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rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute

My wife has always been bike-curious. As the partner of a mobility journalist and prolific electric bike reviewer, it would be hard for her to avoid them if she tried. But most of her brief experiences with e-bikes comes from joining me on riding trips or the occasional rented e-bike on vacation. She’s the proverbial barefoot kid to my proverbial cobbler.

After beginning a new job this year though, she decided that she wanted to start riding an e-bike to work. Now over 100 miles (160 km) in, I pestered her with a bunch of questions to figure out what a relative newcomer to bike commuting has learned from the experience, both the good and the bad.

Or at least she was 100 miles in when I started writing this. As I’ve worked on this article in between more pressing news over the last few weeks, she keeps pushing that number higher. This morning, I checked her odometer, and she is now pushing 200 miles (around 320 km) – still a newcomer but a much wiser one than she was 200 miles ago.

The reason I was so interested in getting her perspective on switching to an e-bike commute is because as someone whose job it is to be surrounded by e-bikes, it can be tricky for me to maintain the perspective of a new rider.

But now I have the perfect opportunity, as my wife is an excellent case of someone who replaced a car with an e-bike for one of the most common uses: driving to work. 

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute
They grow up so fast

She just started a new position as an elementary school principal this year, and we live just over 2 miles (3.5 km) from her school, which is in the center of our city here in Tel Aviv. Like many big cities, the traffic is awful and finding parking is even worse.

Enter the solution: an e-bike. After searching around, she found one that she really liked (after seeing me test it in one of my Eurobike videos).

So we got her the bike of her dreams, a shiny gold-colored Exxite XS folding e-bike with 20” wheels. It looks great, and she loves that the seat goes low enough for her to rest her feet on the ground at stops – something that makes her feel much more stable and comfortable.

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute
She loves her new e-bike!

The first thing she told me when I asked how the experience had been so far was that she would never want to go back. We got the bike a few days after school started and so she began the year by taking the bus for the first few days.

The bus wasn’t ideal, but it worked. And when you don’t have a car, the bus looks a lot nicer than walking a few miles.

“It’s hard for me to consider going back to the bus now, that’s for sure,” she explained. “Now I can be on my own schedule, I don’t have to waste time waiting for the bus to show up or sit in traffic with everyone else on the bus just waiting to move.”

Heading out in the morning

As a school principal, she leaves early in the morning. That means the bus trip there had been relatively short at 6-8 minutes (there’s not much traffic at 7:00 AM).

But on the way back in the afternoon, the same trip could easily take 45 minutes due to gridlock traffic.

Now, with her new e-bike, the trip takes just 10 minutes in each direction. It’s not quite as fast as the bus on a wide open road at the crack of dawn, but it’s much faster during traffic on the way home and saves her around half an hour total each day.

Because she can use bike lanes for around 90% of the route, traffic levels don’t impact her trip time on the way home in the afternoon.

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute
Riding to work can be a fun way to start the day

Originally fearing that riding a bike to work might be stressful, she actually found it to be the exact opposite.

“The more I ride, the more I get used to it. In the morning it’s actually a relaxing experience. Sometimes I just ride along singing to myself, enjoying the wind in my face. I also like that I’m being active and pedaling a little bit so I get some body movement in before I start the day. It puts me in a good mood each morning.”

While most of her route to work has a separate bike lane with much of it physically separated from cars, there is a section where she has to ride on the side of the road with cars. “That area is a bit stressful, and I have to be sure to pay extra attention,” she admits.

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute
In one section without a bike lane, she either has to ride on the sidewalk or in the road with cars

Unlike in North America, throttles on electric bikes are technically not legal here. Many e-bikes still have them and slip under the radar, but local regulations require pedal assist-only and maximum speeds of 25 km/h (15.5 mph).

Her bike is up to code, and so without a throttle, she relies on the varying levels of pedal assist power to impact her speed and effort level. “I like the way I can adjust the power. The other day, it was a chilly morning and I forgot a jacket, so I put the bike in the lowest power level and my extra effort warmed me up.” 

Having joined me on many of my frequent e-bike trips in the US, she too has been spoiled by throttle-enabled electric bikes though and wants me to outfit her e-bike with a throttle “just in case” and for days when she’s tired after work and would like the option of cruising along without having to always pedal. People these days… no respect for the rule of law!

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute

Not everything has been an entirely positive experience though, and my wife isn’t shy about telling me what she doesn’t like, either.

“Some days I can carry everything I need in my backpack,” she explained. On other days, when she has more to carry, she hangs a shopping bag from the handlebars, but she doesn’t like that method because it doesn’t feel safe to her.

“I need to add a basket to my bike,” she says to me with a look that implies “you need to add a basket to my bike.”

To be fair, it’s been on my list of things to do. It’s right up there with reviewing a half dozen bike AirTag location tracker holders, installing a ceiling-mounted hanging bike rack, and editing bike videos.

When your dog gets a cameo…

My strong and independent wife also explained that the bike is a bit heavy for her.

Technically speaking, at 42 lb (19 kg), it’s fairly average for the folding e-bike market, but she’s a little lady and I understand what she means.

When she’s got her hands full, I see her sometimes struggling to get in and out of the elevator and hold open the big glass doors to enter the lobby of our apartment building.

Sometimes you want to help her, but hey, ultimately you have to let them learn on their own. 

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute
Navigating elevators and hallways can still be tricky

She’s also discovered the importance (and hassle) of locking a nice-looking electric bike to keep it from falling into thieves’ hands.

“I have to pay attention to where I lock it and always find something sturdy to lock to. Especially since it looks so good, I think it attracts attention.”

I set her up with two locks: a Foldylock Forever (which I think is one of the highest security bike locks in existence) as well as a super loud ABUS Alarmbox 2.0 motion-activated alarm.

From what I can tell, she doesn’t really take the time to set the alarm very often, but at least the folding lock would seriously slow down potential thieves.

There’s also the apparent hassle of charging, which frankly surprised me that she considered it a downside, but this is a judgment-free zone.

“I have to remember to charge the battery fairly often. One time I forgot several days in a row and by the end of the week, the battery meter was down to the red on the way home. I didn’t run out, but I was worried it would and that got me stressed. I don’t want to have to pedal the bike without electricity because it feels pretty heavy that way.”

Then there’s the speed issue. “It only goes up to 25 km/h and that makes me feel uncomfortable in the sections that I have to ride on the road because I’m slow compared to the cars. Or even in the bike lane on long straight sections, I wish I could go faster and arrive even quicker.”

To be fair, many electric bikes around here have been modified to go faster than the 25 km/h Euro-limit, and so she is one of the few rule followers, often even getting passed in the bike lane.

She’s not done with the complaints either, as I’ve apparently opened Pandora’s bike box here. “I also don’t like that I can’t really wear a skirt or dress without it sometimes flying up and everyone seeing my underwear. Or long flowing things like a shawl or my kimono that I’d be worried about getting caught in the wheels.”

Those aren’t problems I’ve ever personally considered, but that’s why it’s interesting to hear diverse perspectives.

The bike has fenders, but they have their limit. “Once I was riding and had to go through a puddle, and it splashed me. Now I’ve learned to pick my feet up when I go through a big puddle. Some of these things wouldn’t be that big of a complaint normally, but I’m going to work and I’m the school principal so I have to look professional.”

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute

I assumed we were near the end, but I was wrong. As she continued, “I noticed I also really should wear sunglasses more often because a few times I forgot and a bug flew into my eyes.”

Then there’s the weather. “When it’s hot here, in the morning, it can still be nice to ride to work, but by the afternoon it can be quite hot on the trip home in the sun.”

Now that the temperature is cooling off though, she seems to enjoy the crisp weather during a ride.

Fortunately, that was the end of her list of disadvantages.

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute

Just kidding, it continues.

“There are some red lights that are incredibly long to wait at, especially when there aren’t many cars on the road early in the morning. So I’ve started just checking that the road is empty and then going through.”

Technically, that puts her in the category of cyclists that car drivers like to think are responsible for the destruction of society and the slow tailspin our world is taking into the abyss, but I get her point.

In my opinion, it’s silly that she sits there at a red light, counting 100 seconds pass by, while the road is empty in both directions and most of the city is still asleep. If you drive a 4,000-pound piece of heavy machinery, waiting in the name of safety is a good idea so you don’t accidentally run someone over that you didn’t see. If you drive a 40-pound bike and have perfect 360-degree vision around you (and lack the physical ability to compress a pedestrian or cyclist into a pancake), then slipping through a red light on an empty road has an argument to be made.

Literally no cars on the road in any direction, and she’s waiting at a red light for bicycles

But for the most part, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive for her. And she enjoys setting a good example.

“Because we live in a city, most of my staff already come to school by bike, bus or by walking. But even more have switched to biking since I started, and I’ve also seen many of my teachers start wearing a helmet after they see me arriving to school wearing my helmet. I’m also looking into installing a bike room at my school so students and staff have a secure, guarded area to lock their bikes safely.”

We’re just starting to get into the rainy season, so we’ll see how well she holds up as the weather gets wetter. The few days it rained so far, she quickly discovered the plastic-bag-over-the-saddle trick. But she still has the bus as a backup for the days that it’s absolutely pouring outside.

Maybe we’ll be back here after the winter to report back on her first 500 miles (800 km). Until then, let’s hear what tips or discoveries you’ve learned from your own experience biking to work. Sound off in the comment section below!

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New EV Totem from Blink could solve electric fuel’s biggest problem

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9 hours ago

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August 13, 2025

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New EV Totem from Blink could solve electric fuel's biggest problem

View of Breezewood, Pennsylvania from the northwest end of the commercial strip. I-70 is visible in the foreground.

EV charging is everywhere now, and it’s reliable, accessible, and affordable. There thousands of public chargers are already out there – and, in some places, you’ll find more plugs than pumps. But if you don’t drive electric, you’d never know it. That’s because gas stations don’t just exist, they announce themselves with giant, illuminated signs that can be seen for miles, while EV chargers tend to just sort of sit, nestled away in the back of the parking lot.

That’s why the new EV Totem from Blink Charging is such a big deal. It doesn’t just charge your car, it stands tall, lights up, and tells the world: electric fuel is here, now.

If you were on a road trip, and your tank was low, how confident would you be in your ability to find gas if you were greeted by the sight of Breezewood, PA, above? We might shake our heads at late adopters of EVs, we might dismiss the things we don’t notice ourselves, but the fact remains that my father-in-law can drive some sea-to-shining-sea of this still (relatively) great country with no plan, no map, and no app, and feel pretty secure in his ability to find gas.

Can you honestly, before spirits of Henry, Lee, God, and the DSM-V, look at that picture and believe that your parents would have similar confidence in their ability to find charging?

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Now, imagine that all those thousands of EV chargers that you and I both know are out there. Imagine they were Blink EV Totems. Twenty feet tall, fully illuminated, and proudly proclaimed that here, weary traveler, was a place that you could – if you had an EV – simply pull up and plug in. Just like the gas stations out there have been proclaiming for nearly a hundred years.

Do you think they’d feel better slipping behind the wheel of an EV then?

No need to imagine

Co-developed by Blink Charging and Universal Media, the EV Totem concept combines Blink car chargers with elevated, 55″ screens to help maximize their eye-catching visibility. It’s a clever solution, and, while we’ve seen chargers with screens before, lifting the screens up above the cars in a parking lot makes them significantly more visible.

But because it’s 2025 and everything is terrible, instead of the EV Totem’s screens simply announcing the availability of reliable EV charging nearby or educating consumers about off-peak savings and duck curves, they’re designed to serve non-stop ads while collecting data that, “provides real-time insights for brands and property partners.”

“The EV Totem is designed to transform EV charging into a smarter, connected platform — one that delivers value for drivers while unlocking new opportunities for brands, property partners, and communities,” said Todd Cohen, Co-founder and CEO of Universal Media LLC, without even the slightest hint of remorse.

Blink’s EV Totem units are available now, with the first units already in service at Mountain View Village, a retail and lifestyle destination (read: strip mall) in SLC.

Electrek’s Jo’s Take

Electrify America gets it, via Electrify America.

Visibility matters, and electric charging stations are almost totally invisible in real life. What that means for most drivers is that, unless they’re in a Tesla or using a third-party app, they might have a tough time seeing public charging stations, even if they’re relatively close as the crow flies. Even if they’re plentiful.

The reality is that all those signs advertising gasoline create confidence on a subliminal level that gas, snacks, and restrooms are everywhere. Meanwhile, the EV charging signs (where they exist at all) are just too small, too bashful to be effective. EV charging is invisible to generations of ICE drivers, and we – as EV ambassadors – need to put ourselves in those drivers’ shoes, meet them where they are, and demand that the electric fuel industry do a better job of selling that same institutional kind of confidence.

SOURCES: Blink, Universal EVX; featured image by Ben Schumin, under Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar 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.

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Tesla lawsuits pile up as EVs enjoy their 2nd best US month EVER!

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12 hours ago

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August 12, 2025

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Tesla lawsuits pile up as EVs enjoy their 2nd best US month EVER!

The floodgates are open following a landmark $243 million ruling against Tesla in a wrongful death suit in Florida, and now that same lawyer is thirsty for more. He’s not alone, either, and America’s leading EV brand seems to be dodging court issues in California and even from its own shareholders! We’ve got all this and more on today’s ruinous episode of Quick Charge!

We’ve also got some killer deals on J.D Power award-winning 2026 BMW electric and plug-in hybrid models and a massive, 82 MW community solar project happening right here in Chicago.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec—makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure. Check out Retrospec’s viral city ebike, the Beaumont Rev 2, made with a vintage-inspired frame design and modern electric features, all for just $999! Electrek listeners can get 10% off their next ride until August 14 with the exclusive code ELECTREK10 only at retrospec.com.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar 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.

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Anker SOLIX F2600 expanded bundle at new exclusive $1,799 low + PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh station $80, Segway ZT3 Pro $900, more

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14 hours ago

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August 12, 2025

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Anker SOLIX F2600 expanded bundle at new exclusive ,799 low + PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh station , Segway ZT3 Pro 0, more

Today’s Green Deals are almost exclusively about solar power, except for our lone EV deal. Headlining this edition is the exclusive $1,700 savings we’ve secured for our readers on the Anker SOLIX F2600 Portable Power Station with an expansion battery at a new $1,799 low. There’s also Segway’s special promotion taking its ZT3 Pro Smart All-Terrain Electric Scooter down to its second-best price of $900, as well as Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station down at $80. From there, we also have Anker’s SOLIX C300 DC 90,000mAh Portable Power Station returning to its lowest price and a special EcoFlow promotion dropping 220W and 400W solar panels (as well as multi-bundles) to their best prices to date. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s first cash discount on Velotric’s new Breeze 1 Cruiser e-bike alongside bundled gear, Navee’s Back to School e-scooter sale, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Save an exclusive $1,700 on Anker’s SOLIX F2600 power station with an expansion battery at a new $1,799 low

We’ve secured an exclusive deal from Wellbots on the Anker SOLIX F2600 Portable Power Station with a BP2600 expansion battery for $1,798.56 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5F2600 at checkout. You’d normally have to shell out $3,499 for this bundle at full price, which we’ve seen go as low as $2,399 in the past. You’re looking at a combined 49% markdown that cuts $1,700 off the tag in all, giving you the best price we have tracked on this expanded backup power solution.

A successor to the F2000 model, Anker’s SOLIX F2600 power station starts at an increased 2,560Wh LiFePO4 capacity that is then doubled thanks to the expansion battery inclusion to 5,120Wh. There are twelve output ports (including a TT-30 port for RV support) to connect devices and appliances, with the unit delivering up to 2,400W of continuous power that can surge as high as 2,800W – all within a convenient suitcase-like design complete with wheels for easier transport.

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The two main ways to recharge Anker’s SOLIX F2600 power station are either by utilizing its max 1,000W solar input that can have it back to 80% in around two hours, or you can activate its HyperFlash mode to charge to 80% via an AC outlet in one hour and 40 minutes. It comes rated for a 10-year lifespan of continuous use, so using it less often just means extended support for your backup needs, and offers the full array of remote smart controls through its companion app that you would expect.

man riding Segway ZT3 Pro electric scooter through mud puddle on dirt trail

Segway’s ZT3 Pro e-scooter brings Apple Find My and proximity locking to all-terrain adventures for $900

Following right alongside a similar deal we saw on Segway’s new F3 Electric KickScooter that is still going strong through August 17, the brand is offering a promotional discount on its ZT3 Pro Electric Scooter at $899.99 shipped through August 31, after using the code ZT3AUG100OFF at checkout, beating out Amazon pricing by $100. This model carries a $1,300 MSRP directly from the brand, but keeps down at $1,000 normally over at Amazon. We saw it hit a new $850 low last month during Prime Day, with the deal here being the next-best rate that matches its preorder launch deal from September for the first time. You’ll be saving $100 off the going rate ($400 off the MSRP), landing it just $50 above the one-time low.

If you want to learn more about this newer and smarter model, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

woman carrying Anker's PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh power station by handle towards car in front of lake

Tote Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh station through the rest of summer and beyond for $80

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Anker is offering its popular PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station at $79.99 shipped in both colorways, which comes in $1 under the brand’s direct website pricing. You’d normally have to spend $150 for this model at full price, though discounts have been regularly keeping the costs down between $110 and $90 on average, with some falls lower to $80, like today, and one previous drop to the $75 low during Prime Day. Aside from that one-time appearance, you’re otherwise looking at the best price we have tracked, which gives you $70 off the going rate and lands it $8 under our previous mention from three weeks ago.

If you want to learn more about this popular portable charging solution, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man and woman inside tent lit by Anker SOLIX C300 DC power station pop-up light

Anker’s SOLIX C300 power stations are portable 90,000mAh backup companions that start from $150

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Anker is offering its SOLIX C300 DC Portable Power Station at $149.99 shipped, matching the brand’s direct website pricing. You’d have to pay $250 for this unit at full price regularly, though discounts in 2025 have seen it go as low as $150, which was last seen in July’s Prime Day Sale event, with things otherwise seen repeating to $170 since June. You’re looking at another shot at the second best price we have tracked, giving you $100 off the going rate that is only beaten by the $140 low we last saw during Black Friday and Christmas sales.

If you want to learn more about this model, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man setting up EcoFlow 220W solar panel next to power station in field in front of tent

Score up to 61% total savings on EcoFlow 220W and 400W solar panels and bundles at lowest prices starting from $254

As part of its current Home Backup Sale running through August 17, EcoFlow is offering an additional 15% off promotion on 220W and 400W solar panels (plus dual panel bundles). Things start at their lowest with the NextGen 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel at $254.15 shipped, after using the code ASOLAR15OFF at checkout for the extra savings, beating out Amazon’s pricing by $75. It’s already down from its full $649 price tag thanks to the sale, with the price having stayed above $300 with discounts until today. Not only has the brand dropped the initial pricing from $329 to $299, but the extra savings make the deal all the sweeter, cutting a total $395 off the going rate for a new all-time low price, alongside the other lows we’re seeing on the 220W bundle and 400W offers.

To learn more about these solar panels or to view the full lineup of solar panel deals, be sure to check out our original coverage of this promotion here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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