In recent years, the trend of electric vehicles has risen. After the engines of traditional vehicles are replaced by motors and batteries, they provide the electronics and information. And communication industries that Taiwan manufacturers are best at, and cut into the high-margin electric vehicle supply chain from consumer and commercial electronics. And just as electric vehicles are like the digital transformation of the automobile industry, electric bicycles are also the digital transformation of traditional bicycles.

After the electric bicycle is added with a battery module and a motor, when the pedal is stepped on, it can provide auxiliary force to help the rider move forward. The electric bicycle is divided into three major blocks, including the control system, power system, and motor system. The control system is responsible for issuing orders, telling the E-Bike speed, cadence, distance, time, etc., and when electric power is needed. The power system provides power to the bicycle, which requires a battery supply to drive the entire vehicle. In addition, a motor system is a tool for applying force. E-Bike needs to be powered by the motor system to respond to different riding environments and usage scenarios promptly.

For the Taiwanese bicycle industry, Taiwan also has semiconductor technology, and it will also have a certain degree of advantages in the future development of electronic design in the car body. How to integrate the energy integration of both parties is a direction that can be considered in the future. From traditional bicycles to electric bicycles, in addition to adding electric elements riding science must be considered, and this is the Know-how that other industries have not yet grasped. Changing product design will be a challenge for the development of electric bicycles in Taiwan, and cross-industry still needs to complement each other through expertise. Including product integration, how to integrate motors and batteries, and the control panel should be connected to App, cloud, or terminal service system, and all data transmission, including software, firmware, etc., must also be integrated.

And electric bicycles are not like mobile phones. Developers can improve user experience through software system upgrades. Bicycles are mechanized hardware structures. To achieve a better riding experience, how to choose during the system integration process, will be a big challenge. Due to the influence of the weight of the battery and motor equipment, the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle must be adjusted accordingly. The design trend of enclosing the battery in the frame is becoming more and more clear, but if it is to be placed in the frame. The design coordination of components, including shock absorbers, gravity positions, etc., are the key points that need to be overcome.

However, in cross-industry complementarity, another challenge is how to form alliances. The industry scope of electric bicycles covers information and communication, energy, electronics, and bicycle industries, while the electric bicycle industry chain includes bicycle parts, motors, batteries, electronic control systems, platform apps, and other fields. Therefore, it is not only difficult to form industry alliances difficulties, which operators should be included, and how to integrate are difficult problems for the industry.

Taiwan still has considerable advantages in the development of electric bicycles. The country not only has a complete upstream, midstream, and downstream industrial chain, from components, to complete vehicle energy, but also can enter the international supply chain for key components such as batteries and motors. Technologically, Taiwanese manufacturers are not inferior to other countries. However, in the face of competition from major international manufacturers, only by integrating domestic resources can Taiwan continue to maintain its competitive advantage in the bicycle industry.
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The Managing Director of CONEBI said: Our Industry Sustainability Plan places the concept of cooperation within the industry at the center of a broad strategy that both aligns with and reinforces the European Green Deal. More and more companies are ready to take their CSR actions to ambitious heights, actively participating in the ongoing green transition and circular economy, shaped by forwarding thinking.

The CEO of CIE said: Bicycles are at the heart of the transformation of mobility, ensuring a cleaner, greener, and more liveable Europe. The way our industry operates must meet the same lofty aspirations, so we need to be at the forefront of a sustainable industrial sector. CIE and CONEBI have set an ambitious agenda to address important industry-wide challenges and launch pioneering initiatives and actions across the supply chain, this packaging initiative is the first of many ways we are taking action to reduce our environmental impact.

Brompton Head of Sustainability said: At Brompton Bicycle, we are proud to build a bike that inherently addresses existing environmental and social issues. But supplier packaging may be just the tip of the dwindling iceberg when faced with a climate emergency, but it is an important start, and the real work now begins with implementing and creating positive change.

Cycling Industries is uniting behind a shared vision of creating a circular economy for packaging, contributing to the European Commission's new circular economy goals. This vision covers all packaging materials. For plastics, in particular, it is inspired by and closely aligned with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's vision of "New Plastics Economy", an initiative also adopted by the Foundation's Global Commitment led in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme.

The Bicycle Industry Sustainable Packaging Commitment:

• Share and endorse a shared vision for more circular and sustainable packaging solutions with your supply chain partners.
• Work with supply chain partners to reduce problematic plastic packaging and eliminate unnecessary packaging from your supply chain by 2025.
• Work with supply chain partners to ensure all supply chain packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.
• Work with supply chain partners to increase recycled content in packaging materials by 2025
• Create a customer/retail-facing packaging commitment to meet or exceed the shared vision by 2025.
• Share progress and updates with the wider cycling industry through the CONEBI/CIE Sustainability Working Group Forum.

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Development Background and Vision of ITS:
To solve the traffic problems such as loss of traffic accidents, inconvenient traffic in remote villages, congestion of transportation corridors, and insufficient attraction of public transportation. Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and government units are committed to creating smart transportation that is safe to go out, smooth driving, seamless travel, traffic sharing, and environmental sustainability surroundings. So far, it has not only driven the prosperity of the domestic smart transportation industry but also introduced smart transportation services into people's daily lives. Such as tracking buses with APPs, using electronic maps to find places or how to get there, etc., making Taiwan's smart transportation development shine internationally.

With 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and other emerging technologies applied to transportation, transportation services are closer to the development trend of people's needs. The goal is to position the smart traffic data technology and services, develop the digital infrastructure of the national core road network, and at the same time introduce cross-vehicle integration and embrace the trend of vehicle sharing. At the same time, AI is combined with transportation applications to create an experimental field for innovative transportation technology. In addition, it is expected to use smart transportation to solve the urban-rural gap and take care of the disadvantaged in remote rural areas.

Goals of ITS:
Goal 1: Improve traffic safety
Goal: Reduce traffic accidents and improve driving safety.

Goal 2: Reduce Environmental Impact
Goal: Reduce air and noise pollution and improve energy efficiency.

Goal 3: Improve Transportation Efficiency
Goal: Reduce traffic congestion and improve transport mobility.

Goal 4: Increase Economic Productivity
Objective: To promote the development of related industries and increase employment opportunities.


Strategies for Smart Transportation Systems:
Build 5G traffic data service:
Specific methods: In response to the era of 5G technology, provide transportation big data construction including TDX and marine meteorological transportation decision-making information infrastructure, integrate various resources, and provide value-added use by all walks of life.
Goal: Increase data access, downloads, and application value-added services to prepare for the deployment of Taiwan's future 5G information environment.

Build the digital foundation of the core transportation network:
Specific measures: Promote the construction of provincial expressway traffic control, local and regional smart traffic control construction plans, urban smart road safety construction plans, etc. Combine existing technologies, integrate AI applications and 5G networking, and build digital infrastructure to enable Traffic control systems and management to be more intelligent.
Goal: Use smart transportation technology to improve information coverage and reduce the number of traffic accidents within the scope of the plan, to improve the safety and efficiency of Taiwan's road network.

Create a living environment for traffic action services:
Specific methods: Through the construction and promotion of transportation action services and shared transportation platforms, integrate various types of daily use by the public.
A means of transportation to provide a convenient life experience.
Goal: Increase public transport usage, reduce travel time and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Create a sustainable and happy transportation service:
Specific methods: By integrating local transportation resources and using technology to assist in the establishment of mutual aid and shared ride models, it can meet basic civil needs such as schoolchildren and the elderly seeking medical care.
Goal: Serve the rural areas and implement it in every corner of Taiwan.

Synchronize the development and application of new technologies in smart transportation with the world:
Specific measures: Promote the demonstration field of innovative application services such as smart locomotive and vehicle networking security systems and self-driving cars. Taiwan's domestic transportation technology research and development achievements can gain experience through demonstration projects, and combine the collection of digital data such as dynamic data of high-precision maps. Relevant industries have accumulated strength and developed new transportation technology services suitable for Taiwan.
Goal: To prepare for the introduction of future innovative technologies into transportation through innovative and experimental projects.
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​Reference: ey

What are Tubeless Bicycle Tires?
The tubeless system can not only repair the tire quickly but also improve efficiency, comfort, handling, and stability. It can be perfectly compatible with the appropriate wheel set, rim, and tire lip to achieve high air tightness, more stable performance, and high performance. An era-changing design that prevents tire breakouts. The tubeless system plays an important role in many vehicles, which is enough to show that its performance has been affirmed in all aspects.

Existing road tires use clincher tires as the bulk, that is, the so-called inner tube + outer tire, and tubeless is the high-speed tire used in automobiles and motorcycles. The inner tube is omitted, and closed airtight space is formed by the frame itself and the outer tire. Can be inflated without an inner tube. There is no difference in appearance between tubeless and clincher tires, but the tubeless tire will have the word Tubeless on it.

Steps to Replace Tubeless Tires:

• First, you need to prepare the accessories such as tubeless tires, rims with matching specifications, needle-nose pliers, measuring syringes, leak repair fluid, and inflators.
• First, remove all the accessories on the air nozzle. The air center is sometimes locked tightly. It is recommended to prepare removal tools, such as needle-nose pliers.
• Find the corresponding position of the air nozzle of the rim, insert the air core and the tube body first, and then close the tire to the wheel frame.
• Squeeze the tire bead completely into the joint of the wheelset, and check repeatedly to confirm that the two are completely tight. After completion, lock the nut of the valve.
• Then take out the measuring syringe, and use the scale in the cylinder to accurately measure the amount of leak repair fluid used. The volume of leak repair fluid required by tires is not the same. Before installing the device, you must first check the required amount of leak repair fluid.
• Finally, use a general pump to inflate the installed tubeless tire.

Advantages of Tubeless Systems:

• The road feels close to the people: Compared with the tube type, the tubeless system has no inner tube barrier, the whole tire can directly convey the road feeling, including the so-called Q degree, rolling resistance, grip, etc. The ground contact ratio, with the optimal tire pressure value of 100-110psi, can achieve better comfort. Under the same test conditions, the rolling resistance of the tubeless system outperformed the other two types of tires. It has an excellent road feel, even more comfort than tubular tires, and low rolling resistance.
• No snake bites: As long as the tube is installed, there is a risk of snakebite, such as passing through an irregular road surface, accidentally inflating the tube without being installed, etc. The use of a tubeless system can eliminate this risk.
• Tire and rim are tightly integrated: To increase air retention, the combination between the tire and the rim is very close, so it is not easy to cause the tire to be separated from the rim, which effectively increases safety. The hole starts to leak, which effectively increases the rider's strain time. On the other hand, with the inner tube, it will quickly leak from the outside and the valve.
• Quick Rescue with Repair Fluid: At present, most of the tubeless systems on the market can be used with repair fluid. Usually, holes under 3mm can be repaired automatically, making the riding journey smoother. Tubeless is slower to deflate when the tire is punctured. The general clincher tire is not airtight, and if the tire breaks, the tire pressure will drop instantly. However, when the tire is broken, the tubeless will only leak from the broken place, and the pre-filled tire repair fluid will fill it up immediately.
• The inner tube can be installed emergency: If the larger tire is damaged, the tire sealant may not be able to fill it, so the journey must be temporarily suspended, but as long as the inner tube is installed and the original tube is changed back to the original form, the ride can still be continued.
  

How do riders clean and maintain road disc brakes at home?

It is not that difficult to clean disc brakes. Regular maintenance can ensure the safety of riding and the life of parts. However, if you encounter abnormal noise, oil replacement, or maintenance after riding on rainy days, it is recommended to go to a professional car shop for assistance. The oil condition is the place where the hydraulic disc brake needs special attention. If it is not replaced regularly, in addition to causing a poor brake feeling, when the oil swells, the caliper may be stuck.

The following are the cleaning and maintenance steps for the disc brake:

• Prepare the tools you will use first: a screwdriver, measuring ruler, toothbrush, wipes, alcohol, and detergent.
• To clean the handlebars of the vehicle, spray alcohol on the wiper.
• Wipe the brake handle, handle strap, and grip cover to remove dust, sand, and sweat.
• To remove the pad, the first step is to remove the latch ring on the caliper. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to unscrew the set screw on the other side. Remove the spring plate on the caliper, and pay attention to the spring plate so that it is not lost.
• After removing the pad, use a measuring ruler to check the thickness of the pad. If it is less than 0.5mm, it is recommended to replace it. At the same time, check the thickness of the disc. If it is less than 1.5mm, it is recommended to replace it. In addition, it should be especially reminded that when the pad is removed, do not press the brake handle, which will cause the piston to be squeezed out, which will cause the pad to not be installed later. The thickness of the disc is less than 1.5mm, it is recommended to replace it.
• When cleaning the pads, put the detergent on the toothbrush first, and be careful not to get oil stains on the toothbrush so as not to get dirty as you brush. Clean the surface of the sheet with a toothbrush and wipe off the moisture with a dry cloth.
• When cleaning the disc, spray alcohol on the wiper, wipe the inner ring first, then wipe the outer ring of the disc. The disc cleaning of the bicycle is divided into the outer ring and the inner ring. The inner ring is more oily, so after wiping the inner ring, it is recommended to replace the outer ring with a cloth to prevent the oil from the inner ring from getting on the outer ring again.
• The caliper part is also wiped with a cloth dipped in alcohol. When cleaning the calipers, there are many fixing screws on the calipers. It is recommended that the rider not adjust them by themselves, to avoid the position of the calipers shifting and causing the brakes to be unsmooth. more crooked.
• After cleaning, the pad can be put back in the future. It should be noted that the pad has left and right sides. Install the leaf spring between the pads, then push the pads into the caliper. Insert the set screw into the caliper and lock it with a flat-blade screwdriver. Finally, insert the latch ring back into its original position.
• After the pad is installed, first press the brake to check whether it is OK, let the caliper piston return to its original position, and turn the wheel to check the smoothness and whether there is any abnormal noise. usual.

The above completes the cleaning and maintenance of road disc brakes. Regular maintenance of the disc brake of the bicycle can give full play to its excellent braking ability!

What are the Items of Fitting Body Measurement?
Before buying a bicycle, you should first understand and discuss your usual riding style, injury history, etc., and then proceed to analyze your physical fitness. The purpose is to know whether any part of the bicycle is restricted in movement. It may be past injury history or innate physical traits.

• Use the foot arch measuring board to know the height of the foot arch, assist the fitter to determine the position of the heel, whether the heel is collapsed, and whether it will affect the pedaling.
• Understand the relative positions of the hips, knees, and feet of the body by visual inspection. And use professional procedures to determine whether the left and right sides of the pelvis are symmetrical. If there is a slight skewness, it may cause uneven pedaling of the two feet.
• Relax your body and keep your head up high to confirm the position of your shoulders and cheekbones.
• Through the stretched forward bend, you can understand the flexibility of the rider, and then the body slowly returns to the original position to see if the spine is neutral, and there will be no unnatural rotation in the process.
• Look straight ahead, and raise your thumbs over your shoulders naturally. During the process, observe whether your hands and shoulders have abnormal movements or injuries.
• Lie on the bed with your hands on your stomach and your feet relaxed, and measure the range of motion of your hip joints.
• Know the range of motion of the ankle joint, bend the knees, raise the buttocks to the top, relax the pelvis and pull back quickly, and know whether the rider has long or short legs.
• The feet are relaxed and fall naturally. The degree of relaxation of the quadriceps on the front of the leg is tested. The degree of muscle relaxation is related to the pedaling efficiency.
• With your hands on your hips, squat down with one foot independently, and learn which parts of your feet, knees, and hips are relatively unstable when pedaling. This ability is related to core muscle strength and neural control.

Advantages and Purposes of Fitting:
For the average recreational rider, the most practical effect is to reduce sports injuries and improve the comfort of riding. For many holiday riders, it is also common to ride the bike all morning on weekends. At this time, riding comfortably is the most comfortable. The most important thing is to get off the car after 5 to 6 hours, and the whole body still feels relaxed without any soreness, which will surely increase the attractiveness of this endurance sport.

For advanced riders who want to improve their cycling performance, Fitting can also help to a certain extent, achieving a balance between physical comfort and performance. The reason for this kind of help is that Fitting measurement is based on ergonomics and exercise physiology, and starts from physical ability, which is the brainchild of data engineering. However, since Fitting is a professional technology with many details, it takes a long time. It is recommended that friends who want to Fit in should make an appointment with the car shop first. Generally speaking, it takes about 4 hours, including interviews, physical examinations, etc. Measurements, bike settings, and more.

Fitting's body measurement project is to fully understand the rider's physical condition during the process. If there is any abnormal movement of the body part, it can be improved by physical therapy. However, the value of the fitting test result is not permanent, because the relevant data will change with the physical fitness of the knight. After understanding the basic physical fitness, the next step is to match the frame to find the right settings.

Everyone's height, hand length, and foot length are very different, and road cycling is a sport that is closely related to the body. The size of the frame and the geometry of each part are different because such a close connection requires more detailed anthropometric measurements allowing you. Choose a bicycle that fits you and is comfortable so that you can create a great cycling experience and avoid the risk of other sports injuries.

1. Daily basic inspection of bicycle consumables
Unlike cars, bicycles do not have a dashboard or automatic detectors, and they will not notify or remind the car. All daily inspection items need to be checked by the owner or the car shop. Establishing the habit of daily basic inspection will help to find and replace the consumables that affect safety before the vehicle breaks down. Bicycles are more critical to our riding safety. Before riding, we must pay attention to checking the condition of bicycles to reduce the risk of riding.

Consumables consumption speed of bicycles in order: Chain > Tire > Brake Pad > Freewheel > Bearing > Chainring

• Chain: The structure of the chain, simply put, is that the steel sheets on both sides rotate with the pins sandwiched between them. During the rotation, the thickness of the pins will be slowly consumed. When the pins on one side are ground too thin, they may break. Generally speaking, the chain needs to be replaced at about 3,000km. For riders who often run mountain roads or like to start in heavy gear, the chain may need to be replaced at 1,500~2,000km. The service life of the chain depends on the riding intensity and maintenance method. Please avoid extreme shifting gears when riding, and it is recommended that you check the chain condition every 500km after a mileage of 1,000km.
• Tire: The tire is the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground, and it is critical to life safety and rolling performance. The key to grip is not the tread, but the tire material. Several factors can accelerate tire wear: low tire pressure, heavier weight, frequent mountain trails, or bad braking habits that only brake the rear wheels. Usually, because of the weight on the rear wheel and the braking habit of riding a motorcycle, most riders wear the rear wheel faster than the front wheel. During normal maintenance, the front and rear tires can be reversed, so that the average consumption of the tires can extend the mileage. For the detection of wear status, some tires will be designed with reference arrows or small dots for wear indicators. But if you find that your car's tire skin has a ring width of more than 1cm, it means it's time to change the tire. If you grind further, the tired skin will be exhausted, revealing the underlying braid/puncture layer, or similarly exposed braid below, please replace the tire immediately.
• Brake pads: Do brake pads need maintenance? It is recommended to remove the brake pads every once in a while to pick out the metal chips or small stones on them, and then remove the oil to clean the surface to protect the rim, especially after riding in heavy rain, the thrown-up rain will bring the sand and gravel. If the wheels and brake pads are not removed and cleaned, the life of the wheel frame may be consumed quickly. When will the brake pads be replaced? If you find the drainage pattern is flat, it is time to replace it as soon as possible.
  

Other bicycle components and consumables also need to be inspected regularly, but they may involve professionals, and it is recommended that they be checked by professionals regularly.

2. Regular bicycle maintenance service
It is recommended that you carry out complete maintenance for your bicycle at least once a year. Maintenance is not just a car wash. Maintenance services include testing consumables/disassembly and cleaning of flywheels/chains / large plates/front and rear derailleurs/brake calipers/body cleaning and waxing.

During the cleaning and waxing process of the frame and front fork, the frame will be inspected for any abnormality. During the maintenance process, the technicians have professional skills. During the process, they often found cracks in the corners of the frame that were not easy to see. Before an accident occurs, check the safety of the rider's bicycle.

The cleaned parts will be added with various special mechanical lubricants according to the parts. During the process of re-installing the parts on the car, the technician will help the car owner to check whether the parts need to be replaced. Such as BB bearing/guide wheel bearing/wire resistance... These are items that ordinary car owners cannot check during equipment maintenance at home. If the parts are abnormal or damaged to a state that affects safety, the technician will also inform the car owner, and the car owner will decide whether to replace them or not.

3. What to know before buying a steel pipe truck - rust problem

Before you choose a steel tube bike, you need to know that it will inevitably rust. Rust refers to a change in the oxidation of metals and oxygen in the air. Generally, the so-called rust means that the rust changes the original form and texture of its material, such as rust or patina. Although it is inevitable to face the rusting problem of steel pipe trucks, it can be effectively delayed by regular attention and correct maintenance.

• What if the frame is scratched and the paint layer is worn and see the bottom layer? It is recommended that you repaint and isolate as soon as possible.
• What should I do for the anti-rust maintenance of the steel pipe frame? It is recommended to do the anti-rust treatment at least once a year for the inner tube of the steel pipe, but because this part needs to be disassembled before it can be oiled, it is recommended that the anti-rust and major maintenance work together. It saves time and effort. If you have no experience or time for car body disassembly, assembly, and adjustment, it will be more appropriate to leave it to the car shop.

​Reference: Bikefun

In the post-epidemic era, the demand for bicycles continues to rise, and bicycle orders have been placed until 2023. Although the bicycle industry faces problems such as a shortage of materials and containers, the demand remains high. In particular, the demand for electric-assisted bicycles and high-end bicycle products is particularly high, and the supply-side capacity expansion cannot keep up with the demand, and manufacturers delay orders, which further promotes the popularity of the bicycle industry. Although there are shortages of materials and cabinets, the bicycle factory will still have a bumper harvest in 2021. Huge, Merida, and other bicycle-related manufacturers have handed over a record high revenue for three consecutive years. It is expected that the growth rate of profit will exceed the growth rate of revenue. , this year and 2022 will continue to achieve good results. After shipping becomes normal in the future, the assembly plant will speed up the supply, thereby driving the demand for parts, and looking at the bicycle market prospects optimistically.

According to statistics, the global bicycle market will reach 59.3 billion US dollars in 2021, and it is predicted that it will continue to increase at a compound growth rate of 8.2% in the next eight years.

In 2021, the overall export value of Taiwan's bicycles (including complete vehicles, electric bicycles, and components) will be US$5.147 billion, an increase of 39% over the previous year. The export volume of finished vehicles reached 1.99 million, an annual increase of nearly 17%, the export value was 1.314 billion US dollars, an annual increase of 19.7%, and the average unit price was 661.5 US dollars. The electric bicycle market also grew last year. The export volume and export values were 987,000 units and 1.314 billion U.S. dollars, respectively, an increase of nearly 30% and 33.21% over the previous year. The average unit price was 1,331.4 U.S. dollars, a slight increase over the previous year. The export volume of parts and components was 75.57 million kilograms, an increase of 41.86% over 2020, and the export value reached US$2.519 billion, an annual increase of 56.71%.

Taiwan's electric bicycles exported to NAFTA and the European Union accounted for 83.3% of the total export volume. The top five exporting countries were the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada. In 2021, the overall demand will increase by nearly 30% compared with 2020, from 760,000 to 987,000, with an average unit price of US$1,331.4, and the export value will increase from US$987 million to US$1.314 billion. The survey shows that the demand for electric bicycles in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France continues to rise, driving the growth of Taiwan's bicycle exports. Among them, the export volume to the United Kingdom and Germany has more than doubled, reaching 1.5 times and more than doubled, respectively. And French exports also increased by 61.88% and 48.28%.

The Bicycle Industry is Booming, but There is a Shortage of Raw Materials
Taiwan's top bicycle brands have an overwhelming market share in the global market, and although production declined in early 2020, it has rebounded rapidly. According to the Taiwan Bicycle Association, Taiwan's bicycle exports in 2021 will increase by nearly 20% compared with 2020. At the same time, the export volume of bicycle components also increased by 57% compared with the previous year.

Many companies are also joining the ranks of reducing carbon emissions. Conventional and e-bikes for carrying goods are increasingly common in dense urban areas, reducing the use of vans and trucks. In addition, more and more companies are encouraging employees to cycle to work, introducing bike-sharing programs, offering rentals, subsidies, and even buying bikes directly for employees. Consumer demand for bicycles has skyrocketed, a double-edged sword for Taiwanese manufacturers. Many manufacturers struggle to digest orders that have been lined up for several quarters. The situation is further complicated by continued disruptions to global supply chains as demand far exceeds supply. Shortages of raw materials such as aluminum, steel, and nickel in 2021 will lead to price spikes, the costs of which will inevitably be passed on to consumers.

Even shortages of raw materials that are not directly related to bicycle manufacturing and sales have an impact on the efficiency and cost of related businesses. Since the end of 2020, the cost of pulp imported from China has risen by more than 50%, and its shortage has seriously affected the packaging and transportation of Taiwan's bicycle industry. Millions of dollars worth of goods cannot be shipped because there are no cartons and no packaging. Like other industries that rely on exports, Taiwan's bicycle industry has had to find ways to solve the shortage of containers in the past year. Even if a container can be found, securing a spot on the ship is difficult.

After the epidemic began, bicycle manufacturers in Taiwan and around the world had to adjust their prices. The average price of a brand new bike in the U.S. is $346, up 28 percent from 2020 and 54 percent higher than in 2019.

Supply chain shocks are also limiting manufacturers from expanding capacity to meet demand. Despite efforts to find ways to adjust the supply chain to increase production capacity, when the supply chain changes, automakers must ensure that products pass rigorous and time-consuming testing.

Before the epidemic, bicycle manufacturers had to complete the vehicle design as early as possible (usually about half a year to a year), to have enough time to mass-produce customized components. Today, after the impact of the epidemic, the delivery time of these parts may be as long as two years or more. The process of fulfilling orders before the pandemic was relatively simple, as long as customer needs were passed on to suppliers, and parts were then obtained a year later to start production. Manufacturers now even start ordering new bikes two years before they're on the market, before customers see the bikes, and aren't even sure if customers like the new bikes.

Bicycle Market Attitudes and Changes
With the reorganization of the supply chain and the trend of intelligence, Taiwan's bicycle industry has received more attention than in the past. Under the epidemic, the global trend of rapid growth in bicycle demand is due to changes in consumer behavior. Another reason for the rise in demand for bicycles is that more and more people are paying more attention to climate change and other environmental issues. This has also led governments to rethink transport policies in recent years, especially in urban areas. The European Commission announced the "Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy" in December 2020, hoping to change the way people and goods move within the EU and reduce vehicle-related carbon emissions by 90% by 2050. In addition to urban planning to curb vehicle movement in urban areas, more emphasis is placed on encouraging the public to use bicycles, as well as electric bicycles, electric scooters, and other electric vehicles. Technological and design innovations in e-bikes will significantly impact urban planning, prioritizing low-carbon transport. He also called on the government to plan a better bicycle infrastructure to help people and businesses use electric bicycles in their daily lives.

​Reference: Market prospects、News

It has a profound impact on the global economy, industries, and lifestyles. Under the principle of maintaining social distance, bicycles have become one of the best ways to commute and exercise, leading to a surge in consumer market demand. An epidemic has changed commuting habits in Europe and the United States, and even the future will be a new normal. Therefore, the bicycle industry is also optimistic that it will benefit in the post-epidemic era.

During the spread of the epidemic, people were afraid of riding on crowded and closed subways or buses and chose bicycles that were both sporty and could maintain social distancing, resulting in a surge in demand for bicycles. Liu Yongchang, Chief Executive Officer of Giant Machinery, once said that there will usually be greater demand for bicycles after the epidemic. However, compared with SARS that only affects China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, the scope of the epidemic has affected the world, not only in China, but also in Europe and the United States, and the market rebound is even more significant.

According to statistics from market research companies, the sales of bicycles, accessories, and repair services across the United States in March nearly doubled over the same period in 2019. Commuter and exercise bicycle sales grew 66%, leisure bicycles grew 121%, children's bicycles grew 59%, and electric bicycles also grew 85%.

Cycling fever is also closely related to the various measures introduced by various governments in the epidemic. For example, the Italian government provides a 500-euro subsidy for the citizens to buy bicycles. In France, in addition to the bicycle purchase subsidy, an additional 200-euro electric bicycle bonus and a 50-euro repair subsidy are added. The British government proposes to let the public Ride a bicycle to reduce health insurance expenses.

Even countries have begun to accelerate their "car-free projects", including France and Italy actively adding bicycle lanes to make the riding environment more friendly. The British government spent £250 million on bicycle construction and subsidies in June 2020. In the future, these streets will only be open to bicycles and pedestrians. The same is true in the United States. New York City announced that it will temporarily open 100 miles of roads to pedestrians and cyclists. Oakland also plans to close 10% of streets during the epidemic to ban cars. , This measure may become a permanent policy in the future.

The spread of the epidemic has pushed up the use of a large number of bicycles and electric bicycles, and the bicycle industry is also optimistic. This upsurge can last at least a year and even become a new normal. This new normal after the epidemic is expected to bring business opportunities to the bicycle industry.

For Taiwan, which has a complete bicycle industry chain, it is also expected to benefit from it. The Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association revealed that the orders for Taiwan Bicycle Giant and Merida are now scheduled to the end of the year. Among them, for example, Giant's situation has improved since the second quarter. Sales in May increased sharply, and the monthly profit in June was nearly the entire quarter of the first quarter. In 2020, the revenue of electric bicycles is expected to increase by 30% annually, and the overall bicycle revenue is estimated to increase by more than 20% annually.

Taiwan has a reputation as the "Bike Kingdom". In the past, the bicycle industry had a competitive advantage in the global market. However, in recent years, due to the global economic slowdown and the impact of shared bicycles, the growth of non-electric bicycles has also encountered bottlenecks, resulting in the overall bicycle output value in 2017 It was once down to NT$45.11 billion.

However, since 2018, the United States and the European Union have implemented tariff protection policies on mainland China, and Taiwanese manufacturers have also moved high-unit-price bicycle production lines back to the country. Coupled with the rise of the electric bicycle market, Taiwan's overall bicycle output value reached NT 64.99 billion in 2019. Yuan, a record high. Driven by the new lifestyle after the epidemic, Taiwan’s bicycle industry will ignite a new spark.

Bicycles have become an important means of transportation for people in the post-epidemic era. Among them, electric bicycles have been fueled by the aging population, which has driven Taiwan's electric bicycle output value to grow substantially in the past five years. The proportion of the overall bicycle output value has increased year by year and has exceeded 40%. It gradually replaced ordinary bicycles as the growth engine of Taiwan's bicycle industry. According to statistics from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan’s electric bicycles have the largest sales in Europe, and their market share reached 64.7% in 2019, surpassing China and ranking first among all countries for the first time.

In the next 10 years, the sales of electric bicycles will account for 60-65% of all bicycles. If the global annual demand for bicycles is about 120 million units, Taiwan will have a lot of room for development in the electric bicycle industry.


Statistics on the development of Taiwan's bicycle industry released in March 2019

Bicycles have always been the representative industry of Taiwanese brands. In 2018, the output value reached 115.3 billion yuan, with bicycle parts accounting for 55.6% as the largest case, followed by finished cars with 34.9%, and electric bicycles with 9.5%. As far as the annual growth rate is concerned, electric bicycles have the fastest annual growth rate of 50.2% and their performance is outstanding.

1. Finished bicycles:
Affected by the ups and downs of China's shared bicycle fever, the output value of finished bicycles in my country reached a peak of 56.5 billion yuan in 2015 in the past five years, and then double-digit negative growth for two consecutive years, and then resumed positive growth in 2018 6.3%, due to the continuous efforts of the industry to research, develop and innovate, and to develop towards higher value, the average sales unit price has increased year by year. Taiwan’s finished bicycles are mainly exported to Europe (43.2%) and the United States (29.8%); the European Union and mainland China account for 38.0% and 85.7% of the import market respectively.

2. Bicycle parts:
The bicycle parts market has benefited from the continued expansion of European and American bicycle assembly demand. In 2018, the output value was 64.2 billion yuan, a record high, with an annual increase of 15.5%; the annual growth rate of export value was 11.4%, double-digit growth for two consecutive years, With Europe as the main export market, it ranks second in the EU’s import market share, second to mainland China.

3. Electric bicycles:
Electric bicycles have grown rapidly. In 2018, the output value of 10.9 billion yuan exceeded 10 billion yuan, an annual increase of 50.2%, and the average unit price of nearly three 年 each exceeded 40,000 yuan. Europe and the United States are my country's main export markets for electric bicycles, of which the European Union's import market share is 32.6%, and the US's import market share is 14.8%, both second to mainland China. In view of the future development of electric bicycles towards the integration of the electronics and metal electromechanical industries, Taiwan has this competitive advantage, which will help promote Taiwan to become the kingdom of electric bicycle production.
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​Reference: moea、digitimes

Identify consumer needs and assist consumers to complete their work and solve problems by providing different products, services, and combinations

The electric bicycle market has long been deeply rooted in Europe, but its development is relatively late in the United States. Originally, bicycles were positioned as a tool for fitness and entertainment, and vehicles were still the main means of transportation. However, these needs have slowly changed. In 2017, it was aimed at electric bicycles. The field survey found that two-thirds of electric bicycle trips are replacing car trips, two-thirds of respondents buy electric bicycles from online or professional electric bicycle stores, and only 16% buy electric bicycles from traditional independent bicycle stores. In addition, Brand awareness is not as sensitive as the price to consumers. The type of assistance (pedal or accelerator) or battery life of an electric bicycle is relatively important when considering purchases.

It is estimated that among the 3,900 specialty bicycle stores in the United States, there are about 1,500 to 2,000 dealers selling electric bicycles, and they will gradually expand. Therefore, how to tap consumers’ motivation to purchase and how to “educate” consumers and gain brand recognition is Important issues for production and sales.

1. At present, the majority of consumers buying electric bicycles in the United States are the older and active Baby boomers (Baby boomers). The baby boomers are entering the old age, their physical strength is getting weaker, they are unable to ride long distances and slopes, and they face retirement. With abundant funds and time, electric bicycles for entertainment and leisure purposes bring excellent market opportunities.
2. Shopping and pick-up needs of housewives: BESV pointed out that the best sales performance in Northern California is to meet the needs of housewives, launching urban electric bicycles that can carry goods and children, which can not only avoid traffic jams, but also allow shopping The pick-up and drop-off is completed at one time, and the overall sales have continued to grow.
3. The young people of the millennial generation (born 1981-1997): The job opportunities in big cities and the social networks of young people have caused people of this generation to migrate to live in big cities. Unlike the parents of the previous generation, they are not Desire to own a car, because the burden of parking, maintenance, tax, and maintenance fees for owning a car is not low, and electric bicycles are more labor-saving and not sweaty, and the terrain is like the ups and downs in San Francisco. The environment, or commuting distance of science and technology parks, have room for cars to be replaced by electric bicycles. In addition, high-tech white-collar workers are also highly receptive to novel things and open up new urban electric bicycles with streamlined appearance, fashion, and functionality. Blue ocean.
4. The rise of micro-mobility and the scattered leaves of bicycle rental system expenses have promoted market growth: micro-mobility has helped scooter-sharing startups gain market position; it is also spreading to the two-wheel rental market other than online rental car rentals. In November 2018, Lyft acquired Motivate, a bike-sharing company, and became the largest bike-sharing company in the United States. 80% of the US market, and then continue to win the 9-year franchise rights of Ford Bike in San Francisco, Citi Bike in Manhattan, New York, and Divvy Bicycle System in Chicago. In April 2018, Uber also acquired the American startup Jump Bikes for US$200 million and provided Jump’s shared electric bicycle service in the San Francisco area. In July of the same year, it invested US$335 million in the scooter company Lime and entered the Shared electric scooter field. In this interview, many car shop owners also pointed out opportunities for other alternative models. Due to the high quality and consumption rate of public rentals, and the chaos, some consumers also began to prefer to buy their own electric scooters or cool unicycles. (Onewheel), the acceptable unit price is about 1,500-2,000 US dollars.
5. Electric bicycles are used in logistics and transportation as a new tool for the police to fight crime : In the United States, Domino’s delivery staff used to use fuel trucks to deliver pizzas. However, they cooperated with the electric bicycle brand Rad Power Bike in the second half of 2019. A bicycle can hold up to 12 large pizzas. There is also space for drinks, the highest It can travel 32km/h and has a cruising range of 40-64 kilometers. It is expected that Domino’s pizza across the United States will be transported by electric bicycles soon. Rad Power Bikes provides electric bicycles for Normandy Park, Baltimore County, and Bothell City Police Departments, which are increasingly popular for daily patrol purposes.

In the 2017 E-Bike Summit, nearly a hundred participants including IBD, e-IBD, bicycle brands, and battery/motor manufacturers also discussed how to attract retailers to sell and obtain IBD support for electric bicycles. Some opinions, such as: launching more affordable electric bicycles, standardizing electric bicycle components, empathy training for salespersons, providing salespersons and customers with demonstration and ambassador programs (ambassador programs), manufacturers have Targeted efforts to educate consumers, etc., in order to accelerate the sales of electric bicycles in North America.

American consumers rely on online shopping, and online marketing is an irreversible trend
Any company interested in entering the US electric bicycle market at this time should consider selling directly to consumers, rather than following the traditional electric bicycle store and IBD model. The trend of shifting from retail stores to direct-to-consumer business models is changing. In the past, goods could only be purchased through physical stores because customers wanted to experience before buying. However, independent review websites and self-media are now developed, supplemented by a simple online consumer platform, currently several electric bicycle brands have launched exclusive sales of electric bicycles online. In addition, a few high-quality bicycle brands have also been sold through a semi-e-commerce model (order directly online and picked up through retailers or car shops). It is expected that more than 70% of electric bicycles sold in North America will be sold through websites in the near future.

It will be difficult to persuade a store to introduce or open a new brand, unless it has at least 40% profit, or allows the store to sell on consignment (payment after the goods are sold), otherwise in the emerging market cycle In, few stores will launch new product lines at this time. It is better to invest 40% of the profits that must be given to distributors to another attractive website, effective marketing plan, and establish the warehousing, testing, repackaging, and shipping required to establish a direct-to-consumer model. These electric bicycles can be delivered directly to consumers, or to partners such as local bicycle stores, who can also repair them when necessary. To successfully establish a direct-to-consumer sales model, provide the following step:

1. Website

• Develop a dedicated website for direct sales. The website needs to solve the bicycle, all questions about size, service, and return policy.
• Use Video to answer consumer frequently asked questions and demo electric bicycles
• Establish a 24-hour online customer service mechanism
• Contains comments from external editors on electric bicycles
• A clear white glove delivery program can be delivered directly to customers.
• Add common accessories.
• Provide purchased extended warranty period.

2. Establish consumers' perception and awareness of electric bicycles

• Use professional magazines to let them review and review their products.
• Advertise in consumer cycling magazines.
• Effective use of digital advertising such as AdWords, Facebook, and Amazon.
• Increase the use of social media, such as YouTube channels, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
• Exposure of trade fairs and demo show.

3. Sales through other online channels: such as Amazon, eBay, Shop.com Bikesdirect.com, canyon.com and other websites set up stores
4. Establish infrastructure for direct sales: warehouses, sales, services, and logistics.

Make good use of the exposure of local professional magazines, self-media, and regional marketing activities in the United States: Most of the interviewees pointed out that to enhance brand awareness, virtual and real channels should be used in parallel.

1. Magazines specialized in electric bicycles in the United States: Electric Bike Review, Electric Bike Report, and Electric Bike Action Magazine are well-known magazines. By sponsoring and providing product experience for them to review and review, it can enhance consumer impression.
2. Regional marketing activities: In terms of business-office areas in Silicon Valley, many landlords or landlords of rental office buildings will combine different external production companies to organize joint product promotion and experience activities for rental users or employees, similar to the concept of welfare committees, in order to attract and Retain local top talents. The sales of electric bicycle products in the United States depend on the long-term inculcation and education of consumers' ideas. Brand owners can use this B2C channel to accumulate customer familiarity.
3. Related exhibitions: The California Sea Otter Classic and CABDA EXPO are annual events to promote bicycle brands.

New business opportunities such as other key components derived from electric bicycles, integration of software and hardware, and personal parts and accessories

The continued electrification and electronization of bicycles, from drive systems, battery technology to wireless connections, has brought new opportunities for Chinese companies in the ICT supply chain. For example, car lights will overheat during the process of pedaling and acceleration, and key components will prevent The ability to crash and resist bumps that need to be upgraded. The tires and brake systems are naturally different from the previous design. In addition to the design structure of the car body itself, humanized riding is the ultimate goal. How to make riding more efficient and convenient? You have to rely on software to integrate. In addition, the popularity of electric bicycles has also driven the demand for some spare parts, such as storage racks for batteries and travel bags. The usage will increase. In addition, the use of trailers is also promising, such as trailers carrying pets, children, or luggage. New demand arises at the historic moment. Due to the expansion of its brand in the US market, it intends to purchase new personal parts and accessories such as car bags, car bells, and mobile phone devices.

At present, the cooperation between Taiwan and the United States is mostly designed in the United States and assembled in Taiwan. However, Taiwanese brands can also be seen on the market, such as TERN and BESV, which have been well received. There are many electric bicycle brands in the United States and the design is diverse. Compared with Europe, American consumers are more open to different brands. Taiwanese companies can go to niche markets (electric scooters, unicycles, etc.) or different ethnic groups (women, retirees, Commuters, etc.) need to develop products with small quantity and high quality, incorporating new creation and customized production. Respondents generally believe that the development and quality of Taiwan’s components have a certain degree flexibility and standard, and also tend to buy parts and components with Taiwan, some have a stable cooperative relationship. Especially in the face of the international situation of the US-China trade war, it is an opportunity for the Taiwan bicycle industry to grasp. In addition to setting up factories overseas, it is necessary to innovate and research and enhance the added value of products and create irreplaceable.

The extremely high flexible productivity and coordination of Taiwanese industry players is the biggest advantage. At present, the most important thing in Taiwan's industrial chain is how to break away from the foundry model to improve R&D and design capabilities and increase added value during this wave of electric bicycle generation changes; Traditional bicycles must dispel old thinking and take advantage of the strengths of Taiwan's ICT industry to make the industrial chain upgrade take the lead.