Electric Bike Company unveils low-cost US-built 28 mph moto-style e-bike
Newport Beach, California-based Electric Bike Company has just launched its newest e-bike, the Model J. Not only does it come with some impressive specs, but the introductory pricing borders on unbelievable.
The 28 mph e-bike (unlockable from the 20 mph factory setting) takes on a SUPER73-style minibike design scheme that has become common in the industry lately. It’s a popular frame style among younger riders, offering motorcycle vibes in an e-bike package.
It may be a popular format, but what isn’t as common is the extreme customization opportunity available on the Electric Bike Company Model J. Thanks to its California-based production, literally almost every single area of the bikes can be customized to each customer’s preferences.
Let’s start with the parts that remain standard though, because there are fewer of those.
All of the Model J e-bikes come with the same hydroformed aluminum frame, rear hub motor (with 10-year warranty), dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes, front and rear LED lights with an auto-on feature when the sun goes down, LCD color display with USB charger, and stainless-steel rust-free hardware throughout.
From there, the rest of the bike is customizable.
There are three 48V batteries options to choose from: 14Ah (672Wh), 28Ah (1,344Wh), and 42Ah (2,016Wh). Those three batteries options offer maximum ranges on pedal assist of 65 miles (104 km), 130 miles (208 km), and 195 miles (314 km). All of the batteries come with a five-year warranty.
For those making use of that pedal assist, a torque sensor is available as an optional upgrade to offer a nicer pedal assist experience. For everyone else relying mostly on the throttle to zip around, you’ll be able to choose between a thumb throttle or a half-twist throttle.
The handlebars supporting those throttle options are customizable as well, with riders having the option between normal BMX-style bars or even higher ape-hanger bars like you’d find on a classic chopper. Riders can choose between either rubber bar end grips or hand-stitched vegan leather, as well as either silver or black handlebars.
Continuing down the bike, the 24″ wheels are rocking 3″ wide tires that thread the needle between nimbleness and comfort. Speaking of needles, they’re also puncture-resistant e-bike tires with the option of either brown or black sidewalls.
The standard front fork on the Model J is rigid, but riders have the option of selecting an 80mm-travel suspension fork with adjustable preload and hydraulic lockout.
On the rear, a choice of either a single-speed or 7-speed drivetrain lets riders dial in just how much pedal control they want.
Other optional upgrades include a rear rack with MIK compatibility for mounting cargo accessories, an anti-theft alarm, and a lighting kit that adds high/low beams, turn signals, brake lights, and horn.
And that option list doesn’t even include the color choices. Not only can you choose between different colors for components, like black/brown saddles and black/silver rims and handlebars, but you can also customize the paint color. The three base colors of white, black, and red are complemented by another 40 (yes, forty) paint color options including a number of interesting metallic paint options to really make the Model J shine.
That’s because Electric Bike Company built its own extensive painting facility, allowing it to customize each bike, including separate colors on all of the components such as the fork, chain guard, basket, etc. The company even has its own helmets with built-in front/rear LED lights and that can be custom painted to match the bike. Even the helmets have multiple customization options beyond just the shell color, like different trim and strap colors.
I tried my hand at EBC’s bike customization wizard on the site and designed the custom Model J below with semi-matching helmet, though my wife will tell you that I don’t have much of an eye for aesthetics. I should probably let her design one instead if I really want it to look good.
As impressive as all of these customization options are, the biggest shocker here is likely the price. The Model J will come with an MSRP of $1,499, but is now available for pre-order at just $1,199 with a five- to six-week wait for delivery. Even without the promotion, $1,499 is a very fair price. But at $1,199, that makes this bike a steal.
Of course keep in mind that several of the options listed above are paid upgrades. For example, the torque sensor will run you an extra $99, while custom paint jobs on the frame can be an extra $299.
Because the bikes are built locally in California, they are packaged fully assembled so that riders only need to open the box and ride. That means they sometimes require a larger delivery truck, but that also prevents your local UPS driver from just slowing down to kick the box out the back of the van, which seems to be the delivery method of choice in my neighborhood.
I’ve tested several e-bikes from EBC, as well as visited the company’s Newport Beach factories to see how they build and package their e-bikes first hand. It’s frankly inspiring to see so many local Californians lacing motors into wheels, painting frames, wiring e-bikes, assembling batteries, and performing every other step of the process that we normally associate with nameless overseas factories.
We’ll be sure to report back as soon as we can get our hands on one of these new Model J e-bikes to let you know how it rides. But from the specs as well as from my own experience with other EBC e-bikes, the bar is set pretty high on this one.
You can check out my EBC factory tour video below.
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Nexamp just pulled off something that could speed up clean energy deployment across the US – and potentially lower costs for everyone. The Boston-based solar developer just finished building three new solar farms in Maine and Massachusetts. But instead of waiting on the utility to handle all the grid hookup work, Nexamp did it themselves.
That might not sound groundbreaking at first, but in the world of renewable energy, it’s a pretty big deal. Normally, utilities are in charge of any grid upgrades and interconnection work needed before a new solar project can start sending power to homes and businesses. That process can be very slow and expensive.
Nexamp’s new approach, called “self-performance,” flips the script. It lets developers take on some of that work, like ordering and installing equipment, so they don’t have to sit around waiting for the utility to schedule it. That means solar farms can get online faster, which gets clean power to the grid sooner and keeps project costs in check.
The three projects that kicked off this self-performance effort are:
- Hartland Solar – 1.2 MW DC in Hartland, ME
- Barre Road Solar – 1.3 MW DC in New Braintree, MA
- Summit Farm Solar – 2.6 MW DC, also in New Braintree
Nexamp didn’t go rogue – they worked closely with Central Maine Power and National Grid on the interconnection designs, safety standards, and technical specs. But by handling the actual procurement and construction, Nexamp had way more control over cost, timing, and supply chain headaches.
“Self-performance lets us take much greater control over interconnection procurement and construction,” said Daniel Passarello, Nexamp’s lead consulting engineer for grid integration. “We can move much of the interconnection work forward at the same time as the solar farm build instead of treating them as separate. That helps us bring projects online faster and stay closer to budget.”
It also helps that Nexamp already has solid relationships with suppliers. Instead of going through multiple layers of utility procurement, they can go straight to the source, fast.
That kind of streamlining is exactly what the solar industry needs right now. Community solar is booming – as of the end of 2024, nearly 8 gigawatts of it have been installed across the US, according to the the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and that number is expected to almost double by 2030. But bottlenecks in the interconnection process slow things down.
Sara Birmingham, VP of state affairs at SEIA, called Nexamp’s move a step in the right direction. “We must modernize and streamline the interconnection process to keep pace with fast-growing demand,” she said. “Self-performance is one of several innovative approaches that can accelerate project timelines and lower costs, which benefits all ratepayers.”
Read more: Walmart and Nexamp are rolling out 31 solar farms in 5 states
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When Genesis first previewed its full-size electric SUV, the coach doors were one of the biggest highlights. It looks like it will actually make its way into the production vehicle. A Genesis GV90 model was spotted in the US for the first time with coach doors, offering a glimpse of the upcoming ultra-luxury SUV.
Genesis GV90 spotted with coach doors in California
We got our first look at the full-size luxury SUV after Genesis unveiled the Neolun concept at the NY Auto Show last March.
Genesis said the concept was its “ultra-luxe vision of luxury SUVs,” and it wasn’t kidding. When it arrives, it will be sold as the GV90 as the brand’s new flagship vehicle.
The GV90 is not just a pretty-looking luxury SUV. It’s also loaded with Hyundai’s most advanced software and tech. According to Luc Donckerwolke, Genesis’ head of creative design, “it’s the epitome of timeless design and sophisticated craftsmanship.
Last month, we got a sneak peek of the interior after a production-ready GV90 was caught in California. Although somewhat toned down from the original concept, the cabin still featured many of the same elements.
Another Genesis GV90 was recently spotted in California, with actual coach doors. The new images from KindelAuto (via TheKoreanCarBlog) show a camouflaged vehicle with a hinge at the rear, where the coach doors will open.
Genesis said that B-pillarless coach doors are now feasible in production vehicles, like the GV90. However, don’t expect it to come standard on all models.
The feature will likely be reserved for higher-priced trims. We’ve seen other variants, featuring traditional doors, that are being tested in the US and Korea.
Genesis is expected to launch the GV90 in mid-2026. We will learn prices and final specs closer to launch, but the flagship electric SUV is set to debut on Hyundai’s new eM platform.
Hyundai said the platform is designed for EVs across all segments and will “provide a 50 percent improvement in driving range” compared to current EVs. It will also support Level 3 or higher autonomous driving capabilities and OTA software updates.
Source: KindelAuto, TheKoreanCarBlog
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Elon Musk has finally confirmed that Tesla’s new ‘affordable’ electric car is just going to be the Model Y in a cheaper format.
Musk has ended months of speculations and misinformation, which he partly created, about Tesla’s upcoming cheaper electric vehicle model.
Since last year, Tesla has guided “launching new affordable models” in the first half of 2025.
We are past the first half of 2025, but Tesla confirmed yesterday that the “first build” of the new model was produced in June, and it will launch later this year.
During the shareholders’ call following the earnings results yesterday, Tesla was asked about what the new affordable model would look like. Tesla’s CFO, Vaibhav Taneja, initially stated that they wouldn’t disclose details about the design, but then Musk interrupted him and said, “It’s a Model Y.”
It’s hard to hear exactly on the call because he talked over Taneja, but he said, “the cat is out of the bag” and confirmed that the new vehicle is simply a Model Y.
Electrek has been reporting on this fact all year. We have known for months that Tesla’s upcoming “new affordable models” are Model 3 and Model Y with a stripped-down interior with fewer features, like no rear screen, and cheaper materials:
However, this fact was not accepted in the Tesla community because CEO Elon Musk falsely denied a report last year about Tesla’s “$25,000” EV model being canceled.
The facts are that Musk canceled two cheaper vehicles that Tesla was working on, commonly referred as “the $25,000 Tesla” in early 2024. Those vehicles were codenamed NV91 and NV92, and they were based on the new vehicle platform that Tesla is now reserving for the Cybercab.
Instead, Musk noticed that Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y production lines were starting to be underutilized as the Company faced demand issues. Therefore, Tesla canceled the vehicle programs based on the new platform and decided to build new vehicles on Model 3/Y platform using the same production lines.
Now, only the new Cybercab is going to be based on the new unboxed platform.
During the conference call last night, Musk stated that the primary goal of the more affordable Model Y is to expand the market by making the vehicle more accessible to a broader audience. He suggested that it will go on sale in Q4.
Electrek’s Take
Finally, we can put this to rest. I think we can expect something similar to what Tesla did with the Model 3 in Mexico.
I think we can expect changes, such as using cloth materials instead of vegan leather, no rear display, no ambient lighting, and a lesser audio system.
In the case of the Model Y, Tesla may consider dropping some exterior lighting features, such as the light bars.
I wouldn’t be surprised also to see some powertrain changes. Maybe a less powerful RWD motor.
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