E-bike sales jump during pandemic to reach 40 percent share in Germany
Clean Energy Wire
The sales of bicycles and e-bikes in Germany increased by 16.9 percent in 2020 compared to the year before, amounting to 6.44 billion euros, the German bicycle industry association (ZIV) writes in a press release. Despite challenges the pandemic brought for manufacturers and the retail sector, including shutdowns, closed shops and disrupted supply chains, more than 5 million bicycles and e-bikes were sold last year. Electric bikes in particular gained popularity. Sales rose 43.3 percent to 1.95 million, a share of almost 40 percent. "Both bicycles and e-bikes are an indispensable means of transport for today and the future, and also offer infection-proof, active and environmentally friendly mobility. I am confident that these attributes will lead to a sustainable development towards more bicycle traffic,” said Ernst Brust, managing director of ZIV.
The coronavirus pandemic has put the brakes on the transition to sustainable urban mobility around the world. While the fear of infection has put people off public transport and vehicle-sharing schemes, it has boosted private cars, but also cycling and walking. Germany still has a long way to go in making mobility more environmentally friendly, as individual passenger cars continue to play a central role.
