Verge opens US pre-orders for its hubless electric motorcycle with 25 minute charging
The Verge TS is one of the most revolutionary new electric motorcycles hitting the market thanks to a wild design for the drivetrain. It was previously only available in Europe but has now opened reservations in the US after showing off an updated model known as the TS Ultra at CES 2023.
The Verge TS Ultra improves upon the already impressive performance we’ve seen in the past from the TS and TS Pro models.
The bike retains a similar drivetrain made up of a hub-less rear wheel motor. That’s right, it’s an in-wheel motor but it’s not a hub motor, since there isn’t actually a hub to the wheel.
Instead, the motor’s copper core and magnet ring are housed in the outer portion of the wheel.
It’s a complicated design that pays off in more than just the aesthetics department. Putting the motor so far out from the wheel’s axis of revolution helps increase the torque.
That gives the Verge TS Ultra an impressive spec sheet, touting a peak power of 150 kW (201 hp) and a peak torque of 1,200 Nm. For the rest of us, that’s a massive 885 stump-pulling foot-pounds of torque!
The bike is speed limited to 200 km/h (124 mph), but that’s of course faster than anyone really needs for use on public roads.
Riders may not get a chance to feel that top speed very often, but they can enjoy the intense acceleration on every start. With that much power, the Verge TS Ultra boasts a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of just 2.5 seconds. The single-speed drivetrain means that performance is reproducible with every launch as there are no gears to quickly shift through.
That extreme acceleration beats out other high performance electric motorcycles like the LiveWire One that offers a slower 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds (imagine calling that a “slow” time).
The company hasn’t listed a battery pack size for the TS Ultra but claims a maximum range of 223 miles (359 km). That’s likely the city range, but it still rivals the longest ranges offered by market leaders like Zero Motorcycles.
Riding at highway speeds could see that range figure cut nearly in half, though the bike’s DC fast charging option will ensure speedy recharges on longer trips. Verge quotes a recharging time of just 25 minutes during fast charging, though fast charge times are usually measured on a nearly complete charge, such as 15-85%. Charging rates slow down near the end of the charge cycle to prolong the life of the battery.
There’s plenty of competition from flagship electric motorcycles in the US market already, but Verge is betting on its futuristic design and high-performance figures to help it score a slice of that pie.
As the company’s CEO Tuomo Lehtimäki explained:
“We are currently working on entering the US market in select states and hope to start sales and deliveries in 2023. We see a lot of potential in the market, and the wait of bike enthusiasts will soon be rewarded with even more powerful and futuristic electric motorcycles.”
The Verge TS and TS Pro have slightly more muted specs, though the performance is still sporty with a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 and 3.5 seconds, respectively. The TS starts at $26,900 while the TS Pro is priced at US $29,900. The highest performance TS Ultra model is significantly pricier at US $44,900.
A $100 reservation lets you begin configuring a bike and holds your spot in line ahead of anticipated US deliveries later this year.
Electrek’s Take
I’ve been following the Verge TS electric motorcycle for something like 4-5 years now, at least. I’ve seen it transform from pretty ideas on paper into a beautiful example of far-out design meets talented engineering.
Few electric motorcycles that begin with this level of out-of-the-box design actually make it onto the road, and so watching Verge bring these motorcycles to life in Europe and rack up riding miles has been quite rewarding.
Are they expensive? Hell yea they are. I probably won’t own one anytime soon, but at least they start out in line with other flagship electric motorcycle prices. And by including features like DC fast charging, they’re actually a step ahead of many other electric motorcycles that are sorely missing such in-demand options.
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The State of California is moving to ban the sale of Tesla cars amid claims that the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, have misled buyers about the self-driving capabilities of their cars. We’ve also got market-leading news out of Vietnam and a pricey, pricey lesson for one VW ID.Buzz buyer on today’s lesson-learning episode of Quick Charge!
We also ask what this might mean for the recent Uber/Lucid autonomous taxi tie-up and go through a full rundown of the fastest depreciating EVs on the market (and yes, there are four Tesla models in the top 10 … because the Cybertruck was too new to qualify).
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. 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. It has 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 Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Sunrun is putting tens of thousands of home batteries to work in Puerto Rico as the island’s electric grid faces a summer of high temperatures and energy shortfalls.
The company says it’s now dispatching energy from over 37,000 residential batteries to help grid operator LUMA keep the lights on. That stored power is being used to prevent rolling blackouts when demand spikes and centralized power plants can’t keep up.
Sunrun’s emergency power contribution has grown more than tenfold since last summer. LUMA expects more than 75 energy shortfall events between now and October, with each dispatch sending electricity to the grid for four consecutive hours. During several recent evenings, Sunrun and other virtual power plant (VPP) operators provided enough energy to offset a 50-megawatt generation gap, LUMA said.
Sunrun CEO Mary Powell said Puerto Rico’s aging infrastructure and intense weather patterns make home battery support increasingly critical:
It’s going to be a very difficult summer, which is why Sunrun has ramped up our dispatch capabilities, using tens of thousands of home batteries to support the grid and people of Puerto Rico.
She added that distributed power plants like Sunrun’s serve the same role as natural gas peaker plants – offering fast, reliable power during high-demand moments – but with clean energy.
Sunrun customers enrolled in the VPP will get paid too. Each participating battery earns about $200 minimum for the season, and customers who allow more of their stored energy to go to the grid earn even more. Sunrun also earns revenue for operating the VPP.
Read more: The US’s largest virtual power plant now runs on 75,000 home batteries
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. 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. It has 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 Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Volkswagen is advertising ID.4 leases starting at just $99 a month. It’s hard to find any car lease these days for under $100 a month, but for $45,000 electric SUV, it’s almost unheard of.
Volkswagen offers ID.4 leases as low as $99 a month
The Volkswagen ID.4 was the third top-selling EV in the US in January after the 2025 model year went back on sale.
Volkswagen’s electric SUV starts at $45,095 with an EPA-estimated driving range of 291 miles. It’s available in five different trims: Pro, AWD Pro, Pro S, AWD Pro S, and AWD Pro S Plus.
The base 2025 VW ID.4 Pro RWD is equipped with 282 hp from a single rear electric motor. Inside, it features a 12.9″ infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and Volkswagen’s new ID.Cockpit digital instrument display.
Upgrading to the AWD version will gain a tow hitch and an additional 53 hp, for a combined maximum of 335 hp. The added power comes at the cost of some range, with an EPA-estimated range of 263 miles.
Volkswagen was already offering 2025 ID.4 leases as low as $129 a month, but some dealers are listing it for even less this month.
A California dealership, Volkswagen of Garden Grove, has the 2025 ID.4 Pro RWD listed for lease at just $99 per month. The offer is for 24 months with $2,995 down. According to the dealer, the offer includes a $5,000 cash back bonus, good on a new ID.4 purchase or lease.
We thought the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was a good deal with leases starting at just $179 per month, but for $99, now that’s a steal.
Looking for deals on the Volkswagen ID.4 near you? You can use our link to find and view offers on the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 in your area (via a trusted affiliate link)
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