Electric bicycle adoption Drivers and barriers from a user perspective

Helena Strömberg, Göran Smith & Pontus Wallgren Division Design & Human Factors, Department of Product and Production Development, Chalmers University of Technology

The Testcyklisterna project • Participants were lent a specialised, user-adapted bicycle • They promised to replace 3 days worth of car-driving with cycling • During 6 months, April to October 2014 • 37 participants from 7 municipalities in Western Sweden • Organised by the regional authority • Interviews conducted with 15 of the participants

VANEBILISTER BLEV TESTCY K LISTER

• What role did the bicycle designs play in the attempt to shift travel behaviour? Trampa igång

Motivated to cycle, because • Cycling is a convenient mode of transport • Cycling is both energizing and relaxing • Cycling leads to improved health and physique

Not able to cycle, because • They suffered from injuries or other impairments • They had to travel too long distance, not high enough fitness levels • They needed to carry work material, or children

Participants who used an electric bicycle P. M/F Age Type of EB 1 F 33 3-speed pedelec with trailer 3-speed pedelec with 3 assist 2 F 45 levels 3 M 52 7-speed pedelec

4

M

36

5

M

45

6

F

29

3-speed pedelec, adj. shock absorbers Electric assist 3-wheel freight bicycle 3-speed pedelec with trailer

7

M

41

7-speed pedelec

Main motivation for EB Long distance commute Assistance needed due to injury

km/day 35 20

Long distance commute, no shower 35 facility Assistance needed due to health 20 issues Transporting children in hilly terrain 15

Long distance commute

50

Long distance commute

50

Cycled mainly for commuting, or for work trips, but also school runs and errands

Barriers and drivers on a typical trip

For the bicycle to work as transport mode, the barriers of all trip components must be dealt with These need to be taken care of by different stakeholders

At home Drivers • less mental resistance towards heading out in the morning • easier to dress for weather and exertion

Riding together Drivers • Being able to bring passengers • Less effort involved

• Freight bicycles and trailers simplified commuting with children • However, many children insisted on cycling themselves inspired by their parents

Barriers • non-assisted cyclists cannot keep up, especially children

Normal riding Drivers • easier to travel longer distances and in hillier terrain Barriers • difficult to use safely in mixed traffic

• as they quickly accelerated from 0 to 25km/h causing a choppy and unpredictable pattern of movement.

• poor quality of the road

• Road conditions, sharp turns, speed barriers harder to handle • Because of speed, bulk and poor quality

• bicycles go too slow, and do not offer enough exercise • wanting to go faster and gain more exercise.

Arriving at work Drivers: • Reduced need to shower and change Barriers: • Need for safe parking

• risk of theft for bicycles and batteries

• Need to bring battery with you • Lack of charging facilities at work At work barrier: • cheating-stigma

• “car drivers never get accused of cheating, and they are the worst cheaters of them all”

Unanticipated detour • Driver • less of a bother to make an unanticipated detour

• Barrier • Understanding the available range of the electric assist • Do you have enough charge left to make it? • Bicycles too heavy to ride with when out of charge.

Transporting goods • Drivers • Electric assist enabled trailer use or freight bicycle adoption • Simplified transport of goods • At the beginning, mainly children and shopping • Discovered that the bicycles could be used for other purposes as well, such as transporting work material and going on excursions

• Barriers • bicycles without freight-adaptions perceived as unsteady when loaded

Summary • Major drivers • • • •

All of the normal benefits of cycling Can overcome injuries and hills (and distances) Easier to bring your children and your stuff You can dress against the weather

• Major barriers • Safe parking for large, long, and expensive bicycles • Price and quality of bicycles, and the match between them • Understanding electric assist • Quality of infrastructure and safety of mixed traffic

Conclusions • Electrified bicycles can attract more people to cycling – and away from driving for everyday trips • but there are multiple barriers to overcome so that they work for the entire trip

• Enhance the quality of the bicycles and infrastructure • freight bicycles are connected to even stricter demands on suitable infrastructure and bicycle quality than electric bicycles themselves

• Study electrified freight bicycles! • as they can attract a wider user group with more diversified needs