The E-Bike Boom Continues

As John Surico reports, the e-bike boom that began during the pandemic has not slowed down as more Americans continue to go electric on two wheels.

Electric bike sales outpace electric car sales by almost two to one, writes Surico. "While estimates vary, industry experts put the number of e-bikes Americans brought home in 2020 somewhere around half a million [e-bikes]." A Deloitte projection estimated that 130 million bikes would sell between 2020 and 2030.

The article cites three trends that David Zipper, a specialist in new mobility, points to as responsible for the "exploding appetite" for e-bikes: the development of smaller, more efficient and longer-lasting lithium-ion batteries; a global resurgence in the popularity of biking; and the rise of bike share programs, which let new riders experience e-bikes at a low cost. 

Electric bikes pose new regulatory challenges as cities figure out how to classify and govern the various types of devices, particularly as newer models offer faster speeds and behave more like mopeds than bicycles. Meanwhile, bike advocates call for safer, more robust infrastructure to protect riders and encourage more people to get on bikes.

But advocates are hopeful that e-bikes can revolutionize transport and help fight climate change by providing a critical middle ground between bikes and cars, especially as new federal legislation provides incentives and tax credit for e-bike owners.