The reality here in second-tier Chinese cities is that most people already get around, if not always then at least often, by electric vehicle.
They've either never had cars, have bought cars but have problems parking them or getting anywhere due to traffic (many cities were not designed for cars, and now have millions of them clogging every available space on and off the road network), or just jump on the back of black-market 'taxi' e-bikes to zip about. E-bikes already carry a large proportion of people in Chinese urban environments. There is no way that e-bikes, subways and buses combined are not the dominant people-movers in the country, today. While I did see some e-bikes in Japan, they were nowhere near as numerous. China is leading the way.
Typical Chinese e-bike cost new is USD$500 or less. Battery replacement (good for 1 year or so) is currently about USD$150 or less. They do get stolen a lot, unfortunately.
True statement. Having been visiting China annually for the past 10 years and seeing the transportation transition from mopeds to E-bikes first hand, I can attest to that. And the price has really been going down significantly because of the mass production and economy of scale (exports are a major contribution). Typically e-bikes with traditional car batteries are starting at around 2000 RMB. Some newer ones with Li-ion batteries are priced slightly higher.
However, e-bikes are seeing a decline and/or full ban in top-tier Chinese cities due to new traffic regulations and new road design. It is still the predominant transportation tool in 2nd-tier and small cities where public transportation is scarce and downtown areas are smaller.
However, e-bikes are seeing a decline and/or full ban in top-tier Chinese cities due to new traffic regulations and new road design.
I'm not sure what you identify is a trend as you suggest, rather I think it's just some exceptions. IMHO such regulations are generally for a small area, the equivalent of a pedestrian only mall zone or a few central downtown blocks. Often the motivation is to show off how "modern" the city is (as upwardly mobile Chinese city mayor / party member assumes modern exists in foreign perception, after publicly funded junket to Europe/Singapore/etc.).
I wouldn't be surprised if, in the future, we see such exceptions reversed. After all, old people have to get around and there is tremendous acceptance here of e-vehicles to cater for that market. (Theirs are often covered with a passenger area at rear, and lockable.) This factor alone adds reasonable weight to allowing smaller e-vehicles in the heart of all cities. What has been banned in the heart of many cities is motorbikes, and for good reason.
They've either never had cars, have bought cars but have problems parking them or getting anywhere due to traffic (many cities were not designed for cars, and now have millions of them clogging every available space on and off the road network), or just jump on the back of black-market 'taxi' e-bikes to zip about. E-bikes already carry a large proportion of people in Chinese urban environments. There is no way that e-bikes, subways and buses combined are not the dominant people-movers in the country, today. While I did see some e-bikes in Japan, they were nowhere near as numerous. China is leading the way.
Typical Chinese e-bike cost new is USD$500 or less. Battery replacement (good for 1 year or so) is currently about USD$150 or less. They do get stolen a lot, unfortunately.