Electric Bikes: Stats, Trends & Facts

Electric bikes or e bikes have become popular as a green alternative to traditional transportation methods. They offer a blend of pedal power with an electric motor, providing a boost that can make cycling more accessible and appealing. 

The allure of e bikes lies in their ability to attenuate the physical demands of cycling, making them a coveted choice for commuters, fitness enthusiasts, and those seeking a more approachable mobility medium. This has taken the UK streets by storm, with sales soaring 70% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

However, the environmental impact of e bikes is a nuanced topic that requires a closer look to understand their actual ecological footprint.

The manufacturing process of e bikes is similar to that of traditional bicycles, involving steps such as cutting metal into rods to prepare the frame, assembling various parts, and applying primer and paint. However, e bikes also include a battery, typically a lithium-ion battery, which requires additional resources and energy to produce. 

Around 75% of these emissions are produced during the materials and manufacturing process, 15% during the actual use of the e-bike, and the remaining 10% during transport.

The European Cycling Federation estimates that manufacturing an e-bike has a carbon footprint of 134kg, while Trek suggests it's 165kg of CO2e. 

Despite this, the carbon footprint of e-bike manufacturing is significantly less than that of producing a small hatchback car, which requires 5.5 tons of CO2e.

This bike looks like a regular bicycle but includes a battery-powered motor to assist pedalling. However, there are different types of ebikes in the market today. Let's break it down by type.

E-bikes consume between 200 to 750 watts of power on average, providing a range of approximately 20 to 60 miles per charge depending on the terrain and riding conditions. 

A 300wh battery with average usage will generally take you between 25km and 80km on a single charge. Based on average usage, a 400wh battery will generally last between 40km and 100km. 

The average power consumption of an e-bike with a Bosch eBike system is about 11 Wh/mi. This value results from the R200 range test for pedelecs with a Bosch eBike system. 

To estimate the power requirements for your electric bike, you can use the following formula: Power (watts) = voltage (volts) x current (amps). For instance, a typical electric bicycle setup has a 36V (volt) battery and a 15A (amp) controller. Wattage is just voltage multiplied by current, so 36 volts x 15 amps = 540 watts.

This energy consumption results in an average CO2 emissions value of 3.2-8 g/mile, depending on the electricity mix. A car emits about 240 g of CO2 per passenger mile, while public transportation emits between 80 and 176 g of CO2 per passenger mile. 

Therefore, e bikes have significantly lower emissions than other transportation means.

When comparing e-bikes to cars and public transportation, e-bikes generally have a lower environmental impact. They emit fewer pollutants per kilometre travelled and require less energy to operate. Here's a comparative look at the emissions:

E bikes are often lauded for their energy efficiency and low carbon emissions compared to cars and motorcycles. Operating requires less energy, and their impact can be minimal when charged using renewable energy sources. However, the production, usage, and disposal of e-bikes involve several environmental considerations.

This is seen in fat bikes as their larger tires and frames require more materials to produce, potentially increasing their manufacturing footprint compared to standard bikes. This is due to it oversized tires typically 3.8 inches or wider. The wide tires provide excellent traction and a smoother ride over rough surfaces.

Consequenctly, overall environmental impact of of all electric bikes depends on factors such as battery production and electricity sources.

The production of e-bikes involves mining for metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel for batteries, which has environmental consequences. 

The production of e-bikes has a higher carbon footprint than conventional bicycles, with estimates suggesting that manufacturing an e-bike emits around 134kg CO2e, compared to 96kg CO2e for a regular bike. This includes the emissions from manufacturing spare parts over the bike's lifespan.

 E-bike batteries have a limited lifespan. The disposal and recycling of these batteries pose environmental challenges due to the hazardous materials they contain.

The environmental friendliness of using an e-bike also depends on how the electricity is generated to charge the battery. The indirect emissions must be considered if the electricity comes from fossil fuels.

Solar-powered e-bike charging stations exemplify how eco-friendly e-bikes can be charged, utilising photovoltaic technology to convert solar energy into electrical energy.

E-bikes are zero-emission vehicles at the point of use, meaning they do not emit tailpipe emissions like internal combustion engines. This can significantly reduce air pollution, especially in congested urban areas. UK law limits e-bike motors to 250 watts and speeds up to 15.5 mph. Beyond that, riders must rely solely on leg power - so e-bikes still provide exercise benefits.

When considering the emissions from the electricity used to charge e-bikes, they still have a lower environmental impact than conventional vehicles. 

For instance, e-bikes emit approximately 14.8g CO2e per kilometre travelled, which is 30% lower than the emissions from cycling a conventional bike when accounting for the food-related emissions of the cyclist. 

E-bikes have a significantly lower environmental impact than cars and even electric cars. An e-bike can save up to 500 pounds of carbon emissions each year. For example, switching from a vehicle to an e-bike can save an average of 249g of CO2 for every kilometre travelled.

If e-bikes were used to replace car travel, they could cut CO2 emissions in England by up to 50%.

Moreover, e-bikes are 10 to 30 times more efficient than electric cars at fighting climate change and get 30 to 100 times more miles per pound of battery than an electric car. An e-bike emits 40 to 140 times fewer pounds of greenhouse gases than a 30 mpg gas car, assuming it is charged with California’s electric energy mix. 

The e-bike industry is a rapidly growing market with several key players contributing to its expansion, with the top five companies occupying 29.04% of the market. 

Here are some of the most prominent companies in the industry:

These companies continuously invest in research and development to bring innovations to the market. Technological advancements such as more powerful and efficient motors, IoT integration, and intelligent bikes are some of the trends in the e-bike industry. 

The e-bike market is expected to grow from approximately 39.28 billion GBP in 2023 to about 49.84 billion GBP by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%.

E-bikes represent a significant step towards sustainable transportation. They offer a low-carbon, cost-effective, and health-promoting alternative to traditional vehicles. They offer a viable solution for reducing carbon emissions, traffic congestion, and dependence on fossil fuels. 

For instance, an individual e-bike can reduce CO2 emissions by 225 kilograms yearly when replacing car trips. Moreover, e-bikes are up to six times more efficient than trains, making them a highly eco-friendly travel option. 

E-bikes are not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective. The cost of charging an e-bike is minimal. For instance, it costs just over 6.5 cents to charge a decent-sized e-bike battery fully. Moreover, e-bikes are lighter than standard cars, meaning they take up less room on the road, reducing traffic jams and wear and tear on roadways.

E-bikes can significantly expand the possibilities for urban mobility without considerably changing the fundamental benefits of cycling. They allow riders to cover longer distances and overcome more significant differences in altitude, making them a practical alternative for commuting and urban travel. 

Research has shown that e-bike users tend to ride for more extended periods and cover longer distances than conventional cyclists. 

While e-bikes offer significant potential for sustainable mobility, their widespread adoption faces challenges related to infrastructure. Advocacy for safer speeds, protected bike lanes, traffic reduction, and more inclusive road planning is crucial to making cities more e-bike-friendly.

As technology and recycling programs continue to improve, the sustainability of e-bikes is likely to increase.

Yes, e-bikes can be recycled. The recycling process involves dismantling the e-bikes into their raw components, mainly removing lithium-ion batteries to mitigate potential hazards. 

Recycling e-bikes, particularly their batteries, is critical to their sustainability profile. These batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, pose a potential fire risk when stored incorrectly and are susceptible to water damage. Recycling services, such as Velorim Recover, have emerged to dispose of end-of-life e-bike batteries safely.

Other organisations like the Bicycle Association (BA) are setting up UK-wide electric bike battery collection and recycling services to deal with the expected growth in e-bike sales and to provide a straightforward and convenient way for customers to return batteries. 

E-bikes and their components, including batteries, can be recycled through specialised services and facilities that ensure these materials are safely and environmentally responsible for disposal.

Electric bikes (e-bikes), as a whole, are not biodegradable. However, specific components of e-bikes can be made from biodegradable materials. The materials used in constructing e-bikes, such as metals, plastics, and electronic components, are generally not biodegradable. However, some companies are exploring using recyclable and biodegradable materials in their production.

For instance, the seats of their motorcycles are made from natural fibres derived from pineapples, mangos, or corn, and the side panels are made from flax seed rather than plastic. The pigments used for colouring the bodywork are derived from natural algae, and the aluminium frame is recyclable. The battery pack is designed to be swappable, which can extend the life of the electric bike and reduce waste. 

Electric bikes have gained significant popularity recently due to their convenience, speed, and eco-friendliness. While e-bikes offer numerous benefits, several alternatives that cater to different needs and preferences are available. 

However, there may be better fits for some.

Remember, the best alternative for you will depend on your specific needs, such as your commute distance, the terrain you'll be travelling on, your physical condition, and your budget.

Let's look at the global statistics based on analysis from market trends and consumer perspectives. 

Asia is the largest e-bike market in terms of manufacturing and selling. In this region, China was the largest market for e-bikes in 2022, followed by Japan, India, South Korea, and Taiwan. China has up to 200 million e-bikes in use. 

Europe is a leading market for e-bikes, with countries like the Netherlands and Belgium experiencing significant e-bike adoption. Germany is Europe's largest electric bicycle market, with 2.2 million new e-bikes sold in 2022. The Netherlands has hit a milestone where over 50% of the country's total bike retail value is from e-bikes.

The Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) expects the size of the European e-bike market to grow to around 7 million units by the end of the decade.

On the other hand, North America is expanding rapidly, with the US experiencing a 19% increase in E-bike sales in 2020 compared to 2019. The US is currently leading in e-bike adoption,  with more than 100 city and state-based incentives to boost e-bike adoption nationwide. Government incentives and growing environmental awareness are key drivers of this trend.