When people talk about e-mobility in Germany, they are currently referring first and foremost to pedelecs and ebikes. This is the conclusion of a recently published study by the international corporate network Deloitte. Its Consumer Sector Briefing, entitled “E-Bikes unter Strom” (ebikes under power), shows that ebikes are not only the most frequently used vehicles with an electric drive, but also the most attractive ones of these means of transport.
Highly frequented and liked
For its analysis, Deloitte surveyed exactly 1,008 adults in Germany in May of this year. Among other things, they asked which e-mobile people currently use. In addition to ebikes and pedelecs, e-cars, e-scooters, e-motorbikes and mini-mobiles such as hoverboards could also be named. And 18 percent of the people said they used an ebike. This vehicle type was thus far ahead of all others. E-cars and e-scooters followed at a considerable distance with seven percent each.
Proportion of use of different e-drive vehicles
Behind these figures is apparently also a concrete appreciation. From the respondents’ point of view, the ebike is the most attractive means of transport among the e-vehicles. It received the highest value on the popularity scale with 2.7, with 4 being the maximum and 1 the minimum. However, in this case it only just came out ahead of the e-car. This ends up in second place with an average of 2.6. Third place is shared by e-scooters, e-scooters and e-motorbikes. Their value of 2.2 already falls noticeably from the top duo.
Attractiveness of the different types of e-vehicles
More relaxed, further, more fun
The authors of the study wanted to know more precisely from the people who gave the ebike the highest score what their assessment was based on. They found that the greatest advantages were the greater radius of action opened up to people by riding an ebike and the lower physical exertion compared to a regular bicycle. In the Consumer Sector Briefing, this is summarised under the term practicality.
The ebike scores further plus points due to the fact that it can be used as a substitute for other means of transport and is rated as sustainable. In fourth place among the reasons for attractiveness, with 37 percent, comes the fun that people obviously experience when riding an ebike. This again reveals a clear difference compared to the other e-vehicles. With 27 percent for the e-scooter and 18 percent for the e-car, the joy of driving seems to be much lower there.
Reasons for the attractiveness of ebikes, e-cars and e-scooters
On the road and in everyday life
Significantly divergent results also show up when it comes to the question of what people use the respective vehicle for. “The ebike differentiates itself from other electric means of transport by the fact that the motor only supports one’s own physical performance and it can therefore also be used as a piece of sports equipment,” says Kim Lachmann, Senior Manager at Deloitte’s Sport Business Group. Fitness and the fun of exercise are consequently motives that play a major role in getting on an ebike. Around 40 percent of the ebike riders surveyed explicitly mention sport as the purpose for which they use the vehicle. Most of the mentions, 67 percent, are for recreational tours and thus aim in a very similar direction.
Even when it comes to doing everyday things, ebikes seem to have long since become established. Slightly more than half of the surveyed ebike riders rely on the bikes for shopping, going to the cinema or visiting friends, for example. The study cites the growing popularity of cargo bikes and trailers as a possible cause for this rather high figure.
At the same time, it is noticeable that the electrified school taxi currently has four wheels more often than two. For both the way to school and to work, only 29 percent of the surveyed ebike riders choose their bike. In contrast, those who drive an e-car do so 65 percent of the time. “There are several reasons why so far fewer people use ebikes to get to work and school,” explains Kim Lachmann. There is often a lack of the necessary infrastructure for cyclists, such as safe bike lanes, parking spaces or showers in companies. In addition, unlike the majority of ebikes, people in cars are protected from the weather at all times. Cargo bikes with cabins for the riders are a first step towards compensating for this disadvantage in the future.
Overview of the most common uses per e-vehicle
No shying away from longer distances
A little surprising for us were the findings of the study regarding the distances people cover with the respective e-vehicles. In the case of ebikes, this is definitely more than expected. Already the mean value is 15 kilometres. And this is not based on a day or a week, but on a single trip. What the graph below does not show is the fact that 25 percent of the distances indicated are even 30 kilometres or more. The mean values for the e-car of 25 kilometres and the e-scooter of five kilometres, on the other hand, were quite expected.
Mean values of distance travelled per trip for ebikes, e-cars and e-scooters
Status quo not carved in stone
Overall, the study suggests that the ebike currently plays a pioneering role among e-vehicles. This could solidify in the coming years. “We assume that both the market penetration of ebikes within the bicycle market and sales will continue to increase,” says Karsten Hollasch, partner and head of consumer business at Deloitte. “The normalisation of supply chains and also the currently emerging trend of corporate leasing as well as improved infrastructure will further boost sales.”
However, this will not be a simple matter of course. After all, there are also general conditions that have to improve for the forecast to come true. The study cites the relatively high prices as a factor that could reduce economic success. At the same time, investments must be made in the infrastructure to make ebike riding even more attractive in the future.
Pictures: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
