Electric Bikes Are Breaking Through in Europe’s Carmaking Capital

Battery-powered two-wheelers will outsell traditional bikes in Germany for the first time in 2023, but they still need to prove they’re more than just fun.

A bike symbol on a cycle route in Offenbach, Germany.

Andrew Grant

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Electric bicycles are poised for a breakout year in Europe's biggest economy.

Battery-powered two-wheelers will outsell traditional bikes in Germany for the first time in 2023, according to projections from the country's industry group. They’re already dominant in the mountain bike category, where nine in ten bicycles are powered by a motor.