Electric bike savings: how much do you really save by changing your mode of transport?

When you click on an article like this, you want to know one simple thing: is it really worth it financially?

So let's approach the subject from a different angle. Not in theory, but in real life.

How much do you save per year?

A motorist spends on average €500 to €2,000 per year on fuel alone, depending on their usage.

In addition to this:

• Insurance: €600 to €900 per year on average

• Maintenance (servicing, tires, wear parts): €250 to €600/year minimum

• a technical inspection

• Parking, which may sometimes be subject to a fee (depending on the city).
  
  

In France, the average annual cost of a car is therefore generally between €4,000 and €6,000 per year.

An electric bicycle, on the other hand, includes:

• Several annual maintenance checks: between €150 and €600 depending on bicycle usage

• Insurance is not mandatory (for a classic electric bike limited to 25 km/h, but it is still strongly recommended against theft or damage, with a cost generally between €100 and €500 per year depending on the value of the bike and the chosen coverage).

• no fuel

• no paid parking
  
  

Over the course of a year, the difference is quite significant.

The real calculation: not just the fuel

Real-life comparison: electric bike vs. car

What few articles clearly explain is that the economy is not limited to fuel.

Let's take a concrete example:

Case 1: You use your car for 10,000 km per year

• Fuel: approximately €1,200

• Insurance: €800

• Maintenance: €500

• Parking: €400

In total: approximately €2,900 minimum

Case 2: You replace 70% of these journeys with an electric bike

• Maintenance: €150 (approximately 3 or 4 times a year), totaling €450 to €750, and of course, this depends on your usage.

In total: it only comes down to the cost of maintenance.

Even keeping a car for certain uses, the annual savings can exceed €1,500 to €2,000.

And that doesn't even take into account the value of the time saved in traffic jams.

The purchase price of an electric bicycle

Average price of an electric bike and a new car

“Yes, but an electric bike is expensive.” This is often the first remark you hear.

A good premium electric bike costs between €2,000 and €4,000. But let's compare.

A new car costs on average around €20,000 in France. An electric car often exceeds this threshold (around €30,000).

Even with aid The difference remains enormous. An electric bike can therefore cost much less than one might imagine.

And what about the lifespan? Profitability over 5 to 10 years

A well-maintained electric bike motor typically lasts 3 to 5 years with regular use.

A car? Approximately 10 years on average before resale or replacement.

But the real difference lies elsewhere:

• Multiply the annual cost of a car over 10 years.

• Compare with an electric bike that has been renewed once.

Even if you replace your e-bike after 5 years, the financial difference remains very much in favor of the bicycle.

What few comparisons mention

Indirect savings

Buying an electric bike instead of a car also means:

• Fewer unexpected expenses (engine breakdown = several thousand euros for a car)

• No sudden fuel price increase

• No vehicle inspection

• No parking fees in the city center

• Less financial stress related to major repairs
  

So, how much are we really saving?

On average:

• Between €800 and €2,000 per year (maybe even more), depending on your initial car usage.

• Up to €8,000 to €20,000 over 10 years

So this is not a small budget adjustment.

What if the real issue wasn't just financial?

Many people are starting to look at electric bikes to save money.

But what they discover next is:

• greater fluidity in their movements

• less dependence on fuel price increases

• more freedom in the city

• another way to experience their journeys
  
  

The savings then become a bonus… almost a given.

Are the savings on electric bikes real?

The answer is yes. And often much more important than we imagine.

The real question may not be "how much are we saving?" but rather: how much are we still losing by remaining solely dependent on the car?

So of course, for long journeys, a car is naturally more suitable than an electric bike, but for relatively short and regular journeys, the electric bike will allow you to experience new sensations, especially in summer.

And if you are considering switching to an electric bike, the simplest approach is still to compare the models suited to your daily use.

• Discover the available models

• Compare according to your usage

• See the options that suit your journeys

Because sometimes, the best way to measure the economy is to imagine your budget in a year.