MOD BIKES unveils new 2024 e-bikes with torque sensors, helmet turn signals, and more
MOD BIKES, the Austin, Texas-based maker of a wide range of electric bikes (including an impressive sidecar electric bike that I tested last year), is announcing today its 2024 lineup full of new models and impressive upgrades. In an unveiling at the South By Southwest Expo, the new e-bike models are taking center stage to show off their new features and tech, including upgraded performance, components, safety equipment, and accessories.
The new 2024 lineup includes updates to many of MOD BIKES’ existing models, such as its cargo e-bike, folding city e-bike, and commuter-ready Berlin e-bike, as well as new models like a full-suspension MOD Black adventure e-bike for off-road excursions.
The standout feature added across MOD’s new 2024 lineup is the inclusion of a new torque sensor, which marks a major upgrade over the previous cadence sensor-based pedal assist. While all of the e-bikes also feature hand throttles for powered riding without pedaling, the torque sensor makes pedaling the bikes much more natural feeling. The intuitive control method means that motor power is applied proportionally to how hard the pedals are pressed, resulting in a riding experience where the e-bike feels more like an extension of the rider’s own body.
The new 2024 e-bikes also come with UL-certified 720Wh e-bike batteries. The 48V 15Ah Samsung batteries are said to be capable of up to 50 miles (80 km) of range per charge on pedal assist, though throttle operation and riding at higher speeds will reduce that range.
A new color LCD screen includes the release of five new pedal assist levels designed for different types of riding experiences. The modes of Fit, Eco, Cargo, Sport, and Turbo adjust various parameters such as power and efficiency, offering everything from a fitness-style ride to a full-power cruise. All of MOD BIKES’ models include 750W rear hub motors, providing plenty of power in those higher-performance riding modes.
The bikes can hit 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal assist or 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle, allowing for Class 2 or Class 3 operations. However, a new off-road mode can be activated that removes the limits and permits throttle operation at higher speeds, which can be suitable for riders on private property who want to get the most performance out of the e-bike.
All of MOD BIKES’ new models also come with the company’s Snap-On accessory integration, which allows for various racks, baskets, bags, and other items to be quickly and easily mounted onto the bikes. The wide range of accessories will enable riders to carry additional cargo or even other passengers, all with easy installation.
The dual battery design of the bikes makes it easy to add a second battery to double the range up to 100 miles (160 km) on pedal assist. The bikes are wired to intelligently use the batteries by switching from one battery to the next when necessary.
In a “one more thing” styled announcement, the company also shared a new partnership with Lumos, makers of a smart cycling helmet with built-in wirelessly-controlled LED lighting.
The Lumos helmets pair with the MOD BIKES’ controllers, allowing riders to turn on and off the LED lighting on the helmet directly from the bikes’ handlebars. The helmet’s turn signals can also be activated by the bike’s turn signal buttons, giving drivers behind the bike an early warning about the rider’s braking or turning intentions. The helmet’s intelligent design also powers off the lights as soon as the bike turns off, saving charge as well.
Electrek is on-site at the SXSW event to see the unveiling and test the new e-bike models. We’ll be sure to update with more on our experience with the bikes first hand after the unveiling.
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EV sales kept up their momentum in December 2024, with incentives playing a big role, according to the latest Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book report.
December’s strong EV sales saw an average transaction price (ATP) of $55,544, which helped push the industry-wide ATP higher, according to Kelley Blue Book. The December ATP for an EV was higher year-over-year by 0.8%, slightly below the industry average, and higher month-over-month by 1.1%. Tesla ATPs were higher year-over-year by 10.5%.
Incentives for EVs remained elevated in December, although they were slightly lower month-over-month at 14.3% of ATP, down from 14.7% in November.
EV incentives were higher by an impressive 41% year-over-year and have been above 12% of ATP for six consecutive months. Strong sales incentives, which averaged more than $6,700 per sale in 2024, were one reason EV sales surpassed 1.3 million units last year, according to Cox Automotive, a new record for volume and share.
(My colleague Jameson Dow reported yesterday, “In 2024, the world sold 3.5 million more EVs than it did in the previous year … This increase is larger than the 3.2 million increase in EV sales from the previous year – meaning that EV sales aren’t just up, but that the rate of growth is itself increasing.”)
Kelley Blue Book estimated that in December, approximately 84,000 vehicles – or 5.6% of total sales – transacted at prices higher than $80,000 – the highest volume ever. KBB lumps gas cars and EVs together into this luxury vehicle category, so this is where Tesla Cybertruck is slotted.
However, Tesla bundles sales figures of Cybertruck with Model S, Model X, and Tesla Semi(!) into a category it calls “other models,” so we don’t know for sure exactly how many Cybertrucks Tesla sold in Q4, much less in December. However, Electrek‘s Fred Lambert estimates between 9,000 and 12,000 Cybertrucks were sold in Q4, and that’s not a stellar sales figure.
What will January bring when it comes to EV ATPs? What about tax credits? Check back in a month and I’ll fill you in.
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Tesla is now claiming that Cybertruck was the ‘best-selling electric pickup in US’ last year despite not even reporting the number of deliveries.
There’s a lot of context needed here.
As we often highlighted, Tesla is sadly one of, if not the most, opaque automakers regarding sales reports.
Tesla doesn’t break down sales per model or even region.
For comparison, here’s Ford’s Q4 2024 sales report compared to Tesla’s:
You could argue that Tesla has fewer models than Ford, and that’s true, but Tesla’s report literally has two lines despite having six different models.
There’s no reason not to offer a complete breakdown like all other automakers other than trying to make it hard to verify the health of each vehicle program.
This has been the case with the Cybertruck. Tesla is bundling its Cybertruck deliveries with Model S, Model X, and Tesla Semi deliveries.
Despite this lack of disclosure, Tesla has been able to claim that the Cybertruck has become “the best-selling electric pickup truck” in the US in 2024:
It very well might be true. Ford disclosed 33,510 F-150 Lightning truck deliveries in the US in 2024 while most estimates are putting Cybertruck deliveries at around 40,000 units.
Those are global deliveries, but Tesla only delivered the Cybertruck in the US, Canada, and Mexico in 2024, and most of the deliveries are believed to be in the US.
However, there’s essential context needed here, as we highlighted in our recent ‘Tesla Cybertruck sales are disastrous‘ article.
First off, Tesla had a backlog of over 1 million reservations for the Cybertruck that it has been building since 2019. This led many to believe Tesla already had years of demand baked in for the truck and that production would be the constraint.
However, based on estimates, again, because Tesla refuses to disclose the data, Cybertruck deliveries were either flat or down in Q4 versus Q3 despite Tesla introducing cheaper versions of the vehicle and ramping up production.
Again, that’s after just about 40,000 deliveries.
Furthermore, with almost 11,000 deliveries in Q4 in the US, Ford more likely than not outsold Cybertruck with the F-150 Lightning in Q4.
Electrek’s Take
Tesla is in damage control here. There’s no doubt that it is having issues selling the Cybertruck.
Inventory is full of Cybertrucks and Tesla is now discounting them and offering free lifetime Supercharging.
Tesla is great at ramping up production, and it’s clear the Cybertruck is not production-constrained anymore. It is demand-constrained despite having over 1 million reservations.
Again, those reservations were made before Tesla unveiled the production version, which happened to have less range and cost significantly more.
The upcoming cheaper single motor version should help with demand, but I have serious doubts Tesla can ramp this program up to more than 100,000 units in the US.
As a reminder, Tesla installed a production capacity of 250,000 units annually and Musk said he could see Tesla selling 500,000 Cybertrucks per year.
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