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.
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Today, Spain-based bike manufacturer Orbea released their latest electric bike in their lineup, the Orbea Rise. The Rise is an all-mountain/trail ebike that is targeted towards sporty mountain bikers who are looking for a more natural mountain biking experience with an EMTB.

Our first take on the Orbea Rise:

This is an obvious shot across the bow to the Specialized Turbo Levo SL, which is Specialized’s light-weight EMTB. Coming in just above 35 lbs for the highest/most expensive version of the bike, the Orbea Rise is lighter than the Specialized Turbo Levo SL but has more torque (60 Nm vs 35 Nm). This will be very interesting to test out, especially on uphill climbs and through technical sections. The SL has been a fantastic emtb (one of our favorites) because it feels much more like a normal mountain bike. The Orbea Rise has the potential to do that while possibly providing even more power.

[Read more…] about Orbea Rise – Is This Lightweight Electric Mountain Bike a Game Changer?

As electric bikes continue to grow in popularity, more and more governments and state legislatures are developing laws and codes that will state the rights and areas of usage for eBikes. Such is the case with the new Department of the Interior Order 3376, which has implemented the new rules for eBike usage on public lands for much of the United States. These rules have been implemented with the goal of simplifying where you can and cannot use an eBike, and will lead to better, more defined trail systems as time goes on and more parks implement the new rules. However, the new order can be a bit complicated to understand, so we’re here to break down the major changes and rules as put forth by the Department of Interior here in the United States.
[Read more…] about Order 3376 – Encouraging eBike Use On Public Lands

Here at ElectricBikeReport, we had the opportunity to sit down with Don DiCostanzo of Pedego Electric Bikes for an in depth discussion about Pedego, e-bikes, and the industry in general.

Don is the CEO and founder of Pedego Electric Bikes, located in Fountain Valley, California. In 2006, Don purchased an ebike to help him ride up a large hill to his home. But after many frustrating experiences with several different ebikes, Don decided the only way to get the ebike he wanted would be to design it himself. So he set out to create a bike that was powerful, durable, stylish, and comfortable to ride. He and a partner began Pedego bikes in 2008 and Don has been learning from and influencing the ebike industry ever since then.

Today, Pedego is the number one brand of electric bikes in the US (according to Navigant Research) with over 140 stores and 30 more set to open soon.

We asked Don to tell us a little bit about Pedego, what makes this company unique, and to give us some insights into the history and evolution of the ebike industry.
[Read more…] about eBike Industry Leaders: An Interview w/ Don DiCostanzo of Pedego Electric Bikes

At Electric Bike Report we are always thrilled to hear about new initiatives springing up in communities all over the globe that promote environmental sustainability and personal health through eBikes. This week we’re happy to share the story of the recently launched Pedal Ahead electric bicycle community program from San Diego County. This collaboration project involving many from the area plans to do a lot of good for the community. The full story follows below:

SAN DIEGO — On September 22, Rider Safety Visibility (RSV), a 501c3, in partnership with San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, launched Pedal Ahead, a two-year, emission-reducing program designed to serve as an alternative to automobile transportation in the fourth supervisorial district, with a particular focus on areas of Chollas, City Heights, Encanto, Linda Vista, Rolando and Redwood Village. Pedal Ahead’s goal is to provide quality of life improvement for residents by making e-bikes available for daily commuting and recreational activities. The program will also support workforce development training for young adults ages 18-26 in the burgeoning bicycle industry, which has seen significant sales growth amid the pandemic. The training and education component will be conducted with Pedal Ahead community center partner, Uptown Bicycles in Normal Heights.
[Read more…] about Rider Safety Visibility Launches ‘Pedal Ahead’ Electric Bike Community Program in San Diego County