31.4% of adults own an e-bike or pedelec

In rural areas with limited public transport, electric bikes are increasingly becoming an alternative to cars for journeys of between 5 and 20 kilometers. A survey by energy company E.ON and polling institute Civey found that 31.4% of adults own an e-bike or pedelec. The ownership rate has therefore more than doubled since 2020, when it stood at 15.2%.

Ownership is rising steadily. In 2024, roughly one in four people owned an electric bike, equivalent to 24.7%; in 2025, the figure was around 28%. Lower Saxony leads among the German states, at 39.4%. At district level, Borken follows with 36.6%, Coesfeld with 36.2% and Steinfurt with 35.9%, among others. Rates are particularly high in regions with a cycling tradition, good cycle paths and moderate commuting distances.

Younger adults are also catching up. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, the share rose from 9.8% in 2021 to 13.8% in 2023 and 17.5% in 2024. People over 50 nevertheless remain ahead: 26.4% of 50- to 64-year-olds own an e-bike, compared with 27.6% of those over 65.

The practical effect can be seen in car use. Around 40% of e-bike owners say they use their electric bike as an alternative to a car. A further 27.6% of people without an e-bike can imagine switching to a pedelec for short trips of up to ten kilometers. According to an extrapolation, around 12 to 13% of adults already regularly replace car journeys with e-bike trips.

What does this mean? In rural regions with limited public transport, e-bikes can supplement or partially replace journeys that would otherwise be made by car. In major cities, they are more likely to remain part of a mobility mix, for example as a means of reaching public transport or through sharing services. Civey surveyed up to 30,000 people aged 18 and over each year in a weighted online panel; minors were not included, and a purely online survey may underrepresent groups that are less digitally engaged.