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Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Bill Considered by Congress

To the degree that e-bikes have been in the media lately, much of the news has centered on fires caused by low-quality lithium-ion batteries. Existing evidence suggests low-quality e-scooters and other micromobility devices and repaired batteries are the cause of these fires, as our previous reporting has shown. This overhyped and inaccurate reporting may lead to some good, though. There’s a new legislative effort being mounted to reduce the risk of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. So while it’s inaccurate to point to e-bikes as the cause of these fires, we welcome any effort to ensure consumer safety.

Following hearings held by the Consumer Product Safety Commission the House of Representatives introduced a bill, HR 1797, called the “Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act.” The bill’s intent is to give the CPSC the power to mandate lithium-ion battery standards. What this means is that UL 2271 could become the law of the land, not just a very smart recommendation.

Simultaneously, the Senate has taken up the issue. A similar bill, S.1008, has been referred to the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Should both of these bills pass, they would go to reconciliation where they would be rewritten into a single bill that would then land on President Biden’s desk.

Propella Mini Max Spec Review 2024

Mini But Mighty? Propella Introduces Small Utility E-Bike With A Great Value Proposition

The $1000 price point is a difficult threshold to beat. It’s hard to produce an e-bike where the motor, battery and the rest of the electronics don’t eat $600 of the e-bike’s retail cost. Strategies to get there mean shaving costs by reducing the motor’s power, reducing the battery’s capacity, eliminating the multi-speed drivetrain (going with a single gear) and/or going with mechanical disc brakes or other cable-pulled brakes. Most accessories get eliminated as well. In our review of Propella’s new Mini Max e-bike, we will look at how they employed most of these strategies to introduce an e-bike with a sub-$1000 price—and that’s its full price.

The Propella Mini Max begins with a 6000-series aluminum step-thru frame built around 20-in. wheels for agile handling. Propelling the Mini Max is a 350W brushless, geared hub motor that tops out at 550W and produces 45Nm of torque. A 355Wh battery powers the motor and is estimated to offer riders a range of 20-40 mi., depending on the PAS level. Propella went with a single-speed drivetrain and Shimano mechanical disc brakes.

Bern Major Bike Helmet Review, 2024

A Straightforward, No-Nonsense Helmet with Style and Sun Protection

There’s often an elegance in simplicity, which multi-sport helmet manufacturer Bern seems to have applied to its Major bike helmet. The Major keeps things simple without many of the bells and whistles that we often see on helmets from newer brands trying to reinvent the wheel. In this Bern Major helmet review, we explain why we think it does its job, feels comfortable to wear, and looks great too!Before we dive into the helmet’s feel, let’s focus on its price tiers and safety ratings. To be clear, this is not a helmet that is rated for e-bikes (unlike some of the brand’s other helmets we reviewed including the Hudson). At the highest price level, it does, however, meet many of the same safety standards. Most importantly, the Major offers the option for a yellow MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) layer that reduces rotational forces from an impact. The helmet also received a 5 STAR rating from the Helmet Lab at Virginia Tech, indicating the testing facility’s best possible score for the reduction of concussion risk.

*Bern is sharing a special discount with the EBR audience. Get an additional 20% off your purchase applied at checkout when you click the button above.

Bern Hudson Bike Helmet Review, 2024

A Flashy, Stylish, and Roomy Helmet with Impressive Safety Certifications

When you’re riding an e-bike capable of speeds well above 20 miles per hour, a regular bike helmet just doesn’t cut the mustard. Maximum protection is paramount, which is why the Bern Hudson is specifically rated for e-bikes and includes multiple safety features and certifications that back up its effectiveness. Find out what other features separate this helmet from the rest in this Bern Hudson helmet review!

The Hudson’s safety features range from the ever-important MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) layer that can reduce the likelihood of concussions to NTA-8776 certification that rates the helmet for safety up to 45km/h or 27.96 mph. Additionally, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, which tests the concussion risk reduction value of bike helmets, awarded the Hudson its maximum rating of 5 STARs (Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk). The lab can’t guarantee that you won’t get a concussion – but this is as close to a guarantee as you can get.

Pacific Cycle Recalls 2 E-Bikes

Ascend Cabrillo

Pacific Cycle is recalling two models of e-bike due to improper assembly that can result in a fire. There have been three reports of fires, and one injury involving second-degree burns.

The recall covers the Ascend Cabrillo and Minaret models, which affects about 1700 e-bikes. Owners of these e-bikes should stop using them immediately and leave them unplugged. Pacific Cycle will issue refunds to the affected owners. The affected e-bikes carry the model numbers R7583BPS and R7585BPS (Ascend Cabrillo) and R7586BPS (Ascend Minaret).

The e-bikes were sold at Bass Pro and Cabela’s stores between January and November 2023.

E-Bike News Roundup, 1/19 to 1/26/24

This week we saw two bikes sold at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s recalled due to a risk of fire as a result of incorrect assembly. Canyon Bikes introduced the 2024 Spectral:ON CF 7, an impressive eMTB. Officials in Spearfish, S.D., take on the issue of how or whether to legislate e-bike use in their town. An innovative new add-on e-bike motor, called Skarper has been developed by a company in the U.K. Canadian company LMX has introduced an e-bike they say splits the difference between eMTB and e-motorcycle.

In this week’s e-bike news:

Canyon’s Spectral:ON CF 7 gets a 2024 update
Skarper: A Conversion Kit That Motorizes the disc brake!?
LMX introduces an eMTB with dual drivetrains
Pacific Cycles recalls two e-bikes
Local tows still mulling e-bike ordinances

LMX Introduces eMTB With 2 Drivetrains

Canadian manufacturer LMX has introduced a novel eMTB meant to address the stress that powerful mid-drive motors place on the drivetrain. The LMX 64 employs a mid-drive motor that turns a gear on the rear wheel’s non-drive side. They bill it as, “eMTB meets moto.”

LMX was recently in the news because the French military is considering one of their eMTBs and one of their e-motorcycles for use on the battlefield.

The LMX 64 is a high-end, full-suspension eMTB (it retails for more than $7000) with a surprising use of a proprietary mid-drive motor. The motor, made by LMX, is a 2500W brushless, geared unit that uses a belt running between the non-drive side of the e-bike (left side) and a freewheel on the rear wheel to provide assistance. It is powered by an 850Wh semi-integrated battery that LMX estimates will give riders up to 62 mi. (100km) of range.

Yamaha Wabash RT E-Bike Review, 2024

This powerful, well-crafted e-bike makes gravel riding accessible and fun!

With a name that means “water flowing over white rocks,” it would only be right that the Wabash RT would be Yamaha’s fluid, responsive gravel e-bike. We were impressed after reviewing the brand’s CrossCore RC city/commuter e-bike, so we had high expectations from this offering. Read our thoughts in this Yamaha Wabash RT review!

At the center of the bike’s riding experience is its PW Series ST mid-drive motor. Also made by Yamaha, this 250-watt drive unit makes pedaling easy, but preserves the analog feel of a non-electric bike. With four types of sensors to inform its motor, we think dedicated cyclists will quickly get hooked on the bike’s traditional yet powerful feel.

The Wabash RT gains other benefits from its heritage; with 30 years of experience and separate divisions for motors and batteries, Yamaha clearly knows how to maximize the efficiency of its components. The pairing of the bike’s 250W mid-drive and 500 watt-hour (Wh) battery allowed us to ride for a frankly ridiculous number of miles before needing to refuel!

When riding on doubletrack, we appreciated the stability and control granted by its flared 44cm drop bars. The drops themselves, which measure 55cm center-to-center, helped us to steer precisely while providing easy access to the brake and shift levers.

These are just a few elements that stood out to us during our time on the bike. To see how it performed in our Speed, Brake, Range, and Hill Tests, check out our full Yamaha Wabash RT review below!

Skarper: Innovative Kit Turns Ordinary Bikes Into E-Bikes Using Disc Brake

Most e-bike conversion kits have, until now, been unwieldy devices that aren’t easy to install and result in a cluttered array of leads running from the motor to the handlebar. We’ve looked at conversion kits and examined their many pros and cons. One new innovation aims to improve upon that.

Skarper is a new motor that mounts to the rear of a bicycle and uses a special disc brake motor to propel the newly minted e-bike. To use Skarper, a rider replaces their rear disc brake rotor (just the rotor, not the caliper) with Skarper’s special DiskDrive, in which a proprietary gearbox is housed within the brake rotor’s mounting area.

Skarper houses the motor and battery within a small unit that attaches to the frame. The motor drives the DiskDrive rotor. The obvious question is what that does to the rear brake, but Skarper says that the brake functions as normal.
[Read more…] about Skarper: Innovative Kit Turns Ordinary Bikes Into E-Bikes Using Disc Brake

Four Tips for Winter E-Bike Riding

Winter riding isn’t as much fun as riding during spring and summer months when the weather is nice, but for the dedicated commuter, riding when the weather is cold can be rewarding for a number of reasons. First, it cuts down on that gas bill, and saving money is always handy. Second, for those of us trying to improve our health by riding rather than driving, year-round exercise is a win. And for those of us who need to correct for all that holiday eating, and possibly drinking, riding on e-bike is one of the best ways to burn those pie calories.

But riding in the winter requires a slightly different game plan than riding in warmer weather. Here at Electric Bike Report we’ve got a few tips that will make winter riding more enjoyable.

Keep the battery inside

Most of us store our e-bike outside or in a garage. While those are appropriate places for an e-bike, lithium-ion batteries don’t perform well in cold temperatures. During a recent blast of cold air that gripped much of the nation, there were widespread reports of EVs suffering from reduced range.

Engineers we’ve spoken with suggest keeping your e-bike’s battery indoors for both charging and storage. The ideal temperature range for both charging and storing is between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Bill Considered by Congress

Propella Mini Max Spec Review 2024

Mini But Mighty? Propella Introduces Small Utility E-Bike With A Great Value Proposition

Bern Major Bike Helmet Review, 2024

A Straightforward, No-Nonsense Helmet with Style and Sun Protection

Bern Hudson Bike Helmet Review, 2024

A Flashy, Stylish, and Roomy Helmet with Impressive Safety Certifications

Pacific Cycle Recalls 2 E-Bikes

E-Bike News Roundup, 1/19 to 1/26/24

LMX Introduces eMTB With 2 Drivetrains

Yamaha Wabash RT E-Bike Review, 2024

This powerful, well-crafted e-bike makes gravel riding accessible and fun!

Skarper: Innovative Kit Turns Ordinary Bikes Into E-Bikes Using Disc Brake

Four Tips for Winter E-Bike Riding

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Mini But Mighty? Propella Introduces Small Utility E-Bike With A Great Value Proposition

A Straightforward, No-Nonsense Helmet with Style and Sun Protection

A Flashy, Stylish, and Roomy Helmet with Impressive Safety Certifications

This powerful, well-crafted e-bike makes gravel riding accessible and fun!

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