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What’s important on an e-bike to you? In the early days the answer might simply have been a motor and battery that work well and last. For the vast majority for reputable companies these questions are really taken as given.

Nowadays the focus has moved to a whole host of new questions and really it boils down to how many ‘extras’ you want or need, as exemplified by new e-bikes featured this week. Do you want a quick fold and good size battery, like the Fiido X has? Or maybe off-roaders want top performance form the latest mid-drive out there and tech specs that will stand up to toughest mtb performance, typified by the Nukeproof’s new Megawatt e-mtb….then again you might want a low maintenance but high tech city bike with retro chic and anti-theft technology, typified by Netherland’s sleek looking Veloretti machines.

In this week’s news:

• Fiido to crowdfund innovative e-folder
• Nukeproof’s new Shimano EP8-powered e-mtb
• Veloretti combines e-bike chic with high-tech
• First Indian e-bikes come to Europe
• Bosch’s new and quite pricey domain name
• Bird gets into e-bikes
• E-bike share boom in the US

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Fiido X, Nukeproof and Veloretti plus Bird’s New E-bike

TUSTIN, Calif. — In electric bikes, Bianchi this week went from zero to 100.

The 133-year-old Italian bike manufacturer on Monday formally released its full lineup of e-bikes to the U.S. market, a lineup centered around the e-Omnia triad of e-bikes that includes a touring model, city model and full-suspension eMTB.

Bianchi dropped a total of six new e-bike models during the premier event, including several high-end performance variations that you’d expect from a company known best for its thoroughbred race bikes. Those included an all-mountain eMTB called the T-Tronic, the ultralight (~26 lb) E-Aria electric road bike and the aluminum-framed E-Impulso electric gravel bike. But, while the company’s heritage of competition and speed was on full display, center stage of it all was the E-Omnia family and its focus on form, function, safety and sustainable everyday transportation.

“This is the beginning of a shift at Bianchi,” Pat Hus, CEO of Bianchi USA said at the event. “We are a company that’s been a road race company for years and years and years. We’re not stupid though; we know the market is changing and we know we need to be in the e-bike space, and this is just the beginning of that.”

[Read more…] about Bianchi E-Omnia Premier

Ribble hit the headlines a few months ago after producing an ultralight e-bike with a claimed weight of 10.5kg / 23lbs. Their two new e-bikes, at 17.5 / 38.5lbs and 19.5kg / 42.9lbs are much heavier but for fully-equipped e-bikes for more utilitarian use they are pretty light. Mokumono are a Dutch firm who also look like they enjoy doing things their own way and this week we detail the unique design behind their latest e-bike. And talking of unusual designs you can also learn about a funky looking shaft drive e-bike from California in the shape of the Igogomi range.

In this week’s news:

• Ribble launches two new lightweight, fully-equipped e-bikes
• Mokumono’s unique new e-bike
• Igogomi shaft design
• Colorado’s new solar-powered e-bikes
• Manchester’s large new bike and e-bike share scheme
• Bikmo lowers insurance costs
• Lyft’s new share e-bike unveiled
• E-scooter share from Unagi and Lift in Europe (Superpedestrian)

[Read more…] about E-bike News: Ribble Lightweights, Mokumono Innovation, Igogomi Shaft Drive, Colorado Solar Charging and Much More

We have speed for you this week in the form of Gazelle’s new class 3, 28mph belt drive e-bike, lightness and versatility with a new German e-bike from Rose and a great value looking folding e-fat bike from Italy. There’s a deep dive video into the role cobalt plays in e-bike batteries and plenty of e-micromobility developments are afoot too.

In this week’s news:

• Gazelle’s fastest belt drive launched
• Rose launches lightweight range with Shimano’s powerful EP8 mid-drive
• Wayel’s new e-fat folder
• Extra large battery from BMZ and background on cobalt in batteries
• Spin’s new share e-bike launches in Providence, Rhode Island
• Helbiz e-sccoters get Italian styling from Pininfarina
• Swedish subscription e-bike raises US$11 million

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Gazelle Class 3 Belt Drive, Rose Lightweight, Wayel E-fat Bike and Much More!

It’s never too late to get on the evermore popular e-bike train, as one of the US’s oldest, most respected and well-run firms has confirmed this week, with their launch of a line of both e-bikes and e-scooters. Less convincing perhaps is the ‘reannouncement’ of a new e-cargobike from one of the world’s best known automotive brands.

There’s plenty of innovation too, from airbag jackets for cyclists to car style, roll up and plug in charging points about to be rolled out in the UK.

In this week’s news:

• Radio Flyer’s new e-bikes and e-scooters
• Trek Hosts a Nationwide Pride Event
• VW Announce E-cargobike launch (again…)
• Cirrus airbag safety jacket gets off to a flying start on Kickstarter
• Spelsberg aims to bring e-bike charge points to the UK
• E-scooter news; Voi survey shows popularity whilst Raine refuses deposits return

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Radio Flyer E-bikes and E-scooters, VW E-Cargobike, Trek Pride Ride & More

Further proof that simple and lightweight e-bikes are an increasingly important area of the e-bike world this week with details of the Torque 1 from the US and a joint collaboration from the UK’s Bikeworks and Revolutionworks.

Novel lock designs also feature heavily in the never ending quest to make them more effective and lighter. And if you want to know where to find the best city cycle lanes in the US just read on….

In this week’s news:

• Torque 1, affordable torque-sensing e-power
• Ji-Move II, the new mini e-bike with high spec and low price
• Lightweight e-bike collaboration from Bristol UK firms
• Woom kids’ e-bikes come to the US
• New accessories; Schwalbe cargo tire, two innovative locks
• City News; E-bike hire for London, Bird 3rd gen e-scooter and People for Bikes’ new city ratings

One of the world’s largest bicycling events is nearing after a more than year-long hiatus; some e-bike companies were bought and sold; and U.S. lawmakers took positive steps to make our roads safer as Europe reported the fewest pedestrian road deaths on record.

Those things and more in this week’s news roundup.

In this week’s news:

• Registration for Sea Otter Classic nears after COVID hiatus
• European road fatalities fall to all time low
• Transportation bill moves forward with funding for cycling, walking infrastructure
• QuietKat acquired by Vista Outdoor, owner of several well-known outdoor brands
• Luxury e-bike brand Stromer also gets bought
• Support people for bikes, (maybe) win a Stromer

Registration for one of the United States’ largest bicycling events is set to open next month after being postponed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Sea Otter Classic registration date set, Stromer and QuietKat have new owners, EU road fatalities hit all time low & much more!