A research group at the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of Basel has investigated how much physical exertion is involved in using an e-bike compared to a conventional bike. The scientists came to the result that training with an e-bike is by no means less effective, but has comparable benefits for health and fitness. Furthermore, the scientists state that an improvement in endurance performance can be achieved in just four weeks.

Furthermore, the study published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine shows that the participants in the e-bike group rode at a higher average speed and also covered significantly more meters in altitude than a comparison group that rode non-motorized bicycles. "This gives us an indication that the e-bike can increase motivation and help overweight people as well as older people who would otherwise struggle with regular fitness," says study leader Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss, Professor of Sports Medicine at the University of Basel. "People who exercise regularly on an e-bike benefit in the long term, not only in terms of fitness, but also in terms of other factors such as blood pressure, fat metabolism and mental health." Overall, the study provides an important indication of the prevention potential of e-bikes.