e-Coast launched as ‘hassle-free’ electric beach cruiser bike with belt drive
Priority Bicycles has just released an eye-catching electric version of the company’s Coast cruiser bike. Known as the e-Coast, the new e-bike is designed to be as “hassle-free” as possible, including weather protection, hydraulic disc brakes, and a Gates carbon belt drive.
New York-based Priority Bicycles is one of the rare pedal bicycle companies that puts just as much effort into its electric bike designs. Instead of white labeling generic e-bikes, Priority has launched nicely refined and high-end e-bikes sporting mid-drive motors and quality components.
Since the new e-Coast is designed to target more budget-friendly shoppers, this e-bike comes with a 500W rear hub motor instead of a mid-drive motor. But the rest of the bike is still replete with the same type of components we have come to expect from Priority.
The e-Coast is based on the company’s pedal version of the bike, but features several modifications as part of its electric upgrade.
As the company’s CEO and founder David Weiner explained:
After the success of our traditional Coast model, we began working to bring an electric version to customers who seek the beach cruiser aesthetic with the mobility of an e-bike. We purposely designed The e-Coast to be like a seafaring vessel; it is the perfect marriage of beach cruiser comfort, extended travel distance of an electric bicycle, and the hassle-free maintenance Priority is known for. It always feels good to be an innovator and bring something to market people have never seen before, especially for riders who want to focus more on enjoying the sand and water and less about how it’s creating wear and tear on their ride.
That hassle-free design can be attributed to three main areas. First, the bike is built to be weather-resistant by using non-corroding hardware and materials. Beach cruisers are often ridden in areas with significant salt spray, and so non-corroding hardware is a major differentiator to keep a quality bike working well for years.
Next, the Priority e-Coast comes with a Gates Carbon Drive, which is a carbon-fiber reinforced belt that replaces a chain on a traditional bike. A belt drive is essentially maintenance-free and lasts for longer than chains. There’s no need to oil it and it is actually more efficient over its entire lifespan than a chain (since chains may start out slightly more efficient but reduce their efficiency as they age and wear).
Lastly, the e-Coast is outfitted with hydraulic disc brakes. This is another nearly maintenance-free component that removes the need to adjust the brakes due to the stretch in mechanical brake cables. Hydraulic brakes also give stronger stopping power with less force needing to be applied to the brake levers.
That extra stopping power is a nice thing to have on a bike like this, which can be set into Class 3 mode with a top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal assist. That requires user reprogramming though, since the bike ships in Class 2 mode with a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) on both throttle and pedal assist. Riders are recommended to check with their local e-bike laws before unlocking the full 28 mph top speed.
The e-Coast sports a pair of 26″ balloon tires and holds its battery in back as part of a rear cargo rack. That 500 Wh removable battery offers a range of between 20-60 miles (32-96 km), depending on how fast you ride and whether or not you’re doing more power-hungry throttle riding or just cruising along with battery-sipping pedal assist.
The new bike is priced at $1,799 for launch when using the code LAUNCH200. But that promotion only lasts a week, and the model is expected to increase to its MSRP of $1,999 after February 5.
Electrek’s Take
This is a beautiful e-bike, even if it does carry the battery in a rear rack. I get it, there’s just not a lot of place to hide a big battery on a beach cruiser.
I love low-maintenance bikes, and the combination of hydraulic disc brakes and a belt drive is incredible. If they had given me an internally geared hub then that would have been the trifecta, but of course most beach cruisers are typically single-speed. I can’t imagine this is going to be a comfortable pedaler at 28 mph, but it’s probably going to be a pleasure to pedal in the mid-speed range. Single-speeds are usually geared somewhere for the middle speed range so they aren’t too daunting to get rolling but can still provide some reasonably comfortable pedaling at higher speeds.
The price seems a tad loftier than what I’d expect, but then again there are some nice parts on here and some very high-quality construction. The price puts Priority right between the more affordable entry-level e-cruisers from Electric Bike Company and the costlier e-cruisers from Pedego, so they might be a nice Goldilocks solution for those wanting higher-end parts without spending a fortune.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the new Tesla Model S/X “refresh”, robotaxi service is coming, a new EV price war in China, and more.
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Kia’s electric SUV has already become a hit in several overseas markets. The EV5 is now arriving as the first electric Kia to be assembled in Singapore, as it rolls out to new global markets.
Kia EV5 arrives as its first locally made EV in Singapore
Shortly after its introduction at the 2023 Chengdu Motor Show, Kia launched the EV5 in China, with prices starting at about 20,000 (149,800 yuan).
Kia is now seeing a full-on recovery in China, largely thanks to the new electric SUV. Its joint venture partner in China, Yueda Kia, ranked first in sales growth among JV brands.
In China, Kia sold over 248,000 vehicles last year, the first time it has crossed the 200,000 mark since 2020. The EV5 is made at Yueda Kia’s manufacturing plant in China and exported to overseas markets like Australia and Thailand.
In fact, the EV5 is currently the fourth best-selling EV in Australia this year through April, ahead of every BYD vehicle.
The EV5 is slightly smaller than the Tesla Model Y at 4,615 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,715 mm in height.
After launching the EV5 in Singapore on May 28, Kia hit a milestone. The electric SUV arrives as Kia’s first locally assembled EV in the region.
The EV5 was officially launched during an event at Hyundai Motor Innovation Groupe Centre Singapore, where it will be made. It will join other Hyundai Motor electric cars, including the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. Hyundai also builds the IONIQ 5 robotaxi here and exports it to the US.
Kia’s distributor, Cycle and Carriage, will sell the EV5 in three variants: Air, Earth, and a sporty GT-line. Two battery sizes will be available, 64.2 kWh and 88.1 kWh, providing range of 400 km and 540 km, respectively.
Prices for the base Air trim start at $194,000 (SDG), including COE. The Earth and GT-Line models start at $210,500 (SDG) and $260,000 (SDG) with COE.
Later this year, Kia will launch the global version of the EV5, which will be made at its Autoland Gwangju manufacturing plant in South Korea. It will be sold in overseas markets, including Europe and Canada, but not the US.
Kia confirmed the EV5 will be “exclusively for the Canadian market” in North America. It will be available in FWD and AWD powertrains. Two battery sizes will be offered: 60.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh, providing a range of up to 500 km (310 miles).
Source: Cycle & Carriage Kia Pte Ltd, The Straits Times
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Do we smell a three-peat? The team at Ford Performance is once again competing at the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and this year is bringing a “Super” version of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E… At least we think there’s a Mach-E in there somewhere.
Pikes Peak—the “Race to the Clouds.” This annual event spanning 12.42 miles to an elevation of over 14,000 feet in the mountains above Colorado has been celebrated for over 100 years. While its hill climb is rooted in tradition and traditional vehicles, it has become an annual opportunity for EV engineers to showcase how much better all-electric models can be.
Last year, Rivian, Hyundai, and Ford Performance all impressed, with the former two automakers snagging records for their vehicle types, while Ford’s “F-150 Supertruck” took the “King of the Mountain” crown for the fastest climb of the day.
This past January, we learned that Ford Performance planned to defend its title at Pikes Peak with its third all-electric demonstrator in as many years. At the time, we only saw a sheeted vehicle that appeared to be relatively low with a massive spoiler, but the glowing front emblem left no doubt that it was a modified version of the Mustang Mach-E.
Today, Ford Performance unveiled the BEV it will use to climb Pikes Peak, which it is calling the Super Mustang Mach-E. Have a gander.
Super Mach-E will try to hold Ford’s Pikes Peak crown
Ford Performance shared the images seen above in an Instagram post with the following caption:
12 miles of mountain road. 156 turns. 14,115 feet of elevation. This is the @pikespeakhillclimb, and we’re bringing 6,125 lbs of downforce — and @romaindumas_official — to take it on with the Super Mustang Mach-E.
From the post, we’ve learned the Super Mustang Mach-E will be driven up Pikes Peak by none other than veteran French racer Romain Dumas. Dumas has a wealth of experience in some of the world’s largest (and longest) races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring 24 Hours, and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
He has been contracted to Ford Performance since 2022 and has won two of his five Hill Climb victories with the American automaker in the past two years (although the 2023 SuperVan victory was in the division and second overall). Could Dumas tally his sixth career victory at Pike Peak with a three-peat with Ford in the Super Mustang Mach-E?
Ford Performance and Romain Dumas have shown they can do it, so it’s a serious possibility. We will find out on June 22, 2025, when the 103rd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place.
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