Remember when you were a kid on those hot summer days and suddenly the jingle from an ice cream truck came winding around the corner? There were very few things more exciting than that surprise ice cream truck rolling down the block, chased by a pack of eager kids.
Now those kids are all grown up and some of them have realized that they could do the same thing, minus the truck. As it turns out, an electric bicycle works even better and can be much more profitable with a smaller startup cost. A growing number of inspiring entrepreneurs are now opening micro-businesses (small one or two-person commercial operations) based on electric cargo bicycles. Expand Expanding Close
NYC appears to agree, and will be relying on them to help commuters cope with the temporary closure of a section of the city’s subway system early next year. Expand Expanding Close
We’re proud to announce Electrek is sponsoring the American Solar Challenge this year. The 2018 event (PDF Flyer), which begins next weekend, will see racers take their Solar-powered “cars” from Omaha, Nebraska to Bend, Oregon loosely through the Oregon Trail. I use quotes because to get the Wh/mile equation on these vehicles to within what’s possible with a car footprint solar array, you’ll essentially need 4-wheeled electric bicycles.
The American Solar Challenge (ASC) is a multi-day, 1,500-2,000 mile cross-country endurance rally across North America. The event is typically held every other year during the summer and is open to collegiate level solar car teams from countries all over the world. The routes have varied greatly over the course of the event’s rich history, but they are always designed to provide teams with a great opportunity to demonstrate their solar cars under real world driving conditions and thoroughly test the reliability of all onboard systems.
This year is a bit more interesting also in that they are now racing a cruiser class which will act and look a lot more like traditional road vehicles…
The “last mile” problem is one that cities have been trying to solve for decades. While it is fairly easy to get to most cities, getting around that last mile to your final destination is often anything but simple. On the other end of the trip, “first miles” often have the same issue. How do you get from your home or apartment to the closest bus stop or train station that will take you to work?
That responsibility has often fallen on smaller one-person forms of electric transportation, also known as personal electric vehicles (PEVs). These can be anything from electric bicycles to electric scooters and electric skateboards. Basically anything small, quick and convenient to move someone around a crowded urban environment.
In an effort to determine which of these PEVs is the best option for urban commuting, I spent the last two weeks commuting entirely by personal electric vehicle, and now I want to share my experiences to help you determine how best to get around your city. Read on to see what I learned. Expand Expanding Close
Now the LAPD is making the jump to electric drive for the bicycle-mounted officers too, with a purchase of 20 tactical electric bicycles. Expand Expanding Close
The Chinese company Xiaomi has an impressive line of affordable products, ranging from consumer electronics to sofas. They are no strangers to personal electric vehicles either, having produced a very popular electric bicycle as well as an equally popular electric scooter.
And now they are doubling down even further on affordability with their newest electric bicycle, the 1,699 yuan ($261) Himo electric bike. Expand Expanding Close
Electric bicycles are a lot of things, from convenient commuter vehicles to fun recreational rides. But one word rarely used to describe e-bikes is ‘inexpensive’.
2018 E-JOE EPIK SE Sport Edition Electric Folding Bike 500-700W/48V – under $1500
50lb foldable bike with enormous range and power, 2x competitors or more
Includes premium components: oversized 180mm disc brakes, lights, rack
Downsides: soft front suspension, sticky throttle, too much speed
Folding bikes are a curiosity for most. They imply that they need to be packed up whether on a plane, train or automobile (or boat, RV etc.). They are great for commuters in their last miles and if you live far from a rideable habitat, they are great companions. A foldable bike allows you to forego that air resistant bike rack on the back or top of the car. But they do have their downsides. They aren’t great for long distances, their often small wheels and multiple piece frames aren’t great for long trips and they are more heavy and complex than equivalent traditional bikes. Also, you often ride higher and less aerodynamically because of the different geometry.
Electrified folding bikes are no different. While the battery and motor add significant weight to the equation, they also obviously add propulsion that helps get you to speed on hills and from a stop. There are a ton of these which have 200 or so watt motors and about 10 miles of range. Usually they start at around $1000.
The 2018 E-JOE EPIK SE takes this idea and nukes it with a 48V 500W or 700W burst rear brushless geared hub motor and 500Wh battery, both of which are at least double the standard you see on typical foldable ebikes. Even better, it looks and feels like a mild-mannered foldable bike that no one would suspect hides a moped level turbo boost. Let’s dive into this… Expand Expanding Close
When it comes to electric transportation, it’s hard to beat an electric bicycle on efficiency. They are lightweight, narrow and can cram batteries in the negative space of standard bike frames. But one Danish startup appears to have gone even further, and all they had to do was lay down.
Engineer and designer Lars Oksbjerre built the VELOKS MK3, a full suspension electric recumbent tricycle that has a range of 660 km (410 mi). Expand Expanding Close
Electric bicycles are becoming increasingly popular forms of two-wheeled electric transportation for both commuting and pleasure riding. The two most common electric motor styles used in today’s electric bicycles are hub motors and mid-drive motors. Which one is best for your needs? Read on to learn more and find out! Expand Expanding Close
Uber, the popular ride-hailing app company, has now set its sights on European electric bicycle riders.
The company announced earlier today that their electric bicycle rental service Jump will be debuting in Berlin later this summer. Afterwards, Uber plans to continue their rental e-bike rollout across other European cities. Expand Expanding Close
Amsterdam-based VanMoof has just unveiled two new classy looking electric bicycles. The Electrified S2 and the smaller Electrified X2 are upgrades to their existing electric bicycle line and each comes with an array of new features. Expand Expanding Close
As electric fat tire bicycles, or e-bikes with tires wider than 4 inches, become more popular, companies are responding to the higher demand with an increasing numbers of models. Now California-based Lithium Cycles has revamped their Super 73 line of electric bicycles and introduced the newest and most affordable member of the family, the Super 73Z.
At just $950, it is less than half the cost of other Super 73 models already offered by the company. Expand Expanding Close
Nearly five years ago, Superpedestrian’s Copenhagen Wheel burst onto the electric bicycle scene and created a radical new shift in the light electric vehicle industry. The Copenhagen Wheel combined all of the components of an electric bicycle, including the battery, motor, controller and throttle into a slick-looking red disk in the wheel’s hub.
But not content with just one industry-changing breakthrough, Superpedestrian has been quietly developing stealthy sensor technologies and gathering a vast amount data from the millions of kilometers traveled by customers on Copenhagen Wheel powered electric bicycles. Now they are preparing to put that massive data collection to good use with a new service designed to help make electric vehicles in ride-share programs safer and more effective. Expand Expanding Close
Electric bicycles, which can provide anywhere from a small electric power assist to a completely effortless electric vehicle experience, are showing strong sales growth year after year. And while most consumer products are moving towards online sales, electric bicycles are one of the few holdouts that are still flourishing with retail sales in brick-and-motor stores. Expand Expanding Close
Santa Clara, California based Vintage Electric has just unveiled their new Scrambler S electric bicycle, with a style that invokes classic WWII-era motorcycles and with performance to match.
With so many electric bicycle designs available today, it is becoming difficult for any e-bike company, let alone an American e-bike company, to compete on price. With Chinese e-bikes undercutting prices of western alternatives, this American e-bike manufacturer has decided to focus on style and performance instead of joining the price race to the bottom. Expand Expanding Close
What do you get when you combine the buoyancy of a boat, the power of an electric bicycle and the efficiency of hyrdofoils? An awesome new way to zip across the water, apparently.
The Hydrofoiler XE-1 is just that: part electric bicycle, part watercraft. Designed by New Zealand startup Manta5, the XE-1 is built on an aluminum frame with carbon fiber hydrofoils and propellor that lift the craft out of the water as you pick up speed. Expand Expanding Close
Most retail electric bicycles focus on mountain bike or hybrid style designs, leaving few options for those seeking sleek electric road bikes. But that could be about to change, as Chinese electric bicycle parts manufacturer Bafang announced a series of new mid-drive motors and batteries at the China International Bicycle and Motor Fair in Shanghai.
One of the most promising of Bafang’s new offerings is the M800 system designed specifically for road bikes, which includes a 5 lb (2.3 kg) mid-drive motor, a 4.4 lb (2 kg) integrated frame battery, satellite shifter pods and a color display. The entire package weighs less than 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg). Expand Expanding Close
According to investigations launched by the European Union, the Chinese government has been engaging in the process of dumping electric bicycles in Europe. This dumping has consisted of subsidies being supplied to Chinese companies that allow them to export their electric bicycles at or below their actual manufacturing costs.
According to the EU’s official journal, the European commission found sufficient evidence that such subsidies were allowing Chinese companies to dump electric bicycles in the EU, undercutting the prices of European electric bicycle manufacturers. Expand Expanding Close
Despite the large number of electric bicycles out there already, the e-bike industry remains very much in its infancy. This leaves substantial room for electric bicycle manufacturers to get creative with their designs, and it appears the new Italian-made STORTA e-bike has embraced this opportunity with open arms. And open frames. Expand Expanding Close
Electric bicycles are quickly working their way out of the shadows and into the mainstream cycling world as e-bike sales continue to grow. E-bikes combine the draws of cycling, including low-cost, fun and traffic-free commuting, with the advantages of cars and motorcycles – namely, that the vehicle does the work for you.
Great for more than just utilitarian uses, electric bicycles are also excellent for pleasure riding. The addition of an electric motor ratchets up the fun on everything from bicycle trails to snowy slopes and sandy beaches. If one electric motor can have this much impact, imagine what two motors could do! Expand Expanding Close
Words like “premium” and “quality” are thrown around a lot, but every now and again an electric bicycle comes along that is more deserving of these accolades than the rest. Today, that ebike is the Stromer ST5.
The Stromer ST5 is the product of extreme attention to detail and a refusal to cut corners. The result is an ebike with incredible performance combined with features and finish that would surely make even Elon Musk proud. Expand Expanding Close
Electric bicycles make commuting around cities and urban areas much easier, but the good ones can be quite hard on your wallet. High quality electric bicycles by top brands like Trek’s Super Commuter 8s or Raleigh Redux IE offer both high performance and high quality in a sleek package. However, with top-end electric bicycle prices from $3,000-$5,000, that extra quality does not come cheap. Expand Expanding Close
Bosch today announced that its PowerTube 500 batteries would be coming to US bikes. As the name implies, these are 500Wh batteries that will be integrated into the down tubes of bikes by manufacturers. As Bosch is the leading supplier of high-end ebike powertrains, the news will likely signal a shift to a more integrated look for “bike shop” quality ebikes.
