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The term sustainability is meanwhile used in an almost inflationary way. We don’t want to adorn ourselves with it – it’s not about better marketing, but about taking responsibility, improving ourselves and taking action. What we have implemented in the last few months can be found in our Action Report.
We want to report as independently and transparently as possible about our suppliers and our product mix. With our WIR DENKEN UM label, we promote responsible companies and sustainable products and therefore we also take a critical look at: How e-bikes and sustainability go together. For tips on choosing the right electrically assisted bike, see our e-bike guide.
E-bikes & sustainability, how can that be harmonised? Perfectly, of course! … Well, that’s simply wrong and purely provocative. This question cannot be answered in a general way. The reason is not a hidden purchase argumentation, but rather the individual understanding of “sustainability”. That’s why we provide a look at different aspects that can be valued:
The production
From aluminium, carbon to steel, whether in the frame of an e-bike or bicycle, in the choice of components such as the drive, tyres or brakes, there are simply no materials and raw materials that can really be called resource-friendly, recyclable or sustainable in general.
But why? Why are there still no biomaterial frame kits or bikes made of recycled steel, aluminium or carbon? The simplest answer to this question would be: “for economic reasons”. However, this is not the whole truth. Much of the know-how regarding the actual manufacturing process with raw materials is currently located mainly in Southeast Asia. It takes a lot of planning and preparation to change the processes and manufacturing methods of series production there.
It would be wrong to suggest that the idea of sustainability has not yet arrived in this large industry. Compared to the textile industry, especially in the sector of sportswear, responsible management began early on. Due to the material requirements of the bicycle industry, there is a great trade-off when it comes to implementing sustainable production methods. For all that, the responsibility is present. Numerous manufacturers support projects such as World Bicycle Relief to give people in developing countries mobility and access to education. There is also a rethink in certain production sectors. In packaging materials, there are a reduction of the use of plastics. This does not change the actual manufacturing process. Until there is a real change towards sustainable raw materials in production, it will most likely take a few more years. It might be a wishful thinking, but the current shortage of materials is leading to an impulse to speed up this development. Bio-composites, which are already being used in motor sports, are still a far-off dream in frame construction, but they are still a conceivable alternative to classic materials.
Regarding the manufacturing processes, the fact is that they are not limited to e-bikes. Up to the point of production where the battery, motor or cables are installed, there are no significant differences in assembly or the supply of energy for example for raw material processing. Due to their design, e-bike frames have a larger material volume compared to normal bicycles. This is caused by assembly points such as the battery and motor bracket, which are based on a larger material input.
With the integration of the battery, the e-bike gets one of the most important, but at the same time highly criticised components. The procedures for mining the necessary raw materials such as cobalt involve massive physical effort. The miners, including many children, work under the most adverse conditions and at great risk to their lives. The extraction of silicium, which consumes large amounts of water and energy, also leads to serious impacts in the affected regions. This does not create a ” living wage through industry” either, as the impact on people and the environment creates a massive disbalance.
At this point, there should not be a harm-minimising comparison with other industries in order to reduce the negative effects of industry-linked raw material procurement. These circumstances correspond to facts and should be addressed, otherwise they will remain. In this area, we are in close exchange with our partners.
The benefit …
The first and second Corona years have shown how much potential there is in bicycles and e-bikes. As a result of the pandemic, the use of public transport in inner-city areas in Germany has been reduced and shifted to the muscle-powered cycle, confirmed by the Bicycle Monitor 2020. During the survey period in June, 25 percent of the participants stated that they currently cycled more often.
… for health
The most frequently cited reason for using a bicycle more often is to maintain one’s own fitness. Yes, of course! With the e-bike, I can take care of my exercise and cover longer distances at the same time.
But! To what level can really one’s own performance level, i.e., one’s “fitness”, be maintained or increased?
Simply explained, without going too deeply into the science, training impulses must be set, that means concretely, weight must be moved through muscle power. The more constant and intensive these stimuli are, the faster the adaptation effects on the musculoskeletal system and the cardiovascular system.
This is precisely where a risk comes into play when using e-bikes. Due to the additional support from the motor, there is a risk of reducing precisely these peak loads or stimuli. What then follows could be described as pure exercise therapy and would not have any “significant” effect in relation to increasing the actual performance level.
In terms of maintaining fitness, the aim here is only to create an understanding of training. In order for the e-bike to be used effectively to increase one’s own performance, the first step would be to attend a performance diagnostic session to calculate the individual performance and workload zones. But what does that mean in concrete terms? Heart rate monitor! This is the only way to permanently monitor whether the exercise is actually training-intensive.
Any exercise is better than none, and especially for older people, people with health restrictions or a very weak performance level, the e-bike is an incredibly valuable way to gain access to cycling at all. The electric support, initially relieves the person’s own body weight, the performance deficit and enables outdoor exercise that is easy on the joints. As a study at the University of Basel shows, e-bikes can also help to improve the oxygen intake of inactive and overweight people after only a short time.
Health is made up of many components and cannot be generalised. It is also not decisive to pedal one thousand metres of altitude in one hour, and that only from one’s own muscle power.
… for mobility
Leaving the car at home or no longer waiting for the bus or train – these thoughts exist, whether on the way to work or for everyday tasks that simply require mobility and flexibility. Unfortunately, for many people this is not realisable, the commute to work is too long, the children must go to the day-care centre or there is simply not enough time. The bicycle or e-bike as sports gear simply does not offer sufficient transport options and comfort compared to a car with a large boot and the protective interior.
Whereas in the countryside and for longer distances it is almost impossible to replace a car with an e-bike, in urban areas the electrically assisted bicycle benefits from faster progress in rush-hour traffic or when looking for a parking space.
Important! In the context of mobility, this only refers to the actual covering of a distance from A to B and the resulting energy expenditure, efficiency and emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases. The following is another comparison with cars. The pure CO² emissions are not to be discussed here in superficial calculations.
We do not want to draw a disproportionate comparison, but we would like to present the facts about mobility. This allows us to evaluate how e-bikes rank in terms of sustainability compared to other transport vehicles.
In 2018, cars on German roads were filled by an average of 1.46 people. The remaining transport and space potential was only used to a limited extent. If we consider the scenario in which all vehicles are equipped with modern electric motors powered purely by electricity from renewable sources, there is still a large deficit in the available energy utilisation. Classic combustion engines, which still rely on fossil fuels to provide energy, perform much worse due to their poor efficiency of around 20 percent. The remaining 80 percent of the energy provided is converted into heat. No matter what resources are used to somehow operate combustion engines in a climate-neutral way, the conversion of energy input into actual movement will always be bound to the physical principles of a combustion process.
Yes, but the human being is actually also a combustion engine!? Right! The same principle applies here. That’s why the human engine is only about 25 per cent efficient. In addition, there is a high wind resistance with a large energy input in the form of calories and results in a worse ecological balance than a diesel engine. Does that sound like a joke? Well, take that with a grain of salt. We leave that up to the interpretation of our readers.
But to come to a point, despite the fact that e-bikes use resources and produce emissions, they are more “sustainable” than a motor vehicle, purely from the point of view of actual mobility. To think a little further, this also includes the noise development when driving and the requirements for the infrastructure in cities. The e-bike is a valuable tool for people of all abilities to cover short daily distances.
Durability, maintenance and recyclability
Where you break an egg, chips fall, where you “cycle” ,… fall? People who buy a new e-bike are often not aware that not only brake pads or drive parts wear out. Components such as the battery lose capacity after some time due to chemical reactions caused by discharging and charging. How quickly these losses occur depends on the number of charging cycles and environmental influences such as the temperature during storage. In order to have as long a range and as much fun with the battery as possible, it is essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on safety and use.
But what if, after a few years and several kilometres, only three quarters of the original distance can be covered? If only the capacity is affected, the battery can still be used for the corresponding range. It gets more complicated when the assistance breaks down. Then it can be assumed that there really is a cell defect. In many cases, the only option is to replace it with a new purchase.
Since defective batteries, there are also companies that specialise in replacing individual cells or components and restoring the function. On the part of the drive manufacturers, there are still no “official repair offers” or “workshops” should the loss of capacity of the battery be outside the warranty or guarantee. Depending on the country, the old defective battery is then a case for the recycling depot. What percentage of it is recycled and then goes back into a manufacturing process cannot be independently confirmed. According to the DR Deutsche Recycling Service GmbH report in 2018, of 3152 tonnes of batteries in circulation, only 3.62 per cent were recycled. Consequently, large quantities of valuable raw materials are already lying around in private households and no longer find their way into recycling. Disposal or delivery as a private individual is basically free of charge.
Our responsibility
Absolutely right, we sell consumer and luxury goods according to the economic definition! The current range represents more sports equipment with a lot of suspension travel and chunky tyres, rather than e-bikes suitable for everyday use that replace a car in practice.
To be honest, we are in a learning process and deal with sustainable business – and the sustainability of e-bikes – on a daily basis as part of our WDU strategy. We want to keep our offering, but be as transparent and conscientious as possible. That is why we are in close exchange with our partners and suppliers. We do our best to fulfil the requirements of a sustainable offer and listen to every criticism without filters!
Questions and suggestions are always welcome at: [email protected]
