The UK’s bike shops have in recent weeks been visited by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, specifically addressing “risks and responsibilities” associated with e-bikes and e-scooters.
As noted by Bikebiz, this activity coincided with the lead-up to the launch of E-Bike Positive, a new initiative with wide industry support, which aims to help the public safely navigate the world of e-Bikes.
The visits focused on guidance notes for retailers stocking, selling, and working on e-bikes, and an advice note was shared, titled: “Prevention of fires caused by dangerous e-bikes and e-scooters”.
A video shared on the Bikebiz site from a bike shop owner showcased some of the concerns and questions about this approach; while shops are able to take steps to work on branded bike products with known provenance, many bikes and kits are sold by retailers and online marketplaces outside the traditional cycling industry.
The Bicycle Association (BA) has engaged closely with the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the UK product safety regulator which sets policy for Trading Standards, on issues around e-bike safety, and we’ve previously noted to our member companies that this campaign is underway.
We believe the industry should welcome the recent intense scrutiny from Trading Standards on the e-bike sector, especially around the repair and conversion of potentially higher-risk e-bikes.
This work will help protect the reputation of the very safe products provided by responsible suppliers and retailers.
The guidance highlighted in the video about being sure of the safety of e-bike systems you may work on is excellent and common sense advice.
We’d also suggest that anyone in the e-bike business check out the other resources we’ve compiled on this issue on this subject, including both further official Government advice and industry guidance from ourselves and others.
Comments Off on Entry to the iF Design Award bicycles category open
The iF Design Award is calling for entries to its bike category, with entries open until September 27.
iF Design has been championing outstanding design since 1953 and is a proud and active member of the international design community.
iF Design sees the cycling industry as booming, with people embracing the bicycle for transport, health and leisure, and state that manufacturers look to the annual awards as a seal of quality and innovation. The iF Design jury selects not only the best designs for leisure and sporting bikes, but also looks at the best of trekking, touring, cruising, folding, cargo, and mountain bikes, as well as pedelecs and e-bikes.
Entries are welcome from everyone: international to local, from start-ups to famous brands, from designers to architects, from entry-level to premium. Register your entry here.
On the topic of “traffic accidents involving these vehicles”, it turns out, public perception of the dangers of electric bicycles does not match the actual dangers. The publication reports that e-biking is safer than many people believe.
There seems to be a tendency in public perception to highlight the dangers without providing a correct statistical classification. Even the most recent analysis of the pedelec accident figures by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), a technically neutral, factually based and therefore generally sober presentation, cannot avoid using phrasing such as “the number of pedelec accidents involving personal injury has increased more than tenfold compared to 2014” or “overall, the number of pedelec accidents in Germany has risen sharply in recent years”. It seems strange that the absolute number of accident victims is practically never or only inadequately put into relation with the increasing use.
Would it really be so difficult to also include the estimated mileage? At least the ZIV has made this effort in the past. The association has at least put the mileage covered in relation to the number of accident fatalities up to 2020. While an average of around 290 kilometers per citizen per year were covered by bicycle in 2007, this figure had almost doubled by 2020, a temporary peak in bicycle use. The result was that in 2007, a cyclist was killed in an accident for every 46.4 million kilometers cycled. In 2020, this figure had already risen to almost 98 million kilometers. That would be a remarkable improvement in the situation.
Are e-bikes more dangerous than bicycles?
The wording that Destatis uses when comparing fatal e-bike and fatal bicycle accidents is completely clear: “Pedelec accidents involving personal injury are more likely to be fatal than accidents involving bicycles without an auxiliary motor.” 256 people died in traffic accidents involving non-motorized bicycles in 2023. A further 188 people died in traffic on a Pedelec. The total results in a figure that is, firstly, far too high and, secondly, unfortunately in line with the long-term average. In the years from 2007 to 2020, between 354 cyclists (in 2013) and 462 people (in 2009) died on German roads. An obvious conclusion would therefore be that the infrastructure has not improved significantly. But here too, given the increased use of Pedelecs, it would be appropriate to take mileage into account. At least Destatis seems to have put something into perspective, because when they say that “pedelec accidents involving personal injury are more likely to be fatal,” even though the absolute numbers are lower than for non-motorized bicycles, the number of cyclists who died in accidents was obviously related to something. In fact, the number of deaths was put in relation to every 1,000 registered pedelec accidents. The same thing happened with normal bicycles. As a result, 7.9 riders died per 1,000 pedelec accidents in 2023, while 3.6 people per 1,000 bicycle accidents died. But that is different from putting the fatal accidents in relation to mileage or to the number of bicycles and e-bikes.
Older Pedelec riders have always been at the greatest risk of having an accident with their vehicle. The increasing number of accidents involving e-bikes for children is relatively new.
Two years ago, a study by the insurers’ accident researchers (UDV) based the figures on mileage. The result (described as surprising in many media) at the time: e-bikes are no more dangerous than non-motorized bicycles. It was assumed that e-bikes cover distances that are on average 1.8 times longer than traditional bicycles. Whether this figure is still correct today is debatable (the figures came from the study “Mobility in Germany”, 2017). Even a factor of 1.8 changes everything. “The results showed that adult pedelec riders between the ages of 35 and 74 do not have an increased mileage-related accident risk,” the study says. “In contrast, younger (18 to 34 year olds) and older (over 75 year olds) pedelec riders showed an increased mileage-related risk of being involved in or causing an accident,” report the UDV experts.
Age as a risk factor
The age of cyclists and pedelec riders is therefore actually a greater influencing factor than their vehicle. In the case of pedelecs, it is particularly important to note that users are on average older than non-motorized cyclists: “People who were injured or killed on a pedelec were on average 53 years old, which, despite the falling average age, was older than those who had an accident on a non-motorized bicycle, who were on average 42 years old. Older people are more likely to be seriously or fatally injured in a fall than younger people,” says Destatis.
The falling average age of pedelec users is not just a market success for the industry, but is also reflected in the number of accidents, as Destatis also notes: “What is striking in this context is that the number of people who have died in accidents with a pedelec per 1,000 pedelec accidents involving personal injury has fallen significantly in recent years: in 2014 there were 17.4 fatalities per 1,000 pedelec accidents (compared to 7.9 fatalities in 2023). This is also due, among other things, to the falling age of the accident victims.”
Velobiz concludes that, in the future, the bicycle industry’s task will probably be to point out the relationship to mileage much more clearly, to communicate this and then to have these figures ready to hand. The portrayal of the bicycle as a dangerous form of transport is at least misleading. At the same time, no one can accept that over 400 cyclists are killed in accidents every year. Added to this is the suffering of those who survive but are more or less seriously injured in their accidents. These 70,900 accidents on bicycles and a further 23,658 on pedelecs were not even discussed here. Nor was the car, the main cause of these accidents, discussed. Infrastructure remains the key to the long-term success of the bicycle. The UDV also recommended expanding the bicycle infrastructure as a result of its study.
Insurance company and LEVA-EU member Laka, and Dutch bicycle manufacturer Tenways, are entering into a partnership.
As part of this partnership, Tenways customers have the opportunity to request a quote for Laka insurance when purchasing online, and can add Laka insurance to their shopping cart when purchasing a Tenways e-bike. Once the purchase is complete, they will receive an email invitation to activate their new insurance. Along with the built-in GPS and motion detection feature on Tenways’ CGO009 e-bike, this shows Laka and Tenways’ commitment to stopping bicycle thieves and protecting cyclists.
The partnership with Tenways complements Laka’s existing network of micromobility brands across Europe such as Gazelle, Riese & Mueller and Decathlon. Tobias Taupitz, CEO of Laka, says of the partnership with Tenways: “It’s great that Tenways is joining us. We are excited to see how the partnership develops and expands into more territories. Laka looks forward to working with Tenways to provide customers with a seamless shopping experience and differentiated service”.
Byron Aub, Subscription Business Manager at Tenways, adds: “Our mission at Tenways is to provide our customers with reliable, stylish and fun e-bikes. Partnering with Laka allows us to offer an additional layer of safety and peace of mind, ensuring our customers are protected every step of their ride. Together, we are committed to a greener, more sustainable world while providing exceptional value and support”.
Comments Off on Company leasing providers have almost quintupled their sales since 2019
Company bike leasing has emerged as a significant growth driver for the bicycle sector, according to a study by Deloitte’s Sport Business Group in partnership with the industry association Zukunft Fahrrad. From 2019 to 2023, the total revenue of company bike leasing providers surged from 0.7 billion to 3.2 billion euros, nearly quintupling. This reflects an average annual growth rate of 46 percent.
The study, “The German Company Bike Leasing Market,” surveyed the largest providers using a standardized questionnaire. These companies represent approximately three-quarters of the market. The collected data was then extrapolated to estimate the overall market size based on dealer information.
The survey revealed that the fleet size of bicycles and e-bikes leased through employers has grown by an average of 45 percent annually since 2019, expanding from 400,000 bikes in 2019 to 1.9 million by the end of 2023. This marks nearly a fivefold increase over five years, with 23,000 bikes newly leased in 2019 and 790,000 in 2023.
Leasing strengthens brick-and-mortar retail
Kim Lachmann, Director and bicycle market expert at Deloitte stated “Company bike leasing has now become one of the most relevant market drivers in the bicycle market – especially in the past year, which has been challenging for the industry. High bicycle stocks and a simultaneous slight decline in customer demand due to inflation posed problems for many market participants. However, we continued to see stable growth in company bike leasing – both in terms of volume and price. It is also clear that it is strengthening brick-and-mortar retail in particular. Almost 90 percent of users buy their bikes there.”
Leased bikes tend to be higher-priced, with about 80 percent being e-bikes and an average price of 3,500 euros in 2023—almost 1,700 euros more than the average price of bikes purchased in the overall market. According to the study’s authors, this price difference is a significant factor in the observed strong sales growth in the bicycle market.
The study also found that around 37 percent of employees in Germany now have access to company bike leasing. The number of employees eligible for company bike leasing contracts through their employers grew from 5.3 million in 2019 to 16.8 million in 2023.
Untapped potential
“The company bike leasing sector has grown immensely in recent years, but the potential is far from being exhausted. On average, around 90 percent of employees at participating employers are not yet leasing. In addition, the number of participating companies is increasing continuously – by an average of 46 percent annually since 2019. Company bike leasing is perceived by employees as an attractive offer,” says Kim Lachmann.
In 2023, around 204,000 employers offered their employees the opportunity to lease company bikes, up from around 45,000 in 2019.
Wasilis von Rauch, Managing Director of Zukunft Fahrrad, emphasized the market’s resilience, describing company bike leasing as a billion-dollar market that benefits both employees and companies through health and climate protection advantages. He noted that approximately two-thirds of commuters have a journey suitable for bicycles or e-bikes, often faster and more enjoyable than other modes of transport. Rauch urged policymakers to support this trend by creating conducive framework conditions.
The energy supplier Eon has conducted a survey on the rising popularity of e-bikes. According to their findings, nearly a quarter of the population now owns an e-bike, with a notable increase among younger individuals.
“Electric bike popularity is hitting new heights. Currently, one in four people in Germany owns an electric bike, the highest since our first survey in 2020,” states Jens Michael Peters, Managing Director of Energy Solutions at Eon Energie Deutschland.
The survey reveals that 24.7 percent of Germans own an electric bicycle, up from 23.3 percent in 2023 and 15.2 percent in 2020. E-bike ownership has grown significantly among 18- to 29-year-olds, rising from 13.8 percent in 2023 to 17.5 percent. The highest ownership rates are among people aged 50 to 64 (27.4 percent) and those over 65 (27.7 percent).
Regional differences
When looking at the federal states, Lower Saxony leads with 32.6 percent of residents owning an e-bike, followed by Baden-Württemberg (27.4 percent), Bavaria (26.4 percent), Schleswig-Holstein (26.2 percent), and North Rhine-Westphalia (26 percent). Emsland and Bentheim counties top the list nationwide, with 47.3 percent ownership each, followed by Leer (42.6 percent), Wittmund (41.8 percent), and Aurich (41 percent). Eon provides a detailed visualization of these regional results.
Sustainabilities role in purchasing and charging
Around 40.7 percent of e-bike owners use green electricity for charging, and 28.8 percent of potential buyers are considering switching to a green electricity tariff. Additionally, 21.5 percent of e-bike owners chose their bikes for sustainability reasons, like reduced emissions compared to cars. Among e-bike models, city e-bikes are the most popular (37.3 percent), followed by trekking e-bikes (26.4 percent) and e-mountain bikes (15.9 percent).
A popular means of transport for holidays and commuting
E-bikes are also popular for holidays and commuting. In the past year, 12.5 percent of Germans used an e-bike while on holiday, with nine percent using their own and 3.5 percent renting locally. Looking ahead, 36.3 percent are considering using an e-bike on their next holiday, especially among 18- to 29-year-olds (46.1 percent). Additionally, 25 percent of Germans are contemplating a multi-day e-bike trip.
For commuting, 6.8 percent of employed individuals regularly use e-bikes, and 34.5 percent are interested in leasing a company bike to save on purchase costs. Already, 13.2 percent of employed 18- to 29-year-olds use an employer-provided e-bike option.
Comments Off on Klever e-bikes widely awarded by Fietstest
The independent panel of bike testers continues to praise Klever models across the range, with recent awards for Best Buy and Best in Test
Klever Mobility, the Dutch maker of powerful and reliable e-bikes, now boasts nine models on the Fietstest awards board, with the most recent accolades being Best Buy for the Y Muse 45, and Best in Test for the X Speed Pinion Alpha. Fiestest reviews are compiled from a panel of 1,900 independent reviewers, with the aim of offering consumers a truly impartial picture of product performance, value and quality. Klever’s repeated appearance in the top ranks is a testament to their pillars of power, safety, reliability and sustainability.
Top rated bikes include the Y Muse, with a reviewer describing it as a “fantastic bike with rear wheel motor”, saying it “gets up to speed quickly and easily, stable at 45 km/h”. Top rated features included its powerful support, clear display, pleasant to use display, powerful engine and silent motor.
On the X Speed Pinion Alpha, the tester said: “Very cool bike. Goes very fast and smoothly. Feels solid. Great if you are looking for a pedelec”. Highlights across the board for this model were its pleasant to use display, silent motor, that it drives great and has a strong frame.
About Klever Mobility:
Klever Mobility supplies REAL45 Power E-bikes.
Our mission: everyone out of the car and on the speed pedelec to work. Clean mobility, great outdoors, no traffic jams or parking hassles.
We’re contributing to that by making powerful Speed Pedelecs that guarantee a wonderful and safe riding experience. This is how we make commuting the best time of the day!
We really believe that Speed Pedelecs will play an important role in modern sustainable mobility and with our Klever teams in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Taiwan we work hard on that every day!
We design our bikes from the scratch and make sure all parts of the system integrate with each other to create the most powerful, safe and reliable Speed Pedelecs around.
As a daughter company of Kymco, we have the access to the know-how and 50 years of experience in the e-scooters to make sure we can succeed in this mission.
Our speed pedelecs are available from our carefully selected dealers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. Check our website for your nearest dealer. Or request a test drive directly from us: https://klever-mobility.com/
Comments Off on MAHLE SmartBike Systems launches its new system X30
MAHLE SmartBike Systems, the eBike company of automotive component supplier MAHLE, has launched its new X30 drive system for eBikes.
The new MAHLE X30 consists of motor, battery, HMI (human machine Interface) and other components and extends the X-Series system platform. The highlight is the new motor. This is a robust and functional unit that maintains the light, sport, and intelligent DNA characteristic of all MAHLE products, offering both balanced and versatile assistance. This new hub motor is designed to provide great performance on any terrain, with a 45 Nm torque (compared to a mid-drive motor) and weighs just 1.9kg. The MAHLE X30 has therefore set a new standard for hub motors and has once again revolutionized the market for lightweight eBike systems. Its highly advanced technology makes it suitable for all riders, whether on the road, in the city or on tracks. It is even suitable for kids eBikes. The new MAHLE X30 is also compatible with all the components, accessories, and digital environment of the MAHLE X20 system, which means that the complete system can be equipped with Pulsar ONE, eShifters, HMI, iX2 or iX3 batteries and External Battery eX1 (e185).
As a leading supplier of lightweight eBike solutions with many years of development experience, MAHLE SmartBike Systems is committed to development and innovation. With MAHLE X30, the company has launched a versatile, robust, functional and technologically advanced system that will markedly change the world of lightweight eBike systems. MAHLE X30 System combines lightweight innovation with robust versatility, providing individual support for diverse riding conditions and significantly improving the riding experience.
New motor, same ecosystem:
MAHLE X30 System can be integrated perfectly with the X20 components and existing digital ecosystems, guaranteeing uncompromising compatibility. This compatibility enables seamless upgrades and access to advanced features, maintaining consistent performance across the X Series.
The design of this rear hub motor allows for perfect system synergy as a result of lower energy losses, increasing energy efficiency by 15% compared with a middrive motor, allowing the user’s activity to be extended in an environmentally friendly way up to a distance of almost 190 km.
In addition, the versatility provided by the X Series platform allows bicycle brands to build eBikes with a pedal assist sensor or with a cadence and torque sensor, creating different riding experiences.
One of the innovations of this system is that the installation of the torque sensor allows for a much more precise watt analysis, enabling the motor to respond to the rider’s needs at all times. Also, our technology together with AI and machine learning means that the eBike learns from the rider’s behavior and adapts to both riders and their environment.
The MAHLE X30 System is customized according to the DNA of the bike brand that implements it on its models, as well as by discipline and, customer philosophy. The motor mapping is defined together with the manufacturer concerned and implemented on the eBikes at the end of the production line. This leads into a special bike and riding experience on each different brand, behaving differently even when using the same system.
The launch of the new MAHLE X30 System is associated with renown partners in the bike industry such as Bianchi in road, Husqvarna in kids and Stevens in urban, among others.
Recent study reveals that 54% of Dutch people ride an electric bicycle
Various insights into the behaviour and attitudes of Dutch cyclists are available in the results of research commissioned by Netherlands-based e-bike refurbishers Upway.
The online survey, conducted by research agency iVOX between May 8 and May 17, 2024, gathered answers to a range of questions from 2,000 Dutch people on a variety of cycling-related topics. A number of insights can be gleaned from the results:
Age: 61% of people over the age of 55 choose an e-bike, while for those under 35 the figure is 51%.
Ownership and frequency: 54% of Dutch people currently use an e-bike, with 39% doing so at least weekly.
Stated preferences for e-bikes: 32% of respondents cite ease of use; 20% answered ‘Because it gets me to my destination faster’; 25% answered ‘because I can cover greater distances with it’.
Cargo bike usage: Of those surveyed, 7% rode an electric cargo bike, and 4% rode a non-electric version. Riders of electric cargo bikes cited two notable reasons for their use: 22% said ‘Because it is economically more advantageous than a car’, while 19% said ‘Because it is so easy to use’.
Cycling infrastructure: Overall, the respondents are generally positive towards the cycling-friendliness and layout of roads in their area, with 77% reporting a positive opinion, though cargo bike users are a little more critical with 61% having a positive opinion.
Feelings of safety: 94% of e-bike riders reported feeling safer than average in traffic, while 57% of these said they feel safer on an electric bike than on a traditional bike. In contrast, 80% of traditional-cycle riders felt safest on a non-electric bike.
Risk-taking behaviour: Only 10% of Dutch people say they always wear a helmet when cycling. 36% of e-bike riders ignore a red light – more often than non-electric bike riders. Dangerous situations involving electric bicycle users involve excessive speed (31%), inattention (15%) or lack of control (13%), while tradtional bike riders sometimes create dangerous situations by violating traffic rules (21%), inattention (28%) or cycling where it is not allowed (11%).
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