Korea's electric bike market is growing at a fast pace. As consumers show interest in the convenient and environmentally friendly means of transportation, its sales increased to 12,000 units last year. Currently, however, the rider of an electric bike must have a license just like those for motorbikes and scooters.
The electric bike rider is banned from riding on bicycle-only trails. The government will soon relax these rules, with the proposal currently pending in the National Assembly. If the bill passes the lawmakers before the end of the first half as expected, the industry estimates the sales would be able to reach the 20,000 level.
In the market for low-cost electric bikes around 1 million won, Samchully and Alton Sports are taking the top spots. The Phantom series, the electric bike line sold by Samchully, are sold in three different models including the "City," "XC," and "Mini," that are customized for commuters, mountain bicycling enthusiasts, and those who lack enough storage space, respectively.
Alton Sports is also selling a variety of electric bike models such as the Magnum, E-Star, and Unique. Both manufacturers are making use of the lithium-ion batteries (8.7 ampere) supplied by Samsung SDI. With a full charge of the battery, the rider can go as far as 35 kilometers without ever pedaling during the whole length. The two companies will launch new models for the year next month.
