The first electric bike designed by women, for women
Electric bicycles have never been more popular, meaning more riders than ever are discovering the freedom and utility of riding e-bikes. But with many companies offering “one size fits most” e-bikes, women and smaller riders are often left out. That’s why Integral Electrics set out to design e-bikes that fit female riders better.
It’s no secret that women are underrepresented in the cycling industry, but many people don’t realize just how little voice women have in the industry.
At the largest bicycle trade show in the world, the Taipei Cycle Show, Integral Electrics CEO and cofounder Laura Belmar met with thousands of bike industry contacts but said that she didn’t meet a single female on the buyer/brand side. It became clear to her that “design and engineering choices for the bike industry predominantly come from a male perspective and most miss the mark when it comes to accessibility.”
That’s why she and the Integral Electrics team designed the Maven Cargo e-bike as “a vehicle designed by women that delivers an exceptional riding experience for all, breaking free from an industry traditionally tailored for men, by men.”
So what makes the Maven Cargo e-bike different?
Primarily, the design of the bike is intended to better fit shorter riders, many of which are women. The company “designed the Maven so that women and shorter riders can confidently carry cargo. Built for sharing, this cargo e-bike also meets the specifications of taller partners and veteran cyclists.”
Designing for shorter riders is key, since short-centric bikes can often still fit taller riders by adjusting the seat and handlebars, but taller rider e-bikes are rarely able to be adjusted down to a level that can fit shorter riders. In this case, the bike is designed to comfortably fit riders from 5’0″ to 6’7″ (152 to 200 cm). The use of a dropper seat post allows ever further extension as well as quick adjustments to seat height on the fly. Adjustable handlebars help dial in the height and reach for each rider.
As the company explained,
“We’ve talked to a lot of women about their experience on cargo bikes, and 9 out of 10 report feeling unstable, like they’re “not quite strong enough.” But they’re not really the problem; it’s actually just bad cargo bike design! The female center of gravity is at waist height, and so women need cargo to be well below the waist in order to feel stable.”
And that’s exactly how the Maven is designed.
The bike’s geometry is intended to better fit smaller riders by placing cargo just above the rear wheel at under 24 inches from the ground, “aligning just above the knee, and well below the average female’s center of gravity.” Integral Electrics says that this design guarantees confident and effortless riding for everyone.
This is of course not the only 20″ cargo e-bike out there, and you’ll find plenty of other options with this wheel size.
But Integral Electrics is trying to win riders over with more than just a lower center of gravity. The e-bike actually comes with some nice specs too.
A set of dual batteries come standard on the Maven Cargo, which the company says offers over 80 miles (130 km) of range. A long rear rack is included to fit a range of cargo accessories as well as kid carriers.
A 750W rear hub motor can be controlled by either pedal assist or a hand throttle, allowing easy take offs and efficient riding. A large headlight and tail light illuminates the way and lets cars see the bike as they approach it, while front and rear turn signals provide extra visibility. Hydraulic disc brakes are included for confident, quick stops.
Adjustable suspension in the dual crown fork offers a more stable, comfortable ride. Rear suspension is provided through a suspension seat post, which won’t offer the same handling as a rear swingarm but will at least help prevent hard bumps from being transferred immediately up through the seat and into the rider.
The Maven Cargo e-bike is priced at US $1,999 and has just launched on Kickstarter with an estimated delivery date beginning in February 2024.
We normally don’t cover crowdfunding campaigns unless we can test the product first or the company is an established brand that has demonstrated past deliveries, as this helps us weed out the fly-by-night operations. In this case, the team behind Integral Electrics has been selling e-bikes since at least 2019 and the company touts two other successful Kickstarter campaigns under its belt, showing that they “have a strong track record for delivering quality product on time.”
Electrek’s Take
As a dude, I’m not sure that me mansplaining the fact that women are usually shorter is the place where I feel most comfortable. But I’ll just say that I like the approach taken here for accessible design and I think that anything that can promote inclusivity in the cycling industry is great to see. Regardless of your sex, electric bikes are an amazing way to get around town and replace car usage. Helping more people take part is a great way forward.
Considering my wife can sometimes save money on shoes by buying on the larger end of child’s sizes, I know a thing or two about seeing a small woman struggle to ride a taller e-bike. I’ve watched my wife try several models that she ultimately decided just made her feel uncomfortable due to the size.
On a recent trip we took to the Netherlands, a country of tall Dutch bikes and taller Dutch people, she struggled on most of the taller Gazelle bikes we rode. The best bike she found was a model that was actually designed for elderly riders (seen below on the right). It had smaller wheels, a lower saddle and a pedal-forward geometry that let riders comfortably rest their feet on the ground at stops while still sitting in the saddle. The difference in her confidence while riding on the two different styles of bikes was incredible to see. So while I can’t claim to know what it’s like to be a female cyclist seeking that confidence from a comfortably sized bike, I can at least empathize.
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Waymo has poached a top Tesla audio engineer to lead the In-car Audio and Infotainment experience inside its autonomous vehicles.
Tesla and Waymo have a sort of rivalry as they are both working toward deploying autonomous driving systems.
Earlier this year, there was a little back and forth about having the biggest service area in Austin, even though the competition was sort of unfair since Waymo has been opreating a true level 4 autonmous driving system in the Texas capital while Tesla’s Robotaxi system is still being supervised by employees inside the vehicles.
But the competition is also for talent.
Last year, Waymo hired Tesla’s head of vehicle programs and the company has continued to hire some vehicle engineers and technicians since.
Now, we learn that Waymo has poached Nikhil Satish, a top audio engineer from Tesla.
He announced on LinkedIn last week:
I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Technical Leader of Audio Systems at Waymo!
Satish already had an extensive career in audio engineering with NVIDIA and Amazon before joining Tesla in 2021.
At Tesla, Satish led the audio engineering of the Cybertruck, which has been praised for its audio system.
The company even noted it yesterday:
More recently, he also led audio engineering on Tesla’s semi truck and humanoid robot programs, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Now, he will be the technical lead for in-car audio and infotainment experience at Waymo.
While Waymo’s core technology is autonomous driving, the audio and video experience is expected to be increasingly important as passengers can put their attention toward other things than driving.
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GM is suddenly shaking up electric vehicle production plans after issuing a stark warning. The automaker warned that new US policy changes, including killing off the $7,500 EV tax credit, will cost it at least $1.6 billion.
GM shifts plans as the EV tax credit expires
Although GM set another record by delivering 66,501 electric vehicles in the third quarter, it’s bracing for a much different market over the next few months.
In an SEC filing on Tuesday, GM said that “following recent US Government changes, including the termination of certain consumer tax incentives for EV purchases and the reduction in the stringency of emissions regulations, we expect the adoption rate of EVs to slow.”
Although it didn’t reveal specifics, GM said the policy changes “have caused us to reassess our EV capacity and manufacturing footprint.”
The changes do not impact Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac electric vehicles currently in production, and GM expects they will remain available for buyers.
The “strategic realignment” will cost it at least $1.6 billion. GM said $1.2 billion of the charges will be non-cash as it adjusts EV capacity. The other $400 million is primarily due to contract cancellation fees and “commercial settlements associated with EV-related investments,” according to GM’s filing. That will have a cash impact.
GM is also reassessing investments in battery manufacturing. The company said discussions are still ongoing, adding that it’s “reasonably possible” it will absorb additional costs due to the changes.
The charges, which were approved by the board on October 7, will be included in GM’s third-quarter earnings. We will learn more when GM reports Q3 earnings results next week on October 21.
Although GM and crosstown rival Ford were planning to launch programs designed to extend the $7,500 EV credit, both have since abandoned those plans. Instead, GM will provide about $6,000 of its own cash for a limited time to support EV leasing.
Electrek’s Take
Through the first nine months of 2025, GM sold 144,688 EVs, more than double the amount it sold in the same period last year.
The Chevy Equinox EV has been GM’s biggest hit, ranking as the third best-selling EV behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Cadillac was the leading EV luxury brand in Q3 with three of the top 10 most popular models in the segment: the Lyriq (#2), Optiq (#5), and Vistiq (#6).
GMC is on pace for its best year ever, with the new Sierra EV rolling out and demand for the Hummer EV picking up. With the $7,500 EV tax credit now expired, GM, like most automakers, is preparing for slower EV adoption in the US.
The policy changes, including dropping the $7,500 tax credit, will only put the US further behind China, South Korea, and others leading the global push for electric vehicles.
We should learn more about GM’s updated EV production plans next week when it reports Q3 earnings on October 21. Check back for updates.
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What if your morning commute didn’t involve gridlock on the 395 or the Orange Line crawl, but instead meant silently flying over the Potomac River at 30 knots? That’s exactly what Stockholm-based Candela is bringing to Washington D.C. this week with the U.S. demo debut of its flying electric boats.
While it doesn’t appear to be a permanent route nor make use of the company’s latest flagship commercial vessel, the P-12 shuttle, the demonstration set up near the Swedish embassy will illustrate just how effective the alternative commuting method truly is.
Starting October 17th, Candela will be showcasing media test rides on the Potomac using its C-8 flying vessel to demonstrate how its revolutionary electric hydrofoil ferry – the Candela P-12 – could transform city commutes. With wings hidden beneath the water and a high-tech flight controller regulating the ride, the P-12 lifts out of the water and literally flies above the surface, reducing drag by 80% and gliding without creating a wake.
The demonstration underscores how this level of speed and efficiency could actually change how people move around the D.C. metro area. A typical commute from Georgetown to Reagan Airport? By car, that’s around 20 minutes. On public transit, 37. On the P-12? Just six minutes. Similarly, a water ride from Alexandria to The Wharf would be a quick and quiet 10-minute journey – likely faster than your rideshare app can even find a driver during rush hour.
The Candela P-12 is more than just a speedy commuter; it’s also quiet, clean, and surprisingly comfortable. Its computer-controlled hydrofoils make for a ride that’s smooth enough to prevent seasickness, and the onboard C-POD electric motor hums along with no noise or vibration. With no slamming into waves and no diesel fumes to choke on, the whole thing feels more like riding a luxury train than a boat.
And while this might sound like the kind of futuristic tech you’ll hear about once and never again, Candela is already proving this model works. In Stockholm, the P-12 has already been integrated into the city’s public transport system, where it’s cut some routes’ travel times in half and delivered a quieter, cheaper, and greener commute. Similar projects are in the works for Lake Tahoe, Mumbai, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia – with more than 40 boats already on order, making it the best-selling electric passenger vessel in the world.
Candela says operating costs are about 60% lower than diesel-powered vessels, which puts them in line with land-based mass transit options like buses. In cities like D.C., where shoreline erosion and speed restrictions limit traditional ferries, the P-12’s wake-free cruising means it can get exemptions and run at high speeds even in no-wake zones. That opens up a whole new layer of transport.
“We’re not merely replacing diesel ferries — we’re enabling a new layer of transport by utilizing the underused waterways,” said Gustav Hasselskog, Candela’s founder and CEO. “We’re already in discussions with several U.S. companies that see the potential of using flying electric vessels to bypass congestion.”
The Washington D.C. demo is timed to coincide with the Swedish Green Transition Summit, a forum focused on sustainable innovation, and will run through October 23rd from a launch site adjacent to the Swedish Embassy. It’s part marketing, part diplomacy, and part real-world proof of concept that urban waterborne transit doesn’t have to be slow, loud, or dirty.
For a city surrounded by rivers and plagued by congestion, Candela’s pitch is clear: don’t pave more roads – just fly over the water. If the P-12 delivers in D.C. the way it has in Sweden, this could be the start of an entirely new commute for many more U.S. cities.
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