0 € |
| Energy Based on 10,000 km a year. Petrol or diesel: 6 l/100 km at €1.50/l. Véli: 4 kWh per 100 km at €0.35/kWh, i.e. €1.40 per 100 km. | 900 € | 750 € | 140 € |
| Servicing / repair €750 to €1,500 for a petrol or diesel car, €450 to €900 for an electric one, an estimated €200 to €600 for a véli. | 1 000 € | 750 € | 400 € |
| Taxes Road tax. A véli is legally a bicycle: no tax, no registration, no licence. | 300 € | 200 € | 0 € |
| Roadworthiness test €50 to €100 for a car. A bicycle does not go through a roadworthiness test. | 50 € | 50 € | 0 € |
| Yearly total | 7 250 € | 9 350 € | 2 940 € |
Purchase not in the yearly total
- Petrol or diesel car 20 000 €
- Electric car 33 000 €
- Véli 12 000 €
- From second-hand to new: €10,000 to €30,000 for a petrol or diesel car, €25,000 to €40,000 for an electric one, €8,000 to €17,000 for a véli. Shown here but replaced by depreciation in the total.
Depreciation (5 years)
- Petrol or diesel car 4 000 €
- Electric car 6 600 €
- Véli 2 400 €
- The purchase price spread over five years.
Insurance
- Petrol or diesel car 1 000 €
- Electric car 1 000 €
- Véli 0 €
- €600 to €1,200 a year for a car. Nothing is compulsory for a véli: at 250 W and 25 km/h it is legally a bicycle, covered by household liability insurance. Comprehensive theft and damage cover is still possible, around €570 a year for a €10,000 vehicle.
Energy
- Petrol or diesel car 900 €
- Electric car 750 €
- Véli 140 €
- Based on 10,000 km a year. Petrol or diesel: 6 l/100 km at €1.50/l. Véli: 4 kWh per 100 km at €0.35/kWh, i.e. €1.40 per 100 km.
Servicing / repair
- Petrol or diesel car 1 000 €
- Electric car 750 €
- Véli 400 €
- €750 to €1,500 for a petrol or diesel car, €450 to €900 for an electric one, an estimated €200 to €600 for a véli.
Taxes
- Petrol or diesel car 300 €
- Electric car 200 €
- Véli 0 €
- Road tax. A véli is legally a bicycle: no tax, no registration, no licence.
Roadworthiness test
- Petrol or diesel car 50 €
- Electric car 50 €
- Véli 0 €
- €50 to €100 for a car. A bicycle does not go through a roadworthiness test.
Yearly total
- Petrol or diesel car 7 250 €
- Electric car 9 350 €
- Véli 2 940 €
Estimation Cycl’hop sur 10 000 km par an, hors primes. Chaque ligne porte son hypothèse de calcul derrière le « ? ».
Grants and subsidies
What you are entitled to in Belgium
You are a private individual
- Bruxell'Air grant (nouvel onglet)€566 to €1,132In exchange for cancelling a number plate, depending on household income. Light electric vehicles are eligible.
- Municipal grants in Wallonia (nouvel onglet)€50 to €500There is no Walloon regional grant for private individuals, but many municipalities offer one.
- Cycle mileage allowance (nouvel onglet)€0.30/kmLegal minimum since 2026, tax-free up to €0.37/km and €3,700 a year.
- Mobility budget (nouvel onglet)Trade your company car for a budget you can spend on soft mobility.
You are self-employed or a company
- Apply for a purchase grant in Wallonia (nouvel onglet)up to €5,000For self-employed people and companies in cycle logistics: 50% of the invoice excluding VAT.
- Apply for a purchase grant in Brussels (nouvel onglet)up to €4,000For Brussels SMEs: 40 to 70% of the spend, per cargo bike.
Want to try one out?
