Electric bikes can open up healthy, sustainable travel options for many journeys currently made by car. In the run up to World Car Free Day on 22 September, our latest research in Scotland explores how we can encourage e-bike use to tackle stubborn transport emissions.
E-bikes can go far in reducing journeys made by car, such as the commute to work. Credit: Brian Sweeney.
Big changes are needed fast, if we are to tackle the climate crisis.
In Scotland, domestic transport is our largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions – with road transport our biggest carbon culprit.
Driving less is therefore key to reducing our environmental impact as a nation.
We know that active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) plays an important role in this, and in our wider journey to net zero.
But the potential of active travel to transform how we get around has grown even greater with the rise of electric bikes.
To celebrate World Car Free Day, we're publishing our latest report exploring the role of e-bikes as a solution to reducing car journeys.
So, why e-bikes?
E-bikes allow people to overcome many of the common barriers to cycling, such as longer distances, steep hills and heavy loads.
This makes cycling a practical option for commuting, shopping, and other everyday journeys.
E-bikes also address the barrier of physical ability.
Providing powered assistance, they make cycling possible for more people, especially those with health conditions or less mobility.
By opening up these choices to travel actively, and crucially, by enabling people to cover greater distances, e-bikes have the power to get more bums out of car seats and onto saddles.
Many journeys made by car or even by van, can be replaced with an e-bike.
This form of people-powered movement can therefore make a significant impact on reducing our carbon emissions.
In fact, evidence shows just one single e-bike can save up to 225kg of CO2 per year.
E-cargo bikes enable families to do the school run, without needing to take the car. Credit: Brian Sweeney.
What did we set out to investigate?
For this research, funded by Transport Scotland through the Scottish Research Programme, we wanted to explore three things:
1. The current demand for e-bikes in Scotland
2. The barriers which limit their uptake
3. Possible strategies to support wider adoption of e-bikes
To do this, we conducted a review of existing literature on e-bike growth and ‘modal shift’ – making the change from driving to active and sustainable transport modes.
We also interviewed four industry experts based in Scotland to learn from their experiences in working with e-bikes over the years.
What does the current landscape look like for e-bikes in Scotland?
Over the past decade, and particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, public perceptions on e-bikes have shifted.
Once viewed as a luxury item, they’re now increasingly recognised as a practical and sustainable mode of transport.
This change has been driven by falling prices, better technology, a wider range of models, and ever-growing environmental awareness.
Despite this progress, e-bike ownership in the UK still lags behind much of Europe.
In 2023, e-bikes made up just 9% of UK bike sales, compared to a 27% average across Europe in 2022.
Experts point to cost as a major barrier, even as interest grows.
To help bridge this gap, several initiatives have supported e-bike uptake in Scotland.
These include financial incentives, workplace fleet schemes, and behaviour change programmes.
A standout example was the E-Bike Loan Scheme from Energy Saving Trust in Scotland, which offered interest-free loans of up to £3,000 for e-bikes and £6,000 for e-cargo bikes.
Running from 2019 to 2024, this scheme played a key role in making e-bikes more accessible to individuals and businesses alike.
E-bikes have increased in popularity across Scotland, helping people pedal further. Credit: Andy McCandlish.
What are the main barriers that need to be tackled?
But whilst e-bikes are gaining popularity, several key barriers continue to limit widespread use in Scotland.
Research and expert interviews point to three main challenges: high costs, limited public knowledge, and safety concerns.
Although prices have dropped in recent years, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis makes it difficult for many to justify the investment.
The experts we interviewed suggested that the end of the interest-free E-Bike Loan Scheme in 2024 has further reduced access.
They expressed particular concern about the impact on access for lower-income individuals.
Experts also highlighted hidden costs - like insurance, maintenance, and accessories - that can add up quickly.
Safety is another concern.
E-bikes are heavier and faster than conventional bikes, which can be intimidating, especially for people who are new to cycling.
There are also worries about battery safety and the quality of cheaper imports, which may not meet UK safety standards.
Beyond cost and safety, theft and storage are also concerns.
Many people lack secure places to store e-bikes at home or in public, and fear of theft can be a strong deterrent.
Misconceptions about e-bikes also contribute to public hesitation, such as fears of battery fires or negative stereotypes about e-bike users.
Addressing these barriers will be crucial to making e-bikes a truly inclusive and sustainable transport option for all.
E-bikes help make cycling appealing and inclusive for more people - but barriers persist. Credit: Brian Sweeney.
What are our recommendations for boosting e-bike use?
Based on these findings, our report makes several recommendations to boost e-bike adoption in Scotland. These include:
- Establish e-bikes as a distinct category in Scotland’s transport hierarchy and include them in future transport strategies and plans.
- Introduce more e-bike hire or loan schemes to allow people to travel by e-bike without needing to purchase and store one.
- Encourage workplaces and public transport operators to have more permissive policies related to e-bike storage.
- Reintroduce interest free e-bike loans, alongside targeted behaviour-change programmes which aim to introduce people to e-bikes and increase their comfortability in using them.
What could the future hold for e-bikes in Scotland?
Overall, e-bikes represent an opportunity to substantially change how we travel in Scotland.
If the use of e-bikes is supported in the right way, not only will this reduce our carbon emissions, but it will also benefit our health and improve our neighbourhoods.
We hope this research will support the growth of e-bikes into the future and highlight how they can be used as a key tool in Scotland’s carbon reduction strategy.
Read the full report here for more discussion about Scotland’s e-bike landscape, and both the barriers and enablers towards future growth.
