Comparing the health benefits of standard bikes and e-bikes
Fact checked by Derick Wilder
Whether it’s older adults, work commuters, or kids behind the handlebars, there’s no doubt that e-bikes have taken the country by storm. Between 2019 and 2022, the e-bike market in the United States grew by 269%; as of 2023, the size of the U.S. e-bike market was $2.59 billion and is expected to reach over $7 billion by the end of the decade.
With all of these e-bikes whizzing around, are they actually good for our health and our planet? Or are we better off sticking with our standard bikes?
Mental, emotional, and environmental health, too
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the benefits of regular biking are considerable: improved cardiovascular health, stronger muscles, increased coordination, and less body fat. In addition, people tend to experience less stress and more feel-good endorphins as a result of biking.
However, older adults and people with disabilities may not be able to benefit from the positive health benefits of regular biking. One of the main reasons e-bikes are so popular is that they can give a biker an added boost of power for a ride that might normally be out of reach. David Fletcher, general manager of Wheel & Sprocket bike shop in Park Ridge, says that “the accessibility of e-bikes allows older adults and people with disabilities to get on a bike when they would otherwise not.”
Peter Labella, a retired violinist from Park Ridge, agrees. “My wife and I can go for a two-hour ride, which I really enjoy, and I’m no worse for wear,” he says. “I definitely wouldn’t try that if it were a regular bike; I don’t have the stamina like I used to.”
E-bikes also take less of a toll on muscles and joints. Yet, they still qualify for the doctor’s orders of physical activity,according to a 2021 study that looked at riders’ breathing and heart rates during commutes.
People who use e-bikes to commute to work also experience an added bonus. With the power boost that e-bikes provide, commuters can pedal for more miles to and from work (potentially not sweating through their clothes) than if they were riding a standard bike.
On the environmental front, the use of standard bikes produces no carbon footprint. For e-bikes, the more that people use them for commuting, instead of a gas-powered vehicle, the greater the environmental benefit. Gas-powered passenger vehicles represent 16% of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions, so when more people ditch their gas guzzler for an e-bike, Mother Nature wins.
The drawbacks
Mother Nature can lose, too. E-bikes require lithium-ion batteries, and acquiring the materials to make them takes a toll on the planet. Lithium mining produces a significant amount of carbon dioxide; for every ton of lithium extracted from the ground, 15 tons of CO2 is produced, mostly from the fossil fuel-dependent equipment used to mine it.
When companies extract lithium and other rare earth metals, such as cobalt and nickel, to create these batteries, residual amounts of the metals can leach into and pollute water sources. Entire ecosystems around the mines and downstream from them can be catastrophically impacted.
Plus, when lithium batteries are improperly disposed of, they can cause fires at recycling facilities, and their chemicals can also leach into landfills, producing additional environmental damage.
What should you buy?
The choice of a bike for work or play is a balancing act between health, need, and environmental impact. While both e-bikes and standard bikes can be a great lifestyle choice and better than using gas-powered vehicles, the batteries for e-bikes also come with their own risk and harm.
Overall, though, human-powered bikes offer great exercise with minimal environmental footprint. If mounting an e-bike is more likely to get you moving, exercising, and enjoying the fresh air, charge it up.
Originally published in the Fall 2024/Winter 2025 print issue.
Dan Dean is a writer, cancer survivor, and founder of Cancer Dudes, which supports men after being diagnosed with cancer.
