Richard Peace

In this week’s news:

• Trek’s New Superlight eMTB
• Coleen’s Carbon Fiber Framed Speed Pedelec
• Porsche eCar and eBikes
• Great Deals on Rad Power’s RadRunner Plus and Chrisson’s eOctant
• POC’s Batteryless Helmet
• Mody Camping-Caravan Trailers
• Alpen’s Tern Compatible Storage Comes to North America
• Seattle Gets Food Deliveries With the Help of eCargobikes
• Lime’s Huge New Investment and a New eBike
• Can the EU Makes Battery Production Sustainable?
• Insight from Dutch Battery Repair Specialists
• Eurobike Plans to be Back in Person for 2021

New eBikes and eBike Systems

Trek Launch New Super Light eMTB Range

Trek recently launched a superlight range of carbon-framed eMTBs, the 2021 E-Caliber line all powered by the lightweight and removable Fazua assist system. The highest-end version of the pricey e-bike line is claimed to be the lightest full-suspension eMTB on the market. The E-Caliber is based on the non-electric Supercaliber mountain bikes Trek launched towards the end of last year.

The top end E-Caliber 9.9 XX1 AXS is claimed to weigh 15.75 kg 34.72 lbs (12.45 kg / 27.45 lbs without the motor drive) – that may or may not be the lightest emtb in the world but either way it’s mightily impressive. The Fazua mid-drive is not as powerful as the bigger, heavier mid-drives from the likes of Bosch, Shimano and Yamaha and the battery is smaller than average at 250Wh, though Trek claim is will achieve 43.5 mi / 70km range.

More on just who it is for can be seen here directly from Trek:

Prices are not cheap as you might guess; Trek is a leading, high-quality manufacturer and this is their top-of-the-line lightweight full-sus emtb range. They range from US$6499 to US$12,999.

French High-End Brand Coleen Announces Carbon Fibre Speed Pedelec

French e-bike manufacturer makes some beautiful looking e-bikes and are known for their lightweight, high quality, minimalist design and for being manufactured in France.

Coleen have just developed what they claim is the first speed pedelec (28mph assist capable) in carbon fiber with a pedal axle-mounted Pinion gearbox, named the Speed. It weighs between 22,5 and 24,5 kg / 49.5-54 lbs according to Coleen.

The 750Watt rear hub motor combines with 6 Pinion gears based around the pedal area, making for an ultra-low maintenance e-bike. There is also a 6 speed option.  The removable battery requires no physical key and Coleen say ‘One full charge takes a record time of 2h30, with 50% of the battery recharged in 1h. Coleen opted for a battery with built-in microprocessors, to manage each cells level, optimizing the ergonomics design and energy efficiency. Its BMS (Battery Management System)
is inspired by the same technology as the one used in aeronautics to ensure up to 8 years of battery life. The Pinion gearbox is said to be good for around 375,000 miles.

Coleen’s innovative design includes a cockpit style, high visibility, HD transflective display. It shows the speed according to the selected assistance mode, battery life, as well as incoming calls or text messages. An integrated GPS tracker alerts the user if any suspicious movement is detected, on a dedicated app.

Prices for Coleen’s current range of standard build e-bikes e-bikes are €7960 to €9990 but there are also many options that can be specified individually via Coleen’s website for buyers to get the spec they require with numerous options available and prices starting at €6860.

Porsche New Car Launch Accompanied by New eBikes

Porsche recently launched their most expensive version of their first electric car, the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo whose retail price starts at £79,340 (around US$110,000) – launched at the same time were the Sport and Cross e-bikes. They cost a little less but are still at the very top end of the e-bike scale at $8,500 and $10,700. Both weigh around 22kg or 48lbs – certainly not astonishingly light for e-bikes.

They were developed in collaboration with German e-bike manufacturers Rotwild and both feature Shimano’s latest and most powerful mid-drive the EP8.

The Sport is described as a road bike but has a full-suspension carbon fiber frame and  integrated front and rear lights,

The Cross is clearly off-road specced with large disk brake rotors, dropper seatpost and a large 12 gear derailleur gear range.

eBike Deals

RadRunner Plus Limited Edition Available Again in Europe

Rad Power’s RadRunner Plus Limited Edition ebike is back and available at €1599 for European customers.

The basic RadRunner design combines a step thru cargo bike frame and relatively small 20 inch wheels plus a 54kg / 119lb rated rear rack – a rare combination and one that is proving very popular due to its huge capability and small footprint. second its rear rack is rated to carry a mighty 54kg. It also packs a powerful rear hub motor and large 672Wh battery.

The limited edition version of the RadRunner Plus comes equipped with the Espresso Passenger Pack (including matching seat, passenger seat and grips) and Premium Headlight. At only €100 more than the RadRunner Plus, you save €137 according to Rad Power Bikes.

Chrisson eOctant – Well-priced, Lightweight Belt Drive

It’s always of interest to see what is on offer in mature e-bike markets like the Netherlands and Germany; because sales numbers are so phenomenal customers are well-experienced in what to look for and will know what is good value and such intense competition can produce surprisingly good value models.

Chrisson’s eOctant is a lightweight city e-bike with some great low maintenance and high performance features; Aikema rear hub motor, Gates carbon belt drive, inbuilt LED lighting, good capacity 360Wh battery all add up to a claimed weight of around 17kg / 37.5lbs. The belt drive is currently priced at €1449.

New Cycling Accessories

POC’s Omne Eternal – the Helmet with a Batteryless Light

There are numerous bike helmets on the market with some kind of integrated lighting but nearly all of them rely on batteries that need to be replaced or recharged so for both there is a level of inconvenience and lack of sustainability.

Enter POC’s Omne Eternal, described as ‘the world’s first self-powered helmet’, using a technology called Powerfoyle, a kind of light-harvesting material distinct from silicon-based photoelectric solar panels. Unlike regular solar panels, Powerfoyle can convert any light source, indoor or outdoor, into electrical power. A rear light is built into the back of the helmet and it’s automatic and self-powered, so there’s no need to remember to turn it on or charge it before a ride.

The company behind the Powerfoyle technology, Exeger, appear a little reluctant to comment on it’s actual efficiency, nor have POC released figures on how bright the light is, or its runtime.

The Omne Eternal will cost €250 ($302 USD) and be available online from June 2021.

Caravan Campervan Camping by eBike Anyone?

If you fancy caravan camping and e-biking the Mody range of what are described as miniature caravans from Germany will let you do just that. As this New Atlas article points out, previously there have been a number of these types of vehicle but often they have been one-off hobbyist creations or they may have involved an element of ‘putting up and taking down’ every night like the Scout or the B-turtle.

The ‘pod’s’ body is made of fiber-glass (or can be upgraded to carbon-fiber) there are three versions based on the type of terrain the rider expects to encounter – the Touring (paved roads), the Trekking (dirt roads) and the Outdoor (rougher, looser terrain).

Modys are still at the prototype phase and Mody say they currently weigh around 50 kg /110lbs but they expect production versions to weigh from 40 to 45 kg / 88-99lbs.

Modys comply with the German Highway Code and so come with lighting systems at the front and rear, and reflectors to the sides. They also include Shimano disc brakes and an overrun brake.

Interior measurements are 208 x 86 x 102 cm (82 x 34 x 40 in) and standard features include roof vent, door ventilation, LED interior light, gray fabric wall paneling, lower corner leg supports, and a single window as part of the standard package with options for stowaway kitchen, exterior solar panel with interior battery and an awning.

Fiberglass Touring and Trekking models are estimated to launch at at €4,999 (approx. US$6,025), with the carbon fiber variants starting at €6,999 ($8,450). The Outdoors models run €500 ($600) higher.

Tern Bring Alpen Bike Storage Capsules to North America

Tern Bikes recently announced a partnership between Alpen Storage and Stile Products, Tern’s North American distributor and branch office. Alpen bike capsules will now be available for sale through the Stile website and at independent bike shops across the U.S. 

Tern say ‘The Alpen capsule provides a simple and innovative solution to lock your bike up, whether you’re storing your bike on a corporate campus, in your apartment complex, or in your backyard. The lockable capsule is commercial-grade, weather-protected, can be bolted to the ground for added security, and compatible with all of Stile’s flagship products, including Tern’s GSD electric cargo bike and HSD electric commuter bikes.’

Get Inspired

Food Deliveries for Seattle with the Help of eBikes

Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN) has recently detailed the work of  Seattle Pedaling Relief Project – created in the early days of the pandemic, when layoffs and job losses caused a sharp spike in demand for food assistance, the project has enlisted more than 450 volunteer bicyclists to deliver 176,000 pounds of goods over the past nine months, mainly to low income neighborhoods in the area.

Looking at the pictures in the article they use a mixture of regular and electric pedal power and it’s clear they are helping not just deliver food where needed but to fight the spread of Covid –  ‘By delivering food directly to homes….it eliminates the need for people to visit food banks and risk contracting or spreading COVID-19’ says the article.

It also gives an insight into the thought processes of two key staff on the project, Maxwell Burton and Mike Lang. Burton and Lang came up with the idea for Seattle Pedaling Relief last spring while collaborating on plans for the next Disaster Relief Trials, a competition where cargo bikes are used to deliver heavy supplies as part of a mock disaster such as an earthquake. “When COVID-19 hit, we realized we had a disaster on our hands and this was no longer a trial,” Burton says.

eMicrombility

Lime to Invest US$50 Million in Its Share eBikes by 2022

Lime has announced it plans to invest US$50 million in its e-bike fleets with the goal of doubling the amount of global cities it operates in by 2022.

Most of that 50 million will head to Europe, where Lime are looking to introduce e-bike share to 15 new cities in France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain.

Lime has also revealed plans for their new share e-bike due to appear during the summer, which they are calling a ‘game changer’. It features swappable batteries with a claimed range of 25 miles which will hopefully lead to a drop in trips being made by the firm’s operations support vans.

The new ebike features an automatic two-speed transmission and a more powerful 350 watt / 20mph max capable motor plus phone holder so users and integrated rear hub lock.

Last November Lime detailed its first quarter of profitability, despite a huge drop in revenue at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Battery Watch

Tips on eBike Battery Repair and Replacement

There is some great insight in this Bike EU article about Dutch e-bike battery repair and refurbishment specialist Heskon.  The company ‘has been working with lithium-ion batteries for about ten years and has a thorough understanding of the ins-and-outs of the refurbishing process’ according to the article.

It covers everything from types of battery management system to the ins and outs of spot welding and cell replacement.

Can the EU Makes Battery Production Sustainable?

With the use of electrical batteries looking set to skyrocket over the coming years the EU Commission published a proposal for a new Battery Regulation in December last year looking to promote the sustainability, safety and recyclability of batteries throughout their entire life. It’s all part of the European Green Deal and its zero-pollution ambition.

The European Commission proposed raising the 45% collection rate for portable batteries to 65% in 2025 and 70% in 2030 – as the Commission estimates Europe’s battery demand is set to increase fourteen fold this decade it seems vital recycling of batteries becomes as widespread as possible

There were also proposals that producers of rechargeable electric vehicle and industrial batteries sold in Europe must disclose their carbon footprint from 2024 and comply with a CO2 emissions limit from 2027.

This all sounds highly positive (though these are only proposals at the minute and not laws), but light electric vehicle trade association LEVA-EU has recently criticised the proposed legislation. To be classed as ‘portable batteries’ (which, presumably, will have less onerous laws attached to them) such batteries need to fall within a fairly strict definition according to LEVA-EU:

‘The idea is that sealed LEV-batteries of less than 5 kg will be considered portable batteries, but only on condition that they are used in wheeled vehicles with a seating position, with a motor of less than 750 W to be powered by the motor alone or by a combination of motor and human power.’

LEVA-EU point out this would exclude both more powerful light electric vehicles but also smaller forms lacking seats, such as e-scooters, e-monowheels and e-hoverboards.

Hopefully more detail and clarity will emerge as the legislation progresses.

eBike Biz

Eurobike, held in Friedrichshafen every year, has just announced that more than 800 exhibitors have signed up for the 29th edition of one of the world’s biggest bike trade shows, which is scheduled from 1 to 4 September 2021. Eurobike show manager Stefan Reisinger reveals how the international bike trade show landscape is changing and they are confident of holding the 2021 show.

There will also be an earlier and smaller event in Frankfurt-am-Main, 24 to 26 July.

Last year’s ‘physical’ show was cancelled due to Covid and virtual events held in its place.

Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!

Rich

 

In this week’s news:

• Pivot’s First Drop Bar, Carbon eBike
• Crow Crowdfunds eGravel Bike
• Revel’s New Subscription Only eBike
• Dragon Hyperscooter a Step Closer?
• More eMobility for Scotland
• Will Michelin Minimise their Carbon Footprint with Windpower?
• LEVA-EU’s Radical Zero Emission Vehicle Proposals

New eBikes & eBike Systems

New Carbon-framed eGravel Bikes from Pivot and Crow

The new Pivot Cycles E-Vault  is a carbon-framed dropbar eBike packed with high end tech including hollow core internal molding technology on the frame, Fazua mid-drive motor system that Pivot say ‘disengages completely so you can pedal without resistance at the push of a button’ (and the battery and much of the motor can be quickly removed if you want a ‘regular’ cycling experience) plus there is electric shifting and wireless data connectivity.

It’s described as being at home on city streets, gravel roads, rocky pavements or hardpacked singletrack. To keep it true to Pivot’s style, this new E–Vault is available in one build only: the top build. If you are a fan of high tech fitness riding the E-Vault sounds right up your street as Pivot say ‘Riders can customize their electric shifting experience, power output, integrate all their personal, fitness and bike data in one spot, allowing riders to extract more performance from their bike than ever before.’

The RRP of US$9,999 also marks the bike out but for that you get the world’s first gravel-specific electronically shifting drivetrain, the GRX Di2 with carbon wheels build meaning a claimed weight of circa 29lb / 13kg (with the battery and drive unit removed it is claimed to weigh 22.63lbs / 10.25kg).

Crow are a startup whose high-end carbon gravel eBike is about to start crowdfunding. Like the Pivot, it uses the removable Fazua mid-drive and also packs carbon fiber forks and ‘proven top-of-the-line components from Shimano, SRAM and Ritchey, and hydraulic disc brakes for exceptional stopping power.’ Sign up to the crowdfunding launch if you want to learn more details in the near future.

Fancy a US$99 eBike?

OK, it is too goo to be true as this is a monthly subscription price and you have to be a resident of New York City, all as reported in this Verge article.

Revel, the company behind this move, started life as a moped hire company and this move marks its first adventure into the e-bike world. As The Verge points out, it’s aimed at getting urbanites to use a Netflix type subscription model for transportation. Clearly Revel believe it will appeal to time-poor urbanites as they receive one of the e-bikes pictured above, manufactured by NYC-based e-bike company Wing delivered straight to their door plus a service package.

The Verge add ‘The price also includes complimentary maintenance, including flat tires fixes, loose chains repairs, or brake upkeep. Service requests can be submitted via Revel’s smartphone app, and Revel says a repair technician will respond within 24 hours. The company will also supply a bike lock and educational material to help subscribers navigate New York City’s less-than-bike-friendly streets.’

And of course, the more average e-bike prices head upwards the more offers like Revel’s will be regarded as an affordable alternative.

The Steeron – Half eBike, Half eScooter

Cologne start-up Steeron has just presented two new e-bike style e-scooters, or possibly e-scooter style e-bikes – the C20 and C25 models are said to fit easily into the trunk of a car and are available in more than 30 colors.

The front hub motor and battery look to be straight off an e-bike manufacturer’s drawing board whilst the rest of the spec signals that the new models are a step up in comfort and stability compared to their predecessor models as the C20 and C25 models have larger wheels with pneumatic tires, longer wheelbase and optional suspension seat post  (though there is also some folding capability).

Both models have a 500 watt rated motor and a removable battery with claimed range of around 30 miles and a top assisted speed of 12.5mph or 15mph.

The C20 model comes without a seat and is approved as a small electric vehicle meaning that, under German law, it can be ridden on roads and bike paths without a helmet. The C25 comes with a seat and (as it has no pedals) is legally equivalent to a moped. In addition to German roads it can be ridden on cycle paths marked as “moped-free” but requires registration, insurance and driving license.

Deliveries are planned to start in April 2021 with RRPs starting at €2999 though there are early bird discounts.

New eScooters

Meet the Futuristic Dragonfly Hyperscooter – Is it Really on the Cusp of Reality?

The Dragonfly Hyperscooter claims to take safety to the next level, with stability coming from either three or four wheels, automotive-grade headlights and turn signals, pavement projection lasers and on-board acoustics for pedestrian awareness and audible navigation. Add front and rear braking and suspension, puncture-proof tyres and an anti-rollback and you can see why it claims to put safety first. Top speed is quoted as 25mph but the website notes that some jurisdictions limit e-scooter speed to 15mph.

Although the Hyperscooter has been a regular in future transport type articles for the last couple of years, Dragonfly’s website says ‘We have pre-production arriving in January 2021 and we anticipate production deliveries to start shipping in April 2021.’ On price, they say ‘Dragonfly will have a sales price no higher than $3,900 to $4,500 depending on your choice of 3 wheel or 4 wheel version.’

Get Inspired

Scottish eBike Projects Get £600,000

Bikebiz reports on how the Scottish Government has awarded over £633,000 to support 45 e-bike projects across the country.

‘Through the latest round of the eBike Grant Fund, delivered through Energy Saving Trust, schools, hospitals and community groups will establish projects to adopt e-bikes, adaptive bikes and e-cargo bikes as an alternative to car journeys.’ says the article.

For example in Golspie, Cycling UK Scotland will work with key workers to provide access through a new pool of eight e-bikes whilst in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Simon Community Scotland is being provided with a grant of almost £16,000 to support its outreach work in helping vulnerable people through the assistance of e-bikes.

Infrastructure

Mobility Hubs Heading Scotland’s Way

Staying in Scotland and still with Bikebiz who say ‘mobility hubs’ are set to ‘revitalise’ city centres in Scotland.

According to Bikebiz ‘Mobility hubs are particularly common in Germany and Austria and other countries on the continent as a way of “revitalizing” city centers….Hubs bring together public transport stops for buses, trams and trains with bike share schemes, car clubs, e-scooters, electric vehicle charging points, bike racks and shared taxi rides, as well as community facilities such as cafés, fitness areas, green space, package collection points and wifi and phone charging – all with covered waiting areas, real-time journey planning information, walking areas and disabled access.’

Sustainable Tech

As an e-bike fan you might well know the name Michelin but are probably not familiar with French firm Neoline. Now the two could be teaming up in the future to help Michelin decarbonise its shipping operations, as reported by Cleantechnica.

Apparently Michelin Group recently signed a transport commitment with Neoline with the aim of using the latter’s planned decarbonized shipping service which relies on clean and renewable wind energy as the main propulsion for its 136m long cargo ships with 4200 m2 of sails, claiming to reduce by 90% the CO2 emissions related to transatlantic maritime freight transport.

A first concrete step is for the Michelin Group to use the Neoline pilot line from Halifax (Canada) to Saint-Nazaire – Montoir de Bretagne (France) by 2023 the article tells us.

eBike Safety

Streetsblog USA bring us disturbing news:

‘As part of its 2020 Cycling Deaths project, journalists at Outside Magazine analyzed media reports about 697 fatal cycling crashes and found that more than a quarter (26.3 percent) of drivers who killed a cyclist last year fled the scene of the crime. The official federal statistics about hit-and-run rates won’t be released for approximately two years, but the magazine noted that the data, which was analyzed with the assistance of information scientists at BikeMaps.org, is likely a strong representative sample of a death toll whose “total is likely significantly higher.”

If that’s true, 2020 may be among the worst years on record when it comes to dangerous drivers leaving their victims to die.’

eBike Law

LEVA-EU’s Radical New 30mph Call for Reform to EU Commission

The  trade body for light electric vehicles in Europe, LEVA-EU clearly think that well-developed cycle lane infrastructure can handle larger and faster electric vehicles – they have set out a radical agenda for ZEVs – co-called Zero Tailpipe Emission Vehicles.

They give an example to show how very similar machines are currently discriminated against by current legislation with only a modest increase in power and weight making a vehicle effectively a ‘non’ e-bike and also highlight what is a more important criterion for classifying vehicles, kinetic energy; a pedal assisted bike 25 km/h – 250W develops exactly the same kinetic energy as that same vehicle with, for instance, 300W. However, the first is excluded from type-approval, comes under the Machinery Directive and has the same status as a conventional bicycle in all EU member states. The 300W edition is an L1e-A, needs type-approval and does not have a clear status in most member states. The first one is selling by the millions, the second one is virtually non-existing.’

They conclude:

“LEVA-EU insists that speed and weight limits must be set in consultation with the ZEV sector. Because the voice of the sector is drowned out by the voice of parties who consider ZEVs an existential threat, from which they must protect their business, the Commission has not yet entered into an in-depth dialogue with the sector. LEVA-EU calls on the Commission to no longer postpone that consultation.”

In the document, LEVA-EU also calls for all infrastructure, such as cycle paths, cycle streets, cycle highways and cycle parking, to be renamed as ZEV infrastructure. Traffic signs, it says, should also reflect ZEVs, a measure it believes would improve cyclists’ and motorists’ perception of ZEVs.

LEVA-EU proposes to add an article to Regulation 168/2013 (the EU law defining what is and what is not an e-bike), excluding ZEVs with a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h / 30mph and to also exclude all ZEVs from the Machinery Directive. As a result, this simple legal intervention would exclude all types of electric cycles, cargo-cycles, e-scooters, monowheels, e-hoverboards, self-balancing vehicles and any other Zero Tailpipe Emission Vehicle not yet mentioned explicitly in law today, from the current legal framework, which is totally inappropriate and inaccurate.’

Instead, LEVA-EU proposes to transfer ZEVs into a new horizontal Vehicle Regulation. This European law would specify essential safety requirements, to be complemented with harmonized standards and possibly, for certain ZEV-categories, type-approval procedures. In any case, LEVA-EU believes that the form of the legislative framework needs to be decided in consultation with the ZEV-sector.

The measures, which also include a new way to regulate speed and a simple categorization based on speed and weight only, are detailed in a position paper the body has submitted to the European Commission. LEVA-EU Manager Annick Roetynck said bringing in the concept of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) would finally set them apart from vehicles such as petrol engine motorbikes and mopeds, when it comes to the lengthy, inaccurate legislation manufacturers must navigate.

The full position paper on the review of Regulation 168/2013 is available here.

The position paper on the review of the Machinery Directive is here

Bafang Mid-drive Certification is a ‘Green Light’ to Enter North American Market

On February 9, 2021, Chinese-based Bafang Electric was awarded the UL 2849 certificate, the first mid motor UL certificate in China.

The move has been described as a ‘green light’ to enter the North American market and beyond by Bafang who say the UL-certified mid motor will be launched together with the new DIY M625 and M325 drive.

It’s an interesting development that might signal a weakening of the hold of European and Japanese based companies on the mid-drive market and one that might put pressure on them to bring down mid-drive bikes that tend to cost significantly more than hub drive bikes – up until now Bafang’s true area of expertise.

eBike Biz

Super 73 Lands $20 Million Investment

Super73 which specialises in fat-tired, throttle powered e-bikes which it sells online has announced it has landed a $20 million investment via Volition Capital, a Boston equity firm. The funding comes two weeks after Rad Power Bikes announced a $150 million investment.

Super73 was founded in 2016 with a Kickstarter campaign. It is based in Irvine, California, with European headquarters in Amsterdam and is known for its distinctive moped-style design and list A-list celebrity endorsements.

“Super73 has all the ingredients to become a great consumer brand – fanatical customers, insatiable demand for its products, and a distinctive design philosophy,” said Larry Cheng, Managing Partner, Volition Capital. “It is one of the fastest growing companies we’ve ever invested in, and are poised to build a great new American brand as it leads the e-bike market for years to come.”

With e-bike sales heading ever upwards in most countries expect more investment news like this!

Gocycle to Open Euro Subsidiary

Owing to increased demand folding and demountable e-bike manufacturer Gocycle has begun the formation of a European subsidiary to support further growth say the company. The new Gocycle EU division, a Netherlands-based European subsidiary will include localized EU wide fulfilment from a central distribution centre in Germany. The warehouse will stock and distribute Gocycle products and accessories, fulfilling the brand’s orders across the European Union.

The news comes on the back of 25% sales volume increase in each of the last five years and a 50% rise in 2020.

Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!

Rich

In this week’s news:

• Bike Lanes for NYC Bridges
• Cannondale’s New Comfort-Oriented Adventure Neo Range
• MAXX Introduces Range Powered by Shimano’s EP8
• Esel’s Wooden eBikes
• Oyo’s Hydraulic Drivetrain
• Pollution Sensing, Indicating and Self-driving eScooters!
• Meet the Lilium eJet
• eCargo Updates from Bristol, UK and the Netherlands
• Utah Gears Up for the Big Gear Show

Headline News

Car Lanes to Become Bike Lanes on Two Major NY Bridges

The New York Times reports that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to add bike lanes on two of the city’s most iconic bridges, the Brooklyn and Queensboro Bridges ‘to encourage cycling as the city recovers from the pandemic’.

NYT says ‘The new cycling plan for the two East River crossings — called “Bridges for the People” — was unveiled as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s final State of the City speech on Thursday. The bike lanes are the latest victory for cyclists and transportation advocates who have increasingly pushed Mr. de Blasio, a Democrat in his second term, to chip away at the entrenched car culture that has dominated the city’s more than 6,000 miles of streets.’

The current crossing of Brooklyn Bridge by cyclists has long been seen as a notorious obstacle course by cyclists.

Under the new design motor vehicles will be banned from the inner lane of the Manhattan-bound side of the Brooklyn Bridge where a two-way bike lane will be built. The existing promenade area at the center of the bridge, which is elevated above the car lanes, will be used only by pedestrians and cyclists will no longer be able to ride on the promenade, where there is currently a bike lane.

For the Queensboro Bridge it is proposed to convert the northern outer roadway into a two-way bike lane. The southern outer roadway will be reconfigured as a pedestrian walkway.

City Hall hopes to complete the Brooklyn Bridge lane by the end of 2021 and construction on the Queensboro Bridge will begin this year.

This latest announcement may in part have been spurred on by the impressive growth in cycling during the pandemic; for example bike trips at the city’s four East River bridges into Manhattan jumping by 55 percent in November 2020 compared with the same month in 2019.

This article at Gothamist does put these very welcome new lanes into perspective however, stating ‘There are currently 545 miles of protected bike lanes in the city, and 524 miles of conventional painted lanes, while there are 6,300 miles of streets overseen by DOT. The de Blasio administration built 35 miles of regular bike lanes in 2020, and was on track to finish 25 miles of protected lanes, five miles short of their goal.’

New eBikes & eBike Systems

Cannondale Launches Adventure Neo Series

Cannondale’s new Adventure Neo series major on comfort and are also designed let you mix tarmac and easier off-rad tracks. All models have a step-thru alloy frame, Bosch mid-drives plus frame-integrated Bosch Powetube battery.

 

Top of the line is the  Adventure Neo EQ 1 with a Bosch Performance Line motor and 625Wh battery. The plush, comfort spec encompasses a 63mm SR Suntour Mobie A32 front suspension fork and Cane Creek suspension seatpost. It even features a clever radar system designed to detect traffic approaching from behind and let you know.

The lowest spec Neo 4 has a rigid fork, 400Wh battery and Bosch’s Active Line mid-drive.

Prices are from £2500 to £3800.

Five New eBikes from Germany’s MAXX with Top of the Line EP8 Mid-Drives

German brand MAXX just five new e-bikes -the ELS series – all featuring Shimano’s light and very powerful EP8 mid-drive. It has a claimed weight of 2.3kg thanks in part to its magnesium casing and a max torque of 85nm.

The ELS range encompasses city bikes, E-MTBs and fat bikes.

 

The Huraxdax ELS EP8 e-fat bike packs a 726Wh battery and tyre width up to 5″ whilst the FAB 4 ELS is a more conventional looking eMTB.

 

The range is completed by a trekking style e-mtb (the RACEMAXX), a well-equipped hybrid (the CROSSMAXX) and a step-thru city bike (the CROSSMAXX Comfort).

Prices range from €4229 to €6999

Esel Expands Wooden eBike Range

Austrian firm Esel produce wooden bikes and e-bikes. They have announced a new range of e-mtbs the E-MOUNTAIN, available from mid-March using a high powered 90Nm rated Brose mid-drive.

Their frames are made of Ash, waterproofed and feature cavities for internal cable routing.

FLIT-16 First Batch Sold Out

We’ve reported on the FLIT-16 folding e-bike from the UK before. EBR has been cautious about e-bike crowdfunding projects in previous posts but FLIT has some through with flying colours with their first batch all cold out –  as they say ‘You may have noticed that we’ve been quite quiet over the past couple of months – we’ve been busy quality checking, test riding and sending out FLIT-16s to customers around the world! adding ‘If you missed out on our first batch of ebikes, don’t fear – we’re currently building our next batch. If you’d like us to let you know when new stock is available, sign up here.

They have also made this video about the whole process:

New eBike Tech

Oyo Wants to Replace Chain Drives with Hydraulics

New Atlas reports on this interesting new drivetrain development form Oyo – the conventional chain is replaced with hydraulic fluid. As New Atlas says ‘Putting it simply, the system incorporates a closed-loop in which the rider’s pedalling power is used to pump hydraulic fluid through tubing into a hydraulic “motor” in the back, that rotates the rear wheel. The fluid then flows back up to the pedal-pump in front.’

It’s not an entirely new idea as such drives are an emerging technology on wind turbines but this appears to be the first time it has featured on an e-bike. The bike also features stepless gearing.

As the article points out ‘hydraulic drivetrains do have some drawbacks. For one thing, they tend to be heavier than conventional systems, plus they’re typically less efficient at converting pedalling energy into forward motion, and they may end up leaking.’

Oyo’s Indiegogo campaign has early bird offers for US$1,849 with a planned retail price of $3,599.

Cycling Accessories

Micromobilitybiz report on Bern’s ‘safest yet helmets, rated for use up to 27mph, the Hudson.

The helmet is available exclusively with MIPS safety system (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, designed to protect against rotational trauma), has an integrated LED light, removable visor and is compatible with Bern’s cold weather bike beanies. Bern claims it has class leading safety test results.

Retail price is US$119.

Micromobility & Share Rentals

eScooter Tech Keeps Advancing

eScooter tech seems to be coming on leaps and bounds in capability and sophistication.

MMB says Voi ‘has unveiled the Voiager 4 (V4), an e-scooter that can measure air quality as it travels through urban areas. The V4 has been designed to contribute to lowering traffic congestion and fuels, as well as helping cities to collect data on the improvements. It will be introduced to select UK markets this spring, with broader rollout later in 2021. The latest e-scooter model also offers new safety features, including audible alarms and indicators, designed to increase the visibility of e-scooters to pedestrians and to vulnerable road users, including those with vision impairments. The V4 is also designed to integrate better with public transport systems and now features the ability to be unlocked via contactless NFC (Near Field Communication) technology with the tap of a smartphone, smartwatch, or transport card. This means that it could be used in conjunction with an Oyster card.’

They also report that Spin’s ‘Valet platform makes it possible to remotely operate Spin’s fleet and automatically repark scooters out of the pathway of pedestrians and other pavement or street traffic within seconds. Spin Valet combines Tortoise’s software with the front and rear-facing built-in cameras on the S-200. This technology will eventually make it possible for a rider to ‘hail’ an e-scooter to a desired pick up location. The first S-200 fleet will be piloted in Boise, Idaho this spring. The city will receive up to 300 S-200 e-scooters. This is the first time the technology will be launched with a robust, more stable three-wheeled e-scooter, which can better withstand different road conditions due to its enhanced suspension. S-200 will offer a safer ride with three independent braking systems (regenerative rear brake, front and rear drum brakes) and turn signals (on handlebars and near the rear wheel).’

eTech

We’re never afraid at EBR to feature groundbreaking electric tech even if not directly related to e-bikes. So were interested in the recent news that ‘Ferrovial, a global leading infrastructure operator, and Lilium, the aviation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet aircraft, have signed a framework agreement to develop a network of at least ten vertiports.  The zero-carbon infrastructure and services will cover strategic locations in all major cities across Florida. This partnership seeks to provide an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative transport network connecting locations across Florida.’

If you’re wondering what this might mean in practice check out the video below on this interesting looking ‘electric jet’:

eCargo Corner

eCargo Logistics Developments

With e-cargo bikes often touted as the ultimate ‘last mile’ delivery solution it’s clear that it is not about the bikes themselves – it’s about a whole logistics setup that allows them to operate efficiently as part of a bigger system. A couple of news stories demonstrate how this relatively new industry is starting to organise itself.

The UK’s Motor Transport reports that ‘Zero-emission operator Zedify has been awarded a £100,000 grant as part of Bristol City Council’s strategy to ensure 95% of deliveries within its central area are made by electric vehicles within 10 years…..The grant will help support a new Zedify micro-consolidation hub that will be centrally located and allow HGVs and diesel vans bringing goods into Bristol to drop off their goods without entering the city centre.’

Simply put, freight consolidation means organising deliveries so that the minimum number of vehicles are used to make the maximum number of deliveries – in this case the vehicles are Zedify’s fleet of bikes, trikes, microvans and vans.

Elsewhere in the eCargo world Paztir are described by Cycling Industry News as a ‘Dutch business (that) has developed software to be integrated into partner derived hardware that will offer a wide range of benefits to cargo bike owners, in particular those managing a fleet. The Internet of Things (IoT) development works to deliver bike security, access management, efficiency in parking and delivery, incident recording, route-planning, route-tracing, and plenty more.’

Infrastructure

LCC Campaign to Keep Important Cycle Lane

London Cycling Campaign have made the following video to highlight the importance of the keeping cycle lane along Kensington High Street in London that was introduced during the pandemic. Initially the local authority planned to take out the lane but following campaigning pressure have promised to revisit the decision on 17th March, though no one knows which way the decision might go. You can personally contact the councillors concerned to voice your support for keeping the lane here.

eBike Biz

People for Bikes Presenting Sponsor of The Big Gear Show

Bikebiz reports that PeopleForBikes has joined The Big Gear Show as presenting sponsor.

The Big Gear show describes itself as ‘is an invitation-only, multi-category trade event for the paddlesports, cycling, climbing, and camping markets. We are solely focused on meeting the needs of outdoor shops and gear builders. The demo is fully integrated into the event, so buyers get to paddle, ride bikes, and test gear all day.’

Rad Power Investment

Cycling Industry News again on a huge investment for Rad Power e-bikes; ‘Rad Power Bikes, which lays claim to being North America’s largest e-Bike only brand, has attracted $150 million in investment from institutions such as Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), the Fidelity Management and Research Company and The Rise Fund, among others.’

Riese & Muller Expanding Production Site

Premium e-bike manufacturer Riese & Muller have been in touch to tell us about forthcoming expansion plans:

‘Riese & Müller, the premium manufacturer of E-Bikes and Cargo Bikes, continues to expand and is extending its campus in Mühltal near Darmstadt to include a new building for a number of different departments, from new production units to administrative offices. The building will be built on the eastern part of the company’s land and will provide space for two new production units, the Development and Service department as well as additional offices. The company will also be hiring more than 60 new employees for its E-Bike production by April 2021. The construction work for the new premises will begin in May 2021 and is set to be completed in July 2022. ‘

Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!

-Rich

In this Week’s News:

• Juiced Scorpion Blurs the Line between Bike and eBike
• New Peugeot City Crossover Model
• 50 Cycles Brose-powered 2021 Range
• LEAOS Rocket Powers into the Urban Lightweight Category
• New Stylish Bike Bags from Chrome
• Portland’s Biketown eBike Share Steps up a Gear
• Successful Snow Cycling in Finland
• Vintage eBikes from the UK
• Idaho Stop Coming to New York State?
• All the Latest eBike Biz

New eBikes & eBike Systems

Juiced Scorpion – Bicycle, Moped or eBike?

The Juiced Scorpion was launched at the end of last year and though it looks like a moped-cum-motorcycle it is, legally speaking, a US class 2 and 3 e-bike with throttle assist to 20mph and pedelec style assist to 28mph. It is even marketed under the slogan  Where Moped Meets eBike.

The Juiced HyperScorpion, on the other hand, on the surface looks like pretty much the same bike but the motor rating and top speed make the crucial difference. This point was picked up in this recent interesting Forbes article where the author notes ‘Everyone who sees the Hyper Scorpion asks the same question: “Is… that an electric motorcycle…?” Well, yes, sort of, but it also has pedals and a rear derailleur, like a bicycle. However, the form factor of the Hyper Scorpion is definitely much more akin to recent market entries like the Super 73 ebikes, which have more of a scooter/moped stance, but are also still pedalable ebikes. But as you’ll see, the Hyper Scorpion isn’t just one or the other, it’s really both.’

It does beg the question if current technology allows manufacturers to make e-bikes that double as mopeds should the law be flexible enough to allow an electric moped – bought and run legally as such – to become and electric bike at the flick of a switch? I’m not talking about ultrafast e-bikes here or indeed full speed motorbikes being allowed on bike paths, more low speed mopeds – the Netherlands after all does allow some classes of low speed (petrol or electric) mopeds to travel in some cycle lanes whilst higher speed ‘speed pedelec’ e-bikes and higher speed mopeds are not allowed there.

Peugeot Expands eBike Range with EC01 Crossover

Peugeot launched six crossover style e-bikes last year, crossover being e-bikes that can handle on road and moderate off-road conditions. Their range also incorporates electric road, folding and mountain bike models.

Now comes another crossover model, the EC01 Crossover. It features Bosch Performance CX mid-drive motor,  500Wh Bosch Powertube battery concealed in the frame, 10-speed Shimano Deore derailleur gears and Shimano MT201 hydraulic disc brakes. It’s well-equipped with ‘extras’ too –  front and rear lights, mudguards and  rear rack come as standard. European price is €3,199.

UK’s 50 Cycles Launch New Range

The UK’s 50 Cycles have launched a new range of four own-brand e-bikes and a foldable e-scooter. The bikes range from £2595 to £3995 and all use various models of mid-drive motor from the very well-respected Brose. Video reviews below:

Battle of the Slick Urban Singlespeeds Just Hotted Up Further – Meet the LEAOS Rocket

There are already a plethora of smoothly-designed urban e-bikes that try to hide the fact they are e-bikes – think of models from Van Moof, Cowboy, MODMO, Schindelhauer and COBOC for a start and you see this is something of a continental European trend with the emphasis on design minimalism and light weight.

LEAOS’s Rocket is the latest to enter the fray it offers a small 40Nm rear hub, fully integrated top tube, removable 360 Wh battery, the option of a single speed Gates Belt Drive or eight derailleur gears and hydraulic disk brakes (note some of the aforementioned competitors do not have removable batteries or more than one gear). Options include gravel bike style handlebars and GPS tracking unit. Quoted weight is from16.5 kg , price from €3250 and delivery is touted for February 2021.

Bafang eMTB Update

Recently we looked at how Rob Rides EMTB built up a relatively cheap e-mtb himself using a carbon fibre frame ordered direct from China and a Bafang M500 mid-drive. He’s followed up with a ride test that gave an honest opinion on the highs and lows of the bike.

Accessories

Chrome are known for their high quality apparel and bags.

Infrastructure

Boost for eBike-Only Sharing Program in Portland

We have reported on Portland Oregon’s 1500 strong e-bike only sharing program before but now comes more good news on how it will be run and maintained.

TTI reports that ‘Public transit operator First Transit has entered an agreement with ride-hailing firm Lyft to provide operations for Biketown – the USA’s first all-electric bike share system. The 1,500 bike share system has roughly 140 stations covering 30 square miles. Operations that will be taken on by First Transit include battery monitoring, deployment, retrieval, and general rebalancing of bike inventory.’

Snow on Cycle Lanes

You might think that heavy snow covering cycle lanes scotches most cyclists riding plans. The city of Oulu in Finland clearly has other ideas as you can see in this excellent video from Amsterdam-based Not Just Bikes. Cold is not the issue, snow is not the issue according to Not Just Bikes – yes you guessed it, you just need a proper cycle lane network that is properly looked after by very regular ploughing in winter…

1000km New Infrastructure By 2025 Says Irish Government

Irish Cycle reports that ‘A promise to support up to 248 new jobs focused on walking and cycling infrastructure and promotion was announced by the Department of Transport.’ The article adds ‘…it is expected that up to 218 staff could ultimately be assigned to the new active travel teams across all local authorities with a further 30 additional staff available through the Regional Design Offices.’

However, the article also notes some resistance to the idea of Dutch-style infrastructure, saying ‘The National Transport Authority in Ireland has started a review of the National Cycle Manual, but this comes after long delays in that process and the original drafting of the manual also subject to delay. National Transport Authority has also been reluctant to accept Dutch designs for infrastructure elements such as protected junctions and bicycle priority roundabouts.’

Battery Watch

The UK’s eBiketips has detailed claims from Israeli company StoreDot that it ‘has produced an “extreme fast-charging” battery for electric cars after first demonstrating its technology in electric scooters and phones.

As ever with stories of revolutionary new battery technology EBR sounds a note of caution – reading the detail of the company’s background in car battery research, a piece in the Guardian makes it clear StoreDot’s targets for widespread rollout are still some way down the line; ‘The batteries can be fully charged in five minutes but this would require much higher-powered chargers than used today. Using available charging infrastructure, StoreDot is aiming to deliver 100 miles of charge to a car battery in five minutes in 2025. ‘

eBiketips says ‘StoreDot’s battery replaces the graphite used at the electrode in current lithium-ion batteries with semiconductor nanoparticles into which ions can pass more quickly and easily. These nanoparticles are currently based on germanium, but a second-generation, silicon-dominant prototype battery is due to be unveiled later this year.’

The first acid test of the technology will be StoreDot’s commercial release of a scooter battery due out later in 2021. EBR will keep you posted!

eBike History

UK ebike TV Clip Emerges

If you think e-bikes are a pretty modern invention think again. This 1985 clip tweeted by Vala Afshar shows the idea was touted as the very latest thing back then – in fact e-bikes had been around in the years prior to that. They idea no doubt underwent a minor resurgence in the UK 1985 when Clive Sinclair launched his infamous C5 and the UK law was changed to allow small electric powered vehicles on the road.

1985: Will these new electric bicycles ever catch on? pic.twitter.com/TOEwcN0MPY

— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) January 24, 2021

eBike Law

Will the Idaho Start (or is it Stop…) Get Through New York’s Senate?

Streetsblog reports ‘An upstate State Senator has introduced a bill that would allow cyclists to slow-roll through stop signs and go through red lights after a quick full stop — a safety solution to the problem of cyclists losing forward momentum even if the coast is clear.’

The so-called “Idaho stop” earned its name because Idaho was the first to pass a rule allowing cyclists to keep going and stay ahead of car traffic.

“I have biked to work for years, and I’m always interested in making it safer and more sensible,” said Sen. Rachel May (D-Syracuse), the chief sponsor of the bill, S920.

The article adds ‘Advocates for cyclists and for cycling have long supported the Idaho stop, which is legal in one form or another in five states and several Colorado counties. Arkansas legalized it in 2019. Washington State’s version went into effect late last year.

<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/4140910″>Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/boomhower”>Spencer Boomhower</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

Call for EU Driving Licence to Exclude All 30kmh Vehicles

The European Union is currently reviewing the effectiveness of its driving licence legislation. LEVA-EU is lobbying during the process for any vehicles with a maximum motor speed of 30 km/h (around 19mph) to be exempt from driving licence requirements.

‘The maximum speed limit in current type-approval and driving licence legislation of 25 km/h should be increased to 30 km/h. This limit has become widely introduced in urban areas. An alignment of the speed limit for the vehicles is necessary to allow them to go safely with the traffic flow’ says LEVA-EU.

e-Bike Biz

Trek Making Move on Mike Olson’s Bike Shops?

Bicycle Retailer and Industry Reports that ‘Several industry sources have confirmed that Trek has agreed to buy at least a dozen of Mike Olson’s bike shops, including the six Trek Bicycle Superstore locations in the San Diego area and in Albuquerque, New Mexico, one Nytro Multisport store in Encinitas, California, and the six-store Bike Gallery chain in the Portland area. Olson is believed to be Trek’s largest retailer and one of the largest bike retailers in the country.’

 

In this week’s news:

• Bianchi’s New Sophisticated e-Omnia Range
• Lightweight Launches from Germany’s Möve and Spain’s BH
• Smart Bluetooth Tech Moves
• Skid Detection and Smart Parking for eScooters Plus the UK Debate Hots Up
• All the Latest eBike Biz News

New eBikes & eBike Systems

Bianchi e-Omnia – One Name, three Families and Some Eyecatching Prices

Once known primarily as an Italian brand with a long road racing heritage in recent years Bianchi has moved rapidly into e-bikes. They have now announced e-Omnia, the generic name for their three new lines of e-bike:

 

The C-Type is Bianchi’s take on the electric city bike with prices starting at €3320. There is a choice of 500 or 625Wh batteries. Choose from Shimano’s 1×10 Deore derailleur or their 5-speed hub gears and a host of carrying options.

T- or FT-Type (F meaning full suspension): Blends high quality Suntour and Rocckshox suspension and Shimano hydraulic disk brakes with the option of ABS anti-lock braking. Battery options are 500, 625 Wh or dual battery. From €3370.

X- or FX Type: mountain (FX-Type of course being full-sus). Again ABS braking is an option. There are also Shimano four-piston disc brakes with 203mm discs, 12-speed Shimano Deore or Sram Eagle gearing, Rock Shox or Fox suspension front (160mm) and rear, depending on the model. Battery options are 500, 625 Wh or dual battery. From €3450.

All models use Bosch’s Performance Line CX mid-drive , capable of delivering a maximum torque of 85 Nm, and assistance up to 340% augmentation of pedal effort. The display, integrated into the handlebar, is the Bosch Purion. All models also integrate high visibility lights (40 lux) front and rear which Bianchi claim allow you to see a hundred meters away, and to be seen at 500m.

Bianchi say that because of the plethora of colors, technical features and fittings and other options it’s possible to create over 8,500 possible combinations. The configurator can be found at bianchi.com/e-omnia

Lightweight eBike Launches

Möve’s E-Fly Airy’s stats speak for themselves; 15 kilograms total weight, 250Wh frame-integrated battery and a Range Extender option that can add an extra 208Wh. It uses Mahle’s ebikemotion X35 rear hub motor system rated at 250 watts continuous power and 40 Nm of torque.

Other features include a low maintenance Gates carbon belt drive, hydraulic disc brakes, integrated, high power Supernova LED lighting and a single control button in the top tube with the option of an Apple/android app that can be used to alter power levels or access a Google Maps based navigation system. An SP-Connect smartphone holder makes the latter option easy.

For the security-minded there is a GPS tracker, integrated motion-based alarm and frame lock (the latter can be electrically locked via the app). There are even fold out mirrors in the end of the handlebars.

There are plenty of alternative / upgrade options such as step-thru frame, Pinion bottom bracket gearing, Shimano chain and derailleur gear options and various suspension forks.

Prices start at €3700.

Moving from the city to the trail, Spanish firm BH bikes have launched an e-mtb with a headline-grabbing weight of 16.8kg. Their iLynx Race Carbon naturally has a a carbon frame but also sports their very own design of mid-drive the 2ESMAG with a claimed weight of 2.2kg – as also used in their lightweight Core Carbon e-road bike. The in-frame battery is 540Wh and there is also the option to add a range-extender bottle battery of some 180Wh.

A particularly nice touch is the FIT (Fast Intervention Tool), invisibly concealed in the steerer tube meaning you never forget your range of Allen wrenches, Torx T25, chain tool, chain lock and CO2 inflator. 

Unfortunately BH pulled out of selling e-bikes in the US in 2020 but the bikes are available in Europe. The iLynx carbon covers four different versions from €5,999 to €8,999. 

eBike Tech

eBikes to Talk to Cars?

The Washington Post reports that ‘a consortium of bike and scooter manufacturers (are) coming together to develop and test new safety software that would allow forms of micromobility to communicate with nearby cars. Detroit-based Tome Software spearheaded the initiative in collaboration with companies such as Ford, Trek Bicycle and Bosch.’

The article adds ‘At the core of the effort is a software standard that would allow a wide range of vehicle services to exchange information in real time so that drivers in big cities and congested areas are more aware of riders out of their line of sight. It could also trigger visible alerts on bicycles when cars get too close.’

To give one example of how the Bluetooth 5 based tech might work, Trek say they are adding sensors to detachable taillights that could trigger an “interruptive” flashing light pattern meant to alert motorists. The company says the light is visible at all times of the day and claims studies show that it could decrease bike-related accidents by 33 percent.

eMicromobility

New eScooter Tech

Slashgear reports that ‘Bird revealed that it has rolled out a Skid Detection system to keep an eye on when its scooters experience an unusual skidding situation. There are multiple potential causes behind this, including tires that need to be replaced or too much braking force. Another possibility? ‘Hazardous riding behavior,’ according to the company.’

Meanwhile Cities Today reveals that ‘E-scooter firm TIER has partnered with mapping provider Fantasmo to create what it claims is the world’s most accurate e-scooter parking system. Starting in Paris and York, TIER will implement Fantasmo’s “Camera Positioning System” (CPS), a new positioning technology that is ten times more accurate than GPS and can validate e-scooter parking within 50 centimetres or less using a camera phone. TIER says the new feature will all but eliminate irresponsible parking, an issue which has plagued city authorities globally since e-scooters were first rolled out on streets.’

eScooters for Indianola?

Meanwhile the Des Moines Register reports that ‘Electric scooters could one day hit the streets of Indianola. Indianola City Council members discussed that possibility at their Tuesday night meeting and gave city officials approval to study their usage and whether the city would like to allow private scooter companies to operate in town. Bird, a California-based scooter company, reached out to the city in late 2020 and said the size of Indianola and the presence of Simpson College makes it an ideal city for its scooters.’

UK e-Scooter Debate Hots Up

With licenced e-scooter trials only allowed in the UK there is clearly growing pressure from both retailers and users for full legalisation of individual use of personal e-scooters sooner rather than later. With ‘mainstream’ media reports starting to catalogue isolated incidents of misuse and create a vision of chaos (when in reality thousands of e-scooters are in daily use around the world without incident) it seems those who want to see e-scooters in the UK legalised think the time to act is now, normalising their use with the introduction of clear laws, before too distorted and negative picture is painted.

A string of contrasting stories at ebiketips sums up the overreactions perfectly; firstly a senior Metropolitan policeman appears to have politicised the issue by ‘suggesting that anyone who received an e-scooter as a Christmas gift should return it’ whilst a subsequent story described how another senior police officer in the West Country described the rollout of e-scooter hire there as a “policing non-event” adding that he now saw himself “the biggest convert out of everybody”.

To their credit the UK government has put online a list of detailed technical requirements aimed at making the trials successful but the critical question of if, when and how e-scooters may be legalised remains opaque, with the same website stating:

‘The intention is then for trials to run for 12 months, with the trial period beginning in each area as and when e-scooters become available to the public. The option for trials to continue beyond this 12-month period will be built into the legal mechanism, but any extension would be subject to local/national government agreement.’

With London trials due only to begin this spring the prospect of private users having to wait many more months before the government even begins to look at the question must seem incredibly frustrating, especially as the introduction of the trials themselves was fast-tracked to provide a means of healthy safe transport at the start of the Covid pandemic. The irony of the seemingly needlessly-extended nature of the process taking place when the UK has just recorded its highest tally of daily Covid-related deaths seems particularly poignant.

Just how valuable a role e-scooters can play in helping people get about safely and enjoy themselves at the same time – and the absurdity of the current situation of countless Londoners using them, illegally but largely without problems, on a daily basis – is summed up by this great video by our friends over at electroheads:

eBike Biz

European eBike Sales to Overtake Car Sales?

Leva-EU reports that ‘in 2019, Taiwan has taken the lead in the export of electric bicycles 25 km/h to the EU. Exports increased by 80% to almost 390,000. This was of course due to the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Chinese e-bikes. This forced companies assembling in China to move their operations. Some of them crossed the Formosa Strait to set up shop in Taiwan.’

Though dwarfed by the scale of Taiwanese imports, there were notable increases in e-bike imports from Indonesia and Turkey into the EU in 2019 with both countries registering increases in terms of units imported of several hundred percent.

Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!

-Rich