Research Project: Where is the British e-Bike boom?


I am writing an original thesis on understanding why the UK lags in e-Bike use compared to most other European nations. If the above applies, I need your help

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/R5X33ZJ
Kind regards!
T
(Survey will ask for age, gender, economic status and opinions on e-Bike).
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Posts
I suspect too costly will be the most common answer.
NukeProof Mega FR 2012
Cube NuRoad 2018
Previous:
2015 Genesis CdF 10, 2014 Cube Hyde Race, 2012 NS Traffic, 2007 Specialized SX Trail, 2005 Specialized Demo 8
Thank you my man, and yes, apart from the 'other', cost has been cited a LOT
No probs
I'd love one for my commute, but when you look at the spec on many of these 2-3K ebikes it's usually on par with normal bikes that would cost around £500 - £1000.
I know there are sub £1000 ebikes too, but then I wouldn't trust the frame or components on these to last or stand up to all year/all weather riding.
NukeProof Mega FR 2012
Cube NuRoad 2018
Previous:
2015 Genesis CdF 10, 2014 Cube Hyde Race, 2012 NS Traffic, 2007 Specialized SX Trail, 2005 Specialized Demo 8
The UK government's cycling schemes and funding grants are wayyy behind its European counterparts too.
Also, does the speed and less physical strain needed to cover distances not an attractive option?
I suspect we are the wrong audience for the survey, please let me explain...... We are more dedicated cyclists, most of us are cycle away from just commuting (I use cycle commuting to save a bit of money but primarily for fitness.
We cycle to work because we want to cycle and can do it to work as well. For most of us an E-bike is no faster (my average speed is above the e-bike assist cut off speed) yet costs more.
The people (in my mind) to whom an e-bike should appeal are those who are only interested in getting to work and for whom an e-bike may be a cheaper, more environmentally friendly and possibly faster (in high congestion regions such as London) than a car. They may not wish to cycle (as they would probably be the 5-8mph 'pootlers) so the assist makes sense. My neighbour falls into the category and has a lowish end e-bike (cost circa £950 new) for his 6 mile each way commute, he commutes in his work clothes (I'm not a MAMIL but do commute in T-shirt and shorts as any more is just too hot and sweaty).
Hope that helps.
Hello, thank you for your detailed response. I agree, and I wan to know despite these benefits why the e-Bike is not really growing as much. I have a diverse range of participants but I felt cyclists will know more about the ins and outs of cycling to help give me a more overall viewpoint of the e-Bike, which has happened. Didn't want a biased viewpoint
Don't have one myself, would probably get one if I started commuting into London.
Biggest concern - the government/EU introducing proposed insurance requirements.
I do quite a lot of miles on a big heavy slow bike, quite apart from the cost, its yet another thing to charge, since I do 100+ mile a week thats a few charges.
My commute though 24 mile round trip isn't hilly so even on the old beast I tend to be not much slower than lycra roadies, so I can't see it being any faster, and generally i don't find it hard work I potter etc.
My Mum has a cheap one since she needs assistance and its a hoot, but i can't myself see much use as a transport, its advantages (for me) are slight/non existence while I has quite a few dis advantages.
I should say i do see now and then a few E-bikes on my commute together with E-skateboards and the like. my assumption is that in uk bikes are leisure not utility.
Thanks Greenamex2, I was wondering when I'd get a response regarding insurance 8)
'A lot of bike for the money' interesting statement!
The cost factor is becoming very prominent in my research at the moment.
There's a trend I am seeing where regular cyclists do not see the e-Bike as too great despite its 'supposed' faster speed and ability to cover distances in less time with little effort. I would have imagined this would entice people i.e. car users usually want bigger and better.
If your reasonably fit, then legal e-bikes are no faster, even on a big heavy lump, I’m rolling along in the same ball park speed, even with a fair price increase, the kit be that gears or brakes tends to be quite woeful, ie can spend quite a lot of money to have a bike with really quite poor finishing kit, my Mums e-bike has frankly terrible brakes, really cheap and nasty things.
Does change with high end E-MTBs and even adds advantages namely suspension which tends to work better.
There's a lot of animosity between cyclists and motorists - ebike riders generally would come from the "non-cyclist" sector (ok a few cyclists who want/need assistance will get one) - and therefore they're less confident on the road than the regular cyclist and then get put off by the close passing & sometimes aggressive motorist - so why bother riding, it's not pleasant.
Most cyclists have a car as well - so why have the expense of a bicycle if it's not going to be fun.
I have seen a few ebikes out and about and there are 2 shops locally who specialise in ebikes - so there must be a market.
I'm not getting one because I don't need it - although it would be nice to go up the hills quicker when towing a 3yo ... that's just down to training!!
My teacher once said anybike under £500 is a bike shaped object, I guess that sounds true here!
Second paragraph is a good point, personally that's why I do not cycle regularly, I had a near-crash incident in my youth so have never bothered with a bike again. I feel this combined with little dedicated, quality cycle lanes will not entice me anytime soon (I live in Manchester).
The market appears to be cyclists who require the assistance or older people wanting to commute in a healthier way, that is the impression I got before starting out this survey.
I will post the results in this survey upon completion, I hope it benefits someone.
On one section I have a long relatively gentle uphill, for 2.5 miles, as I'm currently doing circa 17mph there I'd be slower on a heavier e-bike.
And I loose some fitness benefit.
My bike is built for the commute (by me) and is a fairly lightweight sub 8kg and cost about £800 to build, so an e-bike would be a fairly substantial on cost to match it on any reasonable parameter.
In 10 years (62 by then) I may feel differently as my non assisted speeds degrades.
Insurance doesn't worry me, third party liability I can't see costing more than about £40 IF its made compulsory (which I seriously doubt anyway - it makes no sense on any level).
I have one myself, which I use on days where a problematic knee is bad (the e-bike is great for reducing the strain on my knee at the multitude of traffic lights I stop at on my commute or when it is windy, which again puts more strain on the knee). My normal bikes are still my go-to, but the e-bike help me get out on days when the knee would normally stop me. When I was waiting at a traffic light last week a motorcyclist started asking me how it was because he is looking at getting one, so clearly the interest in them is building.
Thank you for your reply, an eye opener.
I guess the motorcyclists are the type of people the ebike can attract due to the combination of relative speed and some health benefits compared to the normal bike which requires too much effort for private vehicle commuters.
The main thing stopping me is that technology is improving so quickly. Rather than a £3k bike with a 60 mile range now, wait 5 years and spend £1k on a bike with a 100 mile range (or something like that).
Another factor is the 15.5 mph max assist. As someone else said, I can average more than that now unassisted so, given the significant extra weight of an eBike, I would probably end up with a lower average speed on an eBike - faster up the hills but slower down hill and on the flat.
- Your commute is particularly long or hilly
- You have health problems or injuries (dodgy knees etc)
- You want to be really annoying shoaling past other cyclists at traffic lights and then get in everyone's way when you peak at 15.5mph
- You are fat and lazy but don't want to ride a moped or motorcycle because you can't find leathers that will fit
They tend to be and look heavy and ugly and are surprisingly expensive. If you want speed and the ability to filter through traffic (although admittedly not quite as easily) then you might as well do your CBT and buy a moped for less (i.e. only £800 or so for a 50cc!) and be able to go at 28mph when the traffic is moving.
Many an e-bike have I taken smug satisfaction in scalping without breaking a sweat.
I have seen a couple of very dodgy BSO DIY converted bikes on my commute, one of which seems to manage easily over 30mph and looks very unstable with a car battery mounted on the rear pannier.
Personally I would not be in favour of increasing the assist limit going by the general standard of riding that E-bikes tend to attract in my experience (usually either completely oblivious or cycle courier reckless...)
Anyone who thinks they can comfortably ride as fast as they would on even a legal ebike is either a pro cyclist or a fantasist. An extra 200-250 watts is awesome and transforming. That will at least double most rider's available power. It allows hugely faster hill climbing or a much easier ride without getting sweaty. Yes assistance stops at 25kph but I'll take that on a hill or with full panniers.
It's not just about raw speed either. Sometimes on a black night in the rain with seven miles uphill into a headwind remaining I'll be sitting at <20kph and would give anything for an extra few watts. I am passed by guys on legal ebikes in jeans. I am doing 250w, they must be on 400w and totally cruising. No contest. These bikes have a brilliant future as commuters, off-road, tourers, whatever, providing they are not crushed by laws. Cost per se is not the issue, its the old n+1 problem. Highly recommended. I'm looking at the eBrompton for a complete hoot. Come join the revolution.
For me, for example - I can do a return stretch of ~2 miles which is a gradual incline - I drop below 15mph on 1 very short section, for the rest I'm comfortably 17-18mph - I did have the Strava KOM at >21mph - that's now been beaten by a few seconds - an ebike won't help with that - I dare say it'd be slower as I'd have to drag the extra weight of the motor & battery up the grade.
I do like the assistance (yes, I've ridden an ebike conversion) - but the top end cut off comes quite quickly... I'm by no means a hill climber - so I doubt I'm the only one that wouldn't benefit from the eBike for a lot of the time.
Likewise on my commute a legal ebike would be of no benefit to me. And would be a hell of a lot more expensive than the equivalent non ebike.
If I had a few more climbs then the balance would start tipping in the ebikes favour, at a cost.
And yes, I do regularly ride an ebike so yes I CAN make a valid comparison.
For a less fit rider or those on much heavier bikes then the tipping point would be much earlier. Would certainly make the mountain bikers I encounter a bit more of a challenge to beat!
I wonder if there will be more ebikes next year when the T charge takes older motorcycles off the road (£15 per day!). In central London on-street motorbike parking is now charged, the T charge might push some motorcyclist to e-bikes. Much easier to park....
Personally I'd prefer to either be cycling, or on a Powered Two wheeler. An e-bike is somewhere in-between which doesn't really have the advantages of either. I ride the motorbike in the rain with head to tow waterproofs. I suspect I'd be sweaty on an e-bike in the same scenario. Or wet. I may as well be on a bicycle.
Those unrestricted ones need to be seized and crushed though. Dangerous.
Agreed, and the cycling infrastructure that is in place, well, it is a shambles. Cyclists would rather use the road.
In Manchester, particularly Oxford Road, people believe cycle lanes have ruined the roads and sidwalks as they have made everything tighter.
This was one of my main thoughts before beginning this. The culture on cycling, as an outsider, its just not seen as cool enough. The image you get from owning a BMW gets people more gassed than owning a bike.
However, it is difficult to build a culture if there is a fear of getting clobbered by cars and/or infrastructure simply not good enough to make it worthwile.