How to improve the attractiveness of e-bikes for consumers: Insights from a systematic review

The e-bike sector has shown constant evolution in recent years. The use of bicycles for mobility reasons has increased especially in the urban context, where bicycles have become to all intents and purposes one of the pivotal elements of the transition to more sustainable cities. In particular, the dynamism of the e-bike sector calls for the investigation of several aspects related not only to the production of the bicycles themselves but also to the entire supply chain organization. In this context, the role of the consumer is particularly important. The objective of this study is to analyse the consumption dynamics related to e-bikes. Specifically, the objective is to identify the factors that affect e-bike consumption intentions and preferences, defined both as purchase and as a service, to identify the most promising strategies to increase e-bike attractiveness among consumers. To answer these research questions, a bibliometric analysis and a systematic review of the relevant literature have been carried out using the SPAR-4-SLR framework. Following this approach, after choosing appropriate keywords, and applying appropriate eligibility criteria, 115 peer-reviewed articles were obtained and used for the analysis. Consumer points of view on e-bikes had not been systematically analysed in the literature so far. Therefore, this study contributes to creating useful information for the organization of the e-bike supply chain. In particular, the results of this study may be of particular interest to both public policy and for the development of more effective business strategies.