🛻 GM’s Tiniest Truck Yet

Plus Segway unveils latest lineup, Lectric upgrades XP 3.0's braking, and Honda brings EV two-wheelers to Europe.

May 18, 2023

Hello - Before we dive in, a quick reminder that Micromobility Europe is only 3 weeks away, and the lineup is looking pretty sweet. If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, now would be a good time. All-access passes are heavily discounted for a bit longer.

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If you’re potentially interested in exhibiting at the Amsterdam summit, please contact us right away. We have 1-2 booths left.

PS We’re also looking for a handful of volunteers to assist with making sure the event runs smoothly exchange for a free ticket. Want to go behind the scenes with us? Get in touch.

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What You Need to Know Today

Lectric just announced that their best-selling XP 3.0 will now come stocked with hydraulic rather than mechanical disc brakes. This major upgrade will reduce the bike’s maintenance needs, while maintaining the same $999 price tag.

Segway-Ninebot recently announced its updated vehicle lineup for 2023, which will include a plethora of next-gen features, such as Traction Control Systems, Anti-Locking Braking Systems, and Apple-integrated ‘Find My’ tracking. (Related: Why Segway is going all in on computer vision).

In partnership with SAIC-Wuling, GM is developing a tiny electric pickup truck for the Chinese market that’s expected to retail in the ballpark of $14,000. Sizing up comparably to a Fiat 500, the concept incorporates the utility of a pickup truck in the small package of a NEV, making it a great solution for urban tradespeople. Unfortunately, the vehicle is not expected to enter U.S. or European markets anytime soon.

Hong Kong-based Urtopia just launched their Chord ebike in Europe, which offers loads of interesting features. The 353 watt-hour battery claims a range of up to 75 miles, but the most impressive aspects of the bike are in the cockpit, which features fingerprint recognition, built in GPS, and even bluetooth streaming capabilities.

If Wolff Bikes is not on your radar currently, there’s a good chance that they will be very shortly. Based in Quebec, Wolff has created a solid lineup of mid-range ebikes with quality components from Shimano, Bafang, and other name brand manufacturers. Unlike some other more popular brands, Wolff dabbles in both mid-drive and hub-drive motor systems for their bikes, and they also claim a strong commitment to post-sale customer service.

Lemmo’s E+Bike is a marvel of European engineering - its patented Dual Mode Hub motor allows riders to switch between an ebike and a traditional bicycle almost instantly. The E+Bike also packs all of its power components neatly into a detachable Smartpac, which riders can purchase along with the bike, or try out temporarily via a subscription.

Honda is bringing electric two-wheelers to Europe with the new EM1 e: electric moped. Powered by a removable 50V Honda battery, the EM1 e: claims a top speed of 28 mph and a maximum range of 29 miles on a single charge. The EM1 e: is just the start for Honda, as the company prepares to release at least ten more small electric vehicles before 2025.

Tired of sitting in traffic? A survey in Ireland says you’re not alone: one quarter of citizens are currently looking to ditch their car, with high costs of ownership and improved public transportation systems encouraging the transition for most.

Finland-based Verge Motorcycles recently revealed the TS Ultra, an electric motorcycle designed in collaboration with F1 racer Mika Häkkinen. Given Häkkinen’s background, it’s no surprise that the bike offers a top speed of 124 mph and achieves 0-62 mph in just three and a half seconds. The raw power also comes with a hefty price tag of about £70k…

Verge Launches Exclusive Mika Häkkinen Signature Edition Electric Bike

If you’re looking for a functional ebike without all the fancy gadgets and high price tag, the Oraimo Monster 100 may be just what you need. Stocked with a 350-watt Bafang motor and a 20 mph top speed, this bike is built simply to get the job done, and it’s now selling for just $599.

California-based Hi-Power Cycles (HPC) released a line of full-suspension, carbon-frame e-mtbs this week that are set to give large brands like Canyon a run for their money. The new Trailblazer 2023 models offer up to 1600-watts of power and a top speed of 34 mph, as well as a torque and cadence sensor pedal assist combo for a highly responsive ride experience.

China-based Eskute recently released their Star ebike, which is expected to live up to its name as a future top seller for the company. Due to the folding frame and fat tires of the Star, it shows some similarity to the Aventon Sinch.2, which we reviewed last week. Key differences lie in the Star’s top speed of 15 mph versus the Sinch’s 20, and the Star’s $1599 price tag - $200 less than the new Sinch.

Decathlon just released two new performance-drive electric mountain bikes in the E-EXPL 700 and E-EXPL 700S. Retailing at $2713 and $3800 respectively, both models are equipped with a 250-watt Brose Drive T mid-drive motor and a 630-watt-hour battery pack, but the 700S offers a bit more suspension and an upgraded Shimano drivetrain.

Tenways is bringing Dutch-style design to the American market with the low-profile CGO line of commuter ebikes. Paired with hydraulic disc brakes and carbon belt drives, the CGO line brings a combination of functionality and aesthetics to the mid-range ebike market.

Canyon continues to electrify their bike lineup with their new Strive:ON - a motorized version of their Strive racing mountain bike. The new e-mtb features the same carbon fiber frame and “mullet” wheel setup (29 inch front wheel and 27.5 inch rear) as the Strive, but with a powerful Bosch Performance Line CX drive system to conquer the steepest of inclines.

The Strive is not the only mountain bike from Canyon that’s being upgraded, either - their new and improved Spectral:ON model now offers upgraded front fork suspension, a new Shimano EP8 series motor, and smartphone connectivity for GPS tracking via the Canyon app.

The PVY Z20 Plus, now crowdfunding on Indiegogo, is an all-terrain workhorse of an ebike powered by a 1000-watt motor that can achieve a top speed of 31 mph. It also has a folding frame, comes with the added stability of fat-tires, and it includes front, rear, and seat suspension.

Propella’s new 9S Pro ebike offers some key upgrades to its predecessor, the 7S, with a larger battery, hydraulic disc brakes (instead of mechanical), and improved battery capacity. In terms of design, Propella stuck with the bottom-mounted, water bottle-like removable battery, maintaining the sleekness and simplicity of the 7S.

Ebike Giveaway

Have you heard? We’re giving away a brand-new RideUp1 Prodigy to one lucky reader. Head over to Ride Review to enter for your chance to win this Class 3 mid-drive ebike.