There’s never been anything subtle about the electric bikes made by Nevada-based e-bike company E-Cells. The company’s newest model is true to form with over-the-top specs. Meet the E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500W Dual Crown Limited Edition.
While E-Cells has produced some slightly more modest power rides, its bread and butter has been a growing line of high-performance all-wheel-drive electric bikes.
Featuring dual suspension, dual motors, and dual batteries, these e-bikes aren’t for the meek or mild.
The E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500W Dual Crown Limited Edition is a great example of the company’s design ethos, upping the ante with improved front suspension in the form of a new dual crown fork. That upgrade outfits the bike with suspension more akin to what you’d find on a motorcycle than a bicycle. Not only does it provide a stiffer and more structurally sound front end, but the new fork increases the suspension travel by 50% to a massive 120mm of travel. The fork also offers increased adjustability, which is another nice perk when you’re constantly jumping it over rocks and logs.
The rugged fork matches many of the other more-than-bicycle-level components, like the four piston disc brakes on massive 203mm diameter disc rotors that measure 2.3mm thick.
The bike is certainly off-road optimized, especially with the 1,500W of continuous power that puts it a far cry north of the 750W road-legal limit. And considering that each of those motors is putting out well over 750W of peak power, the total peak output of the E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500W Dual Crown Limited Edition certainly surpasses the 1,500W moniker. Fortunately that power can be tamed electronically for when riders want to comply with on-road laws. But with an e-bike this powerful and this fully-suspended, the trails are where it will really shine.
Other new additions on the bike include a 48V motorcycle-level headlight, an upgraded controller, and a torque sensor for the most accurate and responsive pedal assist.
For those that will end up using the pedals as footrests though, a right-side half-twist throttle with leather bar ends will provide a punch to get up to speed quickly.
Supplying those power-hungry motors is a pair of 52V batteries offering a combined capacity of 1,638 Wh. That’s around 3x more battery than you’ll find on a typical e-bike.
They are designed to be capable of running either together or independently. That means if you need to head out with only one battery, it can still provide up to 2,200W of power by itself.
Working together though, those two batteries with Samsung 3500 mAh cells will give the most power and longest range possible.
The batteries share an integrated charge port in the frame that charges both packs from a single connector, making the charging process easier than most dual-battery e-bikes that require separate charging.
Back on the bike side of things, the E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500W Dual Crown Limited Edition features a Rockshox Monarch RL shock in the rear, Tektro Auriga 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, KMC X10E chain with stretchproof treatment, 10-speed Shimano Deore transmission, and a pair of double wall aluminum rims wearing Vee Bulldozer 26″x 4.25″ tires.
The bike isn’t light, weighing in at a solid 95 lb. (43 kg). But neither is a 4×4 rock crawler jeep, and this seems like the e-bike equivalent of extreme overlanding vehicles. Despite the large format of the bike though, riders have three frame sizes to choose from to find the best fit.
What may not fit as well is the price tag, unless you’re prepared to lay down some serious change. The bike is priced with an MSRP of $5,995, though is currently on sale for $5,095. That’s a serious outlay, but then again those dual high-power motors and dual batteries don’t come cheap, nor does the quality full suspension. You’ve practically got two full e-bikes worth of kit here!
I’ve actually had the pleasure of testing out some of E-Cells’ highest-performance AWD e-bikes in the past, and I can tell you that these things are the real deal. They’re as powerful as they are rugged, and I’ve never hit an obstacle I couldn’t either power over or through.
I’m excited to get a chance to test out the latest Super Monarch AWD 1500W Dual Crown Limited Edition soon. I’ll be sure to report back on it once I have a few miles behind me so I can provide a full review of the massive e-bike.
Until then, check out my last E-Cells review below to see how these bikes perform in the flesh.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
The new and improved 2026 Kia EV9 and 2025 EV6 are eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, but one trim is excluded.
Do the Kia EV6 and EV9 qualify for the federal tax credit?
Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the EV6, received some pretty major upgrades for its mid-cycle update this year.
The 2025 EV6 features a bigger battery providing more range (now up to 319 miles), a stylish interior and exterior redesign, and an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers.
Kia’s first three-row electric SUV, the EV9, also has a native NACS charging port and will be the first model year to offer a high-performance GT trim.
We got a good look at the EV9 GT at the LA Auto Show last year (check it out here). The sporty electric SUV boasts 501 hp, which is quite a bit more than the current GT-Line’s 379 hp. The added power is enough for the big-body SUV to move from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds.
Although Kia America’s vice president of sales, Eric Watson, confirmed the EV6 and EV9 are now in “full-scale production” at its plant in West Point, Georgia, not all trims will qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit.
According to CarsDirect, Kia told dealers that the 2025 EV6 and 2026 EV9 GT trims wouldn’t be eligible for the credit. A spokesperson said the exclusion is because Kia builds the EV6 GT and EV9 GT in South Korea, while all other trims are assembled in Georgia.
If Trump’s 25% tariff on South Korea is still in effect when the GT models launch in the US, it could create a significant price gap between trims.
Despite this, you will likely still be able to take advantage of the credit through leasing. Kia, like many, is passing the $7,500 on through lease cash, which can significantly cut monthly payments.
Kia will reveal more info, including prices, closer to launch. Check back soon. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
With the new models arriving soon, Kia is offering clearance pricing on outgoing models. Monthly leases start as low as $179. You can use our links below to find deals on the Kia EV6 and EV9 near you.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders today to resuscitate the US coal industry – here’s why this is a complete waste of time.
Once again, using “emergency authority” by citing the growing power needs from data centers, EVs, and AI, the executive orders will allow some old coal-fired power plants scheduled for retirement to stay online.
The orders will also direct federal agencies to identify coal resources on federal lands, lift barriers to coal mining barriers, and prioritize coal leasing on US lands.
An Obama-era moratorium that paused coal leasing on federal lands will officially be acknowledged and federal agencies will be required to scrap policies moving away from US coal production. Trump also wants to boost coal exports and speed up coal technology development.
Electrek’s Take
The coal and mineral industry is happy about this executive order, as well as the EPA recently giving them a free pass to pollute, and the MAGA crowd might think this is great, but no one else thinks this clever.
Trump can try to pretend that coal is “clean,” but it doesn’t change the fact that coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels – its emissions killed 460,000 people between 1999 and 2020. Plus, it’s not even cost-effective – even natural gas is cheaper than coal. And these plants are old – the average age of the plants that are online is 53.
Coal has been in decline for a long time – it peaked in 2007. As I just wrote last month, coal fell to a record low of 15% of total electricity generation in the US in 2024, and wind and solar accounted for 17% of total electricity generation. That’s right – wind and solar successfully provided more power generation in the US than coal last year.
And while electricity demand will indeed skyrocket over the following decades, clean energy is capable of meeting that demand. The Energy Information Administration projects that in 2025, 93% of new power added to the US grid will be from solar, wind, and battery storage.
In an emailed statement, Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council, questioned whether a mandate for Americans to commute by horse and buggy would be next. It’s a fitting sentiment because the fact that I’m even writing a story in 2025 about why trying to revive coal is a bad idea feels ludicrous. Trump seems to forget he’s not William McKinley and this isn’t 1900.
Read more: Renewables to continue driving US power generation growth – EIA
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
After a few “technical advances,” BMW is upgrading its EVs with more driving range, features, and options. All BMW i5 models now have more range, while the 2026 iX has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 364 miles.
BMW iX and i5 EVs gain more range
BMW announced 2025 model year updates coming this spring with a few exciting improvements to look forward to.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 features up to 310 miles of range, up from 295 miles in the outgoing model. Meanwhile, the i5 xDrive40 has a driving range of up to 278 miles, up from 266 miles in the 2025 model year.
BMW said that the improvements are due to “a number of technical advances that reduce energy consumption, and, thus, improve their range.” The new i5 uses a more efficient, more powerful SiC inverter, which also powers the new 2026 iX.
All BMW 5 Series models are available with a new Frozen Portimao Blue metallic paint color. Two new Merino leather interior colors have also been added: Dark Violet/Atlas Grey and Taupe/Atlas Grey.
| BMW i5 model | Driving Range (increase from MY2025) |
| i5 eDrive40 (19-in wheels) | 310 mi (+ 5%) |
| i5 eDrive40 (20-in wheels) | 300 mi (+ 8%) |
| i5 eDrive40 (21-in wheels) | 278 mi (+ 3%) |
| i5 xDrive40 (19-in wheels) | 278 mi (+ 5%) |
| i5 xDrive40 (20-in wheels) | 272 mi (+ 4%) |
| i5 xDrive40 (21-in wheels) | 259 mi (+ 4%) |
Although BMW revealed the 2026 iX earlier this year, the company now says it has an even greater EPA-estimated range than it projected.
The 2026 BMW iX xDrive60 is rated with a range of 364 miles when equipped with 20″ Aero wheels on summer tires, 7% higher than the 340 miles it initially expected. It’s also a drastic improvement from the 309-mile rating for the 2025MY.
Despite the upgrades, BMW’s electric SUV gets a $12,100 price cut thanks to a new entry-level xDrive45 model, which starts at just $75,150.
| Horsepower | Starting Price* | Driving Range | |
| 2026 BMW iX xDrive45 | 402 hp | $75,150 | 312 miles |
| 2026 BMW iX xDrive60 | 536 hp | $88,500 | 364 miles |
| 2026 BMW iX M70 | 650 hp | $115,500 | 303 miles |
BMW fine-tuned the exterior, which now includes new vertical headlights and a revamped Kidney Grille that illuminates.
The 2026 BMW iX is also the first BMW to feature its new Curved Display OS with video streaming, in-car gaming, and more.
Ready to try out BMW’s electric cars for yourself? We can help you get started. Check out our links below to find BMW iX and i5 models near you.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway