Closer look at the new Tern HSD cargo electric bike (and what makes it so strong)
Tern recently updated its midtier electric cargo bike, the Tern HSD. I recently had the chance to check out the bike along with Tern’s founder and team captain, Josh Hon, at Eurobike 2023, and here’s what I learned.
First of all, if you aren’t familiar with Tern, then you’re in for a treat.
When it comes to premium electric bicycles that are built specifically for utility jobs, Tern is one of my go-to companies. There are other high-quality e-bikes out there for fitness riding, mountain biking, hardcore commuting, or even just cruising around.
You can spend a pretty penny these days on a high-end e-bike. But for pure utility – such as doing an entire week’s worth of grocery shopping or dropping a couple of kids off at school – Tern has long led the cargo pack. And it’s done so in a package that is barely larger than a typical bike.
I had the chance to test out the first version of the HSD several years ago when it was originally unveiled. It filled an interesting role, bringing many of the advantages of the company’s flagship (and equally flag-expensive) Tern GSD cargo bike. But it did so without a few of the bells and whistles, bringing the price down to a more approachable middle ground that didn’t sting as sharply to the average rider.
Since then, Tern has rolled out a few new models with even more approachable prices, which is why it makes sense that, with the new Tern HSD, the company has focused on heading a bit higher up the market.
With more options available with comfortable price tags, the HSD was able to incorporate several upgrades, chief among them an even more robust design.
One of Tern’s hallmarks isn’t just that their e-bikes are designed for heavy hauling but that they actually go above and beyond to ensure that they are the safest they can be during that heavy hauling. And it goes well past mere UL listing. Tern has used Bosch powertrains for years that come with UL certification. Getting an e-bike UL certified is child’s play compared to what Tern does.
As Tern’s Josh Hon explained to me, they go further than just about any e-bike maker to certify their bikes to extreme loads, such as the 400-pound (181-kilogram) limit of the new Tern HSD.
Most e-bike standards don’t even cover test procedures for weights that high. Several test benches aren’t even capable of physically supporting load testing at that level. And so Tern has largely entered uncharted territory.
They’ve tested their e-bikes up to those extreme load limits to ensure that anyone riding around with two kids on the back will never have to worry if the weight rating on their e-bike is a guesstimate or not – which, unfortunately, it often is. “A lot of manufacturers seem to be saying now, ‘Tern rates its bikes for 400 pounds, so I guess we need to also,’” explained Hon. And yet many of these lower-cost bikes either don’t have certification or they use a certification that stops testing at much lower weight limits.
In fact, many budget bikes that cost a fraction of a Tern HSD (which starts at $4,299) yet are rated to a similar 400 pounds of payload would actually fail at much lower weights – something we’ve seen before. It’s not just how much weight the bike can support but also what happens when a bike carrying two adults hits a pothole.
The Tern HSD includes several hidden touches that help reach that heavyweight rating, especially around the weak points. Creating a basic diamond frame that can support such heavy weight isn’t nearly as hard as ensuring that critical points like the seat tube can also support such heavy loads. Areas like the HSD nameplate behind the seat also serve as hidden gussets that strengthen the frame beyond what a typical bike can handle.
Then there are the non-Tern components. Parts from other OEMs, such as the fork, also have to support those extreme figures. After all, a bike is only as strong as its weakest component. Tern has even helped its suppliers improve the strength of their components to ensure that the HSD would be as rugged as possible. They discovered that their fork supplier wasn’t properly heat-treating the metal in the fork – a process critical for strength – because Tern had required the fork tubes to be extra thick; thus, the oven heating time was no longer sufficient to fully penetrate the metal. As forks kept breaking on the test bench, Tern was able to discover the problem and help the supplier improve its manufacturing to create a stronger component in the end.
This kind of attention to detail – to each and every component that supports a heavy rider or a heavy cargo load – is a testament to what separates the different levels of e-bikes out there. That’s not a dig at budget e-bikes. I ride one every day. But then again, I’m not putting two kids on it, either.
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Tesla is going to build a new Megafactory in Texas near Houston, according to a tax abatement agreement with Waller County.
At the time of writing, Tesla had yet to comment on the new project, but the Waller County Commissioners Court confirmed the project on Wednesday when they approved a tax abatement deal with the company:
Under the proposed agreement, Tesla will receive tax abatements from Waller County based on property improvements. The deal includes $44 million in facility improvements and $150 million in Tesla manufacturing equipment that Tesla will install. The next phase involves a new $31 million distribution facility with about $2 million in Tesla distribution equipment and building upgrades.
Tesla is going to take over a 1-million-sq-ft building that it already held the lease on at the Empire West industrial park near Katy, Texas – just outside of Houston.
Logistics company DB Schenker occupied the space where it handled parts for Tesla, but it will move out and Tesla plans to build Megapack production lines at the site:
Tesla will operate a new Megapack battery storage manufacturing facility at a 1 million-square-foot building, which was initially constructed with no tenant on speculation that it would attract jobs and economic development.
Tesla has previously referred to plants producing Megapacks as “Megafactory”. The company already operates one in Lathrop, California, and one in Shanghai, China, where it just started production.
Those factories are set up for a production capacity of 40 GWh worth of Megapacks per year.
It’s not clear if Tesla plans for a similar capacity at this new factory, but the county announced project should result in creating 1,500 jobs.
In addition to the existing building, the project will include the construction of an additional “600,000-square-foot distribution facility with some manufacturing capabilities.”
Unlike its automotive business, Tesla’s energy business has been growing at an impressive pace – although prices and margins have come down last year.
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![Is Genesis taking notes from Porsche? New GV60 Magma caught with the Taycan [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Genesis-GV60-Magma-Porsche-2.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Genesis is gearing up to unleash its alter ego with its upcoming Magma lineup, its debut into the world of high-performance luxury vehicles. First up is the Genesis GV60 Magma, due out later this year. As testing wraps up, the GV60 Magma was spotted alongside none other than the Porsche Taycan.
The first dedicated Genesis EV model, the GV60, will kick off another new chapter for the Korean luxury automaker.
Genesis unveiled the GV60 Magma last March, claiming it will kick off “the brand’s expansion into the realm of high-performance vehicles.” The performance EV includes an improved battery, chassis, and motor for added performance.
The Magma model boasts a wider, lower stance for more control. Other key upgrades include a wider front air intake to help cool the batteries, motor, and brakes. It also includes air curtains to maximize efficiency and an added roof fin channels air to the rear wing, generating downward force.
Genesis upgraded the interior to match the GV60 Magma’s luxurious, sporty design. It includes unique sports car-like bucket seats with exclusive “double-diamond stitching” in the Magma orange and titanium coloring.
Genesis GV60 Magma spotted with the Porsche Taycan
With its official debut coming up, the sporty Genesis GV60 Magma was spotted testing alongside a Porsche Taycan and Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 N models.
Despite the camouflage, the video from CarSpyMedia reveals a few new design elements, like the two-line headlight featured on the updated GV60 model.
Genesis will launch the GV60 Magma later this year in its home market, followed by the US, Europe, and others. Production is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2025.
Will the Genesis GV60 Magma keep up with the Porsche Taycan or Tesla Model S Plaid? Priced and specs will be revealed closer to launch, but it will sit above the Performance AWD trim, which starts at $69,900 in the US. With up to 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, it can hit 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.
| Horsepower | 0 to 60 mph (seconds) |
Starting Price | |
| Genesis GV60 Performance | 429 | 3.7 | $69,900 |
| Genesis GV60 Magma | ? | ? | ? |
| Porsche Taycan | 402 | 4.5 | $99,400 |
| Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (with Weissach Package) |
1,092 | 2.1 | $230,000 |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | 1,020 | 1.99 | $89,990 |
In comparison, the Porsche Taycan starts at $99,400 with up to 402 hp and a 0 to 60 mph time in 4.5 seconds. The Taycan Turbo GT, equipped with its Weissach package, packs 1,092 hp for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 2.1 seconds, but it costs $230,000.
Tesla’s Model S Plaid starts at $79,990 and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds with 1,020 horsepower. Which performance EV are you choosing?
Source: CarSpyMedia
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