Connect with us

Published

on

Luna is selling a bike with specs that don’t seem to be possible. A 58-pound carbon-fiber full-suspension mountain bike with a Bafang M600 motor and a 48V 18.5Ah battery that somehow achieves 2.5kW of power. That makes it a recently marked down $4,000 mountain bike with light moto-like speed that can propel the bike past 30mph on flat dirt.

I’ve been riding the Luna X2 with the $350 Ludicrous option for almost a year now, and I’ve grown to love this thing, but with some important caveats…

Luna X2 Ludi

Luna sells some special bikes and motos, and the Ludi X2, which bridges the two, might be the best example of that. They took the Class 3 500W-rated Bafang M600 Motor that advertises 120Nm of torque and are pumping more than quadruple rated power through there, sometimes up to 2500W.

While there are some amazing advantages to this – notably, the incredible acceleration, even uphill – it also presents some problems. Obviously, that motor should be overheating, considering both the way more volt and amps than it is specced for. Luna is famous for hot-rodding Bafang motors, however, especially the M600, and they’ve done some really smart stuff here with heat dissipation with their bespoke controller. After a year of riding this thing, I can say it somehow works! Mostly.

Another problem is when you add pedaling to 2.5kW of power – all of a sudden, a mountain bike sprocket and chain rated for under 1kW of power are going to be pushed to their limits. I’ve already melted some sprockets by mistakenly changing gears up a steep hill on the Frey CC. I’ve been careful to avoid doing that on the X2 Ludi, but I still experience some slippage in high-torque situations. Unlike the Frey CC, where I’ve lost use of my second lowest sprocket, however, I’ve not done any damage in a year of riding the Luna X2, even up significant hills.

Speaking of going up hills, that unbelievable power will often pull the front wheel off the ground when climbing steep hills, presenting issues with steering and unintended wheelies.

Overheating

My first ride up our local 800-foot hill was going great at about 20-plus mph until about two-thirds the way up – I lost power and got an “Error 10.” I was able to power cycle the bike, and after a few minutes, I regained power. After rooting around in the forums, I found that the motor was overheating and shutting down.

Obviously, I can slow down to around 15mph and a lot less power and get a lot farther. But I wanted to understand exactly what was going on. Turns out, in steep hill climb situations, you want to keep your cadence very high to cool the motor and lessen the amps requirement. Most people that push this thing to the limit use the VESC tool running on an Android app to fine-tune this thing and keep it running optimally.

Luna uses the VESC app to tweak the Ludicrous controller, which is a paid download for $4 for Android or iOS, but I got an older version from Luna’s site. It allows you to pair to Luna’s controller and get almost real-time readouts of most of the vitals of the bike. The app isn’t terribly user-friendly to set up but is incredibly informative and great for keeping an eye on speed. You can then create different rider profiles to allow you to change your speed and power characteristics. I did find the readout to be a little small on rides, as someone that requires glasses for reading. I guess I need a bigger Android tablet!

In my case, the important readout is the bottom right motor heat sensor. When you start going up a hill at high power output, it will start rocketing upward. Once you are at 100 degrees C, you’ll hit the orange indicator, which is your signal to lay off the throttle and lower the pedal assist. Because the heat indicator is lagging by a few seconds, the motor is probably already closing in on its 120-degree cutoff, so you need to cut power immediately.

You can scale back to lowering heat by limiting the motor to its original 500W 120nm output. That is still plenty for hill climbing, just not at 20-plus mph. I find the bike operates quite well in the 80-100°C range.

On the other side of the spectrum, I wasn’t able to coax out even half the power on freezing cold days. That’s a shame because the bike’s Maxxis Minion tires are great for snow. After a few minutes of riding, the battery and controller do heat up, and the characteristics again go back to normal.

Once I learned my way around the heat factors, I could push this thing to its maximum.

For instance, I was able to easily climb Bromley Mountain’s 1,334 feet (407 m) in Vermont, which doesn’t have a bike lift or official bike riding path. I made it up the mountain with level 2 pedal assist without even coming close to overheating (myself or the bike!). At the same time, with the light frame and still powerful motor, I was still flying up the mountain to the point that it was actually fun to climb.

Because there is no lift and most mountain bikes don’t have this kind of power, I had the mountain to myself and was even able to find some off-the-beaten-path trails, which were tons of fun.

I was able to do four separate rides up the mountain before I needed to recharge, which I thought was pretty impressive. Luna knows their batteries, and even with driving Ludi with these chonky tires, I was seeing ranges over 20 miles. If I put smoother tires on here and ran on a road, I could see hitting 40 miles at 20mph.

Luna X2 specs

The Luna X2 is loaded up with some premium, if not top-shelf, components that would almost justify the $4000 price tag without a battery and motor:

  • Rockshox Debonair Yari 160mm front fork
  • Rockshox Deluxe Select+ 210mm x 55mm in rear 
  • Sram Eagle SX 12-speed cassette (standard HG driver, not the XD from SRAM)
  • Sram GUIDE 4 piston hydraulic brakes 200mm front 180mm back (6 bolts rotors)
  • Maxxis Minion 27.5×2.8-inch tires 
  • 44 56 non-integrated headset
  • Double wall alloy 40mm 27.5-inch rims
  • Dropper seat-post with internal routing
  • All cables throughout the bike are internally ran
  • Thru-axle hubs in both front and rear 15×110 Boost front, 12×148 Boost rear (length 180mm, 1.75 pitch)
  • 160mm front travel and 140mm rear travel
Luna X-2 review

One little extra bonus on the Luna X2 is the Carbon Fiber frame paint job. You’ll notice we’ve got the metal flake galaxy paint job, or as my wife likes to call it, “your glitter bike.” No shame here – I love the look of this thing.

In fact, to the untrained eye, the X2 looks a lot like an acoustic mountain bike. The 820Wh (48v 17.5Ah LG) battery is well hidden in the downtube, and the Bafang M600 motor or its heat sink only peeks out a bit from behind the pedals.

However, for those who know, the big “Luna” logo is what is going to be the big tell. Luna has long been outfitting electric bikes that pay more attention to what is possible than what is technically legal. Nowhere is that more apparent than the X2, which is described on Luna’s site:

This bike features our brand new Luna Controller the Ludi v2 which is a game changer. This controller will put out up to 60 battery Amps (2500 watts) As most Luna fans know, Luna has been hot-rodding Bafang motors for years with great success and this controller is sporting the heritage from our mighty BBSHD v2 controller. The Ludi v2 is 72V-rated controller which makes it extremely reliable at 48V and balances the user-adjustable buttery smooth pedal assist with the raw torque of 100 phase Amps readily available at the throttle. It even spins faster than any other M600 thanks to the Field Weakening and smoothly protects the motor from thermal overloads.

The X-2 comes in three sizes:

Electrek’s Take

The Luna X2 is truly a ludicrous mountain bike. It is a relatively light carbon fiber mountain bike that can hang with the more expensive bike shop brands, like Specialized Turbo Levo and Trek E-Caliber and, in many cases, has better components.

Where the Ludi X-2 really shines is the drivetrain. Having 2.5 kW of power at your disposal, even if just for short bursts, is like temporarily turning your mountain bike into a Talaria/Sur Ron and screaming across dirt roads at 30+mph. Having that power on a light mountain bike frame just doesn’t seem real.

Because of its high speed, I even found myself taking the X2 on my daily coffee shop commute if I was in a rush or wanted to blast up our big local hill.

The noted downsides of high power stress on the chain and sprockets as well as the overheating can be mitigated with some care and learning the bike. Luna has recently dropped the price of the X2, which can now be had for under $4K with an additional add-on for the Ludi controller.

Overall, this feels like the hot rod of mountain bikes, and I’m here for it.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Lectric XP4 750 and XP Lite2 e-bikes get up to $488 in FREE cargo bundles, EcoFlow 40A EV charger from $699 low, Segway EV Sale, more

Published

on

By

Lectric XP4 750 and XP Lite2 e-bikes get up to 8 in FREE cargo bundles, EcoFlow 40A EV charger from 9 low, Segway EV Sale, more

Today’s Green Deals are all about EVs in their many forms, headlined by Lectric’s Ultimate Tailgating Flash Sale that is offering $488 and $399 FREE cargo bundles on the XP4 750 Folding Utility and XP Lite2 Folding e-bikes starting from $1,099. We also have EcoFlow’s PowerPulse Level 2 40A EV Charger (and bundles) starting from its $699 low, as well as Segway’s Roll into Fall Savings Sale with hundreds being taken off various EVs, including the Max G2 Electric Scooter at $800. We also have some add-on accessory deals for cars, SUVs, and trucks, as well as the continuing Early Prime Day Sales, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s launches of Jackery’s new Explorer 240D compact power station, the Hiboy EX9 Urban Commuter e-bike, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Prep for tailgating with these Lectric cargo bundles on XP4 750 + XP Lite2 e-bikes starting from $1,099 (Up to $488 in FREE gear)

Lectric has launched an Ultimate Tailgating Flash Sale that is offering up to $488 in free bundled gear along with purchases of the XP4 750 Folding Utility e-bikes at $1,399 shipped (getting $488 bundles), or the XP Lite2 Long-Range e-bikes starting from $1,099 shipped (getting $399 bundles). If it weren’t for the usual discounts on the brand’s bundled gear, you’d be paying $1,887 or up to $1,598 for these packages (the JW belt-drive model sits $100 higher than the rest), which are some of the largest we’ve seen to date. For the XP4 750 e-bike, specifically, you can get an in-depth take from our hands-on review here, or head below for information.

While it appears there has been some $100 price increase on these e-bikes, which may be in response to tariff hikes catching up with the company, these are still the largest bundle sizes we’ve tracked up until this sale, giving you a rear cargo rack, a fender set, steel-encased front and rear cargo baskets, a 35L soft cooler, and three cargo straps on the XP Lite2 e-bikes, while the XP4 750 e-bikes get these, as well as an upgraded LevelUp cargo rack, a suspension seat post, and an accordion-style folding bike lock.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Lectric’s new XP4 750 e-bike as become one of my hands-down favorites in my fleet of EVs, sitting right next to the XPress 750 Commuter e-bike, with the folding design particularly handy in my NYC apartment. The 750 is upgraded for longer commuting over the standard XP4 e-bike, coming with a 750W Stealth M24 brushless gear hub motor (that peaks at 1,310W) alongside a 17.5Ah battery to provide 20/28 MPH top speeds, depending on state laws. The larger battery in the 750 model also boasts an impressive travel range of up to 85 pedal-assisted miles on a single charge. From there, Lectric has added in quite the array of continuing and upgraded features – many of which have been asked for by fans since its previous generations, like the repositioned non-drive side key location/charging port, the keyless riding functionality, hydraulic brakes, puncture-resistant mixed-terrain tires, the integrated taillight with both brake lighting and turn signals, and more, which you can learn in detail within our hands-on review.

On the flip side of this flash sale is the Lectric XP Lite2 Long-range e-bike, which come as the most lightweight of all the brand’s EVs, weighing just 49 pounds and also coming with a folding design for easier storage options. This is a great option for students, particularly, as the 300W rear hub motor (819Wh peak) and the 672Wh battery provide up to 80 miles of pedal-assisted travel at up to 20 MPH top speeds. Of course, you’re also getting some solid features too, including 20×2.5-inch slick tires with a 3mm Hippo Skin liner and pre-slimed tubes for anti-puncture resistance, hydraulic mineral oil brakes, a full color LCD screen with a USB-A port, and more.

Lectric XP4 750 Long-Range Folding Utility e-bikes with $488 bundle:

XP Lite2 Long-Range e-bike offers with $399 bundle:

You can browse the entire Lectric Ultimate Tailgating Flash Sale on the landing page here, which does see the other models getting some bundled savings, though none of those are tailored for tailgating needs like the above two models.

EcoFlow PowerPulse EV charger in garage charging EV while connected to Smart Home Panel 2 and DELTA Pro Ultra power station

EcoFlow’s PowerPulse level 2 40A EV charger integrates with home backup setups at a $699 low, bundles from $2,199

As part of its ongoing Early Prime Day Sale running up to the two-day event on October 7, EcoFlow is offering its PowerPulse Level 2 40A EV Charger at $699 shipped. This EV charging solution hit the market back in June and normally goes for $899 outside of sales, which we’ve consistently been seeing dropped to $699 in the time since. You’ll not only be getting another shot at $200 in savings at the best price we have tracked, but the unit connects to your power stations and home backup setups to provide support for your electric vehicle’s charging needs.

If you want to learn more about this EV charging station, as well as its bundle options also seeing discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man riding on Segway Max G2 Electric Scooter down railed walkway under an overpass

Save hundreds on Segway EVs starting from $350 during its Fall Savings Sale + members get bonus savings/rewards

Segway currently has a Roll into Fall Savings Sale running through September 30, which is offering up to $600 savings on its lineup of e-scooters, alongside some bonus savings through its Hit the Road Giveaway (more on this below). Amongst the bunch, folks looking for longer-traveling options can jump on Segway’s Max G2 Electric Scooter for $799.99 shipped, which also matches in price at Amazon. While it carries an insanely bloated  $1,400 MSRP direct from the brand, no one should ever pay that – this is a $1,000 scooter every day of the week on Amazon, and now you can score it with $200 savings.

Segway’s Hit the Road Giveaway is a member-only promotional savings event lasting through September 29 that starts by simply signing up for free, starting you with 300 miles on new accounts that can be redeemed for extra savings on orders or to score add-on accessories. From there, the brand provides you with several varying methods to gain more miles for further exclusive savings, which you can learn about on the landing page here.

If you want to learn more about Segway’s Max G2 e-scooter, as well as its other EV discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

ROVE's R3 3-channel dash cam
BougeRV mountable carrier/bike rack attached to SUV
man sitting on Rad Power's RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike

Best Fall EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Kia is about to make charging your EV way easier

Published

on

By

Kia is about to make charging your EV way easier

Kia is making it easier than ever to charge your EV. The company is rolling out new features and more that will get you back on the road in no time.

Kia launches Plug & Charge EV charging and adds NACS

Kia is finally giving EV owners what they want: Plug & Charge capabilities. By the end of September, eligible 2025 Kia EV6 vehicles will finally gain access to the feature, and by the end of the year, the 2026 EV9 will also have access.

For those unfamiliar with Plug & Charge, the feature enables you to pay for the charging session simply by plugging in at compatible stations.

The feature eliminates the need to pull out your credit card or app to pay every time you charge. Not too bad, right?

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Eligible EV6 and EV9 owners will be able to access Plug & Charge through the Kia Connect suite of services. Kia said it will send more information to current owners when the feature is available.

Kia-EV-charging-easier
2025 Kia EV6 US-spec model (Source: Kia)

After activating the service, all you have to do is plug in at a compatible charger, which includes Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America. Your vehicle and charger will automatically recognize it’s you to initiate the charging and payment.

The billing process is secure and links your preferred payment method, enabling hands-free EV charging sessions.

Kia-EV-charging-easier
The Kia EV9 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 charging at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Kia)

Kia is also switching to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, starting with the 2025 EV6 and EV9. The move unlocks access to over 21,500 Tesla Superchargers across the US.

The 2025 Kia EV6 Light RWD starts at $42,900 with up to 237 miles of EPA-estimated range. Upgrading to the Long Range RWD model costs $46,200 with a driving range of 319 miles.

Kia-EV-charging-easier
The 2026 Kia EV9 (Source: Kia)

For those looking for something bigger, the 2026 Kia EV9 Light RWD has a starting MSRP of $54,900 with an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. The Long Range EV9 starts at $57,900, with a range of 305 miles.

With the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expiring at the end of September, Kia is offering a few deals that you might be interested in. The 2025 EV6 and 2026 EV9 are available with a $5,000 Customer Cash bonus, a $1,000 loyalty/ conquest offer, and 0% APR financing for 48 months.

Want to see for yourself? You can use our links below to find Kia EV6 and EV9 models at a dealer near you today.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Xiaomi officially sets up shop in the EU with new R&D Design Center

Published

on

By

Xiaomi officially sets up shop in the EU with new R&D Design Center

Young Chinese EV developer Xiaomi Automobile has officially expanded its global footprint, opening a new R&D and Design Center in Germany. This is Xiaomi’s first step in its planned expansion outside China and into new markets around the EU.

Today’s news of an initial office in the EU demonstrates Xiaomi Auto’s rapid growth and success. Especially when you consider that it has only been about four years since the Chinese smartphone developer announced it would also start building BEVs.

Since then, Xiaomi’s flagship SU7 sedan has hit the market, reaching 200,000 customer deliveries in China in a blistering 119 days. While Xiaomi’s immediate focus has remained focused on meeting unprecedented demand in China, company executives have hinted at expansions to new markets, including the possibility of expansion to the EU.

The Chinese automaker is no stranger to the racing world in the EU, as it quickly made a name for itself at the renowned German tracks of Nürburgring. In fact, Xiaomi’s technology impressed the Germans so much, it was invited into the exclusive “Industriepool” to conduct R&D at the track and even signed on as a long-term partner, which includes its own “Xiaomi Curve” on the Grand Prix Circuit.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra also holds the fastest lap for a production EV at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Following confirmed plans to sell its EVs in the EU, Xiaomi Automobile has opened its first facilities outside of China, in Munich, Germany.

Xiaomi EU
Source: Xiaomi Automobile

Xiaomi’s first entry into the EU begins in Munich

Per a release from Xiaomi Automobile this morning, the Chinese BEV developer has opened the “Xiaomi EV Europe Research and Development and Design Center” in Munich, Germany.

This development follows news from August 2025, when Xiaomi president William Lu confirmed the brand’s expansion plans for the EU, beginning in 2027. Per the release:

The establishment of the Munich R&D and Design Center underscores Xiaomi EV’s commitment to building a global innovation network. By leveraging world-class competencies and ecosystem, Xiaomi EV accelerates breakthroughs in intelligent driving and vehicle dynamics. This expansion of the R&D network strengthens the company’s ability to deliver vehicles that truly inspire and are renowned for their performance, whilst ensuring Xiaomi EV’s products align with global standards of safety and quality.

Xiaomi said it is committed to investing in the international talent pool and will look to bring in engineers, designers, and researchers from around the EU to collaborate with its global EV teams. The Chinese automaker also shared that the new Munich facility will be used to “foster collaborations with research institutions while forging  meaningful partnerships across industries to accelerate smart mobility solutions and  ecosystem integration while addressing infrastructure and ethical AI considerations.”

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending