E-Cargo Bikes: Investigation of Innovative Bike Frame Materials - Wood vs. Carbon Fibre and the Impact of Pro-Environmental Attitudes, Age, and Gender

Klemens Weigl, Klemens Weigl, Klemens Weigl, Verona Pircher, Justin Hanslmeier, Mira Scheuvens

2025

Abstract

E-Cargo bikes are often promoted in the context of climate change and sustainability as a great alternative to cars. Even though the number of E-Cargo bikes increases worldwide, it is unclear whether innovative bike frame materials such as wood and carbon fibre may play an important role for interested cyclists. Hence, we conducted an exploratory cross-sectional online questionnaire study and collected data from 292 participants in Germany (147 female, 144 male, one diverse; age range: 18 to 88 years). They completed scales, such as a semantic differential and buying intention, both for E-Cargo bikes made of wood and carbon fibre, respectively, as well as a questionnaire on environmental attitudes. We found that respondents who reported greater values on pro-environmental attitudes favoured wooden E-Cargo bikes. However, we observed no preference between E-Cargo bikes made of wood vs. carbon fibre. Additionally, we uncovered a gender effect for pro-environmental attitudes. Therefore, we conclude that cyclists do not prefer wood or carbon fibre as a bike frame material for E-Cargo bikes. Women seem to be more interested in wooden E-Cargo bikes than men, while articulating more pro-environmental attitudes that could impact environmental campaigns on green mobility.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Weigl K., Pircher V., Hanslmeier J. and Scheuvens M. (2025). E-Cargo Bikes: Investigation of Innovative Bike Frame Materials - Wood vs. Carbon Fibre and the Impact of Pro-Environmental Attitudes, Age, and Gender. In Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS; ISBN 978-989-758-771-9, SciTePress, pages 238-245. DOI: 10.5220/0013746600003988

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icsports25,
author={Klemens Weigl and Verona Pircher and Justin Hanslmeier and Mira Scheuvens},
title={E-Cargo Bikes: Investigation of Innovative Bike Frame Materials - Wood vs. Carbon Fibre and the Impact of Pro-Environmental Attitudes, Age, and Gender},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS},
year={2025},
pages={238-245},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013746600003988},
isbn={978-989-758-771-9},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS
TI - E-Cargo Bikes: Investigation of Innovative Bike Frame Materials - Wood vs. Carbon Fibre and the Impact of Pro-Environmental Attitudes, Age, and Gender
SN - 978-989-758-771-9
AU - Weigl K.
AU - Pircher V.
AU - Hanslmeier J.
AU - Scheuvens M.
PY - 2025
SP - 238
EP - 245
DO - 10.5220/0013746600003988
PB - SciTePress