by Dimitra Kessenides, Bloomberg Businessweek
Highlights
- The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased interest in electric bicycles, or e-bikes for short, as a sustainable mode of transportation and exercise
- Specialized Bicycle Components Inc., based in Morgan Hill, California, built their first e-bike in 2013. They now have seven e-bike models and their sales have doubled over the past three years
- Owner Mike Sinyard believes the electric vehicle of the future will be e-bikes:
“There are analysts saying that the most important EV isn’t cars but bicycles”
- Though they are surging in popularity, e-bikes are still pricey for some consumers
- Anisha Sharma, the lead for Deloitte’s Tech, predicts the number of bikers is likely to decrease this year due to work from home and lockdown mandates
- However, increases in city and suburban density may help push e-bikes forward as an alternative over a second car
The Climate Center’s Climate-Safe California campaign includes supporting clean mobility by working with partners to establish incentives that will help cities safely weave carbon-free technologies like electric bikes into their infrastructure.
Nina Turner
Energy Programs and Communications CoordinatorJanina is a graduate of the Energy Management and Design program at Sonoma State University with experience in non-profits that specialize in sustainability and volunteerism.
