Specialized just released a 36 pound electric mountain bike, but it’s not for you
Specialized’s super lightweight electric mountain bike isn’t for you; it’s for your kids. The premium bicycle manufacturer’s newest model, the Levo SL Kids, is a slightly smaller version of its popular Levo SL electric mountain bike. It comes with a reduced frame size and 24″ wheels, among other child-friendly modifications, to get kids into the adrenaline-pumping sport of electric mountain biking.
I know what you’re thinking, “Kids and e-bikes? Just tell ’em to pedal!” I hear you, but perhaps you haven’t gone electric mountain biking before.
This isn’t an effortless recreational cruise along the boardwalk on your balloon tire Pedego (which is fun in its own right!). Electric mountain biking is fast, intense, and draining – even with the assistance of a battery between your knees.
Electric mountain bikes can help take the pain out of a long uphill climb on a pedal bike, but they still require the rider to be an active participant, churning away on those pedals and getting that heart pumping.
The new Specialized Levo SL Kids is designed to help get more kids into that sport and experiencing the fun of overcoming obstacles while exploring the trails. And part of its attraction is that it helps tame some of those steeper hills that younger riders might not have yet developed the muscle mass or stamina required to conquer.
It also gives them a chance to “keep up” with parents or more experienced riders without getting bogged down in the more arduous sections of many trails.
We’ve seen kids e-bikes before, but they’re generally more of the Walmart bike design, with cheap frames and cheap components.
That’s not the kind of bike that Specialized builds.
The Levo SL Kids uses many of the same components as the Levo SL for adult riders. It’s got the same Specialized SL 1.2 mid-drive motor and battery, which are designed to be both powerful and ultra lightweight.
The bike includes a dropper seat post, 100mm Reba air fork, a SRAM NX 11-speed drivetrain and adjustable reach SRAM Level T hydraulic brake levers to make sure smaller hands can comfortably and safely control the stoppers.
While the new ride features a number of high quality parts normally found on adult-oriented electric bikes, the fitment has been optimized for kids and shorter riders. That includes a lower standover height and slackened head tube angle. The shortened chainstays help provide more maneuverability and responsiveness, giving kids more control.
The company tells us that the same setup can fit kids from 48″ to 60″ (122 to 152 cm). A bike that can accommodate a six year old just as easily as a twelve year old means that it can grow with a kid, preventing the need to get a new model every year or two.
The bike is also quite lightweight, which the SL moniker should have already hinted at. While the adult version of the Levo SL is svelte itself at around 19 kg (41 lb), the new Levo SL Kids floats on the scale at just 16.6 kg (36.6 lb).
As far as range goes, Specialized seems to think that’s a non-issue:
“The same 320 wh battery and motor that powers the adult’s Levo SL drives the new Levo SL Kids. The full-size Levo SL, piloted by an adult, gives you up to 5 hours of range. With a much smaller rider on Levo SL Kids, the range goes up considerably. Trust us, the only juice you should be worried about running out of is the kind squeeze from a fruit.”
Speaking of that squeeze, your kid might need to put in a few extra hours at his or her lemonade stand. Pricing is set at US $3,800 in the United States (or in other markets: €4,000 in the EU, £3,500 in the UK and AUD $5,000 down under).
And as a nice little addendum, Specialized shared with us that in tandem with this launch, they will also be donating 500 kids bikes and helmets to local Outride programs so that young riders can harness the cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical well-being benefits of cycling.
Electrek’s Take
While that’s a bit more than tooth fairy money, this isn’t your typical kids e-bike. Specialized builds high quality bikes that are designed to last, and this is one of those bikes. Sure, it’s not quite as top tier as the adult version of the Specialized Levo SL, but it’s got most of the bells and whistles, plus all of the same electronics.
I think it’s great to see the company expand into kids e-bikes, especially since these are of course Class 1 e-bikes and don’t have throttles. That means kids are going to be getting a workout, no matter what power level they choose.
I got my nephews a pedal assist e-bike and they quickly learned that if they want the battery to last, eco mode is their friend (though it had less than half the battery capacity of this Specialized Levo SL Kids.) So I don’t think kids are going to be keeping this thing in higher power modes all the time unless they want to reach the next uphill section with no charge left.
For the growing sport of electric mountain biking, getting kids started out on a quality machine seems like a great way to begin… if the parents can afford it.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Tesla has officially entered the autonomous vehicle ‘testing’ phase in Austin, Texas days before its planned launch of a commercial service.
For months, Tesla has been discussing the launch of a self-driving ride-hailing fleet in June in Austin, Texas.
As we previously reported, the move is a major shift from Tesla’s long promise to enable unsupervised self-driving capabilities in millions of vehicles sold since 2016.
Instead, Tesla now plans to operate its own small internal fleet of vehicles with dedicated software optimized for a geo-fenced area of Austin and supported by “plenty of teleoperation.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been talking about launching the paid ride-hailing service to customers in June, but there have been doubts. Musk admitted that Tesla only started testing the system without safety drivers at the end of May.
In comparison, Waymo tested its system, which was already in operation driverless in other cities, for 6 months with safety drivers and 6 months without safety drivers before launching its service in Austin earlier this year.
Tesla was also never on the list of ‘Known AV Operators in Austin‘ on the city’s official website.
As of today, it is now the case. Tesla has been added to the list in the “testing phase”:
Waymo is still the only company listed as being in the “deployment” phase.
It’s unclear if the website is lagging behind the test programs or if Tesla has only now officially started its self-driving testing in the city.
In the past, Tesla has managed to get around self-driving test reporting by claiming that its system is a level ADAS system and not actual “self-driving” – leaving the person in the driver’s seat responsible for the vehicle at all times.
Tesla vehicles with drivers in the driver’s seat and manufacturer plates have been spotted driving around Austin for the past few months.
It was recently reported that Tesla was aiming to launch its commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin on June 12, but it was still a moving target.
Without achieving the deployment phase, Tesla is not going to be able to accept paid rides from customers like Waymo.
Musk has committed several times to launching the service by the end of June.
Electrek’s Take
Again, I’m hoping that Tesla has managed to improve FSD for the geo-fenced location significantly and that it will limit the speed, as the current public version of FSD barely achieves 500 miles between critical disengagements.
Removing the driver could result in some serious accidents.
Teleoperation will also help, but any kind of delay could also be dangerous. It is worrisome.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
The Oshkosh-built Striker Volterra electric ARFF vehicle (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighter) packs advanced battery technology and multiple power options to deliver consistent emergency response performance no matter how long it needs to be in action.
Oshkosh has been manufacturing ARFF vehicles since it first launched the MB-5 for use by the US Navy back in 1968, and they’ve been pushing the envelope of disaster response performance ever since. The company’s latest ARFF, the electric-drive Striker Volterra shown here, features a slanted body with front bumper designed for maneuvering through the ditches and rough terrain they might encounter on a damaged runway. It’s also big — but it’s big for a purpose. Because ARFF vehicles don’t have to navigate the confines of city streets, they can be built bigger, carry more water, more rescue equipment, and more personnel than conventional fire trucks.
But that’s not why you’re reading about this on Electrek. You’re here to read about the Striker Volterra’s advanced battery tech, electric drive motors, and duty cycle-extending genset that effectively makes it a big EREV. More sympathetic I could not be, but — alas! — OshKosh hasn’t officially revealed those specs.
That said, it’s probably safe to assume they’re pretty similar to those used on the big Pierce fire fighting chassis developed for the Gilbert, Arizona fire department, which uses (you guessed it) an OshKosh-developed battery pack, electric drive system, and onboard diesel generator that can provide power to the electric system. That vehicle packs a 244 kWh battery pack good for up to six hours of operation on battery power alone.
The OshKosk electric Striker Volterra ARFF shown here is a Class 5 6×6 “rapid response” model capable of hauling up to 4,000 gallons of water (over 16 and a half tons, if you’re curious) and “firefighting foam” across an airport at speeds of up to 50 mph, which is positively moving for a machine this size. Plus, it supports zero-emission pumping, surpassing the NFPA required 2-hour continuous pump operation without using diesel.
Again, OshKosh hasn’t shared power and performance specs, but has confirmed that its electric drive Striker Volterra is 28% quicker to 50 mph than its Scania diesel-powered siblings, and that truck packs 550 hp and more than 1,750 ft‑lb torque. So — yeah. It’s got some juice.
Other key benefits, according to OshKosh, include a 75% reduction in total carbon footprint when compared to a conventional internal combustion engine ARFF vehicle based on the manufacturer’s estimated duty cycle, the eliminated need for long diesel idling times, and the ability to run on full-electric when entering, leaving and idling in the fire station, significantly reducing firefighter’s exposure to harmful emissions.
You can find out more by reading the official OshKosh ARFF vehicle reference guide here.
Electrek’s Take
With the relatively short distances driven and extreme loads involved, airports present a nearly ideal use case for battery-electric vehicles in general, and their immediate off-the-line torque, improved efficiency, and ability to operate much more quietly than diesels (facilitating communications) could make all the difference in an emergency situation where lives are quite literally on the line.
Plus, as demand for on-road fossil fuels drops, airports and airlines (historically responsible for about 4% Earth’s global warming) are becoming a bigger and bigger slice of a rapidly shrinking pie when it comes to fossil fuel emissions.
Or, as OshKosk puts it: As airports continue to prioritize sustainability and operational efficiency, the Striker Volterra electric ARFF stands out as a forward-thinking solution that meets today’s demands while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.
It’s a bit pitchy, but I couldn’t agree more.
Did you know: grid-connected solar systems automatically shut off when the grid fails? That means you won’t have power in a blackout, even with solar panels.
To keep the lights on, you’ll need a whole home backup battery – your personalized solar and battery quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. The best part? No one will call you until after you’ve decided to move forward. Get started today, hassle-free, by clicking here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Thanks to a new $10,000 bonus offer introduced this month, the cheapest Lexus you can currently lease is now the 2025 electric RZ. Is it worth checking out?
The cheapest Lexus you can lease is the 2025 RZ
Lexus slashed over $10,000 off the price of the 2025 RZ compared to the 2024MY by introducing a new entry-level 300e FWD trim.
Following the launch of a new promotion this June, Lexus is offering up to $11,500 off 2025 RZ models. The RZ is now the cheapest Lexus vehicle you can lease, starting at $399 for 36 months. With $1,999 due at signing, you’ll end up with an effective monthly cost of $455. Not too bad for a nearly $45,000 luxury electric SUV.
The offer is for the 2025 Lexus RZ 300e FWD with an MSRP of $44,314. In comparison, the 2025 Lexus UX 300h FWD Hybrid, with an MSRP of $39,615, is listed at $349 for 36 months.
With $3,999 due at signing, the monthly effective cost is $460, or $5 more than the RZ. If you’re looking for a higher trim, the RZ 450e is available with up to $11,500 in lease cash.
The entry-level 2025 Lexus RZ 300e FWD model offers a range of up to 266 miles, while the AWD 450e variants achieve a range of up to 220 miles.
Inside, the electric SUV features a standard 14″ infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. With 37.52″ of rear legroom, the electric SUV has nearly as much second row space as a Ford Explorer (39″).
Although it’s a good deal compared to other Lexus vehicles, other luxury electric SUVs from Acura, Cadillac, and Genesis may still offer better value.
Acura is currently offering nearly $30,000 in lease cash on 2024 ZDX models in select states, with leases starting as low as $299 per month for 24 months. With $2,999 due at signing, the effective monthly rate is only $423. The ZDX offers up to 313 miles of range and more rear legroom (39.4″).
Cadillac’s new entry-level electric SUV, the 2025 Optiq, with an MSRP of $54,390, is listed for lease at just $409 for 24 months. However, it does include a $4,909 due at signing, resulting in an effective monthly rate of $614. The Optiq has up to 302 miles of range and 37.8″ of rear legroom.
| 2025 Lexus RZ model | Starting Price* | EPA-estimated Driving Range |
| RZ 450e AWD | $48,675 | 220 miles |
| RZ 450e Premium AWD w/ 18″ Wheel | $52,875 | 220 miles |
| RZ 450e Premium AWD w/ 20″ Wheel | $54,115 | 196 miles |
| RZ 450e Luxury AWD | $58,605 | 220 miles |
| RZ 300e FWD | $43,975 | 266 miles |
| RZ 300e Premium FWD w/ 18″ Wheel | $48,175 | 266 miles |
| RZ 300e Premium FWD w/ 20″ Wheel | $49,415 | 224 miles |
| RZ 300e Luxury FWD | $53,905 | 266 miles |
Meanwhile, you can snag a 2025 Genesis GV60 (MSRP of $52,350) for $349 for 24 months right now. With $5,999 due at signing, the effective rate is $598.
The new Lexus promotion follows Toyota, which introduced up to $19,000 in savings on its electric SUV, the bZ4X, earlier this month. Both are making room for updated models that will arrive soon.
Looking for your next luxury electric SUV? We can help you find deals in your area. Check out our links below to see what’s available.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway