55% of UK Adults Considering Buying an eBike

Today marks Cycle to Work day. To mark the occasion, a new study has been released that suggests 55% of UK adults are considering buying an eBike. Following the first lockdown, cycling boomed in the UK with many people opting to cycle for transport and recreation.

Released by Bosch eBike Systems’, the study shows that a number of Brits are considering purchasing an eBike. 32% say they would use their car less in favour of electric pedal power. Critically, 66% would consider buying an eBike if the government committed to proposed subsidy schemes. 

The release reads:

The study polled over 2,000 people across the UK. This included non-cyclists and those who already own an eBike. They were asked their perceptions of e-mobility and how these have changed since the start of the pandemic.  The research sought to understand the UK public’s appetite for electric bikes and willingness to swap the car for a commute on two wheels. There was also a need to see what role the pandemic has played in changing sustainable travel habits.

Lockdown lifestyle changes bring eBikes to the fore

The UK eBike market has grown quickly over the last few years, with the pandemic accelerating this growth. In 2020, the UK eBike market grew 68% compared to 2019. Bosch eBike Systems’ research found that the UK public’s appetite for electric bicycles is only set to increase.

Since the pandemic, more than half of the UK public are now considering purchasing an eBike. The findings show that the eBiking trend gripping the nation has only just begun. Of those considering purchasing an eBike, 23% say they are more likely to buy an eBike now than before the pandemic. This indicates a large-scale re-evaluation of lifestyle and travel habits.

Speaking to those that purchased an eBike during the pandemic, 56% said the shift in habits and circumstances played a part in their purchase decision. 28% said that avoiding Covid-19 transmission via public transport motivated them to make the change. 

Staying fit and healthy and reducing carbon footprint was also a clear motivator behind eBiking. For example, 54% of eBike owners bought their eBike to boost their exercise levels. 37% did so as a proactive step towards reducing their environmental impact. 

Commuters are switching their cars for eBikes

Another key finding from the research is that 32% of the UK public would use their car less if they owned an eBike. Were this to translate to just one journey fewer by car per day, the average person could reduce their carbon footprint by as much as 0.5 tonnes of co2 per year* The research also indicates that after purchasing an eBike, the likelihood of forgoing the car rises substantially, with 53% of eBike owners surveyed revealing that they had cut down on car journeys and travelled by eBike instead. 

Reducing the number of journeys by car is a key motivator for those who have purchased an eBike. 25% of eBike owners bought their eBike to cut down on unnecessary short car journeys. And those who have made the switch are overwhelmingly swayed by the eBike commute, with 68% saying they get around more efficiently by eBike compared to other modes of transport – be that car, bus or train.

This research provides some key insights into eBiking’s growing presence in the UK. We’re proud to unveil these key findings on ‘Cycle to Work Day.’ We’re passionate about the role eBikes can play in the growth of active travel and the dramatic reduction of carbon emissions in the UK and across the globe. It’s encouraging to see the rapid development of eBiking as a sustainable and enjoyable travel option. These findings confirm what we’ve been seeing over the past year, as more people discover the benefits of e-mobility.

Tamara Winograd, Vice-president of Marketing, Communications and Brand Management at Bosch eBike Systems.

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