Pedego Moto puts the ‘fun’ in functional transportation
Pedego announced a slew of big new bikes this month, and we got to try out our favorite, the Pedego Moto. This brawny, two-person, class 2/3 beast leaves its competitors in the dust in so many ways. As Micah would say, “Let’s check it out…”
We’ve talked about Pedego a ton here at Electrek, but it bears repeating. No other bike company is doing more to get Americans onto e-bikes. With their excellent brick-and-mortar stores, many, if not most, Americans’ first e-bike experience is renting or trying an e-bike at a Pedego store. And because Pedego stores and e-bikes are top-notch, those experiences are almost entirely good first impressions.
I have a store in my local town, and it is the go-to place to pick up bike accessories, get a quick tuneup, or fix something (on any bike!) . It is also a great place to meet like-minded bike riders. They often sponsor local bike rides and encourage train tourists to visit our town and see it on an e-bike, which is better for everyone than driving a car.
Pedego Moto
The Pedego Moto, at first glance, will remind you of a Juiced Scorpion or the many other copycats that came along in the years since it was introduced. I’m here to say this thing is different in a number of important ways.
The most obvious is that it is much bigger, and its seat is long enough to carry a second passenger without modifications. The 2nd rider foot pegs come with the bike in its default configuration. That stretched seat also lets taller riders slide back for that sweet leg extension when actually pedaling, which on the Moto, I found quite easy. That tapered seat, while comfy for long rides, also tapers at the front to allow easy pedaling.
Also, components are almost universally better, including turn signals, larger 210mm hydraulic brakes, and huge 20-inch wheels that will go off-road much better than others in this class. SRAM gears are going to last a lot longer than the Shimano Altus setup that many of these bikes have. And just look at those burley tires.
The battery is 922Wh at 48V which will power the bike for up to 75 miles according to Pedego but more typically about 40 at near full power with little pedalling. I don’t like that it is a proprietary connector but it fast charges the battery at 5A. I was genuinely shocked how far I could ride with just small battery drops and it will last weeks in between charges if you want it to.
Pedego has revolutionized unboxing!
Like the taller boxes we saw at Upway, Pedego is now using a taller box that allows it only to require screwing in pedals and adjusting/tightening the handlebars. Including removing the tape and bubble wrap, you can be riding the Pedego Moto within 5 minutes of opening the box.
While most Pedegos will be purchased (and tuned up) at stores, this makes the process easier for Pedego technicians and direct-to-consumer customers as well.
There’s no heavy front wheel to put on, cables to plug in, or other stuff to install. Most e-bikes take me at least a half hour to assemble and often more than an hour. Pedogo Moto? I was riding within minutes of the box being delivered. The battery came more than half charged and that was good for a day of play.
Moto Experience
Pedego bikes, though they come in all shapes and sizes generally follow a standard Class 2 system that allows the bike to go up to 20 miles/hour on throttle or pedal assist. Some of their bikes, including the Moto, can be enabled to go class 3, which is up to 28 miles per hour. However, this is only pedal assist, the throttle will stop applying power at 20mph.
This allows pedego bikes to be legal in the largest number of areas while also allowing a speedy 28mph option. In reality, the large size of the bike will put pedal-assist riding at about 25 mph, in my experience. Still quite fast for such a big bike with huge tires.
Other bike companies, including Pedego’s competitors, have various flavors of “off-road mode,” which allow the motors to spin at any speed but also make them illegal in many jurisdictions.
I found the Moto to be a great ride both on the road and on gravel. Those huge tires and soft suspension eat up those potholes like no one’s business. And, even with a passenger in the back, there’s no stopping the powerful 85nm torque motor in the back.
The Moto is best for cruising and riding around town. There it excels and turns some heads, especially in this blue variety.
Moto Safety
While this bike is large, it turns quite well with admirable wheel balance and a solid front fork.
The front light not only lets oncoming cars see the Moto well at night but it also illuminates the road well enough to ride without concern. Those big hydraulic brakes on 210mm discs are also great at stopping this big bike in its tracks.
The step-over nature of the bike makes it easy to get on and off, especially with packages or another rider on the back.
Maybe the most underrated safety item is the turn signals, which I think Pedego has done well, especially in the user interface department. But the backlight is hidden a little too far under the rear seat and is typically small for an e-bike. Still, drivers and riders will almost always see the bright light when at a medium-length distance away.
Pedego Moto Price
This is a Burley bike, and Pedego has to keep its brick-and-mortar stores going, so the price may surprise those used to fly-by-night dropship prices. It is $3995. Yes, it is a lot, but you get a lot, including white glove service and actual local people there to help out when things go wrong.
Electrek’s take
I like all 3 of Pedego’s new e-bikes and if you’ve got the cash, these e-bikes are built to last and a ton of fun. The Moto isn’t light but it rides like a much more svelt e-bike and is even great for carrying 2 people!
The Petego Moto in Black, thanks to Riley at the awesome local Croton Pedego store
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Is it an electric van or a truck? The Kia PV5 might be in a class of its own. Kia’s electric van was recently spotted charging in public with an open bed, and it looks like a real truck.
Kia’s electric van morphs into a truck with an open bed
The PV5 is the first of a series of electric vans as part of Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle business (PBV). Kia claims the PBVs are more than vans, they are “total mobility solutions,” equipped with Hyundai’s advanced software.
Based on the flexible new EV platform, E-GMP.S, Kia has several new variants in the pipeline, including camper vans, refrigerated trucks, luxury “Prime” models for passenger use, and an open bed model.
Kia launched the PV5 Passenger and Cargo in the UK earlier this year for business and personal use. We knew more were coming, but now we are getting a look at a new variant in public.
Although we got a brief glimpse of it earlier this month driving by in Korea, Kia’s electric van was spotted charging in public with an open bed.
The folks at HealerTV found the PV5 variant with an open bed parked in Korea, offering us a good look from all angles.
From the front, it resembles the Passenger and Cargo variants, featuring slim vertical LED headlights. However, from the side, it’s an entirely different vehicle. The truck sits low to the ground, similar to the one captured driving earlier this month.
When you look at it from the back, you can’t even tell it’s the PV5. It looks like any other cargo truck with an open bed.
The PV5 open bed measures 5,000 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width, and 2,000 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,000 mm. Although Kia has yet to say how big the bed will be, the reporter mentions it doesn’t look that deep, but it’s wide enough to carry a good load.
The open bed will be one of several PV5 variants that Kia plans to launch in Europe and Korea later this year, alongside the Passenger, Cargo, and Chassis Cab configurations.
In Europe, the PV5 Passenger is available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo variant is rated with a WLTP range of 181 miles or 247 miles.
Kia will reveal battery specs closer to launch for the open bed variant, but claims it “has the longest driving range among compact commercial EVs in its class.”
In 2027, Kia will launch the larger PV7, followed by an even bigger PV9 in 2029. There’s also a smaller PV1 in the works, which is expected to arrive sometime next year or in 2027.
What do you think of Kia’s electric van? Will it be a game changer? With plenty of variants on the way, it has a good chance. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: HealerTV
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Is Nissan raising the red flag? Nissan is cutting about 15% of its workforce and is now asking suppliers for more time to make payments.
Nissan starts job cuts, asks supplier to delay payments
As part of its recovery plan, Nissan announced in May that it plans to cut 20,000 jobs, or around 15% of its global workforce. It’s also closing several factories to free up cash and reduce costs.
Nissan said it will begin talks with employees at its Sunderland plant in the UK this week about voluntary retirement opportunities. The company is aiming to lay off around 250 workers.
The Sunderland plant is the largest employer in the city with around 6,000 workers and is critical piece to Nissan’s comeback. Nissan will build its next-gen electric vehicles at the facility, including the new LEAF, Juke, and Qashqai.
According to several emails and company documents (via Reuters), Nissan is also working with its suppliers to for more time to make payments.
“They could choose to be paid immediately or opt for a later payment,” Nissan said. The company explained in a statement to Reuters that it had incentivized some of its suppliers in Europe and the UK to accept more flexible payment terms, at no extra cost.
The emails show that the move would free up cash for the first quarter (April to June), similar to its request before the end of the financial year.
One employee said in an email to co-workers that Nissan was asking suppliers “again” to delay payments. The emails, viewed by Reuters, were exchanged between Nissan workers in Europe and the United Kingdom.
Nissan is taking immediate action as part of its recovery plan, aiming to turn things around, the company said in a statement.
“While we are taking these actions, we aim for sufficient liquidity to weather the costs of the turnaround actions and redeem bond maturities,” the company said.
Nissan didn’t comment on the internal discussions, but the emails did reveal it gave suppliers two options. They could either delay payments at a higher interest rate, or HSBC would make the payment, and Nissan would repay the bank with interest.
The company had 2.2 trillion yen ($15.2 billion) in cash and equivalents at the end of March, but it has around 700 billion yen ($4.9 billion) in debt that’s due later this year.
As part of Re:Nissan, the Japanese automaker’s recovery plan, Nissan looks to cut costs by 250 billion yen. By fiscal year 2026, it plans to return to profitability.
Electrek’s Take
With an aging vehicle lineup and a wave of new low-cost rivals from China, like BYD, Nissan is quickly falling behind.
Nissan is launching several new electric and hybrid vehicles over the next few years, including the next-gen LEAF, which is expected to help boost sales.
In China, the world’s largest EV market, Nissan’s first dedicated electric sedan, the N7, is off to a hot start with over 20,000 orders in 50 days.
The N7 will play a role in Nissan’s recovery efforts as it plans to export it to overseas markets. It will be one of nine new energy vehicles, including EVs and PHEVs, that Nissan plans to launch in China.
Can Nissan turn things around? Or will it continue falling behind the pack? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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