Sponsor

Patrick Brady

E-bike Writer & Reviewer

Patrick got his start as a bike reviewer back in the 1990s before e-bikes were a thing. In more than 30 years of writing about cycling, he has written about every angle of the sport—bike reviews, travel features, essays, race coverage, how-tos, personality profiles and more. His work has appeared everywhere from Bicycling Magazine to Mountain Flyer. He’s the former publisher of the cycling blog Red Kite Prayer and Asphalt Magazine. He served as chief judge for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show for seven years. On the weekends he helps coach his son’s mountain bike team and tries to remember not to catch air in front of impressionable kids.

Get to Know Patrick Brady

Certifications

  • MFA University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • BPS University of Memphis
  • SBCU graduate
  • Fit Kit Certified
  • Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing

Favorite Style of E-Bike

Mountain, Gravel and Road

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Yuba Spicy Curry

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Mark DiNucci custom gravel, Chris Bishop custom road, No. 22 Drifter custom gravel bike, Allied Cycle Works Echo gravel bike, Ibis Ripley mountain bike, Ibis Exie mountain bike, Co-Motion tandem, Yuba Spicy Curry, the one and only Brady custom cyclocross bike

Favorite New E-bike Tested

Globe Haul ST

Hobbies

Regular bikes, writing fiction, playing music (reformed rock drummer), wine tasting (Pinot Noir, anyone?)

The Different Types of E-Bike Batteries

A Look at Lithium-Ion, Lithium-Iron-Phosphate and Solid-State E-Bike Batteries

Without the invention of lithium-ion batteries, e-bikes might not have taken off. Lithium-ion batteries offer a level of energy density and capacity per pound that older battery types, like nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) or nickel-cadmium (NiCd). In addition to greater capacity and energy density, Li-ion batteries don’t develop a memory if not fully charged (as can happen with NiCd), or just suddenly shut off when low on power (as NiMH batteries do), but they aren’t perfect.

There are two newer battery technologies on the horizon and one of them is beginning to be featured in some e-bikes. One type is lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4), which we will take a look at after we examine solid state batteries, because solid-state batteries share more in common with lithium-ion batteries.

The Electric Bike Report team is thrilled at what’s to come from new battery tech, but there’s some interesting things already happening now with different types of e-bike batteries. Let’s explore them all, shall we?

What is a solid-state battery?

Stromer ST7 prototype with ceramic solid state ebike battery

A solid-state battery is, in fact, a lithium-ion battery, but by another name. Why have a different name? Its construction and materials used are slightly different. Both batteries feature an electrolyte solution. Okay, but what are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are minerals (generally in the form of salts), that can carry an electrical charge. Electrolytes help move the electrical charge that causes a muscle to contract in people. Think Gatorade.

In a lithium-ion battery, that electrolyte solution is a liquid and it helps conduct ions in both the anode (the + or positive end of the battery) and the cathode (- or negative end of the battery). The anode and cathode are separated by a barrier between the two ends of the battery. The issue with this technology is that should that barrier between the anode and cathode be ruptured, a chemical reaction can begin that can result in thermal runaway, the process that results in lithium-ion batteries catching fire. Also, the main ingredient (by volume) in the liquid electrolyte is ethylene carbonate, which is flammable and produces toxic gasses when burned.

By contrast, a solid-state battery uses a solid electrolyte throughout the battery. This form of electrolyte is more stable and won’t swell due to temperature change or experience thermal runaway like a traditional lithium-ion battery.

Aside from the safety benefits that come a solid-state battery, there are additional selling points to this technology. The first, biggest is that a solid-state battery offers increased capacity because it doesn’t need a thick membrane separating the anode and cathode of the battery. So, more charge, same physical space.

How much more energy capacity can a solid-state battery offer over lithium-ion? It’s hard to say, unfortunately. That’s because of a wide range of battery capacities. The technical term for this capacity is called “specific energy,” and it is expressed as watt/hours per kilogram (Wh/Kg). On the low end, a lithium-ion battery may offer only 75Wh/Kg, though most range between 150 and 200Wh/Kg. At the high end, the current iPhone 14 contains a lithium-ion battery with a 250Wh/Kg energy density.

By comparison, solid-state batteries are being produced that offer 350-400Wh/Kg. Depending on the battery in question, that’s at least double the specific energy, but potentially as much as four times as much energy. .

What that means is that an e-bike with a battery that currently weighs 8 lbs. could conceivably see it replaced by a battery that weighs half as much, but offers twice the capacity.

The second big advantage is that solid-state batteries enjoy a longer life cycle, meaning they can be charged and discharged more times.

More is good, but that’s not terribly specific, so let’s quantify that some. The average lithium-ion battery can be charged around 2000 times. Some handle closer to 3000 cycles. By comparison, a solid-state battery may offer as many as 10,000 cycles before needing to be replaced.

Solid-state batteries will also benefit from far shorter charging times, with some batteries being able to reach 80 percent charge in 10 minutes and 100 percent in 15.

[Read more…] about The Different Types of E-Bike Batteries

Saris Door County 2 Hitch Rack Review, 2024

This Motorized Bike Rack Takes Care of the Heavy Lifting When Transporting E-Bikes

Sairs Door County 2 E-Bike Hitch Rack

Saris’ Door County 2 is a hitch-mounted rack that uses an electric motor to simplify raising and lowering your electric bike when loading and unloading from the rack. The main benefit is it eliminates you having to manually lift and lower your e-bike, making transporting much easier for you. Most riders will appreciate this because electric bikes tend to be heavier than traditional bikes (and we certainly don’t want to do heavy lifting after a ride!).

We got to check out the Saris Door County 2 to see how well it lifts and transports e-bikes. It can transport two e-bikes, up to 60 lbs. per bike. We used several bikes for testing, including a commuter, cruiser and adventure bike. All of our bikes have 26” tires that are no wider than the rack’s 3” limit. Installing the rack was as easy as any other rack, just slide in the 2” hitch into your vehicle’s insert tube, and secure it with the locking pin.

*Editor’s Note: Updated 12/13/2023 with a fresh review of the Saris Door County 2

[Read more…] about Saris Door County 2 Hitch Rack Review, 2024

The Real Story Behind Electric Bike Battery Fires

What is happening with e-bike fires in NYC, how you can stay safe, and what should the industry do to minimize risks moving forward

Electric Bike Battery Fires

Image source: Shutterstock

As the e-bike market has grown and micromobility has expanded to include not just e-bikes, but e-scooters, e-mopeds, one-wheels and hoverboards, more and more manufacturers have entered the market.

Unfortunately, not all of those manufacturers make quality their first priority. As a result, there has been a growing number of reports of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. In New York City alone there have been a reported 172 fires and 14 deaths just in 2023 (as of 09/07/2023).

In most cases, these fires have been caused by batteries that are often either cheaply made or repaired by an unauthorized service center (not by e-bikes with quality batteries that are properly serviced). Even so, consumers have good reason to be concerned.

To explain why these fires are happening, we will examine lithium-ion technology, look back at some of the most high-profile fires, discuss what investigators have found, consider what consumers can do to protect themselves and survey the technologies that may gain acceptance in the near future.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Sponsor
Sponsor

Why lithium-ion batteries are used in e-bikes

Why lithium-ion batteries are used in e-bikes

The rise of micromobility devices as a category owes its existence to the invention of the lithium-ion battery. The reason is simple—energy density. Energy density is how much electricity a battery can produce for its given weight. It is expressed as watt/hours per kilogram (Wh/Kg).

Lead-acid batteries like those in cars and boats have an energy density of 50-90Wh/Kg. Lithium-ion batteries usually provide two to three times that with an energy density of 150-200Wh/Kg.

What this means is that a lithium-ion battery may offer an e-bike a range of 60 miles. Were that same bike powered by a lead-acid battery, it might only go 20-30 miles, and the lead-acid battery may weigh four times as much as the lithium-ion battery.

To be fair, every battery technology we currently have suffers limitations. Some battery types are more stable, but have lower energy density. Some have a shorter lifespan. Some batteries have a high self-discharge rate (the battery charge drops even when it’s not in use).

Lithium-ion batteries enjoy a very high energy density, a long cycle life, low self-discharge rate and relative affordability—all pluses, but they are more vulnerable to fire than some battery types.

So far, no one has invented a battery that provides high energy density, long life, good affordability and high fire-resistance.

Lithium-ion battery design

Batteries make electricity via a chemical reaction. While this is an oversimplification, in broad strokes, two materials interact in a way that frees electrons and those electrons travel from the negative end (anode) to the positive end of the battery (cathode).

Lithium-ion battery design

The specific chemical formulation of lithium-ion batteries can vary, but e-bike batteries generally use lithium manganese oxide in the cathode and graphite in the anode. These materials are pressed into sheets and then the sheets are layered with separator films to keep the anode and cathode from touching. This “sandwich” is then rolled up and put into a cylindrical case and a liquid electrolyte facilitates the movement of ions from the negatively charged anode to the positively charged cathode.

After manufacturers produce these cells, they are graded as they come off the production line. Cells using new materials (as opposed to recycled ones, which are called “used”) are graded A, B or C, according to their individual capacity. Battery packs will contain a uniform collection of cells graded A, B or C.

Battery packs need cell uniformity because if one cell has a lower capacity than the others, it can begin to produce heat once it is over-discharged. In charging, that lower-capacity cell will reach full charge before the higher-capacity cells are fully charged, at which point the lower-capacity cell will begin to heat. Some heat isn’t a problem, but as we will explain in the next section, at a certain point too much heat will cause a batter’s temperature to pass a threshold and reach what is the ultimate source of most fires: thermal runaway.

One indicator for the grade of cells being used in a battery pack can often be found in the warranty the battery pack carries. Any battery pack supported with a five to seven-year warranty will contain well-matched grade A cells. Battery packs with a warranty of two to three years likely contain grade B cells, or cells that aren’t matched as closely. Batteries given a one-year warranty may be composed of grade C cells.

Most lithium-ion batteries are composed of a number of individual cells that look much like AA batteries. Manufacturers will assemble these cells inside a housing and the number of cells determines the battery’s capacity. How many cells a manufacturer chooses will determine what the battery’s capacity is. More cells equals more capacity (as measured in watt/hours) as well as more weight.

Sean Lupton, CEO of Electric Bike Company, said people need to understand that not all cells are created equal. “It’s like red wine; you can get a $3 bottle of wine and $10,000 bottle, and everything in between. We only use UL-approved top-of-the-line cells.”

He said they only spec cells from the three biggest suppliers: LG, Panasonic and Samsung.

More capacity also equals more fuel for a fire and in our next section we will examine how lithium-ion batteries burn and what is required to extinguish these fires.

How lithium-ion batteries catch fire

How lithium-ion batteries catch fire

Image courtesy FDNY

Fundamentally, all fires involve three main ingredients: a fuel, oxygen and heat. The easiest way to extinguish most fires is to rob them of oxygen. Pouring water on a piece of burning paper will rob the fire of oxygen and put it out.

So why can lithium-ion batteries burn? We posed the question to Ed Benjamin, the CEO and executive director of LEVA, the Light Electric Vehicle Association. Benjamin is a consultant to the e-bike industry and has deep experience in bringing e-bikes to market.

“Lithium is a flammable metal, immersed in a flammable electrolyte,” he said. “It stores a LOT of energy, and that has inherent risks.”

A lithium-ion battery fire is considered a chemical fire; chemical fires occur when a reaction takes place between two fuel sources. In the case of lithium-ion battery fires, those sources are the lithium-manganese, which—despite being a metal—is flammable, and the liquid electrolyte.

The way the batteries are constructed, the cathode and anode are separated by a film that prevents the most reactive materials from mixing. Any time that film is damaged and those materials come into contact with each other, they begin to heat up. At a certain point the reaction between the lithium-manganese and the electrolyte reaches what is called thermal runaway.

Thermal runaway can occur at a relatively low temperature; by low, we mean below the boiling point for water. Lithium-ion batteries can reach thermal runaway at 167 F. However, there’s another, lower critical temperature for lithium-ion batteries. It is called “self-accelerating decomposition temperature.”

Self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT) is the temperature at which the chemical reaction that causes thermal runaway begins to self-sustain. That is, the reaction has begun, but there is still time to stop it before the battery combusts. Once a battery reaches thermal runaway, a fire is inevitable. A lithium-ion battery can reach SADT at just 152 F.

How hot is that? Touching an object at 152 F can cause a second-degree burn with a single second of exposure. If a battery is too hot to pick up, it may have reached SADT.

Think of SADT like seeing a pothole in the road while riding. If the pothole is in the e-bike’s path, but 20 feet away, there is still time to steer around it. Thermal runaway takes place when the pothole is just an inch in front of the e-bike—there’s no avoiding it.

In a nutshell, when a lithium-ion battery reaches 152 F, things are bad but can still be stopped. Once it reaches thermal runaway (possibly as low as 167 F), the fire is a foregone conclusion. The electrolyte will combust at roughly 234 F and from there the fire will continue to grow hotter until it reaches the temperature at which lithium burns, which is 3,632 F.

And once one cell catches fire, that fire is going to spread to the other cells.

Once the fire has consumed all of the available fuel (other battery cells and whatever the fire spreads to), it burns itself out. That’s why fire containment—simply making sure the fire can’t spread—is sometimes considered an appropriate solution. If you’ve ever seen photos of firefighters on-scene at a burning EV, but not putting it out, this is because as long as there is still fuel, the fire can reignite due to the high temperatures generated by the burning lithium.

With a fire that burns at 3,632 F and a combustion point of 234 F, any remaining fuel will reignite if it hasn’t returned to ambient temperature.

Because both the lithium-manganese and the electrolyte solution are flammable, lithium-ion battery fires are considered Class B fires, better known as chemical fires.

Aventon’s Tom Sweeney says, “In firefighting there are three ways to extinguish a fire: cooling, smothering or starving.” He cautions people not to try to use water to put out a lithium-ion battery fire. “DO NOT use water on a lithium fire, this will cause a larger fire as lithium combusts when introduced to water.”

Extinguishing a Class B fire calls for a Class B or ABC fire extinguisher. These are extinguishers that release either CO2 or a dry chemical. The important detail to remember is that a burning lithium-ion battery cannot be extinguished with water.

Another helpful product that a business dealing with multiple batteries or e-bikes (such as a bike shop or delivery business) would be a fire blanket, like that from Li-Fire. These blankets are big enough to drape over cars, SUVs and forklifts (depending on the size of blanket purchased).

While a blanket of this sort may not fully extinguish the fire, it would slow the fire’s growth and aid anyone nearby in escaping the fire. A product that can reduce smoke, improve visibility and delay or stop the spread of a fire has great value.

Sponsor

Lithium-ion battery fires in New York City

It’s often said that what happens in New York is a preview of what will happen in the rest of the country due to its unique combination of high population and high population density. New York shows both how e-mobility devices have caught on, as well as how low-quality products have resulted in fires causing property damage, injuries and even deaths.

The numbers alone tell a chilling story. While the NYFD is not yet willing to release their data regarding how many of the fires were caused by specific devices, we spoke with NYFD’s Chief Fire Marshall Daniel Flynn and he confirmed that in their post-fire investigations they track each specific device type, whether it is an e-bike, e-scooter, e-moped, e-motorcycle, hoverboard and more; the only occasion they don’t specify the type of device is if it is too badly damaged to tell what it was. In those cases, they classify the device as “unconfirmed.” They also record if the device was being used commercially or for leisure, what sort of a structure the fire occurred in, and because they are firefighters committed to saving lives, where the fire started relative to structure egress.

NYFD lithium-ion battery fires by year

Year Investigations Injuries Deaths
2019 30 13 0
2020 44 23 0
2021 104 79 4
2022 220 147 6



The clear implication is that as e-mobility devices gain acceptance and are purchased by businesses and individuals, the number of fires is increasing and with that the severity is increasing as well.

A natural question is how 2023 stacks up relative to 2022. Even though the year isn’t finished, NYFD provided us with year-to-date data, as of: September 7, 2023.

NYFD year-to-date lithium-ion battery fires compared

YTD Investigations Injuries Deaths
1/1/2022-9/7/2022 143 80 5
1/1/2023-9/7/2023 172 96 14



That the number of fires (fire=investigation) is increasing is obvious, but what is particularly disturbing is the severity of the fires. Fatalities have nearly tripled between the same periods of 2022 and 2023.

When we asked Chief Fire Marshall Flynn if there were consistent themes common to most or all of the fires he called out product quality.

While he wouldn’t go into specific details, he said they aren’t seeing problems with high-quality e-bikes, particularly those with UL-certified components.

“The quality of the device is important,” Flynn said. “Buying from a company you found online, the cheapest option, is going to cause a problem.”

He stressed the importance of compiling and analyzing as much data from each fire as possible.

“If you don’t have the data you don’t realize there is a problem,” he said.

Despite the difficulty of extinguishing a Class B fire, Flynn was unequivocal about their approach to lithium-ion battery fires.

“We don’t let any fire burn,” Flynn said.

FDNY calls their approach “aggressive interior attack.” They go into the structure and fight the fire, extinguishing it as quickly as possible. This is an approach that puts firefighters at much greater risk, but without it, because the fires generate so much heat, they can spread quickly.

To further underscore the danger and severity of lithium-ion battery fires Flynn said that once the fire has been extinguished a hazardous materials (or HAZMAT) team inspects the site to make sure no flammable materials remain that could reignite. He emphasized their need to be thorough both during and after a fire.

Flynn said their job isn’t complete once the HAZMAT team is finished. After compiling their data, they share it with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and their data has helped lead to product recalls.

Sponsor

Understanding the causes of battery fires

Fire damage

Image courtesy FDNY

Are all fires caused by electric bikes?

Now that we understand how lithium ion batteries catch fire, we can move onto understanding the causes of lithium-ion battery fires.

Notice how we didn’t say “started from e-bikes” there. We said “lithium-ion batteries” on purpose—to clarify that not all fires being reported as e-bike fires are actually caused by batteries in e-bikes.

For example:

  • In one two-day stretch, April 20-21, 2022, the New York City Fire Department responded to five different lithium-ion battery fires. In photos from three of those incidents photographs show that the devices in question were e-scooters and in the fourth the device was an e-motorcycle. A photo from the fifth incident showed a burned-out bank of batteries.

None of the fires were caused by e-bikes from reputable manufacturers.

  • On March 5, a fire caused by a single lithium-ion battery broke out at the Concourse Food Plaza in the Bronx. Fire crews arrived on the scene within five minutes and despite spraying the battery with water the fire spread throughout the building, growing into a five-alarm fire that required 50 units comprised of more than 200 firefighters to extinguish. The fire ultimately injured seven people—five firefighters, one EMS professional and one civilian; fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening.

    Video reports of the fire clearly show an e-scooter with small wheels and no pedals—not an e-bike from a reputable manufacturer. In a subsequent statement about the fire, Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh used the term “e-bike” four different times as she referred to the cause of the fire. Multiple subsequent media reports referred to an e-bike as the cause.

  • An early May fire in a fourth-floor apartment in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood killed four residents of the building. The FDNY called the device an e-bike but subsequent news reports clearly show a motorized razor scooter.

We aren’t suggesting FDNY is misleading the public; they face a challenge in communicating lithium-ion battery fire risk to the public. They are communicating in a way that will get the point across to most people. For many, anything with two wheels and a motor is an e-bike. There is, however, a real difference between the sort of e-bikes most of the industry produces and the devices that are causing the majority of the fires.

However, at Electric Bike Report we believe it’s important to distinguish which micromobility devices are causing the fires so consumers can be more properly informed, and so government authorities and agencies (both local and federal) can more effectively establish laws and regulations to help protect consumers.

To be clear: There are e-bikes that are catching fire. If you are an owner of an e-bike you need to know how to properly maintain your battery and charger, and how to properly charge your bike. DO NOT take these statements as us trying to say e-bikes are never the problem. We are simply pointing out that this figure includes every source of a fire attributed to lithium-ion batteries, including e-mobility devices, cars, laptops and phones. Of course, we don’t have a breakdown of which brand of battery or charger was the culprit.

Common Causes of Battery Fires

Across the US there have been more than 200 fires in 2023 involving lithium-ion batteries in a broad variety of products—again, not just e-bikes but also electric scooters, mopeds, and any other micromobility device being powered by a lithium-ion battery. The causes of the fires can vary.

Common causes include:

  • A faulty cell in a battery begins a chain reaction that leads to thermal runaway
  • A short in a charger that causes the plastic case to melt, catch fire and then spread to the battery; once the battery case catches fire, the cells inside will heat up until they reach thermal runaway
  • Using a repaired battery; cells must be matched carefully for capacity and a mismatched cell can heat up to the point of thermal runaway if overcharged
  • A charger was plugged into a power strip or extension cord that draws too much current, melts, catches fire and the fire spreads to the charger and on to the battery
  • Using a battery or charger that is visibly damaged as a result of being dropped, left outside or other neglect; a short can cause the electronics to heat until the case melts or the cells enter thermal runaway
  • Using an incompatible charger/battery combination, i.e., using a charger or battery that did not come with the e-bike; this is especially problematic when using a charger that delivers more amps than the battery can handle, such as a 3A charger being used with a 2A battery; overcharged batteries can enter thermal runaway; the easiest way to make this error is to purchase a battery or charger from a source other than the e-bike’s manufacturer
  • Leaving a battery on a charger beyond the point at which it is fully charged can cause cells to grow hot due to being overcharged; overcharged cells can enter thermal runaway

How consumers and e-bike brands can prevent battery fires

Before we dig into preventative steps that both brands and consumers can take to mitigate risks, we want to stress that the great majority of e-bikes and e-bike batteries will never cause any problems. Here at Electric Bike Report, we have tested hundreds of e-bikes and not one battery has ever caught fire. We exercise best practices, but we also choose products that meet our standards for consumer safety.

We have worked hard to establish strong relationships with e-bike makers. Part of that owes to our practice of couching criticism in a constructive fashion. We’re happy to point to better solutions when we see them. Sometimes, they even turn to us for our advice. Our suggestions here are meant to point to the positive steps we see the industry taking, as well as giving consumers a set of practices that will keep them, their loved ones and their homes safe.

Buy an e-bike from a reputable manufacturer; Ul-Certifications

The greatest precaution that e-bike shoppers can take when purchasing an e-bike is to make sure the e-bike in question has been certified to one of two UL standards. UL 2849 is a standard that looks at the whole of an e-bike’s electronics—battery, motor, controller, charger, display and wiring harness, as well as the throttle if it includes one. UL 2271 looks at the battery alone. Which of these standards should be mandated for e-bikes in the US is a matter of intense debate within the industry.

For the careful consumer, buying an e-bike that has been certified to UL 2849 is the most cautious approach.

We talked to Larry Pizzi who is one of the e-bike pioneers in the US. He worked with People for Bikes in helping to craft the 3 Class system and works for Alta Cycling Group as their Chief Commercial Officer.

We asked Pizzi his advice for consumers looking to make the most conservative purchase possible with regard to safety.

“The best way to ensure a safe and reliable e-bike is to purchase it from an established, reputable brand with a domestic presence and a local after-service program for the rider,” he said. “The best e-bikes are equipped with complete drive systems (All of the electronic components including battery pack, charger, motor/drive unit, control electronics, user interface, and wiring harnesses) from a unified source such as Shimano, Bosch, Yamaha, Brose (Specialized), Hyena, Fazua, Bafang, and others, are an excellent first step. If you are unsure, ask the brand or retailer to show you that the battery pack and charger have been tested by an accredited testing laboratory and certified to one of the recognized standards, such as UL or EN (Consensus safety standards UL 2849, EN 15194 for complete e-bike drive systems or the battery standards in Section 11 of UL 2849 and Section 4.2.3 of EN 15194:2017, both of which have proven effective in the field in preventing fires and other thermal events).”

The lack of UL 2849 certification should not be taken as an indication that the e-bike should be avoided. Not every e-bike manufacturer uses a complete system that has gone through UL certification. There are companies out there that mix components from different e-bike component makers. E-bikes that assemble their electronics from components made by multiple companies may be high-quality, or not.

When an e-bike maker specs a complete system from Bosch, that system has been UL certified. That makes life simple for the cautious consumer. However, should an e-bike maker want to use a Bafang hub motor, wiring harness, torque sensor and display, but a Samsung battery and charger, even if all those components have been part of other UL 2849-certified systems, the combination of Bafang and Samsung components must be tested together to be awarded UL 2849 certification. Most brands find that testing to be prohibitively expensive for just one model; it takes a big bite out of profit.

When an e-bike lacks UL 2849 certification, buyers should look for a different UL rating, 2271. This certification applies to batteries alone.

We asked Lectric’s CEO, Levi Conlow, his opinion regarding the two UL standards.

“In the industry, the debate is in what I would call a ‘let’s agree to disagree’ position,” he said. “UL makes a strong recommendation to address battery fires by mandating certification on the entire bike vs. just dealing with the battery. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the UL 2849 standard makes the entire e-bike UL compliant, but it makes it more expensive for manufacturers to address the root problem with the quality of the battery itself, which the UL 2271 standard addresses.”

Chief Fire Marshall Flynn was succinct, if agnostic. He said, “Anything that would increase the safety of a product we will support.”

For those shopping for a new e-bike, the bottom line is straightforward: Look for e-bikes that have been certified for UL 2849, and if they lack that, look for UL 2271 as Plan B.

There are a few nuances to how products are marketed when it comes to this:

  • UL compliant means that a third-party, UL approved lab has tested the product to meet or exceed UL’s standards.
  • UL listed works with a UL lab and can bear the UL logo.

Many brands technically have product that may meet these standards now, but getting them tested is an essential step in the process.

Benjamin, at LEVA, cautions consumers not to expect changes overnight.

“And keep in mind that the USA bicycle industry is hundreds of companies, and getting such a group to ‘adopt’ a set of voluntary standards is challenging,” he said. “Some companies will. Some will not. The bike trade groups and the CPSC are encouraging adoption of third party testing to appropriate standards such as UL.”

Aventon’s Sweeney had some practical tips for people currently shopping for an e-bike.

“Do they use a proprietary battery? Proprietary charger? These things are also great indicators that a company has taken the time to understand their product to build a complete product,” he said.

He added, “Cells to look for are Panasonic, Samsung, and LG … in that order. Proprietary chargers are a good sign that a quality battery is being used and will be supported for the long run.”

Other safety standards pertaining to e-bike electrical systems

UL-certification is going to be the standard most often seen and referred to in the United States. It’s not the only standard that exists though, and some fall under the umbrella of UL-compliance too.

We won’t go too in depth on all of them here, but here are some of the notable standards you may come across:

  • TÜV Rheinland – Intrenational standard for safety in electric outputs. Often found on brands based outside of the U.S. selling products in the States. Recently recognized by OSHA as a valid lab for UL 2849 standards.
  • EN 15194 – European standard that largely predates e-bike popularity in the U.S. Focuses on certifiying e-bikes as a whole as opposed to UL 2849’s focus on the electrical system of an e-bike, or UL2271’s focus on the battery.

Sponsor
Sponsor

Good battery hygiene

FDNY charging

Is not this.

When we buy a car, there are certain things we know we need to do to take care of it. We change the oil, wash it, buy new tires when the old ones are worn. Well e-bikes are no different and there are steps we can take to make sure our e-bike’s battery lasts as long as possible.

In our conversations with industry experts, we received a number of suggestions for how to care for an e-bike’s battery and have assembled those into a checklist of best practices.

1. Use only the charger that came with the battery or e-bike.

2. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual.

3. Charge indoors in a place where the temperature will remain between 50 F and 77 F (10 C–25 C)

4. Select a location with good air circulation to keep the charger cool while charging

5. Plug the charger into the e-bike or battery first, then plug the charger in the wall; this prevents the possibility of an arc that could damage electronic components

6. Plug the charger directly into an outlet; do not use extension cords or power strips.

7. Make sure there are no flammable materials near the battery and charger.

8. Never charge when no one is present.

9. Do not leave the battery charging overnight. Once the battery is charged, disconnect it from the charger.

10. For the forgetful, use a timer to turn off the charger after four to six hours.

11. Mount a smoke detector above the charging area.

12. Never try to use or charge a damaged or defective battery.

13. Buy quality batteries. Not used, cheap, or reconditioned batteries.

14. Be sure whoever is present understands that such a fire requires a rapid evacuation.

Replacing an older battery

Lithium-ion batteries supplied with e-bikes are generally considered to have a lifespan of four to five years. That means riders who purchased their e-bikes as recently as 2019 may be nearing the life cycle of their battery’s life.

There are a number of clues that it may be time to replace an e-bike’s battery. Based on guidance from Ed Benjamin, Levi Conlow, Larry Pizzi and Tom Sweeney, we’ve assembled a checklist for riders to run through in order to judge if it’s time to replace the battery.

It’s time to replace your battery if:

1. If the battery’s capacity has dropped by 25 percent or more, it’s time. Practically speaking, that means if the e-bike used to cover 20 mi. in PAS 5, but now covers only 15, it’s time.

2. If the battery is hot to the touch at any time, whether riding, charging or in storage. Thermal runaway can begin at 233 F internally. A battery that is hot to the touch is trouble.

3. If the display shows error messages related to the battery, that is likely a sign that it has reached the end of its life.

4. If there is a loss in other performance metrics besides range, such as slower acceleration or an inability to hit top speed, that battery is at the end of its life.

5. If the battery exhibits a sudden drop in voltage; when this happens a rider will experience a sudden decrease in speed—that battery is compromised.

6. If the casing bulges, swells or exhibits cracks, it needs to be replaced.

7. If the battery produces smoke, a burning smell or any other foul odor, whether in storage, while charging or in use, it needs to go.

8. Signs of corrosion on the battery or charger contacts are signs the battery is compromised.

9. If the battery charges quickly and discharges quickly, resulting in a loss of range, it should be retired.

10. If the battery becomes fully immersed in water—as in under water, not rain—that can cause corrosion and compromise the battery; replace it.

Any one of these signs provides sufficient cause to replace the battery. Multiple signs aren’t necessary, but more than one makes replacement more urgent.

When replacing a battery, the old battery needs to be recycled. This step is easy. Simply contact Call2Recycle. They are endorsed by People for Bikes and will be able to help someone dispose of their old battery responsibly.

Purchase a replacement battery only from the original manufacturer

Buying AAA batteries for a TV remote can feel like shopping for a car. There are a multitude of brands with varying capacities, not to mention the opportunity to purchase rechargeable batteries. The myriad choices can be frustrating.

The situation is far simpler when it comes to replacing an e-bike’s battery. Even though batteries can and will vary in capacity, physical size, housing and style of mount, there is an easy solution to all those variables. Go to the e-bike manufacturer for the replacement.

For owners of e-bikes with internal batteries, due to the way the battery fits in the frame, there may be no other option than the e-bike manufacturer.

When we spoke to industry experts, their advice uniformly began with buying a battery from the bike manufacturer. That’s the best way to make sure that one apple is replaced by another apple. Most manufacturers offer replacement batteries in the accessories section of their website. Several manufacturers told us that if an e-bike owner doesn’t see the battery for their model on the company’s website to contact customer service to see if they might have replacement batteries available.

If for some reason a battery isn’t available from the manufacturer, a replacement battery may still be easy to source. Many e-bike retailers will stock batteries from brands such as Bosch and Shimano. If they don’t have the battery in stock, they should be able to order it.

For riders who don’t have a relationship with a local retailer, external batteries like those made by Bosch and Shimano can be ordered online. Before ordering, it’s important to know the battery’s capacity (watt/hours) and voltage. It’s important to match those details exactly.

Another tip from our industry experts was not to shop by price. As Alta’s Pizzi said, “If the price seems too good to be true, it’s because it is.”

Is lithium-ion the future for e-bike batteries?

As we saw earlier, e-bikes are possible thanks to lithium-ion batteries. Even if lithium-ion technology wasn’t inherently flammable, the industry would still have plenty of incentive to look for better battery technologies. If battery makers could create a 720Wh e-bike battery that weighed 3 lbs. instead of 6 lbs., they would.

There are several other battery technologies that e-bike makers could consider for powering e-bikes. Some of them are more promising than others.

One of those alternates is lithium-iron-phosphate composition. This is the technology used in Tesla car batteries. This technology is touted as safer than lithium-ion—it’s easy to find media reports and marketing materials that say it won’t burn. And while it is safer, it’s not foolproof; there are plenty of accounts of Tesla batteries burning.

The big plus for lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFeP04 or LFP) batteries is their lifecycle. They typically last four or five times as long as lithium-ion batteries. Their temperature operating range is also greater than with lithium-ion; they can operate from -20 F to 140 F.

Unfortunately, the pluses end there. Because there aren’t many producers of LFP batteries, they are more expensive than lithium-ion on a per watt/hour basis. The bigger issue is that their energy density is lower than found in lithium-ion batteries. As we mentioned before, most lithium-ion batteries fall in a specific-energy range of 150-200Wh/Kg (the range is greater than that, but that’s where the bulk of today’s batteries fall). LFP batteries fall in a range of 90-120Wh/Kg, which means that an LFP battery will weigh at least 25 percent more than a comparable lithium-ion battery.

More promising is a variation on lithium-ion technology known as solid-state. With this technology, the flammable liquid electrolyte is replaced with a solid. The most obvious advantage of this technology is that it is much less likely to experience thermal runaway and catch fire. Operating temperatures are said to be 20-30 percent lower than with lithium-ion.

Solid-state batteries promise a number of other performance improvements. Energy density will be higher. QingTao Energy is producing a solid-state battery with a specific energy of 368Wh/Kg. Charging is reported to be much faster as well; there are reports of solid-state batteries reaching 80 percent of total charge in less than 15 minutes. The life cycle of the battery will also be greater.

Unfortunately, this technology, while not still in its infancy, has yet to emerge from the bleeding edge. Very few manufacturers make these and none of them have scaled production to the point where they might meet the demands for a consumer product.

Oh, and did we mention? Solid-state batteries are hella expensive.

Consumer safety

When asked about how the e-bike industry will evolve to better protect e-bike owners, Sean Lupton, EBC’s CEO, said, “We need oversight in the US. We’re glad to see the CPSC getting involved.”

He acknowledged that the CPSC can be, like any large government agency, slow to move, but that doesn’t trouble him. He pointed to how insurance rates for manufacturers serve as an incentive to produce quality products.

“Insurance companies are becoming more familiar with e-bike risk,” Lupton said. “Insurance companies have seen the aftermath. They are far more selective about who gets competitive rates. You’ve got to have a good track record.”

Companies with shoddy products will begin to face hurdles, he observed. “Landlords [for commercial real estate] are looking into the safety of battery tech. You won’t be able to sign a lease without insurance. And to get insurance the batteries will have to be approved.”

In short, he says, insurance companies will fulfill the enforcement role.

Hurdles for the e-bike industry

Every time there is a news report that an e-bike’s battery caught fire, that story hurts the reputation of e-bikes as a whole. Even if the product in question wasn’t an e-bike, the fact that the non-endemic media (TV news, newspapers, etc.) often reports the story using the word “e-bike,” it undermines trust for e-bikes as a category.

Lectric’s Conlow says that infrastructure needs to catch up with the industry and riders.

“I think the biggest changes to e-bike batteries in the future will come on the heels of legislation and infrastructure changes. So much of what we need to keep this industry growing is centered around infrastructure support. Imagine e-bike charging stations being used as frequently as Tesla superchargers. Legislation will help drive this new industry forward. For so long there have been no guidelines for e-bike safety.”

As an industry, we have two educational fronts to address, both of which we’ve tackled in this feature. The first is at the point of purchase: When purchasing an e-bike, verify that the e-bike’s electronics have been UL certified, and if the entire system hasn’t been certified, then at least make sure that the battery is UL certified. The perception problem we outlined above will make it increasingly important for e-bike makers to publicize that their e-bikes are UL certified, which is to say, it will become easier to find this information on an e-bike maker’s website.

The second point of education that we have a responsibility to impart to consumers is how to properly care for their e-bike as a whole and their e-bike’s battery specifically. It’s not hard to properly charge and protect an e-bike’s battery, but e-bikes can’t be left outside in the elements the way ordinary bikes often are. Refer back to our section on good battery hygiene that breaks down best practices that will allow you to keep your e-bike’s battery in good working order for years to come.

That there is any ongoing debate in the industry regarding whether we require manufacturers to adhere to UL 2849 (the whole system) vs. UL 2271 (battery alone) is difficult to understand. It’s hard to say if requiring all e-mobility products to adhere to UL 2271 would have prevented all of the fatalities that have occurred, but judging from video of some of the fires (and explosions) that have taken place, it is safe to say there would have been less loss of life.

Electric Bike Report believes it is in the best practice of e-bike manufacturers to adopt UL standards and certify all of their products. We also urge consumers to realize this is a process that will require time and money on the behalf of manufacturers, and to not write-off a product that hasn’t yet become UL-listed. If you see an e-bike you’d like to buy, but don’t see the UL standard being discussed, reach out to the brand and learn where they’re at in the process. Most of them we talk with are seeking UL approval.
Sponsor

Takeaways

For current e-bike owners who might feel some concern about whether or not their e-bike constitutes a source of risk, a simple reality check is to do a quick search here on Electric Bike Report for the brand of e-bike. We don’t recommend searching for the specific model. Here’s why: We’ve reviewed many of the e-bikes out there, but we haven’t reviewed them all. In our experience a manufacturer either produces quality products or they cut corners; they don’t do both. That’s because a company that will do the work to produce a good product doesn’t want to risk reputational damage from a string of fires followed by a recall.

Even if we haven’t reviewed a specific model, we may have reviewed something from that brand, and if we’re reviewed the brand, then that most likely means they made the grade and produce e-bikes we are willing to recommend (there are a few bikes we thought would make the grade, brought them in to test, and then they didn’t perform well in our testing and reviews – so read the review and check).

For those shopping for an e-bike, our advice is the same. Look at the brands we’ve reviewed, and start with our list of best electric bikes. The brands we have the greatest respect for will also be the brands with the greatest number of e-bikes reviewed.

There’s another easy way to vet an e-bike’s quality. Buy from a local e-bike or bike retailer—not a big box retailer. At some point everyone needs help from a bicycle/e-bike retailer, and starting the relationship by buying from them will pay dividends.

We’ve been at this a while and with each e-bike we review we’ve taken the battery through numerous charge cycles. We’ve never had anything burst into flame. Trust us, it’s not hard to find an e-bike that you can safely charge in your home.

Sponsor
Sponsor

E-Bike Holiday Gift Guide: What to get for the e-biker in your life

Whether you’re shopping for yourself, the rider in your life or handing off a list to your family, we’ve put together a holiday selection for gift-givers. No matter what your budget is, we have everything from the necessities that should be in your garage, to fun upgrades and even a few of our favorite e-bikes. Many of these items are discounted for the holidays, making this the perfect time to buy. Here are some of our favorite gifts the Electric Bike Report team has found for this holiday season.

For the Adventurer: Aventon Aventure.2

Aventon Aventure.2 Bike Review

One of our favorite e-bikes of 2023 has been the Aventon Aventure.2. It offers a terrific blend of affordability and features. With its 750W motor, 8-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes and torque sensor, the Aventure.2 is a versatile all-terrain e-bike with an estimated range of up to 60 mi. It comes in two frame designs and both designs come in two sizes to fit a wide range of riders. Further adding to the rider’s comfort are 4-in.-wide tires and a 100mm-travel suspension fork. It also comes with a commuter-friendly package of accessories including a rear rack, fenders, front and rear lights and a kickstand. This is an exciting e-bike that will please nearly anyone shopping for an e-bike.

The Something for Everybody: Lectric XP 3.0

Lectric XP 3.0 Bike Review


If there’s a better deal on an e-bike, we haven’t found it. Not only did Lectric produce the most affordable geared e-bike we’ve reviewed, they gave it a parts selection that we trust. The XP 3.0 features a 500W hub motor, 499Wh battery, 7-speed drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, making it competitive with e-bikes that cost hundreds of dollars more. Commuters on a budget will love that it comes with a rear rack, front and rear lights, full fenders and a kickstand. Best of all is that it folds up in seconds and can easily fit in a car trunk or closet.

Sponsor
Sponsor

The Unique / Custom One: EBC Model R

EBC Model R Bike Review


E-bikes are fun. Period. But finding one that fits your look and style is sometimes less straightforward. So how about an e-bike you can customize? The Electric Bike Company Model R is a great choice with fantastic standard features like the 750W motor, suspension fork, and step0through frame. The rest can pretty much all be tailored to your liking. Pick your handlebar, wheel size, drivetrain, and more. That only scratches the surface though. You can pick custom paint colors for the frame, fork, basket, and a whole lot more. If you have somebody in mind for a gift that isn’t a fan of anything cookie-cutter, then make sure to deck out a Model R in a way that represents them!

For the One Who Likes To Ride Fast: Ride1UP 700 Series

Ride1UP 700 Series Bike Review


For the commuter who wants Class 3 speeds (28 mph max pedal assist), the Ride1UP 700 Series strikes a remarkable balance between performance and value. It reaches cruising speed thanks to a 750W Bafang hub motor and is estimated to reach as much as 50 mi. of range per charge. Hydraulic disc brakes and a Shimano 8-speed drivetrain make for a quality ride. Ride1UP included a full complement of commuter accessories: rear rack, full fenders, front and rear lights, plus a kickstand. And it comes in both a traditional frame and step-thru.

For The Rad One: Rad Power Bikes RadCity 5

Rad Power Bikes RadCity 5 Bike Review


The Rad Power Bikes RadCity 5 Plus is one of our favorite commuters. We love the low standover height of the step-thru frame and short reach to the bar to allow you to sit upright and see everything around you. If you’re planning to use the rack to carry work items or a load of groceries, it’s better than most thanks to a weight capacity of 59.5 lbs. The 750W hub motor has the muscle necessary to assist a rider up to 20 mph or to take over the whole job with the help of its throttle. A 7-speed Shimano drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes round out a solid selection of parts.

Sponsor

The Most Reliable, Economical Hitch Rack: Hollywood Rack SportRider Hitch Rack

Hollywood Rack Sportrider Hitch Rack Review


Hollywood’s Sportrider is one of our favorite hitch racks for e-bikes for a couple of reasons. First, it’s one of the only hitch racks that can handle e-bikes weighing up to 80 lbs. Second, it’s noticeably more affordable than most of its competition. It lacks a ramp to be able to roll an e-bike into place, but that’s the only knock we have against it. They also introduced a new e-trike attachment so that people don’t need a big SUV or a pickup in order to drive somewhere with it. It can handle e-bikes with a wheelbase of up to 60 in., which covers a number of compact cargo e-bikes. It can even handle e-bikes with step-thru frames, with the addition of an accessory.

The Stylish Shoe: Giro Deed Shoe

Giro Deed Shoe


Not all cycling shoes make you walk like a duck. The Deed from Giro looks like a regular sneaker but is built to offer riders a bit more support than you get with street shoes and it has an upper that is scuff-resistant and the outsole is made from a very grippy rubber to keep feet from slipping off the pedals. This lace-up shoe comes in both men’s and women’s sizes

Classics Never Die: Vans Classic Slip-On

Vans Classic Slip-On

Vans have been popular with cyclists and skateboarders for as long as they’ve been around. Thanks to their grippy waffle outsole they are ideal for gripping pedals. They come in enough colorways to fit even the fussiest fashionista’s style requirements and the low-profile upper and padded collar add style and comfort. They also come in sizes to fit anyone from a toddler to an NBA player.

The Reliable Favorite: Thousand Helmet

Thousand Helmet


Wearing a helmet is a good idea, full stop. But we get that no one wants to look like they are an extra in a bad sci-fi film, which is what makes the Thousand Heritage 2.0 Bike and Skate Helmet such a great option. It casts a stylish look without overdoing it. And though it looks normal enough from the front, sides and rear, it includes six vents at the top to keep the rider cool on hot days. It also includes an innovative little port in the back through which a lock can be passed so that you can lock your helmet to your bike, protecting your investment.

Sponsor

For the All Hours Rider: Giro Escape Mips Helmet

Giro Escape Mips Helmet


Visibility is often a concern for commuters, especially as the days get shorter. Giro’s Escape Mips helmet offers a fresh take on being seen. The designers included rechargeable lights in the front and rear of the helmet. The front light provides a power of 75 lumens, while the rear light provides 40 lumens. The battery will keep the lights flashing for up to 10 hours. Riders who tend to run hot will appreciate that it incorporates 15 unobtrusive vents into its design. This helmet also includes a MIPS liner that helps to reduce rotational force should someone suffer a fall. Giro is one of the best helmet makers on the planet and the Giro Escape Mips Helmet provides first-rate quality without a first-rate price.

It’s A Family Activity: Thule Yepp Child Seat

Thule Yepp Child Seat


Child seats have come a long way. The Thule Yepp seat demonstrates just how far. The entire seat is padded and is shaped in a pleasant curve that kids find comfortable. It can handle children as large as 40 lbs. and up to 43.3 in. tall. The five-point harness will keep even confirmed pint-sized Houdinis from wiggling free. Because the seat uses no fabric and the padded cover is waterproof, all it needs is a quick wipe should it get wet. The seat includes a reflector in the rear to increase visibility as well as an attachment point for an additional light. It can be purchased either with or without the frame mount for the e-bike.

It’s A Big Family Activity: Burley D’Lite X Child Trailer

Burley D’Lite X Child Trailer

For the family with two kids, a trailer can be a great way to ride with kids. The e-bike is easier to handle without so much weight up hi and most kids love the panoramic view. The seats are adjustable and there is additional cargo space behind the seats for things like blankies, toys and diapers. When not hooked to the back of an e-bike the D’Lite X can double as a stroller and the five-point harness will keep kids from escaping. It folds up for compact storage when not in use.

GPS For Safety & Fun: Garmin Edge Explore 2

Garmin Edge Explore 2


Not everyone is looking for a bike computer that will drill-sergeant you into better fitness, but a good GPS unit offers a number of handy ways to enhance your riding life. In addition to offering more real-time cycling data than an e-bike’s display, the Garmin Edge Explore 2 will record the routes you ride as well as allow you to upload a route it will guide you through. It also includes some terrific safety features such as incident detection that will alert your loved ones if you’re in trouble. It also includes handy fitness data like the calories you burned during your morning commute.

Sponsor

May As Well Complete The Ecosystem: Garmin Instinct 2 Smartwatch

Garmin Instinct 2 Smartwatch

For the active person who wants to track their riding with GPS, monitor important health metrics, receive push notifications or even receive workout suggestions and fitness coaching, the Garmin Instinct 2 Smartwatch will do all of that and much, much more. It comes in three different bezel sizes for personal style and ease of viewing along with a number of different colorways. Some include solar charging, night vision goggle compatibility, or a battery of surf-related data such as tide. In addition to tracking health basics such as heart rate, it also serves up snapshots of your sleep, blood oxygenation, resting heart rate and even abnormal heart rate alerts. Garmin Pay will allow you to make contactless payments.

If Garmin Isn’t For You, This One Will Do: Wahoo Fitness Elemnt Roam

Wahoo Fitness Elemnt Roam

If you like to go out and explore, a GPS unit can enhance your experience in a number of ways. First, they allow you to track the exact route you pedaled, and it will display your total distance, where you went and average speed, among many other data points. The Elemnt Road will also allow you to use a site like Ride With GPS to create a route and then upload it to the Elemnt Roam and receive turn-by-turn directions. No getting lost. The user can choose just which data they see on the color LCD display and—for those of us who don’t ride with our reading glasses—you can select just how large the numbers are to make reading the screen easy while rolling.

No Cyclist Can Live Without: Blackburn Core 2 Floor Pump

Blackburn Core 2 Floor Pump


Everyone who owns an e-bike needs a floor pump. A floor pump is the easiest way to make sure that an e-bike’s tires are pumped up to the same pressure before each ride, and consistent pressure means consistent traction and handling. The Blackburn Design Core 2 Floor Pump is a remarkably affordable floor pump and it includes a large, easy-to-read gauge built into the base. The pump head will work with any type of valve (Schrader is most common with e-bikes) and the hose is long enough to reach the valve no matter how it is oriented.

Sponsor
Sponsor

The Stocking-Stuffer: Bontrager Thorn-Resistant Tube

Bontrager Thorn-Resistant Tube


Flats are no fun, amiright? One of the ways to cut down on flats is to run puncture-resistant tubes. These 4.1mm-thick tubes aren’t flat-proof, but the normal causes of flats—thorns, pieces of glass and other sharp bits—will have a tough time with these tubes. It’s an ideal upgrade for the commuter who doesn’t want to take a chance with a flat on the way to work. They come in nearly every size to fit any tire. It’s a small investment that results in big peace of mind.

Sponsor
Sponsor

E-Bike News: REI’s First eMTB, Specialized’s Creo SL Gravel, Aventon UL-Certification Trek Recall & More!

Electric bike news 29th September

REI’s Co-op brand of bikes introduces its first eMTB, the DRT e3.1; Specialized introduces a new, lightweight version of their Creo gravel bike, the Creo SL; Aventon receives UL certification for most of its e-bikes; auto brand MINI is now taking pre-orders on a MINI-branded e-bike to be produced by Angell Mobility; Trek recalls its Allant+ 7 e-bike for brake hose issue; Rad Power Bikes issues statement denying claims made in latest lawsuit; an e-bike retailer received a notice from his insurance company canceling coverage, thinks selling, repairing e-bikes is cause; Himiway announces new colors for its Zebra model

In this week’s e-bike news:

  • REI introduces first eMTB
  • Specialized introduces Creo SL gravel e-bike
  • Aventon announces UL-certification
  • MINI takes pre-orders for branded e-bike
  • Trek recalls Allant+ e-bikes
  • Rad Power Bikes denies claims in lawsuit
  • E-bike retailer’s insurance canceled
  • Himiway announces cew colors for Zebra

[Read more…] about E-Bike News: REI’s First eMTB, Specialized’s Creo SL Gravel, Aventon UL-Certification Trek Recall & More!

E-Bike News: NYC Approves Battery Trade-Ins, AI-Powered E-Bikes, Cowboy’s Limited-Edition & More!

Electric bike news 22th September

In an effort to remove as many low-quality e-bike batteries from use as possible, New York has approved a battery trade-in program. Users will pay little or nothing for a new battery and charger when they turn in their existing battery and charger. Rad Power Bikes is the subject of a class-action lawsuit by a Maryland man whose quick-release front wheel came off and caused him to fall, resulting in several broken bones. He has retained FeganScott to represent him and other members of the class. Cannondale has announced its first cargo e-bike model, the Cargowagen Neo. Cowboy has collaborated with Parisian design house ba&sh on a special edition of its Cruiser ST aimed at women riders. High-end road, mountain and gravel bike maker Moots has introduced its first e-bike, a gravel model, called the Express

In this week’s e-bike news:

  • NYC approves e-bike battery trade-in program
  • Rad Power sued by man injured when front wheel came off his e-bike
  • Cannondale introduces first cargo e-bike
  • Cowboy enlists Parisian designer for limited-edition e-bike
  • Smalo launches first AI-powered e-bike
  • Moots introduces its first e-bike, the Express

[Read more…] about E-Bike News: NYC Approves Battery Trade-Ins, AI-Powered E-Bikes, Cowboy’s Limited-Edition & More!

Cannondale Cargowagen Neo Review: First Look

Cannondale Cargowagen Neo

Cannondale has joined the cargo e-bike revolution. Remember when we said 2023 was going to be the year of the cargo e-bike? Pardon us while we open our fortune teller biz. What has been notable in the many cargo e-bike introductions is just how many of these e-bikes have featured hub motors. In our review of the Cannondale Cargowagen Neo we will look at how this mid-drive design bears both similarities and differences to other cargo e-bikes.

Cannondale has been a premium brand for as long as they’ve been in existence. Their road bikes have been ridden to victories at the Tour de France and their mountain bikes have crossed the line first at the World Championships. While the Cargowagen Neo is obviously no racing machine, it benefits from Cannondale’s deep experience in making high-quality bikes.

The Cargowagen Neo is a long-tail cargo e-bike, meaning it carries most of its load behind the rider, rather than in front of them. Long-tail designs are generally considered easier to ride because despite their long wheelbase, they turn more like a regular e-bike because the front wheel is much closer to the rider. Also, like many long-tail designs, the cargo deck is very low thanks to its 20-in. wheels.

Providing the muscle for this e-bike is a Bosch mid-drive motor and battery. The rest of the parts pick is decidedly high-end as well: a Shimano 10-speed drivetrain with a wide range cassette will make anthills out mountains and Tektro 4-piston hydraulic brakes will stop this e-bike even if loaded like a freight train.

Cannondale Cargowagen Neo Spec Review: Bike Overview

Cannondale Cargowagen Neo Spec Review

The Cargowagen Neo is a long-tail cargo e-bike with small wheels (20-in.) and a 250W Bosch mid-drive motor. It comes equipped with a 545Wh Bosch PowerPack battery, and can be equipped with a second battery for long-range use.

High-end components from Shimano and Tektro give this e-bike a quality presentation at every turn. And while this is Cannondale’s first cargo e-bike, they have created a broad spectrum of accessories to outfit to fit the user’s needs. Better yet, they have included a number of items that most makers of cargo e-bikes don’t include, so while this is a pricier e-bike, Cannondale has loaded it with value.

[Read more…] about Cannondale Cargowagen Neo Review: First Look

Santa Cruz Heckler SL First Look Review

Santa Cruz Heckler Spec Review 2023

Among the mid-sized (i.e., not Specialized, Trek or Giant) legacy bike brands, Santa Cruz has had a reputation for making some of the better mountain bikes going. They introduced their first eMTB three years ago. They retooled their popular Heckler model as an e-bike and it has been a bona fide hit. Well now Santa Cruz has introduced a new, lighter version of its eMTB, the Heckler SL.

In our Santa Cruz Heckler SL review we will take a look at how this eMTB compares to the standard Heckler as well as how it measures up on its own. Santa Cruz is respected for both how their designs handle as well as how the VPP (virtual pivot point) suspension performs.

The Heckler SL is designed as a mullet (29-in. wheel in the front and 27.5-in. wheel in the rear). The frame comes in two different versions as well, either with the standard C carbon fiber construction or their CC carbon fiber construction, which uses some fancier layers of carbon fiber to reduce the amount of material in the frame which preserves strength while lowering the frame’s weight.

The extra muscle comes from Fazua’s 250W Ride60 motor and 430Wh battery. This is a different system than found on the regular Heckler, and part of how the Heckler SL comes in at a lower weight.

Normally, we would say this is an e-bike that leaves the realm of trail riding and moves into all-mountain/freeride territory thanks to its use of a 160mm-travel fork and 150mm-travel rear suspension, but Santa Cruz is calling this a trail bike, though a longer-travel one for sure.

Buyers can choose from five different builds. All of them are equipped with SRAM components and at the low end someone can expect to spend a bit more than $7000, while the high end version comes in a bit more than $12,000.

With such a premium product, one-size-fits-most isn’t a thing. Santa Cruz makes the Heckler SL in five sizes: S-XXL. They suggest that the sizing run should accommodate riders from as diminutive as 5 feet 1 up to 6 feet 7; each of the sizes features some overlap so that riders on the bubble have options.

In plain English, the Heckler SL is neither someone’s first mountain bike nor someone’s first e-bike. Let’s dig into this exciting new release.

Santa Cruz Heckler SL Spec Review: Bike Overview

Santa Cruz Heckler SL Spec Review

The Heckler SL is no ordinary eMTB. It’s designed for riders who aren’t just competent; they are badasses. With a 160mm-travel fork and a 150mm-travel rear, this is an eMTB that Santa Cruz has designed to be on the ground no more than absolutely necessary.

In terms of handling and travel, both the Heckler and the Heckler SL bear much in common with the un-electrified Bronson.

So how is the Heckler SL different from the current Heckler? Santa Cruz went for both a different motor and a different battery. Both motors are 250W mid-drive units, but the battery shrank from 720Wh to 430Wh to help shave some of those all-important pounds.

As a mullet design, the idea is that the 29-in. front wheel will give the rider a superior ability to roll up and over all the things, while the smaller (27.5-in) rear wheel increases the eMTB’s maneuverability, making it more flickable as we like to say.

Of course, the big question on everyone’s mind is just how SL (as in superlight) the Heckler SL is compared to the standard Heckler. Depending on the build level and that particular

[Read more…] about Santa Cruz Heckler SL First Look Review

Electra Ponto Go! First Look Review

Electra Ponto Go! Spec Review 2023

The Electra Brand has been known for cruisers and city bike, both electrified and not. They’ve left road bikes, eMTBs and cargo e-bikes to other brands (like their parent, Trek). Instead, they’ve focused on the category for which they are known. They’ve now introduced a new e-bike, the Ponto Go!, which takes a little sidestep from the world of cruiser e-bikes.

In our Electra Ponto Go! review, we will look at how this e-bikes is modeled on a moped design, with a long bench seat that is lower to the ground than we see with more traditional e-bikes. Its frame splits the difference between a traditional e-bike frame and the “box” frame we are used to seeing with mopeds/motorcycles and the like. It has big tires and a suspension fork for a comfy ride quality and a high-rise handlebar that can be rolled forward or backward to increase or decrease the rider’s comfort.

It is spec’d with a 750W brushless, geared hub motor which is powered by a 650Wh battery, operated by a controller that gives riders five different PAS levels. Riders will be pleased with some component upgrades we see over some similar designs, such as hydraulic disc brakes and an 8-speed drivetrain.

In short, Electra has approached this style of e-bike with a fresh take, giving riders something different, something that may better fit their needs.
[Read more…] about Electra Ponto Go! First Look Review