SINGAPORE - Students and staff of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will getto test Singapore's first electric bicycle sharing scheme, as shiny silver Peugeot bicycles pop up for use within the next three weeks.

The university teamed up with Free2Move, whose French parent Groupe PSA owns brands like Peugeot and Citroen, to roll out 20 Peugeot electric bicycles and two docking stations on the campus grounds.

NTU said in a press release on Friday (Feb 2) that the bicycles will be available for free during the one-year trial and have a maximum speed of 25kmh. They can be dropped anywhere on the campus or at docking stations, which charge the two-wheelers.

The bicycles aim to promote a healthy and environmentally-friendly method of "last-mile" transport around the large campus, said NTU.

With 400 watt-hour batteries that last 75km on a single charge, the bicycles add to the university's efforts in using electric vehicles.

In January, NTU launched a fully electric 22-seat shuttle that will ply between the campus and neighbouring CleanTech Park in a test run from the second half of the year

Those who wish to use the bicycles can use a smartphone app developed by NTU and Groupe PSA's Business Lab to locate the bicycles nearest to them, as well as check their battery levels.

Called NTU Freetomove, the app will be ready for download within the next two weeks.

This project aims to assess why people use electric bicycles and their riding preferences, with the results determining both the number and locations of the docking stations.

More two-wheelers may be added to the fleet, depending on how well the programme is received by users.

Professor Lam Khin Yong, NTU's vice-president for research, said: "NTU's lush campus is not only a living lab for cutting-edge research but it also hosts a wide array of sustainable technologies ranging from building and construction, to mobility and transportation.

"Coupled with NTU's research strengths in sustainability and innovation, our partnership with Groupe PSA will not only develop greener mobility solutions but also support Singapore's drive towards becoming a car-lite society."