Rosie Burgin

SUZHOU, China - Semi solid-state batteries are lightweight, fast-charging and offer enhanced safety giving them the potential to be a game-changer for the e-bike industry. At least this is the vision of Chinese manufacturer T&D who is developing a semi-solid state e-bike battery which provides 830Wh at only 3.2kg. Small-scale production is expected to commence this year.

LYON, France - Folding e-bike manufacturer Eovolt has its sights set on being more than just that. To support further internationalisation and entry into other non-electric categories, the French manufacturer is rebranding to UTO. "It is a new name to symbolise the brand we have become over the years," CEO Baptiste Fullen told Bike Europe during Eurobike.

VELKE ORVIŠTĚ, Slovakia - Bicycle brand Kellys and battery manufacturer BMZ are reportedly working on a European-assembled e-bike battery with a higher energy density than the latest DJI Avinox or Bosch Powertube 800. Looking to outpace rivals, the goal is reportedly to create the world's lightest e-bike battery with a capacity above 800 Wh.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Chinese e-bikes have once again been implemented in a customs fraud case involving the evasion of duties when importing products into the EU market. Under the code-name Calypso, a complex scheme was exposed which led to raids across several EU member states. The total damage of the activities under investigation is estimated at approximately €700 million, although it is unclear how much of this is directly attributed to e-bike fraud.

EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands - Shimano Europe has launched Nextgen Mechanics, a new call for evidence aimed at tackling the growing shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe. The collaborative initiative with Cycling Industries Europe aims to bring in a broad alliance of stakeholders committed to strengthening the profession, raising standards, and inspiring the next generation of cycle mechanics.

PARIS, France - Upway, the online platform for reconditioned electric bikes, has launched a strategic partnership with the Spanish bike brand Orbea to give e-bikes a second life and support the sales of new e-bikes at the same time. In a move to strengthen the circular economy of e-bikes by including established industry players, a trade-in program is now live at Orbea retailers across several European countries.

FRANKFURT, Germany - The Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) have signed a Letter of Intent to advance the merger of the two associations. Delivered as a milestone for the European bicycle industry, "this step reflects a shared vision to amplify the voice of the European cycling industry to lead the continent's mobility and industrial transformation," it was announced.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - For the first 4 months of the year, Taiwanese customs data showed that the country's bicycle industry was showing the first signs of recovery after years of global market stagnation. Both e-bike and component exports rose in the first quarter of 2025, driven by increasing demand for high-value products and improved average unit prices. However, preliminary export data for May shows that this growth has not been sustained.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — "The legal equivalence with bicycles laid the strong foundation of the success of the e-bike," claimed German trade association ZIV earlier this year. At the same time, it proposed imposing additional technical restrictions on e-bikes and dividing e-bikes into two categories governed by separate legal frameworks. LEVA-EU refutes this claim in a response, calling it "unfounded" and has repeatedly called for the creation of a dedicated LEV regulatory framework instead of following a "narrow industrial agenda."

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The total number of e-bikes entering the European Union (EU) in Q1 of 2025 is almost unchanged on a like-for-like basis compared to the same period last year, the latest data from Eurostat shows. With a 3% rise to almost 130,000 units, it is China and Cambodia which have significantly grown their contribution to the e-bikes entering the EU. Meanwhile, the number of e-bikes coming from Taiwan continues to decline.