Electric bicycle gaining in popularity

The sale of electric bicycles is increasing more quickly in Belgium than in most neighbouring countries. This year some 50,000 electric models are expected to be sold, or one bicycle in eight. And the market for electric bicycles will continue to grow until 2016, according to a recent press release by Federauto, the Belgian Confederation of Automotive Distribution and Repair. On a European scale, about 690,000 electric bicycles are sold annually, making this the fastest growing market in the field of electric mobility. In two years sales in Belgium increased by 150 percent, from 20,000 to 50,000 units sold. Only in Germany are the bikes more popular, with an increase of 180 percent in the last two years, from 250,000 to 450,000 units sold. Despite their increasing popularity, electric bicycles remain an expensive investment, with the better brands costing between €1,500 and 2,500 per bike.