First ever USB-C chargeable electric bikes launched, hopefully becoming new trend
In what is unlikely to become a new trend but really should anyway, Ampler Bikes has just unveiled the world’s first production electric bicycles that feature recharging via USB-C, allowing riders to share the same charger they already use for their laptop computers.
The Estonian-based electric bicycle company Ampler, which shares its high-tech lineage with the connected mobility company Comodule and the equally tech-forward Äike electric scooter company, announced the new Nova and Nova Pro e-bikes this morning.
In a world increasingly defined by convenience and connectivity, Ampler has taken a bold step into the future of urban mobility, hopefully dragging the rest of the industry with it, even if they must come kicking and screaming. Ampler has been known for its minimalist designs and hand-built craftsmanship, despite those simple designs hiding away impressive technology inside. Now the Nova and Nova Pro are building even further upon that legacy with the introduction of USB-C recharging.
Yes, you read that right: USB-C. The same connector you use to charge your laptop or smartphone can now power your electric bike. It’s a move that could set a new standard in the e-bike industry—and one that also happens to be perfectly timed with the EU’s upcoming 2026 directive mandating USB-C charging across electronic devices. However, it is unclear how many e-bike makers would actually adopt the charging protocol.
While the Nova and Nova Pro maintain Ampler’s signature understated style and lightweight builds, they come loaded with thoughtful upgrades aimed squarely at modern riders. The headline feature, of course, is the embedded USB-C charging port, which allows you to charge the bike with a standard 140W laptop charger. A quick 2.5-hour top-up is enough for most daily rides, and a full charge takes about 3.5 hours.
Even more impressively, the charging system works both ways. Not only can you power the bike with USB-C, but the bike itself can charge smaller devices like your phone—essentially turning the Nova into a mobile power bank on wheels.
The shift away from bulky, proprietary chargers is a welcome one, especially for city dwellers, commuters, and anyone who’s ever had to haul an awkward brick-shaped charger across town. It’s also a win for sustainability. According to Ampler, an estimated 11,000 tons of e-waste are generated each year from unused or discarded chargers. USB-C helps cut that down by embracing a universal standard that riders already carry in their bags.
As for the bikes themselves, the Nova and Nova Pro share Ampler’s clean, commuter-friendly design language but cater to slightly different riders.
The base model Nova is built for urban cruising, with wide 27.5” tires and a 9-speed MicroSHIFT drivetrain. It’s designed for comfort, stability, and simplicity—ideal for those dipping their toes into the e-bike world or just looking for a no-fuss daily rider.
Meanwhile, the Nova Pro is the more performance-oriented sibling, featuring 28” sportier wheels, and a choice between a low-maintenance Gates Carbon belt drivetrain or a 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain. The Nova Pro is said to be aimed at riders who want to go farther and faster, whether on longer commutes or weekend adventures.
Both models come in high-step and low-step frame options, with a range of sizes to accommodate different rider heights and preferences. The frames are designed to be modular and customizable, with compatibility for everything from racks and fenders to child seats and trailers.
Ampler also put a strong emphasis on serviceability. The bikes use standard components from well-known brands like Shimano, MicroSHIFT, Gates, Panaracer, and Selle Italia—making them easy to repair at virtually any bike shop across Europe or by owners with a bit of wrench-turning experience.
Production takes place in Ampler’s own Tallinn, Estonia-based factory, which runs entirely on renewable energy. That local, low-impact manufacturing approach further underlines the company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability.
The Nova lineup is also part of a broader shift at Ampler toward inclusivity. Newly appointed CEO Eva Raigo is putting women riders and families at the center of the brand’s 2025 vision, noting, “E-bikes need to reflect the diversity of their riders, and it’s time we see more women not only riding but also designing these bikes.”
Other notable features include GPS tracking and ride analytics through the Ampler app, smart ride settings, a weatherproof frame and screen, and compatibility with leasing programs like JobRad. Pricing starts at €2,990 for the Nova and €3,490 for the Nova Pro, with orders opening on April 1 and deliveries beginning in June 2025.
Electrek’s Take
Freakin’ FINALLY! I’ve literally been calling for this for years. I’ve actually begged e-bike companies to do this. No one would listen. We had to go all the way to Estonia to finally find a company brave enough to buck the easy route of choosing a battery and charger from some Chinese company’s catalog and instead develop their own alternative that can include the most accessible, standardized form of charging on the planet for consumer electronics.
Whether you buy one or not, we ALL owe Ampler a debt of gratitude for showing the industry that this is possible.
Now let’s get to the bikes. Universal charging, sleek design, easy maintenance, and inclusive appeal all wrapped into a stylish, made-in-Europe package. Sure thing, sign me up! The North American market may not be impressed with the specs, but for Europeans, these bikes have a lot going for them! If I can get one here in Tel Aviv, I’d ride the hell out of it.
And the prices are even quite reasonable for a made-in-Europe e-bike, especially one with features like GPS tracking and USB-C charging. I’ve actually visited Ampler’s factory in Estonia before and I’ve seen the dedication they put into building their e-bikes. If I lived in Europe, I’d throw down a few grand on one of these easily.
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Paris’ bike-share system, Vélib has long been considered one of the shining success stories of urban micromobility. With a massive fleet of over 20,000 pedal and electric-assist bicycles around Paris, the service has helped millions of residents and tourists get around the City of Light without needing a car or scooter. But lately, a growing problem is threatening to knock the wheels off this urban mobility marvel: theft and joyriding.
According to city officials and the service operator, more than 600 Vélib bikes are now going missing every single week. That’s over 30 bikes a day simply vanishing from the system – some stolen outright, others taken on “joy rides” and never returned.
“At the moment we’re missing 3,000 bikes,” explained Sylvain Raifaud, head of the Agemob company that currently operates the Velib system. That’s nearly 15% of over 20,000 Vélib bikes across Paris.
The sticky-fingered culprits aren’t necessarily professional thieves or organized crime rings. Instead, they’re often regular users who treat the shared bikes like disposable toys.
The city estimates that many people have figured out how to pry the bikes out of the system’s parking docks, unlocking one for a casual cruise and then ditching it somewhere far from a docking station.
Once pried free, the bikes are technically usable for the next 24 hours until their automatic locking feature kicks in. At that point, the bikes are often simply abandoned. Some end up in alleyways. Others get tossed in rivers. A few just disappear completely.
And since the bikes are intended to be parked at their many docking stations around the city, they don’t have GPS chips, further complicating recovery of “liberated” bikes.
The issue started small but has grown into more than an inconvenience – it’s beginning to undermine the entire purpose of the service. With bikes going missing at such a high rate, many Vélib docking stations are left empty, especially during rush hours.
Riders looking for a quick commute or a convenient hop across town are increasingly finding themselves without available bikes, or having to walk long distances to find a functioning one.
That kind of unreliability chips away at user confidence and threatens to drive potential riders back into cars, cabs, or other less sustainable forms of transport at a time when Paris has already made great strides to dramatically reduce car usage in the city.
The losses are financially painful, too. Replacing stolen or vandalized bikes isn’t cheap, and the resources spent on tracking down missing equipment or reinforcing anti-theft measures are stretching thin. Vélib has faced theft and vandalism issues before, especially during its early years, but this latest surge has officials sounding the alarm with renewed urgency.
Officials acknowledge that there’s no easy fix. Paris, like many cities with bike-share systems, walks a fine line between accessibility and accountability. Part of what makes Vélib so successful is its ease of use and widespread availability. But those same features make it vulnerable to misuse – especially when enforcement is limited and the consequences for abuse are minimal.
The timing of the problem is especially unfortunate. In recent years, Paris has seen impressive results in reducing car traffic, expanding bike lanes, and promoting cycling as a key part of its sustainable transport strategy. Vélib is a cornerstone of that plan. But if the system becomes too unreliable, it risks losing the very people it was designed to serve.
Meanwhile, as Parisians increasingly find themselves staring at empty docks, the challenge for the city and Vélib will be to restore confidence in the system without making it harder to use. That means striking the right balance between freedom and responsibility, between open access and protection against abuse.
In a city where cycling is supposed to be the future of mobility, losing thousands of bikes to joyriders and sticky fingers isn’t just frustrating; it’s unsustainable.
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