The Future of Cycling is Electric

Cycling as a primary transportation option is growing faster than ever. By 2022, the number of bicycle trips taken is expected to increase to more than 10 billion per year. According to a report by Deloitte, the underlying growth in bike-riding is due to various technological innovations, but the development of electric bicycles are leading the charge.

Electric bicycle sales are spiking, largely due to improvements in its lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology, pricing, and power. “Between 2020 and 2023, more than 130 million e-bikes (including all battery technologies) are expected to be sold, and in 2023, e-bike sales are expected to top 40 million units worldwide, generating about US$20 billion in revenue.”1 In Germany, almost 1 million e-bikes were sold in just the first half of 2019,2 and more than half of all adult bikes sold in the Netherlands in 2018 were electric.3

In many cities, congestion is slowing car speeds. A 2017 analysis measured the average car speed within a mile of London’s city center at 5.13 miles per hour, 19 percent slower than the year before.4 This is almost ⅓ of the speed that electric bicycles like Freebike, are allowed to travel in London.  

With electric assist, cyclists must pedal for the motor to assist them. According to Freebike, electric assist makes journeys significantly easier, however, journeys also tend to be longer, making it a great option for people who want a better experience without sacrificing exercise.  Additionally, one test found that e-bikers sweat two-thirds less than regular cyclists.5 This is important for commuters and removes the need to pack a change of clothes or showering. Madison, Wisconsin, for example, converted their bikeshare program to all electric in 2019.5 In trials, the e-bikes generated up to five times as many trips as standard bikes and the program’s ridership increased by 150%. 

In the small city of Trnava, Slovakia (population 65,000), their electric Freebike bike sharing system has almost 1,000 daily rentals, averaging a duration of 16 minutes each. This is a 60% increase in ridership since their pilot phase in 2018.

In Kuopio, Finland (population 117,000), their electric Freebike sharing system has an average of 66 rentals per day lasting an average of 12 minutes each, despite challenging weather conditions.

Traditional forms of city transportation are at their max capacity. Cycling is clearly an excellent supplement and electric bicycles are proving to be an effective incentive to convert non-cyclists into frequent cyclists. The future is bright for electric bicycle manufacturers.

End Notes

1.  International Energy Agency, Global EV outlook 2019: Scaling up the transition to electric mobility, May 27, 2019. 
2.  International Energy Agency, Global EV outlook 2019: Scaling up the transition to electric mobility, May 27, 2019. 
3.  Carlton Reid, “When will e-bike sales overtake sales of bicycles? For the Netherlands, that’s now,” Forbes, March 2, 2019. 
4.  Natalie Middleton, “Average driving speeds plummet in UK’s major cities,” Fleet World, 2017. 
5. Eillie Anzilotti, “Madison is the first city to go 100% electric for its bike share,” Fast Company, June 18, 2019.
6. Shimano Steps, “On your marks, forget-sweat go! Study proves e-bikers sweat 2/3rds less than regular bikers,” accessed September 30, 2019.