Electric bicycles are changing the active transportation landscape, but can they be categorized as “active”?

Our lab has measured the real-time oxygen uptake (energetic cost) of cycling 5 km from lower parts of Lausanne to the CHUV (difference 178 m) on a regular bike or on an E-bike. 18 untrained subjects rode the course on the bikes and we observed the following:

• The average intensity on a normal bike was 85% of maximal heart rate, and 75% on an E-bike.
• Expressed as % of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), it was 73% vs. 55%.
• Ride was 30 min with a bike, 19 min on an E-bike.
• All riders wanted to shower after Biking, whereas only 11% felt it was necessary after E-biking.

E-Bike commuting in Lausanne produces a healthy amount of effort, is quick and gets one to work without the need for a shower. Although the electric motor cannot be considered as entirely ‘‘green’’, it most certainly produces no direct emission of CO2, except the one exhaled by the exercising rider sitting on it.