Ampler launches sleek new lightweight on and off-road commuter electric bikes

Published

2 months ago

March 18, 2024

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Ampler Bikes, an Estonian e-bike company that prides itself on high-quality, local European manufacturing, has announced new e-bike models that expand the brand’s focus past the bike lanes and onto the trails.

Ampler has spent years building up its street cred for the street, where the company’s different Ampler models have led the way among lightweight, minimalist-looking e-bikes. They’ve been a favorite of commuters for their simplistic look that hides away the bikes’ connected technology and quality components under the cover of minimalism.

In the company’s own words (with which this journalist agrees), “Ampler is known for producing some of the lightest e-bikes in the industry, and the new range makes them one of the most versatile selections in the market. No bulky batteries, maintenance-heavy components, or other clutter. Ampler combines modern technology with a traditional bicycle design to make pedaling easier, lighter, and faster.

Anyone looking at an Ampler e-bike would be hard-pressed to call it electric. They just look like a classy pedal bike you’d see any bike messenger pedaling down the bike lane. But hidden away inside the frames are batteries and sophisticated electronics providing a wide range of features and control parameters that let owners make the most of their e-bike.

Now the company is adding to its lineup its first non-purely road-oriented e-bike. The classic Ampler Curt model is joined by a new Curt Anyroad, which comes in both a classic diamond frame and a low-step option.

Compared to the existing Curt model, the Curt Anyroad comes with “thicker tires, fork mounts, and an advanced 10-speed drivetrain,” explained the company. “This bike is primed for all-road adventures and bike-packing escapades. Conquer rugged terrain confidently and experience optimal power and efficiency with each pedal stroke.”

Another accessible variant of the Curt has also been added, creating the Curt Low-Step. Both the Curt Low-Step and Curt Anyroad Low-Step come in frame sizes S and M, while the rest of Ampler’s lineup of several other models comes in frame sizes XS to L, offering a huge range of sizes to fit nearly every rider.

The addition now means there’s a low-step variant of all of Ampler’s e-bike models, many of which feature either single-speed Gates carbon belt drives or 9-speed and 10-speed Microshift transmissions. Most of Ampler’s e-bikes range from 14.5 to 17 kg (30 to 37 lb), making them some of the lightest urban e-bikes on the market.

And to further differentiate these lightweight and low-maintenance e-bikes, Ampler is rolling out several new color options. The company opened a massive 1,300 square meter (14,000 square feet) painting factory in 2022, allowing them to expand their color options with local painting.

Ampler’s e-bikes start at €2,790 (approximately US $3,040), with the higher spec models like the Curt Anyroad carrying a €3,690 price tag (approximately US $4,020). I’m a bit biased towards the Ampler Axel that I tested (below), which has a ride somewhere between the sportier Ampler Curt and more upright Ampler Juna.

Electrek’s Take

I’ve personally had the chance to test several of Ampler’s e-bikes during various trips in Europe, and even visited the company’s factory in Estonia to see firsthand the quality and attention they put into how they build their e-bikes (check out that video below).

The company obviously prides itself not only in its quality manufacturing, but also just how much tech is built into the bikes. In talking with Ampler’s team, I’ve always gotten the feeling that they don’t want to rush out new models just for the sake of a new model year, and that they don’t include flashy features just to check a box. If they build something new or include a new feature, it’s because they’ve tested it over sufficient time and determined that it’s actually going to benefit riders – not just grab a headline or add innovation for innovation’s sake. And I respect that.

The addition of the Curt Anyroad seems like a true-to-form move for the company, building upon the same design legacy but offering new roads (or trails) for riders to expand the possibilities for where a ride may take you.

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Environment

Daily EV Recap: Tesla’s AI training tile

Published

7 hours ago

May 3, 2024

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Daily EV Recap: Tesla’s AI training tile

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday and again on Saturday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.

Stories we discuss in this episode (with links)

Why gas bikes just can’t compete with electric motorcycles in the summer

Tesla’s next-gen Dojo AI training tile is in production

The US just proposed 18 GW of new offshore wind sales

There’s a new trend making electric bike batteries safer

Toyota goes large on hydrogen with new US headquarters

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Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

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Environment

Coterra’s smart pivot to oil from natural gas leads to an excellent first quarter and sweeter outlook

Published

9 hours ago

May 2, 2024

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Coterra's smart pivot to oil from natural gas leads to an excellent first quarter and sweeter outlook

Permian Basin rigs in 2020, when U.S. crude oil production dropped by 3 million a day as Wall Street pressure forced cuts.

Paul Ratje | Afp | Getty Images

Coterra Energy topped Wall Street expectations Thursday with first-quarter results that further proved the Club holding’s nimble production strategy is the right one for shareholders.

Environment

A fully-electric 10,000 ton container ship has begun service equipped with over 50,000 kWh in batteries

Published

10 hours ago

May 2, 2024

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A fully-electric 10,000 ton container ship has begun service equipped with over 50,000 kWh in batteries

Chinese state-owned company COSCO Shipping has launched what it calls the “world’s largest” river-to-sea electric container ship. The Green Water 01 is a 10,000-ton+ fully electric vessel that sets a new benchmark in sustainability in the marine logistics industry.

China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company, or COSCO for short, is a state-owned multinational conglomerate headquartered in Shanghai specializing in marine transport. Not to be confused with Costco, COSCO Shipping was founded as a subsidiary in 2016 following an approved merger between COSCO and China Shipping.

The COSCO Group is the largest liner carrier in China, transporting hundreds of container vessels daily while also providing ships to Chinese automakers to help them export their electric vehicles to new markets overseas, including Europe.

To adapt to the times, COSCO has developed a massive, fully electric container ship, which has now officially begun service in China.

COSCO’s electric container ship begins service in China

According to a WeChat post from COSCO Shipping, which features reports from China’s CCTV, the company’s Green Water 01 electric container ship arrived safely and was berthed in the Port of Yangshan by the local maritime safety administration.

The Green Water 01 sails at a total length of 119.8 meters, a molded width of 23.6 meters, a molded depth of 9 meters, a design draft of 5.5 meters, and a maximum speed of 19.4 km/h (12 mph). COSCO Shipping says the Green Water 01 electric container ship presents multiple firsts for the marine industry, including total length, width, container capacity, deadweight tonnage (10,0000 tons), and battery capacity (50,000+ kWh).

Speaking of batteries, the electric container ship is powered by a large-capacity battery combining for over 50,000 kWh. However, COSCO says the number of battery modules can be configured depending on the length of the voyage at sea. For example, additional 20-foot battery boxes offering 1,600 kWh of electricity can be loaded onto the container for extra range.

This ship’s captain, Wang Jun, told CCTV that when the Green Water 01 is equipped with 24 battery boxes, the electric container ship can complete trips that consume 80,000 kWh of energy, equivalent to approximately 15 tons of fuel for a similar journey in a traditional container ship.

COSCO Shipping also shared that the new Green Water 01 can save 3,900 kg (8,600 pounds) of fuel for every 100 nautical miles traveled, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 12.4 tons. Following the successful launch, the Green Water 01 has commenced weekly service between Shanghai and Nanjing.

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