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I love my e-bike (and feel like I have to point that out in threads like this), but while the use cases for them are many, they do not realistically replace ICE cars for most people. They just don't. People with families need cars, and would never forego owning one (or two, or even three) of them just because they have the option of riding electric bikes. That's why electric and hybrid electric cars remain a big deal.


Living in a city in Germany, a lot of families cycle with their children. Typically babies and young children have a seat on the handlebars or in a small trailer on the back, older children either have a tandem-style attachment or their own bike. The various attachments are typically fairly generic, so should work for both regular and electric bikes.

You can also buy (or rent) tricycle-style bikes that have a large space at the front to carry heavier loads - children, pets, or just shopping. I assume there are electric versions of these as well.

In fairness, most of this assumes that the city is reasonably bike accessible, mainly in terms of having all the necessary amenities within a cycle ride from home. If you live in suburbs, this may not be as possible. But I think that says more about the inadequacy of poorly planned cities than that of electric bikes.


Replacing the car completely is unrealistic. Replacing a second car - totally possible. The folks who are buying electric cars are often buying it as a second car anyways since they still need the ICE car for bigger trips. Those folks could probably get by with one ICE car and a couple of e-bikes, which would be cheaper, healthier and more fun.


The other side of this is the potential for car-sharing, reducing the total number of cars around, but allowing people to still make more infrequent journeys by car when that's necessary (or just easier). If your bike is enough for all your regular weekly journeys, you can rent a car for holidays, or visiting friends and family further away.


> People with families need cars

We have kids and since moving somewhere with good cycle infrastructure and convenient city planning I have never missed having a car. It works fine with cargo and individual bikes.


E-Bikes can at least reduce car use significantly. For example I have friends who moved to the suburbs after they had kids and were forced to buy a car. But they still commute to work on an E-Bike most days.


You can ride in families. I can even take your kids on the bike, especially with assistance.




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