Engwe, a popular maker of several different styles of electric bicycles, has just launched what appears to be its boldest and most powerful electric two-wheeler yet, the M20 3.0.
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There’s a surprisingly strong debate long-swirling around the term “moped.” For a word that started as a simple mashup of “motor” and “pedal,” moped has caused an outsized amount of contention. Now, with the prevalence of a new age of light electric two-wheelers, that debate has only grown.
What began as a literal description of a pedal-equipped motorbike has, over the decades, evolved into something broader – from legal definitions to common usage. That evolution hasn’t sat well with everyone. So let’s talk about what a moped was, what it became, and why insisting that language remain stuck in time might be missing the bigger picture.
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Federal regulators have ordered a recall of Fly E-Bike’s popular model known as the Fly 10 moped, marking the latest and perhaps most serious blow to the embattled micromobility company that has long been a major supplier of low-cost electric mopeds and e-bikes in the US.
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Peugeot is officially bringing back one of its most iconic two-wheelers – the Peugeot 103 – this time as a modern electric moped.
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Sleek, street-legal, and brimming with potential, it was a concept that looked like the perfect entry point into urban electric mobility for youthful riders and city commuters alike. With Harley’s branding, a slick removable battery for easy charging, and design filings that showed a nearly production-ready machine, this could’ve been a breakout moment in light electric vehicles. But instead, it was shelved, leaving a gaping hole in a market that’s now bursting with demand for just this kind of ride.
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ONYX Motors has just announced the second version of its storied RCR electric moped launched since the brand’s revival late last year. The new ONYX RCR 80V pushes the bike to its highest performance yet, breaking new power and speed records for the company while simultaneously raising questions about how to properly classify these fast electric motorbikes with pedals – and just who they’re for.
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Olto, the second electric two-wheeler model from the mobility startup Infinite Machine, was just unveiled as a bike lane-ready moped ready to conquer US cities. Combining slick design with high-tech features, it brings many automotive-level hallmarks to the e-bike market.
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On my most recent trip to China, I had the pleasure of visiting NIU’s factory and showroom to see the wide range of electric mopeds, scooters, e-bikes, and more produced by one of the world’s leading smart electric mobility companies. As an electric mobility journalist and enthusiast (and as an owner of my own NIU e-moped since 2020), it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to peek behind the curtain and see where the magic happens.
And now after such an eye-opening visit, I’m even more excited to share that experience with you!
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In an end-of-the-year miracle to close out 2024, the often-lauded ONYX moped maker has announced its return after shutting down operations earlier this year. The company’s return kicks off with the release of 100 limited edition electric mopeds.
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The Engwe M20 electric bike looks like another SUPER73 knockoff. And it is. But the bike also has two things going for it: It has an option for a second battery pack to double its range, and it also offers full suspension for less than the price of a non-suspension SUPER73.
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If the name “Delfast” rings a bell for you, it’s probably for the company’s larger electric bikes that are essentially electric motorcycles with pedals. But now the company has unveiled a smaller electric moped known as the Delfast California that should offer slightly more modest speeds and power ratings.
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Huck Cycles, a North Carolina electric moped maker, is finding that its off-road-optimized electric moped is actually proving quite popular for city riders as well.
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When it comes to electric mopeds, there are actually a lot of options these days. But there’s only one model that has been selling like crazy for years now: the ONYX RCR.
And now ONYX is making a good thing even better with a long list of updates to its legendary speedster of an electric moped.
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Xiaomi-backed Ninebot has a new electric moped joining its C-family of e-mopeds launched last year. The latest new model is the Ninebot C30, and it’s ushering in a new era of ultra-budget electric mopeds.
California-based Monday Motorbikes has a new electric moped coming soon. And Electrek just received the first details confirming the specs for two models: the Gateway and Gateway Booster electric mopeds.
Electric powertrains are already quite common in two-wheel vehicles – thanks to electric scooters, which are already extremely popular in Asia, somewhat popular in Europe, but less popular in North America. Now a relatively new segment of electric mopeds is coming and should make two-wheel electric vehicles significantly more popular.
We could argue about the differences between motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds, which can also be different with an electric powertrain, but generally speaking a moped will look more like a motorcycle than a scooter and it will have weaker powertrain which generally results and less stringent licensing requirements and therefore, it makes them more accessible than motorcycles.
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