The E-bike potential

The e-bike as a mode of transport is rapidly gaining in popularity across the globe offering a cheaper alternative to travelling by car, an adequate level of physical activity and a reduction in emissions, air pollution and city traffic. 

The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) has recently investigated e-bikes as an effective new part of the solution to combat mode shift stagnation.

This research draws on a number of findings from over the years including a study which found that a world that achieves a scenario of 14% combined bicycle and e-bike mode share by person kilometres travelled could see a 10% reduction in transportation emissions (Fulton and McDonald, 2015).

A past report by the European Cyclists' Federation found that bicycles and e-bikes have a lifecycle emission rate of approximately 21 grams and 22 grams of CO2 emissions per person-kilometre while public transport buses emit 101 grams of CO2 emissions and cars emit 271 grams of CO2 emissions per person-kilometre (Blondel, Mispelon and Ferguson, 2011).

A study in Brighton, United Kingdom found that a trail group of 80 participants that were loaned e-bikes reduced their number of miles driven by 20%. Participants travelled an average of 15-20 miles a week by e-bike with 43% of participants reporting that they travelled less as a car driver (Cairns et al. 2017).

This white paper explores the potential e-bike effect on person miles travelled (PMT) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in terms of CO2 for varying level of e-bike mode share replacement.

The results from the study found that PMT and total transport emissions can be significantly reduced as e-bike mode share increases. These findings are consistent with the 10% reduction in CO2 emissions found to correspond with a 14% combined bicycle and e-bike mode share (Fulton and McDonald, 2015).

The model presented in this white paper can help regions across the globe to see the potential e-bikes have on cities and support in the informed decisions surrounding carbon emission reduction initiatives.

Read the full white paper here.