Electric bicycle sales soar world-wide
We like the idea of electric bicycles and, apparently, the world does too. We've known that electric bicycles have become extremely popular in China but new numbers reveal they're really starting to catch on in Western countries too. In America, for example, where we have rising fuel costs and an aging population, sales almost doubled to reach 10,000 in 2007. Though they say it's partly because of an increased line-up, Amazon.com is reporting a whopping 6,000 percent increase this summer from a year ago.
In Europe, where bicycle culture has traditionally been pretty strong, demand for battery-powered rides is also on the rise. France matched America's pace in 2007 with 10,000. And while sales in Germany reached 60,000 last year, they expect to double that number this year. As you might imagine, the Netherlands had no problem representin' with 89,000 in 2007 and will likely reach 121,000 by the end of this year.
If you're in the market for a new light-weight ride you'll find a wide range of manufacturers out there with varying quality. The cheapest bikes use lead-acid batteries and you can pick them up for a few hundred bucks. Lithium ion batteries are finding their way into more bikes and, although they might be more expensive (from $1,500 to ridiculous), they offer lighter weight and longer ranges. Happy trails.
[Source: Business Week]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
EV-1 9:22AM (8/17/2008)
"In America, for example, where we have rising fuel costs and an aging population, sales almost doubled to reach 10,000 in 2007"
OK.
?
So, what you're saying is that in 2007, out of more than 300.000.000 people in the US, as many as 10.000 bought an e-bike.
That's around three hundreds of one percent, if I managed to keep track of all the decimals correctly. Or
0,033 % . . . hm
What's the figure for people of the US that bought a new SUV 2007 ?
( No, I'm not comparing apples w oranges - I'm looking out for some perspective, that's all ).
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Domenick Yoney 10:42AM (8/17/2008)
While 10,000 is not all that impressive in the big scheme of things, considering it's a tech that just starting to come into it's own. A lot of the first electric bikes were pretty awful. However, if you consider it's almost a doubling of the previous years number, it's decent. I think the numbers for this year will be much higher as well though I'm sure they won't approach the 10's of thousands of regular bikes sold for transportation purposes.
In 2006, we last year I could find stats for, something like 18 million bikes were sold, 90,000 for transportation purposes.
litteuldav 9:55AM (8/17/2008)
The numbers are great and make me feel good.
I'm looking forward to buy one e-bike when prices will go down a little more.
European countries really make a big score looking at these numbers :
Netherlands (Holland)
16 570 613 inhabitants : 89 000 e-bikes
= 1 e-bike for 186 inhabitants = 0.53 %
Germany
82 314 906 inhabitants : 60 000 e-bikes
= 1 e-bike for 1 371 inhabitants = 0.072 %
France
64 473 140 inhabitants : 10 000 e-bikes
= 1 e-bike for 6 447 inhabitants = 0.0155 %
USA
300 000 000 people : 10 000 e-bikes
= 1 e-bike for 30 000 people = 0.0033 %
(EV-1 you lost 1 zero)
I believe China would do well too, they traditionnaly have a lot of bikes.
For USA, that seem very few, a curiosity at best .
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Smith 11:33AM (8/17/2008)
If you need a bike with a bit more pep(highway speeds):
http://www.electricrider.com/custom/index.htm
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stevefazek 12:24PM (8/17/2008)
That man is retarded for building a bike and going 50MPH with Rubber V brakes. Add in the extra 100lbs of lead acid batteries and that giant PM motor and he is asking for something bad.
You'd think he would drop down 100 bucks for a disc brake
RWD fan 1:01PM (8/17/2008)
Not trying to be a troll here, but I still don't see the appeal of an electric bike at the current costs of any of the well built ones.
For much less $$ one could get something like a Xootr Swift folding bike, and use mass transit to get pretty close to work and then pedal the rest of the way.
To me the appeal of a folder is also that I could fit one in my office without attracting too much attention. Only real drawback in my area is a completely useless mass transit system. That's the real shame.
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bE-nut 4:55PM (12/28/2008)
You could still use your swift folding bike but install on of these BionX electric motors so you don't arrive sweaty at work:
http://nycewheels.com/xootr-swift-electric-folding-bike.html
richardmasoner 7:52PM (8/17/2008)
10,000 isn't that much -- Ford sells that many Explorers in two months, which is still twice as long as a year ago -- but it's a start and it's still a big change from a year ago. I expect to see more ebikes on the roads in the coming year.
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George Krpan 9:26PM (8/17/2008)
Electric bikes have a great future. It is dead serious business riding a motorcycle or motor scooter and most people would be completely turned off. I feel like I'm running for my life the entire time I'm on my motor scooter.
Riding a bicycle is far safer.
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Hans Wurst 12:06AM (8/18/2008)
Why?
George Krpan 2:44PM (8/18/2008)
Because motorcycles and scooters must be ridden out in traffic while bicycles are ridden on the side of the road.
I have ridden both for decades.
I have never been hurt in a bicycle crash to the extent of a motorcycle crash.
The speeds of a bike are much lower and you are out of the traffic flow.
I think you would be surprised how quickly you could get around on an electric bike.
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prudencepu 10:20PM (8/29/2008)
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Best regards,
Prudence
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l3utterfish 5:07AM (12/18/2008)
I love going with my bycicle to work..
for all your spanish readers, one advice :
Atrévete a usar tu Bicicleta
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