The Priority Current quickly became one of my favorite commuter electric bikes soon after its release, thanks in large part to its high-quality design and higher-end components all offered for a reasonable price. Now that I’ve tested the second version of the bike with a 5-speed drivetrain and other new add-ons, I’m even more sold on this comfortable commuter electric bike.
The Priority Current straddles the line between the fancier bike shop models like those from Specialized, Trek, and other high-end brands, and the more entry-level offerings from direct-to-consumer companies.
The NYC-based bicycle brand Priority got its start in pedal bikes, so it knows a thing or two about high-end bike shop models. But it’s still a direct-to-consumer brand that focuses on offering attractive prices for average riders.
That’s where the Priority Current lives, as a happy middle-ground e-bike that gives many riders a nicer setup than they’re used to, yet keeps it approachable for us normies that ride in jeans instead of a spandex cycling jersey.
Check the bike out in my video review below to see it in action. Then keep reading for more on this awesome model.
Priority Current 5-speed video review
Priority Current tech specs
Motor: 500W mid-drive motor with torque sensor
Torque: 140 Nm
Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h) or 20 mph (32 km/h) user-selectable
Range: 20-50 miles (32-80 km)
Battery: 500 Wh frame-integrated and removable battery
Weight: 24 kg (53 lb)
Frame: 6061 aluminum mid-step
Brakes: Tektro dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes
Extras: Shimano Nexus 5 internally geared read hub & shifter, Gates Carbon Drive belt-drive system, composite fenders, braze-ons for mounting front and rear racks/accessories, bright center-mount display, automatic front and rear LED lights, USB charging for phone/accessories, adjustable stem, gel comfort saddle, touch-up paint included
What sets it apart?
Originally, my first experience with the Priority Current was on the Enviolo version. Now, I’ve been able to test this 5-speed Shimano Nexus version, with the main difference being the transmission type.
Unlike the Enviolo’s CVT setup with stepless shifting across a range of gear ratios, the Shimano internally geared hub gives five gear ratios. It’s a bit like that old beach cruiser you had with the three-speed rear hub, except now you’ve got five speeds. Oh, and a belt drive.
That’s right, the bike features a Gates carbon drive system with a reinforced belt that lasts longer than a chain, is cleaner, and operates silently. I’m a huge fan of belt-drive e-bikes because they are just nicer to use.
The only downside is that they are often single-speeds due to the inability to run a derailleur with a belt. If you want multiple gears, that means you need some type of alternative transmission. Usually, that’s going to be an internally geared hub, which is what the Shimano Nexus 5 offers. The transmission gives you five gears so that you can still downshift to climb a steep hill or upshift when you want to push the bike hard up to 28 mph (45 km/h), or even faster if you don’t mind the electric power tapering off above 28 mph.
The Shimano 5-speed transmission feels like a nice balance to me. While I appreciate the engineering that goes into the Enivolo CVT, the massive 380% range seemed more geared to the lower end, meaning if you live in a flat city like me then you don’t use a lot of the potential gear range. With the Shimano, the five gears all feel more usable, though to be honest I still find myself spending most of my time in higher gear.
Both have the handy benefit of being able to shift when you’re at a stop, unlike chain drives.
The design of the bike is a real winner for me. It’s a commuter, there’s no doubt about that. But it’s not as tucked and hunched as on some models. I’m a more relaxed rider, even in the city, and so I don’t like to be hunched over too far. Some bikes make me feel like I can steer with my teeth, and that’s not a desirable seating position for me.
Here with the Priority Current, the urban-oriented geometry still feels comfortable enough, though I do find myself letting go of the bars and leaning back to stretch sometimes on wide open paths. With an adjustable stem, riders can actually dial in that comfort level to match their desires. The bars can be raised up more for someone who wants a taller ride, or lowered back down for someone who wants a streamlined city tuck.
Extra touches like that adjustable stem speak to similar design choices around the bike. It doesn’t feel like any corners were cut here. The bike uses solid hardware, has a beautifully welded frame, includes powerful dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes, features a thru-axle wheel for rugged mounting, a bright headlight and visible tail light, and even mounts that tail light directly into the rear fender so you have fewer wires and obstructions junking up the aesthetics.
Then there’s that mid-drive motor, which is the real differentiator compared to cheaper budget bikes. The motor includes a torque sensor, which means it has some excellent, responsive pedal assist. There’s a bit more motor noise than some models – it’s not a fancy German-made Brose motor or anything like that – but it still works wonderfully and gives good power with intuitive-feeling pedal assist. For a bike without a throttle, good pedal assist is a must.
Plus there’s the fact that the Priority Current comes in three frame sizes (S, M, L). It’s another example of how the bike goes beyond the typical one-size-fits-most models from budget-priced e-bike brands. As folks who actually bike everywhere, the Priority team knows that being able to size a bike as closely as possible to your personal needs is going to give you a better cycling experience.
Extra features and accessories
The Priority Current is an excellent bike, but it’s the extra stuff that can sometimes help set many different models of e-bikes apart.
For example, I tested out the add-on battery option that doubles the capacity of the bike to give riders twice as much range. From my experience, the single battery is probably enough for many people. I was often getting 40-ish miles (65 km) of range per charge when I kept the pedal assist in a reasonable level 2 or 3 out of 5. But when I put it in level 5 and crank the speed up to the limit of 28 mph (45, km/h), my range could easily cut in half. So for anyone who wants to ride quickly, that additional battery is a nice add-on.
The other advantage is that it gives you a rear rack. For riders who want to add a basket, panniers, or other cargo carriers on the rear of the bike, the battery does double duty by giving you the rack space you’ll need.
Another accessory I tested out was the Pinhead wheel and seat lock set. I recently had my bike stolen (unfortunately, not for the first time), and so I’ve been feeling the pain of theft all over again. The Pinhead wheel and seat lock set aren’t going to keep your bike where you left it, but they will protect certain easy-to-steal components like the wheels and seat.
They come with their own little driver tool that removes theft of opportunity. Sure, if a thief comes prepared with a Pinhead tool then they can snag your nice saddle. But most opportunity theft occurs in the moment, from a thief who just saw something nice and made quick work of a quick-release lever or happened to have a 5mm Allen wrench on them. So the Pinhead system gives you a slick-looking fastener and means that 99.9% of people aren’t going to be able to make off with your gear.
For a more secure full-bike lock, I still recommend something like a FoldyLock Forever as one of multiple locks used on a bike.
Sum it up
Basically, the Priority Current still lives up to exactly what I want in a higher-end commuter or metro e-bike. At US $3,299, it’s priced short of the $4-5k bike shop e-bikes, yet still has the quality parts and manufacturing to stand with those high-dollar rides.
On the flip side, you can get it shipped directly to your door and save a few g’s at the same time.
That makes it feel like the right balance to me, offering the quality that more serious riders desire to ensure the bike will last for many years, yet with pricing and convenience more in line with the upper end of the direct-to-consumer market.
While it’s pricier than many more cost-effective commuter e-bikes, the nicer parts like the torque sensor-equipped mid-drive motor and 5-speed Gates belt drivetrain are bound to entice riders looking for a step up. They sure did for me.
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Global renewable developer and energy giant RWE has halted its US offshore wind operations “for the time being” because of the “political environment” the Trump administration has created.
RWE, Germany’s biggest electricity producer, said in March that it had dialed back its US offshore wind activities. But now, CEO Marcus Krebber said in a speech transcript, which he’ll deliver at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Essen on April 30, that its US offshore wind business is now closed (but it wasn’t all bad news):
In the US, where we have stopped our offshore activities for the time being, our business in onshore wind, solar energy, and battery storage has so far been developing very dynamically. At the start of this year, we reached an important milestone when our US generation capacity hit the 10 gigawatt mark. The construction of a further 4 gigawatts is secured.
He went on to say that renewables have created regional value and jobs, but that the company remains “cautious given the political developments.” RWE has introduced more stringent requirements for future US investments:
All necessary federal permits must be in place. Tax credits must be safe harbored and all relevant tariff risks mitigated. In addition, onshore wind and solar projects must have secured offtake at the time of the investment decision. Only if these conditions are met will further investments be possible, given the political environment.
About half of RWE’s installed renewable capacity is in the US, where it’s the third-largest renewable energy company through its subsidiary, RWE Clean Energy. RWE holds the rights to develop US offshore wind projects in New York, Louisiana, and California.
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RWE paid $1.1 billion for the New York lease area in 2022, where it’s meant to develop the 3 gigawatt (GW) Community Offshore Wind with the UK’s National Grid. Community Offshore Wind was projected to come online in the early 2030s and expected to power more than a million homes.
The developer paid $5.6 billion for the Louisiana lease in the Gulf of Mexico in 2023 as the lone bidder for development rights, and the Canopy Offshore Wind project off Northern California was not expected to be completed for another decade.
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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and his allies have raked in nearly $900,000 in trading fees over the past two days from the president’s $TRUMP cryptocurrency token, according to Chainalysis, a blockchain data company.
The surge came after a Wednesday announcement in which the top 220 holders of the token were promised dinner with the president.
“Have Dinner in Washington, D.C. With President Trump,” reads a message on the front page of the Trump coin’s website. The event, which is black tie optional and hosted at the president’s private club in the Washington area, is scheduled for May 22, with a reception for the top 25 holders. A “VIP White House Tour” will take place the following day, the site says. The website also hosts an active leaderboard displaying the usernames of top buyers.
The $TRUMP memecoin jumped more than 50% on the dinner news, boosting its total market value to $2.7 billion. It was met with fierce criticism from some of Trump’s political opponents who said the move was further evidence that the president was using crypto to enrich himself. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a prominent Trump critic, wrote on X that the sale was “the most brazenly corrupt thing a President has ever done. Not close.”
Roughly 80% of the $TRUMP token supply is controlled by the Trump Organization and affiliates, according to the project’s website. Since its launch in January, trading activity has generated about $324.5 million in trading fees for insiders, Chainalysis found. These fees are generated through the token’s built-in mechanism that routes a percentage of each trade to wallets controlled by the project — wallets that, according to the website, are linked to the coin’s creators.
Memecoins, often referred to as meme tokens, are a subset of digital assets that use blockchain technology and derive their value largely from internet culture, memes and social media hype rather than from an underlying utility or asset. The originators of memecoins can make fees when their coins are bought and sold.
They have grown in popularity in recent years as speculative assets, with some coins including dogecoin and fartcoin amassing total market values in excess of $1 billion.
Most of the $TRUMP supply remains locked under a three-year vesting plan, with coins gradually becoming available over time. Lockups like these are meant to protect investors by preventing insiders from cashing out all at once — a scheme commonly known in the crypto world as a “rug pull.” Vesting schedules aim to give retail buyers confidence that early holders won’t overwhelm the market and tank the token’s value.
Still, the dinner contest is being viewed by critics as an unusually explicit attempt to monetize presidential access.
As CNBC reported Friday, Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts are urging the U.S. Office of Government Ethics to investigate whether the promotion constitutes “pay to play” corruption.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The company behind the memecoin also did not respond to a request for comment.
Delaney Marsco, the director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit focused on campaign finance and government accountability, told NBC News the coin and dinner contest amounted to an unprecedented ethics breach — though it is unlikely to be illegal.
“Criminal conflicts of interest statutes don’t apply to the President,” she said. “That has allowed him to go against decades of of norms that every modern president since Carter has adhered to, which is to divest your financial interests, rid yourself of your businesses, and kind of go in to the presidency with a clean financial slate so that no one could accuse you of manipulating policy decisions or using your position in order to enrich yourself.”
“The fact that he is not barred by the law from having these financial interests like this meme coin allows him to engage in a lot of seemingly corrupt activity. It has the appearance of a pay to play, so the President is apparently selling access to himself,” Marsco added.
Molly White, an independent crypto researcher, told NBC News that the leaderboard only shows top $TRUMP holders — and then only by their chosen screen name, making it difficult to identify who is paying to potentially join the dinner.
Schiff and Warren have cited public reports showing that some $TRUMP investors have ties to foreign exchanges or received funds from crypto platforms banned in the U.S., including Binance.
White also noted that at least one top $TRUMP owner has an account on Binance, a cryptocurrency company that doesn’t allow American users.
Trump was elected with significant help from the cryptocurrency industry, which poured tens of millions of dollars into the 2024 election, outpacing corporate donations from traditional sectors like banking and oil. After opposing digital assets during his first term, Trump pivoted in 2024 to campaign as a champion of cryptocurrency, casting Democrats as hostile to innovation and as advocating for tighter regulation.
The $TRUMP token itself offers no product or service, according to the project’s website. It is part of a broader push by the Trump family into digital assets, despite the market’s volatility and regulatory risks.
In addition to the $TRUMP and $MELANIA meme coins, the family is backing World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance venture that has raised $550 million across two token sales since last October. Buyers are barred from reselling their tokens and receive no share of profits — but a Trump-affiliated entity is entitled to 75% of net revenue, including token sale proceeds.
Together, these projects have created new streams of revenue for Trump and his inner circle at a time when regulatory oversight of cryptocurrency has weakened sharply under his administration.
It’s that time of year again, time for events across the country to show off electric vehicles at Drive Electric Earth Month.
Drive Electric Earth Month is an offshoot of Drive Electric Week, a long-running annual tradition hosting meetups mostly in the US, but also occasionally in other countries. It started as Drive Electric Earth Day, but since not every event can happen on the same day, they went ahead and extended it to encompass “Earth Month” events that happen across the month of April. It’s all organized by Plug In America, the Sierra Club, the Electric Vehicle Association, EV Hybrid Noire, and Drive Electric USA.
Events consist of general Earth Day-style community celebrations, EV Ride & Drives where you can test drive several EVs in one place, and opportunities to talk to EV owners and ask them questions about what it’s like to live with an EV, away from the pressure of a dealership.
But the bulk of the events happened on the weekends surrounding Earth Day, April 22, so there were several last weekend and will be even more this upcoming weekend.
There are plenty of events in the big cities where you’d expect, but Plug In America wanted to highlight a few of the events in smaller places around the country. Here’s a sampling of upcoming events:
Big Island EV – Cruise and Picnic in Waimea, HI on April 26, 10am-1pm – EV drivers will congregate in various places around the Big Island (Kona, Waimea, Waikoloa and Hilo), then drive up Saddle Road to the Gil Kahele Recreation Area on Mauna Kea for a potluck and a chance to talk about the experience of owning EVs on the Big Island.
Santa Barbara Earth Day 2025 and Green Car Show in Santa Barbara, CA on April 26-27, 11am-8pm – This is part of Santa Barbara’s Earth Day celebration, which routinely attracts 30,000 participants and is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations on the planet. The Green Car Show includes ride & drives and an “Owners Corner” where owners can showcase their EVs and attendees can check them out and ask questions.
Earth Day’25 – EV’s role in a sustainable future in Queretaro City, Mexico on April 26, 9am-4pm – The sole Mexican event, this is a combined in-person/online seminar at the Querétaro Institute of Technology.
Norman Earth Day Festival in Norman, OK on April 27, 12-5pm – Another municipal Earth Day festival, with hands-on activities for kids to learn about the environment. A portion of the parking lot reserved for an EV car show for EV owners who pre-register to show off their vehicles.
Oregon Electric Vehicle Association Test Drive & Information Expo in Portland, OR on April 27, 10am-4pm – This one is at Daimler Truck’s North American HQ, and will have several EVs for test drives, owner displays (including DIY gas-to-EV conversions), and keynote presentations by EV experts. They’ll even have a 1914 Detroit Electric EV available for test rides!
And, we at Electrek want to give a shoutout to Rove’s EV Drive Days in Santa Ana 10am-3pm April 28 – ROVE is the company behind the “full-service” EV charging concept that we’ve talked about several times here on Electrek, and we like what they’re doing for EV charging. They’ve hosted a few community events, and this is their contribution to Earth Month.
Each event has a different assortment of activities (e.g. test drives won’t be available at every event, generally just the larger ones attended by local dealerships), so be sure to check the events page to see what the plan is for your local event.
These events have offered a great way to connect with owners and see the newest electric vehicle tech, and even get a chance to do test rides and drives in person. Attendees got to hear unfiltered information from actual owners about the benefits and trials of owning EVs, allowing for longer and more genuine (and often more knowledgeable) conversations than one might normally encounter at a dealership.
And if you’re an owner – you can show off your car and answer those questions for interested onlookers.
To view all the events and see what’s happening in your area, you can check out the list of events or the events map. You can also sign up to volunteer at your local events, and if you plan to show off your electric car, you can RSVP on each event page and list the vehicle that you plan to show (or see what other vehicles have already registered).
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