An electric motorcycle that runs on power tool batteries? Meet EGO’s new mini bike
You may know of EGO POWER from the company’s electric lawn care tools, such as their extensive line of mowers, string trimmers, chain saws and more. But now we’re seeing something that looks like a lot more fun than the rest of the company’s work-focused catalog: an electric mini bike. The creatively named EGO POWER+ Mini Bike uses the company’s swappable lithium-ion battery packs, meaning the same batteries that power your leaf blower can now send you flying over a sweet jump.
Keep in mind that you should stick to dirt trails and other off-road riding areas on this mini bike since it doesn’t appear to be street legal. And that’s probably a good thing too, since the top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h) would make it hard to keep up with traffic on many roads.
Instead of commuting to work, riders are more likely to spend time slinging dirt around with cute little off-road tires
The mini bike runs on a pair of 56V 7.5Ah ARC Lithium batteries from EGO, giving a maximum range of up to 18 miles (29 km) from 840 Wh of battery capacity. There are three riding modes of Eco, Normal, and Sport, and that 18 mile range is almost certainly measured in Eco mode. There’s also a reverse mode, which is a good because I don’t know how anyone would possible back up on such a mammoth looking ride.
Sure, it may look like a toy whose proportions make it seems like it will only reach your shins, but it appears to be fairly nicely outfitted. Full suspension is matched by hydraulic brakes for a ride that probably handles decently for lawn mower parts rearranged into a motorcycle format.
There’s no telling yet just how powerful that rear hub motor is, but 28 mph (45 km/h) probably feels mighty fast when you’re scrunched onto something the size of a rocking horse.
There’s also no telling what price this mini bike will launch at. The lack of concrete info is matched only by the lack of images, which is why I can only offer you my poorly photoshopped mockup below of what this thing might look like on a trail. For now, we don’t even know when it will be ready for sale. EGO simply tells us that it will be available “soon”.
This isn’t the first electric mini bike we’ve seen, though it’s the first to use lawn mower batteries for power. Other electric mini bikes have so far been road-going affairs, such as Tromox’s small electric motorcycles and CSC’s City Slicker. Even Honda seems interested in the market, patenting what looks like a little electric Grom motorcycle.
An off-road offering like this EGO mini bike could be a lot of fun, especially for those that have a bit of land to explore. And with swappable batteries, that 18 mile range can be extended as far as you’d like.
Just don’t use up all your packs at once on the same day you have to mow your lawn, or that’s one chore you won’t be able to cross off the Honey-Do list.
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The Stripe logo on a smartphone with U.S. dollar banknotes in the background.
Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images
Stripe cut 300 jobs, representing about 3.5% of its workforce, mostly in product, engineering and operations, CNBC has confirmed.
The payments company, valued at about $70 billion in the private markets, still expects to increase headcount by 10,000 by the end of the year, which would be a 17% increase, and is “not slowing down hiring,” according to a memo to staff from Chief People Office Rob McIntosh. Business Insider reported earlier on the cuts and the memo.
A Stripe spokesperson also confirmed to CNBC that a cartoon image of a duck with text that read, “US-Non-California Duck,” was accidentally attached as a PDF to emails sent to some of the employees who were laid off. Some of the emails mistakenly provided affected employees with an incorrect termination date, the spokesperson said.
McIntosh sent a follow-up email to staffers apologizing for the “notification error” and “any confusion it caused.”
“Corrected and full notifications have since been sent to all impacted Stripes,” he wrote.
In 2022, Stripe cut roughly 1,100 jobs, or 14% of its workers, downsizing alongside most of the tech industry, as soaring inflation and rising interest rates forced companies to focus on profits over growth. The Information reported that Stripe had a few dozen layoffs in its recruiting department in 2023.
Stripe’s valuation sank from a peak of $95 billion in 2021 to $50 billion in 2023, before reportedly rebounding to $70 billion last year as part of a secondary share sale. The company ranked third on last year’s CNBC Disruptor 50 list.
In October, Stripe agreed to pay $1.1 billion for crypto startup Bridge Network, whose technology is focused on making it easy for businesses to transact using digital currencies.
Brothers Patrick and John Collison, who founded Stripe in 2010, have intentionally steered clear of the public markets and have given no indication that an offering is on the near-term horizon. Total payment volume at the company surpassed $1 trillion in 2023.
WATCH: Early Bridge investor weighs in on $1.1 billion Stripe deal
Thinking about upgrading your EV? Rivian (RIVN) launched a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1S or R1T. Here’s how you can snag some savings.
Rivian R1S and R1T upgrade deal offers up to $6,000
Rivian delivered over 51,500 vehicles last year as the EV maker gains momentum. Although it was only slightly higher than the ~50,100 delivered in 2023, Rivian is expected to see even more growth this year.
After shutting down its Normal, IL manufacturing plant last April and renegotiating supplier contracts, Rivian has seen “significant cost improvements,” according to CEO RJ Scaringe.
Rivian also began delivering its next-gen R1S and R1T models last year. The new Large and Max battery packs have redesigned modules and more efficient packaging, “making them easier to manufacture and service.” For example, Rivian’s new EVs use seven ECUs, down from 17 in the first-generation R1T and R1S.
With new plant upgrades, reworked supplier contracts, and more efficient vehicles, Rivian is now passing the savings on to customers.
Rivian introduced a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1T or R1S. The bonus amount varies by trim:
- Tri with Max battery: $6,000 USD / CAD 8,600
- Dual with Max battery and Performance upgrade: $4,500 USD / CAD 6,500
- Dual with Max battery: $3,000 USD / CAD 4,300
The offer is for current R1T or R1S owners or lessees in the US and Canada. Rivian launched the new promo on January 21, and it runs through March 31, 2025.
After you purchase or lease a qualifying vehicle, Rivian will apply a discount toward the MSRP. You must take delivery by March 31, 2025. In the fine print, Rivian stated, “You must request a trade-in estimate to qualify for this offer, but trade-in of a vehicle is not required.”
Any other models are excluded from the offer. These include Dual Standard configurations, Dual with Large battery configurations, custom builds, demo vehicles, and pre-owned vehicles.
The new offer follows Rivian’s previous upgrade promo introduced last October, giving qualifying gas-powered vehicle owners or lessees up to $3,000.
Check out the Rivian R1 Shop to view eligible models. You can see eligible Rivian R1S here and R1T models here.
Electrek’s Take
Rivian’s R1S was already the tenth best-selling electric vehicle in the US last year, with nearly 27,000 models sold. With more driving range and power at a lower cost, the electric SUV could see even more demand in 2025.
Then again, with the arrival of new luxury electric SUVs, like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Volvo EX90, Rivian will face more competition in the US.
Rivian’s latest promo comes as the Company looks to carry the momentum from the end of 2024 into the new year. The EV maker is offering other deals, including 1.99% APR for 60 months on the R1 Dual with a Max Battery and Performance upgrade.
Even if you are not eligible for the promo, we can still help you find deals on Rivian’s electric SUV in your area. You can use our links below to view offers on the Rivian R1S and R1T near you today.
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