ebikes

California lawmakers are once again turning their attention to electric two-wheelers, but this time the approach looks more targeted – and notably, it’s drawing broader support from major bike advocacy groups.

Tampa is bringing back one of the most generous e-bike incentive programs in the country, and for some residents, it could mean up to $3,000 off the cost of a new electric bike.

Last week, news of California lawmakers attempting to require license plates for electric bicycles took the internet by storm. But the Golden State isn’t the only one trying to slap tags on e-bikes this year.

Aventon is doubling down on trail performance with the launch of the new Ramblas ADV, an electric hardtail mountain bike built around the company’s second-generation in-house mid-drive motor. Positioned as a do-it-all, go anywhere, all-terrain machine, the Ramblas ADV blends legitimate MTB components with commuter-friendly versatility, all at a price that undercuts many premium mid-drive competitors but may still make eyes water in the direct-to-consumer market that has become accustomed to bargain basement pricing on simpler e-bikes.

A newly introduced bill in California could dramatically change how electric bikes are treated under state law – and it may put license plates on most e-bikes.

A war appears to be brewing in London’s shared e-bike market, and it’s getting messy with new accusations of sabotage.

Merida is taking aim at the more budget-conscious end of the electric mountain bike market with the launch of its new ETMO range, described as the brand’s most price-focused Bosch-powered electric mountain bikes yet.

Of course for big eMTB names like Merida, the idea of “affordable” becomes something of a relative term.

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn has filed a new ordinance that would ban delivery app drivers in the city from using e-bikes, mopeds, or other motorized scooters to make deliveries, citing growing safety concerns.

From a fitness perspective, electric bikes are often framed as a way to make cycling easier on the legs or more accessible for people who might otherwise avoid riding. But new research suggests the biggest benefits of e-bikes for older riders may be happening somewhere else entirely: the brain.

Trek just pulled the covers off a new top-tier city e-bike aimed squarely at riders who want comfort, power, and polish without turning daily riding into a hobby that requires constant tinkering. The new Trek Charter+ arrives as Trek’s most premium everyday e-bike yet, blending high-end drivetrain tech, deep integration, and a strong focus on car-replacement practicality.

Across the US, the e-bike policy map is starting to look oddly contradictory. In some states, lawmakers are responding to the rise of high-powered, moped-like electric bikes by reaching for blunt instruments: licensing requirements, insurance mandates, registration schemes, and laws that effectively treat e-bikes like motorcycles. New Jersey’s recent move to scrap the widely adopted three-class system in favor of motor-vehicle-style regulation is a prime example of how quickly a state can go from “e-bikes are the future” to “please don’t ride one at all.”

While some police departments in the US and around the world are busy chasing down illegal or reckless e-bike riders, others are taking a very different approach: if you can’t beat them, join them.

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 a range of stories from new e-bike laws in New Jersey and Amsterdam, Rad Power Bikes getting bought out of bankruptcy, the clever way that e-bike batteries can be used for extra power during storms or even power a food truck, Honda’s new 50 MPH electric scooter, and more.

Just as the dust is settling from New Jersey’s widely criticized move to treat many electric bicycles more like motor vehicles, another state is floating a proposal that has riders and advocates shaking their heads.

Rad Power Bikes has officially found a buyer. Just over a month after entering the bankruptcy process, the once-dominant direct-to-consumer electric bike brand has reached an agreement to sell its assets.

When storms roll through and the power goes out, most people think about flashlights, candles, or portable power stations. But there’s a backup power source sitting in a lot of garages that often gets overlooked: your e-bike battery.

New York City’s food carts are part of the city’s soul. They’re loud, fast, fragrant, and everywhere – serving up everything from tacos to kebabs on street corners that somehow never sleep. But for all their charm, there’s one thing almost everyone agrees could disappear tomorrow without being missed: the rattling, smoky gas generators that keep those carts powered.

Now, in a twist that feels peak New York, some of those carts are starting to run on the same batteries that power the city’s e-bike delivery fleet.

Lectric doesn’t really do old-school sales. At least not the kind most of us think of when we hear the word. Sure, North America’s largest electric bike retailer, Lectric eBikes, has tons of great deals all year round. But the seasonal sales are often value bundles where the prices remain the same, but you get a ton of great accessories thrown in. Now for a limited time though, Lectric has launched an honest-to-goodness, save-you-some-real-money sale on America’s most popular electric bikes.

New Jersey has just rewritten the rules on electric bikes – and not in a way most of the e-bike world was expecting.

New Jersey has just taken one of the most aggressive – and controversial – steps yet in regulating electric bikes, and it’s a move that’s already drawing sharp criticism from cycling advocates.

In yet another unfortunate setback for Rad Power Bikes, a structure fire has been reported at the company’s Huntington Beach retail store. Rad Power Bikes once held the position as the top-selling electric bike retailer in the US, but has been struggling for some time and recently declared bankruptcy while it works to keep the company afloat.