The Surface604 Quad is an electric mountain bike that's been engineered to ride light to medium level off-road trails, with looks to back it up. The torque sensor and a vibration free hub motor … Read Full Article
Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.
Featured Story
Featured Stories
eBike News: Great New Californian Off Road Trails, 8.5kg eBike, Yuba, Montague & More! [VIDEOS]
eBikeNews: Pivot’s New Carbon, Revel NY eBike Subscription, Futuristic eScooters and Much More! [VIDEOS]
Evelo Delta X Review – 2021
Evelo Compass Electric Tricycle Review – 2021
Surface604 Shred Review – 2021
eBike News: Federal Tax Credits, Bergamont eFolder, Gocycle Teaser and Much More! [VIDEOS]
In this week’s news:
- US Bill Giving Tax Credits for eBike Purchase Starts it Way through Congress
- Frikar – the Latest eBike Car Announces Prices
- Bergamont’s Funky Looking New eFolder
- Gocycle Teaser Info on Brand New Model
- Magic Tour Mode for Bosch Mid-drives Announced by Moustache
- eBike Workstand
- eBike Inspiration from How to Buy and eBike Video
- UK’s Halfords Launch Own Brand Scooter
- All the Latest EMicromobility and eBike Biz News
Headline News
Financial Federal Incentives Heading eBikers’ Way?

eBike tax Incentive legislation has just begun to make it’s was through Congress but it may be weeks or months before we know the final outcome
People for Bikes have been in touch with the news that the process has begun to introduce Federal legislation that would mean a tax incentive for the purchase of e-bikes by US citizens in the US, saying ‘An Electric Bicycle Tax Credit would relieve 30% of the cost of a new electric bicycle (up to $1,500 credit per bike, for bikes less than $8,000). Stay tuned for more information as we work with our partners in Congress to introduce legislation.’
[Read More…]
Proposed E-BIKE Act Would Save Consumers 30% On eBike Purchases Via Federal Tax Credit
Last Updated: Feb 12, 2021
On February 9th, 2021, Congressman Jimmy Panetta and Congressional Bike Caucus Chairman Earl Blumenaur introduced the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstarter for the Environment Act to the United States House of Representatives. The proposed E-BIKE act has been submitted in order to kickstart and encourage increased demand for electric bikes by way of a tax credit for all United States citizens.
Speaking on his proposed bill, Congressman Panetta had this to say:
“E-bikes are not just a fad for a select few, they are a legitimate and practical form of transportation that can help reduce our carbon emissions. My legislation will make it easier for more people from all socio-economic levels to own e-bikes and contribute to cutting our carbon output. By incentivizing the use of electric bicycles to replace car trips through a consumer tax credit, we can not only encourage more Americans to transition to greener modes of transportation, but also help fight the climate crisis.”
What is the E-BIKE act?
The proposed bill, if passed and signed into law, would result in a full refundable tax credit for those who take advantage of the proposed legislation. While the full rules and regulations surrounding the bill are currently being debated by congress, the following restrictions are part of the current bill:
- The proposed bill would cover 30% of the purchase price of a single eBike once every three years, or twice for joint-return couples who are buying two electric bikes.
- The new electric bike must cost less than $8,000 dollars.
- A $1,500 dollar refundable tax credit is the maxed amount that can be awarded per bike. As such, you would receive the same credit for a $5,000 dollar eBike as you would for a $8,000 dollar eBike.
- This is a fully refundable tax credit. Up to $1,500 dollars can be subtracted from what you owe to the government the year you purchase your eBike. If the total tax credit awarded is more than the taxes you owe, the government will pay you the excess amount.
- The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, will be mandated to deliver a report regarding the financial results of the proposed bill after two years. Additional adjustments may be made to the legislation based upon the findings, income tax bracket distribution, and equity of the proposed bill.
Because the proposed legislation has only been submitted just this week, it will be several weeks or even months before this proposed legislation will be fully considered or passed. However, several congressional representatives, eBike manufacturers, and members of the eBike community are very excited with the potential that this proposed legislation has. Co-legislation sponsor and founder of the Congressional Bike Caucus Earl Blumenauer noted:
“One of the few positive developments of the last year has been the surge in biking. Communities large and small are driving a bike boom. Notably, electric bicycles are expanding the range of people who can participate and making bike commuting even easier. I look forward to working with Congressman Panetta on this important expansion of cycling opportunities.”
While the bill is undoubtedly a positive sign for the ebike space overall, it still leaves many questions that hopefully will be answered should the bill go through any amendments. Some of the questions cyclists have expressed to us here at EBR include:
- Will the credit only be applicable to bikes manufactured in the U.S.?
- The language of the bill currently states that the credit will apply to only ‘an electric motor of less than 750 watts.’ Is this a mistake in the wording since the legal limit goes up to 750W? Or could that mean that the popular 750w motor ebikes are excluded?
- Should this not also be extended to 3-wheel trikes since those have basically the same benefits of 2-wheeled ebikes?
Understanding Your Tax Credit In Terms of A Real Bike Purchase
While we anticipate that the rules, regulations, and even the tax credit sum received by purchasing an eBike will change by the time the bill is passed, we can make some predictions on how much money you would save.
Whether you’re looking to get your first ebike, or looking to add another one, this credit will go a long way in helping you get your next ebike no matter where you’re shopping on the price spectrum. Popular, lower-cost brands like Aventon or Rad Power Bikes will be more affordable than ever before. Even if you want to look at prices that are more on the premium end like GoCycle or Trek, you’ll be able to save several hundreds of dollars there too.
Here a few examples of what the bike would cost you once you receive your E-BIKE Act credit:
*Bike prices and final credit value are subject to change*
Aventon Pace 500 E-Bike:
Purchase Price: $1,399.00
Tax Credit: $419.70
Total Price After Tax Credit: $979.30
RadWagon 4 E-Bike:
Purchase Price: $1,699.00
Tax Credit: $509.7
Total Price After Tax Credit: $1189.30
GoCycle GX E-Bike:
Purchase Price: $3,299.00
Tax Credit: $989.70
Total Price After Tax Credit: $2,309.30
Trek Allant+9.9s E-Bike:
Purchase Price: $5,999.99
Tax Credit: $1,500.00
Total Price After Tax Credit: $4,499.99
How You Can Support the E-BIKE Act
Speaking for PeopleForBikes, CEO Jenn Dice added:
“Incentivizing electric bicycles makes them a competitive transportation option for more Americans and supports a national effort to lower carbon emissions. The E-BIKE Act positions rightfully electric bicycles as a critical part of a larger solution to climate change and equitable mobility. We’re grateful to Congressman Panetta for leading the charge in Congress.”
PeopleForBikes along with ten other private eBike companies, eBike activist groups, and other parties interested in the growth of the eBike industry have joined in supporting the E-BIKE act. If you would like to show your support and draw attention to the E-BIKE act, we highly recommend that you reach out to your congressional representative by phone or email detailing your support for this legislation.
Fortunately, PeopleForBikes has made it extremely easy for you to show your support for the E-BIKE act. Through a form on their website, you can contact your local congressional representative letting them know you would like to see the bill be passed. You can see a preview of the form below, and by clicking the button it’ll take you to their page where it takes less than a minute to email your congressperson.
How the E-BIKE Act Will Impact the E-Bike Industry and the World
If the final E-BIKE Act is very similar to the proposed legislation, we think that the E-BIKE act will have an overwhelmingly positive impact on the greater electric bike industry. Here are a few ways that we think the eBike industry, and the world, will improve with the passage of the E-BIKE act:
- Increased E-Bike Demand. The main purpose of the E-BIKE act is to get more people to buy electric bikes. Increased eBike demand will lead to greater eBike recognition, which in turn will legitimize them within the public eye as more cyclists ride them.
- Significant Environmental Improvement. In a study conducted by Portland State University, it is estimated that in America, those who purchase an eBike will choose to ride it over a car for 45% of their trips. In a similar study conducted by the University of Brighton, those who purchase a eBike will use it instead of a car 45% to 75% of their trips. Cars are one of the world’s leading sources of C02 emissions, so eBikes would result in a massive drop of annual emissions thanks to their much greener motor system.
- Increased E-Bike Production. Drawn in by the increased customer demand and the tax benefits that come with selling eBikes, we anticipate a continued surge in eBike production. We believe that increased competition leads to better products, resulting in not just more eBike options to choose from, but better eBikes to pick from as well.
- Significant Health and Fitness Improvements. According to multiple studies, electric bikes actually lead to increased fitness and riding time compared to traditional, non-motor bicycles. By having more cyclists switch from a car to an eBike, we expect to see improvements in weight loss, physical fitness, and mental health as more US citizens are encouraged to make the switch to riding eBikes.
- Further Discussions On E-Bike Regulation. As more e-bikes hit the road it will force discussions regarding regulation. Whether that means less regulation or more is anybody’s guess, but we see further talks as a good thing as legislators look for ways for people to ride more and to ride safely.
Visit Electric Bike Report For Up to Date Information on the E-BIKE Act
Passing legislation through the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate is a long process that often results in significant changes made to any proposed bill. While we are optimistic that the E-BIKE act will be passed, it may be several weeks or months before it is even considered for signing into law, at which point it may be radically different compared to the initial announcement. In any case, should this bill be passed it would be another step forward in the advancement of electric bike usage across the United States.
For up to date information regarding the E-BIKE act, please subscribe to the Electric Bike Report newsletter, and visit our site again in the future for discussions surrounding major updates to the E-BIKE act.
eBike News: NYC Bridge Cycle Lanes, Cannondale, MAXX, Esel, OYO eBikes & Lots More! [VIDEOS]
In this week’s news:
- Bike Lanes for NYC Bridges
- Cannondale’s New Comfort-Oriented Adventure Neo Range
- MAXX Introduces Range Powered by Shimano’s EP8
- Esel’s Wooden eBikes
- Oyo’s Hydraulic Drivetrain
- Pollution Sensing, Indicating and Self-driving eScooters!
- Meet the Lilium eJet
- eCargo Updates from Bristol, UK and the Netherlands
- Utah Gears Up for the Big Gear Show
Headline News
Car Lanes to Become Bike Lanes on Two Major NY Bridges

Brooklyn Bridge – the proposed replacement of a motor vehicle lane replaced with a segregated bike lane
The New York Times reports that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to add bike lanes on two of the city’s most iconic bridges, the Brooklyn and Queensboro Bridges ‘to encourage cycling as the city recovers from the pandemic’.
NYT says ‘The new cycling plan for the two East River crossings — called “Bridges for the People” — was unveiled as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s final State of the City speech on Thursday. The bike lanes are the latest victory for cyclists and transportation advocates who have increasingly pushed Mr. de Blasio, a Democrat in his second term, to chip away at the entrenched car culture that has dominated the city’s more than 6,000 miles of streets.’
The current crossing of Brooklyn Bridge by cyclists has long been seen as a notorious obstacle course by cyclists.
Under the new design motor vehicles will be banned from the inner lane of the Manhattan-bound side of the Brooklyn Bridge where a two-way bike lane will be built. The existing promenade area at the center of the bridge, which is elevated above the car lanes, will be used only by pedestrians and cyclists will no longer be able to ride on the promenade, where there is currently a bike lane.
For the Queensboro Bridge it is proposed to convert the northern outer roadway into a two-way bike lane. The southern outer roadway will be reconfigured as a pedestrian walkway.
City Hall hopes to complete the Brooklyn Bridge lane by the end of 2021 and construction on the Queensboro Bridge will begin this year.
This latest announcement may in part have been spurred on by the impressive growth in cycling during the pandemic; for example bike trips at the city’s four East River bridges into Manhattan jumping by 55 percent in November 2020 compared with the same month in 2019.
Di Blasio’s time has seen 120 miles plus of protected bike lanes introduced – the ultimate aim being to create 1,375 miles which NYT says would be ‘the largest urban network in the nation.’
City Hall previously came up with a $58.4 million safety plan in 2019 following a spike in cycling fatalities in 2019, including more protected bike lanes and redesigning intersections to make turns safer for cyclists.
This article at Gothamist does put these very welcome new lanes into perspective however, stating ‘There are currently 545 miles of protected bike lanes in the city, and 524 miles of conventional painted lanes, while there are 6,300 miles of streets overseen by DOT. The de Blasio administration built 35 miles of regular bike lanes in 2020, and was on track to finish 25 miles of protected lanes, five miles short of their goal.’
New eBikes & eBike Systems
Cannondale Launches Adventure Neo Series
Cannondale’s new Adventure Neo series major on comfort and are also designed let you mix tarmac and easier off-rad tracks. All models have a step-thru alloy frame, Bosch mid-drives plus frame-integrated Bosch Powetube battery.

The EQ1 is top of Cannondale’s new Adventure Neo range
Top of the line is the Adventure Neo EQ 1 with a Bosch Performance Line motor and 625Wh battery. The plush, comfort spec encompasses a 63mm SR Suntour Mobie A32 front suspension fork and Cane Creek suspension seatpost. It even features a clever radar system designed to detect traffic approaching from behind and let you know.

The range starts with the stripped back and relatively low-powered Neo 4
The lowest spec Neo 4 has a rigid fork, 400Wh battery and Bosch’s Active Line mid-drive.
Prices are from £2500 to £3800.
Five New eBikes from Germany’s MAXX with Top of the Line EP8 Mid-Drives
German brand MAXX just five new e-bikes -the ELS series – all featuring Shimano’s light and very powerful EP8 mid-drive. It has a claimed weight of 2.3kg thanks in part to its magnesium casing and a max torque of 85nm.
The ELS range encompasses city bikes, E-MTBs and fat bikes.
The Huraxdax ELS EP8 e-fat bike packs a 726Wh battery and tyre width up to 5″ whilst the FAB 4 ELS is a more conventional looking eMTB.
The range is completed by a trekking style e-mtb (the RACEMAXX), a well-equipped hybrid (the CROSSMAXX) and a step-thru city bike (the CROSSMAXX Comfort).
Prices range from €4229 to €6999
Esel Expands Wooden eBike Range

The distinctive wooden frame of the Esel E-MOUNTAIN
Austrian firm Esel produce wooden bikes and e-bikes. They have announced a new range of e-mtbs the E-MOUNTAIN, available from mid-March using a high powered 90Nm rated Brose mid-drive.
Their frames are made of Ash, waterproofed and feature cavities for internal cable routing.
FLIT-16 First Batch Sold Out
We’ve reported on the FLIT-16 folding e-bike from the UK before. EBR has been cautious about e-bike crowdfunding projects in previous posts but FLIT has some through with flying colours with their first batch all cold out – as they say ‘You may have noticed that we’ve been quite quiet over the past couple of months – we’ve been busy quality checking, test riding and sending out FLIT-16s to customers around the world! adding ‘If you missed out on our first batch of ebikes, don’t fear – we’re currently building our next batch. If you’d like us to let you know when new stock is available, sign up here.
They have also made this video about the whole process:
New eBike Tech
Oyo Wants to Replace Chain Drives with Hydraulics

Oyo are crowdfunding a mid-drive e-bike with hydraulic (chain-free) transmission and stepless gearing.
New Atlas reports on this interesting new drivetrain development form Oyo – the conventional chain is replaced with hydraulic fluid. As New Atlas says ‘Putting it simply, the system incorporates a closed-loop in which the rider’s pedalling power is used to pump hydraulic fluid through tubing into a hydraulic “motor” in the back, that rotates the rear wheel. The fluid then flows back up to the pedal-pump in front.’
It’s not an entirely new idea as such drives are an emerging technology on wind turbines but this appears to be the first time it has featured on an e-bike. The bike also features stepless gearing.
As the article points out ‘hydraulic drivetrains do have some drawbacks. For one thing, they tend to be heavier than conventional systems, plus they’re typically less efficient at converting pedalling energy into forward motion, and they may end up leaking.’
Oyo’s Indiegogo campaign has early bird offers for US$1,849 with a planned retail price of $3,599.
Cycling Accessories
Micromobilitybiz report on Bern’s ‘safest yet helmets, rated for use up to 27mph, the Hudson.
The helmet is available exclusively with MIPS safety system (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, designed to protect against rotational trauma), has an integrated LED light, removable visor and is compatible with Bern’s cold weather bike beanies. Bern claims it has class leading safety test results.
Retail price is US$119.
Micromobility & Share Rentals
eScooter Tech Keeps Advancing
eScooter tech seems to be coming on leaps and bounds in capability and sophistication.

Indicators are just one of the latest innovations on Voi’s new V4 model
MMB says Voi ‘has unveiled the Voiager 4 (V4), an e-scooter that can measure air quality as it travels through urban areas. The V4 has been designed to contribute to lowering traffic congestion and fuels, as well as helping cities to collect data on the improvements. It will be introduced to select UK markets this spring, with broader rollout later in 2021. The latest e-scooter model also offers new safety features, including audible alarms and indicators, designed to increase the visibility of e-scooters to pedestrians and to vulnerable road users, including those with vision impairments. The V4 is also designed to integrate better with public transport systems and now features the ability to be unlocked via contactless NFC (Near Field Communication) technology with the tap of a smartphone, smartwatch, or transport card. This means that it could be used in conjunction with an Oyster card.’
They also report that Spin’s ‘Valet platform makes it possible to remotely operate Spin’s fleet and automatically repark scooters out of the pathway of pedestrians and other pavement or street traffic within seconds. Spin Valet combines Tortoise’s software with the front and rear-facing built-in cameras on the S-200. This technology will eventually make it possible for a rider to ‘hail’ an e-scooter to a desired pick up location. The first S-200 fleet will be piloted in Boise, Idaho this spring. The city will receive up to 300 S-200 e-scooters. This is the first time the technology will be launched with a robust, more stable three-wheeled e-scooter, which can better withstand different road conditions due to its enhanced suspension. S-200 will offer a safer ride with three independent braking systems (regenerative rear brake, front and rear drum brakes) and turn signals (on handlebars and near the rear wheel).’
eTech
We’re never afraid at EBR to feature groundbreaking electric tech even if not directly related to e-bikes. So were interested in the recent news that ‘Ferrovial, a global leading infrastructure operator, and Lilium, the aviation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet aircraft, have signed a framework agreement to develop a network of at least ten vertiports. The zero-carbon infrastructure and services will cover strategic locations in all major cities across Florida. This partnership seeks to provide an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative transport network connecting locations across Florida.’
If you’re wondering what this might mean in practice check out the video below on this interesting looking ‘electric jet’:
eCargo Corner
eCargo Logistics Developments
With e-cargo bikes often touted as the ultimate ‘last mile’ delivery solution it’s clear that it is not about the bikes themselves – it’s about a whole logistics setup that allows them to operate efficiently as part of a bigger system. A couple of news stories demonstrate how this relatively new industry is starting to organise itself.

Zedify has its eyes on expanding electric micromobility deliveries in the UK’s Bristol
The UK’s Motor Transport reports that ‘Zero-emission operator Zedify has been awarded a £100,000 grant as part of Bristol City Council’s strategy to ensure 95% of deliveries within its central area are made by electric vehicles within 10 years…..The grant will help support a new Zedify micro-consolidation hub that will be centrally located and allow HGVs and diesel vans bringing goods into Bristol to drop off their goods without entering the city centre.’
Simply put, freight consolidation means organising deliveries so that the minimum number of vehicles are used to make the maximum number of deliveries – in this case the vehicles are Zedify’s fleet of bikes, trikes, microvans and vans.
Elsewhere in the eCargo world Paztir are described by Cycling Industry News as a ‘Dutch business (that) has developed software to be integrated into partner derived hardware that will offer a wide range of benefits to cargo bike owners, in particular those managing a fleet. The Internet of Things (IoT) development works to deliver bike security, access management, efficiency in parking and delivery, incident recording, route-planning, route-tracing, and plenty more.’
Infrastructure
LCC Campaign to Keep Important Cycle Lane
London Cycling Campaign have made the following video to highlight the importance of the keeping cycle lane along Kensington High Street in London that was introduced during the pandemic. Initially the local authority planned to take out the lane but following campaigning pressure have promised to revisit the decision on 17th March, though no one knows which way the decision might go. You can personally contact the councillors concerned to voice your support for keeping the lane here.
eBike Biz
People for Bikes Presenting Sponsor of The Big Gear Show
Bikebiz reports that PeopleForBikes has joined The Big Gear Show as presenting sponsor.
The Big Gear show describes itself as ‘is an invitation-only, multi-category trade event for the paddlesports, cycling, climbing, and camping markets. We are solely focused on meeting the needs of outdoor shops and gear builders. The demo is fully integrated into the event, so buyers get to paddle, ride bikes, and test gear all day.’
Rad Power Investment
Cycling Industry News again on a huge investment for Rad Power e-bikes; ‘Rad Power Bikes, which lays claim to being North America’s largest e-Bike only brand, has attracted $150 million in investment from institutions such as Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), the Fidelity Management and Research Company and The Rise Fund, among others.’
Riese & Muller Expanding Production Site
Premium e-bike manufacturer Riese & Muller have been in touch to tell us about forthcoming expansion plans:
‘Riese & Müller, the premium manufacturer of E-Bikes and Cargo Bikes, continues to expand and is extending its campus in Mühltal near Darmstadt to include a new building for a number of different departments, from new production units to administrative offices. The building will be built on the eastern part of the company’s land and will provide space for two new production units, the Development and Service department as well as additional offices. The company will also be hiring more than 60 new employees for its E-Bike production by April 2021. The construction work for the new premises will begin in May 2021 and is set to be completed in July 2022. ‘
Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!
-Rich
eScooter Laws and Regulations In The USA
Don’t worry if you are confused about the laws surrounded electric scooters – it seems much of North America is too, including lawmakers themselves. Even the naming is confusing – just to be clear when this article refers to electric scooters we mean what are also known as kickscooters and not the small step-thru motorbike type objects that can also be referred to as scooters.
Electric scooters have taken the US by storm, having gone from rarity to reality over the last few years, especially public share rentals run by the likes of Bird, Lime and Spin. But these are rentals specifically authorized, usually by particular city authorities, that only authorize the deployment and use of that particular company’s electric scooters.

Rules and regs around use of your own electric scooter need local research to make sure you comply with the law
But what about if you fancy the convenience of owning and using your own electric scooter where you live or work? Unfortunately, the state of electric scooter law is only just beginning to emerge in the United States and varies from state to state and even city to city. But before we take a look at different regulations on electric scooters across the US and Canada and look at the most commonly asked questions about them lets get an overview of federal legislation.
Federal Consumer Law – Safety Standards
Actually there isn’t any Federal Law specifically on electric scooters – The Consumer Product Safety Act of 1972 was amended by Congress in 2001 so there is now a national definition of e-bikes in the US as they are classed as ‘a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of fewer than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph (i.e., a low-speed electric bicycle).’
The above doesn’t tell you where the e-bike can be used, it only gives a legal definition of it. Since then People for Bikes has done brilliant work lobbying for the three-class law now adopted by 28 states across the US which does tell e-bike riders where they can ride along and states have also legislated on a host of other issues for e-bikes like whether helmet use and insurance are also mandatory – clearly many of the legal issues relating to e-bike use also relate to electric scooters.
Electric scooter law hasn’t got to this stage as electric scooters are not included in the Consumer Product Act – in other words there are no nationally prescribed legal safety standards. However there is a voluntary codes (in addition to some state and local laws) – the most prominent voluntary safety standard for electric scooters is devised by US company UL. This standard tests and evaluates electrical and fire safety aspects of e-scooters and similar devices such as hoverboards but doesn’t really address mechanical or operational safety.
The American Society for Testing and Materials announced that its Consumer Products Subcommittee on Powered Scooters and Skateboards (F15.58) would bring stakeholders together to discuss and develop a proposed standard on electric-powered scooters that would establish performance requirements and corresponding test methods to minimize common potential hazards associated with electric scooters.
(Thanks to this Crowell Moring article at Lexology which was used to research much of the above section.)
Despite this lack of federal guidance on manufacturing and performance standards, some US states clearly have made an effort to bring their laws up to date with the event of electric scooters on the ground. This NCSL article tells us that as of January 2020, 21 states have enacted laws defining e-scooters and distinguishing them from mopeds and other vehicles requiring registration and insurance.
States With The Clearest eScooter Legislation
It’s fair to say that some states have been quicker than others to pick up on the electric scooter trend and to legislate for it so that people know how and where they can use e-scooters. Let’s take a look at what some US states legislate regarding e-scooters – if your state isn’t covered the listings provide a good guide to the areas you should be researching for your own state and locality.
Some states have no specific e-scooter laws but class them as motor vehicles, for example as mopeds, This can entail requirements for insurance and licencing but it may well in practice prove impossible to obtain such things. All of which throws into relief the impressive efforts the following states have made to clarify the legal position of e-scooters and so facilitate their daily use.
California

California has well-documented e-scooter laws
California was one of the first states to respond to the e-scooter craze and the California Vehicle Code has quite a lot to say about them.
Max Speed Most states set their e-scooter speed limit at 20 mph a few going for 15mph and California is in the latter camp. CVC §22411 regulates e-scooter speed and going over it can result in a $250 ticket.
Helmets Mandatory? For under 18s only
Where are they Allowed? E-scooters must be ridden in bike lanes (or bikeways, bike paths, bicycle paths etc) whenever one is available.
The law only allows for 4 exceptions to riding in a Class II bike lane:
- While passing another vehicle or pedestrian,
- When completing a left hand turn,
- To avoid debris or other hazards in the bike lane, or
- When turning right.
They are expressly prohibited from sidewalks and crosswalks.
You cannot operate a motorized scooter on a highway with a speed limit in excess of 25 miles per hour unless the motorized scooter is operated within a Class II or Class IV bikeway, except that a local authority may, by ordinance or resolution, authorize the operation of a motorized scooter outside of a Class II or Class IV bikeway on a highway with a speed limit of up to 35 miles per hour. The 15 mile per hour maximum speed limit for the operation of a motorized scooter specified in Section 22411 applies to the operation of a motorized scooter on all highways, including bikeways, regardless of a higher speed limit applicable to the highway.
Do I Need A Licence and How Old Must I Be?
Operators must be at least 16 years old and have a driver’s license or learner’s permit. Tickets for contravening this are usually around $200.
E-scooters though are exempt from registration, and license plate requirements, and, for those purposes, says the vehicle code ‘a motorized scooter is not a motor vehicle’.
What Equipment Should the eScooter Have?
CVC §21223 mandates:
- A lamp emitting a white light which, while the motorized scooter is in motion, illuminates the highway in front of the operator and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the motorized scooter.
- A red reflector on the rear that is visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle
- A white or yellow reflector on each side visible from the front and rear of the motorized scooter from a distance of 200 feet.
Note the front light and rear reflector can be substituted for suitable rider-worn ones.
Effective brakes are mandatory.
Other Rules to Note
CVC §21228 forces E-scooters to turn left by:
- Stopping after the intersection on the right curb,
- Dismounting, and
- Crossing the roadway on foot.
These rules are meant to prevent scooter accidents.
CVC §21221 makes specific mention of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drunk E-scootering can lead to a DUI charge, as well as a traffic ticket of around $350.
Michigan

Is this an electric skateboard? It is in Michigan, apparently…
Michigan laws are perhaps more typical of how many state laws for electric scooters are arrived at – rather by default through a lack of laws directed at electric scooters, so that they are actually caught by laws aimed at other vehicles. In Michigan’s case they are caught by 2018 legislation enshrined in Michigan’s Vehicle Code apparently aimed at electric skateboards!:
‘An electric skateboard “means a wheeled device that has a floorboard designed to be stood upon when riding that is no more than 60 inches long and 18 inches wide, is designed to transport only 1 person at a time, has an electrical propulsion system with power of no more than 2,500 watts, and has a maximum speed on a paved level surface of not more than 25 miles per hour. An electric skateboard may have handlebars and, in addition to having an electrical propulsion system with power of no more than 2,500 watts, may be designed to also be powered by human propulsion.’ (MCL 257.13f)
The 2.5kw seems insanely generous and the 25mph limit pretty generous too, but what about other regulations?
Helmets Mandatory? According to Michigan electric scooter laws, only a scooter or electric skateboard operator who is under 19 years of age must “wear a crash helmet on his or her head.” (MCL 257.658(4))
Where are they Allowed?
Electric scooters are allowed on public roads but must do the following:
- Drive as far to the right side of the road as possible.
- Not ride more than 2 abreast.
- Use a designated path when required by a local ordinance to do so.
- Not pass between lanes of traffic. (MCL 257.660(1), (2), (3) and (4))
Unusually you can ride on a sidewalk but must “yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian” and you must “give an audible signal before overtaking and passing the pedestrian.” (MCL 257.660(5)
Do I Need A Licence / Insurance and How Old Must I Be? It appears licences and insurance are not needed as only vehicles defined in Michigan’s No-Fault auto insurance law must be covered by licencing and car insurance. Electric scooters do not meet the definition of a “motor vehicle”.
Is there an age limit for riding on electric scooters? Yes. Under Michigan electric scooter laws, kids under 12 cannot ride an electric scooter or electric skateboard “on a public highway or street.” (MCL 257.658(9))
According to Michigan electric scooter laws a person driving an electric scooter or an electric skateboard on a public road must do the following:
- Drive the electric scooter as far to the right side of the road as possible.
- Not ride more than 2 abreast.
- Use a designated path when required by a local ordinance to do so.
- Not pass between lanes of traffic. (MCL 257.660(1), (2), (3) and (4))
What Equipment Should the eScooter Have?
If riding on the road between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise then you must have a white-light, front lamp that is visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a rear, red reflector or a rear, red-light lamp visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear…” (MCL 257.662(1))
Whatever the intention of the 2018 lawmakers it appears they have created some of the most liberal electric scooter laws in the US, be it by accident or not…
Note Michigan Auto Law’s help notes on this subject were used to research the above.
Indiana & Illinois

Indiana has Lead the Way in the eScooter Mid-west and Illinois Looks Like it Will Follow
Indiana’s main e-scooter legal provisions, according to Avnet Law, are:
- You CANNOT ride an electric scooter on the sidewalk, Cultural Trail or any of the Greenways.
- You must ride the electric scooter on the street, following all normal traffic laws, including:
- You can ride in the bike lane;
- You cannot travel the wrong way on a one way street
- Helmets are recommended but not yet required
Neighbouring Illinois also appears to have regulations midway through state government approval:
- Operators must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license, instruction permit, or State identification card.
- You can ride anywhere you can ride a bicycle, such as bicycle lanes and bicycle paths – the Illinois law will give the electric scooter operator “all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the rider of a bicycle;
- E-scooters will have to have lamps and reflectors for use at nighttime and require brakes.
New York City
New York state has had a turbulent history when it comes to explicit bans of various kinds of electric micromobility. However, as of 2020, riders can once again operate electric scooters that can travel up to 20 mph on the streets of NYC, granted that they’re over 16 years old and wear helmets if they’re under 18.
Main rules and regs are now include the following:
- E-scooters must weigh less than 100lbs
- They can be used on roads with posted limits of 30mph or less and on greenways and bike paths (New York State has over 1200 miles of multi-use trails and these can be used by e-scooters unless locally disallowed). They can’t be used on sidewalks unless locally authorised
- If under 18 helmet wearing is mandatory
- Local municipalities can opt out / disallow e-scooters
Town and City Jurisdictions
Do always check both your state and local regulations – local regulations can vary state laws on e-scooters or in some cases they can choose to ban them altogether as has happened in places such as Beverley Hills or Bossier to give just two examples amongst many.
Learn The Laws Before You Ride
While some states are to be commended in clarifying the lines on what is and isn’t allowed on an escooter, not all 50 states have reached the same level yet. Do some research at the state, county, and local level before you rent or purchase a scooter of your own. If the laws aren’t clearly defined, see if you can reach out to your legislators or any local groups advocating for clear laws to be made. As always, remain safe above all else, and have fun while you ride!
Rad Power Bikes Announces $150 Million Dollar Investment, Major Expansion Plans
On February 4th, 2021, Rad Power Bikes (one of the largest eBike brands in the world) announced a minority investment totaling $150 million dollars. The new round of investment was led by Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Fidelity Management & Research Company, The Rise Fund, and other accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates. Durable Capital Partners LP and Vulcan Capital, who have invested in Rad Power Bikes previously, also contributed to this historic new round of investment.
With the new funding and pledge of support from major experienced investor companies like Morgan Stanley, Rad Power Bikes hopes to rely on their expertise to accelerate its bike development plans. In a statement made by Mike Radenbaugh, founder and CEO of Rad Power Bikes:
“We are thrilled to be working with this group of prestigious investors who are known for successful, long-term investments, and share our vision for the future of mobility. Demand for our products has outpaced our wildest projections every year and this partnership is helping us accelerate in-house innovation while creating more of what our customers tell us they love. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we will deliver in 2021 and beyond.”
Continued Growth For One of the World’s Most Recognizable eBike Brands:
Founded in 2015, Rad Power Bikes first made a name for themselves with their flagship electric bike, the RadRover Electric Fat Tire bike. Since their initial release, Rad Power Bikes has grown to be the most popular eBike brand in North America, with 11 unique models to choose from for a wide range of cyclists. It is estimated that more than 200,000 unique riders ride Rad Power Bikes equipment every day, with Rad Power Bikes a major eBike brand in over 30 different countries around the world.
With this new funding, Rad Power Bikes hopes to accelerate its expansion plans and further increase the popularity of Rad Power Bikes around the world. With 325 employees currently working for Rad Power Bikes, one of the major goals now set by the company is to more than double the size of their company team by the end of 2021. Rad Power Bikes has now begun to interview new applicants living in North America, Europe, and Asian territories.
Several comments were made by the investors who have contributed to Rad Power Bikes’ growth. Sam Chainnani, managing director at Morgan Stanley Counterpoint Global, noted:
“Ebikes will play an important role in the future of mobility, extending far beyond the traditional bike market. Our partnership with Rad Power Bikes is exciting as this innovative company is rapidly changing the way the world moves. Mike Radenbaugh and his team have already proven the economics of convenient, energy-efficient mobility solutions.”
These comments were echoed by Henry Ellenbogen, representative of Durable Capital Partners LP, a previous investor in Rad Power Bikes:
“Rad Power Bikes has built an operation with all the earmarks of a company that can be much larger over time. Their commitment to innovation and providing excellent customer service to their riders has resulted in a high referral rate. We recognize the opportunity that the company has and are excited about the company’s prospects.”
Future Outlook For Rad Power Bikes:
With this new investment, Rad Power Bikes hopes to expand its distribution network to cover more than 75% of the eBike customer base in the United States and to enter into several new markets around the world by the end of 2021. Rad Power Bikes also hopes to expand its online service tools, Rad Retail Showrooms, Rad Mobile Service Cans, and to improve the pre and post-purchase customer experience.
While Rad Power Bikes is careful in revealing their overall plans with this new investment, we see it as a positive move that will lead to an even better eBike experience. However, while we can glean a few concrete details about Rad Powers Bikes plans going forward, much of what Rad Power Bikes intends to do with this $150 million dollar remains unknown. eBike riders will be watching with anticipation as to what comes next from Rad Power Bikes.
Conclusion: An Exciting Development for the Entire eBike Industry:
While this funding may have been directed towards Rad Power Bikes specifically, we feel it will definitely lead to greater innovation and development of the eBike industry as a whole. We anticipate that major investment groups will see the advantages and rapid innovation occurring within the eBike industry, and will want to take part in it as well.
We are excited to see what Rad Power Bikes and their investment partners can accomplish with this major, historic investment. We plan on reaching out to Rad Power Bikes for comments on their future plans with this funding now secured and will update our post with any answers we receive. Be sure to visit Electric Bike Report in the future for the latest on Rad Power Bikes and the eBike industry.
For more on Rad Power Bikes make sure to catch up on our latest reviews of ebikes in their lineup:
– RadMission 1
– RadWagon 4
Tips for eBiking in Snow and Ice
Do you garage your e-bike as temperatures plummet and as snow and ice appear? Maybe you think its’s dangerous or even not possible to ride in the worst of winter conditions but as we demonstrate below, e-bikes can be the perfect tool for riding in snow and ice. In fact, once you get the hang of it, you might find yourself grabbing the e-bike and heading out for magical, snowy winter rides…

Riding in snow can be an awe-inspiring experience (copyright Richard Peace)
What Kind of eBike?
It really does depend on what kind of winter weather you get. I’ve ridden an electric powered Brompton with a front hub motor and skinny road tires on through snow, and this has all the worst attributes for an e-bike you would want to ride in snowy or icy conditions, though it does go to show what is possible. Wheel and tire (or “tyre” in the UK) size and design are particularly important when e-biking in snow. E-bikes for riding in snow and ice should ideally (but not necessarily) have:
- Larger wheels to make for a larger contact patch, providing more grip
- Larger volume tires with aggressive tread – again widening the contact patch with the tread providing extra grip too.
- In particularly icy conditions or on very compacted snow, studded tires provide the ultimate in grip and if you live in a real winter climate with snow and ice for many weeks or months of the year studded ice tires might prove give you the confidence to venture out in just about any conditions.

Even narrow road width tires with some tread on can provide good grip on pretty fresh snow, as here (copyright Richard Peace)
Of course, electric road bikes and other frame designs with narrow fork drop-outs simply won’t accommodate much wider tires and so the heavier the snow and ice the more they are at a disadvantage. That said I’ve ventured out many times in winter with patchy or thin snow and ice on the ground on my e-powered Brompton fitted with regular Schwalbe Marathon commuting tires. Indeed many road and e-road bike riders find that changing from ‘skinny’, faster summer tires to winter tires with just a bit more width and tread can make all the difference when there is just a moderate amount of snow and ice about.
At the other end of the scale, you might want to ride through heavily compacted snow and ice on roads before switching to lightly used bike paths requiring you to master deeper, uncompacted snow. This is certainly where a trekking style e-bike with the widest tires possible fitted will come into its own. Even more capable will be an e-mtb with plus width tires (plus width tires are around 2.8- to 3.25-inch wide, though there is no fixed definition.) And of course the ultimate will be fat bike tires at over 3.25 inches in width and made specifically to ‘float’ over loose surfaces like sand, deep mud and powdery snow.

20 inch wheels may not be the best choice for snow but even so the wide profile tires on this Kalkhoff compact style e-bike provide good grip on fresh snow (copyright Richard Peace)
It has to be said that many modern e-bike come equipped with very wide tires to help give some suspension effect on what are often 20kg / 45lb plus machines and this is very helpful when it comes to riding on snow. See the notes below on tire pressure in the Riding Technique section in this regard too.

This rear wheel vintage IZIP kit drive worked well in a few inches of snow with standard mountain bike tires as long as the powerful throttle control was used with care (copyright Richard Peace)
Mid-drives are probably the best option as they keep weight well balanced and low down, ideal for trickier riding conditions. Rear hubs are also good with most committed winter e-bikers being wary of front wheel hubs which may be more prone to wheel spin and loss of traction than the other types of motor set up. Having said that wheel size, bike weight distribution and good riding technique and judgement of conditions are equally if not more important and most e-bikes, perhaps with just a change of tires allow you to get out and ride in at least moderately snowy and icy conditions. If you are going to be tackling really thick snow a really powerful mid-drive is probably the best option in which case the next paragraph on the importance of large batteries for winter riding is doubly important!
Large sized batteries can come into their own in winter too. The battery itself performs less well in cold and so you will get less range. Add to this it takes much more effort to push snow out of the way (much more on an e-fat bike) and you might easily find you are doubling your power consumption or more compared to benign summer riding conditions.
Class 2 bikes with throttle only control can be great when going off road in thicker snow when you are unsure of the course the bike wants to take as you may not be sure exactly what’s under the snow at all times – using throttle only allows you to balance much easier in these conditions than when you are trying to pedal at the same time.

Winter e-triking on a Babboe tilting e-trike with mid-drive (thismomsbikes)
What about taking heavier loads and children on snow? Thismomsbikes thinks they have found the answer in the form of Babboe’s e-trike that gives that extra stability – it’s best just to hand over to the article author, Sara Hastings-Simon:
‘….I am a very cautious (read: anxious) winter biker, with or without the kids. This trike solves that all: it feels SOLID. You can ride no handed, steer with your elbows, sit back and relax at red lights; I’ve managed to skid the back wheel a bit when going really fast over ice but never to the point of instability. No checking the frost bike report or cautiously steering over patches of ice. It’s not a requirement to have a trike to carry kids or ride in the snow/ice – I know many people who do it happily without issue – but if that isn’t you then a trike may be the answer, and if you are someone who tenses up and carries that anxiety in your neck and shoulders while riding then you will love the feeling of freedom and stability draining the stress from your shoulders, and they will thank you for buying this trike. I use it in the snow/ice even when I don’t have the kids.’
Riding Technique
Remember riding on snow ice does require you to modify your typical e-bike behavior and much of this is just common sense and doesn’t require any elevated riding skills beyond the capability of most e-bikers.
Go slower and pedal, steer and brake more gently. Sudden movements and quick starts and stops mean more force on your tire contact patch and so an increased risk of skidding. This is especially so if you are not on an e-mtb or e-fat bike and / or don’t have studded tires. If you have a throttle control option on your e-bike be apply it slowly and carefully.
A good range of gears will help in this regard – it’s obviously not possible on a single speed to apply gentle pedal pressure at all speeds.

Large wheels, broad treaded commuting tires and gentle use of power, gears and steering all make for easy progress on this firm, compacted trail of ‘dry’ snow (copyright Richard Peace)
You may well find that dropping tire pressures helps grip in snow and ice too. As a very general rule you will get roughly 50% better traction in soft conditions underwheel if you decrease the recommended tire pressure by about 50%, though if you are riding in very hardpacked conditions or hopping onto tarmac this may be too much. Note that fat bike tires can actually run at pressures of less than 5 psi in very soft conditions. If you expecting to encounter lots of ice regularly a spare pair of studded tires for winter use are definitely the way to go. Schwalbe’s Ice Spiker Pro gets great writeups. For proof of how much grip you can get check out the following video (OK not an e-mtb but these tires do just the same job on an e-bike…):
Once you get experienced you never know, you might just find yourself heading out in the snow just to play around like the folks at Surly ‘testing out’ just what their Big Easy e-bike is capable of….
Learn to Read the Conditions

Experienced winter e-bikers know how to recognize the best kind of snow for riding in! (Photo: Surly)
Experienced riders know that snow can actually be your friend and provide grip – especially if fresh and loose and hasn’t yet started to melt and go mushy. By contrast ice is generally your enemy. Aggressively treaded tires help and metal studded tires are best of all. The best riding tactic is to roll over ice at a slow speed not pedaling if possible. If you do need to pedal select as low a power level as is practical and pedal gently and in a low gear with a high cadence.
It all boils down to realizing the fact that there isn’t one type of winter riding – conditions under wheel can vary enormously so it is a case of equipping your e-bike for the conditions you are likely to find during your winter and to get out there and ride carefully but often to gain experience of local conditions – which roads are swept, which are likely to be very icy for days on end and best avoided and were the most fun trails are!
Personally, I much prefer off-road conditions in parks and on bike paths and trails after snow – you simply don’t have to contend with motor traffic which becomes extra hazardous after snowfall. If I do need to get somewhere quickly by road I will often stick to main roads, which I wouldn’t normally do – in all but the worst conditions these are ploughed and car exhausts also help melt snow, so I will most likely be riding on tarmac. By choice though I will seek out little used trails though fresh snow.
Either ways you could just find you get hooked on winter riding and that it actually has practical benefits too – as this article on e-biking in winter notes ‘Another benefit is commuting on the Big Easy during a Minnesota winter. Riding to work in very cold and snowy weather is taxing and requires a bigger time commitment. Having electric assist allows me to maintain similar commute times and keeps me fresh on days I want to ride my other bikes for fun. On heavy snow days, I often get to work faster than driving. It is a great feeling passing long lines of cars stuck in traffic due to snowy roads.’
Caring for Your eBike in Winter
Of course biking in snow isn’t all about the riding, you need to keep the e-bike in extra good condition to cope with the harsh environment and you need to look after yourself whilst riding too. Here’s my top tips:
- Keep your battery warm – this isn’t just about keeping it indoors when not using it. Many battery manufacturers sell neoprene covers or similar which reviews suggest work reasonably well in extending winter range.
- Chains are particularly prone to rusting if ridden on salty roads so carry a small bottle of wet chain lube on the bike and use it very regularly.
- Keeping warm in winter – clearly warm clothes are important but I had a struggle to keep my hands warm in the coldest of winters until I discovered pogies or mitt bar attachments which shield your hands from the worst of the wind and let your wear thinner gloves underneath – much easier to use control buttons with than thicker gloves.
Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!
-Rich
eBike News; Juiced, Peugeot, 50 Cycles New eBikes Plus Snow Cycling eBike History & Much More! [VIDEOS}
In this Week’s News:
- Juiced Scorpion Blurs the Line between Bike and eBike
- New Peugeot City Crossover Model
- 50 Cycles Brose-powered 2021 Range
- LEAOS Rocket Powers into the Urban Lightweight Category
- New Stylish Bike Bags from Chrome
- Portland’s Biketown eBike Share Steps up a Gear
- Successful Snow Cycling in Finland
- Vintage eBikes from the UK
- Idaho Stop Coming to New York State?
- All the Latest eBike Biz
New eBikes & eBike Systems
Juiced Scorpion – Bicycle, Moped or eBike?

The Juiced Scorpion has plenty of motorbike features though the basic model is a class 3 e-bike in the US, legally speaking
The Juiced Scorpion was launched at the end of last year and though it looks like a moped-cum-motorcycle it is, legally speaking, a US class 2 and 3 e-bike with throttle assist to 20mph and pedelec style assist to 28mph. It is even marketed under the slogan Where Moped Meets eBike.
The Juiced HyperScorpion, on the other hand, on the surface looks like pretty much the same bike but the motor rating and top speed make the crucial difference. This point was picked up in this recent interesting Forbes article where the author notes ‘Everyone who sees the Hyper Scorpion asks the same question: “Is… that an electric motorcycle…?” Well, yes, sort of, but it also has pedals and a rear derailleur, like a bicycle. However, the form factor of the Hyper Scorpion is definitely much more akin to recent market entries like the Super 73 ebikes, which have more of a scooter/moped stance, but are also still pedalable ebikes. But as you’ll see, the Hyper Scorpion isn’t just one or the other, it’s really both.’
It does beg the question if current technology allows manufacturers to make e-bikes that double as mopeds should the law be flexible enough to allow an electric moped – bought and run legally as such – to become and electric bike at the flick of a switch? I’m not talking about ultrafast e-bikes here or indeed full speed motorbikes being allowed on bike paths, more low speed mopeds – the Netherlands after all does allow some classes of low speed (petrol or electric) mopeds to travel in some cycle lanes whilst higher speed ‘speed pedelec’ e-bikes and higher speed mopeds are not allowed there.
Peugeot Expands eBike Range with EC01 Crossover
Peugeot launched six crossover style e-bikes last year, crossover being e-bikes that can handle on road and moderate off-road conditions. Their range also incorporates electric road, folding and mountain bike models.

The new Peugeot EC01 combines a city e-bike with off-road features like front suspension and Schwalbe Hurricane tyres designed for light off-road use
Now comes another crossover model, the EC01 Crossover. It features Bosch Performance CX mid-drive motor, 500Wh Bosch Powertube battery concealed in the frame, 10-speed Shimano Deore derailleur gears and Shimano MT201 hydraulic disc brakes. It’s well-equipped with ‘extras’ too – front and rear lights, mudguards and rear rack come as standard. European price is €3,199.
UK’s 50 Cycles Launch New Range

All 50 Cycles’ 2021 e-bikes feature a Brose mid-drive
The UK’s 50 Cycles have launched a new range of four own-brand e-bikes and a foldable e-scooter. The bikes range from £2595 to £3995 and all use various models of mid-drive motor from the very well-respected Brose. Video reviews below:
Battle of the Slick Urban Singlespeeds Just Hotted Up Further – Meet the LEAOS Rocket

LEAOS’s Rocket looks to capitalise on the popularity of ‘stealth’ urban e-bikes
There are already a plethora of smoothly-designed urban e-bikes that try to hide the fact they are e-bikes – think of models from Van Moof, Cowboy, MODMO, Schindelhauer and COBOC for a start and you see this is something of a continental European trend with the emphasis on design minimalism and light weight.
LEAOS’s Rocket is the latest to enter the fray it offers a small 40Nm rear hub, fully integrated top tube, removable 360 Wh battery, the option of a single speed Gates Belt Drive or eight derailleur gears and hydraulic disk brakes (note some of the aforementioned competitors do not have removable batteries or more than one gear). Options include gravel bike style handlebars and GPS tracking unit. Quoted weight is from16.5 kg , price from €3250 and delivery is touted for February 2021.
Bafang eMTB Update
Recently we looked at how Rob Rides EMTB built up a relatively cheap e-mtb himself using a carbon fibre frame ordered direct from China and a Bafang M500 mid-drive. He’s followed up with a ride test that gave an honest opinion on the highs and lows of the bike.
Accessories
Chrome are known for their high quality apparel and bags.

Chrome’s new handlebar bag can be worn when not on the bike

Chrome’s new Rolltop pack
Infrastructure
Boost for eBike-Only Sharing Program in Portland

Biketown’s share e-bike look sturdy and practical
We have reported on Portland Oregon’s 1500 strong e-bike only sharing program before but now comes more good news on how it will be run and maintained.
TTI reports that ‘Public transit operator First Transit has entered an agreement with ride-hailing firm Lyft to provide operations for Biketown – the USA’s first all-electric bike share system. The 1,500 bike share system has roughly 140 stations covering 30 square miles. Operations that will be taken on by First Transit include battery monitoring, deployment, retrieval, and general rebalancing of bike inventory.’
Snow on Cycle Lanes
You might think that heavy snow covering cycle lanes scotches most cyclists riding plans. The city of Oulu in Finland clearly has other ideas as you can see in this excellent video from Amsterdam-based Not Just Bikes. Cold is not the issue, snow is not the issue according to Not Just Bikes – yes you guessed it, you just need a proper cycle lane network that is properly looked after by very regular ploughing in winter…
1000km New Infrastructure By 2025 Says Irish Government
Irish Cycle reports that ‘A promise to support up to 248 new jobs focused on walking and cycling infrastructure and promotion was announced by the Department of Transport.’ The article adds ‘…it is expected that up to 218 staff could ultimately be assigned to the new active travel teams across all local authorities with a further 30 additional staff available through the Regional Design Offices.’
However, the article also notes some resistance to the idea of Dutch-style infrastructure, saying ‘The National Transport Authority in Ireland has started a review of the National Cycle Manual, but this comes after long delays in that process and the original drafting of the manual also subject to delay. National Transport Authority has also been reluctant to accept Dutch designs for infrastructure elements such as protected junctions and bicycle priority roundabouts.’
Battery Watch

Israel’s StoreDot claims to have reengineered the chemical basis of the lithium ion battery so it can charge much faster
The UK’s eBiketips has detailed claims from Israeli company StoreDot that it ‘has produced an “extreme fast-charging” battery for electric cars after first demonstrating its technology in electric scooters and phones.
As ever with stories of revolutionary new battery technology EBR sounds a note of caution – reading the detail of the company’s background in car battery research, a piece in the Guardian makes it clear StoreDot’s targets for widespread rollout are still some way down the line; ‘The batteries can be fully charged in five minutes but this would require much higher-powered chargers than used today. Using available charging infrastructure, StoreDot is aiming to deliver 100 miles of charge to a car battery in five minutes in 2025. ‘
eBiketips says ‘StoreDot’s battery replaces the graphite used at the electrode in current lithium-ion batteries with semiconductor nanoparticles into which ions can pass more quickly and easily. These nanoparticles are currently based on germanium, but a second-generation, silicon-dominant prototype battery is due to be unveiled later this year.’
The first acid test of the technology will be StoreDot’s commercial release of a scooter battery due out later in 2021. EBR will keep you posted!
eBike History
UK ebike TV Clip Emerges
If you think e-bikes are a pretty modern invention think again. This 1985 clip tweeted by Vala Afshar shows the idea was touted as the very latest thing back then – in fact e-bikes had been around in the years prior to that. They idea no doubt underwent a minor resurgence in the UK 1985 when Clive Sinclair launched his infamous C5 and the UK law was changed to allow small electric powered vehicles on the road.
1985: Will these new electric bicycles ever catch on? pic.twitter.com/TOEwcN0MPY
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) January 24, 2021
eBike Law
Will the Idaho Start (or is it Stop…) Get Through New York’s Senate?
Streetsblog reports ‘An upstate State Senator has introduced a bill that would allow cyclists to slow-roll through stop signs and go through red lights after a quick full stop — a safety solution to the problem of cyclists losing forward momentum even if the coast is clear.’
The so-called “Idaho stop” earned its name because Idaho was the first to pass a rule allowing cyclists to keep going and stay ahead of car traffic.
“I have biked to work for years, and I’m always interested in making it safer and more sensible,” said Sen. Rachel May (D-Syracuse), the chief sponsor of the bill, S920.
The article adds ‘Advocates for cyclists and for cycling have long supported the Idaho stop, which is legal in one form or another in five states and several Colorado counties. Arkansas legalized it in 2019. Washington State’s version went into effect late last year.
<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/4140910″>Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/boomhower”>Spencer Boomhower</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>
Call for EU Driving Licence to Exclude All 30kmh Vehicles
The European Union is currently reviewing the effectiveness of its driving licence legislation. LEVA-EU is lobbying during the process for any vehicles with a maximum motor speed of 30 km/h (around 19mph) to be exempt from driving licence requirements.
‘The maximum speed limit in current type-approval and driving licence legislation of 25 km/h should be increased to 30 km/h. This limit has become widely introduced in urban areas. An alignment of the speed limit for the vehicles is necessary to allow them to go safely with the traffic flow’ says LEVA-EU.
e-Bike Biz
Trek Making Move on Mike Olson’s Bike Shops?
Bicycle Retailer and Industry Reports that ‘Several industry sources have confirmed that Trek has agreed to buy at least a dozen of Mike Olson’s bike shops, including the six Trek Bicycle Superstore locations in the San Diego area and in Albuquerque, New Mexico, one Nytro Multisport store in Encinitas, California, and the six-store Bike Gallery chain in the Portland area. Olson is believed to be Trek’s largest retailer and one of the largest bike retailers in the country.’
eBike Industry Interviews: Bimotal Elevate With CEO Toby Ricco
We are always excited about new innovations in the ebike market and the new Elevate from Bimotal is a premium removable powertrain that is lightweight and powerful. We have been keeping an eye on this product and recently we were able to have a conversation with Toby Ricco, CEO and founder of Bimotal. Toby provides an overview of the Elevate system – and explains how this removable motor can add 50-100Nm of torque to the back wheel of your regular mountain bike. Elevate solves the issue of multiple bikes because you can use your existing bike with the option to add power when needed. The mount weighs less than 200 grams, the drive unit is two pounds and the whole system is under six pounds. A battery pack fits in your bottle cage with a throttle attached to the front handlebar to control the system. We found Elevate to be an intriguing solution to several problems and were excited to discuss this system with Toby.
Thanks for joining us here on Electric Bike Report, Toby! We’re excited to discuss Bimotal and Elevate with you today. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your company? How did you get started? What spawned the idea for the Elevate system?
Thanks! I’m happy to be here. Yeah, so I’ve always been an avid mountain biker, but a skiing accident left me with a knee injury that made it so I could no longer power up the hills like I once did. I considered buying an ebike, but at the time I had a custom Cannondale Lefty that was fully spec’d, only weighed 25lb, and had 160mm of travel. Most ebikes are close to 50lb and didn’t have the same level of specs so I just didn’t feel I’d be able to get the same experience. Plus, I had customized my bike quite a bit and I wanted to keep riding it! So I started to analyze retrofit systems and how I could design something that would allow me to use my current bike, but which added torque when I needed it. I focused on the drivetrain and then zeroed in on the rear rotor as a means for adding power to the rear wheel.
[Read More…]
Electric Bike Company Model Y Review – 2021
The team at Electric Bike Report has been looking forward to reviewing the Electric Bike Company Model Y — a slightly more feminine rendition of the ever-popular Model X — that features a dropped top tube for an easy 17.25” step over height. While this classic cruiser works well for anyone, the standard front basket, chic styling and relaxed feel caters specifically to female riders looking for something powerful, fun, and customizable.
Last Updated: Jan 26, 2021
Review and photos: Kristen Nelson
Tested By: Kristen Nelson, Pierce Kettering, Michael Clark
We are impressed with Electric Bike Company’s abundant color combinations, accessories and upgrades on the Model Y. You can opt for the stock glossy white frame which looks striking in any setting, or upgrade to any color of your choice (if Pantone has it, they’ll match it). You can even get brown Schwalbe Fat Frank tires with white walls and a pop of rim color! How about wood fenders and/or chainguard? EBC offers those as well. The front basket is standard and a rear rack is optional, both of which can be paint matched per your aesthetic.
The powerful 1000w peak motor is tucked in the rear hub while the battery sits stealthily at the bottom of the front basket. This placement keeps the battery out of the way when you are getting on and off the bike and reduces rear weight as well. We were able to ride this bike 35+ miles on full assist and over 90 miles on level 1 pedal assist! The thumb throttle makes it easy to quickly get going and the torque sensor keeps the ride smooth and controllable.
[Read More…]
eBike News: Bianchi’s New Range, Möve and BH Lightweight Launches, eScooters Forge Ahead & Lots More! [VIDEOS]
In this week’s news:
- Bianchi’s New Sophisticated e-Omnia Range
- Lightweight Launches from Germany’s Möve and Spain’s BH
- Smart Bluetooth Tech Moves
- Skid Detection and Smart Parking for eScooters Plus the UK Debate Hots Up
- All the Latest eBike Biz News
New eBikes & eBike Systems
Bianchi e-Omnia – One Name, three Families and Some Eyecatching Prices

Bianchi’s e-Omnia offers the same futuristic frame styling across a range of city, touring and mtb electric models
Once known primarily as an Italian brand with a long road racing heritage in recent years Bianchi has moved rapidly into e-bikes. They have now announced e-Omnia, the generic name for their three new lines of e-bike:

The e-Omnia C-type has a step-thru frame for city use
The C-Type is Bianchi’s take on the electric city bike with prices starting at €3320. There is a choice of 500 or 625Wh batteries. Choose from Shimano’s 1×10 Deore derailleur or their 5-speed hub gears and a host of carrying options.

The e-Omnia touring variant has a full suspension version
T- or FT-Type (F meaning full suspension): Blends high quality Suntour and Rocckshox suspension and Shimano hydraulic disk brakes with the option of ABS anti-lock braking. Battery options are 500, 625 Wh or dual battery. From €3370.
X- or FX Type: mountain (FX-Type of course being full-sus). Again ABS braking is an option. There are also Shimano four-piston disc brakes with 203mm discs, 12-speed Shimano Deore or Sram Eagle gearing, Rock Shox or Fox suspension front (160mm) and rear, depending on the model. Battery options are 500, 625 Wh or dual battery. From €3450.
All models use Bosch’s Performance Line CX mid-drive , capable of delivering a maximum torque of 85 Nm, and assistance up to 340% augmentation of pedal effort. The display, integrated into the handlebar, is the Bosch Purion. All models also integrate high visibility lights (40 lux) front and rear which Bianchi claim allow you to see a hundred meters away, and to be seen at 500m.
Bianchi say that because of the plethora of colors, technical features and fittings and other options it’s possible to create over 8,500 possible combinations. The configurator can be found at bianchi.com/e-omnia
Lightweight eBike Launches

It’s hard to tell Möve”s E-Fly Airy is an e-bike
Möve’s E-Fly Airy’s stats speak for themselves; 15 kilograms total weight, 250Wh frame-integrated battery and a Range Extender option that can add an extra 208Wh. It uses Mahle’s ebikemotion X35 rear hub motor system rated at 250 watts continuous power and 40 Nm of torque.
Other features include a low maintenance Gates carbon belt drive, hydraulic disc brakes, integrated, high power Supernova LED lighting and a single control button in the top tube with the option of an Apple/android app that can be used to alter power levels or access a Google Maps based navigation system. An SP-Connect smartphone holder makes the latter option easy.

The E-Fly Airy’s fold-out handlebar mirrors
For the security-minded there is a GPS tracker, integrated motion-based alarm and frame lock (the latter can be electrically locked via the app). There are even fold out mirrors in the end of the handlebars.
There are plenty of alternative / upgrade options such as step-thru frame, Pinion bottom bracket gearing, Shimano chain and derailleur gear options and various suspension forks.
Prices start at €3700.

BH Bikes iLynx Race Carbon is sleek and light
Moving from the city to the trail, Spanish firm BH bikes have launched an e-mtb with a headline-grabbing weight of 16.8kg. Their iLynx Race Carbon naturally has a a carbon frame but also sports their very own design of mid-drive the 2ESMAG with a claimed weight of 2.2kg – as also used in their lightweight Core Carbon e-road bike. The in-frame battery is 540Wh and there is also the option to add a range-extender bottle battery of some 180Wh.

The bike has it’s own headtube-housed multi-tool
A particularly nice touch is the FIT (Fast Intervention Tool), invisibly concealed in the steerer tube meaning you never forget your range of Allen wrenches, Torx T25, chain tool, chain lock and CO2 inflator.
Unfortunately BH pulled out of selling e-bikes in the US in 2020 but the bikes are available in Europe. The iLynx carbon covers four different versions from €5,999 to €8,999.
eBike Tech
eBikes to Talk to Cars?

Could Bluetooth 5 help e-bikes and cars exist more safely together?
The Washington Post reports that ‘a consortium of bike and scooter manufacturers (are) coming together to develop and test new safety software that would allow forms of micromobility to communicate with nearby cars. Detroit-based Tome Software spearheaded the initiative in collaboration with companies such as Ford, Trek Bicycle and Bosch.’
The article adds ‘At the core of the effort is a software standard that would allow a wide range of vehicle services to exchange information in real time so that drivers in big cities and congested areas are more aware of riders out of their line of sight. It could also trigger visible alerts on bicycles when cars get too close.’
To give one example of how the Bluetooth 5 based tech might work, Trek say they are adding sensors to detachable taillights that could trigger an “interruptive” flashing light pattern meant to alert motorists. The company says the light is visible at all times of the day and claims studies show that it could decrease bike-related accidents by 33 percent.
eMicromobility
New eScooter Tech
Slashgear reports that ‘Bird revealed that it has rolled out a Skid Detection system to keep an eye on when its scooters experience an unusual skidding situation. There are multiple potential causes behind this, including tires that need to be replaced or too much braking force. Another possibility? ‘Hazardous riding behavior,’ according to the company.’
Meanwhile Cities Today reveals that ‘E-scooter firm TIER has partnered with mapping provider Fantasmo to create what it claims is the world’s most accurate e-scooter parking system. Starting in Paris and York, TIER will implement Fantasmo’s “Camera Positioning System” (CPS), a new positioning technology that is ten times more accurate than GPS and can validate e-scooter parking within 50 centimetres or less using a camera phone. TIER says the new feature will all but eliminate irresponsible parking, an issue which has plagued city authorities globally since e-scooters were first rolled out on streets.’
eScooters for Indianola?
Meanwhile the Des Moines Register reports that ‘Electric scooters could one day hit the streets of Indianola. Indianola City Council members discussed that possibility at their Tuesday night meeting and gave city officials approval to study their usage and whether the city would like to allow private scooter companies to operate in town. Bird, a California-based scooter company, reached out to the city in late 2020 and said the size of Indianola and the presence of Simpson College makes it an ideal city for its scooters.’
UK e-Scooter Debate Hots Up

Use of e-scooters is becoming widespread throughout the UK and, proponents suggest, has reached a tipping point where they should be legalised.
With licenced e-scooter trials only allowed in the UK there is clearly growing pressure from both retailers and users for full legalisation of individual use of personal e-scooters sooner rather than later. With ‘mainstream’ media reports starting to catalogue isolated incidents of misuse and create a vision of chaos (when in reality thousands of e-scooters are in daily use around the world without incident) it seems those who want to see e-scooters in the UK legalised think the time to act is now, normalising their use with the introduction of clear laws, before too distorted and negative picture is painted.
A string of contrasting stories at ebiketips sums up the overreactions perfectly; firstly a senior Metropolitan policeman appears to have politicised the issue by ‘suggesting that anyone who received an e-scooter as a Christmas gift should return it’ whilst a subsequent story described how another senior police officer in the West Country described the rollout of e-scooter hire there as a “policing non-event” adding that he now saw himself “the biggest convert out of everybody”.
To their credit the UK government has put online a list of detailed technical requirements aimed at making the trials successful but the critical question of if, when and how e-scooters may be legalised remains opaque, with the same website stating:
‘The intention is then for trials to run for 12 months, with the trial period beginning in each area as and when e-scooters become available to the public. The option for trials to continue beyond this 12-month period will be built into the legal mechanism, but any extension would be subject to local/national government agreement.’
With London trials due only to begin this spring the prospect of private users having to wait many more months before the government even begins to look at the question must seem incredibly frustrating, especially as the introduction of the trials themselves was fast-tracked to provide a means of healthy safe transport at the start of the Covid pandemic. The irony of the seemingly needlessly-extended nature of the process taking place when the UK has just recorded its highest tally of daily Covid-related deaths seems particularly poignant.
Just how valuable a role e-scooters can play in helping people get about safely and enjoy themselves at the same time – and the absurdity of the current situation of countless Londoners using them, illegally but largely without problems, on a daily basis – is summed up by this great video by our friends over at electroheads:
eBike Biz
European eBike Sales to Overtake Car Sales?
Electrek reports on the seemingly massive potential for e-bike growth in Europe:
‘The Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) expects the size of the European e-bike market to grow to around 7 million units by 2025. Other experts have even loftier predictions, projecting around 10 million e-bike sales per year by 2025, according to Bike Europe. To put that in perspective, car registrations in Europe in 2019 totalled around 15.5 million. But car sales are increasing at a much slower rate. In 2018, new registrations numbered 15.1 million. Many European countries are seeing yearly e-bike growth in the 30% to 40% range, compared to the low single-digit growth of car sales. That means e-bike sales could easily overtake car sales later this decade in Europe.’
Effects of EU Anti-dumping Tariffs Revealed
Leva-EU reports that ‘in 2019, Taiwan has taken the lead in the export of electric bicycles 25 km/h to the EU. Exports increased by 80% to almost 390,000. This was of course due to the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Chinese e-bikes. This forced companies assembling in China to move their operations. Some of them crossed the Formosa Strait to set up shop in Taiwan.’
Though dwarfed by the scale of Taiwanese imports, there were notable increases in e-bike imports from Indonesia and Turkey into the EU in 2019 with both countries registering increases in terms of units imported of several hundred percent.
Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!
-Rich