New study shows why electric bikes are great for managing type 2 diabetes
Over 30 million Americans are affected by type 2 diabetes, though it is far from a uniquely American health issue. Now though, a new study is shining light on just how electric bikes may be a key tool for helping treat the condition in adults.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. This condition has become increasingly prevalent in recent decades, largely attributed to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and overall obesity rates. The sedentary nature of modern living, often combined with the consumption of high-calorie, processed foods, has unfortunately created an environment where type 2 diabetes thrives.
Many experts agree that addressing this health crisis requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on promoting healthier living habits around nutrition and activity.
Recently, a study at the University of Bristol investigated electric bicycles as a form of moderate intensity exercise that could help prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.
The key issue is that despite moderate physical activity being one of the best ways to counteract the effects of type 2 diabetes, those that suffer from it are also the least likely to engage in that critical exercise.
According to the authors of the study:
“Physical activity is a key component in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, this population have low rates of physical activity engagement. Electrically assisted cycling has been identified as a means through which to increase physical activity by incorporating activity into daily life, while overcoming some of the barriers to conventional cycling.”
In investigating the use of electric bike riding in a group of study participants who suffered from type 2 diabetes, the study’s authors explored how engaging in the sport was viewed by the e-bike riding participants compared to other forms of exercise.
The study found that “engaging in e-cycling was perceived as an easier way of managing their diabetes than diet or other types of exercise, largely due to the enjoyment of riding”.
Those readers that have tried electric bikes as a form of recreation or exercise won’t be surprised by these findings. Many people often discover that exercising on an electric bike is easier and more enjoyable, while still offering the benefits of regular physical activity.
The pedal-assist feature of electric bikes reduces the strain on muscles and joints, making it a more accessible option for individuals of varying fitness levels and age groups. That pedal assist allows riders to tackle hillier routes and ride longer distances without becoming as tired, encouraging them to stay active for longer periods.
Perhaps more importantly, electric bikes provide a sense of empowerment and freedom, as riders can adjust the level of assistance to match their energy levels each time they ride, ensuring a personalized and fun experience. That fun factor is in many ways enhanced since riders can maintain higher speeds and explore new areas, turning exercise from a chore into an adventure.
The findings of this study aren’t necessarily new, since study after study have shown that people who ride e-bikes get more exercise than those who ride pedal bikes due to riding longer and farther. But the study’s results speak to just how effective e-bikes can be for those with specific conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, for whom regular physical activity is even more important.
Researchers have consistently shown that when bike riders find the sport less grueling, they tend to go on longer rides. A 2019 study of over 10,000 adults across seven countries found that the Metabolic Equivalent Task minutes per week was measurably higher for electric bike riders than for pedal bike riders, resulting in even more exercise among e-bike riders.
That isn’t to say that riding a pedal bike isn’t a great way to engage in physical activity – it absolutely is! But for certain groups like those with type 2 diabetes, the advantages of electric bikes make them even more effective at ensuring that physical activity is performed repeatedly and enjoyably, giving riders the best chance for success.
via: road.cc
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Solar panel giant Qcells announced today that it’s temporarily furloughing 1,000 US workers – 25% of its workforce – and reducing pay and shifts at its factories in northeast Georgia due to supply chain delays caused by US Customs.
Qcells furloughs 1,000 workers
The supply chain delays are hindering the company’s ability to import components to build its solar panels. This has resulted in Qcells’ two factories in Cartersville and Dalton being unable to operate at full capacity for several months.
Qcells spokeswoman Marta Stoepker shared the following statement in an exclusive with Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta:
The company says the furloughed workers, who were notified this afternoon, will retain full benefits and won’t be laid off. However, Qcells will no longer be using staffing agency employees in Georgia “at this time.”
As Qcells introduced new supply chains to support its growing solar panel manufacturing facilities in Georgia, the company was recently forced to scale back production while our shipments into the US were delayed in the customs clearance process.
Although our supply chain operations are beginning to normalize, today we shared with our employees that HR actions must be taken to improve operational efficiency until production capacity returns to normal levels.
Stoepker said it expects to bring the furloughed workers back “in the coming weeks and months.” She continued:
Our commitment to building the entire solar supply chain in the United States remains. We will soon be back on track with the full force of our Georgia team delivering American-made energy to communities around the country.
Electrek’s Take
In January 2023, the Seoul-headquartered Qcells announced it would invest more than $2.5 billion to build a solar supply chain in Georgia – the largest-ever investment in clean energy manufacturing in the US to date. That included expanding the Dalton solar factory and building a fully integrated solar supply chain factory in Cartersville, Georgia, that will manufacture solar ingots, wafers, cells, and finished panels.
It’s not quite there yet, because that takes time. In the meantime, it’s being penalized by Customs. The US government under Trump says it’s keen on boosting domestic manufacturing. Why would it work against a company that’s onshoring an entire solar supply chain, including recycling?
Dalton and Cartersville employ nearly 4,000 people. Its total output will reach 8.4 GW of solar production capacity per year, which is equivalent to nearly 46,000 panels per day – enough to power approximately 1.3 million homes annually.
It’s ludicrous that it has been forced to furlough a quarter of its workforce due to the ineptness of the Trump administration’s US Customs policies. This is right up there with the ICE arrests at Hyundai’s plant in Georgia. Bravo.
Read more: Georgia gives US solar panel manufacturing a big boost with a new factory
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The breakthrough EV batteries Toyota says will double driving range and cut charging times are facing another setback. The company is once again delaying plans for a new battery plant in Japan.
Why is Toyota delaying its EV battery plant this time?
Earlier this year, Toyota bought a 280,000-square-meter plot of land in Fukuoka, Japan, where it planned to build a plant to produce the more advanced EV batteries.
A location agreement was expected to be signed by April, but Toyota pushed back construction by several months, blaming slower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles.
The agreement was expected to be finalized this Fall, but that will no longer be the case. According to Nikkei, Toyota is delaying the EV battery plant for the second time. Toyota will review and adjust plans over the next year.
Fukuoka governor, Seitaro Hattori, confirmed the news with reporters on Friday following a meeting with Toyota’s president, Koji Sato. Hattori also shut down claims that Toyota was planning to scrap the battery plant altogether.
Toyota again blamed slowing EV demand for the delay. The decision comes despite Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Advanced Engineering Development Center, confirming at the Japan Mobility Show just last week that it’s “sticking on the schedule” to introduce its first solid-state battery-powered EV by 2028.
Last month, Toyota said it aimed to “achieve the world’s first practical use of all-solid-state batteries in BEVs” after securing a partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. to mass-produce them. It’s also working with Japanese oil giant Idemitsu.
The company recently revealed a solid-state battery pack prototype that it claims can deliver 747 miles (1,200 km) range and 10-minute fast charging, but will we ever see it actually in production?
Electrek’s Take
Toyota has been making empty promises about EV batteries for almost a decade now. It initially planned to introduce solid-state EV batteries in 2020, then pushed it to 2023, then 2026, and now it’s saying it will be around 2028.
Mass production is likely closer to the end of the decade, if Toyota doesn’t delay it again. While it’s blaming the slowing demand, global EV sales are still on the rise. According to Rho Motion, global EV sales topped 2 million for the first time in a single month in September 2025. Through the first nine months of the year, EV sales are up 26% compared to the same period in 2024.
Even with the US ending the $7,500 federal tax credit and other policies designed to promote electric vehicles, global adoption will continue building momentum over the next few years.
Is it a demand issue, or is Toyota just looking for another excuse? With rivals like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, BMW, and Honda advancing next-gen EV batteries, Toyota will only fall further behind if it continues delaying key projects.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss how Tesla is now Elon’s after the shareholders’ meeting, Xpeng going all-in on AI, Rivian’s earnings, and more.
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