Upway ebikes open in US, offers deep discounts on refurb, overstock premium bikes
Upway is a Gennevilliers, France-based startup ebike reseller with a super interesting sales model. It takes overstock new ebikes from manufacturers, last year’s or floor models from bike stores, and even buy ebikes online (maybe yours!) to refurbish and sell at a 20-60% discount with a one-year warranty. It recently opened a US location in Brooklyn to add to its Paris and Berlin warehouse locations and invited us by for a visit…
About a year ago, Upway landed a $25 million Series A funding round led by Exor Seeds and Sequoia Capital. Some of that money went into starting its Brooklyn location and opening the US market.
Upway currently operates out of warehouses outside of Paris and Berlin and, besides Germany and France, also serves Belgium and the Netherlands. The team took the learnings from the European distribution points and built a terrifically organized warehouse in a nondescript wholesaler area of Brooklyn. I’m told it is scouting for a second US location along the West Coast outside of LA.
The Upway US headquarters warehouse is located at 143 Morgan Avenue 11237, Brooklyn, NY. I went there last week, and wow, is it impressive.
From the time the bikes roll in via delivery trucks/vans, they get tagged and bagged with the full background of the bike as well as accessories/chargers. Each bike, no matter if it is new or used, goes through a 20-step inspection and repair process to bring it up to “bike shop”-level tuning.
Once inspected and certified, they quickly get photographed in an impressive 360-degree automated camera room for posting on the internet.
Bikes that arrive in the morning are often for sale and sometimes sold later that same day. Here’s a small sampling of Upway’s current inventory (it only does e-bikes, no acoustic).
Almost all of the ebikes here are top-shelf “bike store” level ebikes, including Riese and Mueller, Specialized, Cannondale, etc.
Interestingly, because of New York’s new laws about e-bike batteries, Upway will only be able to sell bikes that are UL-listed or have UL-listed batteries.
Upway also buys high-quality ebikes off of Facebook Marketplace and other online sales platforms if it thinks it can make a margin on fixing and reselling. Cargo bikes and mountain bikes are particularly in high demand in the US right now.
Interestingly, while in the warehouse, I saw my friend’s Sondors Mad Mod arrive and go through the intake procedure. Unbeknownst to me, he was looking for something lighter and ran through the easy three-step trade-in process the previous week. Hours later, it was on the site, ready for sale.
Once purchased, Upway boxes and sends out bikes fully assembled and calibrated like a bike shop would and puts a new one-year warranty on the bike. The only thing the customer has to do is tighten the handlebars and put on the pedals. This means Upway’s boxes are a little bigger, and of course, they will be labeled “HDTVs,” a trick Van Moof invented so that the handlers are a little gentler on the boxes.
Boxes arrive in 2-5 days via FedEx or XPO, depending on geography, and can be expected to arrive in 2-5 business days from purchase, again depending on the distance from Brooklyn.
Electrek’s take:
I really love this idea, especially because second-hand e-bikes are blowing up after the pandemic – but the execution seems like a tough slog. I’ve got my eye on this red Specialized Turbo Vado for commuters listed for about half the retail price. There’s also a new Giant Roam E+STA in new condition for $1848 ($1000 off). Checking the new and sale items has become a hobby for me, and I’ve even bookmarked the pages.
Even if you aren’t buying an Upway bike, the bike finder app allows you to figure out which bike brands meet your specific wants, and I’ve recommended the finder to people who ask me what kind of e-bike they should get.
Consumers get high-quality bikes in new or almost new condition with a one-year warranty. Bike manufacturers and shops have an easy way to offload bikes that they didn’t sell. And there’s a thriving marketplace for used e-bikes. Big wins all around.
You can probably think about Upway as an Outlet Mall or TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Ross of e-bikes.
However, the devil is in the details. A bike shipped to and from Brooklyn is going to cost a lot less than one shipped to Seattle, for instance. So Upway’s simple pricing is going to be a loss leader in some cases. Cargo bikes are even more expensive to ship, and the bucket/child carriers are required to be put on pallets. These logistics prices all eat heavily into margins.
I had a Trek event after my visit to Upway, and the company said it was working on its own version of this second-hand marketplace. If other retailers get into the game, Upway will be at a significant disadvantage. In fact, some already have. That Sondors Mad Mod I mentioned before is $2199 shipped, but Sondors itself has Open Box pricing starting at $1799.
Still, though, I think Upway is onto something here if my usage of its website is any indication. What do you think? Is this a great way to save a lot of money on a certified bike with a one-year warranty?
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The current EV era is ripe with revered classic car designs and iconic nameplates that are being reborn as battery-powered rides – and the success of cars the Renault 5 proves it can be a winning formula. Today, I’m suggesting another 1980s classic that deserves a modern electric update: the Buick Grand National.
I want to start this off by saying: yes, I know there was never a Buick Electra Grand National. The storied, turbocharged Buick GNX of yore was based on Buick’s Regal model, not the more ponderous Electra – but this is my article, and I think the “Electra” nameplate belongs on a US-market EV significantly sooner than later.
As for the “Grand National” part, the timeslip will solve that.
Why it would work
Thanks to the nearly $300,000 Cadillac CELESTIQ ultra-luxury car, we’ve already seen GM put a low-slung sedan body on its EV skateboard. That car uses a pair of electric motors, one on each axle, for a 655 hp all-wheel driving experience capable of launching the big sedan from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
Putting those same motors under a shorter, lighter two-door sedan body would put my proposed all-electric Buick Electra at just under 6,000 lbs., and make the new car more than quick enough to earn the Grand National badge with a 3.5-second dash to 60 on its way to an 11.25 (ish) second quarter mile at about 120 mph. As for cost? You could almost name your price, but keeping it just under the Chevy Corvette’s $74,780 base price would make it a winner.
Limit production to 1987 units, make them order-only so dealers can’t ruin the party with obscene markups, and Buick can watch the money roll in … possibly.
You guys are smart, so I’m sure you’ll be able to find all the problems with this particular take – and I can’t wait to hear them! Should it be RWD only? A plug-in hybrid? Scroll on down to the comments and let me know what you think it would take to make a battery-powered Buick GNX revival make sense.
Original content from Electrek.
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If you’ve been dreaming about hitting the open road on two wheels with serious power, comfort, and style, the Cikada Touring e-Bike might just be your perfect ride. Designed for modern explorers who want adventure without compromise, this premium e-bike blends high-end performance with thoughtful design.
Smooth power that takes you everywhere
At the heart of the Cikada Touring e-Bike is a BaFang M410 350W motor that packs a punch with 80Nm of torque and provides assisted speed of up to 20 mph.
Mounted at the bike’s center, the motor’s placement creates ideal weight distribution, boosting traction and handling on everything from steep climbs to winding trails. Its compact design integrates seamlessly into the frame, keeping the center of gravity low for a more stable, confident ride that feels naturally in sync with your movements.
You’ll climb hills like a pro and accelerate with ease. It’s efficient, reliable, and perfect for riders who want consistent power for touring, commuting, or weekend adventures. Plus, it’s got walk assistance for when you’re not riding.
Go the distance
Worried about running out of juice? Don’t be. The 720Wh LG 21700 removable battery delivers a range of up to 75 miles (121 km) on a single charge. That’s plenty of power for long scenic routes, daily commutes, or even multi-day rides when you want to explore more and charge less. And when it’s time to juice up again, it only takes six to eight hours to reach full charge.
Built for comfort and confidence
No matter where the road takes you, the Cikada Touring e-Bike is ready. Its 27.5 x 2.8-inch Kenda anti-puncture tires with reflector strips keep you rolling smoothly and safely, while the suspension fork absorbs bumps across various terrains. Add an ergonomic design and 6061 aluminum frame, and you’ve got a bike that feels stable, balanced, and built to last.
Hydraulic disc brakes give you confident stopping power, and with 8-speed Microshift gearing, you’ll have full control over every incline and descent.
Everything you need, built in
The Cikada Touring e-Bike comes fully equipped for adventure. With integrated rear rack, lights, and mudguards, it’s road-ready right out of the box. No extra accessories needed – just hop on and ride.
Plus, the integrated Bafang system means your motor, sensor, and display all work seamlessly together for a smooth, intuitive riding experience.
Take it to the next level with the Cikada app
Plan, manage, and customize your next adventure with the Cikada app. Available on Android and iOS, it pairs your smartphone to your e-bike via Bluetooth so you can dive into real-time performance data, service tools, and smart ride features that make every journey smoother and more connected. You can track your progress, analyze past rides, fine-tune your ride settings, check your bike’s status, and even share your location or ride stats with the Cikada community, all from one easy-to-use dashboard.
Why riders love it
The Cikada Touring e-Bike is more than just a good-looking ride. It’s a thoughtful blend of power, endurance, and comfort – ideal for riders who want to explore new places, tackle longer distances, or simply enjoy every mile with confidence.
Plus, Cikada offers a 30-day trial period on all its e-Bikes. If you’re not happy, Cikada refunds your purchase, no questions asked.
Ready to tour farther, climb higher, and ride in style? Check out the premium Cikada Touring e-Bike and start your next great adventure.
Follow Cikada on Facebook and Instagram.
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It looks like retail giant Target has been reading our posts about the Chevy Brightdrop being the best deal in the commercial EV business, because the company has picked GM’s electric box van to pilot a new, dedicated last-mile delivery service in Dallas-Fort Worth.
The new pilot program will see 50 new Chevy Brightdrop vans deployed in a collaboration between Target, Circuit EV Solutions, and a last-mile logistics startup called the Frontdoor Collective that relies on its franchise owners to make its deliveries instead of outsourcing that delivery work to independent contract carriers gig workers.
“We’re building the infrastructure backbone that makes high-volume electric delivery possible nationwide,” said Adam Greenberg, CEO at Circuit EV Solutions. “By ensuring fleets have the charging support they need, we’re removing the final barrier to true EV scalability in last-mile logistics.”
Circuit EV Solutions provides the backbone of the highly-visible Target collaboration, delivering the fleet management and charging software to monitors vehicle health, schedule depot charging, and ensure that every Chevy Brightdrop van leaves the hub with an optimally full battery and a fully optimized delivery route, eliminating range anxiety among the vans’ operators.
Chevy Brightdrop
Chevrolet Brightbrop electric vans were designed with last-mile delivery efforts in mind, and offers a best-in-class 272 miles of combined range, large, squared-off cargo hold for maximum capacity, and lower maintenance and fuel costs than the ICE-powered competition.
For independent delivery service providers, that’s a killer combination that can help translate to higher margins and more time back in their busy days to spend with their families – which is something I think we can all get behind.
Click here to find out if your business can take advantage of special tax incentives with the purchase of a new electric van, and click the link, below, to check out a new Brightdrop van near you.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Circuit EV, via Freightwaves.
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FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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