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Electric Bike Reviews, News, and Information; plus e-bike riding and maintenance tips!

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Electric Bike News

eBike News: Diamondback and Cannondale Speed Pedelcs, eBike Hydrofoils & Much More!

In this week’s news:

Class 3 e-bikes – or speed pedelecs as they are known in Europe – seem to be flavour of the moment, with no less than five new models from quality brand names appearing on the scene this week. There is also further evidence, this time from the UK, of the trend for ‘crossover’ e-bikes or those that blend attributes from different traditional genres of bike in an attempt to make an e-bike that ‘does more’ and will appeal to a wider audience. And if you have ever wondered how you can e-bike on water this week’s news will tell you just how!

  • New Class 3 28mph Machines from Diamondback and Cannondale
  • Cairn’s New BRAVe 2.0
  • Cycling Between England’s Cathedrals and Across New Zealand’s Cook Strait (by eHydrofoil!)
  • England & Wales Bike Theft Heat Map
  • Driving Ban for Drunk UK eScooter Rider
  • Portland’s Hawthorne Avenue Bike Lane Controversey
  • Bikebiz Tells the Story of Chinese eBikes
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New eBikes & eBike Systems

Diamondback Goes Electric

Diamondback has announced an all-new four e-bike model offering as part of their spring 2021 lineup and all bikes are powered by Bosch mid-drives. Diamondback has stayed away from hardcore full-suspension off-road models with its first four e-bikes which are:

Response

A class 3 (28mph) e-bike with large volume tires and high quality Judy Gold front suspension fork, inframe 500Wh battery,Shimano 10-speed drivetrain and Magura hydraulic disc brakes – high quality indeed and a spec that would also be fine for trail riding, witness the video below!

RRP US$4100

The Response is a Class 3 e-bike made for city and trail

Union 1

Clearly designed as a city bike, it features and in-frame 400Wh battery, 10-speed Shimano drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, wide 27.5-in tires and includes rack and fenders. Class 3, 28mph.

RRP US$3,500.

The Union 1 is an out and out city bike

Union 2

Similar to the Union 1 but with upgraded Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and the inclusion of built-in LED lighting, a Bosch Kiox colour display and a larger 500Wh battery

RRP US$4100

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Diamondback’s take on a 28mph assisted gravel bike with 500Wh battery.

RRP US$4100

Diamondback are certainly saying these bikes can perform judged on the launch video:

Cannondale Launch New 28mph, Class 3 Model – Tesoro Neo X Speed

Class 3 certainly seem to be flavour of the month, as Cannondale has just rolled out their latest e-bike, a class 3 28mph assisted model featuring Bosch’s Performance Line Speed mid-drive. The motor system on the new Tesoro Neo X Speed has impressive stats of 340% assist in Turbo setting and a max torque of 85Nm (Newton Meters).

It comes with a 625Wh in-frame battery but is described as being ‘dual-battery-ready’ and comes in four frame sizes. There’s also a Suntour Raidon 100mm travel fork, Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain, and Magura MTNext hydraulic disc brakes with brake lights.

Bike weight is quoted as 58.5lbs / 26.6kg. Total weight rating of rider, e-bike and equipment is 330lbs / 150 kg. RRP is 6,199 euros according to some internet sources (that’s around US$7320).

Of course class 3 speed pedelecs do have some downsides; you may be limited to which particular bike paths you can go on (all depending on state laws in the US and Canada or national laws in Europe) and they also tend to use your battery reserves up more quickly as more assisted speed means significantly more battery use.

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The latest Cannondale is aimed at those who want 28mph assisted riding

Cairn’s New ‘Category Defying’ eBikes

UK brand Cairn have released the BRAVe line of two ebikes that they describe as ‘A 21st century take on the touring bike’ adding ‘the BRAVe takes all the great features of gravel and mountain bikes and combines them into one do-it-all bike’.

Both models – a drop bar and a straight bar version use Shimano E7000 mid-drives – the company’s more affordable and slightly less powerful e-mtb capable mid-drive (topped in power only by their E8000 and EP8 mid-drives). The E7000 has garnered impressive reviews. Both have a semi-integrated

The BRAVe will be available in sizes S up to XL with RRPs of £2,189 for the 2.0 Flat Bar model and £2,550 for the 1.0 Drop Bar model.

Cairn BRAVe flat bar version

Ride Inspiration

Ride By All English Cathedrals

The UK’s Bikebiz reports that a new UK cycle route linking every English cathedral is set to be launched in Bike Week (May 30th-June5th), thanks to a partnership between the Association of English Cathedrals, the British Pilgrimage Trust, Cycling UK and Sustrans. It will link all 42 Church of England cathedrals in a new initiative to promote greener travel and mental and physical wellbeing.

According to Bikebiz ‘The 2,000-mile Cathedrals Cycle Route is the invention of academic, entrepreneur and keen cyclist Shaun Cutler from Northumbria University and is designed to help us all out of lockdown with opportunities for short cycle rides between cathedrals, new partnerships and fundraising for physical and mental wellbeing activities.’

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York Minster is just one of the cathedrals visited en route (copyright R Peace)

Hydrofoil eBike Pedals Between New Zealand’s Main Islands

Stuff’s New Zealand version reports on a ‘successful first attempt of crossing Cook Strait on an e-water bike. The Waikato based Manta5 team crossed the 26 kilometre (16 mile) piece of water on Tuesday with Hayden Reeves in the saddle.’ It took them two hours and twenty minutes.

If you are wondering just what a hydrofoil e-bike all is revealed in this video:

eBike Security

Bikmo’s Theft Hotspot Heatmap

Cycle insurance specialist Bikmo has launched a heat map that demonstrates just where bike and e-bike thefts occurred in England and Wales throughout 2020. Perhaps not surprisingly areas in cycling hotspot London came out top in the bike thefts per 100,000 people stats, though curiously some provincial cities ranked much higher than others, with Manchester coming near the bottom.

eMicromobility

Driving Ban for UK eScooter Rider

The UK’s Nottingham Post reports that ‘An elite level hockey player has been banned from driving after he was caught over the drink drive limit riding an e-scooter.’

After police spotted a pair of rental e-scooters being ridden erratically in the early hours of the morning a man was arrested and taken to the local police station where a second breath test showed he had 72 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – slightly more than double the legal limit.

It appears – probably like many e-scooter riders in the UK – that the 19 year old defendant didn’t realised he was effectively driving a vehicle on the same legalfooting as a car or motorbike. He had a clean driving licence, pleaded guilty, was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 plus court costs of £85.

Only government sanctioned rental scooters are legal to use on UK roads (like the Wind ones in this case) and even they, as the above demonstrates, they are subject to motor vehicle law in many instances.

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Wind scooters come with an integrated helmet

Infrastructure

Pressure Builds on Portland City Hall over Hawthorne Avenue Bike Lanes

Portland, Oregon is well-known as one of the most pro-active biking cities in the US. But even there cycling activists sometimes need to fight their corner to promote bike safety it seems.

Streetsblog carries this detailed post on a scheme for a section of heavily-trafficked and dangerous Hawthorne Boulevard and City Hall’s transport bureau’s strange reluctance to introduce segregated bike lanes.

As the article explains, ‘Hawthorne is an extremely dangerous street for people walking, biking, and driving (it’s one of the city’s High Crash Streets and sees hundreds of crashes every year)…’

As the article makes clear, there is a ‘shovel ready’ plan for a cycle lane but PBOT (Portland Bureau of Transportation) seems to have rejected this relying on ‘racial equity and climate justice claims—that not only weren’t grounded in any facts, but run completely orthogonal to data-supported equity- and climate-friendly urban planning best practices—to justify a street design that data shows will decrease safety (and/or maintain currently unsafe conditions), and maintain current inequitable and anti-climate outcomes’.

No doubt there are many similar controversies across the US but being in one of the US’s ‘bike capitals’ it makes it even more important to send out the right message to those looking to follow the example of a truly bike friendly city.

eBike Law

‘Bafang has received a UK Conformity Assessment Marking (UKCA) from TUV SUD Certification and Testing (China) Co., an international third-party testing, inspection and certification institution. It indicates that Bafang’s Central Motor Drive System M200 (M200) conforms to the latest market access requirements of the UK. It is also the first UKCA certificate issued by TUV SUD to China’s e-bike industry’ reports the UK’s Bikebiz.

eBike Biz

Pierrer Mobility and Varta Cooperate on eBike Batteries

According to Bike Europe ‘Pierer Mobility, known for their Husqvarna, R Raymon and Gasgas e-bikes and battery manufacturer Varta have joined a strategic cooperation. The two companies aim to collaborate more closely in the e-mobility sector with a strong focus on the development of highly efficient battery systems for electric two-wheelers.’

As the article details, Varta had previously entered the e-bike market only to withdraw, so this joint enterprise represents their re-entry.

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Chinese eBikes

China has long been ahead of the pack when it comes to e-bikes – in terms of mass adoption at least, with use there dwarfing e-bike use in all other countries. As early as the 1960s Mao Zedong’s infamously radical communist government was experimenting with the e-bike’s potential though the technology was clearly not ready to power a great leap forward. By 1991 the governemnt’s National Science Board named e-bikes as one of the ten key scientific development priority projects in the 9th Five Year Plan.

All hasn’t always gone smoothly though; initial success after official promotion in 1990s saw a backlash as various cities attempted to ban e-bikes due to widespread flouting of weight and speed restrictions – in reality may early e-bikes were more akin to speedy electric mopeds. In one single crackdown Changsa city traffic police are said to have handed out 60,000 tickets in five days for illegal use of e-bikes. Another notable problem that emerged was them mass of lead acid batteries used in 95% or early e-bikes; when discarded it was estimated they emitted more highly damaging lead into the atmosphere than many other forms of transport.

The story has recently been updated by this Bloomberg article. It reveals there are some 300 million electric bikes on China’s roads and predicts ‘that number is predicted to surge on the back of rising popularity and policy initiatives.’ Despite being the world’s largest car market, it appears there is still plenty of mileage left in e-bikes as their popularity has surged recently following the trend in many other areas of the world:

‘The number of electric-bike makers in China underscores the sector’s potential. There were around 51,600 e-bike manufacturers registered in China in 2020, up 83% from 2019, government data show. And 223,000 companies were in businesses related to the electric-bike industry as of February. Investors have cottoned on. Shares of Yadea, a Shanghai-based, Hong Kong-listed company that designs and makes electric scooters and bikes, have risen almost 815% over the past 12 months; Jiangsu-based Ezgo Technologies, which is listed on Nasdaq and which makes e-bikes with lithium batteries, soared 350% in its trading debut in January.’

It also appears that new laws are finally having an impact and have also contributed to the sales surge, as the article tells us ‘New nationwide standards around electric bikes were introduced in April 2019, governing things like a bicycle’s weight, maximum speed and nominal voltage. Two-wheelers that don’t comply don’t get registered. Given an e-bike’s lifecycle tends to be about three years, many consumers are on the lookout for a new set of e-wheels that ticks all the boxes.’

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

Rich

Early Chinese e-bikes were more akin to mopeds

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eBike News: Specialized, Gocycle, & Ribble Launch New E-Bikes, Aramid eBikes and Much More!

In this week’s news:

A busy week for the electric bike world with new bikes debuting from some of the better known manufactures from the US and the UK. Gocycle announced an update to their award-winning lineup with the G4. Meanwhile, Specialized’s Turbo Como SL packs quite a lot into a bike that weighs in at less than 40 lbs. Ribble also joined the lightweight e-bike news with their gravel bike that managed to stay below 30 lbs. In addition to bike announcements, there were some fascinating advancements in bike tech with noteworthy frame and belt innovation. Here’s a quick look at all of the biggest news of the week:

  • Specialized’s 17kg Fully Equipped Turbo Como SL
  • Gocycle Launch Lighter 4th Gen eFolder
  • 3V’s Aramid Reinforced eBikes
  • Eovolt eFolders 2021 UK Prices
  • Splittable Belt Drive Veer on Funding Drive
  • Tech Developments from Biketrax GPS and Bosch’s COBI
  • Plus all the latest eBike Law and Business News
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New eBikes & eBike Systems

New Specialized Lightweight City Bikes Announced

Specialized just launched their latest e-bike to utilise their own brand lightweight mid-drive, the Turbo Como SL electric commuter bike.

You can read more details in our full report here but in summary it is a Class 3 e-bike with pedal assistance up to 28 mph and weighs a claimed 17kg / 37.5lbs – that certainly is pretty light for an e-bike with 320Wh integrated downtube battery, integrated lights, rack system and fenders.

Prices start from $4,000 / £3500.

It’s lightweight but practical too – meet Specialized’s Turbo Comp SL

GoCycle Launch 4th Generation Model – New Motor and 1kg Lighter Overall

Gocycle say their new G4 range – G4, G4i and G4i+ – will ‘set a new standard for lightweight design, innovation and performance in the portable urban e-bike segment.’ EBR has a full report on the launch here.

The main new features of the range are the G4drive Electric Motor with more torque and standing start ability, lightweight Carbon Fibre mid-frame and single-sided Carbon Fibre front fork, MotoGP-inspired treaded tyre with silica compound for superior grip, integrated USB Port (1amp USB charger for phone charging on the go) and low energy Bluetooth ­for improved phone and Gocycle app connectivity.

Gocycle say the accumulated weight savings of the new developments amount to around 1kg. Prices start at $3,999 / £3,399.

The ‘iPhone of ebikes’ the GoCycle just got lighter and more powerful

Ribble

Yet another major brand launches a new line – this time it’s the UK’s Ribble, known for their excellent value, high quality and lightweight bikes and e-bikes. Their all-new electric gravel bike the Gravel AL e has a claimed weight of just under 14kg / 30lbs and features Mahle’s very discreet X35+ rear hub motor system. You are hard pressed to tell it’s an e-bike at all. Prices from £2699 / $3,100 (shipped direct from the UK).

EBR have more detail here.

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It’s light and you can hit the forest tracks on one – Ribble’s ALe

3V Claims World’s First Aramid Reinforced eBike

3V, now crowdfunding on Indiegogo, claim their Aramid-framed 3V Karbon e-bike is ‘3X stronger than a pure carbon fiber frame’ and ’66X stronger than a steel frame’.

You might be more familiar with Aramid through one of its brand names such as Kevlar, Nomex and Twaron and its uses in bullet-proof vests or Kevlar reinforced anti-puncture bike tyres. I’m no materials scientist, but it appears that Aramid alone has not been used in bike frames as, whilst shock resistant, it is not particularly stiff and doesn’t sound an ideal candidate for transferring pedal power to your wheels. Reading between the lines it seems the 3V frame is carbon fibre reinforced with Aramid.

More conventionally there is a 350W rear hub motor and a 500W Bafang mid drive motor option both paired with a frame-integrated 720Wh frame-integrated and removeable battery. Cable runs look nicely frame-integrated. Shifting is courtesy of a 10 speed Shimano Deore derailleur and there also Shimano hydraulic disk brakes.

Claimed weight is 20.5kg which is certainly not mind-blowingly light for an e-bike but not bad for one with a good sized 720Wh battery and front suspension and off-road tyres.

Early bird offers from $1699 and whilst shipping dates are recent there appears to be some updates on the site indicating delays to deliveries of key components (hardly surprising given the world shortage of e-bikes, bikes and bike parts). 3V’s website indicates a factory address in Shenzen, China.

With the use of Kevlar style fibers in the frame the 3V Karbon e-bike really can claim bulet-proof credentials

Video

Eovolt Expands eFolding Range

Bikebiz reports on Eovolt’s expanded range of e-folders. Eovolt are made in France but also available in the UK.

Exisitng 2020 models are still there – the City (which becomes the City One) and the Confort, with 16 inch and 20inch size wheels respectively. Compact and pretty lightweight, they stand out because of their battery-in-the-seatpost design.

2021 new models are:

Eovolt e-folders are lightweight and portable even when not folded

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eBike Tech

Spliced Belt Drive Now Crowdfunding

Veer markets itself as the first aftermarket belt drive for bikes and e-bikes and indeed all electric vehicles and works by using a split link design.

Veer say their ‘Split Belt Drive is intended to replace aftermarket metal chains and secure partnerships with LEV manufacturers. The groundbreaking technology removes barriers to entry by allowing belt drive to work with existing vehicle designs, making these alternative forms of transportation accessible to more people.’

Veer has announced the launch of its equity crowdfunding campaign on the Start Engine platform to raise funds that would be allocated toward boosting existing production and finalizing development of their new multi-speed belt drive.

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BikeTrax GPS Tracker Now for Brose

BikeTrax’s anti-theft GPS tracker is a clever little device installed in a motor compartment and ‘nvisible to thieves from the outside. If you you e-bike is disturbed the tracker sends a motion alarm to the associated PowUnity app.

BikeTrax manufacturers, PowUnity have expanded the range of motors the GPX tracker is compatible with; in addition to trackers for e-bikes with Bosch, Shimano and Brose motors for Specialized e-bikes, PowUnity has now also optimised BikeTrax for all other e-bikes with Brose motors.

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Bosch Adds More Functions to COBI App

The COBI. Bike App from Bosch eBike Systems now offers even more features according to several German language media reports. Among other things, the new free function “Rydies” is integrated, which helps in the search for the next public charging station. Thanks to the integration of Rydies, the app now displays the nearest public charging stations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a map and then navigates directly there.

Also new is the “SKS” module. This is a tire pressure calculator from SKS Germany, in which e-bikers can calculate the optimum air pressure based on data such as the bike type, the weight of the rider and the tyre size.

COBI is Bosch’s e-bbike to smartphone connection portal that allows you to safely scroll through screens on the COBI with options to show detail on things like e-bike metrics, fitness and weather as well as allowing you to remotely take calls.

eMicromobility

Lime Launches App-less eScooter Hire in Cities Worldwide

Micromobilitybiz reports on how ‘Lime scooters can now be rented in cities around the world without riders opening or downloading the Lime app’

There is still a smartphone involved – ‘Through Apple’s App Clips and Android’s Instant App features, riders can approach a scooter, scan the scooter’s QR code with their phone’s camera, open the app clip to confirm the ride and use Apple Pay or Google Pay to start a ride without ever opening the Lime app’ explains the article.

Zach Kahn, senior product manager at Lime summarises the benefits;

“With app-less riding, new riders can try out our service without the process of downloading our app, and regular riders can cut out several steps to quickly start a ride. We know our riders are on the go and we want to get them on their way as seamlessly as possible.”

eBike Law

Radical Shake Up of European Light Electric Vehicle Law on the Way?

Bikebiz reports on a seemingly semantic change involving the European Unions law making body, the Commission, and light electric vehicles ( a category often taken to include e-bikes):

‘LEVA-EU is celebrating a campaigning victory after the European Commission confirmed legislation governing light electric vehicles was ‘unsuitable. The Commission has acknowledged that the Machinery Directive, in place to ensure a common safety level for machinery placed on the European market, is not suitable for vehicles. LEVA-EU, which has campaigned for the removal of light electric vehicles from the legislation, hailed the landmark ruling, which it said would allow businesses in the sector, previously hindered by the legislation they must navigate, to reach their full potential.’

It might sound overly technical but it could have far reaching implications for EU riders who are keen to see e-bikes develop more broadly outside of the current 15.5mph straightjacket EU law imposes.

If the Commission follows through and overhauls the law we might just see far more speed pedelec machines with higher assisted speeds, larger and more capable e-cargo bikes and light cargo electric vehicles and more personal mobility devices such as powered skateboards. This doesn’t mean a free-for-all with no regulation of such vehicles – just regulation suitable for them. As the Light Electric Vehicle Association for the EU points out, the Machinery Directive was never intended to cover light electric vehicles and new updated laws that take account of technical developments are badly needed.

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eBike Biz

Bikebiz again, this time reporting on how Knaap Bikes UK distributor JDM Products is to open a 100,000 sq. ft. distribution facility in Milton Keynes.

The beach bike style e-bikes appear to be rapidly taking off in the UK and cycle stores that are interested in becoming partners with Knaap and JDM’s wider brand portfolio can reach UK country manager Steven May on 07546 931642 and [email protected].

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

Rich

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Ribble Launches Stealthy New Electric Gravel Bike, The Ribble Gravel Al e

Summary Review: The Ribble Gravel Al e

The British bike manufacturer that’s made a name for itself as a maker of lightweight electric bikes has added a new, slightly dirtier featherweight to its lineup of on and off-road e-bikes.

Performance bike brand Ribble launched its all new electric gravel bike this week, the Gravel AL e. The aluminum-framed rig clocks in at just under 14kg (about 30lbs for us Americans), comes stock with Shimano’s gravel-specific GRX groupset and — best of all — starts at the affordable price of $3,100 USD.

The Gravel AL e is one of the stealthiest e-bikes we’ve seen at Electric Bike Report, and at first glance hardly looks like an e-bike at all. A 250Wh Panasonic battery is hidden inside the non-oversized frame and the 250W MAHLE Ebikemotion X35+ hub motor laced to the rear wheel is almost entirely tucked behind the wide-range GRX cassette.

“Gravel riding has been embraced by the team at Ribble and continues to evolve covering everything from extreme racing, all-out adrenalin chasing through to the bikepacking adventurer. Our new Gravel AL e has been created from a vast wealth of experience and design expertise, incorporating new R&D technologies and specific off-road details that will enable riders to experience trails in an extremely new and exciting way,” wrote Andy Smallwood, Ribble’s CEO, in a press release announcing the bike.

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“Furthermore, we all acknowledge the joys and benefits that come with gravel riding and with the Gravel AL e’s versatility, practicality and design it opens up a great way to enjoy those benefits to a wider audience.”

The Gravel AL e has a “long and low” modern gravel geometry that places the bike’s center of gravity closer to the ground and makes handling more predictable over bumpy and loose road surfaces. That chassis sits on a pair of 650b (27.5”) wheels mounted with WTB Sendero gravel tires. Braking is handled by the Shimano GRX hydraulic disc brakes.

Though Riddle is more well known in Europe, Americans can buy the bikes online and have them shipped to the U.S. You can choose from four spec levels of the Gravel AL e — the base-level Sport is $3,100.25, the Enthusiast is $3,444.85, the Pro is $4,019.18 and the top-tier Hero is $4,708.38. Each spec level comes in a standard (and very nice looking) light green but that can be changed for a small fee with Ribble’s custom color selector.

This newest addition to Ribble’s lineup is part of a industry-wide wave of featherweight and lightly powered e-bikes we’ve seen over the past few years. These bikes are built and tuned with performance in mind, with a power delivery that closely matches a rider’s natural pedaling ability. Specialized has been at the forefront of this movement with their uber cool (and uber expensive) SL motor technology, but we’re excited to see brands like Ribble bringing lightweight e-bikes to the masses at a less painful pricepoint.

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First Look: Specialized Unveils New Turbo Como Sl Commuter Bikes

Specialized-turbo-ComoSL-profile-2021Continuing to buck the trend of bigger motors and more power, Specialized on Wednesday released the new Turbo Como SL electric commuter bike — the latest addition to the brand’s groundbreaking lineup of lightweight electric bikes.

First introduced in 2019, the Specialized Super Light powerplant is touted as one of the most technologically advanced e-bike drive systems on the planet. Across the range, which includes an electric road bike, an eMTB and an electric city bike — SL e-bikes are claimed to be about 40 percent lighter than traditional e-bikes in the same categories. The SL lineup also places greater emphasis on the “bike” part of e-bikes, featuring a carefully tuned power delivery to replicate the feel of riding a traditional bicycle.

Now, Specialized has trickled-down that revolutionary drive system to a totally redesigned version of the Turbo Como electric commuter bike.

Same Como Name, New Como Design

It’s hard to deny the new Turbo Como SL’s good looks.

Seriously. Tell me with a straight face that this isn’t a really, really nice looking commuter.

The new Turbo Como SL is a Class 3 e-bike, which means its 240w motor will give you pedal assistance up to 28 mph, and comes in two spec levels. The Turbo Como SL 4.0 ($4,000) comes with a 5-speed Nexus internally geared drivetrain from Shimano and the Turbo Como SL 5.0 ($4,800) comes with a 8-speed Alfine internally geared drivetrain paired with a Gates carbon belt drive.

Aside from the different drivetrains, the two models share the same 320Wh integrated downtube battery that powers the proprietary SL motor. That motor can peak at 240w, according to Specialized. They also come with integrated lights, a rack system, fenders and connectivity with the Specialized Mission Control app, which allows riders to customize power output and diagnose issues from their phone.

Both versions of the Turbo Como SL are a low-step design and have a comfort-oriented upright riding position. The internally geared drivetrains (and the gates belt drive on the 5.0) were chosen to keep the maintenance simple. Both models are rated to carry 44 lbs on the rear pannier rack and up to 33 lbs on the front rack. The wheels are 650b (27.5” for you mountain bikers) and both models come with TRP disc brakes. You can also add an optional range extender onto the battery, which ups the claimed range to 93 miles.

The Turbo Como SL weighs in at 47 lbs to 48.5 lbs.

Specialized-Turbo-ComoSL_Frame

Gocycle Launches the G4 Lineup, Its 4th Generation of Folding E-Bikes


Iconic British electric bike company Gocycle launched its fourth generation of folding e-bikes on March 30, featuring an all-new motor, a lighter weight frame and a new carbon fiber chassis and fork.

Weight savings and a new motor are the big takeaways from this new generation of fast folders, as new carbon fiber bits and the addition of other lightweight materials have shaved a claimed 2.2 lbs off the bike. Electric folding bikes have been plagued by their heavy motors and batteries since they became popular, making them slightly more cumbersome and less portable than their non-motorized counterparts. Gocycle’s been gunning for a solution to this since the company released its first e-bike in 2008, and their latest iteration is the lightest yet. The first two models in Gocycle’s three-bike G4 lineup weigh in at 37 lbs each. The high-end G4i+ clocks in a pound lighter at 36lbs, according to the company’s press materials. In addition to the carbon fiber, the company says it has worked to shave weight from wherever it can on the bike — even the disc brake rotors are lighter than previous models.

The G4 lineup builds on the successful GX bikes Gocycle released last year, which our testers at Electric Bike Report described as a “blast to ride” that “literally folds up in seconds.”

“G4 has been in development for many years and represents the most significant product update for Gocycle since our G1 to G2 engineering programme. Our generation four models have been developed through a combination of listening to our customers and our continued mission to develop the best urban electric bikes on the planet. G4 will not only set a new standard for Gocycle, but a new standard for performance for all of our competitors in the portable electric bike segment,” wrote Gocycle designer and founder Richard Thorpe in the company’s release of the new lineup.

“What I’m most excited about is our future road map and the potential for Gocycle to continue to innovate at a higher rate than our competitors. At Gocycle, we cook with different ingredients allowing us to redefine what an ebike can be and do. G4 is very exciting for us and provides a platform that will support even more significant developments in our pipeline in years to come!”

Gocycle G4 Specs

The G4 lineup also comes with the all new G4drive motor, which Gocycle says delivers more torque and better performance for low-speed starts. That motor is housed inside the (also new) single-sided carbon fiber fork that’s been engineered with more vertical compliance to dampen road bumps. The G4’s midframe is also now made of carbon fiber.

The new bikes also come with a redesigned MotoGP-inspired tire, an integrated USP port in the handlebar for charging electronics and better bluetooth connectivity.

Gocycle is offering its G4 lineup at three price points. Those are the $3,999 G4, the $4,999 G4i and the $5,999 G4i+.

Table Chart
Infogram

Gocycle did not specify the wattage of its new G4drive motor, but the removable lithium-ion battery is fast charging (in 3.5 hours) and can power the bike for a claimed 40 miles for the G4 model and up to 50 miles for the G4i. On the GX model we tested last year, the proprietary front-hub motor produced 500w in the U.S. and 250w in the E.U.

The ultra-lux variation of the G4, the G4i+, will only be available in limited quantities and features lightweight carbon fiber versions of Gocycle’s proprietary PitstopWheels, which quick detach for easy maintenance.

The G4’s folding system is unchanged from the GX model aside from the introduction of a single titanium pin that keeps the folding joint “perfectly aligned,” according to the press kit. Goycle says the new G4 will have its own dedicated suite of accessories including mudguards, lights and a new pannier rack.

Even though Electric Bike Report’s home base of southwest Utah doesn’t see a lot of need for compact folding e-bikes, our staff has a bit of a love affair with the Gocycle GX we keep in the office. It looks cool, folds up nicely and — most importantly — the bike rides surprisingly well compared to some of the larger and more powerful non-folding e-bikes we have. We are excited the new G4 lineup builds on the things we fell in love with on the GX, and are nothing less than stoked on our first opportunity for a test ride.

eBike News: Calbike’s $10 Million eBike Affordability Campaign, Specialized Turbo Levo 2022, UK Budget eBikes and Much More [VIDEOS]

In this week’s news:

  • Calbike Campaign for $10 Million from State Funds to Ensure eBike Affordability
  • 2022 Specialized Turbo Levo Announced
  • New eBikes from COBOC and GT
  • Airless Tires from NASA
  • New Book on World’s Best Cycle Routes
  • More Low Priced eBikes For the UK
  • Rad Power Bikes eBike Exercise Test
  • Plus All the Latest eBike Biz and Legal News

Headline News

Calbike’s $10 Million Affordability Campaign

‘E-bikes are the greenest electric vehicle. They deserve the same state support as electric cars.’

So states Calbike’s latest campaign, for e-bike affordability. 

Calbike point out what they see as the inequity of California giving a $7,000 rebate to people who buy electric cars, on top of federal tax credits, but zero to people who want e-bikes.
[Read more…] about eBike News: Calbike’s $10 Million eBike Affordability Campaign, Specialized Turbo Levo 2022, UK Budget eBikes and Much More [VIDEOS]

Specialized Dropped The New Turbo Levo E-mtb, And Boy Does It Look Rowdy


One of the most popular electric mountain bikes on the market just got an update. The new 2022 Specialized Turbo Levo boasts up to a 5 hour range, more suspension and — brace for it — up to a $15,000 price tag.

It’s also sporting a mullet.

Specialized is the latest company to mix wheel sizes on its eMTBs, spec’ing the 2022 Turbo Levo with a 29 inch wheel in the front and 27.5 inch in the rear — a setup affectionately called the mullet. The larger wheel in the front helps the bike plow through crud and bumps while the smaller wheel in the back makes it a little more lively in the turns. The bike comes with 160mm of travel in the front fork (10mm more than the fork fitted to the 2021 Turbo Levo) and 150mm in the rear shock, placing it squarely in the mid-range of suspension sizes for modern enduro bikes and on the high end of the all mountain category.

The Turbo Levo Is Packing A Lot Into Its Motor And Battery:

The bike is equipped with Specialized’s Turbo Full Power 2.2 motor that pumps out 90 Nm of torque and 565 watts of peak power. That power is managed by a carefully-tuned motor controller that Specialized says will keep the power delivery smooth and controlled, closely matching your own natural pedaling and keeping the rear tire under control. The rider can tune, control and monitor the bike’s performance from the toptube-mounted MasterMind Turbo Control Unit, which has a small indicator screen mounted just behind the headset.

The battery is a 700Wh unit that claims up to a 5 hour ride time. A rider can even input their expected duration or distance into the Smart Control app and the bike will automatically ration your support level so you don’t run out of battery part way through a ride. The bike comes stock with a 64.5 degree head angle that can be adjusted between 63 degrees and 65.5.

If none of those specs made your eyes water, the Turbo Levo’s price point probably will. You can snag the bike at two spec levels — the Pro or S-Works — for either $13,000 or $15,000, respectively. Let’s just say it’s not exactly going to be an everyperson’s e-bike.

Compared to the Trek Rail 9.9 and Santa Cruz Bullit, the 2022 Turbo Levo’s motor and battery on paper are the best of the bunch. The Levo’s motor claims 90 Nm of max torque over the 85 Nm produced by both the Rail and Bullit. The battery is also larger: The Trek is equipped with a 625Wh battery and the Santa Cruz comes with a 630Wh battery compared to the 700Wh on the Specialized.

Turbo Levo Price & Spec Summary:

The S-Works edition of the bike comes with SRAM’s electric XX1 Eagle AXS drivetrain paired with a Praxis carbon crankset. Your $15,000 will also buy Magura MT7 four-piston brakes, a RockShox Reverb AXS electric dropper post, carbon Roval wheels and Fox Factory suspension handled by the FLOAT 38 fork in the front and the FLOAT X2 shock in the rear.

For $2,000 less, the Pro edition comes with SRAM’s cable-operated X01 Eagle groupset with the same Praxis carbon cranks. The brakes are a SRAM Code RSC four-piston setup and the dropper is the Fox Transfer. The suspension is the same Fox setup found on the S-Works edition and the carbon Roval wheels also appear to be the same.

Electric Bike Report’s Take:

The Specialized Turbo Levo has long been heralded as the standard-bearer of what a solid trail and all mountain-oriented eMTB should ride like. This edition of it — with its mullet wheel sizing, slacker headtube and bigger fork — appears a little more geared towards riders looking for chunk and steeps. If the price is hard to reckon with it’s probably safe to assume Specialized will release more economical spec levels in the coming months, as previous years of the Turbo Levo had much more affordable options than the two 2022 models released this week.

eBikeNews: Kent Kid’s eBike, Gazelle Family Cargo, Eunorau AWD & Lots More! [VIDEOS]

In this week’s news:

  • Kent’s $498 Children’s eBike
  • Gazelle’s New Family-friendly eCargo Bike
  • Moustache 28mph Pedelec with Dual Battery Option
  • Eunorau Defender S All Wheel Drive Crowdfunds
  • Speed Pedelec Helmets and Tyres
  • Plus All the Latest On eBike Finance, Infrastructure and Industry

New eBikes and eBike Systems

Kent’s $498 Kid’s eBike Now in Walmart

Kent’s kids’ eBike has a BMX feel but also sports front suspension

Kent Bicycles is a long established and well-known name in the bike world and they have just launched their first kid’s e-bike, the Torpedo. 

It has 20″ wheels, is pedal assist only (no throttle) and comes with front suspension and V-brakes with power cutout triggers for when the brakes are activated, ensuring power is cut immediately.  It also has a 125 Wh capacity battery which Kent says should take you  15 miles in the lowest power setting.

Walmart is currently selling it for $498

Note that low power e-bikes like this are generally legal for children to ride in many US states and in most European countries, though in the UK you need to be 14 to ride an e-bike. If you want to check the precise laws for your own state check out People for Bikes excellent state by state guide to the rules on e-bikes. 

Gazelle’s New Family eCargo Bike the Makki

Gazelle’s Makki is aimed at safe family cycling

Gazelle’s new Makki family cargo bike puts child comfort and safety first, according to the Dutch bike maker.  Add in a bundle of accessories and it all means ‘you can dare to replace your second car with a Makki’ according to Gazelle. There is comfortable looking bench seating, storage drawer and a rain hood.

Gazelle designed the bike after getting real world feedback from Dutch cycling families using bikes for everyday use, so that it incorporates easy to use features like an easily accessible kickstand and adapters for car seats and child seats inside the very capacious box.

Spec is solid as you would expect from a manufacturer with a reputation for durable and high quality manufacture;  Bosch Performance Line motor, 400Wh or 500 Wh battery, hydraulic disc brakes and a low-maintenance belt drive.

UK prices from £4,199 with availability from September.

Moustache Announce New Speed Pedelec

28mph assist, dual battery, full suspension, Nyon display – Moustache’s latest offering has an all-encompassing spec and of course a high price tag

Speed pedelecs or class three e-bikes can assist the rider up 28mph but there are as many models out there due to the fact there are usually on where you can ride them – many bike paths and trails are off limits for example (check out our article on speed pedelecs here for more info on why many people do find them very useful though).

So it’s always encouraging to see new speed pedelecs come on the market and the French brand Moustache have just announced the Friday 27FS Speed with a dual battery option.

Both models come with full suspension frame, Bosch Performance Line Speed motor. This offers a maximum torque of 85 Nm and it can get you up to 45km/h. Magura disc brakes and a Shimano XT 11S drivetrain.

There are two battery options, 625Wh and the dual battery system of 1125Wh and a choice of Kiox and Nyon displays and dropped top tube frame on the single battery options.

Retail prices are €6,299 for the single battery version and €7,199 for the dual version. Both are out in early April.

Eunorau Defender S – an All Wheel Drive, Full Sus eFat Bike!

Eunorau’s forthcoming e-fat bike sports front and rear hub motors

Eunorau have been making e-bikes since 2010 and claim to output around 50,000 units a year with a global reach. They have taken to IndieGoGo to launch their new dual motor, full-suspension electric fat bike, the Defender S. The great news is the starting price of $1999 for dual motor model (most all wheel drives or AWD e-bikes are a few thousand bucks more). There is a single motor version too. The not so good news is te projected fall delivery date.

The Defender S Pro features two 750watt rated Bafang hub motors in front and rear wheels and a frame-integrated 672Wh battery which can be upgraded to an 816 Wh battery, and riders can also add on a second 816 Wh battery for a stagggering 1632Wh of power – of course two powerful hub motors will certainly get through your battery quickly.

At this price other components won’t be top of the line won’t be top of the line but they don’t look bargain basement either – there’s a color LCD display, hydraulic disc brakes, and a 9-speed Shimano Alivio derailleur plus RST hydraulic front fork and rear DNM air shock.

Once funding is completed via the company’s Indiegogo campaign, production is expected to begin in May with shipping slated for October.

Endura’s Speed Pedelec Helmet

Bike Rumour carries news of a new speed pedelec helmet from Endura. It is certified to speed pedelec standards (designed for greater speed impact and covering more of your head than a regular helmet) and features tilting visor and Koroyd Core honeycomb structured shock absorbing material.

The Endura Speed Pedelec Helmet is covered by Endura’s Crash Replacement Policy, comes in three sizes (S-M, M-L, L-XL) and retails at £159.99.

Continental’s New Speed Pedelec Tire

According to the UK’s Bikebiz Continental has just launched the e-bike specific tyre the eRuban Plus, certified for S-Pedelecs.

It is described as having a ‘=chunky width and knobbly tread pattern bu ‘unlike MTB tyres that drop off speed when faced with tarmac, a fast-rolling, energy-saving centre area enables the Ruban and eRuban Plus to comfortably switch terrain without compromising on capability.’

Weight starts at 790g per tyre and ETRTO sizing is between 54-584 and 65-622 (27.5 x 2.1 to 29 x 2.6)

eBike Finance

Washington State eBike Sales Tax Exemption Makes Progress

Electrek reports that House Bill 1330 passed Washington state’s House of Representatives last week and has is now in the Senate.

The bill would mean the removal of sales and use tax on e-bikes and related cycling equipment. With the maximum exemption set at $200, Washington’s 6.5% sales tax rate means e-bikes priced up to around $3,000 could be purchased without paying any sales tax, if the bill passes.

The idea of the bill is to provide extra incentives to purchase e-bikes (note the bill does not apply to pedal bicycles) in the hope they will replace cars and car journeys – in other words it’s designed to be an environmental piece of legislation.

It’s certainly a welcome move from the Evergreen state. Tax incentives on e-bikes seem to be the legislative flavour of the day – witness the proposals for a nation-wide 30% saving on e-bikes.

Infrastructure

Is Canada About to See Huge New Bike Lane Program?

The Canadian government’s website recently announced $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges – the first federal fund dedicated to building active transportation through Canada. The new $400-million fund is part of an eight-year, $14.9-billion public transit investment outlined by Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister McKenna on February 10, 2021.

The announcement also tells us that since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested in almost 400 miles of active transportation trails, bike and pedestrian lanes, and recreational paths. Projects include the Grouse Mountain Regional Park trails in North Vancouver, the Flora Foot Bridge in Ottawa, a bikeway extension in Corner Brook, and a new cycling path along the Mine, Notch and Kingsmere corridor in Chelsea, Quebec.

Any doubters that well designed and connected bike lanes work should check out this CBC article on how pandemic bike lanes have increased the accessibility of Canadian cities and how moves are afoot to make the lanes permanent. Several cities, including Moncton, Kitchener, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg have extended their bike lane networks since the pandemic began.

Minnesotans Lobby to Keep Their Slow Street

Streetsblog reports on how one Minnesota street – currently closed to through traffic as part of SFMTA’s “Slow Streets” program – has been a big hit and how a group of local residents and advocates is pushing to keep it that way.

“A number of slow streets have been temporarily set up but Minnesota is one of a few streets that have garnered particular support, a sizable petition/survey, and a number of volunteers and events,” wrote advocate and local resident Peter Belden in an email to Streetsblog.

They’re urging people to take SFMTA’s slow streets survey for Minnesota and to ask for it to remain after the pandemic. And they’ve set up a petition and ‘call to action’ of their own.

eBike Biz

US eBike Sales Grew 145% in 2020 Compared to 2019

The New York Times reports the findings of market research firm NPD Group, that sales of e-bikes grew 145 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, with sales of all bikes being up 65 percent.

Whilst this may only confirm in precise figures what many knew to be a fact, the article is also interesting as it details the success of e-bike share during the pandemic – after many had initially assumed all share type services would see a huge decline in use. ‘Covid did not kill bike-sharing’ proclaims the article’s byline, detailing how ‘In the early days of the pandemic, bike-share usage stalled as those working from home stopped commuting. For essential workers who needed to travel, bike-sharing became an alternative to buses or trains, where they might be exposed to the virus by other passengers. Lyft, which manages bike-share fleets in nine cities — including the largest systems in New York City and Chicago — gave about 30,000 essential workers free yearly passes.’

With 28 percent of bike-sharing systems incorporating e-bikes in 2019 (the last year for which statistics are available) according to the North American Bikeshare Association ,it seems 2021 could well see e-bike share grow even further. NABA’s 2019 figures also found e-bikes were used some 1.7 times more than traditional bikes.

Cannondale’s Adventure Neo Goes High Profile

Cycling Industry News reports on how Cannondale’s Adventure Neo e-bike has taken high visibility billboards taken in London, Berlin, New York and San Francisco.

The ad campaign has thus far made brief appearances in New York’s Times Square and will soon return to the SoHo area of NYC next month.

Van Moof Expanding Global Reach

VanMoof, manufacturers of sleek city e-bikes, recently announced plans to expand their physical presence from 8 to 50 cities.

‘The global rollout will see VanMoof open a network of state-of-the-art Service Hubs and certified partner workshops over the next six months….It comes at a crucial time for VanMoof, with e-bike sales more than tripling in the last 12 months. To date, VanMoof has over 150,000 riders globally. That’s a fivefold increase in riders since 2019, a growth that calls for smarter measures – both online and offline – to achieve truly next-level service. VanMoof’s goal is to offer on-demand and on-the-spot service at all times to all riders, no matter where they are’ said the company press release.

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

Rich

eBike News: Ariel Rider’s Budget Rideal, CSC Fat Tire and eCargo, Boulder’s B-Cycle Go e and Much More [VIDEOS]

In this week’s news:

  • Ariel Rider’s Rideal New $999 Model
  • Motorbike Outfit CSC Expand eBike Range
  • Ruff Tease New eBike
  • Are Auto Firms Really Serious About eBikes?
  • Boulder B-Cycle Share Gets Bosch Powered eBikes
  • Universal Charging Dock Pilot for Paris
  • Solid State Battery Tech Takes a Further Step
  • Chinese Boom and Bust Fear Holds Back Factory Expansion Plus Other Business News

New eBikes & eBike Systems

$999 Ariel Rider Rideal Available for Pre Order – Late May Shipping

Ariel Rider’s Rideal offers plenty of bang for under a thousand bucks with a 750W rear motor and a big capacity 672Wh battery.

Ariel Rider’s new Rideal town and commuting e-bike looks to deliver a lot of e-bike for the money, including 750W rear hub motor with throttle power up to 20mph (class 2), LED lighting, basic derailleur gearing and kickstand (though you will have to pay extra for fenders and a rack).

CSC Launch Two More eBikes

 

CSC’s e-bike range is now up to four models with these new step-thru fat tire and cargo bike models

Californian-based CSC may be better known for importing motorbikes but they have recently launched their own brand range of e-bikes, starting with two fat-tire models last year. Now comes a step-thru fat bike, the FT750ST and a ‘longtail’ e-cargo bike, the Vista Cruiser.

Both use a 750W-rated Bafang rear hub motor (20mph throttle on demand class 2) and 7 speed derailleur set up with the step-thru carrying a 672Wh in-frame battery and the Vista Cruiser packing a huge dual battery setup of 672Wh and 696Wh. They retail at US$1888 and US$2488 respectively with stock expected this month.

Ruff Cycles Team Up With Paul Teutel Junior

Ruff Cycles, makers of motorbike-inspired e-bikes, have announced that they have signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Paul Teutul Jr., one of the best known custom motorbike designers in the world and star of the popular TV show “American Chopper“.

The first result of the collaboration, designed by Paul Jr. and handcrafted by Ruff Cycles in Germany, will be presented on March 24th, 2021.

eBike Opinion

Are Car and Motorbike Companies Serious About eBikes?

The technology on Audi’s take on the e-bike sounds amazing but the bike has never been commercially available

This very interesting piece in the New York Times points out the historical connections between bikes and motorbikes – in short many early motorbikes were bikes with motor added. Companies diverged and bike and motorbike companies specialised over time making the two things totally distinct. However, in more recent times motorbike and car manufacturers have been launching their own e-bikes – Porsche’s new ultra-high priced models were featured in our recent news and Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Jeep and Mercedes-Benz are just some of the names that have dipped a toe (or more) in the e-bike water.

But are these companies really serious about e-bikes? Certainly Pedego’s chief exec Don Di Costanzo doesn’t thing so according to the article – “No car company has had any success selling an electric bicycle. …It’s fool’s gold. It can never replace the profit on a car.”

The fate of Audi’s Worthersee model and General Motor’s Ariv suggest Di Costanzo is right. In Audi’s case they have never attempted serious commercialisation of their e-bike project, using it simply as an object to show their technical expertise and to gain media coverage and social media attention. The case of General Motor’s Ariv e-folder is rather different – a commercial roll-out was attempted and whilst initial signs may have been promising the start of Covid and the allied car sales slump and factory closures prompted GM to kill off the project last year, as related by the Verge.    

Motorbike companies perhaps show more promise – in particular the Harley Davidson spin off Serial 1 is due to start shipping its interesting and unique designs this spring. With prices starting at US$3399 they are no bargain basement offer but are clearly aiming at a quality mid-market that does exist – not the rich man’s toy / concept e-bike market which many auto makers have stepped into. As a sign of their intent to make an impact on the e-bike world Serial 1 have recently opened a new HQ in Lehi, Utah as the area is becoming a nucleus of high tech industry.

If large venture capital investments in e-bikes like the ones seen at Rad Power recently continue, and if Serial 1 succeed big time, will other motor bike or even car makers see e-bikes as part of their electric future?

eMicromobility

Boulder’s First B-Cycle eBikes Arrive

The famed Boulder B-Cycle is now going electric with high quality ‘Bosch bikes’

Boulder’s well-known B-Cycle bike share now has 100 e-bikes available and they are powered by a Bosch crank drive system.

As this newsletter tells us, ‘Trek’s BCycle Electric bikes feature a best-in-class Bosch motor, Shimano brakes for safe and reliable performance in all seasons and front & rear integrated lighting for safe and visible riding. They are Class 1 ebikes with smooth pedal assist…’

Lime Introduces eScooters to Richmond…Again

Richmond Bizsense reports on how Lime has introduced 300 e-scooters in Richmond recently, some two years after launching and withdrawing. There are plans to increase the number of scooters in Richmond to 500.

Lime operates in more than 140 cities in the United States and around the world. In Virginia, the company also operates in Norfolk and Roanoke, according to its website. Lime acquired Uber’s electric bike and scooter operation, Jump, last year.

Duckt’s Universal Charging Docks Pilot in Paris

Micromobilitybiz reports that ‘infrastructure innovator Duckt has been awarded a pilot project for the installation of 150 dock, lock and charge points across the Paris Rive Gauche. The project aims to demonstrate how universal charging infrastructure can accelerate micromobility use to reduce climate impact in the city.’

Battery Watch

Solid State Battery Announcement

Nikkei Asia reports that ‘Hitachi Zosen has developed a solid-state battery boasting one of the industry’s highest capacities and tolerance for a wide range of temperatures, making it a candidate for use in satellites and industrial machinery.’ A solid state battery is one that uses a solid electrolyte, as opposed to current electric batteries that use a liquid or gel (as those used on e-bikes do). The electrolytes you drink to balance your body chemistry are not the same thing!

Apparently the battery has a capacity of 1,000 milliamp hours, some seven times as much as the Japanese company’s prior models. It can also operate in a temperature range from 100 degrees to minus 40 degrees Celsius.

Despite solid state batteries being hailed as the next big advance in battery safety and energy density, the article points out ‘While the new solid-state battery has reached a capacity milestone, it still trails far behind its lithium-ion counterparts. Those used in smartphones offer a capacity of thousands of milliampere per hour.’

As this Car Magazine article points out not only are solid state batteries currently too expensive for commercial use, there’s still a lot of work to be done in finding the right atomic and chemical composition for a solid electrolyte that has the right ionic conductivity to deliver enough power for an e-bike or electric car.

In summary, solid state benefits still look some years away.

eBike Biz

Delfast Raise €2.8 Million for New R&D Centre

Delfast is perhaps best known for its claim to have made the e-bike with the longest range ever, setting the Guinness World Record. It also makes a very solid looking heavy duty delivery e-trike aimed at businesses.

Now, EU Startups reports that ‘Ukrainian startup Delfast has closed the first round of its crowdfunding campaign on Fundable, raising €2.8 million from local and foreign investors, surpassing its initial goal of around €2.4 million. ‘

What Have Chinese Share Bikes to do With the Current eBike Shortage?

The e-bike shortage caused by a Covid-related bike boom is well documented. But this interesting article at Bicycle Retailer and Industry news (BRAIN) digs a little deeper and puts reticence to build new bike manufacturing facilities down to the previous boom and bust experience of the unregulated expansion of dockless e-bikes like Mobike and Ofo.

For more background on the Chinese dockless bike share boom and bust check out the following China uncensored video.

Accell’s Strong Sales Growth

Bike-EU reports that Accell Group – well known for e-bike brands such as  Haibike, Koga, Batavus and Raleigh – reported a 17% increase in net sales in 2020. The company also reports an operating profit of €74.7 million compared to €60.0 million in 2019.

A breakdown of the results shows sales growth for e‐bikes and cargo bikes up 15% and 43% respectively, while sales of traditional bikes declined by 10%.

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

Rich

eBike News: New Lightweights from Trek and Coleen, eBike Bargains, Battery Sustainability & More! [VIDEOS]

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’s E-Caliber range have short travel suspension at 120mm front and 60mm rear and so look good for cross country style riding and general mtb trail use.

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.

The Coleen Speed is a carbon fiber-framed speed pedelec with assist up t 28mph

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.

The Chrisson eOctant is a lightweight and affordable single speed, belt drive e-city bike

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

POC’s Omne-Eternal helmet is self charging via innovative solar energy

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?

eBike caravan camping 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

Bikes and e-bikes pressed into service for food deliveries in Seattle

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 hopes its new share e-bike will lead to further success

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