UK's e-Bike Sales Shifting Up

LONDON, UK – Next to other countries in Europe, also in the UK the sale of electric bicycles is on the rise. And even to such levels that for next year they are expected to hit the market share ranking for bike categories.

What will contribute big time to the rise in e-Bike sales in the UK is the fact that the biggest bike seller in the Kingdom will stock them in-store. The Halfords retail chain with its over 30% share in total bike sales in the UK is already selling e-Bikes, but only online. With the electric bicycles hitting the Halfords stores, a sales boost is very likely.

For 2009 the sale of electric bicycles in England, Wales and Scotland is estimated at about 21,000 units; up about 45% compared to 2008. Mark Loveridge, founder of the British Electric Bicycle Association and UK sales director of Ultra Motor, predicts that e-Bike sales will reach 30,000 in 2010. With that they will reach a market share of about 1% of the total British bike market that this year is estimated at a total volume of about 3 million units.

According to Loveridge, 2010 sales could well grow beyond the 30,000 mark as an increase in the number of free charging points will encourage usage. “I predict the UK will hit 30,000 units quite comfortably in 2010. The market is growing at an incomprehendable  rate, we are in very exciting times,” says Loveridge in the UK newspaper Mail on Sunday. “I have been involved in renewable energy for a number of years and also electric motorcycles, but this sector really shows the potential to go mainstream quickly.”