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John S. Bozick

E-Bike Writer & Reviewer

Originally from a small town in northeastern Ohio, John was eventually drawn elsewhere in the pursuit of self-actualization. What began as a creative background slowly shifted into the technical; John’s early interest in art led him to learn design, fabrication, and manufacturing techniques while attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He applied his creative, mechanical, and critical thinking skills in various industries including fine art, orthotics, furniture and interior design, construction, etc. before arriving in his current position at Electric Bike Report. Bikes have been present to varying degrees throughout John’s life; as a teenager, he spent much of his free time on a Diamondback BMX, and during/following the pandemic, a secondhand Specialized trail bike offered a way to blow off steam. Writing has been similarly ubiquitous; a natural skill with the written word developed through formal education into a source of pride and passion. At Electric Bike Report, John uses his analytical mind, technical writing skills, and dry sense of humor to share the best e-bikes with the world!

Get to Know John S. Bozick

Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Entertainment Design

Favorite Style of E-Bike

City, All-Terrain, Hybrid Path

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Ride1UP Revv 1

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S

Favorite New E-bike Tested

Magnum Vertex

Hobbies

Cooking, Hiking, Camping, Gaming, and Traveling

Mokwheel Granite Review | Is This E-Trike Solid as a Rock?

This affordable tricycle delivers great performance and many customization options, though it has its tradeoffs.

Electric Tricycles are ideal for riders who need extra stability, as their three wheels (compared to the two of an e-bike) add an additional contact point with the ground. Our team of reviewers has seen an increasing number of affordable, sub-$2k e-trikes entering the market, with the Mokwheel Granite being a recent entry from a familiar brand.

Mokwheel earned its reputation as a heavy hitter in the industry with its big, burly “Power Station” fat-tire e-bikes whose massive batteries can power or recharge other devices when combined with an optional power inverter. The brand’s lineup also includes lighter-weight commuters, city cruisers, folding bikes—and now an electric trike.

One of the potential pitfalls of designing an e-trike is deciding what type of motor to employ; many models on the affordable side use front-hub motors that are cost-effective but can lack traction and give the feeling of being pulled along. On the other hand, mid-drive motors that provide a more natural feel can be expensive.

For the Granite, Mokwheel borrowed a clever and effective solution pioneered by Lectric on the XP Trike. It uses a 500W hub-style motor mounted between the rear wheels, which is connected to a differential axle. This combination retains the affordability of a front-hub design with improved traction and the more natural feel of a mid-drive.

Additionally, the trike features a few uncommon line items on its spec sheet that stood out in comparison with other similar models we’ve tested. Its down tube carries a relatively high-capacity 48V, 720-Wh battery, which we expected would lend the Granite better-than-average range.

In contrast with many e-trikes that have mechanical brake systems or hydraulic disc systems with only two rotors, the Granite also has a potential advantage. Its Zoom hydraulic brake system utilizes three rotors (one on each wheel), which we expected would result in better-than-average stopping power.

To find out if our predictions for the Mokwheel Granite were correct, continue to the test sections in our full review below!

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Heybike Hauler Review | Comfy & Cost-Friendly, but Capable?

This cargo e-bike offers a lot for its price point, including app connectivity, a dual-battery option, and both front and rear turn signals!

When shopping for budget or entry-level e-bikes, consumers have an abundance of options among most bike styles/categories. We’ve tested and reviewed dozens of fat-tire, beach cruiser, commuter, and folding e-bikes with wallet-friendly prices, but cargo e-bikes are somewhat unusual in that we haven’t seen many options priced below $2k.

Heybike smartly priced their cargo e-bike, appropriately named the Hauler, well below that threshold. The bike is offered at two price points: a simple single-battery model starting around $1500 and a dual-battery behemoth priced around $1700. These prices are simply some of the lowest we’ve seen for this style of bike.

In true Heybike fashion, the Hauler also boasts a myriad of uncommon features for its price point, including Bluetooth connectivity to pair with the Heybike app, foldable footboards for carrying passengers, front and rear turn signals, and an enormous, remarkably cushy saddle.

As with the handful of similarly-priced cargo e-bikes we’ve tested, the Hauler packs a powerful 750W rear-hub motor for moving its payload. With a cadence sensor, we found the bike’s overall pedal experience relaxed, easy, and fun—that motor can be peppy!

Did all of these aspects and elements add up to a worthwhile purchase? We evaluated the bike’s real-world performance in a series of four standardized tests and also challenged its ability to carry additional weight. Continue reading below to get our verdict!

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Mokwheel Obsidian ST Review | All-Terrain Accessibility

This powerful, speedy, and accessible all-terrain e-bike has an affordable price tag and a cushy ride.

The Mokwheel Obsidian ST is somewhat of an enigma; it’s not every day that we review huge, heavy, and powerful all-terrain e-bikes that also prioritize accessibility.

In contrast with most similar bikes in this category we’ve tested, the step-thru, or ST, version of the Obsidian features a V-shaped frame with a low standover height of 19”. This allows riders to quickly mount and dismount the bike without lifting a leg over the saddle, making it ideal for those with limited mobility—or simply anyone who prioritizes ease and comfort.

We previously reviewed the high-step (HS) version, which is nearly identical to the newer ST model. Aside from the absence of a top tube, the Obsidian ST has a slightly different placement of its rear shock, a reduced—but still impressive—total payload capacity (due to its different frame), and an additional inch of saddle height adjustment over the HS.

Based on our first experience, we expected the Obsidian ST to be comfortable, value-packed, and highly capable in off-road environments. Like the high step, it features a full suspension, a monstrous 1,000W rear-hub motor, and the ability to be paired with optional accessories, allowing it to be recharged or used to power other devices anywhere the sun shines.

Was the step-thru model as successful as its sibling in our series of standardized real-world performance tests?

Continue reading our full review below to find out!

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Velotric Discover 2 Review | THE Commuter E-Bike for All?

As one of the most adaptable commuters/cruisers in its price range, this might be THE e-bike for just about anyone.

The Discover 1 marked Velotric’s 2021 debut in the e-bike market following a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. Now, three years and five additional e-bike models later, the brand launched its 2024 release schedule with the reimagined, second-gen Discover 2.

Fusing the elements of a contemporary commuter and a Dutch-style cruiser, the Discover 2 is a “city cruiser” with comfort and agility at its core. Velotric added a ton of function to that foundation; this is simply one of the most feature-rich e-bikes we’ve seen priced below $2,000.

Whether through the bike’s display menu or the Velotric app, users can customize the bike’s feel, power level, speed, and even the behavior of its integrated lights. It features three riding modes, two sensor modes, 15 pedal assist settings, and the ability to switch between Class 1, 2, and 3 modes, allowing it to adapt to the preferences of nearly any rider!

The Discover 2 is also decked out with a host of uncommon features and technology, including turn signals, a cruise control function, an MIK-HD cargo rack, and Apple Find My™ connectivity. For perspective, we’ve reviewed e-bikes two, three, and even six times the Discover 2’s price, which did not offer such an expansive spread of stuff to appreciate!

However, a comfortable ride and an appealing spec package do not always equate to a worthwhile e-bike. For this reason, we tested the Discover 2’s speed profile, range, climbing ability, and stopping power in a series of standardized performance tests.

Read our full review below to find out if the bike’s performance matched its presentation!

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Feedback Sports RAKK 2.0 E Storage Stand Review

An effective, collapsible, and easy to use storage and charging stand able to fit e-bikes of all shapes and sizes.

While many e-bikes include kickstands, most performance-oriented types (electric mountain bikes or eMTBs, for example) do not have this feature. It is always possible to lean these bikes against a wall or other object, but if the bike should slip, a fall could damage paint or require the replacement of parts.

Even when considering e-bikes with kickstands, a significant amount of storage space can be wasted by the bike’s natural sideways lean. If your apartment or garage is already a tight fit, you may want to consider a storage option that takes up less space.

Feedback Sports produces a variety of storage options, including the e-bike-specific Rakk 2.0 E storage stand, to keep your bike(s) stable and organized.

The Rakk 2.0 E features a steel base with a small footprint, a V-shaped wheel slot, and a spring-loaded swing arm with an adjustable wheel pulley. It can hold e-bikes weighing up to 75 lbs with wheels ranging from 20”-29” in diameter (and technically even 16” with an optional adapter). It can also accommodate tires from 23mm to 4.5” wide!

A charger can be secured to the stand on a textured tray with a velcro strap to make recharging an e-bike easier. The Rakk 2.0 E also comes with two magnetic attachments with zip-tie slots to connect and route cables, keeping them clean and above the floor.

We tested the Feedback Sports Rakk 2.0 E Storage Stand to see if it lived up to the hype. Continue reading below to learn more about it!

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Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic HD Repair Stand Review

A lightweight but heavy-duty e-bike-specific repair stand with quick-release mechanisms and a high degree of portability.

It’s no secret that e-bikes can be heavy, with many weighing a reasonable 60-70 lbs. Others, especially stout-framed fat-tire e-bikes, can land at a hefty 80-90 lbs, and sometimes even more.

Most bike stands will struggle to accommodate such a burden, with small footprints, slim support members, and clamp mechanisms that seem to require an extra set of hands to operate. When dealing with huge and heavy bikes, most mechanics are likely to agree that the faster a bike can be put in a stand, the better.

The sturdily built Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic HD repair stand aims to solve the above problems by offering a remarkably high weight capacity, a fast and intuitive clamp system, and a high degree of adjustability—all in a lightweight and portable package.

The Pro Mechanic HD is made to hold bikes of all styles, with a maximum capacity of 100 lbs and jaws that open to fit tubes up to 2.6” in diameter. It features a sliding and ratcheting clamp that can be set and tightened in seconds and a swiveling clamp arm that allows users to balance and center a bike’s weight over one of its three reinforced tripod legs.

At 18 lbs, we found the Pro Mechanic HD to be surprisingly light for its size. The stand can be set up or collapsed in no time, and it’s compatible with a padded, water-resistant, and airplane-friendly travel bag with carry handles for easy transport.

If you can’t tell, we were highly impressed with the Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic HD repair stand. Whether you’re an experienced traveling or shop mechanic or a curious e-bike owner looking to learn how to perform maintenance at home, continue reading below to learn more about its setup, features, and operation!

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E-Bike Tariffs: Do They Protect or Hurt the Industry?

E-Bike Tariffs and What They Mean for E-Bike Prices

If you followed the news this summer—or generally spend time monitoring e-bike prices as closely as we do—you might have noticed a sweeping cost increase in June-July. In many cases, we observed increases of roughly $200 in the prices of e-bikes corresponding to changes in US tariff policies, which affected specific taxes applied to imported goods.

On June 14th, 2024, an exemption for e-bikes in the United States Trade Representative (USTR)’s Section 301 tariffs list expired. This caused e-bikes, some potential e-bike components, some non-electric bikes, some carbon fiber frames, and some kids’ bikes to become subject to a 25% tariff paid by the importing company to the US Government.

Tariffs are often applied to imports for a variety of reasons. As explained by the Cato Institute, they can help to protect domestic businesses from being undercut by foreign competitors, encourage consumers to support and rely on US-based manufacturers, and create jobs, among other things.

In the case of e-bikes, however, this reasoning collapses.

Many e-bikes originate from China, including many of the best-selling e-bikes our readers and YouTube viewers ride. Very few are produced domestically, and even in those cases, many of their components are manufactured and imported from overseas.

As such, tariffs do not—and at the time of writing, literally cannot—realistically serve to protect domestic manufacturers of e-bikes simply because almost no US-based e-bike manufacturers exist.

If e-bike tariffs DO NOT protect US workers or US companies, what effect do they have on the US e-bike industry?

We analyzed public pricing information and sales data from Electric Bike Report to try to answer this question. Spoiler alert: the data we gathered from the brief 3-4 month period between the expiration of Section 301 tariff exemptions and the writing of this article paints a negative outlook.

In almost every regard, the application of tariffs to e-bike imports has raised consumer prices and hurt sales.

New tariffs will go into effect on January 1, 2026, and recent political discussions relating to November’s Presidential Election have indicated that additional tariffs could be placed not only on Chinese goods but those from all foreign countries. We feel strongly that politicians and our readers need to know what negative impact tariffs have on the e-bike industry.

We hope that you, the reader of this report, will lobby your state and national government representatives to remove current tariffs on e-bikes and prevent future tariffs in order to protect American workers and businesses.

In our research, we reached out to Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. for help in understanding e-bike-specific tariff codes. A representative advised us that the relevant line items are 8711.90.0000 or 8711.60.00.

While the former relates to electric scooters such as Segway products and e-bikes, Bicycle Retailer explains that the latter defines e-bikes as “Motorcycles with electric power for propulsion, each of a power not exceeding 1,000 W.”

With this information in mind, we also hope to encourage lawmakers to separate and distinguish e-bikes from electric motorcycles and scooters in an effort to unify their legal definition across all avenues.

E-Bike Tariffs Increase Prices, Hurting Brands and Consumers

To collect data, we used an internet archive called Wayback Machine to source e-bike prices prior to June 14th—and ideally, also before Memorial Day sales at the end of May.

We initially gathered numbers for 160 e-bikes, but we reduced our pool to 83 bikes after excluding online sales, in-store prices, discontinued models, clearance bikes soon to be replaced by new models, and products from some smaller brands we were less familiar with.

Our data is shown in the table below. Note that we chose to list the specific brands we analyzed anonymously to eliminate any potentially negative effects from publishing our data.

Additionally, we referenced the (pre-sales-tax) prices actually paid by the customer instead of listed MSRPs that could be artificially inflated; brands will often mark up the MSRP while showing a ‘discounted’ or ‘sale’ price to make consumers feel like they are getting a time-sensitive deal.

We weighted the data based on the number of bikes included in our data set from each brand.

Finally, we excluded bikes from certain legacy brands with global reach due to differences in product sourcing and focused more on direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands that have a higher percentage of manufacturing done in China.

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E-Bike Pricing Changes Post-Section 301 Tariff Exemption Expiration

Brand Ave Price(Pre Tariff) Ave Price(Post Tariff) % change
Company 1 $1,732.33 $1,910.11 10.26%
Company 2 $1,549.00 $1,699.00 9.68%
Company 3 $1,732.33 $1,899.00 9.62%
Company 4 $2,199.00 $2,199.00 0.00%
Company 5 $2,099.00 $2,224.00 5.96%
Company 6 $1,265.67 $1,265.67 0.00%
Company 7 $1,699.00 $1,799.00 5.89%
Company 8 $1,424.00 $1,634.00 14.75%
Company 9 $1,065.67 $1,232.33 15.64%
Company 10 $1,489.91 $1,535.36 3.05%
Company 11 $3,549.50 $4,399.50 23.95%
Company 12 $1,843.44 $1,976.78 7.23%
Company 13 $1,299.99 $1,374.99 5.77%
Company 14 $1,698.85 $1,683.46 -0.91%
Company 15 $1,974.00 $2,074.00 5.07%
Company 16 $1,256.14 $1,391.86 10.80%
Industry Average 6.69%


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Our findings can be summarized as follows:

  • On average, consumer e-bike prices across the industry have increased 6.7%
  • Larger companies with greater brand equity showed an average price increase of 9.5%
  • We expect end prices to consumers to increase by roughly 10% with the 25% tariff
  • Some companies with less brand equity have maintained or cut prices, possibly to attract sales. This could indicate they are struggling.
  • Electric Bike Report’s conversion rates have declined, showing a strong correlation with e-bike price increases following the tariff exemption expiration.
  • Overall e-bike sales are down, though it is difficult to estimate a percentage.




As Forbes reports, economists from Goldman Sachs estimated that consumer prices rise 0.1% for every 1% increase in tariff rates, but our findings suggest more extreme changes in the e-bike market.

As shown by the data above, e-bike prices increased after June 14th by 6.7% on average industry-wide, with some larger companies with greater brand equity showing an approximately 9.5% increase on average.

You may wonder why the additional 25% tariff does not correlate to the same increase in every e-bike’s price. Broadly speaking, production and import costs are only a portion of the total expenditures that the manufacturer’s e-bike prices must account for; overhead, marketing, shipping, and other operating costs are also pieces of the proverbial pie.

Our data shows that most manufacturers are, at least in part, passing on the added cost to consumers. As explained by TaxFoundation.org, this is an expected reaction that coincides with historical instances of tariff implementation or increase. Simply put, consumers usually bear the burden of tariffs, making import fees an indirect tax on the American people.

In truth, e-bike brands only have so many options. They could attempt to negotiate reduced production prices with foreign factories. They can choose to absorb the added cost, thereby reducing profit margins. As we have discussed, they might choose to pass on the added cost to consumers. In the most likely scenario, companies might combine these tactics.

In the cases of the brands that have, at least to this point, maintained consistent prices, we assume one of the following scenarios. These brands may have greater profit margins or lower cost structures, allowing them to absorb the tariff with reduced effect. Alternatively, they may intentionally suffer the loss of profits in an effort to gain market share.

When considering the brands that have lowered prices, we can only assume that they are feeling the effects of decreased sales due to tariffs and reduced consumer spending power caused by inflation. By lowering prices, these brands might be attempting to clear old inventory and generate sales.

A few caveats about our data should be considered.

  • First, the industry has likely not yet felt the full impact of added tariff costs, so current pricing data may not reflect long-term effects.

    We expect that many brands are currently selling through existing inventory that was imported before June 14th. As new production runs are ordered, produced, and imported into the US, we expect prices on more models to increase, which will likely push the industry average higher.

    We believe this is evidenced by price increases on some specific models from Company 12, as this brand released many new models in 2024. These bikes are likely to be more popular than older models, so we assume the company has imported shipments of these bikes from China after the tariff increase.

  • Second, while we focused on brands with a significant share of the US e-bike market, our data pool is relatively small. The industry average may look different when considering a larger collection of prices from a broader group of e-bike companies.

  • Third, our data does not factor in volume. Brands may implement smaller price increases on popular and quick-selling e-bikes and larger increases on less popular models. As bikes are sold, the difference in volume and pricing can, in theory, balance out.

Assuming that tariffs’ impacts on the e-bike industry will continue to develop, we can extrapolate from our data to project possible futures.

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The Future of E-Bike Tariffs and the Industry

As we are now well into October, the 2024 US Presidential Election is looming on the horizon. While neither major presidential candidate has made firm proposals regarding the future of tariffs, one potential outcome is a 10% tariff applied to all foreign imports and an increased 60% tariff on all goods imported from China.

Our data points to roughly a 10% consumer-level price increase following the introduction of a 25% tariff on e-bikes. Therefore, we have calculated possible projected pricing changes should the 10%/60% tariff increase go into effect.

Projected E-Bike Pricing Based on Proposed Tariffs

Tariff Increase (%)
10% 25% 60%
Baseline Price (Bicycle)
$1,000.0 $1,040.00 $1,100.00 $1,240.00
$1,500.00 $1,560.00 $1650.00 $1,860.00
$2,000.0 $2,080.00 $2,200.00 $2,480.00
$3,000.00 $3,120.00 $3,300.00 $3,720.00
Projected E-Bike Price Increase %: 4.00% 10.00% 24.00%


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From this data, we can estimate:

  • A 10% tariff on e-bikes originating from foreign countries excluding China could increase consumer prices by 4%
  • A 60% tariff on e-bikes imported from China could cause a total consumer price increase of 24%



As shown in the table above, a 10% tariff—which would affect e-bike brands manufacturing e-bikes in Europe, Taiwan, or elsewhere outside of China—could result in a 4% increase in consumer pricing.

A 60% tariff—which would, again, affect many of the best e-bikes on the market—has the potential to increase their prices by a total of 24% when compared to tariff-exempt pricing (or an additional 12.7% from the current post-exemption expiration levels).

Current and future price increases will likely prevent at least some consumers from purchasing e-bikes. Conversion rates from our e-bike reviews have shown a 20-30% decrease in sales following the expiration of Section 301 tariff exemptions. If tariffs on Chinese-made e-bikes increase to 60%, we can only speculate on the severity of the impact on the industry.

Broadly speaking, we can imagine that local bike shops, US-based e-bike brands of all sizes, and their employees would all be hurt tremendously. Some brands could potentially shift manufacturing to less-tariffed countries, but not without significant cost, time, and effort.

Due to the extreme nature of the proposal to add a 10% tariff to products originating from every country outside the USA, we are unsure how to attempt to model this.

It is also worth noting that the current US Presidential administration has enacted, increased, or planned to enact/increase tariffs on Electric Vehicles (EVs), lithium-ion batteries used in EVs, and non-EV-specific lithium-ion batteries made in China. While we are uncertain of the potential effects of these tariffs, those relating to e-bikes are set to go into effect in January 2026.

Clearly, consumers and e-bike brands are suffering now, and the problems could get worse. This is evidenced by broadly reduced pricing across a handful of specific e-bike brands and events like Rad Power Bikes’ most recent round of layoffs.

With such drastic reductions in sales, we expect consolidation in the market, with some e-bike brands shutting down or selling to larger, more established companies.

However, considering that the bike industry is an ecosystem, the effects may not end there; employees of e-bike manufacturers, bike shops, and other ancillary businesses could lose their jobs.

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The E-Bike Industry Needs Your Help

The E-Bike Industry Needs Your Help

With little to no ground-up domestic production of e-bikes, all of the current evidence around e-bike tariffs suggests that the added import taxes harm the industry, its employees, and consumers at large. If tariffs are extended or increased, this harm is likely to intensify.

As advocates for the e-bike industry, the environment, and anything encouraging healthy and active lifestyles, we firmly oppose tariffs on e-bikes.

We encourage lawmakers to once again exempt e-bikes and their components from Section 301 tariffs. We also encourage more care in understanding the harm tariffs can inflict on the industry and consumers.

What can you do to help?

While it may sound trite or cliche, everyone’s voice matters.

If you agree with our take on the matter, we encourage you to contact your legislators to express your concerns. Linking to this article allows our research to support and enact change. If you are unsure who to contact, please reference Congress.gov to identify lawmakers based on your location.

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Blix Vika X Review | Next-Gen Tech Is Here!

This lightweight, natural-feeling folding e-bike raises the bar with electronic/automatic shifting, solid performance, and a comfortable ride.

Much like Twitter, XBox, the iPhone, and at least one film in the Fast and the Furious franchise, the new Vika X folding e-bike from Blix Bikes shows off its contemporary styling and high-tech features with an edgy ‘X’ designation.

The previous generation model, called the Vika + Flex, felt reminiscent of a classic car with its enamel-and-chrome trim. We loved its light and minimalistic frame, quality construction, simple operation, and practical folding design.

With the Vika X, Blix only added to that excellent foundation.

Now, instead of a retro feel, it sports a modern, European-inspired design appropriate for an e-bike from a Swedish-based manufacturer. It also comes decked out with a host of uncommon features—especially for a folding e-bike—including electronic shifting, an automatic assist mode, high and low beams, turn signals, and Bluetooth compatibility.

This newer version of the bike also features a torque sensor paired with its 500W rear hub motor. With this combination, pedaling the Vika X felt much like riding an analog bike, but with higher speeds and a much easier experience tackling hills.

Whether the X stands for “X-perimental” or “X-treme” or something else entirely, we’re not sure. But we couldn’t wait to test the Vika X and see if its real-world performance matched our high expectations. We dive into the results in our full review below!

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