E-Cells Goes Bust, Rad Refreshes The Runner, A Procumbent Bike? | TWR Ep 29

May is National Bike Month, and May 30th marks National E-Bike Day. Across the U.S., local cycling groups are hosting group rides, bike challenges, and other events to get more people pedaling.

Prefer to ride solo? That works too. Consider commuting by bike a little more often, taking a few extra joy rides, or simply sharing your rides on social media to spread the love.

Our Take: There are plenty of awareness days out there, but this one’s close to our hearts. One initiative that stood out to us is the American Cancer Society’s 300-Mile Challenge. Participants can sign up, log their miles, and raise funds through GoFundMe to support cancer research. Finish the challenge and you’ll even get a medal to commemorate your effort. More riding and a good cause? That’s a win-win in our book.

​Industry icon Rad Power Bikes has updated its popular RadRunner series with new naming conventions and a slate of upgraded or standardized features across the lineup. The refreshed models and pricing are as follows:

All three models now come equipped with:

The RadRunner Max is now Class 3 capable and adds premium features like Apple Find My integration and a built-in radar system. Both the Plus and Max models support dual-battery setups, with an additional battery available for $249.

Our Take: We’re glad to see the new naming system—it’s a big improvement over the confusing mix of numbers and “Plus” labels in past versions. The new tiered structure feels much more intuitive, following the kind of clear differentiation Apple uses.

As for the updates, there’s a strong mix of practical improvements that help the Runner series stay current with today’s expectations. We’re especially eager to see how the RadRunner Max handles at Class 3 speeds, and the $249 dual-battery option offers compelling range for the price.

We’ve already received the new RadRunner and RadRunner Max for testing—full reviews coming soon.

E-Cells has officially ceased operations, according to a statement shared on the company’s Facebook page. In the post, CEO David Cleveland cited “extreme tariff increases and other market challenges” as key reasons the business could no longer remain viable.

“Effective immediately, we are announcing the closure of our business,” the statement reads. “Continuing operations is no longer sustainable.” E-Cells will not accept any new orders, and customers with existing orders will be contacted individually. Remaining inventory will be handled internally and will not be made available for public sale.

The company expressed gratitude for the trust and support it received from its community and affirmed its intent to close out all remaining matters professionally and responsibly.

Our Take: Headlines like this are becoming an unfortunate trend in the e-bike space. E-Cells earned a reputation for pushing the envelope with high-powered designs and had a deeply devoted following. But despite its niche appeal, the company couldn’t weather the current market pressures. It’s worth watching to see if other similarly positioned brands face the same uphill battle.

California’s second round of e-bike vouchers was set to launch on April 29, offering up to $2,000 per voucher based on household income. However, the rollout has been postponed due to technical issues with the program’s website.

The California E-Bike Incentive Project had planned to award 1,000 vouchers in this round, following the program’s initial launch in December 2024. A new launch date has not yet been announced, leaving would-be applicants waiting for further updates.

Our Take: While an official reason for the delay hasn’t been given, it’s likely that overwhelming demand played a role. Reports from the first round in December indicated as many as 100,000 people queued for just 1,500 available vouchers. There’s clearly strong public interest in e-bike incentives, and we hope the system is back online soon to meet that demand.

Martoni has introduced a unique new design with its Super-E—a standing, “procumbent” micromobility concept. Unlike a traditional e-bike, the Super-E positions riders standing upright on platform pedals while leaning forward into a hip-supporting rest, with an extended reach. The goal of the design is to reduce strain on the rider’s back and wrists.

While the Super-E doesn’t feature pedals and thus isn’t technically an e-bike, it still falls under the broader micromobility umbrella. At this time, details on battery capacity and motor specs are limited.

Our Take: The first time you see a recumbent bike or trike, it might look unconventional, but they’ve built a loyal following thanks to their comfort.

The Super-E could carve out a similar niche. We’re curious to see how it rides and whether this new riding posture delivers on its ergonomic promises.