Why E-bike Sharing is Becoming the Most Popular Sharing Vehicle

When e-bikes are made available for short-term use, that system is termed an e-bike sharing system. These services can be provided by either government or by private corporations. It is designed so that the user is required to return the e-bike to a designated station.

Such e-bike models are termed station-based models. Some other e-bike sharing systems allow the users to leave the e-bike anywhere within the service area.

The reasons behind the popularity of e-bikes

As mentioned above, e-bikes offer many advantages, which is why they are becoming popular in daily commutes. The first benefit of e-bike sharing is that it is a sustainable mode of transportation. They generate zero emissions, which is good from an environmental point of view.

In addition to that, sharing e-bike services have made daily riding easier. Utilizing these services is way more comfortable rather than owning and maintaining a private vehicle. It is a far cheaper mode of transportation than other modes of transportation, like taxis or Uber.

Considering the pandemic's social distancing requirement, these e-bikes offer social distancing benefits by going around while still maintaining a safe distance from others.

How e-bikes have evolved in the market

The market size for e-bike sharing in 2019 was $3.43 billion. Still, its recent increase in popularity states that it will reach $6.98 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 14.0% from 2020 to 2027. This immense rise in the popularity of these e-bikes can be seen in the European market.

A glimpse at Italy:

Around 2.5 million Italians were using an e-bike sharing service in 2021, making e-bike sharing one of the most popular sharing mobility services in Italy. After the lockdown period ended, the e-bike and e-scooter services showed the most marked upturn.

Take a look at Europe:

Europe alone hosts 41% of all bike-sharing services. Several Europen operators have launched e-bike sharing services to 2023 with a head start, and more than 13,000 new free-floating e-bikes have hit the streets of Europe just in the last six months. The market of e-bikes in Europe had an estimated $8.01 billion in 2020. Now, the estimated value is $16.58 billion for 2026.

How will the sharing e-bikes grow in the future?

The rapid increase in the demand for these e-bikes in the market has made the companies take a competitive edge to launch more advanced e-bikes in the coming years.

Those willing to see more sustainable, emission-free transportation options can consider this as a piece of good news. The advanced options will be made available to the public, not only in big city centers but also in areas where there is a lack of proper transportation.

Benefits of using the sharing e-bikes:

Infrastructure improvements in the city

People are moving towards electric vehicles and micro-mobility to reduce the city's strict carbon emissions. As European countries face strict carbon emissions, sharing e-bikes are becoming a priority among daily commuters.

People have started thinking about the environment and thus are involved in rethinking their infrastructure. That means they are choosing to make their infrastructure to be more bike-friendly. This has made them more open to involving mobility as a service and utilizing these e-bike-sharing systems.

E-bikes are fast

Traffic is one of the biggest problems, especially when you are not willing to reach your workplace late. Considering self-owned cars, you might take long hours to get out of the heavy traffic. Similarly, if we consider the case of normal bikes, it will take time and make you sweat.

This is the point where you will realize the importance of these e-bikes. They will help avoid the traffic and are way faster than normal bikes. Yes, you must be active when riding these sharing e-bikes, but they do not make you feel like exercising.

Ranges can now be increased

With time, these sharing e-bikes have evolved. They are now equipped with batteries that can be easily charged in the battery charging cabinet. The advanced engineering of e-bikes has made it possible to reach a higher range with one battery charge, which makes e-bikes increasingly more beneficial for users.

Lithium-ion batteries are one of those advancements that are lighter, cheaper, and long-lasting. If we talk about its motor, undoubtedly they are lighter and more advanced. E-bikes contain urban tires that are faster and more stable. The frames of these e-bikes are made up of aluminum instead of steel.

Conclusion

The craze for this e-bike is increasing rapidly among the commuters of big and small cities because of its several benefits, and green impact is one of them. Sharing e-bikes is gaining popularity, and this rise is inevitable.

If you already offer a sharing e-bike fleet and want to scale it up, connect with Okai. We always have a solution for your business needs and a wide range of light electric vehicles to select from.