Micro-mobility in the thick of the Consumer Electronic Show
Despite a lower attendance and the absence of industry giants such as Meta or Amazon, CES Las Vegas 2022 will have brought together more than 2,300 companies including 800 startups. More professional-oriented, this 55th edition has kept its promises in terms of innovations. For the first time, a space dedicated to mobility companies had more than 40 exhibitors (eMobility Experience). Facing a major transformation, mobility now appears to be a key issue.
Wishing to move towards soft mobility, more respectful of the environment. The electric bike is a key element of current and future mobility, and it was able to make a place for itself at CES. Numerous brands such as Bird, Aventon, Delfast, and Niu have presented their next EAB models. Beyond the bike, this edition of CES 2022 has confirmed that the future of mobility will be, not surprisingly, electric and connected.
The arising of e-bike market in the United States
Although the automotive market is still very strong on the American continent, the wind seems to be changing. Proof of this is the increase in the number of micro-mobility exhibitors who are offering real alternatives to the thermal model at this CES, notably bicycle manufacturers and brands or mobility giants who are launching themselves on the bicycle market. A trend that is confirmed globally and that does not escape the United States since the bike market has jumped +69% since 2019 in the US.
With the “Build Back Better” bill, Joe Biden promises a 4.1 billion dollar budget dedicated to the development of electric bikes. New buyers of electric bicycles will be reimbursed 30% of the price of their bike, provided that it is made in the United States! A strong desire to develop the cycle and its place in American cities and to relocate its production, previously concentrated in China. Thanks to this increase in funding and subsidies in the states, new players from the old continent are emerging and taking their place in the EAB market. These are very positive signals that will develop the offer and seduce more and more cyclists.
The future standard of cycling: the connected bike or Smartbike
Having already taken the step towards electrification, the bicycle industry is now turning to connectivity, following the example of the automotive industry, which is pursuing its complete digitalization with ever more innovative services. Service is the key to attracting and converting more and more people to cycling, ensuring the safety of people and bikes, extending the life of vehicles, and also enriching the cycling experience.
Connectivity responds to environmental issues as well as to the problems raised by brands, assemblers, and local authorities to encourage the massive use of bicycles. Thanks to the collection and analysis of real-time data, the electric bicycle reveals its full potential as an attractive option for cyclists and companies.
The various players in the sector will be able to create value. First of all on the economic level, by optimizing costs thanks to the automation of maintenance processes and by using data to create future products. But also in terms of customer relations. Connectivity differentiates to better seduce, reassures with anti-theft features, and adds value to the user experience with innovative services.
connectivity is part of a global reality, that of the changing ways in which people travel in cities, in which connectivity will play a key role in the emergence of new uses. And while the bicycle culture is more dynamic in Europe, the American market is sending positive signals about its evolution, which will be followed closely. A great nation will soon be measured by the number of bicycles in its cities… Don’t you think?