Pioneers or Latecomers: A Timeline of E-Bike Market Entries

As an avid e-biker, I’ve always been curious about the origins of various e-bike brands. The e-bike market is quickly expanding, and it seems like every year there are more and more companies introducing an e-bike. Some are new direct-to-consumer companies, while others are traditional bike manufacturers that are adding an e-bike product line. This made me wonder: which of these companies have been pioneering the e-bike revolution from the very beginning, and which are newcomers with potentially less experience? I knew I couldn’t be the only one asking these questions, so I decided to share what I’ve found here.

The table shows the hours spent on online research and cold-email outreach to companies when information was not readily available. It includes the company name, the year they introduced their first e-bike, and the year they were founded. Sources can be found at the bottom of the table.

This timeline not only sheds light on the origins of well-established brands but also provides valuable context for evaluating the production quality and expertise of newer companies in the market. As you explore this table, I hope it gives you a bit more insight into the evolution of the e-bike industry and helps you make informed decisions as you navigate the ever-growing landscape of e-bike options. Happy riding!

Note: this table is my first pass, it’s not comprehensive. If you want to help contribute to the table, send me an email ([email protected]) with the brand and dates. Be sure to include sources.

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazelle_(bicycle_company)
2. https://www.gazellebikes.com/en-us/blog/history-of-gazelle
3. https://www.stromerbike.com/en/company/milestones
4. https://www.specialized.com/us/en/electric-bikes
5. https://www.juicedbikes.com/pages/about-us
6. https://newwheel.net/pages/urban-arrow
7. https://urbanarrow.com/about-us/
8. Per email correspondence with PR contact for RM
9. https://vanmoofer.com/timeline.html
10. https://newatlas.com/vanmoof-10-electrified-bike/27888/
11. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/05/29/tern-folding-bike-launches-with-automotive-style-secrecy-apple-style-availability
12. https://www.ternbicycles.com/en/news/releases/2014/08/compact-portable-and-electric-tern-extends-link-lineup-first-electric-folding
13. https://radpowerbikes.com/pages/about
14. https://bikeportland.org/2015/05/12/first-look-yubas-new-spicy-curry-electric-assist-cargo-bike-143114
15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannondale
16. https://www.cannondale.com/en-us/owners-manuals/electric
17. https://ride1up.com/about-us/
18. https://bikeindex.org/bikes/503456
19. Per email correspondence with Madsen
20. https://electrek.co/2018/11/01/priority-embark-electric-bicycle/
21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_Bicycles
22. https://cowboy.com/pages/careers
23. https://bestebike.net/en/cowboy-e-bike/
24. https://www.bicycle-guider.com/brands/wing-bikes-review/
25. https://electrek.co/2020/05/23/the-story-lectric-ebikes-lectric-xp-founders/
26. https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2021/10/29/aventons-next-step-highly-automated-us-e-bike-factory#.Y8MBqezMI-Q
27. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dalebuss/2021/10/31/aventon-bikes-founder-zhang-enjoys-democratizing-his-favorite-pursuit/?sh=7d934c3b123e
28. https://www.cyclevolta.com/story/recreational-ebikes/reis-co-op-cycles-brand-releases-its-first-ebikes/
29. https://www.so-pr.com/2022/07/tenways-the-accessible-e-bike-for-everyone/
30. https://bikeportland.org/2021/06/03/new-portland-based-e-mobility-company-vvolt-launches-line-of-electric-bikes-333227
31. https://www.bicycle-guider.com/brands/vvolt-bikes-review
32. https://www.engadget.com/harley-davidson-ebike-serial-1-reveal-192548936.html
33. https://surlybikes.com/blog/big_easy_introduction_spewage
34. https://evelo.com/pages/company-timeline