Guide To… eBikes

Like electric cars, eBikes have been around a lot longer than you may expect with the first patent for an eBike granted in December 1895.

However, it is only in the last few years that they have come to prominence and soared in popularity.

Sales of electric bikes jumped by a remarkable 41% in the EU between 2019 and 2020 alone, as people increasingly want to get out of cars and instead use more active forms of travel for health benefits, and to reduce congestion in cities.

In fact, eBike sales are expected to rise from 3.7 million a year in 2019, to 17 million per year by 2030.

However, there is still a lot of misinformation about how the bikes work, and the benefits that they offer. We hope that our guide will offer clear information to help you decide whether an eBike is right for you.

eBike Basics

An eBike is just like a regular bicycle, except that it has a small motor and battery to assist the rider, making it easier to cycle longer distances, or taking the strain out of traversing steep hills.

As you pedal, the motor multiplies the force that you exert, and on most models you can choose how much you want the bike to boost you. A screen on the handlebars will display which mode you’re in, your battery charge level, speed and mileage.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that eBike riders burn around 200 calories per hour, the same amount burned when walking. In fact, a report from University of Colorado, Boulder found that when 20 non-exercising men and women used eBikes for 40 minutes three days a week, they improved their cardiovascular fitness and blood sugar in just one month.

This is supported by a UPMC Pinnacle study, which found that people who cycled regularly had around 15% lower likelihood of heart attacks than non-cyclists, while the University of California San-Diego found that just 20 minutes of exercise can boost your immune system.

Cutting Congestion

Almost half a million people die prematurely in the EU each year due to air pollution, with private car use being a major contributing factor to this high death count.

Meanwhile, around 60% of urban area is dedicated to car use – from roads to parking spaces. By reducing car use, while promoting the use of public transport and cycling, we can build more affordable housing and increase green space in cities to improve public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that worsen the Climate Crisis.

Like traditional bikes, eBikes come in many forms – from casual upright bikes, to sports bikes, mountain bikes, and even cargo bikes.

As such, there is an eBike to fit whatever your needs and budget might be, and with the cost of lithium-ion batteries for eBikes dropping by 87% over the last decade, they’ve never been more affordable.

The average price for a good eBike for daily commutes is currently around €2,500, but there are many decent options available for less than €1,000 now. While this might seem more expensive than a traditional bike, it is important to remember the health and climate benefits of eBikes.

Furthermore, if you are swapping your car for an eBike when commuting, you’ll be saving a significant amount of money on fuel, insurance, tax and maintenance for your car in the long term.

What About Non-Electric Bikes?

eBikes aren’t a replacement for traditional bikes, instead they are a great alternative for cars or a great way to get people who wouldn’t otherwise cycle to adopt a bicycle as their primary mode of commuting.

If you are comfortable riding a non-electric bike for your commute, then that is still the greenest option, as it requires fewer materials and emissions to make.

Much like with electric car conversions, it is also entirely possible to retrofit traditional bikes to run as eBikes, with a number of kits on the market that can be fitted by you at home, or by a professional bike mechanic.

This can be a great approach, as it recycles the bike that you already have, and kits can cost significantly less than a new eBike, with prices starting from around €350.

We recommend reading guides from BikeRadar and Cycling Weekly if you are interested in learning more about how eBike retrofitting works, and how it can be undertaken.

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