Source: SAZ Bike, Cycling Electric

Recent research, separately conducted by YouGov and Zukunft Fahrrad, reveals a complex picture in Germany’s e-bike sales and uptake by the population. Although leasing is increasing and sales are high, a large proportion of people have yet to try an e-bike.

An online YouGov survey took responses in July and August from just over 2,000 adult German residents, looking into their experience and thoughts on e-bike ownership and riding. The German association Zukunft Fahrrad focuses on bike-leasing topics and advocacy, and has published data on the current state of the market.

Survey findings

The YouGov survey spoke both to riders and non-riders of e-bikes. The results showed that 65% of respondents said they had never tried an e-bike, with the survey exploring the reasons behind this. Those respondents who identified as current e-bike users also gave some insights into behaviour patterns.

49% of non-users listed cost as the key factor in putting them off e-bikes, followed by a preference for traditional bikes at 29%, and for cars or public transport at 28%. 13% stated that they had not yet had the opportunity to try an e-bike, indicating a potential window of opportunity for greater uptake.

Among the group of current e-bike users surveyed, it is becoming clear that the ratio of those purchasing with their own funds is decreasing, in favour of various leasing or subsidy programs. Three years ago, 83% of e-bikes were fully self-financed; this share has fallen to 64% for purchases made over the last three years. In that time, partial financing has risen from 8% to 19%.

On the question of usage scenarios, the majority of respondents reported using e-bikes for leisure and travel, at 39%. 21% use them for shopping and errands, with women taking the majority in this particular segment (25% compared to 17%). 20% of all respondents regularly commute to work or school on an e-bike, while 15% use them for sport, with men (19%) taking the majority here compared to women (10%).

The leasing landscape

The data from Zukunft Fahrrad shows that the total e-bike leasing market in Germany has now reached over 2.1 million active units, and that 78% of those put to the market in 2024 were electric bikes.

Germany’s company bike and e-bike leasing structure has grown steadily since 2020, with 269,000 German employers now offering e-bike leasing, often alongside car leasing, presenting a greater choice to eligible employees on their commuting options. This means that 18.7 million citizens – equivalent to 41% of the employed population – have access to an e-bike leasing scheme. In 2024, a total of 750,000 bike or e-bike leases were put in place.

One effect of this success is that people can afford to choose and ride a more expensive e-bike than they may have done if buying it independently – bike shop data suggests the average cost of a leased e-bike in 2024 was €3,720, which is 40% more than a typical purchase price outside of a leasing program. The leasing terms are known to be flexible and financially favourable, enabling riders to end the leasing term, return equipment, purchase the bike or lease a new model when the term comes to an end.

Stefan Ludwig of Zukunft Fahrrad said, “The average prices for company bikes are significantly higher than those of the overall market. This is due to the fact that, on the one hand, there is a minimum price for leasing agreements, and, on the other hand, consumers tend to opt for higher-priced models where the savings are higher. Thus, company bike leasing contributes to higher average prices and thus to higher sales in the overall bicycle market.”

The YouGov survey results can be found here, and the Zukunft Fahrrad report here.