How good are e-bikes and pedelecs for our environment?

Goal: emission-free cities

A more environmentally friendly alternative to the car is the e-bike. A pedelec does not produce any harmful exhaust gases. Especially in cities, the electric bike is considered a popular and climate-friendly alternative to motorized vehicles such as cars, motorcycles and scooters.

For journeys of up to 6 km, the bicycle is the fastest means of transport. When you consider that around 60% of all car journeys are shorter than 6 km, you wonder why bicycles make up less than 10% of all traffic.

Excessively high ozone levels cause enormous damage to people, animals and plants. In the summer months in particular, and especially in cities, summer smog occurs. This refers to the ozone concentration in the air near the ground. The negative consequences include feeling unwell and headaches. Our respiratory organs are also affected. In the worst case, residents have no choice but to stay indoors and only go outside again late in the evening.

Since e-bikes do not produce exhaust gases, they do not pollute the climate in cities and metropolitan areas. Summer smog forms in certain weather conditions when different gases come together.

City planners are already expecting that in the near future only electric vehicles will be allowed in many cities. Then the Pedelec will be at the top of many people's wish list. This is completely emission-free and does not harm the microclimate.

The electric motors installed in Pedelecs are the most efficient drives available on the market . Regardless of other aspects such as exhaust emissions, space requirements and fuel costs, cycling is the most effective form of mobility.

No other form of transport can cover such great distances with such little energy. That is impressive. Furthermore, so little primary energy is used in its production that this aspect also contributes to its significant efficiency.

The electric motors used in e-bikes have an efficiency of around 90%. This makes them among the most efficient drives currently available. An efficiency of 100% or more is referred to as a perpetual motion machine. However, this has so far only been achieved by Lukas, the train driver.

Sophisticated battery technologies make it possible to store large amounts of energy effectively. Electrical systems are far more efficient than all other solutions. One example is the classic combustion engine, which has an efficiency of just 35%. As a side note: we humans move with an efficiency of 25%.

In the best case, we generate our electricity from solar energy. Then the efficiency of the e-bike is unstoppable. When experts talk about pedelecs, they often use the term "bicycle evolution". Ambitious hobby cyclists talk about cycling in its most perfect form. Trips to work, to a café or in the city are relaxing and contribute to health by bike.

Pedelecs create more space in cities

The space problem in German cities can no longer be ignored, as both moving and parked cars take up a lot of space. According to statistics, at the beginning of 2008 there were already 49.3 million cars registered on the streets in Germany. Most cars stand around unused for around 90% of the time.

This is not only a problem in big cities, but on roads in general, as it is often difficult to find a parking space. Nowadays, residential areas are becoming congested as more and more space has to be created for parking. More and more ideas have to be developed to accommodate the cars. After all, the vehicles have to be parked somewhere.

More and more areas are being sealed - whether by parking lots, parking spaces, garages, multi-storey car parks or underground car parks. These areas are extremely important for the water cycle, the soil, and animals and plants. E-bikes, on the other hand, only require as much space as a conventional bicycle.

In other words, if 100 people drive to work in their cars, 850 square metres of road space are needed. If they carpool, however, only 250 square metres are needed. If these 100 people were to use a public bus (with articulated seats, including standing space), the space needed on the road would be reduced to around 40 square metres.

However, this calculation never works in practice. This is because everyone has a different starting point, a different destination and different working hours. Even forming small carpools is often difficult.

Everything is geared towards making sure that everyone can be as mobile as possible. However, you still often have to sit in traffic jams or can only move very slowly. What does that have to do with mobility? Very little. With a Pedelec, on the other hand, you can easily ride past anywhere.

An e-bike or pedelec requires around 2 square metres - including the space in bicycle parking facilities. It becomes even more compact with one of our folding e-bikes. If we go back to our calculation example from before, we see that the 100 people with pedelecs on the streets only take up 200 square metres. There are also the advantages that you don't have to stick to timetables or fixed routes. You don't have to coordinate anything with colleagues either. This is mobility lived individually. And it takes up as little space as possible.

Good prospects for every cyclist! Have fun with your new-found flexibility!

How do e-bikes help the environment?

The e-bike is a real alternative to exhaust fumes - because a pedelec does not produce harmful smog. Since e-bikes are completely emission-free, they do not harm the climate.

What other advantages does an e-bike have?

If you calculate generously, an e-bike or pedelec requires around 2 square metres of space including traffic space in suitable bicycle parking facilities. Added to this are the advantages that you don't have to stick to timetables, specific routes or agreements with colleagues.