Are We Underestimating How Big E-Bikes Will Get?
Posted by PaulReign3590@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 107 comments
At first I thought e-bikes were just a niche thing, but now I see them everywhere. It feels like we’re still early in a bigger shift in how people move around cities.
HydroLoon@reddit
I built my own using an old MTB and carefully choosing the brakes, suspension, transmission et all to make sure I can ride it safely. It's faster lighter cheaper more reliable and higher quality than anything off the shelf for thousands less.
If I'm babying it, I get 75 miles on a trip at 10wh/mi or 3500 mpge.
If I'm going hard, that dips to 15wh/mi, or 2500 mpge.
40-75 miles of free transport a day.
Superb_Raccoon@reddit
We? There are mouse in your pocket?
Decent_Section_7427@reddit
a frog
Own-Locksmith7607@reddit
Defnitely. I just got one. Now my wife wants one to commute to her job.
Advanced_Addendum116@reddit
Alrght calm down.
People who wear suits won't ride ebikes. People won't ride in the rain. Old people are afraid of injury. There's a very firm maximum % of riders. Where is that? Dunno but I'd guess 10%.
OnlyRuss@reddit
I think as the economy continues to strangle the working class, e-bikes will continue to rise in popularity as mobility options. And, hopefully with their rise in popularity, more cities and towns can break away from the cult of John Forester and install protected bike lanes (like the Dutch have) which will only increase bicycling numbers.
I know the Dutch thing is a cliche, but it’s wild to see in person how well this works with cars, bikes, and pedestrians all moving and not killing each other.
I think there’s a real future here with e-bikes, given proper support that would have multiple benefits that would ultimately make us wonder why it took so long to get there in the first place.
The only things that are going to hinder the growth are 1) Forester clones who think bikes are cars, 2) bad bike lane infrastructure that makes guardians uncomfortable with their kids (or themselves) in the “bike lanes” and 3) e-moto hooligans because I guarantee you every fiscal conservative is going to ask what the point of paying money to sacrifice traffic lanes is when THESE PEOPLE (imagine a real snotty pronunciation like the mere existence of a type of person is enough to make them nauseous) are the ones who will benefit from them.
SoNerdy@reddit
The thing about the Netherlands is they also tried to design their cities in such a way that biking is genuinely the faster way to travel. The literally made it inconvenient to drive on purpose.
Quick_Panda_360@reddit
I live in large US city. It’s about the same for me to bike a normal bike everywhere than drive during rush hour and on weekends.
Plus no need to park means it’s way more convenient. And rain pants exists so I don’t get wet.
OnlyRuss@reddit
Having seen it in action and the way cities function with less traffic, I can’t exactly say I’d be opposed to that approach.
JustTheBeerLight@reddit
Right. It is a healthier, safer way to get around town and it requires less space*/infrastructure.
*parking lots can eat up over 30% of the urban space
Sufficient-Heron7342@reddit
No need to wonder. Capitalism and Big Auto, Big Planes, and Big Trains are the reasons for the slow growth.
snoogins355@reddit
Don't forget the Karens and Kens show up at public meetings and vote.
maximumpynk@reddit
Idk about you but our state budget is cooked. There's no money to reconfigure roads for bike lanes. Especially if the economy gets worse. It'll never happen if unemployment is higher than it is. Not bike lanes anyway. It'll just be more bikes on the road with cars.
billthedwarf@reddit
It’s kinda weird. If this ends of being a long term recession and fuel prices stay high, cities will likely shift budget away from car lanes towards other transportation infrastructure. This happened in the 70s. But once again only if this is long term (and only if the market and current admin become more predictable than they currently are)
maximumpynk@reddit
Afaik they reduced speed limits, did car pools and things but Americans aren't giving up their cars. And that was almost 60 years ago anyway. There's like 3x more cars on the road now and you need them to get to work/school etc in many places. Things will be real bad if it gets to that point. Hoping it goes the opposite direction
Melodic-Matter4685@reddit
These things take time and political will. There was a time before Ford brought out the Model T that our cities were much more compact. Oh, and the manure piles were in neigborhoods and taller than residences.
If cars and rent/mortage continue price increase at current rates, people will be forced into alternative modes of transport and slowly our cities will change. It just may not be in our lifetimes.
maximumpynk@reddit
True. Here's to hoping
xbikester@reddit
Oh yeah some people don’t understand how good and how high will ebikes jump.
First of all wanna define that i don’t respect the concept of US class based ebike system is idiotic and creates more problems than solutions. i think eu has a great system. 250w pedal assisted, 500w cargo pedal assisted (both limited to 25 kmh assist) and 45 kmh class that requires either moped (am from age 16) or car (b from age 18) class license.
And the rest is on the infrastructure to be built for benefit of self propelled vehicles.
Now the E-bike technology.
Ive seen that the ebike tech got very good in last 5 years including battery technology, motor technology and technology that just generally betters the experience like abs (though not necessary would help some people with transition and ease of mind). Integrated lights etc.
Let me tackle some tech that i see that will better ebikes for the greater.
Motors: first of all though ebike hub motors are great. Crank motors are better. Bosch shimano and yamaha are great but the most promising one is pinions e1.12 (a internal gearbox with motor) it removes the scare of derailleur being a weak point or chain damaged in addition to a belt can be substitute the chain. And the maintenance intervals for oil change (10k km) is amazing.
Batteries: though battery technology in ebike stagnated a bit for few last years the battery technology in general automotive use got better, specially with Chinese companies like CATL. A battery manufacturer that building and buildt batteries to amazing cars like bmw i3 (older version) Renault zoe. vw e golf… even tesla. And BYD that is releasing new cars with blade 2.0 battery modules. And though it only claims per my knowledge but donut labs from Finland. Are building a solid state batteries at 400wh/kg battery tech (do hope its not just a marketing ploy for getting investor money and dip)
And that tech… solid state battery means alot for future of electric batteries and for electric bicycles. Here are some general benefits of solid state batteries and newer battery tech like blade 2. that eventually will come down to electric bikes. - Faster charging (BYD demonstrated a 10-70%
- battery manufacturer that charge in 5 mins) - Safer charging and discharging at higher rates - Better cold and warm weather performance - and generally better for environment than other types of lithium or lead based batteries.
And generally how easy and cheap other technologies like 3d printing, machining and battery manufacturing got generally better. For electric bicycles
Ive owned an e bike for a month now with replacement of car (ps. i live in Europe and the cities are not built against me using public transportation or cycling). And for what ive got for 2000€/$ im more than satisfied i have a 250w (limited to 25km/h) ebike. And there these few points I’ve learned by owning ebike as only personal transportation. Note: Me and my wife we bike together and we don’t have kids. - Generally im saving 500€ a month for not having a car - my bike has 700wh battery and on full charge i have around 70km range (i do bike alot uphill). Or 120 km on eco mode (though eco mode is still better than just non electric bikes without the weight added of ebike components) - range anxiety is meaningless if i wanna go further ill take a train. Or rent a car if its necessary. - I cycle every day i can (on average I’ve been cycling around 100km a week - And been only charging between 20-80% (dont need more). Though im taking longer its simpler My trips to the store takes same amount of time as in a car. And i feel safer and generally happier.
Well ive yapped long enough thanks for coming to my TED talk…
KostyaFedot@reddit
I'm in EU. Speed pedelecs with 45kmph are rare and terribly expensive.
Instead Alibaba style emopeds, non certified, non legal sector is growing.
It is still cheaper and more sufficient to ride 45kmph ICE scooter. I could reach my work in 30 km on it. Most faster after car. It takes about same on e-bike, but charging battery twice a day sucks.
All of this only works in flat areas. Even in small Belgium. One province is flat and cycling is present in all forms in Flanders. While in Wallonia, Ardennes it just recreational.
Despite been paid good money for cycling on commute.
I went to Paris in 2025. A lot of ICE scooters, followed by electrical in similar built. E-bike, cycling.... I must have missed something, but I cant recal seeing many. My collegue purchased ... full blown motorcycle to deal with Paris traffic.
GTAIVisbest@reddit
ICE scooters are goated if you can lane-split without being hassled also
LS3sx@reddit
Maybe in the warmer cities. 99% of people that bike in the summer don’t bike in the winter. I used to commute via bicycle but it’s a pain when the roads and bike lanes aren’t plowed…
blissin21@reddit
I think where i am in australia it is harder to bike in summer when it gets over 35 degrees Celsius and even into the 40s
LS3sx@reddit
That’s understandable. We are quite the opposite. It averages around -10 Celsius in winters without the wind chill. Our hottest days last summer were 32 C
derping1234@reddit
They have overtaken acoustic bikes as the most commonly type of bike sold in the Netherlands. About 30% of all cyclists use an e-bike, with the highest share among senior citizens. E-bikes will continue to dominate the all categories of utility bicycles, and acoustic bikes will ultimately be mostly limited to recreational use.
Even in a country in which cycling is popular like the Netherlands, the adoption of (relatively slow) e-bikes has resulted in a marked increase in accidents. With the biggest increases among the youth and elderly. I can only imagine what the wide spread adoption of e-bikes will do accident rates in areas where the infrastructure is less forgiving.
blissin21@reddit
Interesting. Is it the slow pedalec ebikes that are having accidents? In australia it seems to be the emoto fat wheel type having the accidents but i am unsure of the statistics
derping1234@reddit
Youth are hooning, and making stupid choices which is exacerbated by having an e-bike, regardless of it being an e-moto or a legally compliant 25 km/h e-bike. For the elderly it is legally compliant e-bikes but nit being used to cycling or cycling at those speeds.
KostyaFedot@reddit
Acoustic has nothing to do with cycling.
derping1234@reddit
acoustic in this context is used to differentiate between electric bicycles and bicycles in a tongue in cheek analogy to how acoustic guitars are differentiated from electric guitars.
beagles4ever@reddit
I think e-bikes will change cities as much as when cars took over for horse and buggies. We're still in early days.
berbsy1016@reddit
I wish they would create dedicated roads for two wheeled electric vehicles with a max mph of 40. Sooo many more people would be able to become more mobile.
Jedski89@reddit
Very hard to do in certain cities where the roads are already at maximum capacity. In my city they tried taking out lanes and turned them into cycle lanes, cordoned off by plastic posts/bollards. All the car brains kicked off big time and some bright spark even went around running the bollards over so they had to take them away. Eventually they turned it back into a car lane because of push back.
blissin21@reddit
Bet they arent enjoying buying their petrol now!
LycraJafa@reddit
my country is running out of petrol and diesel, soon roads will be EV, ebike, eMoto and scooters...
Tabbbinski@reddit
Here's to hoping!
blissin21@reddit
I love my newish ebike and have started commuting to work - about 10km each way - im in a southern city in australia. Ive definitely noticed a huge boom of ecyclists and escooters since petrol prices have risen - many of them older people. Hope it stays this way but there are angry karens/kevs rumbling about introducing regulations and licensing thanks to the emoto hoons. Doubt even that will kill it here but might slow it a bit
BekindBebetter60@reddit
They are really not bikes anymore. E moto is a better description
Proxy345@reddit
Even a fast ebike is cheaper than some car repairs.
KostyaFedot@reddit
I'm in Belgium part which is close by Netherlands, same cycling culture, bit weaker infrastructure.
E-bikes are very common now among adults. Kids are more often on Alibaba style emopeds. Those who wants throttle are on ICE scooters.
All are allowed on roads and bike lanes amoung the roads.
So, this e-bicycles presence already happened.
I now see midmotor bicycles sold even in hardware stores. With price well bellow 2K Euro.
But commute on e-bike?
Sure it works in flat, no winter areas. But even Amsterdam collapsed this winter during icy day. People coul barely walk.
And salt is no go for electrical bicycles.
Nor I see many cycling for work in hilly Wallonia and once it is showing not much cycling in Belgium overall.
States... Used to be country where auto industry really made it affordable for masses moving on distances.. Got manufacturing outsourced to China where they used to be only riding on bicycles. Now working Americans struggle to afford cars, but demanding cheap China made e-mopeds to go fast. While in China they build and ride cheap EVs.
Oreo2025@reddit
I wish it was so simple in the UK. It’s becoming widespread (especially London) to ban ebikes at workplaces due to the risk of explosion. It is a blanket ban regardless of a bike. I have a perfectly safe small folding e-bike and a top-notch cycling parking facility at work, yet e-bikes not permitted. Shambles, me thinks.
glity@reddit
Why do you say salt is not good for electric vehicles. That would just be a simple design modification if there was a problem. Are you aware of one in the wild that I could investigate to see if there’s a solution?
KostyaFedot@reddit
Based on real life expirience. Ebikes, scooters are not as protected from riding in typical America, Canada soup of melted snow, huge amount of salt and debries.
marigolds6@reddit
Yeah, that soup has been known to eat through car axles.
glity@reddit
Yeah the small tires and lack maintenance by most consumers is also a problem in full size gas motorcycles. 2 types of riders those who have fallen and those who will. I feel like training children early to ride these types of mopeds is wise but I’m just one person trying to figure out a new world.
orbitti@reddit
Dudes, fatbikes for winter, Works in Finland.
KostyaFedot@reddit
Don't they salt roads only in Helsinki and on major highways? The rest used to be no salt.
ElPeroTonteria@reddit
In the us we don’t have access to the Chinese EV market (it’d decimate the US auto industry)… the whole country is built around owning a car and life without one is progressively harder…
Melodic-Matter4685@reddit
"I'm in Belgium part which is close by Netherlands"
This is funny on at least two levels:
1. you say that as if us Americans know where the Netherlands are any more than Belgium. "oh yeah, it's over here between Belarus, Spain, and Norway".
Simple_Cook6170@reddit
My last car repair was $2000 for parts and labor, my e bike only cost me ~$1000….
snoogins355@reddit
Less than a few months car payment. No insurance premium bullshit. Repairs are cheap and can be done at home with a cheap set of tools and excellent Park Tool YouTube videos. Electricity to charge it is less than a buck (or free at work!) Using regular 110v outlet.
Melodic-Matter4685@reddit
I highly recommend getting a torque wrench for Temu or some other import site for $20ish. Yes, Park tool is better, but not terribly necessary.
ElPeroTonteria@reddit
I highly recommend a torque wrench… but not from temu. It’s by definition a precision tool, it’s worth the up front cost to buy a proper one
Melodic-Matter4685@reddit
as if park tool wasn't made in china or "china can't make precision tools".
jnyc777@reddit
Temu can sell decent tools and tools so bad they strip on the first bolt. Depends which you got lol
ElPeroTonteria@reddit
I’m not saying that either… the majority of my tools were made in China, frankly, the majority of my tools are from Harbor Freight. I’ve proudly saved thousands in repairs and gained leaps in confidence because of those Chinese made tools… I also fucked up a valve cover gasket replacement because my cheap-o torque wrench didn’t fire till it was far past appropriate…
I can banter all day about how the same tools are made in the same factories and just branded different. I’m all about not getting boned by advertising. There’s plenty places to save $, and you don’t need a $1,000 torque wrench either, but this is the exception to the rule… get a decent, middle of the road torque wrench.
snoogins355@reddit
Definitely agree on the tools. They are good quality and brand but pricy. I got a $70 bike kit off Amazon for my amateur needs. Been great for new chains, replaced the freewheel, tire repairs/replacement, etc
OutboardTips@reddit
E-bike is cheaper than car repairs, but human repairs are similar to car repair bills.
LycraJafa@reddit
neighbour got a quote to replace an "transmission control unit" on her van for $nz5000. Thats $700 less than a surron LBX delivered from china to our doorstep.
The van sometimes doesnt start when its warm :(
snoogins355@reddit
My old Mazda had a suspension issue that required replacement parts and it came out to $2k. Could have gotten a new sweet e-bike instead
Equivalent-Account58@reddit
If you look at countries other than Australia electric vehicles E bikes in Asia small Jimney like things are everywhere
skatetokil@reddit
I think so. The industry had a major boom/bust during and after COVID but I’ve seen the number of e-bikes in my area (DC) probably 10x since I started commuting on mine in ~2018 or so. The bikeshare companies gave Americans a subsidized taste and many ended up liking it. I have a hard time picturing a fully mature ebike industry in the us like in Asia but it will probably get here.
Such_Can_5353@reddit
wait till chinese cars arrive on US shores...
harryhov@reddit
My entire family will drive soon and we only have 2 cars. We already experienced several times where we needed to get somewhere and realized we don't have enough cars. My wife wanted to get a brand new car but I offered to try an ebike. I debated between ebike or motorcycle but didn't want the hassle of getting a license, registration and insurance for the motorcycle so ebike it is. I'm an avid road biker so adding ebike to my option shouldn't be that big of a transition.
cutsnek@reddit
As someone who had been cycling and an early adopter of e-bikes in 2014. I see a few things coming.
1) High powered e-bikes (greater than 250w) or bikes with toggle modes between 250w to greater power are going to be outlawed in a lot of western countries on public road use. Already starting to see it where I live.
2) I've just purchased a new e-bike from the same store I purchased my last bike 10 years ago. They are almost out of stock, lots of people buying e-bikes for the first time a lot due to the fuel cost crisis.
3) Lots of these cheap, high-powered ebikes are going to have a hard time getting maintenance done. A lot of my local bike shops are refusing to even look at no name brand drop shipped bikes due to insurance risks. They will only look at the big certified brands.
Whilst I suspect there will be a increase in pedelec ebikes, the current wave of e-motocycles dressing up as ebikes I think will be curbed in the years to come.
Melodic-Matter4685@reddit
I suspect it'll be 350 watt, but. . . I am basing that on basically nothing.
As for shops. . . Right now the issue is insurance. Once there are enough of these things on the road there will be more 'mobile shops' where some guy/gal sets up a tent and does tuneups. Or people doing it out of their garage. Basically, people will say, "this is my side gig, I'll risk no insurance".
marigolds6@reddit
Where the US was with auto mechanics in the 1950s. Took about 20 years for most states to make it illegal to repair cars without garage keepers insurance. I think that will come quicker for e-bikes since the garage keepers insurance industry already exists.
whoopdedoo0@reddit
I remember seeing someone in the neighbourhood using an ebike over 10yrs ago.
I remember thinking at the time, as someone who was a mechanical bike cyclist, “ what even is the point of an electric bike?”. I didn’t get it, maybe even thought it a was a bit lazy.
Many moons later, over a year or so ago, I started to see videos about them and started to understand their use case. And I’m totally converted now.
The truest manifestation of “don’t knock it till you try it”. I think it’s majorly going to change transport around the world, and how roads and cycle lanes are built.
Why they only took off in a big way in the 2020’s in a big way, rather than over 10yrs ago I’m not quite sure. Maybe they were a lot more expensive. But I never would have even known about them if I hadn’t seen a neighbour on one them.
Maybe the ebike industry only managed to get their advertising game up recently. But it’s possible that the recent popularity also, in part, has to do with Chinese mass production and being able to hand loads of them out for free to influencers to review. That definitely helped to proliferate awareness of them.
And the Chinese price point did help a lot more people adopt them, because it may have been perceived as a luxury item than a functional item in the past.
However one thing is true about ebikes, that a lot of people don’t realise before they buy them, and that is that once you have it you’re forced to become an amateur bike mechanic, especially if they’re Chinese ebikes, for the reasons you laid out above.
But that rule still applies with brand name bikes too, because not everyone lives next to a bike shop, and maybe some bike shops only work on the brands they sell or bikes that were sold at their shop.
You’ll inevitably have to buy tools and learn to tinker.
FootballNo3289@reddit
I think they took off during Covid with a lot of people maybe losing their jobs and people looking for ways to stay fit with closed gyms etc. a bit like electric cars, they took off majorly after Covid too.
BadluckyKamy@reddit
Surely, for 3500$ in canada you either have a clapped out used car or you can get a really nice ebike. The choice was easy
Rattlingplates@reddit
I think we’re about there. They’ve been around they’re affordable but alot of people can’t handle an ebike let alone a bike.
glity@reddit
I politely disagree. I think e-bikes emotes e mobility are so untapped because the old people don’t see the freedom from taxes insurance registration and oil(a lot of very wealthy old people make all their money on these very specific economic extortions to use “roads maintained by taxes.” While receiving more money than road maintenance in tax incentives.) Most of the young kids have them I believe we should encourage motorcycle training and let them tell us how they want to achieve mobility at random oil prices influenced by market manipulation much faster than they can with electricity in most US regulated markets.
Rattlingplates@reddit
I hope you are right. I put 10k on an ebike in 2 years. But live don an island. I just worry that regulation and insurance will kill it.
glity@reddit
I looked into licensing in a couple of states as a motorcycle/moped some allow it more should I already have a motorcycle endorsement so no cost for me there. and there are insurances for like 10 a month for me but I have years on my motorcycle endorsement. However that is the exact way they will shut down emoto. Then there is the e-bike with pedals and a fancy switch to change torque on demand. Then there always e scooters and I have yet to see the cop pull over an e scooter not doing insanely stupid things. Also New York has indicated though they have laws like those you fear officers will be instructed to not enforce them(I would wait to see how that actually plays out).
Rattlingplates@reddit
I’m in full support. But the only reason I felt with it was a dui.
Melodic-Matter4685@reddit
you can get a DUI on a push bike. Granted, when you look into those rare cases it's usually an officer charging 'public drunkeness and general citizen assholery'.
Rattlingplates@reddit
What is your point
glity@reddit
I think his point was a timing question.
If you’re worried about duis he’s saying a cop has the discretion to give an dui for someone on anything they consider motorized like a non electric pedal bike.
If you have a dui the origin of low power mopeds was the advent of dui enforcement. I had many friends able to get at-22 on two wheel vehicles for reasonable prices as they never pay out you just pay in. Some state even made it legal for gas mopeds up to a certain speed no license. I have seen some people get their e motos licensed as scooters for plates but no legal requirements. If I remember correctly it was a Redditor in California if you want to go find it.
maximumpynk@reddit
Idk. Affordable for who? Ppl of means may not understand most of us cannot afford a 1.5k or 2k bike. If that's what a 'decent' one costs then we won't see more adoption. You'll see cheaper Amazon e dirt bikes and 800 dollar bikes from Temu. Yes it's probably not safe but if it's all one can afford it is what it is.
Melodic-Matter4685@reddit
They are generally safe. China has been making these at these price points for their own citizens for a decade or two. A lot of the issues are people charging their batteries on a pile of oily rags or poorly maintaining their ride.
I do recommend going for better quality, but if you gots $400, then that's what you got and get what you can afford.
That said, many dealer shops (eg: trek/specialized stores) offer loans and I wouldn't be surprised to see more of this kind of thing in the future. I'm currently paying off a Trek at $140ish per month.
maximumpynk@reddit
Yeah good point for sure. Payment plans are the way to go.
S3ANbz@reddit
It's hard to say, ive been keeping an eye on them for the past 5 or 6 years and they haven't really improved that much since then
Tabbbinski@reddit
There's much you can do to enhance the shift from car to e-bike. Is moving closer to work/school an option? Will a cargo rack be enough for transporting groceries? When you purchase bigger stuff, patronize places that have free delivery. Consider a car co-op and do they have cars parked in your area? Can transit augment riding on miserable rainy/snowy days? Where will you travel on all the money you saved going car-free?
Reasonable-Rub2243@reddit
I estimate around 90% of current drivers will mode-shift to e-bikes.
SinoSoul@reddit
I’m sorry what? People live and drive in snow and rain, even during snow weather. And you’re saying 90% of those drivers will shift to ebikes?
snoogins355@reddit
Ever met ski people? Those nutters will be out below zero for hours on slopes going 30+mph.
Studded tires and good gear, home to a shower and beer
SinoSoul@reddit
Sure. Thats an amazing sport, that’s not 90% of the morning commuters in the USA, of which this sub mainly consists of.
snoogins355@reddit
Naw, people just need to harden tf up. E-bikes make it much easier. Gas gets to $5/gallon because of the mad king, people will shift (and possibly riot)
Reasonable-Rub2243@reddit
In Copenhagen about that percentage use bikes or transit.
SinoSoul@reddit
This sub’s readership is 99% American. CPH is not Wisconsin.
brick1972@reddit
I hope it continues to expand. We have sacrificed a lot of energy, time, and money to filling the pockets of big oil and auto manufacturers and every part of land use is the worse for it.
revporl70@reddit
I just watched a YouTube doc about daily life on china. Ebikes are the main mode of transport in cities but more like slow electric Vespas, no pedals and do about 20 mph. Really cool little things. I think that will become the norm here if legislation gets more sensible. I've nothing against the 15mph limit if we're going to use cycle lanes (although the natty Chinese scoots also use them) but we need to allow people to use throttles, with electrical assistance it's pointless insisting on pedals (and excludes some disabled people from using them)
slacknsurf420@reddit
The reality is as more people have the need for reliable transportation and use ebikes as effective means of transportation then even more will follow suit
Given the relative limitations of bicycles, one would think that ebikes can and should be more popular
RoundSyrup4424@reddit
Couldn't agree more. Imagine what e-bikes might be like in 10 more years! Exciting.
Hungry_Orange666@reddit
In China cheap electric mopeds are way more popular then ebikes.
I think it's just matter of time for same thing happening in west.
E-Mopeds are getting cheaper, and there more law enforcement toward emotis and emopeds trying to pass as assisted bicycles.
senimago@reddit
They’re quite popular in Brasil too, at least in Rio de Janeiro when I visited last year.
I think they are illegal in Europe and I prefer to pedal, so e-bikes are perfect.
CommonRegionals@reddit
It really does feel like e‑bikes are just getting started especially with how many people are realizing they’re a practical and fun way to get around cities without the hassle of cars and would be really beneficial in this economy....
low_flying_aircraft@reddit
They're already very common here in Scandinavia
There are so many folks commuting into the office on ebikes that the company has dedicated charging lockers for the batteries in our bike garage.
Orlandochief@reddit
It's no longer a niche product. Many people use it for commuting. Once you realize it's even more convenient than driving, it's very hard to give it up.
FartstheBunny@reddit
Parking at my office is 75 bucks a day but there’s a bike room that’s free. Hence, why I e-bike to work!
Sotyka94@reddit
Ebikes, escooters. Basically all electric micro mobility will be get bigger, but it's already huge in some parts of the world. They are a pretty useful and super cheap alternative to get around.
Dannyz@reddit
I think I got my first e-bike about 10-11 years ago. It’s been fun to watch it and the electrification grow. From e-bikes to scooters to one wheels to unicycle to electric skateboards to emoto it’s a beautiful thing. It’s crazy how much the PEV market has.
The pev shift is great. I hope more people hop on it.
TheFlightlessDragon@reddit
I certainly hope so. I ride everyday as a bike/scooter are my main means of transportation.
It’s so freeing, knowing my whole bike could be replaced for the price of like two car payments or less.
Gas is expensive right now, but it has zero effect on me.
snoogins355@reddit
I tell people who are unsure about ebikes "do get on an escalator and walk the steps to go a little faster? Then you'd probably like an e-bike"
SophieStardustXO@reddit
I think that it'll likely just stay a category of bike, I see a lot of cyclists still prefer something traditional
Fetz-@reddit
Ebikes are getting too heavy. Many ebikes are almost motorcycles.
If you can't pedal your bike home without using the motor, it is not an ebike anymore.
Pretty-Yam-2854@reddit
My 2025 Actbest Ranger V1 can be peddled, and I’ve done it a few times and it’s a reminder to never leave without a charged battery. Hauling around giant 26x4 tires and 80lbs with a fucking sloppy 1970’s style shimano 7 speed is hell on earth but it worked barely.
Wants-NotNeeds@reddit
I can’t speak for everyone, but I think there is still a lot of growth coming to ebike market in the U.S. We’re starting to reach a nexus of quality and affordability that makes eBiking even more attractive to the masses.
Kids and young adults aren’t as interested in driving, but ebikes are cool. They are easier on the environment and they bring you fun and joy!
Infrastructure has steadily improved and you can get around reasonably safely in more areas. In urban environments, they can be faster and more efficient than a car.
High gas prices are spurring a revival for commuting by bike, and serve to remind people how desperately dependent we are on oil. Having non-gasoline powered alternatives is just smart thinking.
FoxGroundbreaking224@reddit
Yep. I love ebike. Great way to commute.