The Current News: Dec. 9, 2021

As part of the buildup to our Electric Revolution Live event in May 2022 (a follow-up of our Electric Revolution exhibit at the Petersen Museum), we are ramping up reportage on the EV scene via The Current.  It’s an ever-evolving, even frantic, landscape of electric vehicles, and it can be tough to keep abreast of all the latest bikes, batteries, and news constantly flooding the market. That’s why we’ve re-launched our weekly EV News Roundup to bring you cherry-picked stories that matter to you.  

Hello, dear readers and riders! Welcome to the second week of December! We hope that your holiday shopping is well underway (you may have even picked up a new e-Bike and saved $900 in the process), and that you’re enjoying this season with your loved ones. As you cozy up by a roaring fire (or space heater – we don’t judge!), why don’t you enjoy some of this week’s EV news? From weird EV mopeds and café racer-inspired e-Motorcycles to fresh funds, this week’s roundup is sure to please.

Let’s roll.

New Drops

• UK startup Maeving cranks up the retro charm with its hand-build café racer-inspired e-Motorcycle. Much like the Metacycle from Sondors, Maeving’s machine boasts a rear hub, in this case by Bosch, which delivers 40 miles per 3.5 hours of charge time. The café racer can hit top speeds of 45mph, making it perfect to ride around town.

• An oddly awesome 3-wheel EV moped called Flakmoped by Alex Asemyr of Lynk & Co was recently released this week. Vroom vroom.  Asemyr shows the trike with various useful configurations, from surfboard hauler to gimble camera rig.  Looks like a winner in the Ute category.

• Addmotor unveiled its brand spankin’ new City Pro e-Bike this week. Perfect for urban commuters, this electric pedal-assist bike comes in many millennial-friendly colors, including rose gold and olive green. Standout features include the bike’s 48V and 20Ah battery, which the company claims produces a staggering 125 miles worth of range, though that’s only likely to happen in the lowest power pedal assist mode.

• For all of you big bargain hunters out there, check out the new Lectric XP 2.0 fat-tire folding e-Bike. There’s a ton of power boxed up in its beefy little frame, and it’s priced to please at just $949. This little guy features a 500W geared rear hub motor, a 460Wh removable integrated battery with a 45-mile range, and five levels of pedal assist.

• Urtopia, a startup from China, debuted its tech-heavy e-Bike this week, featuring a 250W hub motor and three levels of riding assist with an estimated range of up to 80 miles. The bike is also equipped with a fingerprint reader, GPA, integrated alarm, and the list goes on…

• Tesla is dipping its toes into the micro-mobility arena with its Cybertruck, a mini Cyberquad for the kiddos. The toy costs around $1,900, which is still pretty cheap for Tesla.

 

Fresh Funds

• Factorial Energy, a startup that is working on solid-state batteries for EVs, added two more big-name automakers to its investment checklist, including Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis.

• Phoenix Motors recently filed for a $150 million IPO. The startup designs, assembles, and integrates electric drive systems and light and medium-duty EVs. It also sells EV chargers for both the residential and commercial markets.

• Revenue for the e-Bike market is predicted to hit a whopping $50 billion by 2027. Major players will include Schwinn, Van Moof, Lectric Bikes, and Trek Bicycles.

 

Equitable Commute Project Brings 5,000 e-Bikes to Frontline Workers

The Equitable Commute Project recently hosted an e-Bike distribution and training event in the Bronx. The plan is to offer 5,000 frontline workers with e-Bikes that have been subsidized and are subject to accessible financing solutions for New York City. The event drew big names in the EV realm, including Van Moof, Zoom, Rad Power, and The Hub NYC.