Electric Bike Report | Electric Bike, Ebikes, Electric Bicycles, E Bike, Reviews

In this week’s news:

• UK ‘Virus Defying’ eBike Hire Scheme
• Mondraker eBalance Bike for Kids
• Superstrata eBike With One Piece Carbon Fiber Frame Crowdfunds
• Sea Otter Show Goes Virtual
• Tour de France Says Get on Your eBike to Explore Isère
• eKickscooter Trials for UK’s Tees Valley
• eCargo Award
• FUELL Diversifies With New eMotorbike
• Europe Hits 3 Million eBike Sales in 2019

Coronavirus Update

UK eBike Leasing Scheme is ‘Coronavirus Defying’

What is billed as a ‘Coronavirus defying’ e-bike leasing initiative for businesses throughout North East England and Northern Ireland has just been launched.

North East based Ride Electric says it is ‘bringing a flexible, cost-effective long-term eBike leasing option to businesses throughout the North East, and will look to actively address the critical commuting issue the UK now faces.’ High initial purchase price is often cited as a reason people don’t commit to an e-bike purchase so it’s hoped this will be an affordably welcome initiative.
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In this weeks news:

• New 28mph Yamaha eRoad bike
• Crosscountry and Downhill eMTBs from Mountain Bike Specialist Niner
• Vekkit Lightweight Retrofit Kit from Poland
• Vittoria’s New Graphene Tyres
• What Do You Pack for an eBike Trip?
• Electric Monowheel World Record
• ‘Free’ eBike Use for North Londoners
• Battery Tech Update
• Cargobike Boom in Europe

New eBikes and eBike Systems

New Yamaha Civante – A 28mph eRoad Bike

Class 3 e-bikes are allowed a top assisted speed of 28mph in the US. They are popular for those who feel the 20mph limit on class 1 and class 2 e-bikes is insufficient. The greater speed of course means you go further, faster. The downsides are:

• Access to all bike paths may be restricted so you may find yourself mixing more with motor traffic
• Shorter battery range and life due to the greater power demands on the battery to reach top assisted speeds

Despite any drawbacks, Yamaha have announced the launch of a new class 3 e-bike the Civante eRoad bike. It also looks pretty light, claiming to be a sub 20kg e-bike despite packing a powerful looking PWSeries SE mid-drive motor and a 500Wh battery. There are also 20 derailleur gears and LED lights and hydraulic disk brakes. There are also rack and fender mounting points.
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Recent headlines might suggest that shared e-micromobility schemes – whether e-bike or kickscooter – are having a tough time. Whether it’s reports of shared e-bikes being scrapped or the likes of Bird and Lime suspending service in cities due to the pandemic.

But amidst the global chaos engendered by Covid 19 there was plenty of positive news about micromobility too, from corporate style product launches to new services out there on the streets.

Here EBR takes a look at what’s been happening to shared electrically powered schemes before and during the virus and what the signs are for the future.

First the Bad News

Rentals from e-bike and e-kickscooter schemes all but dried up at the start of the pandemic. As this March report from The Verge tells us ‘Lime, the largest e-scooter-sharing company in the world, said it would be suspending service in nearly two dozen countries. Bird said it would halt operations in six US cities as well as all of its European markets. And Spin, which is owned by Ford, has had to pause service in “very few” cities and universities. ‘
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