Refurbished E-Bikes Offer Reliability and Affordability

New study shows certified pre-owned e-bikes match new-bike reliability while delivering up to 6x the savings of typical rebates.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A new study from Upway, a global leader in professionally refurbished e-bikes, has found that certified pre-owned e-bikes offer reliability on par with new models while providing significant cost savings that exceed typical government incentives. The data shows that 93% of Upway's refurbished e-bikes have no returns within a year, nearly matching the 95% success rate of new bikes. Additionally, Upway's discounts can be two to six times larger than e-bike rebate programs, making high-performance e-bikes more accessible to price-conscious commuters.

Why it matters

The findings from this study help address two key barriers to mass e-bike adoption: cost and trust in the reliability of used models. By professionalizing the refurbishment process, Upway is able to remove the risk associated with the secondary e-bike market, allowing more price-conscious consumers to purchase with confidence. This could help drive increased e-bike ridership and support cities' efforts to promote sustainable transportation.

The details

Upway's data shows that its rigorous 50-point inspection and full professional restoration process results in refurbished e-bikes that are nearly as reliable as new models. Within the company's one-year warranty period, 93% of pre-owned e-bikes experience no returns or refunds, just a 2 percentage point difference from new bikes. In addition to this reliability, Upway's certified pre-owned e-bikes offer discounts that are two to six times larger than typical government incentives, with an average two-year-old e-bike selling at a 44% discount.

  • The study was released on February 25, 2026.

The players

Upway

A global leader in professionally refurbished e-bikes, operating in nine countries including the United States. Upway's mission is to offer a premium second-hand choice by giving e-bikes a new life and making sustainable mobility accessible to more people.

Calvin Thigpen

An experienced policy researcher and practitioner in the field of sustainable transportation. From 2018 through 2025, Calvin served as the Director of Public Partnerships & Policy Research at Lime, where he led collaborations with cities, academics, and other stakeholders to improve shared micromobility programs, support new innovations, and evaluate the impacts of micromobility.

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What they’re saying

“A certified refurbished e-bike is just as dependable and reliable as a brand-new one, but significantly more accessible.”

— Maxime Renson, Head of Upway US (PRNewswire)

What’s next

Upway is eager to work with city leaders to partner on affordability efforts, proving that the circular economy is the fastest and most reliable way to get more people on two wheels.

The takeaway

This study highlights how professional refurbishment of e-bikes can help address the twin challenges of affordability and trust, making high-performance electric bicycles accessible to a much broader audience of commuters and supporting cities' efforts to promote sustainable transportation.