Already every ninth new bicycle is an e-bike
(SFZ) The electric bicycle is overtaking itself: 39`200 new bicycles with whisper motors were sold in Switzerland in 2010, or 11.2% of the new bicycle fleet. The front runners in the bicycle hit parade are still the sporty bikes with 195`500 units. A total of 351`000 new bicycles were delivered to retailers by importers and manufacturers or sold through wholesalers and specialized markets.
In 2005, just under 1,800 e-bikes were sold in Switzerland, five years later the figure is 22 times higher, almost 40,000! These environmentally friendly, technically mature bicycles, which can be ridden with comfortable motor support, are now ridden and appreciated by broad sections of the population. Thanks to their high reliability, low maintenance costs, agile handling and attractive performance, they are predestined for a wide range of uses. Just a few years ago, the exotic vehicles of individualist freaks were mainly chased through agglos and cities, but the elegantly and nobly styled e-bikes in x-different model variants have now also conquered the hearts of mountain bikers, touring cyclists, "bike hikers" and city dwellers plagued by traffic jams.
E-bikes win at the expense of city bikes
The «normal» everyday bicycle, fully equipped with lights, mudguards, luggage rack etc. - popularly known as the city bike - was hard pressed by the electric bike in 2010. With 116`000 units sold, it fell short of the previous year's result by a good 15`000 units. Industry experts attribute this decline to the fact that many buyers decided in favour of e-bikes instead of city bikes. 136`000 new mountain bikes, 15`400 racing bikes, 16`500 cross bikes and 27`500 junior bikes (20 to 24 inch wheels) divided the sports bike segment among themselves in 2010. The popular «Mounty» was able to further expand its leading position thanks to an increase of almost 8`000 units. It owes its popularity on the one hand to the multi-faceted demands for fun and fitness activities of an increasingly leisure-focused society, and on the other hand to its many and varied uses on both paved and unpaved roads.
In general, it can be observed that the bicycle rides ahead in the leisure sector and increases in kilometres, but in everyday life it moves with the brakes applied slightly. In keeping with the motto: cycling in sports or leisure wear is in and fun, and there is (still) a lot of potential for cycling to work or shopping. The everyday bicycle segment offers the bicycle industry a broad field of activity for the future. The current good consumer mood makes the industry confident. Coupled with a little luck with the weather and little turbulence in the economic sky, the current year could mutate into a good bicycle year.
February 16th, 2011