I just bought an electric bike I don’t need and won’t use. Here’s why
Today I bought an electric bike that I don’t need and that I will never ride. But this isn’t about me. It’s about the company that makes the bike. More specifically, it’s about how today, on Giving Tuesday, the e-bike company Lectric eBikes is setting an example not just for the entire e-bike industry, but for modern capitalism as a whole with a philanthropic program that speaks to the core of the company’s values.
Lectric eBikes has a well-documented history of philanthropy as a key aspect of the company’s business model. After soaring to success with a growing line of affordable and popular electric bicycle models, the e-bike brand has dedicated a significant chunk of its yearly profits to charitable causes, giving away millions of dollars in donations and millions more in free e-bikes to worthy causes.
Last year alone, Lectric Ebikes donated over US $2.5 million to support a variety of charities.
Each holiday season, the company explores a new form of charitable contributions on Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, encouraging people to give back through donations, volunteering, and acts of kindness.
For example, in past years the company has allocated thousands of dollars for each of its employees to donate to worthy causes of their choice. In a new twist on that model, this year Lectric eBikes has partnered with its community of test riders and content creators to help expand the giving message further. The e-bike brand is committing $250,000 and partnering with content creators across the country to support charities close to their hearts with donations of $5,000 or a collection of five e-bikes.
As Lectric eBikes co-founder and CEO Levi Conlow says of the brand’s partners and riders everywhere, “What’s important to you is important to us. The experts and enthusiasts who we work with celebrate the benefits and joys of electric transportation through their fun and informative video channels every day. We’re excited to see these efforts help people in communities across those fan bases while raising awareness for many important causes.”
In addition to the charities selected by its content partners, the Phoenix-based e-bike maker is pledging $250 from each e-bike sold on Giving Tuesday to one of its preferred organizations, Arizonans for Children. This charity creates opportunities to address challenges and improve the vulnerable lives of abused, abandoned, and neglected children in foster care, working to guide each child toward a brighter future.
And that’s where I come in. Well, I should back up and say that first of all, I’m also proud to have been requested to take part in Lectric’s content partner campaign, having selected a charity that helps rehabilitate survivors of terror attacks after seeing that trauma firsthand. But beyond merely throwing around Lectric’s money, I think it’s important to also put my own skin in the game. So in support of Lectric’s generous pledge of $250 donated to charity for every e-bike sold today, I’m buying an e-bike.
It won’t be for me, but rather, I’ll donate it as part of my own charitable program I started called Ebikes For Good. For around 18 months now, I’ve run the program on my personal YouTube channel, giving away one free e-bike at the end of each of my videos to someone in need of a form of independent transportation but who can’t afford an e-bike themself.
Lectric eBikes’ own generosity has inspired me to use the resources and platforms available to me to encourage others to do good in their own way. And I believe in leading by example. I’ve been fortunate enough in the past to partner with awesome companies like Lectric to give out e-bikes to those in need, but have also bought several e-bikes myself in cases where I see someone who I know an e-bike can make a drastic change in their life. For many people, an electric bike can give them the independence to reach the grocery store, arrive at medical appointments, begin a journey back into good health, or just sometimes go for a refreshing bike ride for their own mental health.
There are a lot of people hurting out there, and so the following message is only meant for those who are fortunate enough to be in a position where they can afford something like this. If you’ve been on the fence about getting a new e-bike (and haven’t yet taken advantage of huge sales this season), then today would be a great day to get an electric bike and have $250 of that purchase go to charity at the same time.
I don’t take for granted my position as a trusted voice in the e-bike industry. I’ve long covered, reviewed, and promoted e-bikes that I feel are good buys based on their performance and value (and slammed a few along the way where it was deserved). While I’ll never tell you that Lectric eBikes is the best e-bike brand in the absolute sense, I’ve long described them as likely the best value anywhere in the US e-bike market. A $4,000 e-bike is great, but a $999 e-bike that can do 80% of the same job is often a better value proposition for many people on tighter budgets.
The quality and performance for the price point here is simply unmatched. So if I can support a company I believe in, and also have that support help others in need, then that’s the epitome of a win-win in my book.
So, in summary, that’s why I just bought an electric bike that I don’t need and will never use. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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General Motors may be better known for its lineup of full-size trucks and SUVs, but a recently published patent shows the legacy automaker has at least considered something much smaller and nimbler: an electric motorcycle.
The patent, which surfaced earlier this year in a report by Visordown, outlines a lightweight, scrambler-style electric two-wheeler that has set off a fresh wave of speculation about GM’s potential interest in electric motorcycles or micromobility.
The design in the patent filing shows a slim electric motorcycle with a flat bench seat, upright handlebars, and dual-sport tires, suggesting a utility-forward ride meant for light off-road or potentially even mixed urban use (if it were homologated for street use).
The rear hub motor and what appears to be a central battery housing point to a simple, low-maintenance drivetrain, potentially aimed at the commuter or recreational rider market.
The overall look is somewhere between a moped and a small electric dirt bike, reminiscent of models like the Sur Ron Light Bee or Talaria Sting, though slightly more street-looking with less of a focus on pure dirt.
While the patent doesn’t include performance specs or firm production plans, it’s the clearest signal yet that GM is at least experimenting with the idea of higher-powered two-wheeled EVs. And there is some precedent. GM previously dipped a toe into the micromobility waters with the Ariv electric bicycle project, and more recently partnered with Recon Power Bikes to release a Hummer-branded fat tire e-bike.
Both efforts showed that GM sees value in offering electric alternatives beyond the traditional four-wheel format, even if the Ariv program quietly ended after a short run.
Whether this patent leads to a full-fledged GM electric motorcycle remains to be seen. It’s entirely possible the design is a concept or technology demo with no intention of hitting the market. But there are other possibilities too. GM could develop a motorcycle under one of its existing sub-brands, create a new division specifically for electric powersports, or partner with an existing two-wheeler manufacturer to license or co-develop the platform.
The timing wouldn’t be far-fetched. Despite bumpy roads in the larger flagship electric motorcycle market, lightweight electric motorcycles are booming, with companies like Ryvid targeting urban riders looking for clean, compact alternatives to traditional gasoline-powered bikes.
At the same time, a growing number of younger consumers are bypassing car ownership entirely, instead looking toward e-bikes, scooters, and low-speed electric motorcycles for daily transport. A small, stylish, and affordable GM electric motorcycle could hit that sweet spot.
Of course, turning a patent drawing into a real-world vehicle is a big leap, and GM’s own e-bike history is a reminder that two-wheeled projects can be short-lived. Still, it’s hard to ignore the symbolism of this move: even one of America’s largest automakers is exploring what personal electric transportation looks like when you cut the vehicle in half. GM might not be ready to ditch its trucks, but it clearly hasn’t ruled out hopping on a bike.
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The electric restomod experts at Lunaz have turned their talents towards the classic Rolls-Royce Phantom V limousine – and the result is exactly the kind of smooth, quiet, and luxurious ride RR’s founders would have built.
Rolls-Royce’ founders dedicated their engineering talents to developing cars that were smooth, quiet, and adequately powerful – and they spared no expense. The company Charles Rolls and Henry Royce founded would eventually go on to develop some of the most powerful and celebrated combustion engines of the twentieth century … but the car they wanted to build? It was electric.
“The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean,” Charles Rolls told The Motor-Car Journal, all the way back in April of 1900. (!) “There is no smell or vibration, and they should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for now, I do not anticipate that they will be very serviceable – at least for many years to come.”
Well, 125 years seems like “many” to – and the talented craftspeople and engineers at Lunaz seem to agree. Meet the Lunaz Rolls-Royce Phantom V limousine.
It’s glorious
Lunaz says it’s true to Rolls’ vision “down to the smallest, most indulgent detail.” To that end, the company re-trims the modern heated and ventilated seats in fine leathers, hand-cut and stitched to the buyers’ specifications. In the rear, the center console can be ordered with a built-in cigar humidor, a cocktail bar, or some other custom-spec, lockable storage lined in suede and polished walnut (translation: guns and drugs, probably).
When reimagining the Rolls-Royce Phantom V, (we) started by understanding the essence of its original design. Every component and dynamic was scrutinized to identify where thoughtful innovation could truly elevate the experience. The result is a harmonious blend of modern advancements and original mastery, unlocking new levels of performance, reliability and refinement while honoring Rolls-Royce’ classic soul.
Like the classic Bentley S2 Continental the company revealed in 2023, the big electric Roller is equipped with an 80 kWh battery pack sending electrons to a proprietary Lunaz drivetrain featuring 400 hp worth of electric motors delivering a silky-smooth 530 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) swoosh in about seven seconds. Of course, why you’d ever ask your driver to perform such plebian stunts is simply beyond me.
The transformation and restoration took more than 5,500 man-hours to complete, and involve more than 11,000 new or reconditioned components at a cost of more than £1 million (about $1.35 million US). If you place your order today, you should get yours in 18-24 months.
Lunaz Rolls-Royce gallery
SOURCE | IMAGES: Lunaz.
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