Electric bike sales volume in Japan 2011-2020
As of 2020, around 737.74 thousand electric power-assist bicycles were sold in Japan, worth about 61.82 billion Japanese yen in sales. The sales volume of 2020 indicated an increase of almost 40 thousand units compared to the previous year. While Japan produced roughly 867 thousand bicycles in 2020, those figures barely covered the domestic demand. More than six million bicycles were imported into the country over the same year.
What makes e-bikes popular?
The most common type among Japanese cyclists was the so-called mamachari, which can be loosely translated as 'granny’s bike'. A mamachari is a general utility bicycle, particularly popular among housewives and students commuting to school or running daily errands. As of 2020, e-bikes were the third-most newly sold bicycle type, with 12 percent of customers in Japan opting for the electrified version.
When electric power-assist bicycles were introduced to the Japanese market, the main target group was the elderly, who benefitted from having to use less physical strength to navigate their daily life on a bicycle. In recent years, however, parents of preschool children have come to rely increasingly on the practicality of e-bikes when taking their kids to daycare facilities. Generally speaking, the main benefit of motorized bicycles, such as pedelecs, is the convenience they add to everyday life, like running errands or commuting.
While bicycles equipped with self-propulsion systems are considered mopeds in Japan and are, therefore, subject to compliant traffic laws, models using an electric power-assisted system to support the pedaling motion fall legally under the category of bicycles. Looser regulations for certain types of e-bikes are an additional factor contributing to the success story of electric power-assist bicycles in Japan.
What are the risks of electric bicycles?
E-bikes tend to be heavier and, due to their built-in electric motor, also faster than the average bicycle. Such factors can contribute to a heightened risk of road accidents. However, the number of accidents caused by motorized bicycles decreased from over 23.14 thousand in 2011 to under seven thousand cases in 2020. While the majority of overall bicycle accidents were caused by road users being negligent towards the traffic situation, another common reason for accidents and close calls with children was the usage of mobile phones, headphones, or umbrellas while riding a bike.
What makes e-bikes popular?
The most common type among Japanese cyclists was the so-called mamachari, which can be loosely translated as 'granny’s bike'. A mamachari is a general utility bicycle, particularly popular among housewives and students commuting to school or running daily errands. As of 2020, e-bikes were the third-most newly sold bicycle type, with 12 percent of customers in Japan opting for the electrified version.
When electric power-assist bicycles were introduced to the Japanese market, the main target group was the elderly, who benefitted from having to use less physical strength to navigate their daily life on a bicycle. In recent years, however, parents of preschool children have come to rely increasingly on the practicality of e-bikes when taking their kids to daycare facilities. Generally speaking, the main benefit of motorized bicycles, such as pedelecs, is the convenience they add to everyday life, like running errands or commuting.
While bicycles equipped with self-propulsion systems are considered mopeds in Japan and are, therefore, subject to compliant traffic laws, models using an electric power-assisted system to support the pedaling motion fall legally under the category of bicycles. Looser regulations for certain types of e-bikes are an additional factor contributing to the success story of electric power-assist bicycles in Japan.
What are the risks of electric bicycles?
E-bikes tend to be heavier and, due to their built-in electric motor, also faster than the average bicycle. Such factors can contribute to a heightened risk of road accidents. However, the number of accidents caused by motorized bicycles decreased from over 23.14 thousand in 2011 to under seven thousand cases in 2020. While the majority of overall bicycle accidents were caused by road users being negligent towards the traffic situation, another common reason for accidents and close calls with children was the usage of mobile phones, headphones, or umbrellas while riding a bike.
