Trek launches its first throttle-controlled electric moped, fits two riders
It’s a big day for Trek, who is announcing its first electric moped-style utility bike. Unveiled under its Electra sub-brand, the new e-bike is known as the Electra Ponto Go! model.
The Electra Ponto Go! marks new territory for Trek and its Electra brand, as the bicycle manufacturer hops on the utility bike bandwagon. It’s a move we’ve seen taken by other bike shop brands such as Specialized lately, and usually involves using a sub-brand to help distinguish the new model from their main product line (and not alienate their lycra-clad big spenders in the process).
The Electra Ponto Go! carries many of the utility e-bike hallmarks such as a long rear rack, extended bench seat with foot pegs for a second rider, pedal forward geometry for flat footed stops, and high rise handlebars for an upright riding geometry.
Trek says that the bike can support riders in the height range of 4’10” to 6’2″ (147 to 188 cm) and has a payload capacity of 360 lb (163 kg).
The 78 lb (35 kg) Class 3 e-bike can hit speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle-only control, or even higher speeds of up to 26 mph (42 km) in pedal assist. That’s thanks to a powerful 750W hub motor in the rear, maxing out the legal limit for e-bike power in the US.
The bike also carries a rather large battery at 650Wh, which the company claims offers a maximum range of 60 miles (96 km). Keep in mind that using the throttle and riding at faster speeds will reduce that maximum range.
The bike rolls on 20″x4″ urban tires, which are common in the utility e-bike market.
Standard accessories that come included with the bike are fenders, LED lights with rear turn signals, hydraulic disc brakes, an 8-speed shifter, a handlebar Quad Lock mount for smart phones and a rear grab bar for pillion riders whose fragile sense of masculinity can’t take being seen holding onto the waist of the same-sex rider in front of them.
Priced at $2,699, the Electra Ponto Go! e-bike comes in four colors and one size.
Trek also launched its second generation Supercaliber mountain bike, which falls into an entirely different category of cross-country off-road MTBs. The first generation was launched in the before times way back in 2019 and led to several Olympic and World Championship wins.
The new generation gains longer front and rear travel. It also has a longer reach and slacker head tube angle for stability on descents and comes with two unique frames. There’s a lightweight SL frame and a super lightweight SLR frame. While the two frames appear identical to the naked eye, the super lightweight frame has a lighter carbon layup and lacks internal cable routing guides.
Electrek’s Take
It’s interesting to see more bike shop companies eyeing the massive direct-to-consumer market that favors heavier, more powerful e-bikes with throttle control. Trek may have made its name and its fortune on lightweight and efficient models, but the company isn’t blind. They know where most of the sales are now, and it’s not five figure carbon fiber bikes.
Sure, those models still sell, and so the company will always produce them. But Trek obviously wants to take a bite out of other markets dominated by bikes like the RadRunner, SUPER73 mopeds and the ultra-affordable Lectric XP line.
Doing so with an Electra-branded moped seems like a good idea, though that price is a bit high compared to the competition. The upside is that riders can always head to a Trek store for service and support, which is something that most direct-to-consumer brands can’t compete with.
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The State of California is moving to ban the sale of Tesla cars amid claims that the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, have misled buyers about the self-driving capabilities of their cars. We’ve also got market-leading news out of Vietnam and a pricey, pricey lesson for one VW ID.Buzz buyer on today’s lesson-learning episode of Quick Charge!
We also ask what this might mean for the recent Uber/Lucid autonomous taxi tie-up and go through a full rundown of the fastest depreciating EVs on the market (and yes, there are four Tesla models in the top 10 … because the Cybertruck was too new to qualify).
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Sunrun is putting tens of thousands of home batteries to work in Puerto Rico as the island’s electric grid faces a summer of high temperatures and energy shortfalls.
The company says it’s now dispatching energy from over 37,000 residential batteries to help grid operator LUMA keep the lights on. That stored power is being used to prevent rolling blackouts when demand spikes and centralized power plants can’t keep up.
Sunrun’s emergency power contribution has grown more than tenfold since last summer. LUMA expects more than 75 energy shortfall events between now and October, with each dispatch sending electricity to the grid for four consecutive hours. During several recent evenings, Sunrun and other virtual power plant (VPP) operators provided enough energy to offset a 50-megawatt generation gap, LUMA said.
Sunrun CEO Mary Powell said Puerto Rico’s aging infrastructure and intense weather patterns make home battery support increasingly critical:
It’s going to be a very difficult summer, which is why Sunrun has ramped up our dispatch capabilities, using tens of thousands of home batteries to support the grid and people of Puerto Rico.
She added that distributed power plants like Sunrun’s serve the same role as natural gas peaker plants – offering fast, reliable power during high-demand moments – but with clean energy.
Sunrun customers enrolled in the VPP will get paid too. Each participating battery earns about $200 minimum for the season, and customers who allow more of their stored energy to go to the grid earn even more. Sunrun also earns revenue for operating the VPP.
Read more: The US’s largest virtual power plant now runs on 75,000 home batteries
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Volkswagen is advertising ID.4 leases starting at just $99 a month. It’s hard to find any car lease these days for under $100 a month, but for $45,000 electric SUV, it’s almost unheard of.
Volkswagen offers ID.4 leases as low as $99 a month
The Volkswagen ID.4 was the third top-selling EV in the US in January after the 2025 model year went back on sale.
Volkswagen’s electric SUV starts at $45,095 with an EPA-estimated driving range of 291 miles. It’s available in five different trims: Pro, AWD Pro, Pro S, AWD Pro S, and AWD Pro S Plus.
The base 2025 VW ID.4 Pro RWD is equipped with 282 hp from a single rear electric motor. Inside, it features a 12.9″ infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and Volkswagen’s new ID.Cockpit digital instrument display.
Upgrading to the AWD version will gain a tow hitch and an additional 53 hp, for a combined maximum of 335 hp. The added power comes at the cost of some range, with an EPA-estimated range of 263 miles.
Volkswagen was already offering 2025 ID.4 leases as low as $129 a month, but some dealers are listing it for even less this month.
A California dealership, Volkswagen of Garden Grove, has the 2025 ID.4 Pro RWD listed for lease at just $99 per month. The offer is for 24 months with $2,995 down. According to the dealer, the offer includes a $5,000 cash back bonus, good on a new ID.4 purchase or lease.
We thought the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was a good deal with leases starting at just $179 per month, but for $99, now that’s a steal.
Looking for deals on the Volkswagen ID.4 near you? You can use our link to find and view offers on the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 in your area (via a trusted affiliate link)
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