The Development History of E-Bike

The world's first electric tricycle was invented in 1881 by Frenchman Gustave Truffaut. Yamaha of Japan launched its first mass-produced electric-assist bicycle (Pedelec) in 1989, initiating its commercialization process.

China's first recorded and mass-produced two-wheeled electric bicycle (the Forever DX-130) rolled off the production line in 1983 and entered mass production in 1984. In 1995, Tsinghua University developed an electric bicycle using a hub motor. Around 2000, electric bicycles began to replace motorcycles and bicycles. By 2004, large-scale enterprises, represented by companies like Xinri and Luyuan, had emerged, forming three major industrial clusters in Wuxi, Jiangsu; Zhejiang; and Tianjin. China's electric bicycle production exceeded 10 million units in 2005, 20 million in 2007, and 30 million in 2013. In 2014, the number of electric bicycles in China exceeded 200 million.

In 2019, China implemented a new national standard for electric bicycles (GB17761-2018), ushering in a period of standardized development for the industry. In 2024, a new version of the "Safety Technical Specifications for Electric Bicycles" (GB17761-2024) was released and implemented on September 1, 2025.

The European e-bike market has seen an average annual sales growth of over 20% since 2015 due to the rise of environmental awareness and cycling culture. Electric-assisted bicycles (E-Bikes) are gaining popularity in the European and American markets. China is the world's largest producer and exporter of e-bikes, accounting for over 90% of global production capacity.

Technological advancements are focused on the development of intelligent control systems. By 2022, high-end models had implemented IoT functions such as Bluetooth connectivity and GPS positioning. Battery technology is evolving from lead-acid batteries to lithium batteries, and the production of lithium battery electric bicycles has grown rapidly since the implementation of the new national standard in 2019.