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In Germany, a green mobility storm led by e-bikes is sweeping the country, quietly changing people’s travel habits and lifestyles. Shocking data from energy giant Eon reveals that nearly a quarter of the German population already owns an e-bike, a staggering jump of more than 60% since 2020.
In early 2024, HUK Coburg surveyed 4,101 Germans aged 16 and over, a YouGov-executed survey covering 16 German federal states, and the report revealed the preferred mode of transport that will meet individual mobility needs in the future.
The data shows that e-bikes, once a niche tool, have now jumped to the top of the list of the hottest transportation options in Germany, in contrast to traditional bicycles, which have seen a significant decline in popularity. Explore the top 10 electric bike manufacturers in German for your reference.
The retreat of the traditional bicycle
The appeal of traditional cycling, especially for younger generations, is rapidly declining.
Notably, from 2021 onwards, the proportion of respondents who see traditional cycling as their preferred mode of transportation fell from 26% to 16% in 2024, a trend that is particularly pronounced among young people – the preference of the 16 – 24 age group fell from 28% to 11%, with the younger population’s interest in traditional cycling declining sharply.
Nevertheless, the bicycle retains its importance, with about a quarter of Germans viewing it as the second best option for meeting their future personal mobility needs.
This market change can be seen in the bicycle industry’s sales and production figures.
According to the Association of the Two-Wheeled Vehicle Industry (ZIV), while the total volume of bicycles and e-bikes in Germany has grown by more than 10% in the past few years to a massive 84 million units, sales of traditional bicycles hit a turning point in 2023, falling by 500,000 units year-on-year to 1.9 million units.
Meanwhile, e-bike sales stabilized at a high of 2.1 million units, overtaking traditional bikes in sales for the first time as the market’s new favorite, a series of figures that reflect shifting consumer preferences. What’s the differences between electric bike vs. normal bike?
Steady growth of e-bikes
The continued prosperity of the e-bike market is not only reflected in the steady increase in sales, but also in its wide acceptance across age groups.
In particular, the ownership rate of e-bikes has risen significantly among younger age groups, with 17.5% of the 18 – 29 age group already owning e-bikes, compared to 13.8% in 2023, a growth rate that undoubtedly underscores the high level of acceptance and preference for e-bikes among the younger generation.
Since 2021, the proportion of respondents choosing e-bikes as their preferred mode of transportation has been slightly adjusted from 11% to 10% in 2024, but compared to traditional bicycles, e-bikes have not experienced a significant decline in popularity, but have maintained a certain degree of stability.
The decline of the e-bike boom during this period also did not affect its status in the minds of consumers, but rather proved that e-bikes have a strong market appeal.
Differences in regional use
In Germany, the use of bicycles and e-bikes shows a significant geographical spread. Hamburg in the north witnessed 22% of respondents increase their cycling frequency, while in Saarland the figure was as low as 8%. A national average of 14% of respondents reported using a bicycle or e-bike more frequently in the past year.
North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, has a slightly higher preference for e-bikes than conventional bikes, at 13% and 12% respectively. Schleswig-Holstein, on the other hand, is a hotspot for e-bike enthusiasts with 14%.
Hesse and Saxony-Anhalt have made significant progress in the popularity of e-bikes since 2021, with growth rates of 2 percentage points and 2.5 percentage points respectively. However, Berlin still has the lowest popularity of e-bikes at 5%.
In terms of cycling frequency, the growth was particularly significant in the Northwest, with residents of Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Bremen reporting the highest increases in cycling frequency at 21%, 20% and 18% respectively.
These figures are well above the national average of 14%. In contrast, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony showed relatively low increases of just 8%, 10% and 11%, respectively, showing clear differences in cycling habits between different regions of Germany.
Jörg Rheinländer, member of the HUK Coburg Board of Directors, points out that “during the New Crown epidemic, the use of buses and trains was restricted, which greatly increased the popularity of bicycles.
However, in the long term, e-bikes seem to have opened up new target groups.” It also shows that e-bikes are not just a product of the epidemic, but are becoming the norm in urban mobility, and e-bikes will undoubtedly play an even more important role in the future of transportation. Read more: top 10 cargo e-bike manufacturers in Germany.
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