eBike News: Hi spec Italian Trekking Super Magnum, German Velocar, Indian Connected eBikes & Much More! [VIDEOS]
In this week’s news:
- Olympia’s Super Magnum Trekking eBike Announced
- Ducati Models Arriving in the US
- Germany’s Duo Moke Velocar to Become a Reality?
- India’s Tronx Connected eBike Looks to Break into Europe
- Halford’s Free eBikes Competition
- Updated Avenue Verte Guidebook
- Citi Bikes Lawsuit
- All the Latest eBike Biz News
New eBikes and eBike Systems
Super Magnum – Olympia’s E-trekking Bike
Major Italian bike and e-bike brand Olympia have just announced the new Super Magnum e-trekking model. If features the new torque sensor-equipped Ananda M81 mid-drive. Olympia say ‘This motor, supported by a 630 Wh battery, stands out for its compact size and very low noise….The engine is capable of developing 100 Nm of torque.’
Other features include hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano Alivio 9-speed transmission, adjustable handlebar stem, wide profile Schwalbe Super Moto tires, front suspension fork and suspension seat post.
The bike retails at 2569 euros.
Olympia appeared in many e-bike news sites in spring 2020 when it launched a series of e-bikes with huge 900Wh in frame batteries.
Ducati Models Rolling Out Across the US
Bicycle Industry and Retailer News (BRAIN) reports that Ducati e-bikes should have been arriving at US motorcycle dealerships throughout December. It states ‘The E-Scrambler and MIG-S models will be available this month and the new TK-01RR model will arrive in February. Ducati released a list of 24 of its US dealers who will be carrying the bikes.’
Urban Drivestyle’s Four-Wheel Prototype – Coming to a Street Near You?
Berlin’s Urban Drivestyle are best known for their Uni and UDK branded urban fat tire e-bikes but recently reports resurfaced of a four wheel velomobile, the Duo Moke – although it has been around as a prototype vehicle for a while reports suggest it may be heading for German streets soon.
Like their existing two-wheeler range, the Duo Moke has round retro style headlights and fat tires. Apparently powered by a Bafang hub motor system with both throttle and pedelec control, the maximum payload is 150 kilograms so it should transport a couple of medium weight people. The vehicle weight is a hefty 120 kilograms and this includes the weight of a solar panel on the roof.
Interest in such four wheel vehicles on the European continent is said to be ‘enormous’ but articles have noted seriously large investors have so far largely steered clear of such four wheel pedelec style vehicles.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvw8comQD20&w=1109&h=624]
India’s Tronx Want to Break into Europe
Bike Europe reports that ‘Tronx Motors, with its flagship cross-over smart e-bike, the ‘tbike One Pro’ has announced countrywide availability across 14 cities of its high ROI and cloud-connected bike. The e-bike has been specifically crafted to address the fast growing shared/B2B e-bike segment in India. Following success in the domestic market, the company is now eyeing up distribution in Europe.’
The article adds that the ‘tbike One Pro’ initially priced at about €670, focuses on the B2B verticals like resorts, ride-share, e-commerce, delivery platforms, e-pharmacies and e-groceries.
Apparently TronX produced 1,000 bikes in 2020 and is targeting 5,000 – 8,000 bikes in 2021. Tronx are are also looking at expanding overseas market next year.
Alongside a 504Wh battery (648Wh for the export version) the One Pro ‘AIOT platform enables several smart and intelligent features on ‘tbike One Pro’ for e-fleet owners, riders and lease companies to gain real-time insights on the usage such as distance covered, usage parameters and wear and tear predictions that will be captured on the tbike app. It also offers the functionality to remotely lock/unlock and locate the vehicle.’
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Exi3ZH-KA&w=1583&h=919]
Get Inspired
UK’s Halfords Offers Free eBikes for Youth in Financial Hardship
Halfords are the UK’s biggest bricks and mortar bike and e-bike retailer. They recently launched the FREEBIKE! campaign, gifting Pendleton Somerby, Carrera Crosscity and Apollo Transport e-bikes to people aged 18-24 who do not currently have access to a car and who are suffering financial hardship.
Twenty e-bikes will be gifted and applicants should complete a short questionnaire at Halfords website here by 4th January.
Updated London to Paris Guidebook Out
The UK’s cycle and walking charity Sustrans have recently released an updated version of their popular Avenue Verte cycle route guidebook to a 247 mile signed route linking London and Paris. The route uses many traffic-free trails and minor roads.
Infrastructure
Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN) reports that ‘Six people filed individual lawsuits last week against the bike-share company Motivate/Lyft and component manufacturer Shimano North America after being injured during falls nearly two years ago. The suits blame excessive front brake force for the crashes.’
The incidents took place from January to March 2019 and in April 2019 Citi Bike removed its New York e-bike share fleet, as the incidents took place in Brooklyn, Queens and NYC. Shimano say that Lyft failed to follow its requirements to fit a power modulator for its front Nexus Inter-M Hub Roller Brake.
Lyft returned redesigned e-bikes for hire in February 2020 including a new battery following a spate of e-bike battery fires in Lyft’s San Francisco’s scheme in July 2019 (no one was injured in the fires).
eBike Charging Network Promoted in Wales
The UK’s BikeBiz reports that Beics Betws in Betws y Coed, Wales have installed a 24-hour free e-bike charging system at its shop in and is now contacting cafes, pubs, hotels, visitors centres and campsites to encourage them to get involved in creating an e-bike charging network across the UK. Businesses are able to offer outside or inside battery charging. Cyclists can find the details and location of participating premises at www.bikewales.co.uk.
eBike Biz
Brexit Detail
Bike Europe posted this advice for EU importers into the UK ahead of the new trade rules that kick in on 1st January, consequent to the UK leaving the EU a year ago.
The article says ‘Although a lot still remains uncertain, somethings are now clearer, such as the new UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) label to replace the CE mark and the UK governments stance on Chinese imports.’
Of particular note is a statement from testing institute Velotech.de that “Manufacturers can still have tests carried out according to EN 15194 at velotech.de for e-bikes that are to be sold in the UK. As things stand at present, the test reports are accepted by customs and authorities in the UK and facilitate the import of the products.’
There was also news of an apparent turnaround on Chinese anti-dumping measures. According to Bike EU ‘An initial decision from the Department for International Trade indicated that the UK would not continue the EU anti-dumping measures which currently apply to bikes and e-bikes from China after 1st Jan 2021. But, following appeals from a small group of UK-based producers, this decision has now been reversed. This means that all of the current EU trade defence measures (AD287 on bikes and parts, and AD643 and AS646 on e-bikes) will now continue to be applied by the UK to imports after the 1st Jan 2021.’
Taichung Bike Week Dates
The organisers of Taichung Bike Week have announced the date for next year’s show. The next edition will be held from September 28 – October 1, 2021. Like most trade shows in 2020, this year’s event was cancelled due to the restrictions as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay tuned for more e-bike news and reviews and thanks for reading!
-Rich