E-Bike Sales Boom
Car sales have slumped, there’s a looming recession, but electric bicycles – e-bikes – are on the crest of a boom, says A to B magazine. UK sales are on target to hit an all-time record of over 15,000 this year, with most manufacturers reporting shortages of bikes, and equipment, and waiting lists for popular machines.
E-bikes cost less than 2p to recharge – the equivalent of 1,000mpg – which makes them the ideal transport for a downturn. They don’t need an MOT, tax or insurance either.
“E-bikes seem to be recession proof”, says editor David Henshaw. “Car sales are expected to plummet by 10% in 2009, but the bike manufacturers are forecasting nearly 50% growth to almost 23,000 machines.”
The total value of the UK electric bike market was about £13 million in 2008, with sales of £25 million predicted for 2009.
E-bikes are even more popular on mainland Europe – in the Netherlands, over 120,000 will be sold this year, and it’s thought annual sales could hit 300,000 in a few years. In Germany, e-bike sales are expected to double between 2007 and 2009.
