E-bike sales taking over bicycle sales?

In the Netherlands, there are more e-bikes sold than bicycles.

According to new market statistics, 40% of all bicycles sales in 2018 were e-bikes. Removing the 11% of all bicycles sales that account for children's bikes, the majority of adult bike sold were e-bikes.

E-bikes have accounted for €823m of €1.2bn bicycles sales in 2018, 409,400 e-bikes were sold.

These figures are already impressive, as we begin to see e-bikes taking over bicycle sales, something already present in the Netherlands. However, the growth in the e-bike market in the Netherlands between 2017 and 2018 is even more notable, with a 9% growth in just one year. This growth is the steepest increase in the e-bike market to date.

RAI's Floris Liebrand said:

"In the future, we will not talk about e-bikes, but just bikes. E-bikes will be the new normal, I think, within 10 to 15 years. We think that all bikes will be supported by small engines."

E-bikes have already taken over bicycle sales in the Netherlands and this is just the beginning.

Electric bikes have moved on from being seen as the choice of transport for the older generation, it is now becoming the main bike.

Make sure you are well informed when it comes to selling and servicing e-bikes. Read the ACT's Guide to E-bikes.

E-bikes are becoming more and more popular as we move further into 2019 with demand for e-bike technicians rising across the UK.

If you are looking to stock, sell and service e-bikes then why not sign up for a Cytech technical e-bike course designed to prepare businesses for the predicted rise in e-bike maintenance in the coming years.

The subjects covered in the course are:

• Safe working practices when dealing with batteries and electrical units
• Understanding and working to the legal standards and being able to differentiate between type approved and non-type approved e-bikes
• Basic electrical theory and terminology including understanding wiring diagrams and multimeter use
• Soldering iron and electrical crimps use with best practice for installing electrical connectors
• Diagnosis and use of ‘intelligent' diagnostics systems, as well as testing and fault finding of the components
• Removal and installation of components, and test rides of bikes with the motor either at the front, rear hub or built into the frame
• Communicating service work completed to the customer

Find out more here.