Interview: How much does an e-bike cost over its lifetime?
Insurance, maintenance, and so on – an e-bike also incurs costs after purchase. But how high is the burden really? What are the e-bike costs per kilometer? And what are the e-bike costs per year? Martin Gerber, workshop manager at Rent a Bike AG in Willisau, Switzerland, provides us with the answers to these and other questions in an interview.
Martin, before we talk about the running costs of an e-bike: Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Martin Gerber: I work as a workshop manager at Rent a Bike AG in Willisau. We specialize in e-bike rental, but we but we also engage in sales and workshop services. I myself am a career changer in the bicycle industry:
Originally, I trained as an automotive mechatronics technician, but after more than 20 years of self-employment in the automotive sector, I redirected my career during the coronavirus pandemic. Since I am a passionate mountain biker myself, , the transition into the cycling world was a natural step for me.
Running costs have always been a major issue in the automotive sector. But with e-bikes, more and more people are talking about it in the bicycle world. What are the cost factors after buying an e-bike?
Martin Gerber: If we start with the workshop, then regular inspections, repairs and spare parts are a cost factor. Services associated with the e-bike, such as e-bike insurance, also cost money. And then there’s the loss in value, which you also know from cars.
Let’s start directly with the workshop: How often should an e-bike be serviced and how much does it cost per year?
Martin Gerber: We generally recommend one complete service per year. We charge CHF 190 plus the cost of spare parts. (Note FIT: The costs vary depending on the specialist retailer and country). Here, however, I must emphasize that the costs depend very much on usage. We distinguish three main target groups for the inspection: Commuters who ride their electric bikes every day in all weather conditions. Hobby cyclists who go on tours in good weather. And sporty cyclists who use their e-bike as a training device.
Wear and tear is very high for commuters. Here we recommend two inspections per year: a spring service and a winter service. For the other two target groups, the classic spring service is usually sufficient. However, in the case of heavy or very one-sided use – for example, if only a few gears are heavily used – wear and tear can also be higher here.
The second point is insurance and similar services. How much does e-bike insurance cost?
Martin Gerber: Of course, this depends very much on the individual insurer and the insurance package. I would estimate CHF 150 a year here. (Note FIT: Insurance coverage and costs vary by provider and country. Check with your regional insurers for more definitive information). If you own a particularly high-quality e-bike, it can be more. The same applies if you own several e-bikes. What you should definitely consider here is the extent to which the e-bike is also included in your household contents insurance.
One question that is often asked is the cost of electricity. How much does an e-bike charge cost?
Martin Gerber: This, too, is very individual. For example, I recently competed in the E-Enduro World Series. Here, I charged the e-bikes free of charge via the solar installation in my van. Many tourist regions also offer free charging stations. Even if you charge at home, we are talking about a few centimes per charge. I would therefore not include these costs in the calculation.
A major issue with e-bike costs is the lifetime. How long does an e-bike last on average and what factors influence its lifetime?
Martin Gerber: There are two factors that play a role here: wear and tear and up-to-dateness. With good care, an e-bike can easily last seven to ten years. In addition to wear and tear parts, battery replacement is probably the biggest investment. But the question is whether someone keeps their e-bike for that long. Unfortunately, as technology continues to develop at a rapid pace, the models quickly become outdated. We only need to compare today’s e-bikes with those of 2014: They are worlds apart.
You already mentioned the e-bike battery. When does it need to be replaced and how much will it cost?
Martin Gerber: Depending on usage, manufacturers typically recommend replacing the battery every four to five years. Depending on the provider, a replacement battery costs between CHF 600 and 1'200. (Note FIT: The cost of a battery replacement varies by country. The information here serves as a guideline for Switzerland).
What other spare parts need to be replaced most often, and how much does it cost to replace them?
Martin Gerber: Classic wear and tear parts are tires and hoses, brake pads, the cassette and the chain. The cost depends on the level of equipment and use of the components, and here I would estimate a three-digit figure over a period of five years. It gets more expensive if certain e-bike components have to be replaced, such as the e-bike display.
Can you give an estimate of how much an e-bike will cost over a period of, say, five years? And what are the e-bike costs per year and per kilometer?
Martin Gerber: It all soon adds up. If we include everything, I would estimate adding half the purchase price of an e-bike with a replacement value of CHF 5'000 – so a total of CHF 7'500. (Note FIT: This information is an approximate estimate for e-bikes at Swiss prices. The total cost in euros or another European currency may be higher or lower depending on the country).
What about the resale value of e-bikes? Do they lose value quickly?
Martin Gerber: I already mentioned that the loss in value due to technological advances is relatively high. We notice this in our business: Customers always wants the latest, the best. An approximate guideline for the depreciation in time is therefore 25 percent after one year and 50 percent after three years. After that, a resale becomes much more difficult, as the battery may need to be replaced.
Finally, the question: How do e-bikes compare to scooters or cars in terms of total costs over several years?
Martin Gerber: Although there are a lot of running costs for e-bikes, the good news is that compared to mopeds or scooters as direct competitors, e-bikes are cheaper. And compared to a car anyway. Regardless of all the financial issues, you should also think about what you gain from an e-bike: You avoid traffic congestion, you can be physically active and the fun factor is also higher. That’s priceless to me.
Martin, thank you so much for talking to me.
30.04.2024