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

In this week’s news:

• Olympia’s Super Magnum Trekking eBike Announced
• Ducati Models Arriving in the US
• Germany’s Duo Moke Velocar to Become a Reality?
• India’s Tronx Connected eBike Looks to Break into Europe
• Halford’s Free eBikes Competition
• Updated Avenue Verte Guidebook
• Citi Bikes Lawsuit
• All the Latest eBike Biz News

New eBikes and eBike Systems

Super Magnum – Olympia’s E-trekking Bike

Major Italian bike and e-bike brand Olympia have just announced the new Super Magnum e-trekking model. If features the new torque sensor-equipped Ananda M81 mid-drive. Olympia say ‘This motor, supported by a 630 Wh battery, stands out for its compact size and very low noise….The engine is capable of developing 100 Nm of torque.’

Other features include hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano Alivio 9-speed transmission, adjustable handlebar stem, wide profile Schwalbe Super Moto tires, front suspension fork and suspension seat post.

The bike retails at 2569 euros.

Olympia appeared in many e-bike news sites in spring 2020 when it launched a series of e-bikes with huge 900Wh in frame batteries.

Ducati Models Rolling Out Across the US

The Ducati Escrambler should now be arriving in dealerships across the US along with other models

Bicycle Industry and Retailer News (BRAIN) reports that Ducati e-bikes should have been arriving at US motorcycle dealerships throughout December. It states ‘The E-Scrambler and MIG-S models will be available this month and the new TK-01RR model will arrive in February. Ducati released a list of 24 of its US dealers who will be carrying the bikes.’

Urban Drivestyle’s Four-Wheel Prototype – Coming to a Street Near You?

Could the Duo Moke velo car be making an appearance on Germany’s streets in 2021?

Berlin’s Urban Drivestyle are best known for their Uni and UDK branded urban fat tire e-bikes but recently reports resurfaced of a four wheel velomobile, the Duo Moke – although it has been around as a prototype vehicle for a while reports suggest it may be heading for German streets soon.

Like their existing two-wheeler range, the Duo Moke has round retro style headlights and fat tires. Apparently powered by a Bafang hub motor system with both throttle and pedelec control, the maximum payload is 150 kilograms so it should transport a couple of medium weight people. The vehicle weight is a hefty 120 kilograms and this includes the weight of a solar panel on the roof.

Interest in such four wheel vehicles on the European continent is said to be ‘enormous’ but articles have noted seriously large investors have so far largely steered clear of such four wheel pedelec style vehicles.

India’s Tronx Want to Break into Europe

Bike Europe reports that ‘Tronx Motors, with its flagship cross-over smart e-bike, the ‘tbike One Pro’ has announced countrywide availability across 14 cities of its high ROI and cloud-connected bike. The e-bike has been specifically crafted to address the fast growing shared/B2B e-bike segment in India. Following success in the domestic market, the company is now eyeing up distribution in Europe.’

Get Inspired

UK’s Halfords Offers Free eBikes for Youth in Financial Hardship

Halfords are the UK’s biggest bricks and mortar bike and e-bike retailer. They recently launched the FREEBIKE! campaign, gifting Pendleton Somerby, Carrera Crosscity and Apollo Transport e-bikes to people aged 18-24 who do not currently have access to a car and who are suffering financial hardship.

Twenty e-bikes will be gifted and applicants should complete a short questionnaire at Halfords website here by 4th January.

Updated London to Paris Guidebook Out

The UK’s cycle and walking charity Sustrans have recently released an updated version of their popular Avenue Verte cycle route guidebook to a 247 mile signed route linking London and Paris. The route uses many traffic-free trails and minor roads.

Infrastructure

Failure of Citibike/Motivate to correctly configure the front braking system is alleged in the lawsuits

Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN) reports that ‘Six people filed individual lawsuits last week against the bike-share company Motivate/Lyft and component manufacturer Shimano North America after being injured during falls nearly two years ago. The suits blame excessive front brake force for the crashes.’

The incidents took place from January to March 2019 and in April 2019 Citi Bike removed its New York e-bike share fleet, as the incidents took place in Brooklyn, Queens and NYC. Shimano say that Lyft failed to follow its requirements to fit a power modulator for its front Nexus Inter-M Hub Roller Brake.

eBike Charging Network Promoted in Wales

The UK’s BikeBiz reports that Beics Betws in Betws y Coed, Wales have installed a 24-hour free e-bike charging system at its shop in and is now contacting cafes, pubs, hotels, visitors centres and campsites to encourage them to get involved in creating an e-bike charging network across the UK. Businesses are able to offer outside or inside battery charging. Cyclists can find the details and location of participating premises at www.bikewales.co.uk.

eBike Biz

Brexit Detail

Bike Europe posted this advice for EU importers into the UK ahead of the new trade rules that kick in on 1st January, consequent to the UK leaving the EU a year ago.

The article says ‘Although a lot still remains uncertain, somethings are now clearer, such as the new UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) label to replace the CE mark and the UK governments stance on Chinese imports.’

Taichung Bike Week Dates

The organisers of Taichung Bike Week have announced the date for next year’s show. The next edition will be held from September 28 – October 1, 2021. Like most trade shows in 2020, this year’s event was cancelled due to the restrictions as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!

-Rich

In this week’s news:

• New Tern Speed Pedelec for the US Market Only
• Power Through Winter with Norco’s New eFat Bikes
• Eovolt Expands Folding Range
• Limited Edition eBikes from Tony Ellsworth and French Heritage
• eCargo Bikes Delivering Food Over Christmas
• EU Sustainable Battery Law Mooted

New eBikes and eBike Systems

Tern Go High Speed With New HSD S11

Tern’s new HSD S11 is its first high speed e-bike

Tern have announced their first Class 3 e-bike and it’s coming to the U.S. market first. The HSD range are mini-cargo bikes and the HSD S11 features the Bosch Performance Line Sport motor, which allows the bike to reach assisted speeds of up to 28 mph. The Performance Line Sport boasts 65 Nm of maximum torque and boosts the rider’s pedal input as much as 300 percent to create a smooth – it is a moderated version of the most powerful Bosch speed pedelec motor, the Performance Line Speed. The HSD S11 has an MSRP of $4,199 (U.S. dollars) and will arrive at U.S. dealerships in January 2021.

Get Ready For Winter with Norco’s Bigfoot VLT eFat Bikes

Canadian bike company Norco recently launched their 2021 e-fat bike range comprising the Bigfoot VLT1 and Bigfoot VLT2 

Norco’s Bigfoot VLT1 is the higher spec version of the two 2021 e-fat bikes with front suspension and a Shimano Steps e8000 mid-drive

Both bikes feature huge 4.6″ wide Terrene Cake Eater tires on 26-inch rims for floating over snow, mud and sand whilst the main points of difference are: 

• Manitou Mastodon suspension fork with 100 mm suspension travel on the VLT1, rigid fork on the VLT2
• Shimano Steps E8000 mid-drive rated at 250W / 70 Nm torque and max 15.5mph assist on the VLT1 and Steps E7000 (250W, 60Nm and 15.5mph) on the VLT2
• 630Wh battery on the VLT1 and 500Wh on the VLT2.
• RRPs of $6499 and $4999 respectively

Eovolt Lightweight Electric Folder Expands Range

Eovolt’s expanded range of e-bikes was officially launched at the Prodays Paris Bike Show in September and these will be rolled out to shops in Europe and the UK in the course of 2021. Interesting looking new models include:

Eovolt City 4 Speed

This new version of what was previously only available as a single speed still has a neat, compact fold and a claimed weight of 14kg. Like the other City models it has a 230Wh battery concealed in the seatpost which is easily removable. UK RRP is £1649.99 (compared to the £1399.99 of the single speed model).

Eovolt City X

This higher spec version of the City model features torque sensor, belt drive and three hub gears with a UK RRP of £1999

Eovolt also make a larger and heavier 20″ wheeled version, the Confort, that comes with a bigger 504Wh battery and for 2021 this will also come in a premium version with a Bafang hub motor / torque sensor combo and suspension fork the bike branded the Confort X. Respective prices are £1999 and £2249.99.

See the UK catalogue below for more details.

Eovolt 2021 UK Catalogue

Check out how the battery is removed and the bike folds in the French-language video below:

Two Limited Edition Specials

Although limited edition e-bikes are, naturally at the top end of the price scale, they can throw up some interesting designs. EBR has picked up on a couple.

Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles has been selling handcrafted bicycles, especially MTBs, since 1991. With the new 20mph class 1 Radiant Carbon, renowned designer Tony Ellsworth has now branched out into urban e-bikes with this limited run of 360 very distinctive e-bikes that have been successfully funded on Indiegogo and are now reportedly shipping to customers. They are still available to order at The Ride Bikes at US$6995.

The unusual frame has single sided front forks and asymmetric rear ones. The carbon-framed bike also features integrated lighting, Shimano mid-drive, belt transmission and stepless Enviolo gearing. Disappointingly the weight of the bike is not specified.

No, not a motorbike but a fully legal Euro-pedelec

Ateliers Heritage Bike are based in Annecy in the French Alps and produce the retro-motorcycle styled Heritage model, which is in fact a fully legal Euro-spec pedelec with assist limited to 15.5mph. The Shimano Steps E6100 mid-drive and the 504Wh battery are cleverly placed together to keep weight very low and central the carbon-fibre bodied ‘petrol tank’ is in fact a storage box. This electric bike is equipped with a Shimano Alfine 8 Di2 8-speed hub gear that shifts automatically. It is priced at just under 9000. euros

eCargo Bike Uses

eCargo Bikes Step Up To Deliver Food at Christmas

Food Connect uses e-cargo bikes to keep vulnerable families supplied with food that would have otherwise have gone to waste.

A couple of schemes from the UK demonstrate just how e-cargo bikes can be so useful both socially and sustainably.

Bikebiz reports that:

‘Bosch eBike Systems has collaborated with Food Connect to help redistribute surplus food throughout lockdown and beyond. Food Connect is a food redistribution initiative, first active in Milton Keynes, that was founded by London-based charity Hubbub in June 2020. With the help of a mini-fleet of Bosch-powered e-cargo bikes, including an Urban Arrow Cargo XL and a Tern GSD with a large trailer, and financial support from Bosch eBike Systems, the programme shares food with the local community that would have otherwise gone to waste.’

The article adds that during the summer virus lockdown Food Connect delivered more than 2,000 food parcels to vulnerable households and those who were self-isolating, diverting more than 21 tonnes of food from waste and saved over 1,700 food miles in 16 weeks. It will continue to collect and redistribute food during the Christmas period,

Bikebiz also reported on how Birmingham City Council just its first batch of e-cargo bikes. Manufactured by Raleigh, they will be used by the Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) to support community food deliveries in the lead-up to Christmas.

The article adds ‘In May this year, Birmingham was one of the local authorities to secure funding to run an e-cargo bike pilot scheme. The pilot, a long-term lease programme that includes maintenance and training for 13 e-cargo bikes and seven e-cargo trikes, will provide a basis for the wider take up of e-cargo vehicles in Birmingham.’

Charrli Refills by eBike

Alternative transport magazine A to B reports that ‘A new pilot scheme called Charrli, describing itself as ‘the milkman for British eco-brands’, is delivering shampoos, conditioners and soaps to London postcodes by e-bike in reusable glass bottles. Products are ordered online, and delivered in a reusable tote bag, which can be left out for the empties to be returned for cleaning. Here’s Charrli’s own explanation of how it all works.

Norway’s CityQ To Clean Cars

Both the idea and the actual design for Norway’s City Q has been around for a while: ‘CityQ is a new type of ebike – a high tech, weather protected ebike. A bike looking somewhat like a car, and with downsized car technologies and capabilities.
“In order to replace car traffic with cycling, cities need this type of innovation. Only 30% of us cycle in bad weather. CityQ makes cycling more convenient. And similar to electric cars we replace mechanics with software and connectivity. As with a Tesla car or your smart phone, CityQ can be repaired, updated and added newfunctionalities via the web – by automatic software updates and new App versions,” according to founder of CityQ, Morten Rynning.

There are now a growing number of such mini-pedelec cars vehicles including Germany’s Bio-Hybrid and the UK’s EAV though they have yet to achieve widespread popularity and commercial success.

But now car cleaning startup company UpSteam has ordered 10 customized CityQ ebikes. The project started this autumn, and the firstCityQ cargo ebike will be delivered early 2021. The project has been awarded a Norwegian – Estonia grant – ICT Green. Following the initial order, the parties intend to partner to offer CityQ for rent and lease.

“UpSteam is a green clean tech company, so replacing our own car traffic with cycling makes sense. And with CityQ we can bring all our equipment by ebike – and not having to worry about traffic, parking or car free areas. It is efficient, sustainable and innovating – aligned with our UpSteam mission,” says Martin Kristerson in UpSteam.

Battery Watch

EU Commission Battery Legislation

Cycling Industry News tells us about the proposed EU battery legislation as the European Commission aims ‘to modernise battery legislation to align with moves to promote green economies and align with it Circular Economy Plan’:

‘With this proposal, the Commission also aims to boost the circular economy of the battery value chains and promote more efficient use of resources with the aim of minimising the environmental impact of batteries. From 1 July 2024, only rechargeable industrial and electric vehicles batteries for which a carbon footprint declaration has been established, can be placed on the market.

To close the loop and maintain valuable materials used in batteries for as long as possible in the European economy, the Commission proposes to establish new requirements and targets on the content of recycled materials and collection, treatment and recycling of batteries at the end-of-life part. This would make sure that industrial, automotive or electric vehicle batteries are not lost to the economy after their useful service life.

To significantly improve the collection and recycling of portable batteries, the current figure of 45% collection rate should rise to 65% in 2025 and 70% in 2030 so that the materials of batteries we use at home are not lost for the economy. Other batteries – industrial, automotive or electric vehicle ones – have to be collected in full. All collected batteries have to be recycled and high levels of recovery have to be achieved, in particular of valuable materials such as cobalt, lithium, nickel and lead.’

Bosch eBike Systems CEO Looks Ahead to 2021

Bike Europe just featured this interview with Claus Fleischer, Bosch eBike Systems CEO. Amongst much else Fleischer commented that, outside of their original core markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands a second group of countries – France, Italy and the UK – are also coming to prominence for the rapid uptake of e-bikes.

Asked about a potential shortage of Bosch motor systems for 2021 e-bikes, after the massive demand and supply chain disruption of this extraordinary year, Fleischer was reassuring, commenting ‘From our side we can say that we don’t see a shortage for us. We did our home work over the past two years, we invested a lot in our production, logistics capabilities and worked closely together with our suppliers. I would say ‘never say never’ as there can always be one part missing on the short term, but for 2021 we are fully stuffed with capacity and we have a high inventory. All products are available and we are capable of shipping everything.’

He added slightly ominously though that ‘ I think the shortage in the market will come from the mechanical components.’

Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!

-Rich

An Unexpected eBike Boom that Begs Many Questions

Motorized trips dropped by some 80% in Los Angeles since the March Covid restrictions were introduced leading to a huge rise in levels of cycling and e-biking.

2020 has been a hugely tumultuous year for the world and for e-bikes too. March 16th has been tagged as ‘the week the world shut down’ with what seemed at the time as dire consequences for the majority of industries. However, with many countries declaring bike shops as essential service and allowed to stay open, and city authorities soon putting place cycle-friendly measures in place to encourage cycling as a means of socially distanced transport and lockdown exercise things began to change as far as e-bikes were concerned. They represented just one small but vital tool in helping societies around the globe to keep healthy and keep functioning in dire and tragic circumstances.

Bike and e-bike use rocketed and led to shortages in shops whilst city streets were deserted of motor traffic at the height of the lockdown; for example motorized trips dropped by some 80% in Los Angeles since the March restrictions were announced. Air quality saw an unprecedented leap in quality. In major cities the Covid crisis acted as a spur for major investment. Across Europe more than 1 billion euros has been spent and more than 1400 miles of cycle lane created. Here are some of the major infrastructure developments from around the globe in 2020:

• Paris and the surrounding Ile-de-France pumped €300 million into cycle projects, with plans for over 400 miles of cycle way some classed as temporary – by September the plans had become permanent and by December plans were in motion to remove 140,000 car parking spaces in the city to replace them with greener alternatives including bike parking.

Milan was one of the first cities to announce bike centric Covid recovery plans

• Milan, Italy announced €115m to stimulate cycling. The government has pledged subsidies of up to €500 if citizens want to buy a new bike or an e-scooter in a bid to keep people off public transport and out of cars.
• Houston, Texas recently announced its Vision Zero plan for transport aiming for 50 miles of sidewalks and 25 miles of high-comfort bikeways each year for the next ten years. The Zero refers to the aim of reducing road fatalities to zero (though a note of caution is sounded by this Bloomberg article). Another 2020 infrastructure success – small but notable – was NYC’s Jackson Heights beautiful tree-lined 34th Avenue becoming an ‘open street’ to allow more social distancing, allow people to get some exercise and have better mental health. Now that the open street runs for 1.3 miles every day from 8am to 8pm, you will see children, families, exercisers, seniors and people using it that need to shop & run vital errands.

For a roundup of European pro-bike developments check out this informative BBC article or check out the film below. It gives a flavour of the success e-bikes have been enjoying. To give one example Taco Carlier said his electric bike brand VanMoof sold more bikes in the first four months of 2020 than it did in the previous two years.

By July motor travel was returning but the bike and e-bike boom continued and e-bikes continued to be in short supply for the rest of the year. No doubt supplies will normalise but the big question for the continued success of e-bikes continues to be will the new cycle lanes be kept and will more be built; all the evidence suggests that once cyclists feel safe cycling they will arrive in droves.

Cyclist friendly roundabouts like the one below in Cambridge, UK are everywhere in the Netherlands but this is a first for the UK and caused quite a stir.

So the big question heading into 2021 is will the momentum for more bike infrastructure and more pro-bike measures continue. Certainly many members of the C40 Cities group have recognised the need for change and many seem determined to push it through. The post-Covid recovery, in the eyes of many of the world’s major cities, it seems is inseparable from tackling climate change and promoting light electric vehicles like the e-bike.

Top eBike Launches

Mid-Drives

Shimano’s new EP8 created a real stir in the e-bike world in 2020

The headline act in 2020 in terms of mid-drive launches was probably Shimano’s launch of the EP8 mid-drive that will be appearing on 2021 e-bikes such as the new Pivot Shuttle. 

Newly launched for high performance 2021 e-bikes, the EP8 is Shimano’s attempt to go toe to toe with Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor.  It matches it for torque and beats it on weight due to a new magnesium casing.

The 16.2kg Orbea Rise emtb

Star of the EP8 launches though was arguably the lightweight  Orbea Rise. It’s claimed weight is 16.3kg though at the expense of a relatively small 360Wh battery.

The Yamaha YDX Moro

Another high profile eMTB launch was Yamaha’s announcement the of two new e-mtbs: the YDX-MORO and the YDX-MORO Pro. The YDX-MORO bikes are All-Mountain Class 1 e-Bikes with pedal assist up to 20 mph. They feature a proprietary Yamaha PW-X2 Motor with an upgraded Quad Sensor System. This Quad system adds an angle sensor to Yamaha’s current Triple Sensor System which permits the addition of Automatic mode for a seamless transition between assist levels.

The Yuba Spicy Curry AT is aimed at those heavy-haulin off-road adventurers

One of the more unusual off-road mid-drive e-bikes that appeared in 202 Yuba’s ‘first limited edition off-road electric cargo bike, the Spicy Curry AT…..the new model incorporates front suspension, seatpost suspension, off-road tires and other specific components designed to carry passengers or gear over gravel, dirt or other off-road terrain.’ It features a high quality Bosh Cargo Line motor.

Serial 1 ebikes – MOSH/CTY and RUSH/CTY gained as much attention for being a Harley Davidson spinoff as for their impressive spec; all powered by the 90 Nm torque / 410% pedal assist Brose S Mag drive more often found on top performing e-mtbs. Battery packs are frame integrated and very low down with a choice between 529 Wh and 706 Wh capacities.

Some mid-drive launches in 2020 were notable for the power or speed they packed including:

Evelo Delta X Duo – plenty of beef in the big battery and powerful motor

Evelo Delta X Duo with a whopping 1114Wh capacity via it’s two onboard batteries, one on the frame and one in the rear rack. It also features a hugely powerful mid-drive which claims a 750W rating and 120Nm of torque.

The Priority Current features an unusually powerful 140Nm mid-drive

The Priority Current: Describes itself as ‘the most progressive e-bike on the market, with more power and more comfort than any of its competitors at an unmatched price point. At 140Nm max torque, a 500 watt motor, and an integrated 500 watt-hour battery, and an ultra-responsive e-bike specific Shimano hub…’

Keeping up the ultra-powerful mid-drive theme Jeep also launched an impressive looking off-road e-bike (actually a rebranded Quietcat). The 750W motor can be upgraded to a 1000W (generally not street legal) and there is a throttle control that can be deactivated to make it into a class 1 pedelec if required. There is also a sizeable 696Wh battery.

Tern’s new HSD S11 is their first ever speed pedelec

Bosch announced a new Performance Line Sport drive unit to their portfolio of pedal-assist eBike motors in October. It gives assistance up to 28 mph. Because it’s a Class 3 drive unit (up to 28 mph), Performance Line Sport is only available in the U.S. and New Zealand and it wasn’t long before it was snapped up by Tern who announced it would be used on their first speed pedelec the HSD S11.

Mid-drive e-bikes notable for their lightness were rare but did pop up form time to time.

Canyon’s Commuter:ON had a stated weight of 17.6kg

Canyon launched the Commuter:ON a lighter urban model with a claimed 17.6kg weight for a medium frame model. It used the Fazua Evation motor system which has less power than say a Bosch system but is much lighter and is fully removable so you can ride the bike as a ‘regular’ bike if you like. It features adjustable handlebar height, built-in pannier rack and high quality LED lighting.

LOOK took the mid-drive weight saving even further, launching the E-765 GOTHAM. It was described as ‘ultralight’ and it features a carbon fiber frame and, like the Canyon, Fazua Evation mid-drive which can be removed from the bike so it can be ridden as a ‘regular’ machine and has a claimed weight of 15.8kg.

The Specialized Turbo Vado SL is a true mid drive lightweight

One of the lightest of all the mid-drive launches however was the Specialized all new Vado SL – a fast hybrid style range with a headline grabbing weight 33 pounds/14.9kg for the lightest model and using their own lightweight mid-motor. Older Vado versions have used heavier mid motors but now the SL 1.1 motor used on previously on the much pricier Creo (e-road bike) and Levo (e-mtb) models comes to the commuting and leisure orientated Vado.

Yamaha’s new mid drive weighs just 2.9kg

There was further good news for fans of lightweight mid-drives with the launch of the new Yamaha PW CE mid-drive, rated at 250W with 50Nm of torque with a stated weight of  just 2.9kg (coaster brake version), making it ‘the lightest drive unit ever created by Yamaha’ reportedly.

The IZIP Sumo represents excellent value for an e-fat bike

‘Budget’ mid-drives are pretty rare but affordable e-fat bikes with a mid-drive even rarer. Enter IZIP’s Sumo; it has a Bosch Active Line Plus mid-motor, 4-inch tires and Tektro M735 hydraulic disc brakes with 4-piston front caliper and 2-piston rear. The fully formed aluminum alloy frame and fork have plenty of cargo mounts to carry heavy loads. $2850 might not sound cheap but for such a spec it’s outstanding.

Valeo’s mid-drive combines an electric motor and bicycle gearing

Looking further to the future however announcements from Finland’s Revonte and France’s Valeo of their combined mid-drive and gearbox units, seemed to herald a major new line of development for heavy duty e-bikes and light electric vehicles. To quote Valeo:

‘The Valeo Smart e-Bike System is the first solution in the world to integrate both an electric motor and an adaptive automatic transmission in the pedal assembly. With this new electric assistance system, the bike adapts to the cyclist, and not the other way around. The gears change automatically and the system’s algorithms instantly adapt to the amount of electric assistance the cyclist needs right from the first pedal stroke.’

With electric traction and gearing all combined in one touch looking unit it’s a design which could herald the arrival of a whole new swathe of e-bike and light electric vehicle designs. Indeed EAV from the UK already announced back in January they were using the Revonte on their innovative four-wheeler that utilised e-bike tech.

Hub Motor Launches

Rad Power’s Radmission is simply great value for money

The most notable budget hub motor e-bike launch in the US was surely Rad Power’s Rad Mission, launched at US$999 with a sizeable 504Wh battery and a 500W rear hub motor plus integral lights. Here’s the EBR lowdown on the bike.

In Europe notable budget hub motor launches included:

Halfords Devron looks good value for money at £1000

Halfords Devron range including a step-thru model at £1000.

Evans’ sleek hybrid design the Mercury an impressive for an £1100 e-bike. It includes fully frame-integrated 374W/h battery, Bafang G020 rear hub motor with 45Nm of torque, hydraulic disc brakes and high-volume 2.2″ wide tyres on 27.5 MTB format rims . There are also mounting points for water bottles, rear rack and mudguards.

Though not exactly bargain basement bikes Dutch bike maker Vanmoof launched its next generation ebikes, the S3 and the X3 with a redesigned power system, automatic gear shifter, a rear wheel-blocking kick lock, smart tech and an upgraded app. They are some 60 percent of the cost of their predecessors at £1798.

Children’s balance bikes have no pedals but this 2020 version from Mondraker has small but helpful dose or electric power that should help balance and e-bike riding skills – start ’em young!

Hub motors can also be good for ‘specialist’ e-bikes and a good example from 2020 is the electric assist version of the balance bike from Mondraker, the Grommy. Available in two sizes, 12-inch or 16-inch, both using an ‘easy-to-control 250W power unit’.

More of a cross between an e-scooter and an e-bike, the remarkable Jack Rabbit also began crowdfunding in 2020.

The last couple of years have seen hub motors gain in popularity when at one point it looked as though they might be relegated to ‘cheap and cheerful’ e-bike models only. The predominant recent trend has been small hub motors powering lightweight e-bikes.

Cytronex launched a Brompton specific hub motor kit especially for Bromptons

Early 2020 saw UK firm Cytronex launch a lightweight hub motor retrofit system specifically for Bromptons and the company is now getting so many orders it is looking to expand.

The Gogoro Eeyo is light and sleek

Taiwanese firm Gogoro are aiming to make hub motors svelte and sexy and are bringing the virtually cableless, lightweight Eeyo 1 e-bike offering to Europe. With distribution agreements in several European countries expect to see more and more of the intriguing Eeyo 1.

Other notable lightweight hub powered launches included the fully-specced COBOC Iseo, the Furo Aventa, and the Wilier Triestina Hybrid Move Fast. If the Le Mond carbon framed e-bikes arrive as touted in January and prove successful their 12kg stated weights could set a real benchmark for slick city e-bikes.

The eJimi, an off-road e-bike for older riders

Even more notable were Islabikes eJanis and eJimi, both aimed at older riders and utilising low gearing together with the ever popular Mahle X35 rear hub system.  Claimed weights are 13.5kg and 13.8kg respectively, the eJimi being aimed at off road riders.

The end of the year saw a particularly promising launch in the form of Finland’s innovative and sleek looking Equal Bike – lightweight like many others but with a particularly attractive price tag of €1490 benefitting from a €100 discount with delivery slated for summer 2021.

Mention must also be made of the  BiMotal Elevate retrofit system announced in fall 2020, a unique motor that mounts around disk brake mounting points and has a claimed weight of 2lbs / sub 1kg with a 750W rating assisting ‘up to 28mph’! It claims to remove in 20 seconds with only 200g of extra weight remaining on the bike.

The Vekkit is a minimalist e-bike hub motor kit

A more conventional but very attractive kit launch was from Polish firm Velotton who launched what looks to be a very minimalist e-bike retrofit kit the Vekkit. It features just three main components; battery, front hub  motor and wireless sensor that attaches to the pedal crank. It has a claimed overall weight of just 3kg, with prices starting from €535. Vekkit say they have options for city bikes, touring bikes and folders. Electric assist is limited to European spec of 25kmh but Vekkit’s website intimates they will ship to many countries globally including USA.

Small eBikes That Do It All

The upgraded, extra strong Tern GSD

Small but highly capable e-bikes that carry all manner of things have gone form strength to strength in 2020. Most notable was the launch of the next generation of the Tern GSD, their flagship 20″-wheeled ‘mini’ e-cargobike.  Tern says ‘Improving on the previous iteration, the new GSD offers a stronger, stiffer, and even more stable frame able to carry up to two kids or an adult passenger, plus your groceries.’ Other new features include a more powerful motor, new double kickstand design, front suspension fork, integrated footplates, Rohloff hub gear option, better tall rider geometry, and new luggage options.

November saw the release of weatherproof passenger accessories for the Tern GSD.

The feature-packed and super-useful Radrunner Plus

Even at the start of the year it was clear these incredibly useful and practical genre of e-bikes were becoming very popular with Rad Power Bikes announcing the limited release of the RadRunner Plus, a feature-rich version of the brand’s groundbreaking electric utility bike, the Plus fully loaded with exclusive upgrades and accessories.

The Rise and Rise of eCargo Bikes

2020 saw e-cargo bikes being used for everything from providing ambulance services on the streets of Paris to delivering building materials in London.

Resolutely mainstream e-bike manufacturer Cube chose 2020 to launch their first full size e-cargo bike

Proof that the e-cargo bike trend has truly, truly caught on came with the announcement of Cube’s Cargo Sport Dual Hybrid -Cube being a high quality, value for money and truly ‘middle of the road’ type e-bike manufacturer who surely wouldn’t launch any new model, let alone a very expensive e-cargo bike, on the basis of ‘let’s launch one and see what happens’!

Carqon is designed to be safe and easy to use for small passengers

For a truly refined take on a child carry bakfiets design which finally became available in 2020 after several years in gestation through several designs check out Carqon.

Pashley are clearly putting significant resources into the development of this commercial e-bike model

The commercial potential of heavy duty e-cargo bikes was also picked up by the UK’s Pashley who announced advance details of a new UK-designed e-cargo trike, set to enter production in April 2021. Currently under the project name ALECS, the articulating lightweight electrically-assisted cargo solution will “has a number of features including a tilting mechanism, for which a patent has been applied for.

ALECS will be compliant with the German standard DIN79010. It will have a gross weight (including the rider and the e-trike itself) of up to 300kgs and a load capacity of up to 1.2 cubic metres. Its narrow wheelbase option means it can be used on cycle lanes and in areas with restricted access.

Similarly Ukraine’s Delfast moved aware from their ‘core’ offering of big battery superbikes to launch a practical and sturdy looking e-trike delivery model clearly aimed at cost-conscious businesses:

E-bike mini-cars are still on the horizon but it seems to be a horizon that it getting much closer. Germany’s Schaeffler announced they were hoping to sell over 1,000 of their  Bio-Hybrid, in 2021 whilst in the UK EAV from Oxford hope to have their vehicle in production as taxi vehicles by next year too.

eBike Access Increases as Does Legal Standardisation

Early September saw The Great American Outdoors Act signed into Law. The extra funding it secures means mountain bikers and electric mountain bikers could ultimately see more trails opening up for them to ride on.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is now permanently funded at $900 million per year as of 2019, and the fund is divided into two separate parts—federal and stateside. Add that to new resources for maintenance backlog on federal public lands, and land agencies will have access to nearly $2 billion per year for the next five years. It has been described as the biggest land conservation legislation in a generation as well as being an unlikely success story that attracted bipartisan support from both major political parties. It is aimed at addressing, amongst other things, the US$12 billion backlog of maintenance to repair roads, trails, campgrounds, monuments, fire safety, utilities, and visitor infrastructure in National Parks.

It was also good to see Order 3376, developed by the Department of the Interior of the United States, implemented. It aims to encourage the usage of eBikes on public lands. To encourage eBike usage, the new order has simplified and unified all e-bike regulations across the four sub-departments and the lands governed by them. Any public land, park, or area managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service will now follow the same rules and regulations. With this order, the Department of Interior hopes that the new regulations will clear up many of the restrictive and inconsistent policies that regulated eBike usage on public lands in the past. Note the new rules will not apply to any lands managed by the United States Forest Service.

Similarly encouraging was the expansion of the three class e-bike model, being adopted by more and more states. By the end of 2020, 39 of the 51 States in the U.S. will have implemented the same 3-class model legislation on e-bikes. This stands for three-quarters of the U.S. that has clear legislation in place which must be good news for those who want to see wider use of e-bikes.

eMicromobility Makes A Comeback

Despite appearances at the start of Covid that e-bike and e-scooter share projects would suffer or even disappear, the latter part of the year saw a strong turnaround.

Charlotte’s swish, relaunched share e-bikes

E-bike share projects also gathered impetus after the shock of the first lockdown. Boulder’s iconic and longstanding B-Cycle announced it would be doing electric trials towards the end of the year whilst  the similarly named Charlotte BCycle in North Carolina has a new name, a new look – urban bike sharing company Charlotte Joy Rides‘ 250 revamped e-assist bikes found their way onto the city’s streets recently and also found their electric assist speed increased to 15mph and varied, striking new paint jobs designed by seven local artists. Spectrum News1 also announced Lyft are now offering share e-bikes in Santa Monica.

Some share e-bikes were also developing to keep their bikes more usable and more easily available to users. Dott are a good example and began a European rollout in 2020 from their Amsterdam base. TheDott e-bike itself looks interesting as it reportedly features the latest technology ‘such as parking assistance, anti-vandalism, and anti-theft. Also, there will be advanced GPS navigation software for proper parking and lowest carbon footprint claims the company. The unique features as detailed by Dott include a unique frame from of a single piece, custom-developed 26” foam tyre inserts for improved durability and cushion.’

1500 share e-bikes headed Portland’s way in 2020

In terms of sheer numbers of share e-bikes added though the major news was that the Portland Bureau of Transportation has announced a new 5-year contract extension for the Biketown bike-share system. It included an all-new fleet of 1,500 pedal-assisted electric bikes with a top speed of 20-mph.The rollout from fall onwards appears to have been going to plan.

The UK, where e-scooters are illegal, saw e-scooter ‘trials’ begin (bought forward because of the Covid crisis) and expand so that as of writing there are some 20 or so prjects running across England as pictured below:

Clearly expansion is on the cards for many e-scooter companies and the UK’s eBiketips reports that ‘Micro-mobility firm, Voi, has raised £120m as it seeks to establish itself as the biggest operator in the European e-scooter rental market.

With the increasing rollout of e-scooter projects came more concern by the e-scooter providers for safety. Voi  launched its new helmet selfie feature, which uses AI to determine if a customer is wearing a helmet during an e-scooter ride whilst Lime are developing ‘acoustic alerts’ to warn blind and partially sighted pedestrians of an e-scooter’s approach.

Bolt’s new safety conscious e-scooter

But perhaps the best example of a safer looking e-scooter came the new Bolt model reinforcing the trend for bigger sturdier and tech-smarter public share e-scooters. It’s key points were a super hefty 19kg weight, stated 40km range, aluminum construction and an estimated lifespan in public use of  5 years. It also features ‘built-in sensors to detect accidents and unsafe riding’ adding ‘On the integrated dashboard, you can receive alerts telling you that you’re riding in a pedestrian area, or in a low-speed area. You can also see if you’re allowed to park in this area. Bolt plans to turn on front light blinking when you enter a pedestrian or low-speed area.’

Tech Crunch reported ‘Lime is focused on deploying the Gen4 (electric scooter)….The Gen4 will roll out across Europe in early 2021….The developments concentrate on safety and user friendliness as the new Gen4 ‘features swept-back handlebars that are similar to the design of bike handles, which Lime says allows for a more comfortable grip. The new model also sports an enhanced suspension and larger wheels, a dual hand-brake system, a lower baseboard to optimize the center of gravity on the scooter and a new kickstand with two legs.’

Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!

-Rich

In this week’s news:

• French Automotive Supplier Valeo Prototypes Combined Mid-Drive and Gearbox
• Merida Announces Three New Lightweight eBikes
• Rad Power Bikes & Pabst Collaboration Giveaway
• CrownCruiser’s Rapture Takes the Hi-Tech Road
• BULLS LACUBA EVO 10 Now with 750Wh battery
• Two New Mercedes-Benz Branded eBikes
• New eScooter Safety Features
• Dott’s Remarkable New Share eBike
• Plus All the Latest Infrastructure and eBike Biz News

New eBikes and eBike Systems

Valeo Looks to Combine Mid-drive with Automatic Gearing

The Valeo may look like a conventional if rather large mid-drive but it also combines the e-bikes gears in a single enclosed unit

‘The Valeo Smart e-Bike System is the first solution in the world to integrate both an electric motor and an adaptive automatic transmission in the pedal assembly. With this new electric assistance system, the bike adapts to the cyclist, and not the other way around. The gears change automatically and the system’s algorithms instantly adapt to the amount of electric assistance the cyclist needs right from the first pedal stroke.’

The Valeo’s huge torque rating promises to make it particularly suitable for e-cargo bikes and other light electric vehicles

That’s some claim (although Revonte might dispute it…). Still, the vital statistics of the system look good on paper; a 48V electric motor combines with a seven-speed automatic gearbox in a single mid-drive unit. Torque rating is a huge 130 Newton meters and Valeo say the electric assistance allows a cyclist carrying a 150kg load to climb a 14% gradient (the equivalent of a parking lot ramp) without breaking a sweat, whether moving forward or reversing. Valeo also claim the system is more efficient than the 24V or 36V motors installed on the vast majority of e-bikes available today.

Valeo are automotive suppliers but have recently been experimenting with lightweight, 48V electric drive trains on small cars 

Valeo don’t make e-bikes and indeed this appears to be their first venture into the world of e-bikes in any form whatsoever along with their partners in the project Effigear. They have however produced three prototypes to demonstrate the Smart e-Bike system on city, mountain and cargo designs. They have already produced a working 48V electric drive train for a small, light urban car with a 60 mile range and a top speed of just over 60 mph.

Merida’s 2021 New eBikes

Merida are one of the world’s biggest bike manufacturers and their bikes and e-bikes often get excellent reviews in the cycling press – so it’s exciting to bring news of some of their 2021 range. Merida have just announced details of the  eSCULTURA road bike, the eSPEEDER commuter and the eSILEX ‘adventure’ model. As an aside Merida also have strong interests in the US – in 2001, Merida bought 49% of Specialized for a reported US$30 million.

All the newly announced Merida models use the Mahle X35+ lightweight 250W rear hub electric assist system. Here is the very brief spec as revealed so far, though it’s expected all three bikes will be competitively lightweight:

eSCULTURA

The Mahle X35+ e-assist system is lightweight and discrete

This slick looking eRoad bike features a carbon fork, Shimano 105 gearing and hydraulic disk brake, stated weight 13.4kg, £3,000

eSPEEDER

A fast and light city e-bike that features carbon fork and Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brake, 13.89kg stated weight, £2,350 / €2,249

eSILEX

Merida’s eSILEX is a high quality e-gravel bike

Lightweight eGravel bike with  MT200 hydraulic disc brakes and Shimano GRX groupset options, 15.5kg, £2,600 / €2,449

Custom Rad Power Bike Giveaway And New Merchandise Collaboration

Rad Power Bikes are collaborating with Pabst Blue Ribbon on a whole lineup of new gear to help you celebrate your ride.

To start the collaboration they are giving away a RadRunner painted by ANTA52, an artist and illustrator who works in and out of the Coachella Valley and Los Angeles. Rad Power Bikes are asking participants to go on Instagram and tag someone else who they want to win the bike, because giving feels good!

For all the merchandise offers and instructions on how to tag someone else to win the illustrated RadRunner see here.  

CrownCruiser Rapture – Is This ‘The World’s Most Sophisticated eBike’?

CrownCruiser’s Rapture promises a high-tech approach and is reportedly going to be Made in Sheffield, UK

MMB reports that ‘UK-based e-bike developer CrownCruiser Motors has been awarded £139,970 from Innovate UK’s Sustainable Innovation Fund. The grant will enable CrownCruiser to set up an operations and assembly centre in Sheffield, working in partnership with Sheffield City Region to build, promote and sell the Rapture.’

There are few details available of the e-bike itself but the CrownCruiser website describes it as ‘Featuring a state-of-the-art monocoque carbon frame with lifetime warranty, smart batteries, customisable front girder suspension, ergonomic handlebars and cutting edge connectivity’.

Updated BULLS LACUBA EVO 10 With Huge Battery

The BULLS LACUBA EVO 10 has a 750Wh in-frame battery

BULLS Bikes USA just announced the arrival of ‘the latest evolution of the flagship eTouring/eTrekking bike’, the LACUBA EVO 10. It now features the Brose Drive S-Mag motor and what they say is ‘the largest single battery of any high-end mid-drive ebike in the industry’.

As well as the impressivel large 750Wh battery the bike also comes equipped with the new Brose Topology display, a beautiful, full color, feature-rich console that houses a wealth of information, such as range, trip distance and total distance.

The LACUBA EVO 10 comes in three frame variations: WAVE, STEP-THRU, and DIAMOND and multiple sizes. The Lacuba is available now for purchase through any certified BULLS Dealer and at bullsbikesusa.com at $4099.

Mercedes-Benz eBike Branded Range Increases

The UK’s eBiketips reports that ‘Mercedes-Benz has lent its name to a pair of e-bikes with the release of the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team eBike and slightly pricier Silver Shadows.’

The bikes are produced under licence by N+.

Spec of the Formula E Team is:

• 250W mid-drive (unamed)
• 252Wh Panasonic battery,  seat tube concealed
• Carbon fibre fork​, hydraulic disc brakes and a Sturmey Archer 5-speed hub gear.

The Silver Shadows has the same spec except for a 504Wh battery and Enviolo stepless transmission with a Gates carbon belt drive.

Respective prices are $3,200 (£2,400) and $4,500 (£3,400).

Rails to Trails Fall Magazine

Want to know more about the best traffic-free rides in the US? The latest edition of Rails to Trails magazine has features on the Met Branch trail between Washington D.C and Maryland, the 130 mile long NorthEast Texas Trail, eight urban sections along the Great American Rail Trail and lots more.

Hannover’s Micromobility Expo Scheduled for May 2021

Cycling Industry New reports that Hannover’s micromobility expo is to return on the 27-29 May 2021 as a three-day ‘hybrid’ event. ‘The third edition of the micromobility expo will be a combination of exhibition, test course and conference program that can also be followed digitally. Companies can choose whether they want to present themselves and their products on the exhibition grounds or in a virtual space’ CIN tells us.

It is a combined trade and public event, with the first two days of the event reserved for trade visitors and the micromobility expo opening to the public on the final Saturday.

eMicromobility

Speed Limit Controversy Over Chicago’s Divvy Share eBikes

StreetsblogChicago details the controversy over a 3mph speed cap difference; some time recently (no one seems sure when) Chicago’s Divvy e-bikes were capped at 15mph. There have been complaints at the cap as other Lyft-run systems like New York’s Citi Bike are capped at 18 mph.

More eScooter Safety Features

MMB reports ‘Voi Technology has launched its new helmet selfie feature, which uses AI to determine if a customer is wearing a helmet during an e-scooter ride.

It is part of a suite of recently released in-app features that encourage responsible riding habits and improve rider safety. The helmet selfie uses an image-classifier AI that can instantaneously detect if a user is wearing a helmet with 95% accuracy, Voi said.

After scanning a scooter to begin their ride, the user will be prompted to take a selfie, which unlocks the scooter.

MMB also reports that ‘E-scooter operator Lime has responded to concerns of blind and partially sighted people by developing new safety messaging for riders. In partnership with Sight Loss Councils, Lime has implemented new safety advisory messages in its app to alert riders to look out for people with visual impairments and be aware that not all disabilities are visible. It also agreed to work with Sight Loss Councils to explore options for acoustic vehicle alert systems on its e-scooters.’

Dott on the Rise

The forthcoming Dott public share e-bike certainly looks to have some unusual features

UKTN reports that ‘Dott, an Amsterdam-based e-scooter brand known for providing comprehensive insurance coverage for its users unveiled its first e-bike in select cities across Europe recently. The Dutch mobility firm has also informed that they’re gearing up to launch its new contemporary e-bikes in Paris and London by March 2021.

The e-bike itself looks interesting as it reportedly features the latest technology ‘such as parking assistance, anti-vandalism, and anti-theft. Also, there will be advanced GPS navigation software for proper parking and lowest carbon footprint claims the company. The unique features as detailed by Dott include a unique frame from of a single piece, custom-developed 26” foam tyre inserts for improved durability and cushion.’

Other features include shaft drive rather than a chain, swappable battery system and an all-in-one lock, brake and motor in the rear wheel and integrated and automatic front and rear LED light with built-in reflectors.

Here’s more background from Dott themselves:

Infrastructure

People for Bikes Advocacy Academy

People for Bikes (PfB) do great work advocating for changes to get more people on bikes and e-bikes. They have been in touch recently the highlight their Advocacy Academy which they describe as an online video series and resource library for city leaders, decision makers and advocates. It provides the necessary tools and information to understand how cities are evaluated through the PlacesForBikes City Ratings program and how to make cities better for bikes.’

Northern England Canal Route Improvements

West Yorkshire Combined authority which has a strategic role and a big budget for some of the biggest cities in Northern England reports ‘We would like to know what you think of our proposals to improve parts of the towpaths on the Huddersfield Narrow canal and Leeds & Liverpool canal.’

You can find more on their role to promote cycling in the area at CityConnect.

eBike Biz

Canyon Bicycles Acquired by Belgian Investor

Bik-EU reports ‘D2C-supplier Canyon Bicycles found a new majority shareholder in Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL). Roman Arnold will remain the Chairman of the Advisory Board and reinvest a significant part of his proceeds alongside GBL, while significant minority shareholder TSG Consumer Partners will fully exit its stake.’

We have regualrly reported on new, high quality e-bike models from Canyon who reportedaly saw  financial results for 2019/2020 mark a record sales turnover of €400 million, an increase of 30%. Over the past seven years, Canyon’s sales have grown at an average rate of 25% per annum, almost doubling in the last three years alone reports the article.

Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!

-Rich

In this week’s news:

• Pivot Shuttle – More Powerful Motor, Bigger Battery Makeover
• LeMond Carbon Fiber eBikes a Step Nearer
• Inspiring eCargobike Replaces Car Account
• New NYC Traffic Light Law Favours Cyclists and eBikers
• Just Who Buys eBikes?
• Plus All the Latest eScooter and eBike Biz News

New eBikes & eBike Systems

Pivot Shuttle Gets New Motor and Battery

The new Pivot Shuttle features a new top of the line Shimano EP8 motor and large 720Wh battery

The new Pivot Shuttle is here, now with Shimano’s latest and highly rated EP8 motor and a larger 720Wh battery. It features a full carbon frame as the original launched back in 2017 also did.
[Read More…]