Comments on: Electric Bikes Fill the Void at Tokyo Motor Show

By: Rich Kelly

Rich Kelly — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:11:44 +0000

Thanks for the insight and comments, Don. Like I've said in past post, I think getting *practical* bikes (e-bikes included) into the stores that non-cyclists frequent that, for better or for worse, include mass merchants like Target and Best Buy, wouldn't be such a bad thing in trying to reach the 150+ million Americans that don't cycle. I would guess that many of the potential e-bike customers would fall into that category and don't currently shop at IBD's. But the main point I was making at the end of the post is that IBD's as a group don't seem that interested in the category and other sales channels (electronics stores, motorcycle dealerships, etc.) might take the lead (and the sales!) away before we know what happened. And that would be a shame since, as I mentioned in that post I just linked to, IBD's are still by far the best place to buy a bike whether you consider yourself a cyclist or not.

By: Don DiCostanzo

Don DiCostanzo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:42:18 +0000

After spending an exhaustive 2 years trying to get IBDs (myself a former one) to consider selling electric bikes, it has become apparent that many have been stung in the past by poor quality and lack of support from the manufacturers. In addition, many of the brand name manufacturers have made feable attempts of launching ill-conceived retrofits of their regular bikes.

IBDs are reluctant and understandably so.

Electric Bike manufacturers, frustrated with the IBDs have gone to the mass merchandisers in an act of desperation. As the author corectly points out, there is a new breed of entrepeneurs filling the void – specialty electric bike stores are popping up all over the country on a weekly basis. A few forward thinking IBDs are seeing the opportunity and going after it. Sadly, only a few. The specialty electric bike stores are carrying multiple brands and IBDs should do the same and let the customers decide which products they favor rather than pick for them. One thing for certain, the market is growing here in the U.S. faster than any other category of bikes AND it is all incremental business since the typical electric bicycle buyer would not have purchased any standard pedal only bicycle. As with pedal bikes, Electric Bicycle customers want quality, price and style. Pedego is committed to providing all three through IBDs and specialty stores and NOT through mass merchandisers.

By: Yokota Fritz

Yokota Fritz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:52:15 +0000

Showing ebikes at a car show is pretty brilliant.

I was talking with Sanyo the other day about their ebike plans for the USA. They’re getting resistance from IBDs but there are numerous ebike & scooter specialty shops popping up all over the place.