ebikes

This year’s shopping holidays are set to reveal some of the best electric bicycle and e-scooter sales we’ve ever seen thanks to the perfect storm of overstocked models, meeting year-end sales targets, and good ol’ relentless competition. The e-bike industry has been hammered for a couple of years now, and while that has put many companies in a squeeze, the upside is consumers are getting some of the best deals we’ve ever seen. With countless electric bicycle brands operating now in the US and even more models to choose from, here’s some help separating the wheat from the chaff.

As one of the few people who can claim to now be in my third decade of living an electric bike-focused life, I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years. Between the gear I buy for myself and the piles of random stuff that shows up on my doorstep from overzealous PR agencies, I’ve gone through a wide range of tools, locks, clothing, accessories, and more. Here are my favorites of all the stuff I’ve tested this year.

In a world where every new e-bike launch seems to be bigger and more powerful than the last, there’s a certain comfort to feeling something nice and small between your legs again. I’m talking, of course, about the JackRabbit OG2 micro e-bike. It’s the latest update to JackRabbit’s original (literally OG) tiny format electric two-wheeler, and by God, it’s better than ever!

Lectric Ebikes has long set the standard for other companies to follow in the budget electric bicycle space, continuously rolling out new models that offer never-before-seen value. A new cargo e-bike with more features? They did it. A new off-roader with better components? They did that, too. But what about the company’s best-selling model, the Lectric XP 3.0 folding fat tire e-bike? It’s due for an update, and here’s what you can expect.

Electric bikes are revolutionizing how we move, making commuting, fitness, and outdoor adventures more accessible and fun. They are useful as both a fun recreational tool and a powerful alternative to car ownership, making them a versatile tool for millions of people in the US and around the world.

Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, avoid traffic, or enjoy a boost on uphill rides, there’s a lot to love about e-bikes. And now that the holiday shopping season is bearing down upon us, more people than ever will likely be hopping on a new e-bike soon. But before you dive in and get your own, here are 10 essential things you should know.

We got to ride a pre-production model of a striking new e-bike/e-moped, the Owlet One, with lots of power in a small package.

Micromobility America returns to California, and this time the show will be coming to a new venue in Costa Mesa. Each year, Micromobility America brings together many of the leading companies, consultants, policymakers, and more in the micromobility industry. A two-day experience of e-bikes, e-scooters, and just about everything else is set to kick off later this week, and Electrek will be there to give you all a front-row look at all of the action.

Lectric Ebikes has sent another salvo across the bow of the e-bike industry, this time further entrenching itself in the best-selling cargo e-bike role with major upgrades to the new XPedition 2.0 electric cargo bike.

What happens when you take perhaps the most popular sidecar electric bike in the US and combine it with vintage BMW motorcycle vibes? You get the new MOD Easy Sidecar Sahara, based on the iconic 1940s BMW R 75 Sahara.

The Fucare electric bikes I’ve tested in the past have largely been fast and powerful machines, but always within the realm of reason. Apparently, that streak has come to an end with the new Fucare Gemini X Sport Dual Motor Dual Battery electric bike, which throws reason to the wind with so much power and speed that you can’t really call it much of an electric ‘bicycle’ anymore.

For years I’ve followed progress of the STREEK cargo trike, a fascinating-looking electric cargo carrier from Japan. This utility-focused electric bike relies on a tilting-frame design with a rare tadpole trike setup, which is a more stable design that we rarely see in the electric trike market. And now this uniquely Japanese creation is making the long journey across the Pacific to the US, thanks in part of to the e-bike brand Vvolt.

Yamaha has announced to its dealers that it will be pulling its e-bikes out of the North American market at the end of this year. In the meantime, the brand says that it will offer sales of up to 60% off for its remaining inventory and continue to support its e-bikes already sold in the US for at least five more years.

Denver is joining the ranks of several other cities around the US by adding a fleet of electric bikes to its police department’s patrol vehicles.

Who needs a golf cart when you’ve got a… golf bike? That’s the thought behind Fairway Bikes’ new three-wheeled electric bike designed for golfers, helping kick the lazy golf cart for a more interactive alternative.

North American e-bike regulations allow a higher power limit of 750W, which has resulted in an amazingly diverse field of super powerful e-bikes. However, that also means there’s a push towards the extra heavy end of the spectrum. But as a nice break from the race to more power, now that I’ve been testing the lightweight Ride1Up Roadster V3 for several weeks, I’m glad to finally be back on a lighter and more efficient ride that reminds me of the simpler times.

What’s black and yellow and has five smiling faces? A new Decathlon B’Twin F900E electric bike with four child-sized passengers riding up front. The new cargo e-bike has just launched, offering the minivan equivalent in the cargo e-bike world.

Tenways, one of several popular low-cost electric bike brands that have popped up in the US and European markets over the last few years, has updated its popular lightweight commuter e-bike. Just launched today, Tenways’ new Chain Version CGO600 Pro swaps out the single-speed belt we’ve come to know and love for an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain.

Pedego is said to be collaborating with Newport Beach, California-based Electric Bike Company, bringing highly customized US-made electric bikes into Pedego’s lineup, according to an announcement from Electric Bike Company.

[Update October 25, 2024: According to Electric Bike Company, who provided a press release and detailed information used in the article below, the partnership originally described in this article was approved by a portion of Pedego’s board as well as the private equity firm Verlinvest, which purchased Pedego. However, Pedego has explained in a message to its franchise shop owners that the partnership and announcement is not accurate and was not supported by Pedego in any official capacity. Instead, Pedego claimed that this particular situation was meant to be a small, discreet test on a single model (Model J) in two of their stores.]

The next time you run that stop sign and hear a siren click on behind you, the blue and red lights in your rear view mirror might look a bit different. But don’t let the bicycle helmet fool you, that ticket is going to sting just the same even if it comes from a police officer riding an e-bike instead of a motorcycle or police car.

FUELL Inc., the electric bicycle and e-motorcycle startup built largely on the name of the legendary motorcycle visionary Erik Buell, has entered into chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings.