Electric bikes outsell electric cars in the U.S.
People in urban areas are starting to realize that sometimes biking is faster than driving from one place to another. Especially when the bike is electrically assisted and able to move through traffic at the same speed as most city speed limits, there is no hassle of finding a parking space yet. Now, electric bicycles are becoming more and more convenient and supported by various policies, and the design of manufacturers makes riding more comfortable, so it is a wise decision to replace the transportation with electric bicycles.
A Georgia research team just investigated and confirmed the claim that electric bikes outsold electric cars last year. Their research team found that while 608,000 electric cars and trucks were sold in 2021, more than 880,000 electric bicycles were also sold. That’s nearly double the estimated number of e-bike vehicles sold in 2020.
Edward Benjamin of the Lightweight Electric Vehicle Association predicts that more than 1 million electric bikes will be sold in the U.S. this year, as the bicycle industry slowly begins to recover from the effects of slowing supply chains and low inventory at bike shops. Electrek reports that in Europe, sales of electric bicycles are likely to outstrip all car sales, including petrol and electric, within the next 10 years.
The New York Times also reported on the possible future of bicycle booms, especially electric bikes that provide cargo space for children. As parents stay away from crowded public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic, e-bikes have become a practical way to get kids to school without the strenuous effort of bicycles and schools without parking spaces in pick-up areas.
“A lot of mothers are trying to e-bike their kids to school,” Damon Victor, owner of Greenpath Electric Bikes in South Brooklyn, said in an interview, adding, “It’s the freedom to get in and out of school easily, the freedom to ride a bike to work, Freedom to bypass parking, freedom to bypass traffic.”
While initially, social distancing and the outdoor movement spree contributed to high bike sales, another reason to swap cars for bikes has emerged. According to Bloomberg, rising gasoline prices are a factor in the continued surge in e-bike sales.
And buying an EV may still be out of the price range for many consumers, but as e-bikes become more affordable, it’s possible to get a decent e-bike for less than $1,500, making it easier to buy and reduce car fuel costs consumption. Electric bike maker VanMoof’s sales last month topped the company’s expectations, with co-founder and CEO Taco Carlier attributing the increase to higher gasoline prices in an email to Bloomberg.
Market research firm NPD reports that e-bike sales also outpace non-e-bike sales in popularity and growth, with sales up 240 percent last year.
