Whether branded as part of a larger bikeshare program or a personal tool, the popularity of e-bikes was jump started over the past few years by the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The global e-bike market has now been valued at more than $40 billion USD in 2023, and is expected to grow even more as more people, especially urban residents, recognize their potential for daily travel, goods and services delivery, and leisure. 

E-bikes are particularly close substitutes for cars, two-wheelers, and motorcycles because they can cover longer distance trips with less effort, relative to traditional pedal bikes. Thus, e-bikes will have a significant role to play in shifting people away from high-polluting private vehicles.

While the e-bike surge is being hailed as a new frontier for electric micro-mobility, many governments and cities have yet to clearly define what e-bikes are, what quality standards they must meet, and where and how they can be used safely and efficiently. This has led to confusion for potential e-bike riders and retailers, particularly as concerns about the hazards of lithium ion batteries in two-wheelers grows. Thus, clearer manufacturing guidelines and criteria are important for governments to put into place as we look towards the future of e-bikes.

For e-bikes—and cycling more broadly—to be viewed as a safe and dependable alternative to cars, it is crucial that we take the guesswork out of owning and operating them. Given their cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and efficiency, there is certainly ample potential for cities to reap the environmental, social, and economic benefits of the e-bike boom. 

To help cities and planners better understand the steps to take to maximize the potential of e-bikes, ITDP has released a new report, developed with support from the Climateworks Foundation, entitled E-bikes: Charging Toward Compact Cycling Cities. Drawing on data gathered from interviews with global e-bike experts and other in-depth research, this paper offers the first global analysis of how e-bikes are being used and what a large-scale surge in usage could mean for the climate and for local communities. It also aims to define what e-bikes are (and are not) and evaluate how they are currently being used, their benefits, the challenges to adoption, and what governments can do to adapt.

Notably, the report offers a clear definition of e-bikes as electrically powered two- and three-wheeled cycles that are compatible in terms of size and maximum speed with conventional (non-motorized) bicycles. E-bikes are clearly differentiated from faster, heavier electric two-wheelers, mopeds, and motorcycles. This differentiation is particularly helpful when considering where certain modes can be ridden—for the most part, e-bikes should be able to use cycle lanes while faster modes should not. 

The report positions e-bikes as a critical element to making cities more livable and equitable due to their potential to replace a large share of vehicle trips and reduce related emissions and congestion. The report identifies the individual countries with the largest emissions reductions potential as India and the United States, where a switch to e-bikes could take more than 40 million private vehicles (cars and two-wheelers) in India, and 8 million cars in the US, off of the road. 

Demand and interest in e-bikes also present an opportunity for domestic manufacturing and economic development. With the global e-bike market already in the billions, it currently makes up about 15% of the market for all electric vehicles and is poised to grow. Thus, the associated industries for the development, maintenance, and deployment of e-bikes have significant potential to spur job and economic growth. Many large countries—including Japan, Brazil, the US, Australia—are experiencing a rapid rise in demand for e-bikes and can harness these diverse benefits. 

Governments should view e-bikes, and cycling more broadly, as an important piece of a comprehensive sustainable transport network. For national and city governments to further reap the rewards of e-bikes, however, they need to take concrete steps to address existing barriers to access, affordability, and safe use for all cyclists. This includes the implementation of infrastructure that separates people on e-bikes and bicycles from higher-speed vehicle traffic. Cities should also collaborate with bikeshare operators to deploy shared e-bikes and charging infrastructure, a good option for people to easily try an e-bike. For those who want to own, governments can also provide incentives to make e-bikes more affordable to purchase, similar to those provided for electric vehicles. 

Equitable access also requires that governments educate and engage low-income and wage-based e-bike users (such as food delivery workers) who rely on them in the day-to-day. Beyond the city level, stronger oversight at national levels will be key to establishing important quality standards, road safety measures, and climate targets with e-bikes in mind. In addition, governments need to ensure that key resources on road safety, purchase subsidies, maintenance, and beyond are made widely accessible to all existing and potential e-bike users. As the technology and availability of e-bikes develops, it is clear that they are here to stay as a key component of the future of sustainable transport.