eBikes are no longer a rare sight—they’re part of daily life. You’ve probably seen them gliding through bike lanes, weaving past traffic, turning commutes and quick errands into a breeze.
But their growing presence isn’t just anecdotal; the numbers tell the same story. The global eBike market is booming, currently valued at over $43 billion, with projections expected to exceed $148 billion by 2032. Not only that, but a recent study found that nearly 20% of bike users had ridden an eBike at least once, a sharp increase from 7% two years ago.
This kind of growth signals a shift in how people get around. In fact, with 300 million riders worldwide, eBikes have safely moved beyond novelty status and into the mainstream.
But while eBikes are growing in numbers, not all of them are keeping up with the times. Some eBikes come with smart features such as dynamic settings, connected data streams, and ride optimization features, but are much more expensive to buy than regular eBikes which are stuck in the past and do not come with any of these features.
The good news? You don’t need a brand-new eBike to ride smarter. Innovative hardware and cloud-connected apps can improve eBike safety, security, and performance—all while keeping the eBike you already own.
With that said, let’s explore how these innovations are reshaping the eBike experience:
Smarter ways to protect eBikes from theft
Nobody wants to walk away from their eBike to do something and come back to find it has vanished into thin air. Thankfully, you don’t need to splurge on expensive tech or a monthly subscription to keep your ride safe. Instead, you can improve your eBike security with the following anti-theft solutions:
| Security measure | How it protects your ride |
| Find your eBike, even without GPS | If your eBike has been taken, then Bluetooth meshing and mapping technology can pinpoint its location without relying on GPS or pricey data plans with great coverage and good accuracy. |
| Know the second your eBike moves | Imagine grabbing lunch, and suddenly your phone buzzes—your eBike just moved, but you’re nowhere near it. Motion alerts let you know if someone’s trying to take off with your ride or if it just got knocked over. |
| Hands-free locking | Have you ever walked away from your eBike and had that “Did I lock it?” moment? Proximity locking takes care of that for you. As soon as you step away, it auto-locks, shutting down the motor and battery, effectively immobilizing it until you return. |
| Tap to unlock your eBike | NFC technology lets you unlock your eBike with a physical or virtual card. This can be useful if you wish to share an eBike with a family member or friend. |
Ride safe with smart tech
Regrettably, with more eBike riders on the road, accidents are increasing too. The numbers are hard to ignore—eBike-related injuries have doubled every year between 2017 and 2022, jumping from 750 in 2017 to a staggering 23,500 in 2022. That’s a lot of scraped knees, dented pride, and, unfortunately, some serious collisions.
But innovations within the industry are improving rider safety. Upgrading your eBike with better braking systems, sensors, and rider-assist features (to name but a few!) makes it much easier to stay safe on the road. Here’s how:
| Safety feature | How it protects you on the road |
| eBike health monitoring | Think of this as your eBike’s built-in safety inspector. It tracks battery health, brake performance, tire pressure, etc., and sends alerts when something needs your attention. Spotting a potential failing brake system or reminding you to change out your tires before a ride can go a long way in preventing accidents. |
| Crash detection | If you take a hard fall and can’t respond, onboard sensors step in, automatically alerting your designated contact. Quick assistance can make all the difference, especially when riding in remote areas. |
| Automatic lighting | Low visibility is a major cause of accidents, especially in the early mornings or evenings. Smart eBike lights switch on automatically when natural light drops, so you’re always visible to traffic and pedestrians—without needing to fumble with your button pad. |
| Dynamic speed limits | It’s easy to underestimate your speed on an eBike, especially in high-traffic areas. Geofencing can set the eBike’s speed limit based on the rider’s location. This helps riders keep within the rules when visiting other regions with different speed limits. |
| Rear-view cameras | Rear-view cameras give you a clearer view of what’s behind you, helping you react faster and ride with confidence. They also capture footage of reckless drivers or tricky road conditions—handy if you ever need proof for an insurance claim. |
Take full control of your eBike with better customization
An eBike should feel like an extension of you, fine-tuned to match your riding style. Connected apps and cloud-based software put that control at your fingertips, letting you adjust settings with ease.
Want to stretch your battery life for a longer commute? Need an extra push for a steep incline? Prefer to cap your speed for a more relaxed ride? With the right software and connected hardware, that becomes possible.
Here are some of the ways better customization can improve your ride:
- Motor response: Decide how much kick you want from your eBike. Some riders love that instant surge, while others prefer a gradual boost. Most eBikes allow you to change this, but the user interface is often complicated. Apps that connect directly into the eBikes controller can offer an easier way to change these settings.
- Riding modes: These apps can allow users to switch between ride modes, for a quick way to change saved performance settings. This comes in useful when riding on different terrains within in a single ride.
- Dynamic Pedal Assist: eBikes with onboard gyroscopes can dynamically adjust pedal assist levels automatically based on the angle of incline.
- Manage battery usage more efficiently: Get more mileage out of every charge by adjusting power levels before you ride. See real time data that can help keep you informed of your ride’s energy consumption.
Make your dashboard work for you
Your dashboard is your eBike’s personal assistant—always there, keeping you informed and in control as you ride. Your eBike make and model will determine the level of customization open to you.
With that said, if your eBike doesn’t have these features already, you’ll likely be able to upgrade it with the right hardware to access the following:
- Trip stats: Monitor your journey’s distance, duration, and route history—this comes in handy for tracking riding patterns and planning future rides.
- Navigation tools: Some dashboards integrate with GPS apps, offering turn-by-turn directions and live traffic updates to help you avoid delays and unfamiliar detours.
- Battery health: Keep an eye on charge levels and voltage so you’re never caught off guard by low power.
- Entertainment controls: Play music and switch tracks without reaching for your phone.
- Widgets: Get real-time updates on eBike data, weather and other insights with customizable widgets for your eBike display.
- Dashboard themes and colors: Customize the look of your display to match your style and preferences.
Next-level control with voice commands and better button pads
Customization doesn’t stop at app-based tuning. Voice control takes convenience even further, letting you adjust settings hands-free, whilst better button pads can improve the user interface, helping you stay focused on the road.
Smarter eBikes, smoother rides
eBikes have quickly become a go-to for getting around—and it’s easy to see why. They’re eco-friendly, practical, and a lot more fun than sitting in traffic. Now, thanks to smart upgrades, you can take your ride even further.
The upgrades we have mentioned in this article enhance the safety, security and useability of eBikes. The best part is you don’t have to trade in your current eBike for a new one. Instead, with the right hardware and software, you can improve performance and access these innovations without spending a fortune.
Many of the innovations and upgrades we mentioned in this article are being worked on here at CYKEL. We encourage you to sign up to our newsletter, (which you can do in the page footer), to receive regular updates from CYKEL and insights into what we are developing.
Get ready to take your eBike experience to the next level!
