Circular Business Models for Remanufacturing in the Electric Bicycle Industry

The rising popularity and strong increase in the number of electric bicycles make it necessary to consider the built-in resources as well as possible treatments after the use phase. The time lag between the purchase and the occurrence of relevant defects suggests significant increases in defective components. Especially the great dynamics of the market due to regular innovations, product renewals, and the lack of spare parts availability for older models make the long-term use by customers much more difficult than for conventional bicycles. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze circular business models for the electric bicycle market. In this way, the required structures for a sustainable electric bicycle industry can be created so that valuable materials do not go into disposal but undergo a new use phase. Based on the results of “AddRE-Mo–Value Preservation Scenarios for Urban Electromobility of Persons and Loads through Additive Manufacturing and Remanufacturing,” a research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, this paper addresses four circular business models, two sales models, and two service models. The guiding research interest of this paper is the combination of remanufacturing and additive manufacturing from a business model perspective, analyzing the extent to which additive remanufacturing can be considered a solution for electric bicycles' circularity. After describing the approach and methods used to develop these four circular business models the business models are described and analyzed using the Business Model Canvas. Based on this analysis, it is shown that the combination of remanufacturing and additive manufacturing can be applied to the electric bicycle market and be integrated into both sales and service models. The description of these business models will help managers design viable business models in the context of sustainable electric bicycles. It also shows that the individual partners within the value chain must collaborate more closely. In the electric bicycle industry, a single company will probably not be able to close the product cycle completely. Further research is needed to develop concepts of the business models and examine their practical feasibility in technical and organizational operations to achieve a circular economy.

A Study of the Consumer Preference towards Electric-bicycles over 2 Wheelers ( Motor Cycles ) amongst Youth with reference to Pune City

In the current market where innovation is the key and the customer is ready to pay the price for new products,the introduction of e bicycles in the Indian market is a new trend. The marketers are milking the opportunity of presenting the E Bicycles to the customers as a substitute to other two wheelers which are available in the market. This study aims at finding out the behavior of the consumer and its perception towards E Bicycle. To undertake this study survey method has been used for data collection through convenience sampling of 78 respondents. The data was later processed and interpreted. The findings show that the Consumer is viewing E Bicycles as a better option than the two wheelers in future in the scenario of the rising fuel prices and the environmental issues.

Efficiency Evaluation of Electric Bicycle Power Transmission Systems

In this study, a method for estimating the efficiency of electric bicycle power train systems consisting of typical components, such as an electric motor, gears, sprockets, and chains is presented. In order to calculate the efficiency of a power train system, the relationship between the drive motor torque and the road-load that is exerted on the rear wheel was derived, considering kinematic inertia effects and friction losses between power transmission elements. Among the factors that influence efficiency, it was found that friction losses play a dominant role, while the effects of inertia are insignificant. The factors that influence the efficiency of electric bicycles due to friction losses, such as the transmission efficiency of the chain system and the bearing in the sprocket and wheel, were quantified. To validate the proposed efficiency calculation procedure, an experimental electric bicycle was used, in which the driving torque and road-load could be quantitatively assessed, and the actual efficiency was measured on a chassis dynamometer. It is shown that for a given motor torque, a measured and estimated dynamometer torque obtained by the proposed method exhibits a good correlation, and the transmission efficiency of each component was quantified. This method provides a practical and accurate means to calculate the drive train efficiency of electric bicycles at the design stage to improve the efficiency of electric bicycles.

Could It Be a Bike for Everyone? The Electric Bicycle in Poland

The purpose of study was to find out how electric bikes are perceived in Poland, a country with a high level of motorisation and a low cycling culture. A key question was to investigate whether differences in perceptions between traditional (unassisted) and electrically assisted bicycles could bring about greater interest in bicycle transport. The analysis was based on the results of a CAWI survey analysing the perception of the electric bicycle in comparison with the traditional bicycle and the car. Its undoubted advantages are marginalised (only 14% of respondents considered it more practical). The position of the electric bicycle seemed to increase in the opinion of the surveyed only when used by elderly people with poorer fitness, as something that can encourage them to cycle. In general evaluations, it was the traditional bicycle that was seen as better for health. The presented results may serve as a signal that electric bicycles need more promotion in Poland, especially in terms of the benefits of using this mode of transport and the advantages over conventional bikes. The electric bicycle, due to its still low popularity in Poland, may be treated as a certain novelty, which is approached with some distrust and reserve.

Exploring Intention to Use Shared Electric Bicycles by the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior

In China, shared electric bicycles are developing rapidly, and are widely used by residents. Understanding the factors that affect residents’ intention to use shared electric bicycles is important for implementing a policy of developing sustainable transportation. A sample of 751 respondents has been collected in a small-sized Chinese city to analyze residents’ intention to use shared electric bicycles, using an extended theory of planned behavior model. The findings reveal that the research model can well explain residents’ intention to use shared electric bicycles. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control have direct positive effects on the intention to use shared electric bicycles. Among them, the subjective norm has the greatest impact on the intention to use shared electric bicycles. Environmental concern and policy support have indirect positive effects on the intention to use shared electric bicycles through the partial mediation of attitude and subjective norm. Based on the above analysis, some measures are proposed to guide the development of shared electric bicycles.