Velotric Nomad 1 review: A UL-listed fat tire electric bike for dirty adventures
The first thing I noticed about the Velotric Nomad 1 was the screaming yellow color (technically called “Mango”). But the second thing, and perhaps more important, was just how much fun the bike is to take off-road where the asphalt ends and the adventures begin.
Technically there are several nice colors, but I instantly fell in love with this bright Mango colorway that feels both fun and like a nod towards safety via high-visibility. But of course an e-bike is more about performance than looks, so let’s dig into just how well this e-bike works.
Take a gander at my video review below if you want to see it in action, or keep on reading for my complete thoughts.
Velotric Nomad 1 Video Review
Veloric Nomad 1 tech specs
- Motor: 750 W continuous-rated rear geared hub motor (1,200W peak)
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle and pedal assist
- Range: Up to 55 mi (88 km)
- Battery: 48V 14.4Ah (691 Wh) frame-integrated, removable
- Charge time: 6 hours
- Max load: 440 lb (200 kg)
- Weight: 73 lb (33 kg)
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes, 180 mm rotors
- Extras: Backlit LCD display with speedometer, tripmeter/odometer, battery gauge, PAS level indicator, left side thumb throttle, included front and rear fenders, optional rear rack, integrated headlight and tail lights, kickstand
Safety meets performance
First of all, let’s talk safety. The Velotric Nomad 1 has UL certification for both the bike itself and the battery.
That not only provides extra peace of mind for owners, but also is an increasingly important consideration as more areas consider bans on e-bike sales for non UL-certified models.
And like I mentioned above, while there are many other attractive color options, the bright yellow paint job makes the bike harder to ignore by drivers. Combined with front and rear LED lighting, that’s another key factor in safety and visibility.
But beyond mere appearances, let’s talk shop. With 1,200W of peak power and a set of fat tires, this e-bike is built to take it to the dirt just as well as it can handle commuting on the streets.
There’s nothing terribly special about the tires, they’re commonly available CST BFT 26 x 4.0 fat tires. But they certainly get the job done, as I experience on a combination of sand and dirt, as well as some fun excursions on mulched nature trails.
I also really like the included fenders for keeping all that sand, dirt, and mulch off of my back and the front of my jeans, which isn’t always a given in off-road e-bikes. But since the Velotric is one of those world-colliding e-bikes designed for the tarmac and the turf, the fenders are a nice touch. And they aren’t cheap dinky fenders either, like many fat tire e-bikes unfortunately use. These are well supported fenders that do their job without flopping around.
As usual, I’m guilty of using too much throttle when I get off-road, as it is hard to resist treating the Nomad 1 like a dirt bike and throttling over little hops and bumps.
The 750W rear hub motor is happy to dish out that power all day, and the siren’s call of that thumb throttle is like music to my ears. The left side thumb throttle setup has never been my favorite, as I’m more of a half-twist right side throttle man myself. But when in Rome, I can make do.
Despite enjoying throttle riding a bit too much, I always try to get in some good pedal assist testing as well. Without a torque sensor, the Nomad 1 has to rely on a more basic cadence sensor for pedal assist. It seems to work fine, minus the telltale lag when you try to get rolling. It’s especially important to remember to downshift before stops when you only have a cadence sensor, as getting rolling in high gear with fat tires while you wait for the electric assist to kick in is a real doozy.
So I’ll ding the Nomad 1 there, as I have to for any cadence sensor-based pedal assist e-bike. Torque sensors are just so much nicer, and I miss them when they aren’t there.
But the lack of a torque sensor surely helped Velotric bring the Nomad 1 in at a reasonable price, which is currently the sale price of $1,499.
That’s an attractive price for a UL-listed fat tire e-bike with 1,200W of power and a set of nice features like front suspension, grippy hydraulic disc brakes, 8-speed Shimano transmission, full fender set, LED lighting, and a large nearly 700 Wh battery.
One more addition that I would have loved to see would be a rear rack included as standard equipment, but you can always add that $69 component yourself if you need the storage. Mounts for a front rack seen on either side of the head tube imply that you could almost turn this thing into a cargo bike if you needed to.
But to me, I still think the Velotric Nomad 1 finds it true home in the overlap between commuter and adventure bike. Most people aren’t like me with a storage room full of e-bikes. Most people have to settle on a single model, and so to have a bike that feels good in the bike lane yet can still handle a fun trail ride is a major advantage, and that’s exactly what the Nomad 1 seems to offer.
This isn’t a high-end electric bike, don’t make any mistake. You’ll find much higher quality with bike shop bikes like a Trek, Specialized, or other several thousand dollar e-bikes. But at under $1,500 for a great performing e-bike, I’d say this is more than fair. Bigger names will charge you more for less bike, and they don’t even come with the safety certification of the Nomad 1.
So to wrap this review up in a sentence, I’d say the Velotric Nomad 1 is a great budget offering that can get you out on a safe, fun adventure (or a normal boring cruise to the coffee shop) without breaking the bank.
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Can Kia’s first electric sedan live up to the hype? After launching the EV4 in Korea, we are finally seeing it in action. A new test drive of the EV4 gives us a closer look at what to expect as Kia prepares to take it global. Here’s how it went down.
Kia EV4 test drive: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Kia claims the EV4 will “set a new standard in electric vehicles” with long-range capabilities, fast charging, and a sleek new design.
The electric sedan features a unique, almost sports-car-like profile with a long-tail silhouette and added roof spoiler.
Kia claims it is “the new look of a sedan fit for the era of electrification.” Despite its four-door design, the company is calling it a new type of sedan.
The design is not only eye-catching, but it’s also super efficient. With a drag coefficient of just 0.23, the EV4 is Kia’s most aerodynamic vehicle so far, enabling maximum driving range and efficiency.
Kia opened EV4 orders in South Korea in March, starting at about $29,000 (41.92 million won). It’s available with two battery options: 58.2 kWh and 81.4 kWh. The entry-level “Standard Air” model, powered by the 58.2 kWh battery, is rated with up to 237 miles of driving range.
The “Long-Range Air” variant starts at 46.29 million won ($31,800) and has a driving range of up to 331 miles (533 km) in Korea.
With charging speeds of up to 350 kW, the EV4 can charge from 10% to 80% in around 29 minutes. The long-range battery will take about 31 minutes.
The interior boasts Kia’s latest ccNC infotainment system with a 30″ Ultra-wide Panoramic Display. The setup includes dual 12.3″ driver displays, navigation screens, and a 5″ air conditioning panel.
With deliveries kicking off, we are seeing some of the first test drives come out. A review from HealerTV gives us a better idea of what it’s like to drive the EV4 in person.
Sitting next to Kia’s first pickup, the Tasman, the reviewer mentions the EV4 feels “particularly newer.” The test drive starts around the city with a ride quality similar to that of the K5, if not even better.
As you can see from the camera shaking, the ride feels “a bit uncomfortable” on rough roads. However, on normal surfaces and speed bumps, Kia’s electric sedan “feels neither too soft nor too hard,” just normal. The reviewer calls the EV4’s overall ride quality “quite ordinary” with “nothing particularly special about it.”
When accelerating, the electric car was smooth in the beginning but felt “a little lacking in later stages.” Overall, it should be enough for everyday use.
One of the biggest issues was that the rear window appeared too low. The rear brake lights also stick out, making it hard to see clearly through the rearview.
Keep in mind that the test drive was the Korean-spec EV4. Kia will launch the EV4 in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2026.
In the US, the EV4 will include a built-in NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers and a driving range of up to 330 (EPA-est) miles. Prices will be revealed closer to launch, but the EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
Would you buy Kia’s electric sedan for around $35,000? Or would you rather have the Tesla Model 3, which starts at $42,490 in the US and has up to 363 miles of range? Let us know in the comments.
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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 Tesla Model Y RWD in the US, Cybertruck bait-and-switch, Rivian earnings, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
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Hyundai’s 2026 IONIQ 9 EV is launching with a lease deal, affordable rates, and a big rebate, making the automaker’s largest EV a competitive choice.
Leasing a 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9
CarsDirect reports that, according to a bulletin sent to dealers, the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 S is $419 for 36 months with $4,999 due at signing based on 10,000 miles a year. That makes the effective cost of the nationally available lease $558 monthly.
That’s slightly more expensive than the Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, which debuted this week. It can be leased for $399 with $4,093 at signing or $513 per month. That’s a price difference of only $45 per month, potentially making the IONIQ 9 a better value, since Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV gives you more car for the money.
The IONIQ 9 offers 335 miles of driving range, fast charging capabilities, room for seven, and prices start at $60,555.
Financing and incentives
Hyundai isn’t offering rebates on the IONIQ 9, but good news – it qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit because it’s manufactured in Georgia.
The IONIQ 9 has national financing rates as low as 1.99% APR for up to 60 months. For a lower monthly payment, there’s a 72-month option at 2.99%. Compare that to the most affordable 2026 Tesla Model Y, which has a 72-month option at 5.49% APR, and it shows what a good deal it is.
There’s also a $5,000 financing incentive available, but you have to choose a loan at a higher interest rate to get it. The $5,000 Dealer Choice Bonus helps lower prices if you finance at 5.99% for 60 months and 6.59% for 72 months.
However, it’s cheaper to opt for the 1.99% APR deal instead of the Dealer Choice Bonus and higher interest rate; CarsDirect found that the 1.99% APR could save IONIQ 9 buyers up to $2,200:
On a 5-year loan at 1.99%, we estimate the IONIQ 9 would cost $63,084. With the APR and rebate combo, it would cost $63,783. Here, opting for the lower rate would save buyers roughly $700. But that’s not the whole story. That’s because Dealer Choice offers, available on many Hyundais, allow a mark-up of up to 1%.
As a result, the $5,000 rebate and higher rate of 6.99% could cost buyers over $2,200 more than simply taking the lower rate to begin with.
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.
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