Despite their traditional and tech-averse reputation, the Amish community in Holmes County, Ohio has embraced electric bicycles as a mode of transportation. The rural region has become a hotbed for e-bike sales, with the community purchasing thousands of bikes each year, making it a bigger market for e-bikes than major cities like Cleveland and New York. Companies like Magnum and Lectric eBikes have found success in targeting the Amish community in Holmes County, with black, low-step commuter bikes being the preferred choice for riders.
The surge in e-bike popularity among the Amish community extends beyond Holmes County, with the U.S. seeing a record 1.1 million electric bike ownership in 2022, four times the volume sold in 2019. Globally, the e-bike market is estimated to have been worth $44.9 billion last year and could reach $77.6 billion by the end of 2028. The trend of using e-bikes in Amish communities has been building for at least a decade, offering a more efficient and cost-effective mode of transportation for those who need to commute to work, though more conservative sects still shy away from adopting the technology.
Holmes County’s Amish community, which makes up about 45% of the population, has a long history of embracing certain modern conveniences while maintaining a separation from non-Amish communities. Views on technology acceptance are determined gradually, with a focus on upholding religious tenets that emphasize the need for community integration. While e-bikes have been accepted by the majority of local Amish churches in Holmes County, more traditional sects remain opposed to battery-powered bicycles, citing concerns about the impact on their way of life and the potential shift towards car ownership.
The Amish community in Holmes County has also been early adopters of solar and battery systems, with the region likely having the highest rate of residential solar power generation in Ohio. Amish households use solar panels and batteries not only to power their e-bikes but also to run household lighting, small appliances, and water pumps. Despite the region’s embrace of cutting-edge technology like e-bikes and solar power, more conservative Amish sects like the Schwartzentruber Amish and Andy Weaver Amish remain opposed to these modern conveniences, viewing them as potential threats to their traditional lifestyle.
While Holmes County may be a unique case in terms of Amish acceptance of e-bikes, other communities like Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and northern Indiana have lower adoption rates. The success of e-bikes in Holmes County has made it a key testing ground for bike manufacturers like Magnum, who rely on feedback from the local community to improve their products. Despite varying views on modern technology within the Amish community, e-bikes have found a niche among those looking for a more efficient way to commute or travel longer distances while still adhering to their religious beliefs and lifestyle.
