Electric bikes are devouring the market. With them comes a demand: the right to repair them

E-bikes are everywhere. This mode of transport, which had its boom during the pandemic, continues to gain popularity in various parts of the world. However, as more people consider opting for this urban transport alternative, a series of questions arise about its durability and repairability.

A phenomenon we have already seenToday we are going to talk about electric bicycles, but in the past, in terms of repairability, we have already done so with other types of products. For example, in recent years there has been a growing interest among consumers (and legislators) in relation to the repair of smartphones, washing machines and computers.

In parts of Europe and the United States, a series of legislative changes have forced manufacturers to start offering options for users to repair their own devices. With all that this entails, i.e. an acceptable repairability rate, access to the necessary spare parts and tools, etc.

If I can repair my computer, why can’t I do the same with my eBike? While electric bikes are not considered electronic devices in the most traditional sense, they do have many electronic components at their core. So many people have started to wonder if they can repair them themselves.

This trend would probably not be gaining momentum if electric bikes were as easy to repair as traditional bikes. But when certain components such as motors or batteries come into play, costs often skyrocket, even more so in official or independent repair centres.

Some manufacturers oppose. Movements seeking to promote the repairability of electric bicycles, and in some cases to guarantee this through legislative changes, have awakened many eBike manufacturers, who have spoken out against such initiatives.

In United States, Fast Company picks upsome companies are trying to convince legislators in different states to not include or eliminate electric bikes from right-to-repair regulations. They say the request is in response to safety concerns about electric vehicles.

For some manufacturers, electric bikes are not just electric bicycles, but complex electric vehicles that must be repaired by trained personnel and specialized tools. If someone without these qualifications ventures to repair this product, they may end up causing problems instead of solving them.

The problem is in the batteriesThe component that most worries manufacturers is lithium-ion batteries. The dangers, they explain, range from the use of batteries that are not suitable to their incorrect handling and environmental damage if they are not recycled.

But there is also businessThe arguments put forward by these manufacturers may be plausible, but in a way they are just covering up the repair centre business. It is no secret that repairing almost any device through official means offered by the manufacturer is usually more expensive than alternatives.

This is precisely where those tasked with promoting consumer rights must weigh the arguments of those who advocate for e-bike repairability and those of manufacturers who oppose it to offer a balanced solution that addresses concerns and is beneficial.

Images | KOMUnews

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*A previous version of this article was published in August 2023