Why more high-end bike companies are making budget-level electric bikes
An increasing number of premium bicycle companies have thrown their hat in the budget-minded electric bike ring lately, resulting in lower prices than ever before from major bike shop brands. So what’s behind this move?
Several of the recent launches from major bicycle brands have included models that undercut their average e-bike prices by several thousand dollars.
While Cannondale has grabbed headlines for its roughly $5,000 Cargowagen electric cargo bike recently, who remembers the much more affordable $1,900 Cannondale Compact Neo urban e-bike? The inclusion of a simpler hub motor compared to pricier and more complicated mid-drive motors helped the company reach its lowest price point yet for an e-bike.
Trek’s electric bikes normally carry hefty price tags as well, but the company’s Dual Sport+ and FX+ also saw hub motors and lower-shelf components bring the prices down to around $2,400 at launch.
Budget e-bikes leading sales
One of the reasons for this focus on more entry-level bikes is quite likely a mere numbers game. While profit margins aren’t as high on lower-priced e-bikes, they sell in much higher numbers in the US. Compared to Europeans that often buy e-bikes as car replacement vehicles and thus are prepared to spend many thousands of dollars for a higher end model, a much larger percentage Americans e-bike riders use their bikes either to supplement car trips or purely for sport/recreation.
Sure, there are plenty of Americans replacing traditional car ownership with e-bikes, and many of them will spend a bit more. But by and large, companies that serve the $1,000 to $2,000 price range in the e-bike market seem to make up the lion’s share of the sales.
That’s a difficult price point for many of the higher-end brands to reach, but several have gotten close. The Ponto Go! electric moped-style bike, launched by Trek subsidiary Electra, rolled out at $2,699 and offered a higher-end moped-style ride than much of the competition. It also had one more advantage going for it: access to Trek’s wide network of local bike shops offering service and support. The bike can’t compete watt for watt against entrenched favorites like the similarly styled Rad Power Bikes RadRunner, but it also comes with the backing of a much older and well-established bike company with hundreds of local bike shops to call on.
Additionally, a growing number of e-bike incentive programs are helping people buy electric bikes that they couldn’t previously afford, as well as helping others afford a higher-quality and longer-lasting bike than could have been possible without subsidies or tax credits.
Lower-cost e-bikes serve as introductions to higher-end brands
When Specialized launched its Globe line, it did so with a calculated decision to reach value shoppers and introduce them to a higher end e-bike company.
Similarly to other brands that have taken a razor to their price tags, Specialized skipped the mid-drive motor and higher-end components when it rolled out its short tail and then long-tail cargo e-bikes designed for budget-minded bike shoppers. But it kept much of its higher quality design and fabrication as well as access to its network of bike shops for service and support.
And in doing so, the company has started getting riders on Specialized e-bikes that likely never would have considered the brand. The Globe Hault ST launched at around $2,700, which is still a few hundred dollars more than value-priced short-tail cargo bike offerings from budget e-bike companies, but it brought the backing of a major bicycle company with it. There are horror stories of trying to get repairs done from mail order e-bike companies (though there are likely more success stories that we simply don’t hear about). On the other hand, taking a bike into a local bike shop for service is usually easy and painless.
Thus, in the process of developing a more entry-level sub-brand, Specialized has started reaching a much wider audience than it ever could have hoped to before.
A shift toward e-bikes is good for high-end brands
Low-cost electric bike companies are still critical for the growing US market, helping hesitant riders get their foot in the door without risking several months of pay.
But as US e-bike ridership continues to grow, more people are shifting a higher percentage of their transportation onto e-bikes.
The US market has long lagged behind Europe, but it has followed a similar trajectory, albeit several years later. Many US cities are currently working on improving their cycling infrastructure with better protected bike lanes, making cycling a more common option. Those that tend to ride their e-bikes for more miles throughout the week often gravitate to higher-priced models that require less maintenance and repair, as well as those that offer more options for local service and support when necessary.
Lower-cost e-bikes from budget companies will always be important. In fact, most of my e-bikes are from budget brands. The nicest e-bike I’ve ever bought was around $3,000, and I bought it already used to avoid paying even that much. But as nicer e-bikes grow their numbers in the US, the higher-end bike shop brands have shown that they’re ready to meet consumers in the middle with entry-level models that split the difference by thoughtful compromise on price and performance.
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It’s probably nothing. Just a playful post on social media from a random Volvo account celebrating an obscure concept car from the early aughts. It couldn’t possibly mean that Volvo is actually going to build the thing … right?
The post in question went live on the Volvo Cars Heritage Facebook feed last week, and it was simple enough. You can check it out for yourself, below.
See? Just a few pictures of the 3CC, a concept that Volvo designers at the time intended to be “future proof” and developed with an eye towards sustainability. It was an early hybrid, with regenerative braking and slick aerodynamics along with gullwing doors and a 1+2 seating arrangement to ease entry and egress.
Nothing to get that excited about, right? Except – why the (wink wink, nudge nudge) at the end? Could Volvo really be dropping wild hints about new product on their museum site? Is that wild speculation, wishful thinking, or just sloppy reporting?
Well, as the newly-minted “Weekend Editor” here at Electrek (thanks, Fred!), there’s no one to rein me in until Monday morning, at the earliest – so we’re gonna run with it, whatever it is.
It sure looks like a Robotaxi
I’m not going to accuse Elon of stealing design ideas from Volvo any more than I’m going to accuse Volvo of stealing the 3CC concept’s design from the OG Honda CRX HF. That said, they really do seem to share some conceptual DNA, don’t they?
OK, so we’ve got some convergent evolution here – safe to say. But on the automation side of things? On the real, “the stock is worth basically zero if true self driving isn’t achieved” side of the equation?
There’s some convergent evolution there, too, because while Tesla’s been developing its highly publicized FSD software, Volvo’s parent company, Geely, has been working hand in hand with Alphabet (read: Google) to develop their own fully autonomous taxi for Waymo through the ZEEKR brand.
Is it really that crazy to imagine an updated 3CC concept fitted with the same Waymo sensor array they’re putting on Hyundais (read about that here) being shown off just in time to steal Tesla’s thunder from October 10th? Especially on the heels of the EX30’s growing success in Europe?
It’s not – and think that’s exactly what’s going to happen. That’s my take, anyway. What’s yours? Head on down to the comments and let us know if you think Volvo has what it takes to launch a Robotaxi rival in the comments.
ORIGINAL CONTENT FROM ELECTREK.
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Designed for both all-terrain and off-road use, the all-electric E313 telehandler from JLG is a new, low-noise solution for moving materials around indoor construction, urban, residential, and municipal projects.
With a 3,500-pound maximum lift capacity and 13-foot maximum lift height with a five foot forward reach, the new JLG E313 is a first-of-its-kind all electric telehandler designed to silently load and unload trucks and flatbeds, moving materials around, or accessing work at-height in single-story work environments.
Oh, and it can do all those things indoors.
“As job sites evolve, machines need to evolve with them,” says John Boehme, JLG’s senior product manager for telehandlers. “Our new E313 electric-powered telehandler transforms how work is done in emission-free spaces and noise-sensitive environments by delivering a quieter, more efficient working experience.”
Based on the AUSA 4 meter/1,600 kg T164E battery powered electric telehandler, the JLG version ships with JLG’s universal skid-steer coupler system. That allows the E313 to attach to various existing JLG telehandler and skid-steer loader attachments, including carriages, forks, and buckets. The E313 also features an integrated hitch for hauling tools and trailers around the job site, increasing job efficiency by reducing the need for additional tractors on-site.
Charged up
The E313 uses six 48V lithium ion batteries sending power to an electric motor mated to a two speed transmission with two wheel drive and steer. The 18.6 kWh battery pack (6 x 3.1 kWh batteries) is good for up to four hours of continuous run time, and can be recharged in two to three hours on a L2 AC charger, or overnight on standard 100V.
JLG’s ClearSky Smart Fleet telematics management system is standard.
SOURCE | IMAGES: JLG, via Heavy Equipment Guide.
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It’s got a long way to go, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – and the first delivery of Bollinger B4 electric trucks to Nacarato Truck Centers is now in the history books!
With the delivery of the first five 2025 Bollinger B4 Chassis Cabs to Nacarato Truck Centers earlier this week, Bollinger Motors is officially generating revenue as an OEM. The MSRP of these first-ever customer B4s totaled fully $800,000.
The delivery comes just a few days after the official start of Bollinger production began at the company’s Livonia, Michigan production center.
The newly delivered B4 Chassis Cabs feature 158-kwh battery packs sending power to an energy efficient, 323 hp electric motor that produces 675 lb-ft of torque at 0 rpm, giving the big trucks surprising off-the-line performance and all the power they need to get the job done.
Nacarato Truck Centers will sell four vehicles to commercial fleet customers and use one vehicle for its own internal parts deliveries between across its 13 locations.
Dealers make the difference
“Our nationwide dealership network is one of our core strengths, and with partners like Nacarato Truck Centers, our customers’ sales and service needs are in good hands,” said Jim Connelly, chief revenue officer for Bollinger Motors. “We are excited to see the B4 going to work on the streets of the Nashville area, and across the country.”
The 2025 Bollinger B4 Chassis Cab carries a $158,758 MSRP, and qualifies for federal clean vehicle tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act of $40,000 per vehicle for the B4 Chassis Cab. Additional rebates may be available in your area, so reach out to your local Bollinger dealer for more information.
Connelley was good enough to join us as a guest on Quick Charge last week after the start of B4 production was announced, and we think it’s worth sharing that episode again, below, for anyone who missed it. Enjoy!
Bollinger CRO Jim Connelley on Quick Charge
SOURCE | IMAGES: Bollinger Motors; via email.
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