From long commute distances through city centres, to families wanting to explore local areas, electric bikes can make journeys easier no matter the distance.
For those who are eco-conscious, electric bikes are a brilliant daily change that can impact your carbon footprints positively. It’s a great option for cities since you can travel without worrying about fuel consumption.
But what is the future of the electric bike, how can we expect this industry to advance, and how will the electric bike change our daily lives?
Current technological advancements
Technological enhancements are happening all the time, and this is true for the electric bike. Companies are constantly looking at how they can improve, and the cycling industry is doing just that.
A new battery design has been released, showing a mobile phone-sized battery adaptable to any bike. This new, portable, and detachable battery can convert any bike into an electric one. While most bikes must be specifically designed to be electric, you can now upgrade your old bike into an electric one. It’s a technology that could be combined with a fold-away bike to make the perfect commuting tool.
There are also advancements to different components of the traditional bike. Whereas the roller chain has been used to transmit power for decades, we now have the Link Drive. The Link Drive stresses the power across more teeth than the traditional roller chain – making it more durable. The distribution of stress also means that it is a quieter and more efficient alternative.
Gone are the days of belt drives slipping or gear drives struggling over long distances. The Link Drive improves a bike’s power, reliability, and durability. This is important to the electric bike industry as durability and maintenance of power over long distances is key to the performance of electric bikes.
What can we expect next?
With the improvements in the technology industry, including the Swytch battery, it is only a matter of time before the batteries have proficient recycling schemes.
Improvements in cities are also creating a more cycle-friendly environment. With the inclusion of schemes such as the Santander Cycle in London, we can expect this to become the standard for most cities.
Cities, such as Nottingham, are working towards becoming carbon neutral in the coming years to reduce the impact of global warming. Nottingham City Council has stated to reach their goal of zero emissions, they will need to remove almost all fossil fuel-run motor vehicles in the city centre by 2028. Alongside electric trams and park improvements, we can imagine many Nottingham commuters accepting electric bikes as an improved form of transport. Other cities that are discouraging motor vehicles in their centres are likely to promote cycling, improved cycle lanes, and increase inclusivity schemes. The Government plans on banning all fossil-fuelled vehicle sales by 2040 and as such, they must put in place better electric vehicle routes, be that electric cars or e-bikes, and cycle plans as an alternative mode of transport.
Liverpool is among the cities actively accommodating to cyclists. They are producing six kilometers worth of cycle lanes, attempting to be the top city in the UK for cycling, with the improvements being expected in mid-2023. This is an important move, as a majority of people claim they’d prefer cycling as a mode of transport if they had access to segregated cycle lanes and safer routes.
The desire to ride a bike is already seeing a rise. Cycling stages increased by 23% between 2019 and 2020 alone – with leisure stages raising by 75%, showing an increase in the interest of cycling as a hobby. Equally, cycling has increased to account for 3% of all transport journeys, proving an increase in cycling as a mode of transport. We can expect to see more people adopt the electric bike as their standard mode of transport..
With improvements such as the Swytch battery, any bike can become electric. We could see the rise of activities such as mountain biking and BMXing becoming electrified.
The electric bike industry is growing at a rapid rate, with a prediction of a 75% increase by 2025, we can expect to see more people adopting this travel method. Whether it is to commute to work or for recreational use, cycling with electric assistance can help you travel further for longer, without the added stress.
Sources:
https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2021/september/carbon-neutral-nottingham/
https://www.newmotionlabs.com/why-industry-has-been-waiting-for-the-link-drive/
Liverpool could be ‘first class cycling city’ with proposed new bike lanes | ITV News Granada
Walking and cycling statistics, England: 2020 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
