From exploding the smartphone market with the iPhone to single-handedly killing the headphone jack, Apple is one of only a few companies that can instigate immense change. That’s why I believe it should make an electric bike.
Apple Forces Change
Before we dive into ebikes, I want to talk about the rare power Apple has over almost any industry it enters. Time and time again, Apple has been the driving force behind some pretty massive changes.
The launch of the original iPod and iTunes was a seismic event that forever changed the music industry. Not only did it change how people listen to music, but it also changed how they purchase music. People born after the iPod have a different relationship to music because of these products.
Of course, the iPhone was a huge force for change as well–maybe even bigger. Smartphones certainly existed before the original iPhone, but they were very different. Apple revolutionized the idea of what a smartphone could be. It ushered in an era of keyboard-less slabs with touch screens and app stores.
The story is similar with the iPad and Apple Watch. These devices may not have been the first in their product category, but they made people think differently about how these types of devices should work. Companies that made competing devices changed their approach after Apple entered the market.
It’s not only about creating new devices, either. When Apple adopts a new standard or drops an old standard entirely, the market tends to follow. The iPhone finally got wireless charging after it had been available on Android devices for years, and now you can find wireless chargers everywhere. Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone, and suddenly, a huge market for wireless audio devices opened up.
The moral of the story is when Apple does something it tends to bring change with it. That could happen with ebikes, too.
Do People Want Electric Bikes?
Let’s begin with where Apple would most likely start when considering entering a new product category. Is there a large enough market of people who would buy an Apple Bike? This question is not only about current statistics, but that’s where I’ll start.
Electric bike sales have been rising every year since at least 2017. In 2024, the U.S. ebike market size was over $1 Billion, and it’s projected to double in the next decade. In addition, the percentage of bike riders who use ebikes has been steadily increasing–up to nearly 20% as of 2023. There’s clearly interest in electric bikes, even from those who would typically be against new technology replacing the “old way” of doing things.
However, Apple doesn’t make waves by going after people already interested in an existing product. Like the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, an Apple Bike would need to appeal to people who don’t own ebikes. People who don’t even realize they want an ebike. What’s the potential there like?
83% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas, and car ownership is lowest in some of the largest U.S. cities. For example, New York City is the largest city in the U.S. by a wide margin and it has the lowest percentage of households with vehicles (45%). Several smaller cities near NYC also have low vehicle ownership by proxy.
Now, this is not the case in every major U.S. city, but as a general rule, most of the U.S. live in areas where cars are not as critically needed to get around. According to the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, a quarter of the distance travelled by car in urban settings could be replaced by ebikes, scooters, etc.
All of this is to say there are likely a lot of people in the U.S. who could benefit from an ebike in their daily lives. And I haven’t even touched on the rest of the world, which is generally much more friendly to pedestrians and bikers.
What Would an Apple Bike Have to Offer?
The last thing to talk about it what Apple could potentially bring to the table to make its ebike stand out. Apple often isn’t first to enter a product category, but it tends to do so when it has something compelling to offer.
First and foremost, I think an Apple Bike would have the Find My Network built in. People love the Find My Network for AirTags, iPhones, AirPods, and anything Apple. It would be a killer feature on a product such as a bike, which you often need to leave behind in public settings.
Sticking with Apple services, it would be cool to have a small display with some sort of CarPlay-type connection to your iPhone. A phone mount would also work, of course, but a dedicated screen is cleaner and easier to use.
Design wise, it would be interesting to see what Apple could do with a foldable electric bike. These are much easier to lug around and pack away when you’re not riding. The mechanisms on folding bikes are all pretty similar and, frankly, not that great. There’s potential for improvement if a serious company like Apple put its engineers to the task.
One of the emerging technologies for ebikes is called “digital drive.” Instead of a chain that connects your pedals to the rear wheel, the pedals power a generator that’s connected to a motor in the rear wheel. This feels like the perfect thing for an Apple Bike. It’s futurisitic and it would allow for a very clean and minimal design–no chains!
Digital drive is a great example of how Apple could wow people with a bike. This is a technology that already exists, but most people don’t know about. Electronic brakes and solid tires that can’t be punctured are other examples. Apple simply needs to compile these features into a single product.
Apple Can Make eBikes Cool
Many of the big changes Apple was able to make happen were attempted by other companies. Whether you like it or not, some of that has to do with the fact that Apple is simply better at being “cool.” When the cook kid says something, people listen.
If Apple made an ebike it would almost certainly provide a huge boost for ebikes in general. People who previously had no interest in ebikes, or even thought negatively about them, would change their tune. The infrustructure around ebikes, such as bike lanes and bike parking racks, would be improved like we’ve seen with Bluetooth headphones and wireless charging.
An electric bike is just one of many “fancasted” products that Apple may never make. “Apple should make a car.” “Apple should make a 4K TV.” “Apple should make a smart ring.” “Apple should make a mirrorless camera.” The list goes on. I’ll add ebike to the list and hope for the best.
