BEBA UK Survey Results: Executive Summary

[Hero Eco]

Thanks again to all that took part in the BEBA Electric Bicycle Usage Survey. We had 355 respondents, making this the largest and most up to date survey of electric bicycle usage in the UK. The results of the survey can be seen below:


Conclusion

The location of consumers really took us by surprise; we didn’t expect the South East to represent such a huge proportion. It demonstrates that in some of the wealthier areas customer are purchasing electric bicycles, but on the flip side shows London as a big opportunity.

The throttle question was not a big surprise, 25% don’t have one and 4.3% don’t use the one fitted. This leaves 71.7% in need of a throttle on an electric bicycle. This translated into 55% saying they wouldn’t have bought their electric bicycle if a throttle wasn’t fitted.

The number one reason for purchasing was assistance up hills, closely followed by fitness/exercise. This shows that electric bicycle consumers aren’t just plain lazy, there is a real need for help in hill climbing and many use it as a form of exercise.

The electric bicycle market started in continental Europe with mainly 60+ consumers used to cycling but just not having the fitness anymore to cover the same distances they used to. Although continental Europe is now experiencing a new wave of consumers in the 35 – 45 age bracket the UK is very much still a few years behind this development.

Commuting and leisure use seem almost equally split, with only a few using electric bicycles for professional purposes. With ever increasing transport costs we anticipate more and more to ditch their traditional means of commuting for electric bicycles.

There are a few electric bicycles that boast a range of over 80 miles, but in reality only 3.5% of consumers regularly travel further than 31 miles. The majority travel 6 -10 miles.

The most popular price point is £801 - £950 making up 16.2%, whilst £801 - £1300 inclusive is 49.6% of all sales. There are just as many spending sub £500 as there are spending £2000 plus.

Through a store remains the popular way to purchase your bicycle, representing 50.4% of all purchases, however online sales are not far behind at 38.6% and we anticipate this will increase.

85% have left their bikes as standard, with 15% making adjustments to increase performance. Many of these have been wiring batteries together for greater range, but some to increase top speed.

The whole survey shows a general trend toward more expensive electric bicycles. Consumer habits are clearly identified as needing a throttle, but still motivated by fitness and exercise. I anticipate we will see further growth in the lower age groups over the coming couple of years

 

[eddieo]

The need for a throttle for hill climbing is a fallacy..Any centre drive bike will climb far easier then an hub drive bike...

Yes I want to see the option kept and why I filled in the survey saying I could not live without one! But really come on...its not the end of the world, and you might actually enjoy it.

the summery of range not surprising either, most journeys shortish. long haulers a minority for sure

That many upgrade to more expensive bikes after dipping there toe in at first is exactly what I and most others do I suspect

Great stuff Mark, good effort from BEBA to argue our quarter. Also good luck with the DTF (is it?) meeting next week..nice to see that a group of separate interests can come together to represent the activity. Look forward to BEBA shows this summer, where I wont hopefully have to look at the stuff none BEBA members tend to sell. The atmosphere at the Regents park event was fantastic, and so friendly with a great range of bikes to try..Bigger and better this year I hope with longer track!

 

[JuicyBike]

Yep, echo Eddie above. Great work Mark and all respondents.

 

[Hero Eco]

The need for a throttle for hill climbing is a fallacy..Any centre drive bike will climb far easier then an hub drive bike...

Yes I want to see the option kept and why I filled in the survey saying I could not live without one! But really come on...its not the end of the world, and you might actually enjoy it.

the summery of range not surprising either, most journeys shortish. long haulers a minority for sure

That many upgrade to more expensive bikes after dipping there toe in at first is exactly what I and most others do I suspect

Great stuff Mark, good effort from BEBA to argue our quarter. Also good luck with the DTF (is it?) meeting next week..nice to see that a group of separate interests can come together to represent the activity. Look forward to BEBA shows this summer, where I wont hopefully have to look at the stuff none BEBA members tend to sell. The atmosphere at the Regents park event was fantastic, and so friendly with a great range of bikes to try..Bigger and better this year I hope with longer track!

Thanks Eddie.

I agree, the majority won't need a throttle, its a nice to have. However there are some target groups where it is crucial. Thats rehabilitation, the disabled and others.

Yep, DFT on Monday! We'll need good luck!!!

David has been doing some great work on the Regents park Green Fair, should be another great show!!

 

[indalo]

Conclusion


The throttle question was not a big surprise, 25% don’t have one and 4.3% don’t use the one fitted. This leaves 71.7% in need of a throttle on an electric bicycle. This translated into 55% saying they wouldn’t have bought their electric bicycle if a throttle wasn’t fitted.

The number one reason for purchasing was assistance up hills, closely followed by fitness/exercise. This shows that electric bicycle consumers aren’t just plain lazy, there is a real need for help in hill climbing and many use it as a form of exercise.

Like all statistics, this bunch collated from responses received is open to interpretation and not all readers will extrapolate the information in the same way as Mark. The paragraphs I have selected above interest me as I have never really been convinced by the arguments for a throttle on an electric bike leaving me somewhat ambivalent, I suppose, on the issue.

This leaves 71.7% in need of a throttle on an electric bicycle.

That sounds to me like a lot of people want what is effectively a moped without having to pay any tax or insurance and without conforming to the other requirements for that type of conveyance. I'm not sure that's in keeping with the spirit of the permissions we enjoy currently with electric bike regulations.

This translated into 55% saying they wouldn’t have bought their electric bicycle if a throttle wasn’t fitted.

Really! What would they have done then were throttles not permitted?

Electrically-assisted bikes are fantastic in my view for people who would otherwise cycle manually but can no longer fully manage that function. If we are to believe that 71.7% REALLY NEED a throttle, then I for one simply cannot accept that such a number are so infirm that they cannot manage with motor power and a wide selection of gears. Perhaps there's an awful lot of really lazy people out there?

Maybe some tax levied on throttle-equipped bikes with exemption for those on disability benefit would go some way towards clarifying how many really need such devices. Somehow, I think that 71.7% figure would change!

Indalo

 

[Jimod]

What I can't understand is why people who don't want a throttle are so opposed to other people having them. I don't need a throttle but I don't object to others having them.

 

[eddieo]

no ones opposed as far as I can see?

 

[Jimod]

no ones opposed as far as I can see?

Really? You clicked 'like' on indalo's post, so I presume you read it.

 

[neptune]

Throttles for most of us are not a necessity. But life would be dull if all we had were necessities. As I am a bit eccentric, my needs are different from the majority.I love to pedal. So much so, that I ride 10 miles on my push bike every morning. My old Powabyke Euro is heavy, and it gets used for running errands in the afternoon, and it gets a lot of use on throttle only. I sometimes help the motor if its headwind. If and when I get a more modern lighter ebike, I would not miss a throttle so much, but would still much prefer to have one. If you have a throttle, it is not compulsory to use it, but its great to have a choice.

 

[eddieo]

Really? You clicked 'like' on indalo's post, so I presume you read it.

Oh Indy....nice to see some intelligence at work on here now and again, a bit daft to take to seriously though!lol

 

[halfer]

Electrically-assisted bikes are fantastic in my view for people who would otherwise cycle manually but can no longer fully manage that function. If we are to believe that 71.7% REALLY NEED a throttle...

I agree that whether someone needs a throttle may have been overstated in some of the responses (or, as you say, possibly misinterpreted in the results).

But, if I am reading you correctly, I think e-bike owners in general need to get away from the idea that this form of transport is only for the disabled. We have an able-bodied newcomer to this forum who asked about commuting in London on a pedelec, and in reply I made an effort to agree that e-bikes are not just for the old and infirm. I also commute this way, despite being fit and healthy: it's partly to keep me from feeling exhausted as I start work, and partly to avoid dreading the hills on the return home after a long day.

I read here recently that the UK buys only 25,000 e-bikes a year. That market will remain niche unless pedelec owners - and of course pedelec businesses - can promote this mode of transport as relevant to everyone. Just imagine the numbers of cars we could take off the roads if the market grew by a factor of ten!

 

[flecc]

Really! What would they have done then were throttles not permitted?

Electrically-assisted bikes are fantastic in my view for people who would otherwise cycle manually but can no longer fully manage that function. If we are to believe that 71.7% REALLY NEED a throttle, then I for one simply cannot accept that such a number are so infirm that they cannot manage with motor power and a wide selection of gears.

Northern Europe, where e-bikes are infinitely more common and popular than here in the UK, proves beyond doubt that the whole throttle need and preference emphasis is false.

They don't have throttles and don't call for them, being perfectly happy with pedelec control.

I'm perfectly happy for others to have throttles and have one throttle bike myself, but if they were banned it wouldn't affect e-bike sales to any extent and could even make them more popular due to the control simplicity.

 

[jazper53]

I'm perfectly happy for others to have throttles and have one throttle bike myself, but if they were banned it wouldn't affect e-bike sales to any extent and could even make them more popular due to the control simplicity.

I think you are wrong the banning of throttles would affect e-bike sale amongst those people who have knee joint/stamina and other mobilty problems, where continuous pedaling without the respite of a throttle would put off quite a substantial section of potential e-bikers.

 

[BAH48]

When I left Belgium in 2002, having lived there for 5 years, the majority of assisted bikes were petrol driven Spartamets. My wife had one. It wasn't much fun to ride as it was too slow for me. It only had a throttle and they were mostly ridden by the elderly. When cycling in Belgium and The Netherlands last year, I was amazed to see all the electric bikes, mostly crank drive and hardly a throttle in sight. It seems that the Belgiums and the Dutch have thoroughly embraced the pedal assist concept. Although, I was cycling faster than the pedalecs, they would relentlessly follow and overtake when I stopped for a rest. It all supports flecc's conclusion above.

I don't know where all the Spartamets have gone, but there aren't many about now!

 

[Kudoscycles]

One of the problems with providing a throttle is the design compromises. As the rest of Europe,with its big volumes,does not use throttles then a lot of the best brake/gearchange levers do not easily accomodate throttles. The cheaper SIS index levers are mainly high on the handlebars,this allows the throttle mechanism(twist grip)to be low on the handlebars but once you start using the best of the Shimano levers it is much more difficult to accomodate the throttle,even a thumb throttle.
Our attitude on performance bikes is,in order of priority,the brakes,then gearchange,then throttle. I think most would agree that good brakes and a nice gear change should not be compromised to achieve a throttle.
In an ideal world the throttle/gears/brakes would be designed as a unit but the volume of throttle equipped bikes just does not justify the tooling cost involved.
I respect that many ebike users in the UK would like,in some cases need,a throttle but it does make my design task so much more difficult-the handlebar does get very busy.
I will design according to the outcome of the government decisions.
Currently we are trying to put throttles on every Kudos new bike.
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[jazper53]

Well lets hope throttles will stay, or maybe one could have one on a prescription

 

[flecc]

I think you are wrong the banning of throttles would affect e-bike sale amongst those people who have knee joint/stamina and other mobilty problems, where continuous pedaling without the respite of a throttle would put off quite a substantial section of potential e-bikers.

We can't know what proportion of e-bikers would be adversely affected, but we do know this doesn't appear to be a problem in the mainland Europe market where sales are a large multiple of here. Certainly some would be affected, but that could be more than offset by the simplicity of pedelec control leading to greater sales. The huge boom in Northern European e-bike sales has been since the implementation of pedelec-only law in November 2003.

I also hope throttles stay available, even if only for disabilities, but don't think it a disaster if they don't.

 

[eddieo]

When I left Belgium in 2002, having lived there for 5 years, the majority of assisted bikes were petrol driven Spartamets. My wife had one. It wasn't much fun to ride as it was too slow for me. It only had a throttle and they were mostly ridden by the elderly. When cycling in Belgium and The Netherlands last year, I was amazed to see all the electric bikes, mostly crank drive and hardly a throttle in sight. It seems that the Belgiums and the Dutch have thoroughly embraced the pedal assist concept. Although, I was cycling faster than the pedalecs, they would relentlessly follow and overtake when I stopped for a rest. It all supports flecc's conclusion above.

I don't know where all the Spartamets have gone, but there aren't many about now!

There is one alive and well owned by an old English guy in Spain..had a chat with him last winter..paid £120 for it and it just runs and runs... far less noise then these annoying 50cc scooters...a more sedate fut fut type tone..very pleasant mode of transport lol

 

[Jimod]

Comparing sales in Europe where they have no throttles to UK where we can have throttles isn't a good comparison. Their larger sales have nothing at all to do with throttles being banned. If the EU made it compulsory for ebikes to HAVE a throttle instead of banning them the sales in Europe would still be much higher than in UK. People who don't need a throttle will not be put off buying a bike simply because it has one. People who do need a throttle simply can't buy a bike without one.

 

[flecc]

Comparing sales in Europe where they have no throttles to UK where we can have throttles isn't a good comparison.

The comparison I made above was to show that not having throttles doesn't mean e-bikes will lose popularity as some seem to think. Ergo it's an excellent comparison for that purpose.

Disability and other issues are different matters which I didn't raise.