Will E-Bikes Live Up to Their Urban Hype?
Also today: LA’s fire-resilient homes, and the hurdles to sending data centers to space.
Cyclists ride electric bikes near the headquarters of e-bike maker Also in Palo Alto, California.
Photographer: Jason Henry/Bloomberg
Electric bikes rose in popularity during the pandemic as urban dwellers sought out alternatives to public transit and a way to enjoy the outdoors. But since then, sales have slowed and some of the biggest manufacturers in the US and beyond have declared bankruptcy. That might prompt some boosters to wonder if e-bikes are yet another urban transportation innovation that fails to live up to its hype.
They should keep the faith, writes contributor David Zipper. He draws a parallel to the early days of the US auto industry, when scores of small companies vied for position in a fast-changing marketplace. While today's e-bike makers face a range of challenges, those that survive could emerge stronger on the other side. The industry is down, he writes, but it is far from out. Today on CityLab: E-Bike Boosters Ask: Is It All Downhill From Here?