ebikes

If you’ve been browsing around for an affordable electric bike lately, you’ve almost certainly heard of the Lectric XP e-bike. One year ago, the bike didn’t exist, and today they are so popular that it’s difficult to even get your hands on one. While there are plenty of e-bike companies out there doing well right now, few have achieved so much success so quickly.

Here’s the story of how it happened.

[Update 5/24: OK, now it’s $14 million. Things are moving fast over there!]

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Electric mopeds are exploding in popularity, especially thanks to new models with higher speeds and power levels. As more electric moped startups begin producing the popular mini-EVs, legal questions have begun to stir about how and where these bikes can be ridden.

Their pedals might make them bicycle-like, but their motorcycle-level speeds and power can place them outside of standard e-bike regulations.

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Rad Power Bikes is the largest e-bike company in the US and is known for its diverse lineup of affordable e-bikes. Now the RadWagon, the brand’s electric cargo bike, has received a major overhaul with a brand new frame, motor, tires, increased adjustability, additional accessories, and more.

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As countries around the world rushed to lock down their cities and combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, previously gridlocked roads quickly became eerily empty. But these traffic-free thoroughfares can’t last forever.

Or can they?

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CYC, a small Hong Kong-based company, makes the X1-Pro, a small conversion motor that has an output of about 10 to 20 times that of a typical electric bicycle motor. 5,000W may sound intimidating, but riding a rocket ship between your legs is actually pretty cool.

The Fiido L2 doesn’t look like a standard e-bike, at least not the kinds that we are used to in the West. Instead, it adopts a design that has become immensely popular in East Asia by sporting smaller wheels, moped-style suspension, a huge battery, and seating for two.

After testing out the e-bike myself, I can see why the design is so popular over there, and why it just might work well here in the West as well.

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GM has officially announced that it is ending its ARIV electric bicycle program, blaming the decision largely on the havoc wreaked upon its balance sheets by COVID-19.

The Evelo has cracked the code on the smoothest drive system known to man (at least this man).  The Galaxy cruiser is made for leisurely, smooth rides and low-impact riding.

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The FREY AM1000 electric mountain bike is something of an enigma. You might not know it by looking at it, but the unassuming electric mountain bike is packing more power than almost any other e-bike and has the suspension required to elegantly navigate even the most technical terrain.

If the AM1000 was an olympic athlete, it’d be both a powerlifter and a figure skater. And it’d medal in both.

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The nation’s top transit systems have experienced 70% to 90% declines in ridership during the pandemic. Analysts believe that some of these losses could be sustained for years. As lockdowns get lifted, workers will need new socially distanced strategies to get to work.

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Riide is one of those Kickstarter electric bicycle success stories, getting their start on the crowdfunding platform in 2015 in order to launch a sustainable e-bike business that has so far lasted the test of time in an increasingly competitive market. After differentiating themselves with a unique lease-to-own option, Riide is now back with their second-generation e-bike, the Riide 2.

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Specialized has just released the latest edition to its Turbo e-bike lineup, the Specialized Turbo Vado SL. With “SL” standing for Super Light, this is also one of the lightest e-bikes in Specialized’s lineup, weighing in at as little as 33 lb (14.9 kg).

And while some of Specialized’s lightweight e-bikes have carried heavy price tags, the new Specialized Turbo Vado SL is surprisingly light on the wallet, too.

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New Zealand-based rugged electric utility bike company UBCO has expanded its push across Europe after finding success in the Australasia region as well as the US. And as part of the expansion, UBCO isn’t just preparing to increase its product line, it’s also increasing its leadership team as well.

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After other leading electric bicycle component suppliers introduced larger batteries last year, Shimano is following their lead with its own set of higher-capacity e-bike batteries.

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The Swytch Kit is an e-bike conversion kit that markets itself as ultra-lightweight and easy to use. Most people are likely to find use for the Swytch electric bicycle conversion kit in standard commuting scenarios. That’s how I originally intended to use it.

But I wanted to try putting it through a bit more of a grueling test by taking it off the beaten path, and so I found somewhere the road stopped and the adventure began.

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Gazelle doesn’t just make Dutch-style e-bikes, they make actual Dutch e-bikes. As in, they’re built in Holland. And the company’s latest release today of the Gazelle Medeo T9 brings that Dutch heritage to North American riders with a comfort bike designed for both city commuting and recreational trail riding.

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When we first covered the high-power Delfast TopCop electric bicycle, the company was still pitching its bikes to various police departments around the world. Now we’re hearing some of the first feedback from actual cops who have incorporated the e-bikes into their daily service.

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Many electric bicycle and scooter companies have announced discounts for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now Rad Power Bikes, the largest e-bike company in the US, is offering a big $200 discount to a wide range of people who serve their communities.

[October 2020 update: Unfortunately it was discovered that a large number of people who did not qualify for these discounts were abusing the system to take advantage of Rad Power Bikes’ generosity. For that reason, the company has been forced to close the discount offer. The remainder of this article is being left for documentation, but the original discounts for teachers, military, medical services and first responders are no longer available.]

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Amazon is great for so many things. But can you get a decent electric bicycle for an ultra-budget price? That’s exactly what I set out to discover when I ordered the Nakto 26″ Cargo Electric Bike.

It’s not really a cargo bike, at least not in the stretched out utility way you’re probably used to. But hey, it includes a front basket and rear rack, plus lights and fenders, all for the cool price of $599. How bad could it be?

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Boosted was a key leader in the premium electric skateboard market before the company’s untimely demise two months ago. As it tuns out, Boosted was apparently working on much larger projects, including a pair of electric bicycles known as the Boosted Bullet and P2.

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As government-imposed lockdowns spread around the US in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses have been suffering. With people stuck at home and tightening their purse strings, many feared that the hardship would be acutely felt by the scores of electric bicycle companies that have popped up over the last few years.

But as it turns out, the opposite is true. In fact, sales of electric bicycles appear to have exploded recently.

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