So, what about the UK, where CIN’s data is gleaned from? As expected, the eBike share is more modest, with the majority of bike shops (61%) revealing that eBikes make up less than a quarter of their annual bike sales. However a decent number (almost 20%) see eBikes making up 25-50% of their annual bike sales. A smaller but still pretty significant 14% see eBikes taking up more than half their yearly bike sales.

Of course the UK eBike market is facing some very particular headwinds, not least those headlines conflating legal and retailer-sourced electric bicycles with those purchased on less regulated online marketplaces or converted using questionable kits. Looking positively, this message does seem to be getting through to a degree, when you look beyond the headlines, but more damagingly, reports are rife about landlords, insurers and even transport operators like TfL taking an extremely firm line and outright opposing the use or storage of eBikes.

Let’s end on a positive though: The negative eBike headlines are a headwind the legitimate eBike market has been enduring for a few years now, and eBike sales are evidently enduring despite them. But the emphasise must be on the need for vigilance and the industry speaking as one to correct, assure and underline the positives of eBikes.