Pedelecs - Survey: Schleswig-Holstein loses first place for e-bikes
Approximately one in four residents of Schleswig-Holstein own an e-bike, according to a new survey by energy supplier Eon, published on a Thursday. This represents a slight decrease from approximately 27.2 percent of interviewees in the northern federal state who reported owning an e-bike in a survey conducted around a year ago. At that time, Schleswig-Holstein shared the top spot with Niedersachsen. However, this year Schleswig-Holstein has dropped to fourth place with a 26.2 percent e-bike ownership rate, behind Niedersachsen (32.6 percent), Baden-Württemberg (27.4 percent), and Bavaria (26.4 percent).
For the survey, market research company Civey interviewed 30,000 people aged 18 and over in Germany online between mid-May and early June. Nationwide, 24.7 percent of all interviewees use e-bikes. In 2023, when the survey was conducted two months earlier, this figure was 23.3 percent.
According to the data, the most e-bike owners are found in the districts of Dithmarschen (32.2 percent), Plön (31.6 percent), and Nordfriesland (31 percent). The fewest e-bikes are found in Neumünster (21.2 percent), Flensburg (21.8 percent), and Lübeck (22.5 percent).
Interest in e-bikes is also increasing among younger people and on vacation
The survey also reveals that e-bike ownership has particularly increased among the 18-29 age group. Nationwide, 17.5 percent (2023: 13.8) of interviewees in this age group now own an e-bike. The most widespread use of e-bikes, however, remains among those over 65 years old (27.7 percent).
According to the survey, 10,000 of the interviewees were also asked to explain the reasons for purchasing an e-bike. As in the previous year, many interviewees cited environmental friendliness. Forty-seven percent stated that they charge their bikes at home with green electricity. It appears that there is also interest in using e-bikes on vacation. A quarter of interviewees can imagine taking a multi-day cycling trip with electric assistance. For commuting to work, the survey found that 6.8 percent use e-bikes.
Eon Energy Atlas
The survey conducted by E.ON also revealed that Lower Saxony maintains its position as the region with the highest e-bike ownership rate at 32.6%. Furthermore, electric bicycles are gaining popularity among young people, with a 3.7% increase in ownership among the 18-29 age group. In contrast, Baden-Württemberg has seen a slight decrease in e-bike ownership, now standing at 27.4%.
Interestingly, the districts of Dithmarschen, Plön, and Nordfriesland in Schleswig-Holstein have the highest e-bike ownership rates, while Neumünster, Flensburg, and Lübeck have the lowest. The survey also found that 6.8% of interviewees use e-bikes for commuting to work, and a quarter of respondents expressed interest in using e-bikes for multi-day cycling trips on vacation.
E.ON's Energy Atlas further illustrates that electric mobility is not limited to e-bikes. In fact, statistical data from Bavaria shows a significant increase in pedelec ownership, indicating a growing trend towards electric-assisted bicycles across Germany. Traffic patterns in cities like Munich are adjusting to accommodate this shift, and the popularity of both e-bikes and pedelecs is expected to continue in the coming years.
