Speed pedelecs, the high-speed e-bikes, remain extremely popular. After the record year 2022, the number of new registrations in January was 86,3% higher than in January last year. This means 1 341 new vehicles were registered in the past month. The wintery weather conditions had no decelerating effect on registrations.

Also, second-hand speed pedelecs continue to do well, with 491 more newly registered units (+43,1%) than one year ago. Two years ago, hardly 105 units were registered in January; now, it’s almost five times more.

More and more leasing

January 2023 is also a remarkable month in other respects: the number of registered leased speed pedelecs boomed (184,1%), and the province of Antwerp is no longer a forerunner. Instead, it has tumbled to fourth place in the provincial ranking, preceded by three other Flemish areas.

The January record figures indicate that speed pedelecs’ popularity keeps growing. However, while private individuals accounted for almost half of the sales last year, their share dropped to just 28,6% in January. On the other hand, companies have almost doubled their market share, but leasing now accounts for 58,7% of the total market.

‘No worries’

Stefaan Lampaert, general secretary of Traxio Velo: “The car is increasingly under pressure from taxation, and we see a further shift to electric bicycles, which benefits employers and employees. In December, we also noted a strong increase in the number of leased bicycles, possibly due to the introduction of ‘cafeteria plans’ in many companies and the attractive mileage allowance for employees.”

“More and more companies discover the ease of use of leasing: less administration, no worries about maintenance, insurance, or residual value because everything is neatly arranged for them and the employee,” explains Lampaert.

More than 60 000 vehicles

Speed pedelecs remain particularly popular in Flanders, but the latest ranking has been turned upside down: Antwerp, usually a forerunner, only saw an 11% growth (+222 units) and was overtaken in January by East Flanders (+107%, 367 units), Flemish Brabant (+142%, 351 units), and Limburg (+223%, 262 units). Figures only declined in West Flanders (-13%, 70 units).

Since their first appearance on the market in 2015, the total fleet of speed pedelecs is estimated to be over 60 000 units. Many leased vehicles are replaced after some years and re-enter the market second-hand.

The second-hand market, therefore, grows exponentially: two years ago, there were 105 re-registrations in January; last month, there were 491, or almost a fivefold increase in two years. In January, a total of 1 832 new and second-hand speed pedelecs were registered. Another record.