Connect with us

Published

on

Radio Flyer, a brand that has long been synonymous with childhood nostalgia, has spent several years pushing further into the electric bicycle space with a number of impressive offerings. Now the company has officially launched its latest electric bike, the Flyer Flex.

No longer known just for their iconic red wagons, Radio Flyer’s Flyer Flex is just the latest in a line of e-bikes that has demonstrated the brand’s successful venture into the electric mobility market.

The utility e-bike segment has been booming for years, with these short-format cargo-style electric bikes offering plenty of room for hauling gear or kids yet without taking up the same space as a larger cargo e-bike.

As a utility e-bike, the Flyer Flex seems to be designed with versatility at its core, making it suitable for a wide range of uses from daily commuting to family outings and cargo hauling. Featuring a 500-watt motor, the e-bike can hit speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle or pedal assist. The seat tube-mounted 48V 9.8Ah battery helps the bike offer a range of 20 to 40 miles (32-64 km) per charge, depending on the level of assistance used, making it ideal for both short trips and extended rides.

An included torque sensor means that for those riders who can avoid the temptation of the throttle, responsive and natural-feeling pedal assist should make the ride more enjoyable and less jerky than when pedaling most less sophisticated cadence sensor-based electric bikes.

The bike’s drivetrain has been tested to UL2849, which covers the entire e-bike and its systems, while the lithium-ion battery itself has been tested to UL2271, which specifically covers lithium-ion batteries.

The bike’s design accommodates various riding styles and uses, featuring a load capacity of 330 lb (150 kg). Radio Flyer explains that this makes it an excellent choice for riders who need to carry groceries, transport children, or simply enjoy a leisurely ride around the neighborhood. According to the company, the bike’s sturdy frame and ergonomic design prioritize comfort and stability even when fully loaded.

For strong stops, the bike is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, which offer superior stopping power and less frequent maintenance than mechanical disc brakes. This feature has become a popular differentiator for mid and high-tier electric bikes, helping to ensure rider confidence and safety, particularly in urban environments where sudden stops can frequently be necessary.

The bike also includes a built-in display that shows key information such as speed, battery life, and distance traveled, keeping riders informed and in control at all times.

One of the many advantages of utility e-bikes is the ability to mount a wide range of accessories for different styles of riding and various use cases. While this is true of many e-bike makers these days, Radio Flyer offers an extensive lineup of accessories for carrying everything from gear to kids.

The bike also comes in multiple frame sizes and color options, allowing riders to choose a model that best suits their style and body type.

The Flyer Flex is now available for purchase directly through Radio Flyer’s website. Priced at US $2,299, it follows the same general pricing trend that has kept Radio Flyer’s e-bikes slightly costlier than many others in its product class.

However, Radio Flyer also benefits from its longstanding reputation for quality and customer support, something that most new e-bike companies have yet to develop.

Electrek’s Take

The company’s launch of the Flyer Flex represents a continuation of Radio Flyer’s expansion into the electric mobility market. It’s not going to win on a dollar-per-watt basis, but I’ve never felt that was a fair way to judge e-bikes.

The one area that really surprises me here in a negative way is the small battery. A 48V 10Ah battery is pretty diminutive on a throttle-enabled utility e-bike. Any bike with a throttle is going to need a bigger battery because it simply drains more power to ride it without pedaling. And if you’re loading up the bike with cargo or kids, you’ll want more battery too. This is a below-average battery pack on what is otherwise an above-average e-bike.

Having said that, I’ve tested several of Radio Flyer’s electric bikes in the past and have always been impressed with the quality. Their accessories have also been quite well made, so I definitely feel like this is one of those “you get what you pay for” situations. If it wasn’t for the rather small battery, I’d be more positive about this launch, but I still think it’s a great-looking option. Maybe they’ll offer a bigger battery option, and then I definitely call it a winner.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Baidu- and Geely-backed JiYue brand unveils ROBO X EV that goes 0-100 km/h in under 1.9 sec

Published

on

By

Baidu- and Geely-backed JiYue brand unveils ROBO X EV that goes 0-100 km/h in under 1.9 sec

JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.

JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.

The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.

In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.

In December 2023, Baidu and Geely unveiled a second model called the JiYue 07. It was born from JIDU’s ROBO-02 concept, which debuted in 2023 and was designed to compete against the Tesla Model 3 in China.

The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:

JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now

JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.

When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:

For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.

Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).

The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.

Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.

Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.

What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Wheel-E Podcast: Solar moped, XPedition 2.0, LiveWire scooter, more

Published

on

By

Wheel-E Podcast: Solar moped, XPedition 2.0, LiveWire scooter, more

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes the launch of the Lectric XPedition 2.0, Yamaha e-bikes pulling out of North America, LiveWire unveils an electric scooter concept, PNY readying its cargo e-scooters for pilot testing, Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle, and more.

The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.

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, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

We also have a Patreon if you want to help us to 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 Wheel-E podcast today:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 9:30 a.m. ET (or the video after 10:30 a.m. ET):

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Crude oil heads to weekly loss as looming surplus depresses market

Published

on

By

Crude oil heads to weekly loss as looming surplus depresses market

Market Navigator: Crude oil under pressure

Crude oil futures were on pace Friday for loss for the week, as a supply gut and a strong dollar depresses the market.

U.S. crude oil is down more than 2% this week, while Brent has shed nearly 2%.

Here are Friday’s energy prices:

  • West Texas Intermediate December contract: $68.56 per barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.2%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has shed about 4%.
  • Brent January contract: $72.36 per barrel, down 20 cents, or 0.28%. Year to date, the global benchmark has lost nearly 6%.
  • RBOB Gasoline December contract:  $1.99 per gallon, up 0.46%. Year to date, gasoline has fallen more than 1%.
  • Natural Gas December contract: $2.70 per thousand cubic feet, down 2.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 4%.

The International Energy Agency has forecast a surplus of more than 1 million barrels per day in 2025 on robust production in the U.S. OPEC revised down its demand forecast for the fourth consecutive month as demand in China remains soft.

A strong dollar also hangs over the market, as the greenback has surged in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory.

Don’t miss these energy insights from CNBC PRO:

Continue Reading

Trending