The EICMA Edition
It’s been a busy, EICMA week of wild and wonderful e-revelations, from the eagerly anticipated Kymco RevoNEX, to the unexpected electric innovations of CAKE, UBCO and NIU. Added to that are newcomers to electric avenue, SEAT and Kawasaki. Last but definitely not least is a lovely and lithe vintage-inspired Indie Gogo project, The Capri.CAKE Is The Cherry Topping Functional EV Designs

“And the winner is….” Swedish motor-vehicle innovator, CAKE, dedicated to exploring all the possibilities of what a two-wheeled EVs can be. The ÖSE light and ÖSE+ are the latest members of CAKE’s fleet of “light electric motorbikes”, and are conceived as more than just a way to get to where you’re going, they’re also light-duty haulers and portable workstations.

Designed with almost any profession in mind, the ÖSE’s simple, functional frame is a platform that can be configured for a variety of needs, without compromising the design. Both models have the same carrying capacity, modular options and battery strength selection. The difference between these cheeky little utes? The Ösa Lite is legally considered a moped, and the Ösa+ is considered the equivalent of a 125cc motorcycle. Check out what they can do in their promo video:
The ÖSE light with its moped rating will retail for $6500, while the ÖSE+ with its motorcycle functionality will sell for $8500. In keeping with CAKE’s reputation for clean design, the ÖSE is extremely simple and functional, but charming, and we find the motorcycle-as-utility platform is an attractive concept.
UBCO Gets Dirty and Dandy

Not content to simply be stylish, this classy chassis is headed in two very different directions – off road and on parade. The fifth-generation UBCO 2x2ADV is an all-wheel drive adventure moped that is street legal in the US, Europe, Australia and its country of birth: New Zealand. The 2.4kWh battery generates 31 mph, with a potential range of 75 miles per charge.


NIU Continues To Add Value


Kymco RevoNEX Surprises

The choice of a gearbox connected to an ebike is a rare one, as electric motors have sufficient torque at all revs to make a gearbox irrelevant, but also makes the maximum speed of the motorcycle dependent on the rev limit of the electric motor, combined with the ‘gear ratio’ between a mid-mount engine and the rear wheel…unless the bike has hub motors, in which case wheel diameter is the only way to adjust maximum speed. But a 6-speed gearbox on an ebike? Very rare.
The Electric SEAT

Kawasaki Takes a Crack

If you can’t wait until the next decade for a Kawasaki-branded electric, they do have an electric bicycle ready to hit the market:

Capri Vintage-Inspired Electric Bikes Aren’t What They Appear

There are details that give these bikes a legitimate 70’s feel, such as the colour options: Pacific Blue, Jungle Green, Meltin Silver, Space Blue and Black, the two variations – the Metz, with its top tube frame, and the Azur, which has a retro-style mixte frame, and the leather Brooks seat. Also included are nods to our time – such as the vegan leather option, and it’s electric. Want one? This is the best time. The European company, which has delivered more than 20,000 bicycles over a 10 year period, is still in the fundraising stages, so these 35lb high-performance electric bikes are available for $1,219 (regular price is $2,103) and the Azur for $1,419 ($2,437).