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E-bike News: Econic One US Arrival, Speed E-bikes and Lots More!

Electric bike news 15th September

It’s an interesting time for an EU bike company to launch an e-bike in the US and Econic One are a little different to most EU e-bikes coming there. Many US brands are based on a ready supply of competitively priced Asian components and systems, whereas classic EU brands like Riese and Muller and Gazelle opt for premium motor systems like Bosch and Shimano and charge a premium price, choosing not to compete on price with most other brands, but to stand out for their quality, longevity and practicality. Econic One, though EU-based, use motor systems from Bafang but spec higher quality gearing and brakes than most budget brands that use the ikes of Bafang and also feature GPS tracking and locking features. It’s an interesting approach and it will be fascinating to see if they succeed.

Elsewhere we look at the question of speed pedelecs and even faster e-bikes, prompted by three announcements hot on each other’s heels on e-bikes that will assist you up to at least 28mph. Class 3 e-bikes assist you up to 28mph but you need to be pedalling and there are restrictions on where you can take them – some bike paths may be off limits for example. In contrast class 2 e-bikes assist up to 20mph and you can use a throttle. Class 2 are a little more popular, but it’s clear from three recent launches that e-bike companies believe plenty of potential riders want the extra speed.

In this week’s e-bike news:

  • Econic One – a new e-brand for the US
  • High speed e-bikes from Volcon, KK and Aventon
  • Swytch’s new lightweight kit now available to order
  • Electra launch Polynesian-inspired e-bike
  • Other news from Boston, Buffalo and Japan

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Ebike News: Okai and Rivian May Expand E-bike Choices, New Lime Auto-Gear Bike and More!

This week’s news is looking to the future slightly more than usual. First we have the news of what looks to be a very powerful yet reasonably light e-mtb from e-scooter specialist Okai followed by the revelation electric truck specialist Rivian might just be getting into e-bikes. There are no dates or prices from either company (in Rivian’s case just a tantalising trademark application) but it does hold a glimpse of possible future trends.

More in the here and now is new fat tire brand Magicycle and we take a look at just how light you might be able to make Brompton’s iconic folding bike if electrifying it yourself plus a look at where e-scooters might (or might not) be heading in the UK.

In this week’s news:

  • E-scooter and e-car specialists Okai and Rivian head towards e-bikes
  • Magicycle, the affordable fat tire e-bike
  • Brompton looks headed for a lightweight future
  • Lime’s new auto-gear changing e-bike
  • E-scooter delay and debate in the UK
  • A novel new way to keep that cycle lane a puncture-free delight

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