LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, are becoming a popular way for people to get around in communities across Kentucky, but tariffs from the Biden administration could drive up the prices.

What You Need To Know

  • Electric bikes were created in the 1800s due to the desire for more sustainable and efficient transportation

  • In May, the Biden administration introduced tariffs on Chinese-made goods, which may caus prices for e-bikes to go up  

  • Staff at Pedego Louisville Electric Bikes share what consumers should look at for if they do purchase an e-bike made in China

  • The increased tariffs are projected to affect around $18 billion in annual imports

Long-time peddler Adam Noland says e-bikes still give you all the benefits of fitness and fighting climate change.

“Sustained activity without putting too much strain on their bodies. And then it’s also good for people who are using them for transportation and commuting allows people to get to work without working too hard to get to their destination. You can use them for running errands, that kind of thing. And then they are good for feeling comfortable riding in city traffic,” said Adam.

Stuart Noland, the manager at Pedego Louisville Electric Bikes, says e-bikes were created in the 1800s due to the desire for more sustainable and efficient transportation to go faster, cover longer distances, and be more reliable.

In May, the Biden administration introduced tariffs on Chinese-made goods. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration announced in May plans to roughly quadruple tariffs, to 100% from the current 25%, as well as tack on an additional 2.5% duty.

China leads bicycle manufacturing with 86.3% of bikes purchased in the U.S., according to one report.The increase in the tariff rate on electric vehicles is aimed at protecting these investments and jobs from Chinese imports.

Stuart says the e-bike industry has become a popular way of getting around the city. But many of these China made products are poorly made.

“There’s just a giant price war going on. Bikes are getting cheaper with low regulations, that don’t care a lot about quality or the safety of their batteries. So you got to be careful on the, the brands you go with and whether they support their product after they sell it to you,” Said Stuart.

Many e-bike businesses depend on China manufacturers for frames, batteries, motors and more. Stuart says they are competing with drop shippers who just slap their name on a product with substandard low-grade battery cells that cause problems.

Pedego has their bikes and batteries designed in California, and made in Vietnam, Taiwan and China. They say safety and quality are top priority.

“Our brand has always had a very safe track record on batteries, but we’re shifting over to all UL certified batteries. And we always carry a full range of replacement parts and try to keep people on the road as long as possible,” said Stuart.

Noland says as the e-bike industry continues to grow he hopes the city’s infrastructure finds ways to accommodate that increased demand.

“They’ll probably be more electric bikes than traditional bikes, out on the road in general as we move forward. But there is always going to be a place for those traditional bikes,” said Adam.

As of now, Pedego says the increased tariffs have little connection to its costs and pricing. The increased tariffs are projected to affect $18 billion in annual imports.

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