Here’s all the best gear I’ve tested for e-biking this year
As one of the few people who can claim to now be in my third decade of living an electric bike-focused life, I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years. Between the gear I buy for myself and the piles of random stuff that shows up on my doorstep from overzealous PR agencies, I’ve gone through a wide range of tools, locks, clothing, accessories, and more. Here are my favorites of all the stuff I’ve tested this year.
I’ll start with locks because I’m a bit of a bike lock collector. I have boxes overflowing with them. That means if a lock has made it out of the boxes and into my regular-use collection, it must have some really good features and utility.
Foldylock Forever from Seatylock
Seatylock is one of my favorite lock companies due to the various products’ combination of security and value. The strongest lock that I use every day is my Foldylock Forever. It weighs around 1/3 of a high-security chain lock (just under 3.9 lb or 1.8 kg) and is much quieter than most folding locks due to the higher precision security rivets. It is rated Gold-Certified by the premier lock testing agency Sold Secure, and is resistant to the most common attacks of blades, bolt cutters, nut splitters, pry bars/jacks, and freezing attacks.
It opens wide to function like a chain lock, wrapping around wide objects like trees or small objects like sign posts, and I also really like the convenient holster that makes it easy to stow and grab one-handed. The wide design means you can also lock both the frame and a wheel, which is important if you want to have wheels on your bike when you come back to it.
This lock is actually quite fairly priced at US $99 on Amazon. High-security locks cost a lot because they are meant to protect expensive e-bikes, and this one is worth every single penny. And that’s even a great sale price, considering it normally costs $125.
I’ve also been testing a smaller version of the same lock, the Foldylock Compact. It comes in multiple colors, but I like the orange-accented one since it has that nice poison treefrog coloring to let thieves see it from a distance and remind them to move on to the next poor shmuck’s bike.
While this one isn’t quite as robust as the over-the-top Foldylock Forever above, the Foldylock Compact is smaller and lighter for those who don’t want a chunky lock. At just 2.2 lb or 1 kg, it’s almost half the weight and still features many of the same important security components like those patented high-security rivets.
This would be a great option for scooters, too, since it’s smaller and more compact for the lighter frames on scooters.
At US $71 on Amazon, it’s a more affordable version of the flagship Foldylock Forever lock.
The third and last lock from Seatylock that I’ve really taken a liking to is the Mason 220. This may look like a standard U-lock at first, but there are two main differences I really like about it.
The first is that it is wide enough to fit around the chunky battery downtube in all of my e-bikes. Most U-locks can’t fit around this wide part of an e-bike, meaning you’re more limited on locking locations. The Mason 220 has no problem fitting anywhere on my e-bikes.
The second thing I like is that the lock’s shackle has a pentagonal profile. That helps reduce weight while strengthening the cross-section compared to round or square bars. The engineering answer is that it puts more material further away from the center axis without wasting material where it isn’t needed. It also prevents thieves from having two flat surfaces on either side for applying various tools. But in layman’s terms, it’s just a more efficient profile for anti-theft.
On top of all of that, the lock is Diamond-certified 20/20 by Sold Secure, which is the highest possible security rating. It’s resistant to cutting, grinding, drilling, bending, prying, freezing, and basically every main lock attack.
At its current price of US $76 on Amazon, it’s a no-brainer.
I always recommend using two locks at the same time, and I often combine the Mason 220 with the FoldyLock Compact (since my wife tends to steal my FoldylLck Forever for her bike).
E-cuffs electric scooter lock
This one is a bit of a strange lock, but stick with me. These handcuff-style locks make great scooter locks, which is what they’re designed for. But in a pinch, you can also use it on an e-bike.
These aren’t the most secure locks out there, so I generally try to use them in conjunction with a second lock when possible, but the E-cuffs do have several good safety features as part of their design. The triple-ply steel is harder to cut and the tight locking cuff makes it hard to get a pry-bar inside of the lock for leverage attacks.
They also mount really nicely to the stem of a scooter so they can deploy quickly around whatever you choose to lock onto.
I used them on the VMAX scooter I was recently testing and found them to be a really convenient solution for quick and convenient locking.
Waterfield Vitesse waxed canvas backpack
For those of you who bemoan the lack of American manufacturing, here you go! The Waterfield Vitesse waxed canvas backpack is made in America. It’s also got made in America pricing at US $219, but hey, you said you’d pay for American manufacturing, right?!
This bag is a work of art, made of beautiful waxed canvas from an American mill that has produced it this way for nearly a century. The bags are sewn in San Francisco and feature a main open pocket with organizer pouches inside, a laptop sleeve that can fit up to a 16-inch laptop, and a pleated front pocket. The roll-top design also has a waterproof zipper, meaning you don’t have to roll the top if you prefer to stuff it fairly full. You can just zip it when you don’t have the extra material left over to roll it.
The neoprene-padded straps and leather-wrapped handle are comfortable and obviously built for years of wear, as this is a buy-it-for-life type of bag. I often ride on days when you never know what kind of weather you’ll have, and so the waxed canvas and waterproof zipper are key for cyclists who want a good-looking bag that still withstands the elements.
Remco electric lifting bike stand
This stand has changed the game for my bike work. I assemble a lot of e-bikes for reviews and am constantly doing work on my bikes, whether steady maintenance or major repairs. Lifting heavy e-bikes onto a stand isn’t fun, especially as many of the “e-bikes” I review are basically 100-lb light electric motorcycles.
That’s perfect since the Remco electric lift bike stand can support up to 100 lb models, and I actually put that to the test with multiple 100lb+ models!
It’s got a super stable (and heavy) base plate, and the lift itself can be programmed to remember various heights that are most comfortable for you.
The modular design lets you use your own clamp or theirs, meaning you can stick with your trusty Park Tool clamp if you prefer.
A little over a year ago I hurt my back (and had my first “OMG this must be what getting old is” moment), and so the use of an electric bike lift for heavy electric bikes is just such a nice addition to my bike workflow that I can’t imagine anymore muscling those 80 and 90 lb e-bikes into the air while trying to support them one handed and close the clamp with the other.
This is really meant for bike shops and professionals, but even folks like you and me who just tend to do work on one or more heavy bikes can really benefit from it!
Beyond Riders protected riding clothing
I’ve written before about the importance of wearing protective clothing, especially on faster electric bikes. Beyond Riders has become my go-to brand because its clothes look like typical everyday garments yet have hidden armor and are produced with heavy-duty fibers designed for abrasion resistance.
I’ve just started testing out their flannel shirt and cargo pants, which have options for Level 1 or Level 2 armor inserts to protect your shoulders, elbows, spine, hips, and knees. I’ll do a deeper dive on those soon.
Their canvas riding jacket is still one of my favorites too, and it doesn’t even look like a motorcycle jacket. It just looks like a nice canvas jacket!
My wife also likes that I don’t look like I’m heading out for a motorcycle ride, but rather I can wear this stuff on date night. While that’s not my primary concern, the “happy wife, happy life” doctrine always applies. So if I can combine safety and fashion in one, that’s the best option.
The BEAM’s Virgo helmet
Helmets are obviously critical safety gear for e-bike riders, especially since we tend to spend more time at higher speeds. But no matter the technology included in a helmet, if it only sits on the top of your head, then there’s a whole lot of face material left flapping around in the wind.
The Virgo helmet is a full face helmet with added chin bar to add extra protection.
You pay handsomely for that protection, to the tune of US $299, but you get a lot more face coverage than your typical helmet. That means your jaw has a better chance of staying attached in a catastrophic impact with a vehicle or concrete curb. The included MIPS system also reduces torsional impact on your brain, which is becoming standard on all higher-quality helmets these days.
And for less disastrous crashes, you don’t have to worry about regrowing the skin on your face. If your face is how you make your money (or you just don’t want to look like a lasagna), a full-face helmet is a good idea. The chin bar here is a bit flexy, so it’s not going to withstand the same level of crash as my motorcycle helmets, but it’s also a lot lighter and more comfortable than my motorcycle helmets, making it perfect for cycling.
Even just the visor adds great benefits. I can’t tell you how many times I ride through a flock of gnats or a big dust cloud with one eye closed just in case it gets compromised and I need a backup eye. With a visor, you have eye protection even on the days you aren’t wearing sunglasses. And of course you can never predict the random rock that gets kicked up by a car tire and sent directly towards your eyes. You only get two eyes and they don’t heal the way skin does. Protect them!
There’s also the built-in rear light for added visibility, and of course, the several size and color options. There’s a lot to like here, even if the price is rather lofty.
Peak Design phone holder
I have tested many phone holders for e-bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. By far, my all-time favorite has got to be Peak Design’s phone holder.
I got the case for my iPhone, and now I have the matching holding on several of my e-bikes, as well as one on my Gogoro scooter and another on my LiveWire Del Mar motorcycle.
The basic concept is similar to Quadlock or other quick-release holders, except that there’s no twisting. A magnet guides the phone’s case onto the spring-loaded locking tabs, which snap into place in the back of the case and securely hold the phone. To release it, you can press a button on either side of the mount and your phone instantly pops off. It’s rugged yet easily released – a tricky combination to master.
I bought the $39 universal mount for my bikes and scooters and I have the $79 dedicated motorcycle mount on my LiveWire, but there are lots of different mount options available.
Tentsile camping hammock
I LOVE bike camping, and one of my newest acquisitions is meant to make e-bike camping all the more fun with a relaxing hangout. Tentsile’s tree hammocks aren’t your traditional hammocks, but rather oversized triangular hanging platforms that can take the form of tents or hangout hammocks.
I got the six-person giant hammock recently, but sadly I haven’t had a camping trip yet to try it out. So far it looks like it should work well though, as it’s nicely constructed and huge! That’s another nice thing about e-bike camping, you can afford the extra weight of gear like this because the battery helps take the pain out of the pedaling.
This is another one that ain’t cheap, at $384. But if you’ve got the luxury of adding fun gear to your recreational bike-camping setup, this is definitely one that will change the game. Instead of a bunch of folding chairs, you and your friends can all be lounging in the air, suspended from Mother Nature’s anchors – trees!
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Three years after the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law, Rewiring America is rolling out a new effort to make sure homeowners don’t miss out on major savings.
The Save on Better Appliances campaign is designed to help families take advantage of federal energy tax credits before they expire at the end of 2025, while also showing how modern electric appliances can cut long-term energy costs.
With utility bills climbing, the group is highlighting the benefits of heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, rooftop solar, and other upgrades that can keep homes comfortable while protecting against future price spikes. For many households, energy-efficient appliances are one of the few ways to bring bills under control – and that value remains even after federal incentives are gone.
Right now, homeowners can still access the federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) and Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D). On top of that, thousands of state, local, and utility-level incentives are available to help offset upfront costs.
Ari Matusiak, CEO of Rewiring America, pointed out that the IRA incentives were never meant to last forever:
Congress’s decision to repeal them prematurely means households should act fast. But the savings, comfort, and long-term value of these upgrades remain. For homeowners ready to act, we have the tools to help. And for those who need more time, we’re working to expand your options and ensure that these upgrades make financial sense whenever the moment is right.
What the campaign offers
The Save on Better Appliances campaign runs through October and includes:
- A central hub where homeowners can learn about the expiring credits, check out state, local, and utility incentives, and connect with vetted contractors.
- Weekly Zoom drop-in sessions with Certified Electric Coaches, starting September 3, to answer questions about home upgrades.
- Contractor tools, including Rewiring America’s Contractor Finder, soon to be integrated with the BetterHVAC directory for more trusted installer options.
- A new Single-Project Personal Electrification Planner to help homeowners map out common projects like heat pumps, energy audits, and electrical upgrades.
“I’ve been doing HVAC installations for the past 40 years, and I can tell you that I’ve seen firsthand how the 25C tax credit has made heat pumps, the most efficient HVAC technology, more affordable and accessible for homeowners,” said Scotty Libby, owner of Maine-based Royal River Heat Pumps. “Homeowners should talk to their local contractors now if they want to upgrade their HVAC, take advantage of the tax credit, and lock in the potential long-term energy savings a heat pump would provide.”
Beyond tax credits
Rewiring America is also working with manufacturers, contractors, and lenders to make upgrades more affordable, even without federal help. In Rhode Island and Colorado, families can already access specially priced heat pump packages, with more states on the way. These deals will expand in 2026 and beyond, lowering upfront costs no matter what happens in Washington.
Across the country, state agencies, utilities, and local nonprofits are already leading creative programs to help families save money, find trusted contractors, and begin electrifying their homes. Rewiring America says this campaign is about amplifying that work and making it easier for households to take the first step.
“Tax credits may expire, but the benefits of better HVAC – lower bills, healthier homes, and lasting comfort – are here to stay. That’s why we’re supporting Rewiring America’s campaign,” said Bill Spohn, Sr., president of the Better HVAC Alliance.
Read more: US EV sales stay strong, but looming tariffs threaten affordability
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Oil-funded groups are engaging in strategic harassment to stop scientists from revealing the nature of their politically-linked disinformation networks – in what should be a surprise to nobody.
A new report came out last week from the Climate & Development Lab (CDL) at Brown University, titled “Legal Entanglements: Mapping Connections of Anti-Offshore Wind Groups and their Lawyers in the Eastern United States.”
The study focuses on several examples of law firms with connections to anti-wind groups, the fossil fuel industry, and the American political right wing. These fossil-funded groups have spread disinformation to slow the adoption of clean and cheap wind power, in order to keep America addicted to the poison that the fossil fuel industry wants to keep selling us.
The lab is headed by J Timmons Roberts, but the research was done by various students and faculty at at the lab. The new report builds on former research by the CDL cataloguing extensive connections between these groups and the dark money networks that fund the anti-wind movement.
Why the East Coast needs offshore wind
Offshore wind, especially in the North Atlantic, is a cheap and abundant form of energy that is heretofore relatively untapped in the US. It also has very little environmental cost, given that its carbon emissions and land use are both zero, and wind tends to be quite consistent over the ocean, making it more reliable as a power source.
Many other countries have successfully implemented offshore wind projects to bring this cheap and clean power to their populaces, with particular booms in China, the UK, Vietnam, Germany and several other Northern European countries (like Denmark, where many large wind power companies are based).
And wind is important for the global transition to renewable energy and the fight against climate change. As a zero-emission power source, it’s essential for meeting the US East Coast’s climate and renewable energy goals, and could provide a huge chunk of the power needs for the entire US Eastern seaboard, where the country’s population is clustered.
However, offshore wind has recently encountered setbacks due to the spread of disinformation from fossil-funded networks, which has made its way into the popular conception and into right-wing politics. (Nevertheless, Americans of all political stripes still support greater deployment of offshore wind)
How and why fossil fuel companies oppose wind
Fossil fuel companies oppose wind power because it would help to wean America off of fossil fuels, displacing coal and methane generation for electricity and enabling greater electrification of the vehicle fleet to wean us off of oil. All of these would result in air quality improvements, cost reductions, health improvements and avoidance of climate change – which are all anathema to the most deadly industry the world has ever seen.
So, fossil fuel companies have developed and funded a complicated network of fake public interest groups, politicians and lawyers to oppose wind power by spreading disinformation. And the CDL’s report highlights how certain legal firms have received funding from fossil fuel companies and/or given support to these fake public interest groups in attempts to sue wind projects out of existence.
While many of these lawsuits have been unsuccessful, they can still add delays to a project, making it more expensive and slower to deploy (which then makes your electricity more expensive). In some cases, the delays can result in project cancellation, like when oil billionaire William Koch sued Cape Wind out of existence via a fake public interest group called the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound.
In the report, five specific legal networks are highlighted in particular, showing how each is related to fossil fuels and science denial. The networks have provided representation, written comments, filed lawsuits and otherwise spread disinformation in an attempt to stop the public good that offshore wind power represents.
The nature of the disinformation
The disinformation largely focuses on the North Atlantic Right Whale, a whale whose population is currently experiencing an “unusual mortality event” due to changing climate and Atlantic shipping and fishing.
Anti-wind groups have invoked laws like the Endangers Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, despite the fact that the products of the industry they are funded by are the deadliest thing for marine life.
Burning oil raises both the temperature and acidity of our oceans, disrupting marine ecosystems in profound ways. For example, North Atlantic krill populations have dropped by 50% due to ocean warming driven by fossil fuel use. Krill are the main food source for the North Atlantic Right Whale, which anti-wind groups claim to be interested in protecting, but are in fact aiding the decline of.
Further, whale populations are directly harmed by vessel strikes, which are the leading direct cause of death for North Atlantic Right Whales in recent years. And 29% of those vessels are carrying oil across the globe – shipments that would be unnecessary if transportation were powered by clean renewable energy instead of deadly oil. Not only that, but some of the exact same groups that oppose wind also opposed draft regulations to reduce vessel strikes, showing that they are actually interested in continuing to harm whales, not protecting them.
Law firm responds to the truth by pressuring university to hide it
One of the law firms highlighted in the report, Marzulla Law, sent a letter threatening its authors. Marzulla Law said it would complain to Brown’s funding sources, including the US Department of Energy which a former oil executive is currently squatting as the head of, in an attempt to get the entirety of Brown University’s funding pulled if the CDL doesn’t self-censor its research findings.
The CDL itself is not funded by the Department of Energy, Roberts said to Bloomberg, so the threat isn’t even related to CDL’s funding sources, but to Brown University’s as a whole.
Marzulla Law represented one of the disinformation groups which the CDL has highlighted before, the deceptively-named “Green Oceans.” Green Oceans opposed the Revolution Wind project, which was halted on Friday over fake national security concerns by a convicted felon who is Constitutionally barred from holding office in the US, despite the project already being 80% finished, costing the US billions in waste and increased utility bills.
Mike Herr, a spokesman for Green Oceans said “these oft-repeated lies are designed to discredit the messenger while preventing the public from absorbing the substance of our valid and well-researched concerns,” which is itself an example of the very thing he’s wrongly accusing the researchers of.
Herr’s organization lies about offshore wind, and their attack on science (through their law firm) is designed to discredit the messenger while preventing the public from absorbing the substance of valid and well-researched concerns: the connection between fossil fuels, the republican party, and disinformation that keeps us from embracing superior forms of cheaper, cleaner energy like wind.
Discrediting science and knowledge is increasingly becoming a feature of the American right wing, which is currently on a crusade against universities as it tries to make America stupider.
Roberts called Marzulla’s response “strategic harassment to shut me up and waste my time and make me more cautious,” which is a common reaction faced by truth-tellers in this day and age, particularly when funding from the largest and most deadly industry on the planet, which has repeatedly shown its interest in propaganda, is involved.
For its part, Brown University did not comment on Marzulla’s demands, but did state that “Scholars shape their own research and course of instruction at Brown. One principle that is core to research at Brown is the ability for scholars to discuss contested topics and themes and to have those topics openly debated.”
However, Brown is one of the universities which recently kowtowed to the idiotic demands of an inept moron, making its words about academic independence ring somewhat hollow. We’ll have to see if they step up to defend truth this time around, or bow the knee to one of the dumbest people on the planet once again.
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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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The Optiq is Cadillac’s most affordable electric SUV, and it’s already winning over drivers from other brands. Cadillac claims the new entry-level Optiq EV has “segment-best” rear cargo space, but how does it compare to other popular electric SUVs?
Cadillac Optiq EV SUV cargo space comparison
Cadillac has become the “luxury EV leader” in the US, according to GM’s CEO Mary Barra. However, that doesn’t include Tesla, apparently due to its “pricing structure,” a company spokesperson clarified.
In the second quarter, Cadillac was the leading luxury electric vehicle brand by market share and ranked fifth overall.
Cadillac’s surging presence in the luxury EV space is thanks to its growing lineup of electric SUVs. The company now offers an electric model in every segment, including the entry-level Optiq, midsize Lyriq, three-row Vistiq, and even bigger Escalade IQ and IQL.
According to Barra, nearly 80% of Optiq buyers are new to the brand. The low starting price of under $55,000, over 300 miles of driving range, and tech-heavy interior are big draws. However, the Cadillac Optiq also delivers several “segment-best” features, including rear cargo space.
How much space does the Optiq really have? To see how it stacks up, Edmunds put it to the test. GM says the 2025 Cadillac Optiq has segment-leading 26 cubic feet of rear cargo space.
The Optiq is smaller than the Lyriq, which has 28 cu ft. It offers about the same amount of space as the Chevy Equinox and Blazer EVs and other electric SUVs priced similarly.
Compared to the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Edmunds said the Optiq offers a more functional rear luggage space thanks to its open design.
Like other GM’s other electric SUVs, the Optiq offers an underfloor storage space. However, it is the smallest one in the group.
Although the Optiq “seems to be the worst,” among GM’s other electric SUVs, Edmunds added, it was “only a teensy bit so compared to the Equinox and Blazer EVs.” The Lyriq, on the other hand, offered considerably more space, as expected from a bigger, more premium EV.
| Electric SUV | Rear Cargo Volume (cubic feet) |
| Cadillac Optiq | 26 |
| Chevy Equinox EV | 26.4 |
| Chevy Blazer EV | 25.5 |
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 27.2 |
| Tesla Model Y | 29 |
| Cadillac Lyriq | 28 |
Compared to luxury rivals, it offers much more space than the Audi Q4 E-tron, but significantly less than the Mercedes-Benz EQB. It’s closer to that of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 or Kia EV6.
The 2025 Cadillac Optiq starts at $54,390 and offers up to 302 miles of driving range. At 190″ in length, 75″ in width, and 65″ in height, the Cadillac Optiq is about the same size as the Tesla Model Y (187″ in length x 76″ in width x 64″ in height).
Cadillac is currently offering Optiq leases as low as $439 per month for 24 months for those with a competitive luxury brand vehicle.
Like most deals, this one will end at the end of September, which is when the $7,500 federal EV tax credit is also set to expire.
If you’re looking to try one for yourself, you can use one of our links below to find deals on electric vehicles in your area.
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