In 2023, more electric bicycles will be sold in Belgium than regular bicycles.

The e-bike industry is booming, with more people switching to bikes for both commuting and recreational purposes.

We all know that electric bikes are gaining momentum around the world. Like small-displacement scooters and mopeds, electric bicycles have proven to be a viable alternative to cars when it comes to certain journeys in and around the city. While the growing popularity of electric bikes is certainly visible in the United States, the numbers are even more impressive in Europe and Asia.

Take the Belgian bicycle industry as an example. Belgium has always had a strong emphasis on cycling, and the country’s infrastructure includes cyclists and other active mobility devices. However, 2023 will be an interesting year for Belgium, with sales of electric bicycles exceeding regular bicycles for the first time. A report published by mobility organization Traxio reports that electric bikes will account for 51.2% of all bikes sold in 2023, officially taking the lead from regular bikes other than electric bikes. .

For reference, electric bikes accounted for 47.1 percent of the pie in 2022, so considering all the innovations in the e-mobility industry, it was only a matter of time before electric bikes overtook regular bikes in sales. To put this into perspective, in 2023 a total of 606,000 bikes, electric and non-electric, were sold in Belgium. In fact, the electric bike industry is predicted to expand by 2030, with reports pegging the industry’s value at $120 billion.

A closer look at the data shows that more and more people in Belgium are turning to electric bikes for urban mobility and practical applications. In 2023, electric longtail bikes, especially those used for transporting heavy loads, were the most popular, with sales almost doubling to 6,238 units. Electric road bikes, used for both personal commuting and recreation, have also nearly doubled, from just 4,697 units in 2022 to 8,154 units in 2023.

Recreational bicycles, especially mountain bikes, remained the most popular, but there was a noticeable decline in 2023, with sales of only 54,096 units compared to 88,943 units the previous year. On the electrical side, e-MTBs decreased slightly from 18,167 units in 2022 to 17,387 units in 2023.

Traxio’s report not only provided a detailed breakdown of the Belgian bicycle industry, but also provided insights into consumer preferences regarding bicycles. According to the report, 47% of respondents were ready to buy a new bike at the time of the survey. Meanwhile, 39% said he planned to buy a new bike within two years and 43% said he was considering buying a new bike within two to five years. Remarkably, 46% of all respondents preferred e-bikes over standard leg-powered machines.

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