Gocycle unveils new images of its premium, lightweight belt-drive cargo electric bike
Gocycle, a premium British electric bike maker known for its lightweight commuter e-bikes featuring exotic materials and designs, is now setting its sights on the growing market of cargo e-bikes. And the company has just shared the first photos of its upcoming CXi and CX+ cargo electric bikes.
We’ve previously only seen computer renderings of Gocycle’s upcoming premium cargo e-bikes, but now we’re getting our first look at the real bikes.
The images of these pre-production bikes showcase just how radically different the design approach is compared to today’s major cargo e-bike manufacturers.
The approach fits with Gocycle’s MO of providing unique, standout models that are designed for rugged everyday use and that look good while doing it.
As the company explained, “Gocycle’s Family Cargo entrants showcase the latest evolution of the brand’s OneDesignDNA® philosophy, which is underpinned by class-leading lightweight, seamless design and complete integration. Diverging from the workhorse of cargo bikes, Gocycle’s CXi & CX+ embody a soul born of fun for life and will be the ultimate cargo e-bikes of choice for discerning families across the globe.”
They aren’t kidding about lightweight, either. At just 50 lb (22.6 kg), we’re looking at some of the lightest cargo designs in the world. Most cargo e-bikes we test weigh at least 50% more.
It took a lot of custom work to get there, and you’ll notice that unlike most electric bikes, Gocycle doesn’t use very many off-the-shelf parts.
With a design team tracing its lineage back to McClaren, custom-designed high-performance components make up most of the bike.
“As we start to qualify our production tooling, we are excited to share a first look at some of the pre-production CXi & CX+ models undergoing evaluation and testing,” said Richard Thorpe, Designer & Founder of Gocycle. “At Gocycle we cook with different ingredients, with our OneDesignDNA philosophy running through the core of every model. Instantly recognizable as a Gocycle, the all new CXi employs Gocycle’s kernel of patented innovations such as our side-mounted Pitstopwheels, Gocycle’s F1-inspired monocoque chassis, enclosed Cleandrive® drivetrain and internal cabling.”
“Lightweight, portable and fun. Gocycle’s take on Family Cargo addresses a vital gap in the market, appealing to those discerning families put off by cumbersome and heavy cargo bikes. Be it an urban, marine or rural setting, CXi & CX+ will offer incredible versatility with multiple accessory configurations available at launch.”
It’s a rare case of racecar design and technology meets minivan utility, shuttling around kids and cargo in a lightweight and stylish package. With 420 lb (190 kg) of load capacity and up to 132 lb (60 kg) on the rear rack, the Family Cargo bike can haul some serious weight.
And for those kiddos in rear, Gocycle has it’s own solution for keeping the most precious cargo safe and secure. Just one of several in-house accessories developed by the brand is its innovative F1-inspired HaloCX protective handrail for smaller passengers.
“Inspired by F1 and my own experiences with my son doing the school run on a Gocycle, HaloCX redefines safety and ergonomics for kids. Crafted from carbon fiber, it’s lightweight yet incredibly strong. With no sharp corners or welded joints, smooth to hold and feel, it’s a seamless blend of safety and fun.”
And the components are equally top-shelf, including a hydro-formed aluminum front frame with carbon fiber rear frame, carbon fiber single-sided front fork, carbon belt drive from Gates integrated into a Shimano Nexus 5-speed internally geared rear hub transmission with automatic electric shifting, torque sensor pedal assist providing speeds up to 20 mph (32 km/h) for Class 1 operation, smart connectivity, daylight running lights, and a 375 Wh battery with a claimed 50 mile (80 km) max range.
Oh, and the entire bike folds for easy storage.
With all that said, you didn’t expect a premium carbon fiber automatic-shifting e-bike like this to come cheap, did you? All of those custom parts and high-end manufacturing add up, and the bike starts at an MSRP of US $6,999.
Pre-orders are open with a refundable $499 deposit, and shipping is estimated to begin in September of this year.
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Environment
Trump approves U.S. Steel merger with Japan’s Nippon after companies sign national security agreement
European EV charging provider Allego has launched what is says is Europe’s first rollout of the “world’s safest and most secure” Plug & Charge technology.
The new tech is based on the open industry standard OCPP 2.0.1 and promises to make EV charging as easy as, well, plugging in your car. Forget apps, cards, and complicated sign-ins. If your EV is compatible, all you have to do is pull up and plug in.
Jean Gadrat, Allego’s CMO, said, “By removing digital friction points, apps, and cards, we give drivers the confidence to travel further and charge more conveniently. Whether in the city, on the highway, or abroad, Plug & Charge delivers the same secure, one-step charging experience.”
Here’s how Allego’s Plug & Charge works
Plug & Charge is an ISO 15118-based authentication and payment method built by Allego on OCPP 2.0.1, standardizing communication between OCPP-compliant chargers and networks.
Once your car is enabled for Plug & Charge, the process is completely hands-off. You plug in, and your EV and the charger swap secure digital certificates to authenticate your account. There’s no need to tap an RFID card, open an app, or even press a button.
Allego’s system supports Mutual TLS encryption and certificate-based authentication, so only authorized vehicles can charge. That means no billing mistakes or fraudulent access, which has been a big concern with some older public charging setups.
Available across Europe now
Allego’s Plug & Charge functionality is at more than 5,000 fast and ultra-fast chargers across Europe, and it also works across partner networks, deploying a truly cross-network Plug & Charge experience.
It’s a future-ready platform, too. Thanks to OCPP 2.0.1, the protocol supports remote firmware updates, advanced security, and new features as they become available. So your charger can grow along with your EV.
“As new vehicle models and charging technologies emerge, OCPP 2.0.1 ensures your car always ‘speaks the same language’ as the charger,” said Manuel Trotta, Allego’s head of mobility solutions.
Allego partnered with Alpitronic, Hubject, and Ford to bring its cross-network Plug & Charge to life.
Read more: Waffle House is getting DC fast chargers – and it’s a genius move
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Environment
The Kia PV5 is a real-life Transformer: Here’s our first look at it as an electric truck
Kia is looking to shake things up with its new custom-tailored Platform Beyond Vehicles (PBVs). The PV5, Kia’s first electric van based on the platform, is already showing how versatile it is. After the PV5 was spotted for the first time with an open bed, Kia looks about ready to drop an electric truck variant.
Is Kia launching an electric truck PV5 variant?
At the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Kia revealed its PBV strategy for the first time. The vehicles are designed as “total mobility solutions” that combine fit-for-purpose EVs with Hyundai’s latest software and tech.
Kia’s PBVs are based on Hyundai’s new ultra-flexible E-GMP.S EV platform, which can be custom-tailored for different uses. The first EV based on the platform, the PV5, launched earlier this year in the UK in two variations, Cargo and Passenger.
The Passenger model is fairly self-explanatory as a personal, everyday van, while the Cargo version is designed for commercial use.
Kia said more variants were on the way, including a refrigerated truck, chassis cab, open-bed, luxury “Prime” passenger, and sliding truck models.
The open-bed variant was recently captured driving in Korea, giving us our first look at the Kia PV5 as an electric truck.
Although brief, the video from HealerTV, taken as the vehicle was driving by, reveals a few new details. It’s our closest look at the open-bed variant so far.
Like other PV5 variants, it appears to be the same up front. In fact, it’s almost identical to the first teaser Kia showed.
It’s hard to tell from a video, but the reporter mentioned the electric truck “seemed like it was just the right size.” Since the PV5 Passenger is 4,695 mm in length, 1,895 mm in width, and 1,899 mm in height, we can expect it to be about the same size. To give you a better idea, it’s slightly smaller than the Volkswagen ID.Buzz SWB.
More variants on the way
The electric truck, or open-bed variant, comes after we saw the PV5 “Conversion,” which will feature new models, including a light camper and a camper van.
We got a preview of the camper van after Kia revealed two new “Spielraum” PV5 concepts, including one with a refrigerator, microwave oven, and even a wine cellar. And then we got a look at the PV5 “WKNDR,” an “adventure-ready” electric van concept. Kia’s electric van even has a wheelchair-friendly version, the PV5 WAV.
What’s next? Kia plans to launch a full range of electric vans. Next up will be the larger PV7 in 2027, followed by the PV9 in 2029. There’s also a smaller PV1, expected to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027.
In the future, Kia plans ot launch a Robotaxi model through a collaboration with Motional. All PBV models will be built at Kia’s Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea. The facility can build up to 150,000 vehicles annually.
Kia said its goal is to “design PBVs that are simple and intuitive to operate and engage with, regardless of where, when or how they are used.” In other words, Kia wants to make your life easier, “Whether the purpose of the vehicle is to transport people, move goods, or meet logistics or personal mobility needs.”
In the UK, the PV5 Passenger and Cargo models start at £32,995 ($44,000) and £27,645 ($37,000), respectively.
It’s available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh, offering WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version gets slightly more range with 181 miles or 247 miles, respectively.
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