Here’s what to expect when Lectric XP 4.0 e-bike becomes next best-seller in the US
Lectric Ebikes has long set the standard for other companies to follow in the budget electric bicycle space, continuously rolling out new models that offer never-before-seen value. A new cargo e-bike with more features? They did it. A new off-roader with better components? They did that, too. But what about the company’s best-selling model, the Lectric XP 3.0 folding fat tire e-bike? It’s due for an update, and here’s what you can expect.
Believe it or not, it’s been over two years since the Lectric XP 3.0 was launched in early November 2022. That model has since dominated the industry, giving riders with an under $1,000 budget better bang-for-their-buck than ever before as it rose to the top of the US bestselling e-bikes list.
With 28 mph (45 km/h) speeds, hydraulic disc brakes, suspension, built-in rear rack, heavy-duty cargo/passenger capabilities, and multiple battery sizes, it’s become the go-to $999 electric bike for thousands of new riders every month. It’s even a personal favorite of mine. I’ve put my family members on XP 3.0s, I’ve bought multiple XP 3.0s to donate to the underprivileged, and it’s the model I chose when I went undercover as a food delivery worker to see the world through e-bike couriers’ eyes.
But nothing lasts forever, and two years is a long time in the electric bicycle industry. We don’t yet know quite when a Lectric XP 4.0 will come to replace the US’ current best-selling electric bike model, but you’d better believe that Lectric’s designers in Phoenix have been whiteboarding ideas for a while now. And I’d bet dollars to donuts that these are some of those ideas.
Upgrades in component quality
With every new launch this year, we’ve watched Lectric eBikes flex its purchasing power by bringing us higher quality components than we deserve at these price levels. The XPeak routinely gets oddly high-tier forks. The Lectric One received a transmission that probably costs as much as the whole bike if you were to try to buy it retail. And the Lectric XP Lite 2.0 offers a Gates belt drive for under $900. This is all absurd, or at least it used to be until Lectric started waving its wallet around at the offices of higher-end component makers that aren’t used to seeing customers in this affordable price range.
That means the Lectric XP 4.0 is likely to benefit from that same purchasing power. I can foresee major upgrades including a higher-end suspension fork, better hydraulic disc brakes, and likely even a torque sensor for improved pedal assist. I don’t imagine the derailleur will make a huge jump in quality (maybe just an 8-speed Shimano Tourney?), but a color screen is likely in the cards, as are nicer bolt-on grips and other comfort enhancements. We may even see better suspension seat posts and nicer tires.
But for the love of all things holy in this world, if those do-gooders on Utopia Rd even think about touching that right side half-twist throttle, then by the beard of Zeus we’re going to have words…
More power?
There’s a real chance that the XP 4.0 could be more powerful, especially since Lectric has become quite fond of its M24 electric motor, which has graced models like the XPeak 2.0 and XPedition 2.0. That 750W motor puts out just over 1,300W of actual electrical power, due in no small part to Lectric’s assistance on using higher current electronic speed controllers than most of its competitors.
In fact, the Lectric XP 3.0 is probably the most powerful “500W” e-bike around right now, but that doesn’t mean it will always remain in the five hundred club.
A power increase isn’t a given, and Lectric may still reserve that higher-power motor for its more premium models. After all, they can’t just give us all the good stuff at such a low price. Or can they?
No price change
Speaking of price change, I find it incredibly hard to believe that the XP 4.0 would launch at anything other than US $999. Lectric has only ever changed the price of this model once, increasing it from the original $899 of the XP 1.0 to the $999 of the XP 2.0. Ever since, they’ve steered clear of price increases on the XP line.
Lectric’s Co-founder and CEO Levi Conlow recently explained at the Micromobility America 2024 conference that whenever the company’s increasing efficiency causes the margins to creep “too high” (a foreign concept to most brands), they either lower the price or release a new version of the bike with more features. And so that’s likely exactly what the 4.0 will prove to be – another $999 e-bike, but this time with even more features.
Design and build
I don’t expect we’ll see any huge design changes to the structure of the bike. Sure, there will be a new frame. But I expect the company to retain the same boxy tube structure they’ve used ever since the brand’s first XP bike rolled out in late 2019. They even use it on their XPedition cargo bike despite there being no real reason for it (the batteries aren’t housed inside the frame) other than design continuity with the Lite, XP, and XP Trike lines.
What we are likely to see in the design department are minor updates for improved strength and ruggedness. Lectric has been investing more heavily in third-party certifications, including both structural frame testing and electronic certifications like UL compliance. That’s likely to continue with the XP 4.0, meaning we could see improved certification indicating even more confidence in the bike’s ability to haul cargo and passengers.
The color scheme is unlikely to change heavily. Black and white have been the XP’s MO for years now, and even that’s an improvement from when they were only available in white. We’ve of course seen splashes of Lectric’s blue accent color on most of the brand’s models, and the XP 4.0 is unlikely to be different in that regard. But expect it to be more along the lines of the new XPedition 2.0’s color swatch design, not a radical color departure.
Fancy features?
This one is a bit of a wild card, and I don’t expect Lectric to go overly nuts with fancy features. I don’t think we’re going to be getting any crazy phone apps or wireless charging through the kickstand anytime soon. But we just might see the inclusion of value-added features like tracking for anti-theft.
This could be done fairly easily through the use of existing technology like the Apple FindMy network – something that Lectric’s competitor Velotric has leveraged beautifully. Such a feature would likely add little cost but could be of major value. In fact, I recently tried to plant that exact bug in Lectric Co-founder Robby Deziel’s ear. Robby has been wrist-deep in the design of these e-bikes since as early as 2019, when he personally helped me with the wiring on one of the first Lectric XPs ever. So let’s see if he listens on the integrated tracker idea.
When is the Lectric XP 4.0 coming?
I pride myself in having a bit of a crystal ball for the electric bike industry, but even I have no idea when Lectric is planning on releasing the XP 4.0. From everything I can gather, it’s not imminent.
I may have teased you with all the cool things Lectric could do on XP 4.0, but I don’t think we’ll be seeing any of those updates anytime soon.
Suffice it to say that if you’ve been wanting to join in on the XP fun and somehow you’re one of the few Americans who doesn’t yet have an XP 3.0, that’s still a killer e-bike for an amazing $999 price. One day the XP 4.0 will likely make us all “ooh” and “ahh” again, but it doesn’t appear to be in the cards yet.
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The Escape Solar and Storage project in Lincoln County, Nevada, will send clean power to big resort customers on the Las Vegas Strip.
Reno-based Estuary Power, Escape’s developer, closed a $340 million financing package for the solar and storage project in late December 2024.
Escape includes 185 megawatts (MW) of JinkoSolar PV capacity and 400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of Tesla battery storage capacity.
Escape will supply 115 MW of solar and 400 MWh of battery energy storage to MGM Resorts International, 25 MW to Caesars Entertainment, 20 MW to Wynn Las Vegas, and 25 MW to Overton Power District under long-term agreements.
MGM Resorts International has set a goal to source 100% of its energy from renewables by 2030. Las Vegas resorts are required to comply with Nevada’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which aims to increase the percentage of renewable energy to 50% by 2030. However, many resorts have already exceeded the 40% renewable energy requirement set by the state. The Venetian and Sands Expo and Convention Center partnered with NV Energy to procure renewable energy certificates to cover 100% of its electricity use.
Jill Daniel, CEO of majority woman-owned Estuary Power, said, “We look forward to supplying renewable energy to the iconic Las Vegas Strip and to our valued partner Overton Power District. We are thankful for the support of our financing partners in making the Escape project a reality.”
The project is the first utility-scale solar project to be developed in Lincoln County, just north of Las Vegas, where it will generate nearly $80 million in tax revenue for the county over its life span. It’s currently under construction and will begin operating in 2025.
Las Vegas is second in the US for solar capacity per capita.
Read more: This Florida solar farm is supplying clean energy to 12 cities
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Aptera has signed a memorandum of understanding with LG Energy Solutions to supply batteries for its solar EV, which it says will start deliveries later this year.
Aptera is at CES this week, showing off it’s production-intent solar EV. We stopped by the booth for a few pictures, but beyond that, there wasn’t a lot new to announce.
But that changed today, as Aptera has now officially announced that it’s partnering with LG Energy Solutions as the exclusive supplier for battery cells for the Aptera solar EV, and CTNS for battery pack assembly.
Aptera said this partnership accomplishes three goals:
- Enhance Aptera’s production capacity through a reliable and scalable battery supply chain.
- Solidify LG Energy Solution’s market presence as a trusted supplier.
- Strengthen CTNS’s reputation as a key manufacturing partner in the U.S. market.
The agreement runs from 2025 to 2031, with LG supplying 2170-format cylindrical cells for battery modules and packs that will be assembled by CTNS and designed by Aptera.
The agreement covers 4.4GWh of battery capacity supply. Given that the Aptera has a 44kWh, 400-mile battery pack (at least at launch, other options might be available at some point), that’s enough for a total of 100,000 vehicles – quite a lofty goal for a rather small company that is relying on crowdfunding and has not yet shipped a car.
“This partnership represents a significant milestone in bringing our solar electric vehicles to market with the reliability and performance our customers expect. LG Energy Solution and CTNS bring unparalleled expertise, and we’re excited to work together to power the future of sustainable transportation.”
-Chris Anthony, Co-CEO of Aptera Motors
LG is one of the largest EV battery cell manufacturers in the world, and the largest outside China. The largest is CATL, but that company has found itself on a US blacklist.
As part of Aptera’s CES announcements, it reaffirmed that it plans to deliver its first vehicles by the end of this year, showed off the production configuration of its solar panels covering the hood, dash, roof and hatch of the vehicle, and said that it drove the car for 20 miles on a Las Vegas winter day and ended up with more charge than it had when it started. You can read more about Aptera’s CES show presence on our previous coverage here.
Aptera says it has 50,000 reservations for its vehicle, at $100 a pop (or $70, if you use our Aptera referral link). You can reserve an Aptera over at Aptera’s website.
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The electric Mazda 6 predecessor is headed for Europe this summer. Mazda’s EV starts at around $20,000 in China, but prices are expected to be significantly higher in Europe. Here’s what we know about the Chinese-made EV so far.
When will Mazda launch its $20,000 EV overseas?
Mazda unveiled the EZ-6 at the Beijing Auto Show alongside the Arata SUV last April. The EZ-6 is the all-electric predecessor to the Mazda 6 sedan.
Mazda’s Chinese joint venture, Changan Mazda, has been selling the EZ-6 in China since October. The electric sedan, which starts at just 139,800 yuan, or around $19,200, is already off to a hot sales start.
With nearly 2,500 models sold in November, its first sales month, Changan Mazda said the EZ-6 was among the top three mid-size new energy vehicle (NEV) sedans of joint ventures sold in China. According to Nikkei, Mazda will export the $20,000 EV to Europe starting this summer.
Based on Changan Auto’s hybrid platform, the EX-6 is available in EV and extended-range configurations in China. The all-electric version has a CLTC range of up to 600 km (372 miles).
The electric Mazda EZ-6 is 4,921 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,485 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,895 mm, or about the size of a Tesla Model 3 (4,720 mm long, 1,922 mm wide, and 1,441 mm tall with a 2,875 mm wheelbase).
Inside, the EZ-6 has a modern cabin setup with 14.6″ infotainment and 10.1″ driver display screens. It also includes premium features like a 50″ AR head-up display and zero-gravity reclining seats.
The imported model will feature improved stability and control for high-speed driving on European roads. Mazda will showcase the updated EZ-6 at the Brussels Motor Show, which kicks off on Friday.
Like many automakers, Mazda is looking to meet the EU’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandates and avoid heavy fines. However, after the EU increased tariffs on Chinese EV imports to as much as 45.3%, Mazda will still have to pay the price.
China’s SAIC was hit the hardest with an extra 35.3% duty, while Geely (18.8%) and BYD (17%) were at the lower end. Other cooperating companies are subject to a 20.7% tariff, while non-cooperating automakers will have a duty of 35.3%.
Earlier this week, we learned Mazda will build a new module battery plant in Japan to supply its first dedicated EV. Although no details were revealed about the dedicated EV, Mazda said it will be powered by a new electric vehicle platform. The company aims to launch the new platform in 2027. Stay tuned for more.
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