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Electric Bikes

Electric bicycles are bikes with a battery-powered motor that kicks in when you pedal or use a throttle. E-bike sales have been growing steadily over the years, but they still only represent a small portion of the overall bike market in the US. That’s expected to change dramatically over the next decade, with brands like VanMoof, Rad Power Bikes, and legacy bike makers like Specialized, Trek, and others introducing new and more powerful models. The Verge brings you reviews of the latest models, trend reports, and buying guides to help you find the right e-bike for your life.

Bike tires made from NASA’s bizarre shape-shifting metal are now available to buyBike tires made from NASA’s bizarre shape-shifting metal are now available to buy
Rad Power Bikes says it will only produce UL-certified e-bikes and batteries going forwardRad Power Bikes says it will only produce UL-certified e-bikes and batteries going forward
VanMoof e-bikes finds a buyerVanMoof e-bikes finds a buyer
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
New VanMoof owner could be announced soon.

Ever since declaring bankruptcy in the Netherlands, trustees have been trying to find a buyer to restart the e-bike industry darling that raised over €200 million in capital and ended up with total debts of €144 million on sales of over 200,000 electric bikes.

“We are now talking exclusively to one party,” says co-founder Taco Carlier in a leaked email sent to former staff, “We expect to announce a new owner and explain their plans for VanMoof within a few days.”

Doorstart VanMoof nog altijd mogelijk: 'Nu gesprekken met één partij'

[www.bright.nl]

Cannondale joins the electric cargo bike partyCannondale joins the electric cargo bike party
The annual cost of owning a car has skyrocketed in the last year to over $12KThe annual cost of owning a car has skyrocketed in the last year to over $12K
Specialized’s Globe Haul LT is a long-tail cargo bike with big schlep appealSpecialized’s Globe Haul LT is a long-tail cargo bike with big schlep appeal
Andrew J. Hawkins
Andrew J. Hawkins
VanMoof’s future is narrowing down.

micromobility.com (formerly Helbiz) won’t be acquiring the bankrupt Dutch e-bike company, after the trustees in charge of VanMoof’s future turned down the company’s bid, according to a tweet from CEO Salvatore Palella. (He also suggested VanMoof’s founders may be trying to purchase the company through a shell company.) And Taiwanese bike manufacturer Giant also said it wasn’t in the running.

The trustees say there will be more news later this week. Previously, they said they’d select a single company and hammer out the final terms before announcing anything.

VanMoof niet overgenomen door Micromobility: 'Ons bod is afgewezen'

[www.bright.nl]

Wes Davis
Wes Davis
This is why we can’t have nice things.

In my e-bike conversion feature, I talked about why I don’t trust the battery that came with the motor I put on my cargo bike. The wording from the warning section on a battery very similar to mine really drives home why:

ONLY CHARGE THIS BATTERY IN A PLACE WHERE YOU WOULDN’T MIND STARTING A FIRE. NEVER LEAVE A CHARGING BATTERY HOME ALONE. Some people put their battery and charger in a BBQ grill with the lid on so that if anything bad happens it would be contained. There are also ammo-boxes and safe, metal boxes for charging battery packs

It’s not that it’s bad advice (well, apart from not mentioning the importance of proper battery venting) — but it definitely underscores why you should buy from a reliable source with proper certificaton.

I converted a cargo bike to an e-bike — here’s what I learned

Wes Davis
I converted a cargo bike to an e-bike — here’s what I learned

The conversion is tedious but not difficult if you have the right tools. Just expect the unexpected.

Wes Davis
VanMoof is for sale — here’s who’s interested in buying the bankrupt e-bike brandVanMoof is for sale — here’s who’s interested in buying the bankrupt e-bike brand
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Reminder: e-bikes don’t kill cyclists, cars kill cyclists.

Micah Toll at Electrek, who knows more than anyone about e-bikes and the challenges US bicyclists face, had the same reaction I did to a pair of weekend NYT articles that mistakenly blame e-bikes for a rise in injuries and deaths among cyclists. Sure, some e-bikes go too fast, and young riders often lack experience with road rules, but make no mistake, the culprit is cars, and urban planners that design communities around them, not people.

Here, let Not Just Bikes explain:

Cowboy insists it’s not the next VanMoof as it raises prices to ‘stay healthy’

After launching cheaper chain-driven configurations, Cowboy CEO Adrien Roose explains why his e-bike company won’t meet the same fate, despite all the similarities.

Thomas Ricker
VanMoof e-bikes is bankruptVanMoof e-bikes is bankrupt
Thomas Ricker
Cowboy releases cheeky app to keep VanMoof e-bike riders on the roadCowboy releases cheeky app to keep VanMoof e-bike riders on the road
Exclusive: VanMoof explores sale under court protection because it can’t pay billsExclusive: VanMoof explores sale under court protection because it can’t pay bills
Rad Power Bikes is pulling out of Europe to focus on US e-bike sales

After several rounds of layoffs and a number of high-profile lawsuits, Rad Power Bikes’ new CEO is determined to get costs and safety under control

Andrew J. Hawkins
Cowboy Cruiser test ride: a more comfortable e-bike for daily useCowboy Cruiser test ride: a more comfortable e-bike for daily use
Veloretti Ace Two e-bike review: rarified heir

Belt drive, removable battery, smooth automatic shifting, and built to be serviced anywhere. This Dutch e-bike checks all the boxes.

Thomas Ricker
This weekend is your last chance to save on a bunch of fantastic Switch gamesThis weekend is your last chance to save on a bunch of fantastic Switch games
Antonio G. Di Benedetto and Brandon Widder
Cowboy e-bikes, now with built-in Google MapsCowboy e-bikes, now with built-in Google Maps
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Whoa Cowboy.

Electric bike maker Cowboy is in an intellectual property dispute over the new AdaptivePower feature it released in March via a free software update. Seems the company was originally developing the tech to automatically overcome resistance like wind and hills through a partnership with eBikeLabs before terminating the contract sometime last year. Unsurprisingly, eBikeLabs feels cheated. Coincidence? Decide for yourself after reading TechCrunch’s excellent explainer.

First they worked in tandem, now they’re in an e-bike patent suit

[TechCrunch]

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Surprise! VanMoof has two new e-bikes.

The full-size S4 and smaller X4 (pictured) cost $2,498 / £2,198 / €2,198 and start shipping in August. They arrive after the company said they’d skip the 4-series of e-bikes because the 5-series was such a major advancement.

After reviewing both the S5 and S4, I can tell you that the cheaper and simpler SX4 models built for reliability are the ones most should buy.

The VanMoof S4 and X4 (pictured above) are available in four colors.
The VanMoof S4 and X4 (pictured above) are available in four colors.
Image: VanMoof (composite created by The Verge)
VanMoof S4 e-bike review: the one to buy

More simple, more accessible, more reliable, less money.

Thomas Ricker
Rad Power Bikes links up with Redwood Materials for e-bike battery recyclingRad Power Bikes links up with Redwood Materials for e-bike battery recycling
Uber will fund an e-bike buy-back program to help combat battery firesUber will fund an e-bike buy-back program to help combat battery fires
Super73 launches Adventure Series and first e-bike for danger babiesSuper73 launches Adventure Series and first e-bike for danger babies
Engwe M20 e-bike review: a budget Super73

Less than half the price of a Super73-ZX but with more inattention to detail.

Thomas Ricker
The E-BIKE Act is back and better than everThe E-BIKE Act is back and better than ever
Andrew J. Hawkins
We are living in a golden age of electric cargo bikesWe are living in a golden age of electric cargo bikes
Inside Specialized’s quest to build the friendliest, most capable e-bike ever made

Specialized shocked the bike world when it announced it would resurrect its defunct Globe brand for an all-new lineup of e-bikes. Here’s how the company went about designing an e-bike for maximum cargo-carrying capabilities.

Andrew J. Hawkins
Cowboy 4 e-bikes now automatically adapt to wind, hills, and heavy loadsCowboy 4 e-bikes now automatically adapt to wind, hills, and heavy loads
Rad Power Bikes’ RadRunner e-bike gets a major facelift — and a trailer for furry friendsRad Power Bikes’ RadRunner e-bike gets a major facelift — and a trailer for furry friends
Aventon Abound is an electric cargo bike with a lot of flexibility — and a great priceAventon Abound is an electric cargo bike with a lot of flexibility — and a great price
Ampler Axel e-bike review: this is the way

After a year-long struggle, the boutique maker of stealthy electric bikes finally gets it right.

Thomas Ricker
Lectric’s new electric cargo bike could be the perfect e-bike for families on a budgetLectric’s new electric cargo bike could be the perfect e-bike for families on a budget
The Mate SUV electric cargo bike is coming to replace your expensive carThe Mate SUV electric cargo bike is coming to replace your expensive car
Trek is trying to make Fetch happen with two new electric cargo bikes for familiesTrek is trying to make Fetch happen with two new electric cargo bikes for families
Rivian is working on an e-bikeRivian is working on an e-bike
Thomas Ricker
Amsterdam’s underwater parking garage fits 7,000 bicycles and zero cars

The four-year, $65 million project has everything — and nothing — to do with the automobile.

Thomas Ricker

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