Tag Archive: study

  1. Motivation to use smart e-bikes varies by country

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    Source: Fietsberaad Crow

    Research conducted by the University of Twente reveals that the acceptance of the smart e-bike, a technology still under development, varies across countries and user demographics. While participants from five European countries generally rated functionality as the most important factor, Dutch respondents placed higher value on the enjoyment of using the bike. The findings provide policymakers with valuable insights on how to promote the adoption of smart e-bikes.

    The smart e-bike was developed in response to rising concerns about the risks and severity of accidents involving e-cyclists. This bike alerts riders to potential collisions, communicates with infrastructure to provide quicker green lights, and suggests safe routes. In the event of a serious crash, the bike automatically notifies emergency services.

    Visual representation of a smart e-bike.

    The questionnaire

    To aid in the technical development and implementation of the smart e-bike, University of Twente researchers conducted a study on user acceptance. Between November 2022 and January 2023, they surveyed 1,589 respondents from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Greece—countries selected for their varying cycling infrastructure quality, bicycle usage, and cycling safety. The participants either used an e-bike or speed pedelec or were interested in purchasing one, with more than half of the respondents from the Netherlands.

    Findings

    The study found that the key factors driving acceptance of the smart e-bike are functionality, user enjoyment, and enhanced safety. For Dutch participants, enjoyment ranked higher than functionality, followed by social influence—the visibility of others using the bike. Acceptance is also higher among individuals over 60 years old or those who have experienced a bicycle accident. Familiarity with the technology contributes positively to acceptance, while poor cycling infrastructure and higher levels of education, likely due to greater car access, negatively impact it.

    Implications

    The insights from this research can help technology developers enhance the features of the smart e-bike that drive higher acceptance. For policymakers, the results highlight which aspects of the smart e-bike should be emphasized in future promotion efforts. When designing practical tests and encouraging adoption, it’s crucial to consider national context and the motivations of different target groups.

    Read the full study here.

  2. European city study finds that more flexible regulations increase e-scooter popularity

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    Deloitte has conducted a survey of 155 cities across the continent and found that the cities with the most flexible regulations for electric scooters resulted in more affordable pricing and a higher uptake level among customers.

    Source: Zag Daily, B. Hubbard

    Deloitte’s findings report that in cities with higher regulations that involve public tenders, users are found to pay roughly 19% more per ride.

    Since e-scooters were first launched in the mid-2010s, there has been a wide range of regulatory models that have been applied in various European cities however since then there has been a lack of research that examines the results and impacts of each model.

    Deloitte divided the regulatory models of various cities into three categories:

    Light regulation refers to open markets, meaning that e-scooter services don’t have to comply with regulatory restrictions, resulting in no restrictions for vehicle fleet sizes and an unlimited amount of e-scooter operators being allowed to enter the city market and offer their services freely.

    Medium Regulation means that e-scooter operators must obtain a permit from authorities to operate in the city. In this type of model, operators may have to comply with specific operational requirements such as redistributing vehicles that have been poorly parked within a set time and they may have to pay fees to the city.

    High Regulation refers to the involvement of tenders, which is when cities invite e-scooter operators to enter competitive proposals, which detail their planned offering on fleet size, pricing and fee structures, service quality, sustainability measures, and operational plans.

    Stijn Vandeweyer, ITRG sector leader at Deloitte Belgium, said: “There has recently been a trend among European cities toward stricter e-scooter regulations due to a perception among policymakers that the more stringent regulatory models enable better monitoring and management of shared e-scooter services in their cities, thereby improving the quality of the services for their citizens. However, the research for this report has shown that Light Regulation models (especially MoUs) and Medium Regulation models can both provide cities with the degree of control needed to ensure quality and responsiveness to the needs of their citizens.”

    Findings

    Deloitte have found that more European cities have changed their regulatory approach in adopting stricter e-scooter regulations rather than making them more flexible.

    Cities with lighter or medium regulations including Vilnius, Dusseldorf and Lisbon had a higher take-up of e-scooters, due to there being more competition between e-scooter operators, resulting in more affordable prices and therefore a higher usage rates from customers.

    Deloitte has also suggested five recommendations for optimising micromobility in cities, including the suggestion that at least four e-scooter companies should operate in each European city to enable competition for lower consumer pricing, so that more citizens are able to take up this sustainable form of mobility.

  3. NIPV publishes 2020-22 report on LEV fires in the Netherlands

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    Source: NIPV

    The Netherlands Institute for Public Safety (NIPV) is the Dutch public research and knowledge institute that links and strengthens ties between the country’s 25 security regions, central government and partner organisations in the crisis management domain through its four service pillars – scientific research, education, support and information.

    The report introduces the fire risks associated with LEVs, mainly around technical faults and charging. Locations of incidents are mainly in the home, and the dangers of such fires are the blaze itself, as well as the toxic smoke. The report aims to review the ways in which such fires start, and better understand these causes.

    The summary records a total 327 LEV fires over a 2 year period, with 65% involving an electric scooter, electric bikes 24%, mobility scooters 7%, and hoverboards 4%. Most of the fires were caused by arson, which was the cause in 37% of the cases where the cause could be determined. In 35% of the cases, the fire was caused by a technical defect.

    The study notes that with increasing sales, we must be prepared that fires are likely to increase, and recommends as follows:

    “This trend calls for extra attention to the (fire) safety of LEVs by the manufacturers of these vehicles. However, building managers will also need to consider fire risks, such as managers of bicycle storage facilities where e-bikes and e-scooters are parked and managers of nursing homes where mobility scooters are stored. Additionally, individuals with hoverboards and e-scooters should consider the fire risks of their vehicles. Finally, sellers can contribute to the fire-safe behavior of consumers by providing targeted information on the safe use (maintenance, charging, storage) of LEVs.”

    Read the report in full, in Dutch, here.

  4. Study shows risk of brain injury in accidents equal with e-bike and regular bicycle

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    No significant difference in frequency of traumatic brain injury between ebikers and cyclists

    Source: CROW-Fietsberaad

    The knowledge centre for bicycle policy for the Dutch governments, CROW-Fietsberaad, has reported on a study conducted by the Noordwest Hospital Group in Alkmaar that may prove to be a useful counter against anti-ebike sentiment.

    Over a one year period, from June 2016, the condition of a total of 834 patients in a level 1 trauma centre was recorded. The sample offered a good divide between the two modes of transport in question, with 379 ebike and 455 regular bicycle users.

    It was found that the severity of the brain injury was comparable across both groups, where eight victims of an ebike accident and seven victims of a classic bicycle resulted in severe, traumatic brain injury. This small sampling indicates that an e-bike accident does not necessarily lead to more serious head injuries than that of an accident when riding a regular bicycle.

    While the type of bicycle does not appear to be a contributing factor in the level of the injury, it was found that brain damage was more likely if the speed was higher: 26-45 km/h, or if there was alcohol in the system, or use of anticoagulants.

    Link to study (not open access)

  5. Electric bike enthusiasm in Germany increases by 24 percent

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    As reported in numerous publications, a survey by Shimano has examined the consequences of the corona pandemic for the pedelec market and found that 24% of Germans now ride electric bikes more often than before the pandemic, or are more inclined to buy an e-bike.

    The study was carried out in Germany with a sample size of 2,000 people who were interviewed for the Shimano brand as part of a larger group of 14,000 people in twelve European countries. German subjects showed a greater willingness to use or buy an e-bike than was the case before the corona pandemic. Those with the highest probability of buying or using e-bikes were aged between 25 and 34 years of age, at 30%, while the likeliness was only 21% for participants over 55 years of age.

    According to the study, a key motivation for this increased uptake was a possible improvement in general fitness, with 29% of the German participants citing it. 30% stated that they would mainly use an e-bike as an alternative to public transport, as this is one way to avoid the risk of contact with Covid-19. Cars are often preferred, and can outperform, over long distances, but shorter distances in towns and cities it can be faster and more efficient to take an ebike, especially during peak hours. Correspondingly, 16% of those surveyed named the main reason that they would save more time with an e-bike than with another means of transport. When it came to the reason for the increased likelihood of buying or using an e-bike, 33% of respondents felt that an e-bike is a good alternative to motorized vehicles. A large amount of younger respondents (34% of 18-24 year olds) were attracted by the possibility of reducing their carbon footprint with an e-bike.

    The numbers do not tell the whole story. Even though the industry has enjoyed the benefits of a “bicycle boom” worldwide, the interest from the public must be matched by government initiatives and investments at local and national level, such as safe cycle routes, or financial incentives. These factors would help to meet the concerns of the 17% of those surveyed who felt the lack of a sense of security while riding, or the 54% of the participants who cited the high purchase price as one of the biggest obstacles to buying an ebike.

    Source: https://www.sazbike.de/markt-politik/shimano/elektroradbegeisterung-steigt-um-24-prozent-2706606.html?utm_source=sazbike_nl&utm_campaign=Schweizer_Warentester_testen_Smartphonehalter_21102021&utm_medium=email

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