The fun little JackRabbit micro e-bike gets a gigantic new battery, 2.5x the range
The JackRabbit electric micro bike is as divisive as it is diminutive, which is to say, “very.” But one thing just got a lot less micro on this pint-sized commuter. The company has just unveiled its RangeBuster battery, which has nearly 250% of the capacity of an original JackRabbit battery.
The JackRabbit tends to conjure up strong emotions in those who see it. There’s always one camp who shakes their heads and asks, “Why?” Then there’s the other camp who gleefully hops aboard the funny little electric two-wheeler, tossing a “Why not?!” over their shoulder as they ride off grinning ear to ear.
It’s a tiny thing, that’s for sure. But it counts a ridership base tens of thousands strong, and growing.
Even though the company calls it a micro e-bike, the 20 mph (32 km/h) JackRabbit is technically more of a seated electric scooter. But because it uses bicycle parts like 20″ wheels/tires, bike handlebars, and a bike saddle, it feels a lot more like a bicycle than a scooter when you pop a squat.
It’s when you plant your feet on the folding foot pegs that you’re reminded that there are no pedals or chains on this ride. That’s part of what makes it so lightweight, clocking in at just 24 pounds (11 kg) for the original JackRabbit OG or 32 pounds (14 kg) for the slightly larger dual battery JackRabbit XG that was released late last year.
Both bikes used a relatively tiny sub-160Wh battery, making them airline-friendly for taking in your carry-on luggage while traveling (which is something I did myself during a few trips last year with my JackRabbit).
But that small battery also means fairly limited range, to the tune of 10-ish miles (16 km) per charge. Since the JackRabbit is often used by students commuting around campus or city-dwellers traversing a few urban miles, that range is often suitable. But for those who want to stray out further or who just don’t want to have to recharge after each trip, a bigger battery would offer more range.
And that’s exactly what JackRabbit has just rolled out with the new RangeBuster. This 36V 10Ah battery holds almost 250% of the capacity of JackRabbit’s original 4.2 Ah batteries, resulting in a lot more range.
Swapping one of the new big boy batteries in place of the original battery on the JackRabbit OG would give riders around 24 miles (38 km) of range.
The JackRabbit XG has two battery slots, meaning that its stock range of 20 miles (32 km) with a pair of original batteries could be turned into 48 miles (77 km) with a pair of RangeBuster batteries. Keeping the original two batteries in your pockets (yes, they fit in a lot of men’s pants pockets) would mean close to 70 miles (110 km) of range in total.
The new RangeBuster batteries may carry a lot more capacity, but they’re still relatively small and lightweight. At just 4 lb (1.8 kg), they don’t add a lot of heft to a backpack when carried as a spare. And since they slide over the frame tube and fit into the same battery slot as the original batteries, riders likely won’t notice the extra size when they’re in use. But getting an extra couple dozen miles of range will surely be noticeable!
The RangeBuster battery is priced at $399 (compared to the $199 original batteries), while the JackRabbit OG and XG are priced at $999 and $1,799, respectively.
Electrek’s Take
Call it what you will, but I’m #teamjackrabbit all the way. Sure, it’s expensive for its specs, but it’s also pretty much the only way you’re going to get these speeds on bicycle-sized wheels at this weight. Any other option is either going to be a scooter with small scooter wheels, or heavy as hell. There are great e-bikes with the same price that go 50% faster and offer suspension, but they’re also nearly 3x the weight! So, like everything in life, there are tradeoffs.
But that’s also why these bikes have become a favorite of students, pilots, boaters, and anyone else looking for lightweight, easy wheels to ride around their destinations.
The biggest downside of the JackRabbit to me has always been its reduced range compared to “real” e-bikes. The workaround was to just get a spare battery and swap it in halfway through a trip, doubling your range from 10 to 20 miles, or tripling it if you want to juggle three tofu brick-sized batteries. But with the new RangeBuster battery, you can get nearly triple the range by just carrying a single extra battery. That’s a huge plus!
Sure, $399 is definitely pricey on a watt-hour basis, but that’s what you get in the e-bike industry. Many e-bike batteries only fit a single company’s bikes, and so you pay a premium for that battery. If you really want to cry, check out the dollar-per-watt-hour of a Ryobi or DeWalt battery. Ouch.
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Climate XChange’s Annual EV Raffle is back for the 10th year running – and for the first time ever, Climate XChange has two raffle options on the table! The nonprofit has helped lucky winners custom-order their ideal EVs for the past decade. Now you have the chance to kick off your holiday season with a brand new EV for as little as $100.
About half of the raffle tickets have been sold so far for each of the raffles – you can see the live ticket count on Climate XChange’s homepage – so your odds of winning are better than ever.
But don’t wait – raffle ticket sales end on December 8!
Climate XChange is working hard to help states transition to a zero-emissions economy. Every ticket you buy supports this mission while giving you a chance to drive home your dream EV.
Here’s how Climate XChange’s 10th Annual Raffle works:
The Luxury Raffle
- Grand Prize: The winner can choose any EV on the market, fully customized up to $120,000. This year, you can split the prize between two EVs if the total is $120,000 or less.
- Taxes covered: This raffle comes with no strings – Climate XChange also pays all of the taxes.
- Runner-up prizes: Even if you don’t win the Grand Prize, you still have a chance at the 2nd prize of $12,500 and the 3rd prize of $7,500.
- Ticket price: $250.
- Grand Prize Drawing: December 12, 2025.
- Only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle.
The Mini Raffle (New for 2025)
- Grand Prize: Choose any EV on the market, fully customized, up to $45,000. This is the perfect raffle if you’re ready to make the switch to an EV but aren’t in the market for a luxury model.
- Taxes covered: Climate XChange pays all the taxes on the Mini Raffle, too.
- Ticket price: $100.
- Only 3,500 tickets will be sold for the Mini Raffle.
Why it’s worth entering
For a decade, Climate XChange has run a raffle that’s fair, transparent, and exciting. Every ticket stub is printed, and the entire drawing is live-streamed, including the loading of the raffle drum. Independent auditors also oversee the process.
Plus, your odds on the Luxury and Mini Raffles are far better than most car raffles, and they’re even better if you enter both.
Remember that only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle and only 3,500 for the Mini Raffle, and around half of the available tickets have been sold so far, so don’t miss your shot at your dream EV!
Climate XChange personally works with the winners to help them build and order their dream EVs. The winner of the Ninth Annual EV Raffle built a gorgeous storm blue Rivian R1T.
How to enter
Go to CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek before December 8 to buy your ticket. Start dreaming up your perfect EV – and know that no matter what, you’re helping accelerate the shift to clean energy.
Who is Climate XChange?
Climate XChange (CXC) is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies because they’re critical in accelerating the transition to a zero-emissions economy. CXC advances state climate policy through its State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) – a community of more than 15,000 advocates and policymakers – and its State Climate Policy Dashboard, a leading data platform for tracking climate action across the US.
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The CSC Monterey – one of the most charming little electric scooters on the US market – has dropped to a shockingly low $1,699, down from its original $2,899 MSRP. That’s nearly half off for a full-size, street-legal electric scooter that channels major Honda Super Cub energy, but without the gas, noise, or maintenance of the original.
CSC Motorcycles, based in Azusa, California, has a long history of importing and supporting small-format electric and gas bikes, but the Monterey has always stood out as the brand’s “fun vibes first” model. With its step-through frame, big retro headlight, slim bodywork, and upright seating position, it looks like something from a 1960s postcard – just brought into the modern era with lithium batteries and a brushless hub motor.
I had my first experience on one of these scooters back in 2021, when I reviewed the then-new model here on Electrek. I instantly fell in love with it and even got one for my dad. It now lives at his place and I think he gets just as much joy from looking at it in his garage as riding it.
You can see my review video below.
The performance is solidly moped-class, which is exactly what it’s designed for. A 2,400W rear hub motor pushes the Monterey up to a claimed 30 mph or 48 km/h (I found it really topped out at closer to 32 mph or 51 km/h), making it perfect for city streets, beach towns, and lower-speed suburban routes.
A 60V, roughly 1.6 kWh removable battery offers around 30–40 miles (48-64 km) of real-world range, depending on how aggressively you twist the throttle. It’s commuter-ready, grocery-run-ready, and campus-ready right out of the crate.
It’s also remarkably approachable. At around 181 pounds (82 kg), the Monterey is light for a sit-down scooter, making it easy to maneuver and park. There’s a small storage cubby, LED lighting, and the usual simple twist-and-go operation. And it comes with full support from CSC, a company that keeps a massive warehouse stocked with components and spare parts.
My sister has a CSC SG250 (I’m still trying to convert her to electric) and has gotten great support from them in the past, including from their mechanics walking her through carburetor questions over the phone. So I know from personal experience that CSC is a great company that stands behind its bikes.
But the real story here is the price. Scooters in this class typically hover between $2,500 and $4,500, and electric retro-style models often jump well above that.
At $1,699, the Monterey is one of the least expensive street-legal electric scooters available from a reputable US distributor, especially one that actually stocks parts and provides phone support.
If you’ve been curious about swapping a few car errands for something electric – or you just want a fun, vintage-styled runabout for getting around town – this is one of the best deals of the year.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss a big Tesla Robotaxi setback, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. Sales end on Dec. 8th for its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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