Electric Bikes Get Things Rolling the Environmental Impact of Pedelecs and Their Potential
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background // august 2014 Electric bikes get things rolling The environmental impact of pedelecs and their potential For our Environment Imprint Publisher: Federal Environment Agency (UBA) Department I 3.1 PO Box 14 06 06844 Dessau-Roßlau Tel: +49 340-2103-0 [email protected] Internet: www.umweltbundesamt.de /umweltbundesamt.de /umweltbundesamt Authors: Ulrike Wachotsch, Andrea Kolodziej, Bernhard Specht, Regina Kohlmeyer und Falk Petrikowski with the assistance of Caroline Ommeln, Katrin Dziekan, Nadja Richter, Tina Mutert, Markus Menge and Manuela Weber Translated from German: Nathaneil W. Fritz Layout: Umweltbundesamt Download this paper: http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/ e-rad-macht-mobil Photocredits: Cover: © autofocus67 / Fotolia.de p. 5: © Giant p. 19, 20: Katrin Dziekan / UBA p. 13: Backfiets.nl p. 16: Andrea Kolodziej / UBA p. 21: © Microstockfish / Fotolia.de p. 22: www.inmod.de Date: August 2014 Content Synopsis / Abstract 4 1. Status Quo 5 Electric bikes: facts and figures 6 2. Possible applications and potential benefits of pedelecs 8 2.1 Pedelecs – possible applications 8 2.2 Infrastructure requirements and parking 14 3. Environmental impact of pedelecs 15 3.1 Reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions 15 3.2 Reduced impact on air quality 15 3.3 Reduced space consumption and noise 16 3.4 Characteristics and environmental effects of battery types currently used in pedelecs 17 3.5 Returning and recycling pedelecs and rechargeable batteries 19 4. Recommendations for action 21 List of abbreviations 23 Notes 24 Synopsis / Abstract Riding a pedelec is like riding a bike with the wind The amount of energy a pedelec requires for a 10 km at your back – one can take longer journeys than on trip is roughly equal to the energy needed to bring a conventional bike, without arriving drenched in 0.7 litres of room-temperature water to a boil. Given sweat. Some 1.6 million electric bikes are currently in Germany’s current energy mix, generating electricity use on German roads. With a 95% market share, pe- continues to emit pollutants; however, the proportion delecs – bikes assisted by an electric motor – consti- of pollutants resulting from generating electricity for tute the majority of electric vehicles in Germany. Cyc- pedelecs is only a fraction of that caused by a com- ling is trendy, and increased use of pedelecs can help bustion engine used to travel the same distance. The support the German federal government in achieving production and disposal of lithium-ion batteries – its aim of increasing the cycling rate from its current currently the most common battery type on pedelecs level of 10% to 15%. Electric bikes offer a diverse – burdens the environment with 22-30 kg C02e. When range of advantages and possible uses: they make it that is contrasted with the 21.5 kg CO2e saved per easier for users to travel longer distances, allow them 100 km not driven in a car, after only 100 kilometres to transport larger loads and to more easily overcome of travel on a pedelec the battery’s greenhouse gas natural obstacles, such as inclines and headwinds. emissions have been balanced out. Sensible recycling Furthermore, pedelecs are an alternative to company of rechargeable batteries and of the bikes themselves cars and an ideal transport option for recreational further conserves resources. activities and bike tours. The faster speeds that they sometimes attain in comparison to conventional As part of an integrated transport planning scheme, bikes and the greater demands with regard to secure pedelecs are an important component of sustainable parking require investment in infrastructure. mobility in cities, but also, most notably, in rural areas. From an environmental perspective, this Common questions regarding pedelecs involve their type of electric vehicle should be embraced, actively potential for sustainable mobility, and, above all, promoted and encouraged in order to make pedelecs their environmental impacts. This paper provides appealing to more user groups as an attractive, inex- answers to these queries. A pedelec puts more stress pensive and environmentally sound form of transport on the environment than a conventional bicycle that constitutes an alternative to private motorized without an electric motor, but the relatively low transport. environmental impact level of pedelecs is certainly offset when pedelecs are used in lieu of cars for trips. Definition of terms The terms pedelec, electric bike and e-bike are often used synonymously, yet also commonly used to mean different things. As such, we have defined these terms below as we construe them to roughly explain the differences. Pedelecs are electric bikes that are propelled with physical strength; additionally, up to a speed of 25 km/h, propulsion is assisted by an electric motor with a maximum power output of 250 W. Pedelecs differ very little from conventional bicycles in how they are operated. E-bikes are bicycles with electric motors that can be ridden without pedalling, i.e. entirely electrically powered. Electric bicycles is the general term for power-assisted bicycles, i.e. for pedelecs and e-bikes. 4 1. Status Quo Mobility plays a major role in the society we live in. Motorized private transport constitutes roughly Preserving it for future generations – particularly 80% of the total kilometres travelled for passenger considering the increasing scarcity of resources, and transport. This leads to correspondingly high energy environmental protection and conservation issues – consumption, emissions of CO2 and other air pollu- presents a great challenge. Increased cycle traffic can tants per kilometre travelled. Walking and cycling provide a good solution to this challenge. are environmentally friendly modes of transport that cause almost no harmful emissions. According to the survey Mobility in Germany 2008 (MiD 2008)1, bicycle traffic accounted for a 10% share A Dresden University of Technology (TUD) study of all trips; altogether, sustainable modes of transport commissioned by the German Federal Environment (public transport, pedestrian and bicycle traffic) held Agency (UBA)5 examined the question of whether cy- a 42% share. The growth of motorized private trans- cling can contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas port has diminished since the 2002 survey, while sus- emissions in Germany. It came to the conclusion that tainable modes of transport have gained relevance.2 intelligent and environmentally sustainable transport with integrated solutions is necessary for the future: The German federal government is committed to sus- employment of low or zero-emission vehicles, cycling tainability, which itself serves as an engine for social short trips, generally opting for shorter trips to closer and political progress.3 The federal government has destinations and improving conditions for the incre- formulated specific tasks and targets in its national ased use of sustainable modes of transport (walking, strategy for sustainable development “Perspectives cycling, public transport, car sharing, bicycle sharing for Germany”. The main sphere of action is climate schemes, etc.). Various measure-related scenarios in and energy (a 50% reduction in global greenhouse the study calculated a potential for CO2 reduction of gas emissions by 2050 compared to 1990). Germany between 10 and 30% in passenger traffic through an aims to achieve a 40% reduction in its own green- increase in cycling traffic.6,7,8 house gas emissions compared to 1990 by 2020, and an 85-95% reduction by 2050 in comparison to 1990. The aim of the federal government’s National Cycling 9 However, a look at CO2 emissions from all sectors Plan 2020 (NRVP 2020) is to increase the cycling rate since 1990 shows that only the transport sector had for all trips to 15% until 2020. According to the sur- no reduction in emissions; in fact, they rose. Techni- vey MiD 2008, more than 75% of all trips are 10 km cal developments to reduce CO2 were offset by a heavy or less. The federal government sees electric bikes as growth in traffic (kilometres travelled by car) in recent having exceptional potential to increase the cycling years.4 rate for trips in that distance range.10 5 Fig. 1 Comparison of modal split in 2002 and 2008 (share of trips in %) 100 9 10 90 80 23 24 70 Bicycle 8 60 9 On foot 50 Public passenger transport 40 58 60 Motorized private transport 30 (drivers and passengers) 20 Modal split (share oftrips in per cent %) 10 0 2002 2008 Source: Graph based on MiD 2008 (report on findings) Electric bikes: facts and figures The German Two-Wheeler Industry Association In contrast to electric cars, growing demand has been (ZIV)14 estimates that electric bikes can make up a observed in the bicycle sector in recent years. While 15% share of all bicycles in the medium term; that the automobile industry continues to invest conside- would be 10.65 million e-bikes. According to ZIV rable sums in the development of electrically powered statistics, about 70,000 e-bikes were sold in 2007. By vehicles (registered vehicles in Germany in 2013: 2013 that figure had risen to 410,000 bikes (cf. Fig. 7,114 electric cars and 64,994 hybrid vehicles)11,12, 2).15 More than one in ten new bikes sold in Germany electrically powered bicycles have firmly established in 2013 was an e-bike. The retail market currently themselves on German roads, with roughly 1.6 milli- offers over 1,500 different models and types of e-bikes on such vehicles in use. The market for electric bikes from over 70 bike manufacturers.16 has a distinct focal point: bikes with electric motors that assist riders; they are commonly called pedelecs, According to a representative survey, 90% of people which is a portmanteau created from “pedal electric are familiar with e-bikes and pedelecs.18 Twelve per cycle”. Insurance is not required for such bikes, and cent of Germans have already at least test ridden one they can be ridden without a driving licence or moped of these new types of bikes, 47 per cent are interested certificate.