According to the 2023 exercise physiology study of electric bicycle users conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the metabolic equivalent (MET) of riders on the medium-assist mode (with power level of 120W) can be up to 4.2, which approaches recreational swimming (4.5MET) and brisk walking (4.3MET). It consumes 320-380 kilocalories per hour, 18% higher than walking. Subsequent data of 1,200 participants reported that among those using electric bikes for cycling ≥150 minutes per week, the resting heart rate decreased by a mean of 5.2 beats per minute, VO2 max increased by 12.7%, and risk of cardiovascular disease decreased by 23% (Data source: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology).
The choice of mode is directly related to the intensity of exercise. When the electric bicycle is in the low-assist state (torque sensor intervention rate ≤30%), the user’s leg muscle activation level is 85% that of the normal bicycle, the mean amplitude of the quadriceps electromyogram (EMG) is 42mV, and it is only 8% lower than the non-electric state. A Glasgow University test in the UK illustrates that during a 10-kilometer commute to work, electric bike users actually pedal 72% of the distance at an average caddy of 68 rpm, which is highly consistent with exercise bike training rate (60-80 rpm). Besides, in models with a slope adjustment system (such as Specialized Turbo Vado), on a slope of 6%, the rider’s heart rate will be 65%-75% of the maximum reserve heart rate and within the aerobic fat-burning zone.
Long-term beneficial effects on health have been established in multi-national trials. The five-year follow-up study report that Copenhagen’s city government in Denmark released in 2024 indicates that the BMI of electric bike commuters decreased by an average of 0.38 every year, and their waist circumference fell by 2.1 centimeters. The effect was better compared to car commuters (BMI increased by 0.12 a year). In metabolic syndrome patients, clinical research conducted by the University of Geneva Medical School showed that, following 40 minutes daily cycling of an electric bicycle for 6 months, fasting glucose decreased by 11.2% and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased by 9.8%. The difference was not statistically significant versus the drug treatment group (p>0.05). The World Health Organization (WHO) has included electric Bikes in the “Guidelines for Healthy Urban Mobility”, recognizing that they have the attribute of “moderate-intensity sustained exercise”.
Unlike general sporting apparatus, electric bike has unique virtues. Computation by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States shows that electric bike riding time of 25 minutes over the same distance (8 kilometers) saves 44% compared to running, but calorie utilization realizes 61% of running. In the case of obese persons (BMI≥28), electric bike’s impact joint force is only 17% of that of running (the maximum force on the knee joint 320N vs. 1900N), which presents a viable exercise option. A regional trial in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, illustrated that the use compliance rate of electric bicycles with the WHO’s 150 minutes per week of exercise was 78%, 14 percentage points higher than the use compliance rate of traditional bicycles due to the higher usage frequency by 31% when the weather is bad.
Technical innovation increases the effect of exercise even more. The Bosch Smart System released in 2024 can detect the user’s actual real-time power output. After detecting that the resisting force is less than 2W/kg for 5 consecutive minutes, it reduces the level of assistance automatically, forcing riding intensity to increase by 15%-20%. The “Fitness Mode” designed in collaboration by Garmin and Trek has the capability to make electric Bikes dynamic resistance trainers. In 20-minute HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) mode, the maximum heart rate of the users can be 89% of the age-predicted maximum value, and the energy consumption efficiency enhances by 37%.
Economy is positively correlated with sports sustainability. The University of California, Berkeley, model illustrates the cost of investing in exercise annually (purchase + upkeep) for electric bike users is $0.28 per kilocalories, lower than $0.41 per kilocalories for gym users. The commuting substitution effect also decreases the cost of time opportunities by 63%. And when it comes to behavioral retention rate, electric bike users’ 6-month exercise retention rate is as much as 68%, significantly higher than 42% of traditional sports apps (Data source: Strava’s 2024 Annual Exercise Report). So, by combining sports science indicators and technological empowerment, electric bike has become a new carrier of exercise, with convenience and health value integrated.