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Lectric eBikes, one of the largest suppliers of electric bicycles in the US, made a joint announcement today with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of a voluntary recall for many of the Lectric XP 3.0 electric bikes produced and sold earlier this year.

The recall is related to a braking issue with the mechanical brake calipers on the bikes.

According to the announcement, “the mechanical disc brake calipers located on the front and rear of the e-bike can fail resulting in loss of control, posing crash and injury hazards to the rider.” The recall covers approximately 45,000 Lectric XP 3.0 electric bikes with mechanical brakes sold between November 2022 and May 2023.

Among those 45,000 e-bikes, there were four instances reported of brake failure due to a faulty part in the brakes produced by one of Lectric eBikes’ suppliers. Two of those instances resulted in injuries to the rider.

That model hasn’t been sold since May of this year when Lectric eBikes switched the XP 3.0 over to hydraulic disc brakes.

Recalled e-bikes to get at-home upgrade kits

Lectric eBikes has prepared a remedy for the affected bikes that includes a hydraulic disc brake upgrade kit. The kit is designed to be simple enough for most riders to install on the bikes themselves in 10 to 15 minutes, but Lectric will pay for a bike shop to professionally install the hydraulic disc brakes for anyone who doesn’t want to install the new brake kit alone.

The hydraulic disc brake upgrade kits are already available, and Lectric eBikes is contacting owners of all affected bikes to get their hydraulic brake kits sent out immediately.

lectric xp 3.0 electric bike

I spoke with Lectric eBikes cofounder and CEO Levi Conlow about the recall, and he explained that “once we learned of the issue, we immediately stopped selling those e-bikes with mechanical disc brakes.”

They then reached out to the CPSC to begin the process of a voluntary recall.

The four instances of brake failure only occurred under a certain scenario when the brake cable was not properly adjusted, and so the company also sent out a service bulletin to its riders explaining how to check and adjust their brakes to ensure that any potentially affected brake calipers would be properly adjusted to prevent any future failures. The company also began offering its hydraulic brake upgrade kit for free to any XP 3.0 e-bike owners back in May, and around half of its customers have already taken the company up on the offer to receive a free hydraulic brake replacement in advance of the recall announcement today.

Despite Lectric eBikes electing to enroll in the Fast Track Recall program, it is common for companies engaging in recalls with the CPSC to be barred from officially announcing the recall until the CPSC makes a joint statement. In this case, it looks like Lectric stopped selling the models in May when it announced its hydraulic brake upgrades, but the CPSC’s announcement only came in September.

Lectric eBikes had already been in the process of moving the Lectric XP 3.0 e-bike line to hydraulic disc brakes, but expedited those plans when it discovered the mechanical brake issue. “We moved up our hydraulic brake timeline by around six months,” Conlow explained. “It was supposed to be our big November launch.”

But for the company, it was important to make those changes quickly despite the small number of brake failures. “We knew we were going to do the right thing. We weren’t going to cheap out or wait until 200 incidents were reported.”

For Conlow, the most important thing in the days following the discovery was to act quickly as they could and make the process as easy and safe for riders as possible. “For us, it was important to spare no expense. We’re paying for shop installations. We have the replacement kits in stock already, right now. In fact, I probably bought way too many of them, but we knew we had to have enough to have everyone covered right away.”

Anyone seeking more information on the recall can reach out to Lectric eBikes at 879-479-5422 or find more information online at https://www.lectricbikesrecall.expertinquiry.com or at www.lectricbikes.com under the recalls tab for more information.

Lectric XP 3.0 e-bikes now all come with hydraulic disc brakes

E-bike industry recalls

The last few years have seen several large recalls in the e-bike industry. One of the freshest on the minds of many riders involved the RadWagon 4, a cargo e-bike that was recalled due to a wheel issue. Over 29,000 of those models were recalled after 137 reports of tire failures, and riders were left waiting several months for upgrade kits to arrive.

Trek recently issued a recall for over 96,000 bikes that had a separate braking issue related to the brake cables and housing. In that case, the bikes continued to be sold over a nearly two-year period from June 2021 to March 2023 until the recall was issued in June of 2023. A total of 195 cases of brake failure were reported.

Electrek’s Take

This is certainly an unfortunate turn of events, and anyone who owns a Lectric XP 3.0 with mechanical disc brakes should absolutely reach out to Lectric to get their free hydraulic upgrade kit. Even if your brakes appear to be fine, you never know if there’s a defect inside your brake caliper. Plus, higher quality hydraulic disc brakes are a great upgrade – and there’s no price better than free!

Unfortunately recalls do happen from time to time in any consumer product industry, but I’m glad to see that Lectric appears to be handling it quite well. The problem seems to have been related to a small number of improperly produced brake calipers (with only four reported failures), but since Lectric couldn’t know exactly how many or which bikes were affected, they immediately reached out to all XP 3.0 customers to help them adjust their brakes properly to prevent the issue from occurring even if the brakes contained the manufacturing defect. Then it seems to me like they’ve worked to officially recall the bikes as fast as they were allowed to by the CPSC, and they already have the solution in stock and shipping out. As far as recalls go, this is about as good as it gets, in my opinion.

Obviously it would be better if the brake defect had been found before it ever made it out, but this also highlights a unique advantage of the direct-to-consumer business model. For example, in the case of Trek, their brake recall included nearly 100,000 bikes across over a dozen models. And since they sell through dealers, Trek was somewhat hamstrung in contacting customers since it simply didn’t know where all of its bikes were. With D2C sales like Lectric’s and many other value-priced electric bike manufacturers, direct sales mean the company knows who all of its customers are and can contact them directly. D2C isn’t better for everything, but in this case it appears to have been an advantage.

Lastly, the recall gives us interesting insight into Lectric’s sales figures. In a six-month period from November 2022 to May 2023, Lectric seems to have sold 45,000 of its XP 3.0 models. Extrapolated to 90,000 bikes annually (though that may not be entirely accurate due to seasonal sales impacts) in just one of the company’s several model lines, those are some impressive sales numbers.

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The Hyundai IONIQ 6 N is here and it’s even better than expected

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The Hyundai IONIQ 6 N is here and it's even better than expected

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 N is finally here, and it delivers. Hyundai’s electric sports car is loaded with fun new features, a sleek design (including a massive rear wing), 641 horsepower, and much more.

Meet the Hyundai IONIQ 6 N

After teasing the new model for the first time last month, Hyundai created quite a buzz. Now, we are finally getting our first look at the upgraded high-performance EV.

Hyundai unveiled the new IONIQ 6 N at the famed Goodwood Festival of Speed on Thursday in West Sussex, England. The upgraded model follows Hyundai’s first high-performance EV, the IONIQ 5 N.

At the event, the company boasted that its new electric sports car marks “a pivotal milestone in Hyundai N’s electrification journey,” adding “Hyundai N is once again redefining the boundaries of high-performance electrification with the debut of the IONIQ 6 N.”

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The IONIQ 6 N delivers an impressive 641 horsepower (478 kW) and 77 Nm of torque, enabling a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint in just 3.2 seconds. Its top speed is about 160 mph (257 km/h).

Hyundai-IONIQ-6-N-EV
Hyundai IONIQ 6 N (Source: Hyundai)

That’s when using Hyundai’s Launch Control, one of the many performance features the new EV offers. Like its other N models, the IONIQ 6 is based on three pillars: Corner Rascal, Racetrack Capability, and, of course, an Everyday Sportscar.

Powered by two electric motors, a 223 hp (166 kW) at the front and another 378 hp (282 kW) motor at the rear, for a combined 600 hp (448 kW).

Hyundai-IONIQ-6-N-EV
Hyundai IONIQ 6 N (Source: Hyundai)

Redefining the EV driving experience

The upgraded IONIQ 6 “redefines the EV driving experience,” according to Hyundai, thanks to its advanced in-house vehicle control software.

Central to this is Hyundai’s N Active Sound + system, which mimics the feel and sound of a traditional engine. An added N e-Shift simulates shifting gears.

Hyundai-IONIQ-6-N-EV
Hyundai IONIQ 6 N interior (Source: Hyundai)

And that’s just the start. Other performance features, such as N Drift Optimizer, N Grin Boost, and N Torque Distribution, give you even more control over the vehicle while delivering increased power.

The IONIQ 6 N is powered by an 84 kWh battery, providing a WLTP range of up to 291 miles (469 km). However, EPA figures will be revealed closer to launch. Given the IONIQ 5 N has an EPA-estimated range of up to 221 miles, you can expect it to be slightly higher when it arrives.

With a 350 kW DC fast charger, Hyundai’s new performance EV can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 18 minutes.

With a length of 4,935 mm, a width of 1,940 mm, and a height of 1,495 mm, the IONIQ 6 N is about the size of the Porsche Taycan.

Hyundai will showcase the new high-performance EV during the hillclimb event alongside other models like the IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 6 N Drift Spec, and IONIQ 6 N with N Performance parts. Hyundai promises each vehicle brings unique capabilities to the event, “guaranteeing a dynamic and thrilling on-track experience for all attendees.” Check back soon for more info.

What do you think of Hyundai’s new electric sports car? Would you buy one over the Porsche Taycan? Let us know in the comments.

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Elon Musk says Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles just after it went full Hitler

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Elon Musk says Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles just after it went full Hitler

Elon Musk said that Tesla owners will “soon” have access to Grok, a large language developed by Musk’s xAI startup, days after the AI started calling itself ‘MechaHitler’.

Yesterday, xAI launched Grok 4, the latest version of its large language model.

The new model is benchmarking very well, but that’s generally the case with the latest model to come out. It edges the latest models from Google and OpenAI on intelligence by a few points, but it falls behind on speed:

At the launch event, Musk announced that Grok will “soon” be integrated into Tesla vehicles.

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This is something that the CEO has been discussing since founding xAI, which has been controversial because Musk has also positioned Tesla to compete in the AI space. He even stepped down from his role at OpenAI due to a “conflict of interest with Tesla.”

The announcement of the imminent integration of Grok into Tesla vehicles comes just days after the language model went haywire on X and started praising Hitler, referring to itself as ‘MechaHitler’, and made several antisemitic comments.

xAI acknowledge the issue and put Grok on timeout while they fixed it:

We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts. Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X. xAI is training only truth-seeking and thanks to the millions of users on X, we are able to quickly identify and update the model where training could be improved.

The “bug” came just a few weeks after Musk stated that he was displeased with Grok supporting left-wing narratives, even though it didn’t say anything inncurate, and that he would update Grok to “fix” it.

Now, the large language model (LLM) is expected to power the new voice assistant inside Tesla vehicles.

LLMs are becoming quite common in cars, especially premium vehicles. Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and a few others have all integrated Chat-GPT in some models.

Many Chinese automakers have also developed their own and deployed them in cars, even entry-level ones.

Tesla is playing catch up on that front.

Electrek’s Take

As I have previously stated, I think Musk is setting up Tesla to invest or even merge with xAI at a ridiculous valuation – making Tesla shareholders virtually pay twice for Twitter, which is now part of xAI.

This is how he will be able to gain wider control over the company’s share.

Of course, it will be widely challenged in court. In fact, shareholders have already filed a lawsuit alleging that Musk was in breach of fiduciary duties to Tesla shareholders when he started xAI.

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Alaska is America’s worst state for business in 2025 as falling oil prices sink economy

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Alaska is America's worst state for business in 2025 as falling oil prices sink economy

Pipeline Winding in Summer Mountain Landscape

Sarkophoto | Istock | Getty Images

From the first discovery in Prudhoe Bay in 1968, Alaskans have had a love-hate relationship with oil.

On one hand, it allowed Alaska to abolish its state income tax, fund most government operations and provide every Alaskan with a dividend that continues to this day. On the other hand, it has left the state at the near total mercy of the global oil market.

In recent years, that has proven to be a bad bet. And it is the major reason Alaska finishes at the bottom of the CNBC America’s Top States for Business rankings in 2025.

With the price of Alaska North Slope crude oil down by double digits from a year ago, according to the Alaska Department of Revenue, Alaska has America’s worst economy as measured by the CNBC study. Economy is the heaviest-weighted category under this year’s methodology.

More coverage of the 2025 America’s Top States for Business

Alaska’s gross domestic product growth is in the bottom ten nationally. The state’s economy grew by just 1.5% last year, compared to 2.8% nationally.

More crucially, the state’s fiscal year 2026 budget is based on a forecast of $68 per barrel for crude oil, and it is unclear if that will hold. Alaska North Slope crude traded as low as $63.49 on May 5 before rebounding above $70 in recent weeks. State forecasters are counting on oil for around 70% of the state’s revenue over the next ten years, or nearly half the state’s operating budget. And some localities are far more dependent.

“When you look at the economic engine by default,” North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Patkotak told CNBC last month, “That happens to be oil and gas by about 98% of our operating budget.”

$40 billion bet on natural gas as diversifier

For decades, Alaska has sought ways to diversify its economy, but it has had limited success. Proposals have involved alternative energy, agriculture, and the state’s tourism sector.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference at his office in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. March 22, 2022.

Yereth Rosen | Reuters

In 2023, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, signed legislation to put Alaska into the carbon market, using the state’s vast public lands for carbon storage, and to generate carbon offset credits for high carbon emitters in other states. But the program is still in the study phase. A report to the legislature in January said the program is not expected to generate any revenue until at least 2027.

More recently, the Trump administration is backing a proposal to build a natural gas pipeline alongside the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, allowing the U.S. to ship liquid natural gas — a byproduct of North Slope oil production — to Asia.

North Carolina becomes America's Top State for Business

The idea has been around for years, but the price tag, estimated at around $40 billion, was impossible for the industry to swallow even when petroleum prices were high.

Now, however, administration officials think that trade tensions might change the economics.

“There [are] countries around the world looking to shrink their trade deficit with the United States, and of course, a very easy way to do that is to buy more American energy,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC’s Brian Sullivan in Prudhoe Bay last month.

“If you get the commercial offtakers for the gas, financing is pretty straightforward,” Wright said.

If the project gets off the ground, it could provide a huge boost to Alaska’s economy, though it would still be at the mercy of commodity prices.

Lack of tech infrastructure, high costs

Alaska’s struggling economy is a major reason for its poor competitive performance, but it is not the only one.

The state ranks No. 49 in Infrastructure. While the state’s roads and bridges are in better shape than in many states in the Lower 48, its virtual infrastructure leaves much to be desired. Fewer than 2% of Alaskans have access to affordable broadband service, according to BroadbandNow Research. The data center boom has passed Alaska by thus far, with only four in the entire state.

Alaska is a notoriously expensive place to live, especially in the many remote parts of the state.

“When you’re paying 16 bucks a gallon for milk, we’ve got to figure out how to make sure that you can afford to buy the milk so you can live here. We’ve got to make sure you can afford to buy the gas so you can hunt here,” said Patkotak.

But one aspect of life is a bargain in Alaska. At a time of soaring homeowner premiums, online insurance marketplace Insurify projects Alaska homeowners insurance premiums will average $1,543 this year, the second lowest in the nation.

Join the conversation. Didn’t see your state mentioned? You can see where it ranked overall, and in all 10 categories of competitiveness, in the full rankings of the 2025 America’s Top States for Business.

Top States for Business: Here are the runners-up

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