Tag Archive: Refurbished e-bikes

  1. Germany’s acceptance of refurbished e-bikes is increasing

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    Source: SAZBike

    A study in Germany has explored the motivations around the purchasing of refurbished e-bikes, with the results revealing clear consumer preferences for specialist retailers with an assurance of quality control.

    The study, conducted by market research specialists Appinio and commissioned by Rebike Mobility, revealed a high level of fundamental interest in refurbished e-bikes among consumers, with the willingness to buy professionally reconditioned bikes at 61.8%. This is comparable to levels associated with refurbished smartphones and other established products.

    The study identifies four key factors that influence consumer confidence regarding used e-bikes:

    • An individual inspection and reconditioning report – 49.1%
    • Independent test results – 40.9%
    • Familiarity of bike brand – 30.5%
    • Familiarity of motor manufacturer – 28.1%

    Study scope

    The study was conducted in April 2026, surveying 1,000 people between the ages of 16 to 65, with quotas ensuring a representative sample in terms of age and gender. The study was designed to assess mobility behaviour, intent to purchase, and the motivation for buying refurbished e-bikes.

    A clear preference for professional services

    • 53.4% of respondents would prefer to buy from a professional refurbisher
    • 28.1% would buy from a brick-and-mortar retailer
    • 11.8% would buy through a private sale

    This overwhelming preference for a professional refurbishing service shows that consumers increasingly expect the same standards with used e-bikes as new, such as standardised testing processes, warranties, and transparent documentation regarding the refurbishment work.

    Opportunities for retail and refurbishment cooperation

    In Germany, a growing proportion of used e-bikes are from lease returns, creating the need for systematic handling of the refurbishment process. There are opportunities for specialist retailers to cooperate with refurbishment specialists such as Rebike Mobility through trade-in programs; through the Rebike B2B portal, retailers can take used e-bikes in part-exchange when customers purchase new ones, and Rebike handles the evaluation, collection and refurbishment.

    Thomas Bernik, CEO and Co-founder of Rebike Mobility, explains: “Buying a used e-bike is no longer a compromise, but a conscious purchasing decision – provided that quality and origin are transparent. Consumers today naturally expect test reports, warranties, and traceable refurbishment. Refurbishers and specialist retailers can meet this demand better together than either of them alone.”

  2. The reliability of refurbished e-bikes

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    Source: Zag Daily Image credit: Zag Daily

    Analysis of European and US sales from new and refurbished electric bike retailer Upway has shown that 93% of refurbished bikes were not returned in a year, demonstrating strong customer trust in second-hand electric bikes.

    The data was extracted from 7,500 sales details, plus over 400 survey responses, showing that 93% of the refurbished models saw no returns within a year, in comparison to 95% of new e-bikes. This marginal difference is a testament to a high reliability of refurbished e-bikes in a certified retail context.

    The report, which is authored by Lime’s former Director of Public Partnerships and Policy Research, Calvin Thigpen, has uncovered that certified pre-owned bikes and professionalised resale marketplaces are helping to reduce cost barriers to ownership while they address second-hand quality and performance concerns.

    He predicts that there will be strong growth in the sales of second-hand bicycles over the next five years, especially in the USA. Thigpen acknowledged that globally, used e-bikes remain a “relatively new phenomenon” and come with “reasonable concerns”.

    Report findings

    Two-thirds of new bike owners said they opted for a new model because of concerns around reliability and condition of second-hand bikes.

    Non-owners have stated that price continues to be a barrier toward e-bike ownership, with 58% saying e-bikes are too expensive.

    In relation to cost, certified pre-owned Upway e-bikes were found to be cheaper than government rebates with new e-bikes.

    About the report findings Thigpen said the following:“I hope reports like this will start to build trust in professionally-refurbished e-bikes as a viable, affordable option, by providing data that compares refurbished e-bikes side-by-side with new e-bikes and shows how they have nearly identical, very high performance and reliability,”.

    Head of Upway US, Maxime Renson, said: “With this third-party validated report, we are debunking a lot of beliefs around second hand e-bikes. By offering savings that significantly surpass traditional rebates, we are closing the trust gap and making high-performance e-bikes a reality for those previously priced out.”

    Europe adopting used e-bikes more than the US

    The report also shows a transatlantic difference with European countries adopting stronger used e-bike sales volumes with a faster time-to-sale in comparison with the US.

    With cost being a primary barrier to e-bike take-up, the latest findings imply that access to electric mobility in Europe and the US could increase due to rising trust of the reliability of verified refurbished models, which are cheaper compared to new e-bikes.