CycleElectric Newsletter September 2003

Business is great! Business is growing so fast that it is impossible to keep up with the numbers of companies and unit sales world wide!
Recent trips by CycleElectric staff have included China, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Switzerland, France, Taiwan, and Holland. And what we see is a business that is booming.

A number of credible sources in China agree that in the last 12 months, about 2 million electric bicycles have been sold inside China. And next year is predicted at 3 million. At the recent Shanghai Cycle Show, more than 160 electric bike makers exhibited.
Our representative in Zhejiang reports more than 300 companies are making light electric scooters in China, and that more than 20 containers a day (of scooters) are being shipped from Ningpo for the USA and EU.
USA sales of electric bikes remain slow - but a number of new companies are gearing up to sell product under the new law defining electric bikes. Lectric-Cycles, EVT, EV Global, WaveCrest, are USA based companies that are, or plan to serve this market. Imported bikes from Europe, China, and Taiwan are adapting to the new law. Look for new vehicles in the USA from Sun and Cycle, Prima, Heinzmann, and others in the near future.
Small scooters are the main event in the USA, with more than 300,000 believed sold in the last 12 months - and the pace is picking up. Most of the product has been the lowest priced Chinese scooters - but better quality, higher priced products are selling well.
EU sales are picking up, partly due to Dutch and Italian sales. Sparta is reported a big success with their new electric bike using a hub motor. Electric scooters (primarily the HCF from Taiwan) are selling well in Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Holland. Chinese electric bikes and scooters are selling well in the UK.
Unit sales in Japan remain stable - but the quality and performance of the bikes in improving. Scooters are selling in small but increasing numbers - notably from Taiwan.
New uses for electric bicycles and scooters are emerging - in Shanghai CycleElectric Associate Chen Ding Wu (Jean Chen) reports that he has just landed a contract to maintain bikes used by Papa John's Pizza Delivery. In Europe, the German Post is shifting to electric bikes to keep an aging work force moving on bikes. These sorts of uses are creating many new delivery vehicles and prototypes. Chen Ding Wu is regarded by many people in the industry as having the most extensive practical knowledge of electric bicycle in the world.

Benjamin moves on:
After 8 months as President of EV Rider - Ed Benjamin has resigned from EV Rider and is now full time at CycleElectric again.

© 2003 by CycleElectric International Consulting Group. This newsletter is edited by Ed Benjamin.