Aventon has been busy bringing its latest tech upgrades to most of the electric bikes in its lineup. The latest model getting the futuristic treatment is the Aventon Sinch.2 folding fat tire electric bike.
Now on its second generation after launching early last year (or technically the third generation if you count the 2020 Sinch before it became easily step-through-able), the new Aventon Sinch.2 carries a number of key upgrades.
Many of the parts will sound familiar to those that have followed similar upgrades on Aventon’s other refreshes.
One of the flashiest upgrades is the inclusion of new turn signals as part of the frame-embedded tail lights. I’ve been a huge fan of these tail lights as I’ve seen them rolled out on the new Aventon Aventure and Pace 500, as they are equal parts rearward enough and widely spaced enough to actually work well as turn signals – something we don’t often see on other e-bikes with narrowly spaced turn signals.
Aventon Sinch.2 gets a torque sensor
The Sinch.2 also comes with a new torque sensor to give it the most responsive pedal assist possible. The included torque sensor means that when you pedal the bike in one of the four new pedal assist levels, it will provide an intuitive amount of power based on how hard you pedal.
Most electric bikes in this price range still use cadence-based sensors that tend to feel both laggy and lurchy when they finally kick in. Torque sensors are widely praised for a much more natural pedaling experience.
If you only use your throttle, a torque sensor won’t mean much to you. But if you like to pedal your e-bikes – and especially if you like to pedal at a leisurely pace – then you’ll love the benefits of a torque sensor.
There are a number of other upgrades on the bike as well, including smoother welds, a more relaxed handlebar angle with new aluminum riser, a shifter-integrated throttle on the right handlebar, upgraded 300 lumen headlight, updated 3-piece 52t crank, and the bike even comes standard with a fender set as well as a rear rack rated for up to 55 lbs (25 kgs).
All of those fancy accessories like baskets and carriers will cost extra, though the prices appear to be reasonable compared to many other e-bike companies that charge an arm and a leg for a simple basket.
The 68 lb (31 kg) e-bike can support a maximum payload of 300 lb (136 kg). It includes an 8-speed Shimano transmission, mechanical disc brakes, 20″ x 4″ gumwall tires, Velo saddle, and a 3A fast charger.
The 48V 14Ah battery offers 672 Wh of capacity, which Aventon rates for up to 55 miles (88 km) of range on pedal assist or up to 22 miles (35 km) of range on throttle-only operation.
The rear motor is rated for 500W of continuous power and 750W of peak power. Priced at $1,799, the Sinch.2 launched for pre-orders starting today. It is available in two colors of Sapphire and Quicksilver.
Electrek’s Take
Oooh, I love that Sapphire colorway!
I also love most everything about these upgrades. The turn signals, the torque sensor, the included rack/fenders… sing it, sister!
The only head scratcher to me is why Aventon would stick with the mechanical disc brakes? Everything else here is so premium. The mechanical brakes are the one last vestige of early 2020’s e-bikes. Side note: Wow, it’s amazing how much difference a couple years makes in the e-bike industry.
At $1,799, this still feels like a very nice e-bike, but I would have loved to see those juice brakes at this price. Even so, I’m sure this is going to be a hit for those looking for a classier folding fat tire e-bike, which itself is a booming category.
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Zevtron, ParkMobile, and Athena Partners Strategy Group are together supporting charging site owners and EV drivers affected by Shell Recharge’s shutdown of its EV charger software.
Shell Recharge is discontinuing its Shell Sky software in third-party commercial EV chargers in the US and Canada. It will service third-party commercial fleet EV chargers until April 30; after that, it’s lights out, leaving hundreds of EV charging stations across the US inoperable.
Zevtron, ParkMobile, and Athena Partners Strategy Group is deploying Zevtron’s white-label EV charging software across the former Shell Recharge network to restore full operational capacity to these chargers.
“Shell’s exit has left hundreds of chargers effectively stranded,” said Chris Mckenty, SVP of sales & marketing at Zevtron. “Our goal is to rapidly restore these stations to full functionality while enhancing their capabilities with flexible branding, seamless payment options, and improved management tools.”
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ParkMobile will extend its capabilities to process EV charging sessions so users can both park and charge. “Integrating EV charging parking sessions into ParkMobile simplifies access for millions of drivers who already rely on our platform,” said Andy Harman, vice president of sales at ParkMobile.
Athena Partners Strategy Group will work closely with cities, businesses, and property owners to deploy the new solution efficiently. “We see this as a major opportunity to not only restore EV charging infrastructure but also improve it for the long term,” said Nick Stanton, managing partner of Athena Partners Strategy Group.
The partnership says it’s a “turnkey solution to ensure uninterrupted service, enhanced user experience, and improved revenue potential.”
For more information on transitioning Shell Recharge EV chargers to the Zevtron-powered network, contact Chris Mckenty at cmckenty@zevtron.com
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The Volkswagen ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in the US last month, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Volkswagen’s electric SUV made a comeback after sales surged over 650% in January.
Volkswagen ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in January
Although ID.4 sales fell by 55% last year after Volkswagen halted production and deliveries in September due to a recall over faulty door handles, the EV made a triumphant return in 2025.
Volkswagen sold 4,979 ID.4’s in the US last month, up 653% from January 2024. To put it in perspective, VW only sold 646 ID.4 models in the fourth quarter and just over 17,000 in 2024. At this rate, ID.4 sales are on pace to reach nearly 60,000 by the end of 2025.
According to Cox Automotive’s latest EV Market Monitor report, the ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in the US last month, behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
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The Honda Prologue and Tesla Cybertruck rounded out the top five. Combined, the top five selling EV models accounted for 54% of total sales in the US last month.
Rank
Model
1.
Tesla Model Y
2.
Tesla Model 3
3.
Volkswagen ID.4
4.
Tesla Cybertruck
5.
Honda Prologue
Top-selling EVs in the US in January 2025 (Cox Automotive)
Over 102,200 electric vehicles were sold in the US in January, up nearly 30% from January 2024. Although sales were down from the record 132,392 sold in December 2024, a drop was expected over typical seasonal trends.
Tesla doesn’t provide a breakdown of US sales, so we will not know exact sales numbers until registration data is released.
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)
Honda’s electric SUV continues to take the market by storm, with 3,744 Prologues sold in January. After delivering the first models last March, the Honda Prologue became the seventh best-selling EV in the US last year, with over 33,000 models sold.
Volkswagen announced the ID.4 was back on sale last month, with the “aim of re-instating the ID.4 to its prior position as one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US and Canada.” It looks like it’s happening quicker than expected.
Volkswagen ID.4 (Source: Volkswagen)
The new entry-level 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 RWD Pro model starts at $45,095, while the AWD Pro costs $48,995. Both are powered by an 82 kWh battery. Volkswagen said the 62 kWh battery will be available later this year. The larger battery provides an EPA-estimated range of up to 291 miles.
VW’s base models feature a gloss black grille, black roof rails, and a 12.9″ infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The AWD version has 20″ wheels, a heated windshield, and a tow hitch.
Volkswagen ID.4 interior (Source: Volkswagen)
The ID.4 Pro S RWD starts at $50,195, and the AWD model has a sticker price of $54,095. It gets an added illuminated VW logo at the front and rear, premium LED projector headlights, a panoramic fixed glass roof, power tailgate, and more.
Volkswagen’s range-topping 2025 ID.4 Pro S Plus is only available in AWD and starts at $57,295. The Plus trim features 21-inch wheels, added exterior design elements, heated rear seats, a premium Harman Kardon audio system, and an Area View (an overhead view camera).
Both electric SUVs feature some of the biggest discounts on the market right now. To make room for 2025 models, VW is offering close-out prices on the 2024 ID.4, with leases starting as low as $189 per month. However, the Honda Prologue is hard to pass up, starting at just $209 per month. Ready to check them out for yourself? You can use our links below to find deals on the Volkswagen ID.4 and Honda Prologue in your area today.
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Rivian (RIVN) shares hit a new yearly low on Monday, dropping nearly 10%. Despite achieving its first gross profit in Q4, Rivian’s stock is taking a beating due to mixed analyst opinions. Here’s what they’re saying.
Last week, Rivian released its fourth quarter 2024 earnings, announcing a gross profit of $170 million. Although still a relatively small number, it’s a massive $776 million improvement from Q4 2023 and Rivian’s first positive gross profit.
After shutting down its manufacturing plant in Normal, IL, last April for upgrades and launching its second-generation R1 vehicles, CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is seeing “meaningful” cost reductions.
“This quarter, we achieved positive gross profit and removed $31,000 in automotive cost of goods sold per vehicle delivered in Q4 2024 relative to Q4 2023,” Scaringe explained last week after releasing fourth-quarter earnings.
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Rivian built 49,476 vehicles last year and delivered 51,579. In 2025, the company expects slightly fewer deliveries, projecting between 46,000 and 51,000 due to external factors, including changing government policies. It also expects lower EDV deliveries for Amazon after higher output in Q4.
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Q3 2024
Q4 2024
Full-Year 2024
2025 guidance
Deliveries
13,588
13,790
10,018
14,183
51,579
46,000 – 51,000
Production
13,980
9,612
13,157
12,727
49,476
N/A
Rivian EV deliveries and production by quarter in 2024
Some Wall St analysts are also concerned about policy changes under the Trump Administration. On Monday, Bank of America analysts downgraded Rivian stock to an Underperform rating from Neutral following its Q4 results.
The analysts also cut Rivian’s stock price target to $10 from $13, saying the 2025 delivery forecast was “softer than expected” and “there could be more downside risk if policy changes are enacted.”
Production at Rivian’s Normal, IL plant (Source: Rivian)
Rivian stock hit with a downgrade after Q4 earnings
Bank of America warned that new competition from Lucid (LCID), GM’s Chevy, and VW’s Scout could impact sales projections over the next few years.
Meanwhile, the memo did say Rivian is still “one of the most viable” EV startups and the joint venture with Volkswagen is “complicating earnings forecasts for at least the next four years” for forecasting. Rivian finalized its EV joint venture with VW in the fourth quarter, worth up to $5.8 billion, of which Rivian will get $3.5 billion over the next few years.
Rivian’s next-gen R2, R3, and R3X (Source: Rivian)
Part of Rivian’s lower 2025 delivery forecast is due to plant upgrades coming at the end of the year for its more affordable R2 SUV. Starting at $45,000, the R2 will be nearly half the cost of the current R1S and R1T.
Rivian plans to begin R2 production early next year in Normal but expects output to significantly ramp up at its new EV plant in Georgia.
Rivian EV production plans (Source: Rivian)
Despite closing on its loan agreement for the US DOE for up to $6.6 billion last month, the funding is up in the air with Trump threatening to freeze federal loans.
“Given the Trump Administration’s focus on cost-cutting, we believe there could be a risk to RIVN’s $6.6 billion Department of Energy loan closed by the Biden Administration on Jan 16,” Bank of America analysts said.
Rivian (RIVN) stock chart February 2024 through February 2025 (Source: TradingView)
Despite the downgrade, several analysts upgraded the stock. Needham raised its price target from $14 to $17, while Wells Fargo bumped theirs up to $14 from $11 with an “Equal-Weight” rating.
Rivian’s stock was down over 8% on Monday following the downgrade. At around $11.90, however, Rivian shares are still up 11% over the past year.
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