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Date Published: 14/03/2023

Electric bike boom in Spain as motorists ditch the car to save money

More than 20 million people in Spain already use a bicycle on a regular basis

Although petrol and diesel prices are starting to level out a bit since the invasion of Ukraine last year, the loss of the 20 cent per litre fuel bonus has many motorists in Spain examining their options. The bicycle, still the undisputed king of the asphalt, has been replaced in many cities by the electric bike, an option that’s easier on the glutes while still being kind to the environment.

Low Emission Zones will have to be rolled out in larger centres some time this year, so many former drivers are making the switch already, and according to the Bicycle Barometer in Spain, the largest study at the state level on the use of this means of sustainable transport, 20 million people, or 57.1% of the population, already use their bikes on a regular basis.

For the less physically fit among us, the electric bicycle is an obvious choice: thanks to the built-in battery, riders don’t have to pedal at all if they don’t want to, and getting up hills or traversing difficult terrain is a breeze. And with more electric charging points springing up across Spain, it’s certainly a more economical option than a petrol or diesel car.

According to data provided by Norauto, the annual savings from using an electric bicycle is 2,010 euros compared to passenger cars and, in addition, it represents a 99% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In Spain, there are already 900,000 electric bikes in circulation, which makes them the most numerous electric vehicle in the country, far more plentiful than electric scooters.

The study indicates that the majority of people choosing electric bikes over cars are still doing so for the health benefits, closely followed by its contribution to a more sustainable mobility model of transport and cash savings.

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Image: Pixabay

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