Traficom study: Electric bicycles from scrappage scheme reduced car use

A study by Traficom reveals that electric bicycles purchased through a scrappage scheme in 2020–2021 have become a permanent part of daily transportation for many, leading to a reduction in car usage.

According to the findings, approximately 80 percent of those who purchased an electric bicycle continue to use it at least as frequently as they did in their first year of ownership. About half of the purchasers reported a decrease in car usage over the last five years, particularly for commutes and short errands. During the 2020–2021 campaign, 71 percent of the incentives were used for electric bicycles, while 26 percent went toward cars and 3 percent toward public transport services.

Anni Hytti-Melasniemi, a leading expert at Traficom, stated that the results show electric bicycles have remained in active use years after purchase and have partially replaced car travel, especially for shorter distances.