Connect with us

Published

on

Moots is known for its premium, hand-built bikes that focus on a high level of craftsmanship designed for dedicated riders. Now the company is bringing that same level of professionalism to its first e-bike, the Moots Express – although you probably wouldn’t realize the bike was even electric if you saw it whizz by on the trail.

As the company explained, “In the world of e-bikes, there was a clear path forward for Moots, applying decades of design and build experience into a purpose-built model designed to go the distance. The Express brings Moot’s electric-powered vision to reality.”

And that reality looks like a really slick gravel e-bike.

moots express electric bike

The bike is one of few on the market to include a removable battery that doesn’t create an overly bulky downtube, which is usually the first dead giveaway of an e-bike.

The Express claims a max range of up to 100 miles (160 km) from that 504Wh removable Shimano battery, though the company indicates that the real-world range can be impacted by everything from “assist level use, rider weight, elevation gain, wind speeds, and tire pressure.”

Matching that Shimano battery is a mid-drive motor from Shimano, specifically the EP801 drive unit that delivers 60 Nm of torque. The auto-shifting feature intelligently controls the assist level based on rider input, meaning a sudden tough climb can result in extra power without the rider needing to reach for the assist-level selector.

Those who prefer to make those decisions on their own can of course skip the auto-shifting feature for normal manual control. The left-side handlebar shifter stealthily controls the motor power assist levels, matching the right-side shifter that operates the rear derailleur.

The frame is designed for adventure riding with a pair of water bottle mounts in the front triangle including a three-pack mount that can accept frame bags, plus more frame mounts for bags on the front fork as well as additional fender mounts in the front and rear.

The Shimano GRX carbon wheels include 50c Panaracer GravelKing+ tires that come with “plenty of clearance to spare,” should riders want to add even wider gravel tires.

A number of other Shimano parts are found on the bike as well, including a Shimano LinkGlide chain, cassette, and chainring designed specifically for e-bikes to deliver precise shifting and durability for the extra torque the bike delivers. The drivetrain is a 1 x 11 system with a 47 tooth front chainring and an 11/50T rear cassette. You won’t find a single hose or cable on the bike, as every single one has been routed internally.

The 33 lb. (15 kg) e-bike comes in four sizes of S, M, L, and XL. Just get ready to pay a pretty price for an e-bike like this, to the tune of US $9,999.

Hey, it could be worse, at least you’re still in four digits. Barely.

moots express electric bike

Electrek’s Take

Come on, you guys all knew where the price was headed as we worked our way up to it. But hey, it’s still fun to check out what the cream of the crop looks like in terms of new e-bikes from premium handcrafted bike companies.

Most of us aren’t buying a Lucid, we’re rolling around in a Chevy Bolt. But it’s interesting to see what’s out there.

I would probably be scared to even throw a leg over a bike like this for fear of breaking something and having to pay for it, but for those that want the lightest, sexiest, and highest-end electric gravel bikes out there, hand-built by folks that live and breath this stuff… then this must be a dream come true.

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

Continue Reading

Environment

Uber launches true driverless robotaxi operations in the Middle East with WeRide [Video]

Published

on

By

Uber launches true driverless robotaxi operations in the Middle East with WeRide [Video]

Just over a year after Uber announced a strategic partnership in the Middle East with autonomous vehicle specialist WeRide, the companies have officially begun offering the public robotaxi rides without a driver or safety operator present on board.

Today’s latest milestone involving robotaxi operations in the Middle East dates back to September 2024, when Uber and WeRide initially announced a strategic partnership to bring autonomous rides to the UAE.

Three months later, the partner officially launched autonomous rides in Abu Dhabi, but with a safety operator present in the vehicle. At the time, Uber and WeRide said the supervised rides were “laying the groundwork” for a true driverless commercial operations planned for 2025.

That day has come.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

WeRide and Uber have confirmed that commercial robotaxi operations are officially underway in Abu Dhabi without any safety operators on board – a first for the Middle East.

Uber Middle East
Source: Uber

Uber rolls out Middle East robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi

Uber shared details of its latest milestone late this evening or in the afternoon in the Middle East, depending on where you are.

Beginning today (Wednesday) customers in Abu Dhabi can select an UberX or Uber Comfort ride that enables them to be matched with a fully autonomous WeRide robotaxi without a driver inside. Riders in the Middle East can also increase their chances of hailing one of these driverless rides by select the “Autonomous” option in the Uber app.

In order to qualify, the prosepctive rider’s route must be part of WeRide’s operating territory in Abu Dhabi and a dedicated WeRide GXR Robotaxi vehicle (seen in the featured image above) must be available.

Similar to Uber’s partnership with Waymo in Austin and Atlanta, the global rideshare network will oversee fleet operations for WeRide vehicles, handling end-to end rider support. It has tapped Tawasul Transport to facilitate vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging, and depot management. WeRide will remain responsible for vehicle testing.

As you may recall last spring, Uber and WeRide announced an expansion to their strategic partnership beyond the Middle East (although Dubai will be the city for its next robotaxi rollout). Over the next five years, Uber and WeRide intend to deploy true driverless public rides in 15 additional cities, some of which will be in Europe.

As promised, here’s some b-roll footage from Uber showing how riders in Abu Dhabi can order a WeRide robotaxi:

Source: Uber

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

Continue Reading

Environment

ChargePoint brings 40+ new fast-charging ports to metro Detroit

Published

on

By

ChargePoint brings 40+ new fast-charging ports to metro Detroit

Metro Detroit is about to get a big boost of fast EV chargers, with more than 40 new ChargePoint ports set to come online across multiple sites owned by the Dabaja Brothers Development Group.

The first ultra-fast charging site just opened in Canton, Michigan. It’s owned and operated by Dabaja Brothers, who plan to follow it with additional ChargePoint-equipped locations in Dearborn and Livonia.

“We started this project because we saw a gap in our community – there was almost nowhere to charge an EV in Canton, and a similar lack of charging across metro Detroit,” said Yousef Dabaja, owner/operator at Dabaja Brothers.

Each metro Detroit site will feature ChargePoint Express Plus fast charging stations, which can deliver up to 500 kW to a single port, can fast-charge two vehicles at the same time, and are compatible with all EVs. The stations feature a proprietary cooling system to deliver peak charging speeds for sustained periods, ensuring that charging speed remains consistent.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The stations operate on the new ChargePoint Platform, which enables operators to monitor performance, adjust pricing, troubleshoot issues, and gain real-time insights to keep chargers running smoothly.

Rick Wilmer, CEO at ChargePoint, said, “This initiative will rapidly infill the ‘fast charging deserts’ across the Detroit area, allowing drivers to quickly recharge their vehicles when and where they need to.”

Read more: ChargePoint just gave its EV charging software a major AI upgrade


If you’re looking to replace your old HVAC equipment, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable HVAC installer near you that offers competitive pricing on heat pumps, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to get a heat pump. They have pre-vetted heat pump installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions. Plus, it’s free to use!

Your personalized heat pump 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. – *ad

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

Continue Reading

Environment

Mercedes-Benz opens its first DC fast charging hub at Starbucks

Published

on

By

Mercedes-Benz opens its first DC fast charging hub at Starbucks

Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging and Starbucks have officially opened their first DC fast charging hub together, off the I-5 in Red Bluff, California.

The 400 kW Mercedes-Benz chargers are capable of adding up to 300 miles in 10 minutes, depending on the EV, and every stall has both NACS and CCS cables – they’re fully open DC fast chargers.

Mercedes-Benz HPC North America, a joint venture between subsidiaries of Mercedes-Benz Group and renewable energy producer MN8 Energy, first announced in July 2024 that it would install DC fast chargers at Starbucks stores along Interstate 5, the main 1,400-mile north-south interstate highway on the US West Coast from Canada to Mexico. Ultimately, Mercedes plans to install fast chargers at 100 Starbucks stores across the US.

Mercedes-Benz HPC opened its first North American charging site at Mercedes-Benz USA’s headquarters in Sandy Springs, Georgia, in November 2023 as part of an initial $1 billion charging network investment. As of the end of 2024, Mercedes had deployed over 150 operational fast chargers in the US, but it hasn’t disclosed an official number of how many chargers are currently online.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Andrew Cornelia, CEO of Mercedes-Benz HPC North America, is leaving the company at the end of the month to become global head of electrification & sustainability at Uber.

Read more: Mercedes-Benz is deploying 400 kW US-made EV fast chargers with CCS and NACS cables


If you’re looking to replace your old HVAC equipment, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable HVAC installer near you that offers competitive pricing on heat pumps, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to get a heat pump. They have pre-vetted heat pump installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions. Plus, it’s free to use!

Your personalized heat pump 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. – *ad

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

Continue Reading

Trending