France promotes, Berlin slows down – Why we are falling behind with e-bikes

German e-bike startups are vibrant and innovative – but the government is doing too little to truly promote them. Urban mobility is stagnating.

The e-bike revolution is underway in France – in Germany, we're treading water. While Paris is doubling purchase subsidies and offering tax breaks for employer-sponsored leasing, the Berlin Senate is discussing ending municipal e-bike subsidies and even sharing programs. It's an absurd scenario: French cities are turning to two wheels to ease car traffic, while we are deliberately slowing down the expansion of the most climate-friendly form of urban mobility.

The difference lies in the political stance. In France, there's a combination of state, regional, and local subsidy programs for e-bike purchases, which provide many residents with subsidies of several hundred to sometimes over a thousand euros. In our country? We have isolated regional programs, a patchwork of subsidies, and a capital city that's backpedaling on the issue of sharing.

The German e-bike scene is vibrant and innovative. Startups like Dance and Nextbike have helped shape urban mobility in recent years. Dance relies on user-friendly subscription models, including maintenance and straightforward cancellation options. Nextbike has been relying on sharing models for 20 years. But in the current economic environment, capital is becoming scarce, investors are holding back, and rising costs are putting pressure on margins.

Making matters worse is that the political focus continues to be on cars. Billions are poured into road construction, while bike paths and charging infrastructure for e-bikes and e-cargo bikes often remain piecemeal. The few ambitious municipal projects frequently fail due to bureaucracy or local resistance.

France, on the other hand, combines support with infrastructure: wide bike lanes, secure parking facilities, and uniform standards. There, e-bikes aren't viewed as an add-on to mobility , but rather with an eye on what actually works in cities. The result is a growing acceptance of e-bikes as an equal means of transport.

So while in Paris and Lyon, more and more commuters are riding e-bikes to work in the morning, Germany remains in the comfort zone of the status quo. We have the manufacturers, we have the users, we even have cultural acceptance. What's missing is the political will to leverage this strength. Instead, we watch as other countries not only shape the market but also set the cultural framework. In France, the e-bike is part of an overall strategy; in Germany, it remains a marginal issue.

The advantages are obvious: E-bikes relieve pressure on roads and public transport, reduce emissions, promote health, and save space. They could be a key component of the transport transition—especially in cities struggling with congestion and air pollution. But without clear political priorities and reliable framework conditions, they won't realize this potential.

If we don't want to fall behind in the e-bike sector, we need a clear strategy now: reliable funding, long-term investments in infrastructure, and an economic policy that gives our startups a future. Otherwise, in a few years, we'll find that the race for urban mobility is lost and the providers will once again come from abroad.