Electric Bike Company Model J review: A literally one-of-a-kind e-moped
Electric Bike Company was once the go-to source for US-built electric beach cruiser bikes. Now that they’ve expanded into folders, adventure-style e-bikes, and e-mopeds (like the Model J here), EBC seems like the go-to source for a much wider range of locally-assembled e-bikes.
But the even bigger differentiator, outside of the Southern California-based assembly, is that you can customize the bike with thousands of color customizations on every part, plus a huge array of accessories.
That’s exactly what I tried to do this time, as I played around with the EBC Customizer. If you haven’t seen it yet, definitely check it out. You can take any model they offer and completely customize it. We’re talking paint colors, component colors, tire colors and styles, number of batteries, baskets, and just about everything else on the bike.
That’s the beauty of having LA-based manufacturing – since they build the bikes locally they can also build them specifically to each customer’s desires.
In my case, I whipped up a blue and white Model J with a BMX handlebar and a pair of batteries for extra long range. To see it in real life, check out my review video below. Then keep reading for my complete thoughts on the bike.
Electric Bike Company Model J Video Review
Electric Bike Company Model J tech specs
These are the base model tech specs, but keep in mind that many options are customizable, such as adding more batteries, a 7-speed drivetrain, add-on torque sensor, etc.
- Motor: 750W peak-rated geared hub
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph) on pedal assist, 32 km/h (20 mph) on throttle
- Range: Up to 80 km (50 mi)
- Battery: 48V 14 Ah (672 Wh)
- Brakes: Quad-piston hydraulic disc brakes
- Extras: Color LCD display with speedometer, wattmeter, battery meter, PAS level indicator, odometer and tripmeter, front and rear LED lights with turn signals, choice of thumb or half-twist throttle, lockable battery, extremely wide range of accessories
- Price: $1,499 MSRP (currently on sale for $1,299)
It starts with the delivery
The first experience you get with the bike is the delivery, which already illustrates how different this e-bike is than most others.
It comes fully assembled in the box. All you have to do is tilt the handlebars up and you’re ready to go.
There’s no handlebar installation, no screwing on pedals, no mounting wheels, no nothing. It’s all ready just ready to go. Remove the foam and ride.
From there, you get to experience the fun riding that this bike offers. Now let’s not beat around the bush, this is obviously a Super73-inspired electric bike. Many companies have come out with electric moped-style bikes designed to grab a slice of that market that has proven popular with teen and young adult riders. And the Model J does exactly that: it offers moped-vibes in an affordable e-bike.
But Electric Bike Company puts their own flair on the bike. From corrosion-resistant hardware all over the bike (learned from their roots as a beach-side cruiser bike company) to the massive 58t chainring to allow comfortable pedaling even on single-speed setups, EBC’s fingerprints are all over this bike design.
In fact, I found this single-speed bike to be quite comfortable to pedal even at higher speeds. You can get a 7-speed transmission for it, but the single-speed feels plenty for flat cruising like I mostly do. And the giant dinner plate-sized 58t chainring up front makes it possible to pedal up to high speeds even on the single-speed setup.
If you’re big on pedal assist, you get the choice of either a cadence sensor or a torque sensor. In fact, you get lots of ‘this or that’ choices. You can get either a half-twist throttle or a thumb throttle. You can get either a rigid or suspension fork. You can get either black or silver trim on the metal components (rims/chain ring/handlebars/stem/etc.). You can get either black or brown seat/grips. You can get either black or brown tires. You can get either rubber or leather bar ends.
The list of choices goes on and on!
Some parts have even more options, like four different styles of handlebars. It’s wild!
But other things stay the same, like the long bench seat that gives this e-bike its signature moped or mini-bike feel. The lack of height adjustability means you’re not going to get proper leg extension and this isn’t going to pedal as well as a commuter bike, but I was still surprised by how well it worked under pedal assist and even leg power alone. Even so though, I wouldn’t want to pedal it under only my own power for very long.
When it comes to power and range, it’s got more of one than the other. The range is selectable based on how many batteries you want to add. One battery is good for 25 miles of throttle-only range or 50 miles of pedal assist. You can double or triple that with more batteries, which is a really cool feature not normally available on most e-bikes.
But with power, I was a bit surprised that there wasn’t more ‘oomph’ right off the line. The controller seems programmed to ease the power on in the first second or two, resulting in a slightly more relaxed launch experience from rest. On the one hand, that’s a bit of a bummer compared to some cheaper e-bikes that just dump all their power at once. Immediately unleashing peak torque is not terribly sophisticated, but releasing full power at the slight touch of the throttle is definitely fun for the initiated. On the other hand, the way EBC does it is probably both safer and easier on the bike in the long run, putting less wear and tear on the drivetrain. You still get good power and can of course climb hills, but you aren’t going to be laying down any rubber snakes on the asphalt due to the easy ramp-up of power they’ve programmed into the controller.
Maybe that’s why they can offer a 10-year motor warranty, because they’ve got the throttle ramping designed to offer better longevity for the parts.
The only other complaint I have is about the suspension. I opted for a suspension fork, which is a nice way to take some vibration out of the front end.
But since you sit so far back on this model, your tush is basically right over the bike’s rear wheel, meaning your spine doesn’t get much help from the suspension fork.
I find that if you drop the tire pressure a bit, it definitely helps with a softer rear, though you don’t want to go too low or you’ll impact your handling.
So just be aware that while suspension up front is nice to include, don’t expect to it to help too much with the rear wheel when you hit a pothole or ride off a curb.
Oh and one other thing: I definitely recommend checking out EBC’s custom helmets. They are super comfortable and I LOVE the front and rear LED lights for safe riding at dawn, dusk, or anytime you just want to be more visible.
They can paint it up the same color scheme as your bike, or you can go wild with whatever colors you desire. And you can even customize other aspects like the trim color and strap color.
It’s mind-blowing just how much customization they offer riders, both on their bikes and on their helmets!
Sum it up for me
All told, the bike rides great. It doesn’t have the off-the-line power of a Super73, but it has the looks, the feel, and the fun of that breed of moped-style electric bikes. The bike is well made from quality parts and comes with just about every single piece of it being customizable in some way.
The ability to design your own bike from the ground up and have it assembled in your own country is a thrill that no other company can even come close to matching. And the fact that Electric Bike Company can do it at prices that rival the rest of the industry is a testament to just how well they’ve designed and built their operation.
As far as moped-style electric bikes go, the EBC Model J is one of the most interesting options out there for its great ride and unbeatable levels of customization. And at its current sale price of $1,299, it’s a no-brainer!
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In the US in 2024, wind and solar accounted for 17% of total electricity generation, surpassing coal, which fell to a record low of 15%, according to a new report from global energy think tank Ember.
Since US coal power peaked in 2007, wind and solar have overtaken coal in 24 states, with Illinois the latest to join the ranks in 2024, following Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Maryland in 2023, the report finds. It’s the first analysis of full-year US electricity data, which was published by the EIA on February 26.
After being stagnant for 14 years, electricity demand started rising in recent years and saw a 3% increase in 2024, marking the fifth-highest level of rise this century. The increase in demand and fall in coal was met with higher solar, wind, and gas generation. Natural gas grew three times more than the decline in coal, increasing power sector CO2 emissions slightly (0.7%). Coal fell by the second smallest amount since 2014, as gas and clean energy growth met rising electricity demand, whereas historically, they have replaced coal.
Despite growing emissions, the carbon intensity of electricity continued to decline. The rise in power demand was much faster than the rise in power sector CO2 emissions, making each unit of electricity likely the cleanest it has ever been.
Solar grew faster than natural gas
Solar generation rose by 64 TWh in 2024, compared to natural gas, which rose 59 TWh. It remained the fastest-growing source of electricity, with its generation rising by 27% in 2024, surpassing hydropower generation for the time. It made up 81% of all new annual power capacity additions in the US. Gas added no net capacity, as new plants were offset with closures.
California and Nevada both surpassed 30% annual share of solar in their electricity mix for the first time (32% and 30%, respectively). California’s battery growth was key to its solar success. It installed 20% more battery capacity than it did solar capacity, which helped it transfer a significant share of its daytime solar to the evening. Texas installed more solar (7.4 GW) and battery capacity (3.9 GW) than even California. Yet the growth of solar was uneven – 28 states generated less than 5% of their electricity from solar in 2024, highlighting significant untapped potential – even before adding battery storage.
As solar grew massively, wind saw a modest 7% increase in generation, adding the least capacity in 10 years. However, it still generated 50% more power than solar in 2024, making 10% of the US electricity mix.
Solar and wind can meet rising demand
With the adoption of EVs, air conditioning, heat pumps, and rapid expansion of data centers, demand for electricity is guaranteed to grow in the coming years.
To meet the rise in demand, clean generation needs to grow faster. Unlike solar, wind’s growth has been slow. Clean energy is able to meet rising electricity demand alone – without raising bills, sacrificing security of supply, or further relying on gas.
“As the demand remained unchanged for years, solar, wind, and gas together worked to replace coal, transforming the US electricity system,” Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember, said. “But now that electricity demand is rising fast, the battle is between solar and gas to meet this. And solar is winning – it added more generation than gas in 2024, and batteries will ensure that solar can grow more cheaply and quickly than gas.”
Daan Walter, principal at Ember, said, “Electricity demand is rising as new uses emerge across the US economy, from data centers to transportation and heating. This makes the case for solar and wind today even stronger – they are not only fast to deploy and cheap but also help stabilize energy costs in the long run.”
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Elon Musk said today that Tesla will double its electric vehicle production in the US in the next two years.
What would that look like? Let’s do the math.
Today, during a press conference to promote Tesla at the White House, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the following:
“As a function of the great policies of President Trump and his administration, and as an act of faith in America, Tesla is going to double vehicle output in the United States within the next two years.”
This raises many questions, as Musk’s phrasing of the statement suggests that Tesla is planning to add previously unannounced production capacity in response to Trump’s policies.
However, the reality could be different.
What is Tesla’s current production capacity in the US?
We only know Tesla’s installed capacity, which is much different than its actual production rate.
This is Tesla’s latest disclosed global production capacity at the end of 2024:
| Region | Model | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Model S / Model X | 100,000 | Production |
| Model 3 / Model Y | >550,000 | Production | |
| Shanghai | Model 3 / Model Y | >950,000 | Production |
| Berlin | Model Y | >375,000 | Production |
| Texas | Model Y | >250,000 | Production |
| Cybertruck | >125,000 | Production | |
| Cybercab | — | In development | |
| Nevada | Tesla Semi | — | Pilot production |
| TBD | Roadster | — | In development |
In the US, it adds up to 1,025,000 vehicles per year.
In reality, Tesla’s factories are operating at a much lower capacity.
Based on sales and inventory from 2024, Tesla is currently building fewer than 50,000 Model S/X vehicles per year compared to an installed capacity of 100,000 units.
As for Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla is currently building them in the US at a rate of about 600,000 units per year compared to claimed installed capacity of over 800,000 units.
Finally, the Cybertruck is being produced at a rate of less than 50,000 units per year compared to an installed capacity of over 125,000 units.
This adds up to Tesla producing 700,000 units per year in the US in 2024.
What will be Tesla’s new capacity?
Considering Musk mentioned that it will happen “within the next two years”, it is unlikely that he is referring to installed capacity.
The CEO is most likely talking about Tesla’s actual production, which would also make sense, especially considering he mentioned “output.”
Tesla currently outputs roughly 700,000 vehicles per year in the US.
Doubling that would mean bringing the total to 1.4 million units per year, which would be an incredible feat, but it’s not entirely a new plan for Tesla.
First off, Tesla has already announced plans to unveil two new, more affordable models this year. These models are going to be built on the same production lines as Model 3/Y, which would potentially enable Tesla to fully utilize its installed capacity for those vehicles.
That’s another 200,000 units already.
As already mentioned in Tesla’s installed capacity table, the company is currently developing its production facility for the Tesla Semi electric truck in Nevada.
Production is expected to start later this year and ramp up next year. Tesla has previously mentioned a goal of 50,000 units per year. It would leave Tesla roughly a year and half to ramp up to this capacity, which is ambitious, but not impossible.
Then there’s the “Cybercab”, which was unveiled last year.
The Cybercab is going to use Tesla’s next-gen vehicle platform and new manufacturing system, which is already being deployed at Gigafactory Texas.
Production is expected to start in 2026, and Musk has mentioned a production capacity of “at least 2 million units per year”. However, he said that this would likely come from more than one factory and it’s unclear if the other factory would be in the US.
Either way, Tesla would need to ramp up Cybercab production in the US to 450,000 units to make Musk’s announcement correct.
It’s fair to note that all of this was part of Tesla’s plans before the US elections, Trump’s coming into power, or the implementation of any policies whatsoever.
Electrek’s Take
Based on my analysis, this announcement is nothing new. It’s just a reiteration of Elon’s plans for Tesla in the US, which were established long before Trump came to power or even before Elon officially backed Trump.
It’s just more “corporate puffery” as Elon’s lawyers would say.
Also, if I wasn’t clear, we are only talking about production here. I doubt Tesla will have the demand for that, especially if Elon remains involved with the company.
The Cybercab doesn’t even have a steering wheel, and if Tesla doesn’t solve self-driving, it will be hard to justify producing 450,000 units per year.
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The average incentive package for a new EV was 14.8% of the average transaction price (ATP), or approximately $8,162, the highest level in more than five years, according to the latest monthly new-vehicle ATP report from Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book.
Incentives for EVs are more than twice the overall market. A year ago, EV incentives were 10.2%. EV incentives, as a percentage of ATP, have increased by 44% in the past year.
In February, at $55,273, new EV prices were lower by 1.2% from January – generally aligned with the industry – and higher by 3.7% year-over-year. The January EV ATP was revised higher by 0.06% to $55,929.
Compared to the overall industry ATP of $48,039, EV ATPs in February were higher by 15.1%, an increase from the 14.9% gap recorded in January.
EV market leader Tesla increased ATPs by 1.8% year-over-year in February to $53,248 but decreased by 3.7% month-over-month from $55,315. Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck posted price declines in February compared to January; Model S and Model X saw month-over-month increases.
As sales cooled, the Cybertruck ATP in February dropped by more than 10% from January to an estimated $87,554.
Read more: You can lease a 2025 Polestar 3 for the same price as a Polestar 2 right now
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