JackRabbit OG2 Pro review: The fun-sized electric microbike that proves less really can be more
When it comes to electric bikes, the JackRabbit OG2 Pro barely qualifies as one – and that’s kind of the point. With no pedals, a seat barely higher than your hip, and a wheelbase shorter than some skateboards, this is less a traditional e-bike and more a bite-sized personal transporter that feels like a cross between a folding bike and an electric scooter.
But after riding it around for the past few months, I can confidently say: it’s an absolute blast. It’s more powerful than it looks, it’s easier to transport than you’d expect, and it’s simply more fun than you can imagine. It’s the small-format whip that I wish had existed years ago.
After its unveiling earlier this year and quickly finding favor in the eyes of Jackrabbit’s surprisingly large fanbase (affectionately self-referred to as “Jacko’s”), this is one ride you’ll want to give a second look.
Check out my video review for a fast and fun look at what it’s like to actually ride this small powerhouse. Then keep reading for my complete thoughts on this fun runabout!
Tiny frame, huge grin factor
The OG2 Pro takes the quirky charm of the original JackRabbit models and pushes it further. It’s small enough to fit in a closet or the trunk of a sedan, yet powerful enough to make short urban trips legitimately fun. The 500-watt rear hub motor and 36-volt battery don’t sound overly powerful on paper, but on such a lightweight frame (just 32 pounds!), the torque hits instantly. It jumps off the line faster than most 750-watt fat-tire bikes I’ve tested. The short wheelbase also means that if you want to be aggressive with the throttle, you can really feel the thing wanting to buck. It’s not going to throw you off or wheelie (unless you want to), but it does give you a sense that it’s not as timid as it looks.
The top speed is limited to about 20 mph or 32 km/h (unless you unlock the 24 mph Off-Road Mode, which requires being 18 years of age or older and signing a waiver on JackRabbit’s website). But even stock, the 20 mph speed feels faster when you’re this low to the ground. It cruises effortlessly through neighborhoods, parking lots, and bike lanes, and feels very agile while doing it.
The handling is nimble, the turning radius is absurdly tight, and it just feels like a weird hybrid of a bike and a scooter. I know it’s a seated affair, but the fact that you can just put your feet down and stand up at any point makes it feel as free as a kickscooter where you don’t have to worry about pedals getting in the way when transitioning from riding and walking or navigating around weird obstacles on foot.
Basically, it feels fun and agile, and it simply puts a big smile on your face because of how unique it feels.
Surprisingly practical for its size
Despite its toy-like appearance, the OG2 Pro is surprisingly capable for daily use. The removable RangeBuster battery gives you 24 miles (38 km) of range – not exactly cross-country material, but more than enough for errands, short commutes, or campus hops. And since the batteries are physically quite small, it’s easy to just chuck a spare one in your backpack – or even a fanny pack, if you’re so inclined.
I found myself using it constantly for short trips – bagel runs, grocery pickups, or cruising the beach paths. You can pick it up with one hand to carry it inside or stash it behind a couch thanks to the sideways folding handlebars and folding foot pegs. That makes it less than 7″ wide (17 cm). Unlike folding bikes that still take up real space, the JackRabbit OG2 Pro just kind of disappears when you’re not using it. That makes it perfect for RV owners, apartment dwellers, or anyone with limited storage.
And yes, it really is portable. With the handlebars folded flat and the foot pegs tucked in, you can carry it right up against your body and it feels surprisingly good – not like you’re carrying an awkward folding e-bike that remains pretty far away from your body, making it feel bulkier. I’ve taken the JackRabbit OG2 Pro on elevators, tossed it in a car trunk, and even loaded it’s bigger brother (the JackRabbit XG Pro) onto a kayak.
What it’s best at: Fun and freedom
At its core, the JackRabbit OG2 Pro is a pure fun machine. There’s something liberating about not needing to pedal, shift gears, or manage settings. You twist the throttle and go – like a carefree summer toy, but for adults. It’s easy for beginners to ride, yet it doesn’t feel dumbed down.
That simplicity is exactly why it’s so addictive. I found myself grabbing it over my “real” e-bikes more often than expected. It’s the one I’d take when I just want something small and easy to ride around and smile, not think about range, cadence sensors, or pedal assist modes.
It’s just easy. “Easy” is perhaps the best word to describe it. It’s easy to use. It’s easy to carry. It’s easy to store. It gives you real, bike-like, stable transportation, but in a 30-ish lb package.
The downsides
Of course, the OG2 Pro isn’t perfect. The lack of pedals means it’s not ideal if you ever run out of battery – though the lightweight frame makes it easy enough to push. And you should never really run out of battery because… just charge the thing when you’re done with it. If you’re going more than 20 miles then this isn’t the ride for you, anyway. Just charge the battery and you’ll never have range anxiety.
The short wheelbase and lack of suspension make it twitchier and bumpier on rough pavement, so this isn’t a bike you’ll want to bomb down gravel paths or jump curbs with.
And finally, at $1,649, it’s not exactly cheap for such a small package. In fact, it’s downright pricey. You’re paying for clever engineering and convenience rather than raw power or range – and in fairness, there’s not much else like it on the market. But if you’re one of those annoying people who only look at watts per dollar, then this isn’t for you. Instead, you should buy a hair dryer. At around $50 for a 1,500W blow dryer, you just can’t beat that watt-per-dollar deal.
Final thoughts
The JackRabbit OG2 Pro might not totally replace your main e-bike, especially if exercise is part of your goal. But it could easily become your favorite one if you’re just looking for a convenient and fun way to get around. It’s that rare product that nails the “grab-and-go” lifestyle – small enough to live indoors, light enough to carry anywhere, and fun enough to make every short trip an adventure.
It’s not the fastest, the most comfortable, or the most capable e-bike out there. But it’s one of the most joyful. And in a market full of oversized fat-tire behemoths that literally weigh 3x as much, this tiny electric oddball is a refreshing reminder that sometimes less really is more.
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Environment
Archer Aviation is planning an air taxi network around the Miami metro area including airports
Archer Aviation has announced partnerships in the Miami metropolitan area to establish a new air taxi network to support travelers around several key areas in Southern Florida, including local airports.
As you probably alrready know at this point. Archer Aviation ($ACHR) is a California-based developer of eVTOL and eCTOL aircraft that it continues to work toward implementing into commercial air taxi rides in the future. The plans for its network of sustainable aircraft have expanded to cities like New York and Chicago, as well as other countries like Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
In California, south of its headquarters, Archer intends to take to the skies above Los Angeles with a proposed air taxi network announced in August 2024. Building upon that network, Archer shared earlier this year that it had become the exclusive air taxi provider of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
On the other southern coast of the United States, Archer is planning another exciting air taxi network that includes the option of quiet, sustainable air travel around Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and several other key landmarks.
Archer partners up to establish Miami air taxi network
Archer Aviation shared details of its new air taxi network plans for Miami in a press release early this morning. If and when it comes to friuition, the proposed air taxi network will be a result of several new partnerships established by Archer in the Miami metropolitan area.
Some of those partnerships include real estate company Related Ross, Apogee Golf Club, Hard Rock Stadium – where existing heliports will be configured for eVTOLs and/or new air taxi vertiports will be erected. Stephen Ross, CEO and Chairman of Related Ross and Owner of the Miami Dolphins:
Our partnership with Archer marks a pivotal step in expanding South Florida’s regional connectivity through cutting-edge technology. We are integrating Archer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into our flagship locations across South Florida, including the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Related Ross developments in West Palm Beach, and Apogee Club in Hobe Sound. We’re excited to embrace a forward-thinking vision that transforms how people and businesses move across the region.
According to Archer, the new air taxi network will connect passengers to populated areas around Miami Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, offering 10 to 20 minute flights. Plans also include easier travel to major airports around Southern Florida, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), plus several general aviation airports. Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez, also spoke:
Miami has never been afraid to bet on the future. We’re a city that attracts visionaries, embraces breakthrough technology, and turns bold ideas into real impact. For years, I’ve worked with Archer as they’ve advanced a vision for an air-taxi network that will elevate Miami’s position as a global capital for innovation and mobility. What they’re building isn’t just transformational transportation, it embodies the Miami mindset: we lead, we innovate, and we redefine what’s possible.
Archer did not share a timeline on when this air taxi network may be operational around Miami, but we’d wager it’s still at least a couple of years away given the need for additional eVTOl development and FAA certifications in order to begin commercial operations in the US.
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Germany’s largest offshore wind farm hit a big milestone: The first turbine at EnBW’s He Dreiht project has produced its first kilowatt-hour of electricity and sent it into the grid.
More turbines are expected to come online over the coming weeks. European energy provider EnBW has already installed 27 of the wind farm’s 64 turbines, all of which are scheduled to be commissioned by summer 2026.
Peter Heydecker, EnBW board member for Sustainable Generation Infrastructure, described the November 25 milestone as a “significant moment for EnBW.” With 960 megawatts (MW) of total capacity, He Dreiht is now Germany’s largest offshore wind farm.
Vestas supplied the 15 MW turbines, marking their world debut. Nils de Baar, president of Vestas Northern and Central Europe, said the giant turbine’s technology sets a new standard for offshore wind. “Its efficiency and performance enable a significant increase in energy yield per turbine.”
Just one rotation of the 15 MW turbine’s rotor can power the equivalent of four households for a day. The hub stands 142 meters (466 feet) tall, and the rotor’s 236-meter (774-foot) diameter sweeps a 43,742-square-meter (10.8-acre) area — roughly the size of six football fields. To put the scale into perspective, EnBW’s first offshore project, Baltic 1 in 2010, used 2.3 MW turbines.
EnBW wrapped up the wind farm’s internal cabling in August. Those lines connect all the turbines and feed into a converter platform operated by transmission system operator TenneT. That’s where the power is collected, converted from AC to DC, and sent to shore through two high-voltage DC cables.
Once complete, He Dreiht will generate enough electricity to power about 1.1 million households. The project is being built without state funding and sits roughly 85 kilometers (53 miles) northwest of Borkum and 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Heligoland. EnBW’s offshore office in Hamburg is coordinating the build.
A partner group made up of Allianz Capital Partners, AIP, and Norges Bank Investment Management owns 49.9% of the project. Total investment comes in at around €2.4 billion.
Read more: China’s surge pushes global wind toward fastest growth ever
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Environment
BYD tried crushing its $180K luxury SUV with a 2-ton tree and it barely left a mark [Video]
![BYD tried crushing its $180K luxury SUV with a 2-ton tree and it barely left a mark [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/BYD-ultra-luxury-EV-Europe.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
The Yangwang U8L is among the most expensive Chinese vehicles, starting at about $180,000. To prove it’s built for just about anything, BYD dropped a 2-ton tree on it, three times, and the ultra-luxury pretty much brushed it off.
BYD drops a tree on its ultra-luxury SUV during testing
BYD launched the Yangwang U8L in September, a long-wheelbase version of the U8 off-road SUV. The U8 was first introduced in September 2023 as the first vehicle from BYD’s ultra-luxury sub-brand, Yangwang.
Yangwang is a new energy vehicle (NEV) brand that sells high-end plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and 100% battery electric (BEV) vehicles as BYD expands into new segments.
The U8L is Yangwang’s fourth vehicle, following the U8, U9, and U7. It’s available in China with a quad-motor extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system, delivering a CLTC range of 200 km (124 miles) on battery power alone.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine serves as a generator, delivering a combined CLTC range of 1,160 km (720 miles).
Measuring 5,400 mm in length, 2,049 mm in width, and 1,921 mm in height, the Yangwang U8L is even bigger than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Range Rover Long Wheelbase.
BYD’s ultra-luxury SUV is priced from 1.28 million yuan ($180,000), making it one of the most expensive models from a Chinese brand.
It may look pretty, but the Yangwang U8L is built for far more than just good looks. Like the U8, the long-wheelbase version is equipped with advanced features such as emergency float mode, which allows it to float on water for up to 30 minutes, tank turns, crab walking, and more.
To prove its durability, BYD engineers put the luxury SUV through the paces, dropping a massive 2-ton tree on it, not once, but three times.
During the final drop, the company said the maximum impact energy reached 50.4 kJ, or about 37,200 lb-ft. After three consecutive drops, the Yangwang U8L barely even got a scratch. The body structure remained intact, the door still opened, the columns didn’t bend, and the vehicle could even drive like normal.
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