Future Mobility Lab of the University of St. Gallen, Germany, investigates workplace mobility transitions in 2024/2025 research project.
The Future Mobility Lab, part of the University of St. Gallen’s Institute for Mobility, is conducting a research project in 2024/2025 to explore how workplace mobility behaviour can be successfully transformed. A preliminary report from the study has now been published.
Corporate bike fleets on the rise
Corporate bikes are becoming increasingly popular. A representative sample of socially insured employees in Germany was surveyed to assess how likely employers are to offer various mobility options. Scenarios included e-car leasing, company bike leasing, the Germany Ticket, car-sharing, micro-mobility sharing, and mobility budgets. Notably, 95% of employees surveyed in Germany stated their employer offers the option to work remotely.
The study revealed that 76% of employees occasionally or frequently combine their commute with other errands. This highlights the rising relevance of e-cargo bikes. Flexibility and time efficiency emerged as the top factors influencing employees’ choice of transportation for commuting. Additionally, over 55% of respondents emphasised the importance of sustainability in mobility options.
E-bike ranks second among preferred benefits
“The majority of results speak in favour of company bikes as a commuting vehicle. As a partner of the Future Mobility Lab, it is extremely important for us to use scientific findings, like those in the current study, to further develop our mobility strategy and provide tailored solutions to our customers. Particularly in urban areas, where about 43% of the surveyed companies are based, the potential of high-quality company bikes remains largely untapped,” said Fabian Kral, CSO of Company Bike. Since 2012, Company Bike has been helping businesses transition to flexible mobility solutions through corporate bikes.
Interestingly, when asked about their preferred workplace benefits, employees ranked e-bikes second only to additional paid vacation days.
High demand for company bike leasing
From the employers’ perspective, 618 organisations in the Future Mobility Lab’s network participated in the study through a convenience sampling approach. Respondents included fleet, mobility, and HR managers who shared insights into their mobility strategies.
The study found that 59% of employers have made changes to their mobility offerings in the past three years. Key updates included introducing company bike leasing (77%), electrifying vehicle fleets (72%), expanding remote work options (62%), and offering the Germany Ticket (52%).
The full pre-report, which includes data from Germany and Switzerland, is now available. The comprehensive findings of the study, Reimagining Workplace Mobility, will be published in Spring 2025, following an in-depth analysis of employer practices over several months.
Comments Off on CARLA CARGO shares details on e-cargo subsidy in Germany
Brand outlines BAFA discount details for German businesses and public entities
On October 1 2024, the German government’s Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) announced that it is again offering financial assistance for electric cargo bike purchases. CARLA CARGO has confirmed that this subsidy enables participants to receive a 25% discount, saving up to €3,500 on all eCARLA models, with the option to include non-electric models in conjunction with e-cargo bike orders in a discounted order.
Eligibility
These purchases are exclusive for private companies, corporations, and public entities (such as universities) and must be used for transporting loads such as materials, goods etc.
Funding details
The BAFA discount will apply to the following eCARLA models:
A recent report from IoT Venture GmbH highlights the growing popularity of e-bikes in Germany, presenting statistics on usage, CO2 savings, and the ongoing issue of theft.
E-bike usage report
E-bike adoption in Germany continues to surge, with remarkable figures recorded in the third quarter of 2024. According to the report, cyclists covered a total of 2.3 million kilometers during this period, marking a 33% increase compared to the previous quarter, this figure is equivalent to 57 trips around the globe. September 22nd was a standout day, with over 201,000 kilometers traveled by e-bikes across the country.
Key figures and insights
Notably, weekday journeys are typically shorter than those on weekends. Half of the rides during the week are less than 3.81 kilometers, while weekend trips average 4.3 kilometers. E-bike riders also contributed to significant calorie consumption and CO2 reduction, burning an average of 78.5 kilocalories per ride and saving approximately 399 grams of CO2. Over the past three months, e-bike use saved an impressive 2,760 tons of CO2, roughly equivalent to the emissions of a large cruise ship traveling from Barcelona to Oslo.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are the most popular days for e-bike usage, with cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, and Hamburg leading in the number of rides. A heat map of Frankfurt revealed that routes around the exhibition grounds were especially popular during Eurobike.
Challenges of e-bike usage
Despite the positive trends, theft remains a major concern, particularly in large cities. Around 80% of reported e-bike thefts occur in urban areas, with significantly fewer cases in rural regions.
The report’s findings are based on data from over 100,000 GPS trackers, providing a comprehensive view of current e-bike trends and challenges in Germany. As urban mobility evolves, e-bikes are expected to continue playing a vital role in shaping the future of transportation.
An industry survey revealed that the use of cargo bikes in the German logistics sector has high potential and room for growth, particularly in urban areas
Across Germany’s logistics industry, there is a lack of widespread knowledge about the use of cargo bikes, which has become evident from data collected in an online survey conducted as part of the Logistics Barometer Bavaria. The survey was organized by the Logistics Initiative Bavaria and the German Bicycle Logistics Association eV, with analysis provided by the PedeListics team at Nuremberg University of Applied Sciences. In November 2023, more than 100 participants from Bavaria and across Germany, representing various logistics sectors from intralogistics to traditional freight forwarding, participated in the survey.
Untapped potential
The study results reveal that two-thirds of respondents see urban areas as the primary application for cargo bikes, while one-third also see potential in suburban areas. Nearly 90 percent of participants stated that the range of these vehicles extends up to ten kilometers. This suggests that in many cities, cargo bikes could be used to transport goods from the outskirts to city centers or vice versa. Respondents particularly identified potential in last-mile logistics, deliveries to private customers, and personal errands. Furthermore, 24 percent of participants highlighted the relevance of cargo bikes for internal company transport. However, there was less enthusiasm for using cargo bikes for commercial deliveries, procurement trips, or business travel replacements.
Tom Assmann, Chairman of the German Bicycle Logistics Association, commented on the findings, saying: “I am positively surprised. The results clearly show that bicycle logistics is perceived as an established option for delivery in the city and in factory traffic. However, the number of bicycles used is still far behind the potential. What is needed here is a political prioritization of sustainable means of transport, stronger promotion of the ramp-up of vehicles and the development of a safe infrastructure,”
One potential reason for the limited use of cargo bikes is the low level of information available to logistics companies. Only nine percent of respondents felt well-informed about the purchase costs of cargo bikes, and just five percent were knowledgeable about maintenance costs. Awareness was even lower regarding aspects such as possible uses, providers, technology, services, and funding opportunities.
The role of bicycle logistics in driving growth
An increase in bicycle logistics could also boost the Bavarian economy. The state is home to several highly innovative manufacturers of cargo bikes and trailers, which are creating sustainable jobs through family businesses and startups. From Augsburg to Würzburg, medium-sized bicycle logistics companies in various cities are demonstrating how logistics, environmental protection, and fair working conditions can work hand in hand. Additionally, several universities in Bavaria are researching new cargo bike deployment concepts, such as integrating them with public transport or micro-hubs.
To address the information gap around bicycle logistics, the Logistics Congress Bavaria, hosted by the Logistics Initiative Bavaria CNA eV, will be held in Nuremberg on November 21, 2024. The event, organized in collaboration with the German Bicycle Logistics Association eV, will feature lectures and regional exhibitors to raise awareness and promote knowledge in this growing field.
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.
Insurer Huk-Coburg, in collaboration with YouGov Germany, conducted a representative online survey of 4,101 individuals to assess current mobility behaviours, with a particular focus on e-bikes.
The study revealed that e-bikes continue to perform well, maintaining the bicycle’s position as the second most preferred mode of future transportation. Traditional, non-motorized bicycles, however, have lost popularity since the pandemic.
Bicycle Ranks Second as a Future Mode of Transport
According to the study, approximately one in four Germans considers the bicycle to best meet their future mobility needs, placing it second overall, behind cars but ahead of walking. However, the appeal of conventional bicycles has dropped significantly, with approval ratings decreasing from 26% in 2021 to 16%. In contrast, e-bike approval has remained steady at around 10%, helping to secure cycling’s second-place ranking.
Regional Differences Highlight E-Bike Popularity
The growing importance of e-bikes is particularly evident in North Rhine-Westphalia, where e-bikes are now viewed as a more suitable future transportation option (13%) compared to traditional bicycles (12%). The strongest support for e-bikes is found in Schleswig-Holstein (14%), with notable increases in popularity since 2021 in Hesse (9% to 11%) and Saxony-Anhalt (7% to 9%). However, in the other eastern states, e-bike support is declining, and Berlin remains at the bottom with only 5% approval.
Expert Commentary on the Findings
Dr. Jörg Rheinländer, a board member at Huk-Coburg, commented on the findings: “During the pandemic, the limited use of public transportation significantly boosted the popularity of bicycles. The sustained interest in e-bikes suggests they have attracted new, long-term users. The bicycle’s second-place ranking as a preferred future mode of transport underscores its essential role in a balanced and eco-friendly transportation mix.”
Decline in Interest Among Younger People
The study also indicates that interest in cycling is higher than interest in trains (15%) or trams/suburban trains (12%). However, enthusiasm for non-electric bicycles has notably waned among younger people since the pandemic. For those under 25, the perception of muscle-powered bicycles as the ideal future transport option has dropped sharply from 28% to 11% since 2021. Among those under 40, the rating has halved from 28% to 14%. In comparison, those over 40 have seen a smaller decline from 25% to 16%.
Regional Variations in Cycling Adoption
Regional variations are also significant in both future expectations and current cycling frequency. The northwest shows the highest increase in cycling over the past 12 months, with 21% of Hamburg residents, 20% of Schleswig-Holstein residents, and 18% of Bremen residents cycling more frequently, regardless of electric assistance. These figures exceed the national average of 14%. Conversely, the lowest increases are seen in Saarland (8%), Rhineland-Palatinate (10%), and Saxony (11%), where cycling adoption is about half as common as in the northwest.
The German Bicycle Logistics Association (RLVD) has released its 2024 industry report, revealing promising developments in the bicycle logistics industry. Despite facing global challenges, the sector is demonstrating steady growth and maintains an optimistic outlook for the future.
Tom Assmann, a board member of the RLVD, emphasizes the organization’s ambitious goal: “We aim to shift 30 percent of urban commercial traffic to cargo bikes or trailers by the end of the 2020s.” Assmann notes that the report highlights the industry’s resilience in pursuing a sustainable economy, even under challenging conditions. However, the report forecasts an average annual growth rate of 10 percent, which may not be sufficient to fully achieve CO2-neutral urban logistics. To address this, Assmann urges policymakers to establish fair conditions that foster sustainability and innovation. He advocates for the inclusion of cargo bikes in public procurement policies, the revival of federal subsidies for cargo bikes, and consistent funding for expanding cycling infrastructure.
E-cargo bikes: A growing market with significant potential
In 2023, approximately 5,400 individuals were employed in the bicycle logistics industry. The report reveals that the majority of companies within the sector are small to medium-sized enterprises. Last year, the industry generated a turnover of 183 million euros, reflecting a stable to slightly increasing trend compared to the previous year. In total, 37,650 cargo bikes and trailers were sold for commercial use in 2023, with 95 percent featuring electric drive support. Cargo trailers are becoming an increasingly important part of the market, with around 12,000 units sold.
Nicolas Schüte, the lead author of the study from Wildau University of Applied Sciences, underscores the long-term potential of cargo bikes for commercial purposes: “The use of cargo bikes is not just a passing trend; it’s a sustainable concept with vast potential. We’re seeing an expanding range of applications, from mobile coffee bars to outpatient care, that can benefit from bike logistics.“
Bicycle logistics: A key contributor to climate protection
The report highlights the significant impact of bicycle logistics on climate protection. In 2023, cargo bikes covered around eight million kilometres, resulting in a reduction of approximately 2,100 tons of CO2 emissions. The survey also indicates that bicycle logistics significantly improves road safety, with no serious injuries or traffic fatalities reported since the survey’s inception. Martin Schmidt, another RLVD board member, addresses concerns about the safety of cargo bikes and trailers: “The negative headlines surrounding cargo bike tests are often misleading and taken out of context. Our daily operations demonstrate that these vehicles are indeed safe.“
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.
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