Electric Bike Company adds torque sensor upgrades to its US-built cruiser e-bikes
Newport Beach, California-based Electric Bike Company has just announced a big upgrade option to two of its slick cruiser e-bike models. The Model A and Model X now both come with the option for a torque sensor for their pedal assist operation.
If you’re not familiar with a torque sensor or how it effects e-bikes, prepare to have your mind blown.
Most value-oriented electric bikes (i.e. in the sub $2,000-ish category) use what is known as a cadence sensor to activate pedal assist. The cadence sensor is a less refined component that basically measures how fast the user is spinning the pedals and uses that apply pedal assist power from the electric motor.
The result is effective at starting up the motor when the user pedals, but it has a several limitations. There is an inherent lag while the sensors waits to measure pedal speed, meaning it can take a second or two for the motor to kick in. Cadence sensors also have less resolution, meaning they aren’t as precise at measuring pedal input. And they have a fundamental disadvantage of only measuring pedaling speed, which is often doesn’t correlate directly to pedaling effort (e.g. hills, heavy loads, changing gears, etc).
A torque sensor, on the other hand, measures how hard a rider pushes on the pedals. It allows nearly instantaneous feedback and offers a much more precise way to apply an exact amount of power based on how hard the rider is working. The harder the rider is attempting to pedal, the more motor power can be applied. That helps it intuitively read a user’s input and makes it feel more like the motor is just an extension of the rider’s own muscles, rather than a delayed on/off switch for the motor.
Granted, e-bike controller engineers have come a long way with cadence-based pedal assist sensor programming and we’ve seen big improvements over the years that has improved cadence sensor performance. But there is simply no comparison to a true torque-based sensor for natural feeling pedal assist.
Normally e-bikes with torque sensors cost significantly more than cadence sensor-based e-bikes, but Electric Bike Company has now announced a torque sensor option on its Model A and Model X e-bikes for just $99.
Both are electric cruiser bikes, with the Model A standing for “Affordable”. Starting at just $1,499, the Model A offers a top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h), though it ships in Class 2 mode with a 20 mph (32 km/h) limit. A 50 mile (80 km) maximum range is possible with pedal assist on a single charge of the bike’s battery, which comes with a 5-year warranty. The frame and motor have a longer 10-year warranty.
Hydraulic disc brakes, a rear rack, LED lighting and a color LCD screen are all included as standard equipment. All of the company’s bikes uses stainless steel hardware for superior rust resistance — something that has proven important for a beach town-based company that builds bikes often used along the salt-spraying coasts.
All of Electric Bike Company’s e-bikes are hand-assembled at the company’s multiple facilities in the heart of Newport Beach, California. We’ve had the chance to visit and watch those e-bikes being built starting from bare frames and on through the steps of wheel building, painting, component assembly, battery pack assembly, testing and shipment. In fact, the company recently expanded its paint shop and offers the most customizable e-bikes in the country — and probably the world — with thousands upon thousands of custom color combinations across all of the components. They even offer their own custom painted helmets now to match their bikes, complete with included front and rear LED lighting built right into the helmet.
You can see how the company builds its own e-bikes in my video below.
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A dozen Tesla vehicles burned at a store in Toulouse, France. Arson is suspected amid global protests and vandalism attacks against Tesla and Elon Musk.
Last night, a dozen Tesla vehicles burned down at Tesla’s retail and service location in Plaisance-du-Touch near Toulouse, France.
Firefighters arrived on the scene at around 4 a.m. and contained the fire to the vehicles. Eight of them were completely destroyed, and four were greatly damaged. The damages are estimated at over 700,000 euros.
According to the local news (translated from French), the police suspected arson as a hole was found in a fence, and threats had been made over the last few weeks. The Tesla location remained closed all day.
Tesla is currently being protested by anti-fascist groups around the world, especially in the US, where many are targeting Tesla to protest against Elon Musk’s involvement in the US government.
In France, there were a few protests planned, but some extremist groups are calling for widespread arson against Tesla stores:
I won’t share the link to the article since it gives step-by-step instructions on how to burn down Tesla stores without getting caught, but the manifesto explains that they are going after Tesla as a “symbol of capitalism,” although they also list a dozen other reasons including the fact that they think it’s “doable and cheap.”
Electrek’s Take
This is getting nuts. It’s not only dangerous, but it’s also not super effective in achieving the goal they claim to want to achieve.
Have they never heard of insurance? Tesla is having issues selling cars right now. You are burning unsold inventory that they can then claim to their insurance.
Sure, it disrupts their operations for a short period of time, but it’s not worth it.
Their manifesto does say to avoid violence and not to target vehicles owned by individuals – though it doesn’t sound like a strict rule for them, but I think these people are likely going to end up in jail for having achieved nothing.
The protests and boycotts are going strong. You don’t need to burn cars to make yourself heard.
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Environment
Ford F-150 Lightning sales have been falling for months: What’s going on with the EV pickup?
Is Ford’s electric pickup in trouble? Sales have been down for months, and February showed no relief. What’s going on with the Ford F-150 Lightning?
Ford F-150 Lightning sales drop again in February 2025
Ford’s US sales dropped by 9% last month. Although electrified vehicles, including EVs and hybrids, both notched double-digit growth, sales of Ford’s gas-powered (ICE) models, which accounted for over 85% of deliveries, fell nearly 13%.
Hybrids saw higher demand with sales up 27.5% to 15,357, while EV sales increased 15% to 7,326. The Mustang Mach-E was a bright spot with 3,312 models sold in February, up 13% from the prior year.
With 6,841 Mach-Es sold through the first three months of 2025, Ford’s electric crossover SUV remains a top-selling EV in the US.
Ford’s electric pickup didn’t fare as well. F-150 Lightning Sales were down nearly 15% last month with only 2,199 units sold. Through March, Ford has sold 15% fewer Lightning models than it did at this time last year.
Sales of the electric pickup have been slipping for months now. In the final three months of 2024, F-150 Lightning sales were down 10%.
The Lightning, alongside Rivian’s R1T, are no longer the only electric pickups on the market. Ford is facing new competition with the Tesla Cybertruck, Chevy Silverado EV, and GMC Sierra EV, arriving.
According to Cox Automotive, the Tesla Cybertruck slipped past the Lightning to become the fifth best-selling EV in the US last year with nearly 39,000 units sold. Ford’s Lightning was sixth with just over 33,500 models sold.
Ford extended its “Power Promise” promo earlier this year to boost demand, giving EV buyers a Level 2 home charger and other benefits, but Lightning sales are still down.
The American automaker cut Lightning production at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center last year, citing slower-than-expected demand. A new report from Automotive News claims Ford is now ending a pilot program to stock and distribute EVs through regional hubs after it failed to catch on. It was designed to speed up deliveries.
Although Ford plans to launch a smaller midsize electric pickup, it won’t arrive until at least two more years. With new competition, like the Ram 1500 REV and Volkswagen Scout pickup, hitting the market over the next few years, Ford may find it even harder to attract buyers.
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Costco’s Auto Program recently introduced some new member-only incentives, and the 2025 Volvo EX90 BEV is now on its list.
Volvo is offering Costco Executive Members $2,000 off the 2025 EX90. Costco Gold Star and Business members are eligible for $1,500 off. The incentives are available on all versions of the Volvo EX90 for members who purchase or lease from February 24 to April 30, 2025. It’s the only non-GM EV that’s that’s eligible for an incentive through the EV program.
The offer is compatible with A-Plan pricing for employees, as well as Affinity Pricing for teachers and first responders. Costco members will have had to have been members as of February 23 and be the primary members on the Costco account to qualify.
However, CarsDirect gave the heads up on how buyers can get up to $10,000 off the EX90’s MSRP. As we stated, if you’re a Costco Executive Member, that’s $2,000 off. Then, add the $7,500 EV Lease Allowance and a $500 loyalty discount on leases if you currently own or lease a Volvo or have owned or leased a Volvo within the past six months.
With the destination fee included, the base EX90 MSRP starts at $81,290, so that brings it down to $71,290, a more than 12% discount, a pretty good deal.
The 2025 AWD Volvo EX90, which can seat seven passengers comfortably, has a range of up to 310 miles and is NACS-compatible. It has a 510 hp engine, 110 kWh battery capacity, and can go from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds.
Read more: Review: Volvo EX90 is a smooth AWD 7-seat luxury kid-hauler
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