Micah Toll

Anti-lock brakes might sound like old tech in cars (and motorcycles to a certain extent), but another two-wheeler has had to deal with brake lockup since its invention – the bicycle. But two different companies have just shown off competing anti-lock braking (ABS) systems designed for e-bikes to improve safety and performance.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’d love an electric bicycle, but it’d be even more convenient if the battery fit into my pocket?” OK, fine, but lots of people actually have. And the UK-based e-bike conversion kit company Swytch made it happen with the newest edition of the brand’s easy-to-use electric bike conversion kit.

I got the chance to see the new kit in person at Eurobike a few days ago and even take a couple of quick test laps on a bike equipped with the updated kit.

In today’s age of police militarization, perhaps it’s time to take a step back and see how we could downsize some of the police gear used on our streets. Who needs a three-axle, gas-guzzling police tank when you could have a tiny electric police coupe?

Benefits include low maintenance, reduced fuel costs, and being able to fit in a parking spot reserved for a mobility scooter!

When Addmotor unveiled its E-53 City Pro electric bike recently, it showed off one of the biggest batteries in the industry: 48V and 20Ah of capacity for a nearly 1 kWh of energy between the rider’s knees. But the bike wasn’t only about big batteries and long range. It also included a number of commuter-worthy features and components designed to turn the Addmotor E-53 City Pro electric bike into an ideal everyday runabout electric bike.

This week on a special episode of Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most interesting news and announcements from Eurobike 2022, the largest electric bicycle trade show in Europe. Some of the biggest stories include a first chance to test Tern’s new Quick Haul electric bike, the massive amount of cargo e-bikes at the show, anti-lock braking for e-bikes from a joint Blubrake & Shimano venture, a perceptible drop in pedal bikes, and lots more.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Tern Bicycles, who recently released the Quick Haul to make quality electric cargo bikes more affordable.

Let’s be real: There just aren’t that many flying electric boats in the world. But even if there were, the Candela C-8 would undoubtedly be at the top of the list for premium models. Not only is it competing well against (and sometimes outselling) internal combustion engine boats in its class, but the Swedish boat is racking up sales all over the world ahead of the first shipments later this year.

Candela was kind enough to invite me out to Stockholm to spend a few days on the first ever C-8 prototype, and now you get to join me as I relive the amazing experience of flying silently over the Swedish archipelago.

The Triumph TE-1 electric motorcycle project has been progressing steadily ever since the company began testing the e-motorcycle market waters back in early 2019 and then proceeded to officially announce an in-house electric motorcycle development program.

Now Triumph has made enough progress that it is finally ready to spill the beans on the most important performance specs on consumers’ minds.

Eurobike is the premier bicycle trade show in Europe and one of the largest in the world. This year – for the first time – it’s taking place in Frankfurt, Germany. Once upon a time, electric bikes were a small corner of the show. But times have changed, and these days the main attractions are all the innovative e-bikes on display.

Touring various electric bike factories has been a fascinating experience for me over the years. It’s a chance to look behind the curtain and see how the sausage is made, so to speak. And with bicycles being one of the great equalizers, it is interesting to see each culture’s take on the handy vehicles. I’ve been on behind-the-scenes tours of e-bike motor builders, Chinese e-bike factories, American e-bike factories, and all sorts of other e-rideables in various countries. But checking out Europe’s own homegrown e-bikes at Ampler’s Tallinn, Estonia-based factory has been a particular high point of mine.

Come along with me while we explore just how this classy e-bike startup builds its own local e-bikes, which are quickly becoming a favorite across major European markets.

Ducati may not have a consumer-level electric motorcycle yet (and barely has a racing electric motorcycle, for that matter), but the company can’t stop pumping out smaller two-wheeled electric vehicles. Case in point: Ducati has just unveiled two new folding electric bicycles.

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time that includes Amazon’s new delivery via cargo e-bikes, Bafang releasing a new internally geared hub for bikes, the potential for USB-C e-bike charging, an awesome new European-built electric scooter called the Äike T, SONDORS Metacycle shipments, and lots more.

This week the podcast is sponsored by Tern Bicycles, who recently released the Quick Haul to make quality electric cargo bikes more affordable.

Dumpster diving into the abyss of the world’s largest online shopping site has regularly seen me bob to the surface with some uniquely interesting and sometimes terrifying finds. China has become the undisputed leader in producing electric vehicles, especially the seemingly outlandish ones. But as much fun as a bright pink life-size Barbie electric pickup truck can be, it’s the truly useful EVs that catch my fancy the most. And this week’s entry in the Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week series has me wanting to give it all up to start my own ice-cream man business on an ice-cream cargo e-bike!

Electric bikes are great for a lot of things. They get you where you’re going faster than a traditional bike, cut through traffic faster than a car, and are more fun than both. But the downside is that they can often be rather chunky looking. Some are even downright chonks. But not the Honbike U4, as this is one new e-bike that looks so sleek and elegant that you’d never guess it had an electric motor or battery on board.

With so many electric bike options on the market these days, it can be difficult for companies to stand out and show us something different. You’ve got to start thinking outside of the box, which is exactly what the Fucare Gemini X does. It’s an electric bike with a trellis-style frame. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, but it definitely works well.

Gas prices are ridiculously high and they just keep climbing. Your car isn’t getting any cheaper, but buying a new electric car also isn’t in your budget (and let’s face it, putting one more car on the roads isn’t helping anyone either). An electric bike would be a GREAT alternative, but maybe you just aren’t ready to go 20 mph on the side of the road with cars whizzing past your handlebars.

But there’s another great solution that you might have overlooked: the humble electric scooter. I’m talking seated electric scooters, like the Vespa kind – not the Razor kind. And here’s why you ought to give them another look.

I recently had the chance to see and test the new Äike T in its native European capital of Tallin, Estonia. Having ridden the scooter, met the team that designed it and toured the facility where it is built, I can tell you that this is one of the best designed electric scooters I’ve laid eyes on, and here’s why.

E-commerce giant Amazon has found a simple solution to replace thousands of its van deliveries: smaller electric cargo bikes and good old-fashioned walking.

When we think of the term “electric vehicles,” we generally conjure up mental images of Teslas or other headline-grabbing electric cars. But a new German study from Deloitte shows that it’s actually electric bicycles that are leading the shift toward electric transportation.

Light electric vehicles are great for utility work, where companies big and small are exploring replacing their conventional box trucks with smaller electric cargo vehicles. But what if you’re not some big or small company? What if you’re merely a dude who wants his own fun little electric cargo truck?

Well then you just may want to turn towards China’s busiest little shopping corner of the internet, where you can find wackiest and wildest electric vehicle assemblages this side of the Yangtze River. This week’s Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week may be right up your alley.

The Round Rock, Texas-based electric powersports company Volcon may be a relative newcomer to the industry, but the American manufacturer has already made a splash with its popular Grunt off-road electric motorcycle. Now the company is following up with twice the wheels and well over twice the power in the new all-electric Volcon Stag UTV.

Ducati appears to have made quick progress on its electric motorcycle development, especially considering that the program was first unveiled last October.

The nascent electric UTV industry is set to get another interesting offering later this week when Volcon (Nasdaq: VLCN) unveils its long-awaited Stag UTV.

When it comes to portable power stations, I’m inclined to say that the ability to store and carry with you a significant amount of energy is priceless. But of course these days you can put a price tag on nearly anything. With portable power stations, that’s usually about $1/watt and $1/watt-hour, at least with the big names in the industry. But with the introduction of several new competitors to this growing industry, units like the VTOMAN Jump 1500 and its expandable auxiliary battery are helping lower prices on these convenient new forms of energy storage.

Tern’s electric bicycles have become synonymous with quality, a reputation that has been earned over several years of high-performing e-bikes. They’re not cheap in any sense of the word, which leads us to believe that the newly unveiled Tern NBD will be another winner for the company as well as for riders in the high-end electric bike market.

Assuming folks can afford it, that is.