According to the 2024 International Energy Agency (IEA) report, the carbon emission per kilometer in the entire life cycle of an ebike is only 22 grams (production, usage and recycling included), 91% lower than that of a fuel vehicle (243 grams per kilometer). This translates to each ebike traveling an average of 3,000 kilometers per year reducing 0.66 tons of carbon dioxide emissions (equivalent to the carbon sink of planting 11 mature pine trees). As estimated by the European Transport Research Council, if 10% of the car trips below 5 kilometers were redirected to e-bikes, Europe’s annual carbon savings would be 12 million tons, corresponding to 1.5 times the entire yearly emissions of Iceland.
The energy efficiency benefit is staggering. An ebike’s electricity usage is approximately 1.2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per 100 kilometers, and its rate of energy conversion is as great as 85% (versus 20%-30% for a fuel vehicle). Based on the average emission factor of State Grid of China in 2023 (0.581kg CO2/kWh), ebikes’ indirect emission per kilometer is only 7 grams, while the fuel-powered motorcycles’ equivalent emission (fuel consumption 2.5 liters per 100 kilometers) is 5.8 kilograms of CO2 per 100 kilometers. A model from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that the “energy-mileage” cost of ebikes is 63% lower than that of electric vehicles and 78% lower than that of the public transportation system.
The process of decarbonization in the production process is accelerating. Panasonic’s new NMC 811 lithium battery in 2024 reduces the carbon emissions of the battery per kWh from 130kg to 68kg by generating recycled nickel-cobalt material (with a ratio of 35%) and clean energy (with green electricity and a ratio of ≥90%). The Netherlands’ VanMoof adopts a closed-loop recycling process. The reuse rate of aluminum products for its ebike frames is as high as 92%, with the energy consumption of production lowered by 47% over conventional processes. The EU’s “New Battery Regulation” stipulates that the recycling rate of ebike batteries should be elevated to 95% by 2030, bringing about an additional 18% decrease in the carbon footprint across the whole life cycle.
The substitution effect in reality is considerable. Amazon Logistics data shows that the carbon emissions per package delivered by ebike for the “last mile” have dropped from 480 grams of fuel vehicles to 32 grams (down 93.3%), and the average daily delivery volume has increased by 22%. According to statistics from the Copenhagen municipal government, Copenhagen’s 123,000 ebikes have reduced the number of daily motor vehicle trips by 410,000 times, and the annual carbon saving is equal to decommissioning a 40MW coal-burning power plant. The sharing platform Lime’s operational report indicates that 32% of its ebike users’ trips have replaced the original ride-hailing orders, reducing per-kilometer carbon emissions by 89%.
Smart technologies enhance the effect of emission reduction. Bosch’s smart charging system, which is founded on grid load forecasting, automatically charges at the peak times for renewable energy generation (e.g., at noon when photovoltaic output is highest), reducing ebike charging carbon emission intensity to 0.18kg CO2/kWh (0.45kg in the reference case). Garmin’s Eco Routing algorithm can map the most energy-efficient route for cyclists. It has been measured that it reduces energy use by 15%-20% for the same mileage, which is equivalent to the saving of the emission of 3.3 kilograms of CO2 for every thousand kilometers.
Policy instruments increase the benefits of emission reduction. France’s “Transport Transition Act” subsidizes ebike purchase up to 40% (up to 1,500 euros), fueling 73% sales growth in ebikes in 2023 and preventing 280,000 tons of emissions per year by displacing fuel vehicles for daily commute. China’s 14th Five-Year Plan requires that 15% of the parking spaces in new residential areas have ebike charging stations. This is estimated to advance the peak of urban traffic carbon emissions by 5 to 8 years.
The potential for emissions saving in the system is vast. The World Resources Institute calculates that if the global penetration rate of e-Bikes in cities reaches 20% by 2030, the yearly carbon saving will be over 350 million tons, equivalent to grounding 10% of the world’s commercial flights. A study by Imperial College London illustrates that the “hybrid travel” approach of public transport and ebike connection can reduce the total carbon intensity of the urban transport system by 41% to 55%, which is among the least expensive pathways for transport decarbonization.