E-bikes are in greater demand than ever before in Europe. This is the result of the Shimano Steps E-Bike Index 2020, which shows that a quarter of Europeans (24%) already own an e-bike or at least are more likely than last year to buy or ride one this year.
What is particularly interesting: In Germany, around 22% of those who stated that they would be more likely to buy or use an e-bike this year will be riding their bike at most once every three months. According to Shimano, this shows that a new group of buyers is developing that otherwise hardly ever uses a bicycle.
As the most important reason for purchasing an e-bike instead of a conventional bicycle, 34% of those questioned cited the lower physical effort. Among young people aged 18 to 24 years, the time saved on everyday trips is the main incentive (35%).
In a European comparison, the desire to switch from a conventional bike to an e-bike is less pronounced in Germany because of its already relatively large e-bike coverage. It is highest in Italy, where 30% of those surveyed said they would like to switch to an e-bike this year. Italy is followed by Switzerland, Poland and the Netherlands with 26 % each and Spain with 21 %.