US Special Operations tests American-made electric motorbikes for military use
Light electric vehicles have seen growing interest from militaries all over the world. Now the latest electric motorbike receiving its draft card comes from North Carolina-based electric moped builder Huck Cycles.
Huck Overland enlists
The company recently shared news that its Huck Overland model is currently being evaluated by the US Military as well as various government and private agencies.
It’s something of a return to form for Huck’s founder and owner Brett McCoy, an Army veteran who served in the airborne infantry.
According to the company, two Huck Overlands models have recently been trialed in various live fire exercises and tested for uses in search and rescue, border and perimeter patrol, air deployment, medical evacuations with rolling gurneys, covert operations, remote deployment and mobility caching.
The Huck Overland is an electric motorbike (or what some may consider a ‘noped’ due to its lack of pedals) that was inspired by the classic Honda Motra, itself a popular recreational mini-bike from the 1980s.
Far from a heavyweight electric adventure bike, the 145-pound (65 kg) Huck Overland is a smaller and more agile vehicle. The silent electric motorbike comes with a 3 kW nominal and 6 kW peak-rated motor putting out up to 8 horsepower, and carries a 3 kWh battery rated for 40 miles (64 km) of range.
With multiple operational modes, Huck’s bikes are technically rated to reach speeds of “45+ mph,” with that plus sign likely doing some heavy lifting. Private owners have reported exceeding that 45 mph figure with room to spare.
The $5,800 bike is normally sold for personal use and was actually intended for the hunting, fishing and outdoorsman market – hence the name Overland. But the company has since found that the light electric motorbike has proven popular in big cities for use as a commuter motorcycle. The bike ships as a street legal motorbike with a VIN and manufacturer’s certificate of origin, allowing riders to register it if they want to use it for on-road use.
As founder and CEO Brett McCoy explained to Electrek:
I’ve been shocked at how many people in larger cities like NYC, LA, and Miami have jumped on this model as a daily commuter. Apparently, the rugged Mad Max look is in for city riders too.
Electric motorcycles and e-bikes are rapidly becoming a common tool employed by militaries around the world. Earlier this summer we reported on other lightweight electric motorbikes that were adopted for use by the Ukrainian military. Those bikes were mounted with NLAW rockets to help Ukrainian defenders take out Russian tanks from a nimble, mobile platform. Ukrainian snipers have also used electric motorbikes to quietly get into firing position and then quickly bug out.
That may be one of the latest examples of e-bikes entering active duty, but it’s far from the first.
Back in 2018 we learned that Norway’s armed forces began testing fat tire electric bicycles in border guard patrols.
Patrol duties were also tested by the New Zealand Defence Forces in 2020 when they began trialing UBCO’s electric utility bikes.
Australian soldiers have been testing out stealth electric bikes since last year, and we also saw the first application of helicopter-mounted electric motorcycles late last year in an application designed for quick insertion of special operators on low-signature electric dirt bikes.
Multiple special forces units in Europe and the Middle East have also tested high-power electric mountain bikes for field use, with paratroopers even air-dropping electric dirt bikes onto the battlefield.
I may not be able to compete with helicopter-mounted electric motorbikes, but I was at least using e-bikes in uniform before it was cool. Back in the early 2010s when I served in the IDF, my e-bike was my main method of transportation and I was quite a sight zipping through the city with an M-16 on back.
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Luxury is a tough concept to pin down, but being constantly connected to work, kids, and telemarketers ain’t it. Genesis gets it, and its latest ultra-luxe off-road concept ditches screens in favor of the view out the windshield – and it’s got enough off-road chops to promise two things about those views: they’re real, and they’re spectacular!
Genesis calls its new X Gran Equator concept an elegant overlander for the modern explorer that marries on-road sophistication with off-road resilience. Whatever they call it, the 4×4’s dashboard is delightfully free from sweeping touchscreens, mood lighting, and any hint of telephonic integration.
Indeed, the interior looked so much like something from the 90s that I double and triple-checked the date on the press release. But don’t take my word for it, check it for yourself.
It’s fantastic
If you zoom in, you can see screens in the instruments. High-definition roll and pitch displays, altimeters, and probably other outdoorsy, overland-y things that the sort of people who want to do that in what would surely be a very well-appointed six-figure SUV for a similarly very well-heeled buyer.
And that buyer? They wouldn’t miss the screen, because the screen doesn’t matter. The real show is out the front windshield – and if someone from the office calls to interrupt the vibe, you won’t even know. I know I’d pay extra for that … and I can’t imagine I’m alone.
This is how Genesis explains it:
Inside, the X Gran Equator Concept orchestrates contrast between analog architecture and digital technologies, crafting a space that feels both functional and evocative. At the center of the cabin is a four-circle display cluster on the center stack, inspired by the vintage camera dials. The interior design features contrasting colors and shapes, with a preference for geometric over organic elements. The dashboard’s linear architecture and absence of decorations focus the driver’s attention on the journey, while swiveling front seats and modular storage solutions enhance practicality.
Genesis didn’t provide pictures of those swiveling seats or modular storage compartments on this concept, but the X Gran Equator Concept will make its in-person debut April 18th at the Genesis booth during the 2025 New York International Auto Show.
After the show, the company will move the concept to a display at Genesis House New York in the Meatpacking District, where it will stay “in residence” until the end of July. If you’re out that way for either event, take a picture of it and tag Electrek on Instagram!
Genesis X Gran Equator photo gallery
SOURCE | IMAGES: Genesis.
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The new-for-2025 Honda P7 electric SUV officially went on sale earlier today with 469 hp and more than 650 km (403 miles) of range from its 89.8-kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery … and you won’t believe the price!
First shown as a concept at the launch of Honda’s Ye brand a year ago, today. Ye is a joint venture between Honda and local automakers Dongfeng, who build the brand’s S7 model, and GAC, which helped develop the mechanically similar P7 that just went on sale.
And, by “similar,” I mean really, really similar. The AWD version of the new Honda P7 offers up to 620 km (385 miles) of CLTC-rated range, while the RWD can go 650 km (403 miles), which are identical figures to the S7. Even the crossover’s dimensions, at 4,750 mm long, 1,930 mm wide, and 1,625 mm tall with a 2,930 mm wheelbase, are identical.
Even the interiors – which are fantastic, by the way, with an innovative mix of screens, buttons, and super-slick sideview monitors – are tough to tell apart.
Honda Ye EV interior(s)
So, how can you tell the P7 apart from its S7 sibling? The P7 has C-shaped lighting elements that are distinctive from the S7’s X-shaped lights. The end result is a face that reads a bit more “Honda” to me, but that may or may not be a good thing in the Chinese market.
Pricing for the new Honda P7 starts at 199,900 yuan (about $27,200) for the two wheel drive variant, and is also offered with all-wheel drive for 249,900 yuan (about $34,000, as I type this), complete with the sort of advanced ADAS features you have to pay good money to supervise here in the US. That pricing makes both P7 models significantly less expensive that the what the company thought would be the vehicle’s main competitor, the Tesla Model Y.
The world has changed a lot since then however – and whether or not the Model Y is still considered a serious rival remains to be seen.
If you’re in the mood to check out an all-electric Honda in the US, click here to set up a test drive and explore local deals on a new Prologue. In the meantime, I invite you to take a look at some of the press photos of the new P7, below, then let us know what you think in the comments.
P7 image gallery
SOURCE | IMAGES: Honda; via Paul Tan.
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Kia just pulled the cover off its all-new 2026 EV4 today at the New York International Auto Show, marking the automaker’s first global all-electric sedan.
With a sleek design and practical features, Kia is clearly aiming to offer a compelling, affordable alternative to the flood of electric SUVs on the market.
The Kia EV4, set to hit US roads in early 2026, will be available in three trims – Light, Wind, and the sportier GT-Line.
Exterior and interior
Built on Kia’s 400V Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV4 sedan sports a distinctive low, aerodynamic profile with a sporty fastback roofline. The front showcases vertical LED headlights paired with Kia’s signature Star Map lighting and a modernized version of Kia’s Tiger Face grille.
Around back, vertical taillights and a two-piece spoiler emphasize the sedan’s sporty stance. Buyers can choose between standard 17-inch aero wheels or the 19-inch wheels exclusive to the GT-Line trim.
Inside, Kia’s EV4 emphasizes comfort, convenience, and spaciousness. A modern, open cockpit features high-quality materials, a two-spoke steering wheel, and an available 64-color ambient lighting system. With ample passenger room and cargo space, the EV4 balances practicality with a sleek, contemporary feel.
Powertrain and performance
The EV4 comes with two battery options: a 58.3 kWh pack delivering about 235 miles of range (standard on the Light trim), or a larger 81.4 kWh pack good for around 330 miles (Wind and GT-Line trims). Both models feature a 150 kW front-mounted electric motor.
Charging won’t slow you down: Kia estimates a 10-to-80% DC fast charge takes just 29 minutes for the smaller battery and 31 minutes for the larger. The EV4 comes with a standard NACS charging port and is on the front passenger side.
This Kia sedan has a drag coefficient as low as 0.23 Cd. Its updated i-Pedal 3.0 system offers smooth one-pedal driving, even in reverse and adaptive regenerative braking. Additionally, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability means your EV4 can power everyday devices like laptops or camping gear.
A tech-loaded interior
The EV4 features nearly 30 inches of combined widescreen displays. Personalization is easy, including themed interfaces and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Kia’s Digital Key 2.0 lets drivers manage locks, start the climate control remotely, and access other vehicle functions via smartphone. And Kia’s built-in AI Assistant ensures natural, responsive interactions, adding another convenience layer.
Comfort isn’t an afterthought, either. Dual-zone automatic climate control, available heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and acoustic windshield glass round out the premium feel.
Advanced driver-assist technology
The EV4 is equipped with Highway Driving Assist as standard, which automatically adjusts the vehicle’s set speed to match the posted speed limit (if initially set to the speed limit) and maintains distance from the vehicle in front.
Standard Hands-On Detection helps ensure drivers stay engaged by monitoring steering-wheel grip, enhancing safety on longer trips.
Other available features include Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, and Lane Following Assist. Optional Remote Smart Parking Assist simplifies parking in tight spots.
Look for the Kia EV4 sedan to reach US dealers in early 2026.
Read more: Kia EV Day 2025 recap: EV4 is coming to US, plus an up-close look at the EV2 and PV5 [Video]
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