eBike News: New Easy Motion, Maserati, Piaggio, eCargo, eRacing, eBikes Not eCars, & More! [VIDEOS]

In this week’s eBike news roundup:

• New Easy Motion eBikes w/ Yamaha Mid Drive
• New Maserati eBike
• Piaggio Wi-Bikes Arrive in NYC
• Juggernaut Cargo Trike
• eBikes & the Stunning French Vercors Scenery
• eBike Pizza Delivery
• eBikes Not eCars
• More eBike Racing
• IMBA’s New Executive Director on eMTB Access
• And Much More!

New eBikes

Easy Motion Rebels Hit the US

BH Easy Motion eBikes are originally from Spain and they have made a name for themselves providing a very wide range of well-priced e-bikes at many different price points.

They have now launched the Rebel e-bike range in the USA.

The range is powered by a Yamaha PW mid-drive, and the Gravel-X is perhaps the most unusual model. There are few gravel e-bikes and this one also takes advantage of the fact the Yamaha motor allows two front chainrings to be fitted. In addition there are two e-MTBs, and a hybrid / trekking model. 

 Maserati eBike

“The new Maserati e-bike line from the famous Italian car maker is completely made for the e-sport category. The frames are designed with a lot of Maserati sport DNA. All motor set-ups are nicely integrated into the frame. The weight distribution is perfect with the battery and motor placed just above the bottom bracket. This e-bike belongs to a newly created category of sporty electric bikes. The bike is designed and developed by Diavelo. First appearance will be at the Eurobike Show 2017.”

Elbike Crowdfunding Success

If there was any doubt that there is a real demand for sleek looking e-bikes that don’t really look like e-bikes and don’t weigh much, check out the Elbike Kickstarter campaign.

This simple looking single-speed, front hub Ansmann motor powered e-bike with frame integrated batteries has already powered to over ten times its original Kickstarter campaign – no doubt helped Early Bird offers starting at 999 euros plus purchase tax.  

Piaggio Arrives in NYC

This report details the arrival of the Italian mid-drive Piaggio Wi-Bike in NYC. Whilst many aspects look fairly conventional the article notes ‘Wi-Bike is the first connected vehicle in its segment. This connectivity provides functionalities such as localization, anti-theft system and remote battery status check that can only be accessed through the Wi-Bike App.’

Vespa Manhattan and Vespa Brooklyn are the first exclusive dealerships to offer the Piaggio Wi-Bike. Perhaps as interesting is that in the video below Piaggio claim the motor system is designed by themselves and manufactured by Samsung.

Juggernaut to Add Electric Assist

This crowdfunding cargo bike project offers hand made flat-bed and cargo box options and they are now looking to add electric assist and make other improvements to help haul the maximum payload of 300lbs.

Though certainly not cheap at US$ 10,000 it comes with unusual features for a cargo bike such as double RockShox on the front wheels and a carbon belt drive and you will be the proud owner of an initial production run of just 40 bikes. Slated delivery is currently October 2018. 

Get Inspired

eBikes ‘Redefine’ French Vercors Tourist Landscape

This article in the Guardian shows how e-MTBs in particular can really open up stunning landscapes only previously accessible to the hardcore outdoors fraternity. 

In the words of Jean Lambret of the Vercors biathlon centre in Corrençon-en-Vercors, “People can go further and access areas that were not possible before; they extend the limits of the trip and now couples or families can do it together.” 

Bikes and eBikes – Not eCars – The Future

So say Treehugger and the Guardian in these two articles. EBR recently reported on UK government plans to ban petrol and diesel cars from 2040 and to phase in electric cars in their place.

All well and good for clean air you might think but both these articles make the same telling point:

‘Focusing on switching from diesel and petrol vehicles to electric will most likely result in people simply changing the type of heavy box that they drive around in.’

In other words it does nothing to address public health not does it guarantee clean air unless we guarantee a supply of clean electricity (the UK government recently virtually scrapped subsidies for the production of home solar power…).

More eBike Racing

Bicycle Retailer and Industry News reports that Focus is to sponsor eBike racing at the CrossVegas race that is part of the Interbike bicycle trade show in Las Vegas and there will also be Focus Bold² and Jam e² e-MTBs on hand to try out on a test track on 20^th September.

New Boss for International Mountain Bicycling Association 

IMBA has a new boss – the very impressive and rather fit sounding Dave Wiens – but what will be his view on opening up new trails to e-MTBs? This audio clip interview covers the topic. Wiens says ‘IMBA’s position has been that they are motorised’ – taking the same position as, for example, the Bureau of Land Management and, he adds, they are ‘watching closely’. 

Wiens says electric assist ‘allows more people to ride – and that’s a good thing.’

Whilst acknowledging concerns and saying IMBA must act with caution so as not to jepordise existing access arrangements, he concludes on e-MTBS ‘used responsibly you don’t even know they are there.’ Rather than blanket access it seems IMBA looks to promote more negotiated e-MTB access in cooperation with local stakeholders in what sounds to be quite a complex process. 

E-bike Biz

ePizza

The UK’s Sun newspaper (known for it’s awful puns on words) reports that well-known Pizza firm Dominos are ‘aiming to grab a 60 percent market slice with the help of a fleet of electric delivery bikes’. It sounds like a good business opportunity they have spotted as according to the article ‘The electric pushbikes, which you do not need a licence to ride, open up a bigger pool for recruiting. Domino’s is the first takeaway firm to design its own branded electric bike fleet, taking on staff from age 17.’ 

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

-Richard

P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips.