Connect with us

Published

2 years ago

on

Micromobility America returned to the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this month to showcase the latest micromobility products, highlight new releases, offer test rides, hear from insightful company leaders and politicians, and basically nerd out about electric mobility.

From new e-bikes and e-scooters to innovative electric roller skates and even electric micro-cars, there was a bit of everything under the sun.

And with a combination of company meet and greets, test rides, and speakers, the event had a wide range of engaging activities for anyone interested in the latest forms of micromobility and the policies that surround those devices and companies.

The event included some of the most interesting, innovative, and eye-catching mobility products out there, and I was on-site to take it all in over two days.

Here’s a collection of some of the coolest stuff I saw, listed in alphabetical order to avoid choosing favorites. (That’d be like asking who your favorite child is!)

Apollo Scooters

The team from Apollo was on site to show off their latest innovative electric scooters, including their newest models of the Apollo City and the Apollo Pro. Both of these scooters employ more of a ground-up design than we’ve seen from most electric scooter companies.

Instead of throwing together a bunch of à la carte parts, Apollo designs its scooters itself, ensuring they not only have the most unique e-scooters out there but that they also address the ever-growing mass of community feedback they receive from their tens of thousands of electric scooter customers.

I made sure to take a spin on the Apollo City Pro, having previously reviewed the slightly lower spec Apollo City. Both are fast and comfortable e-scooters that employ the company’s variable regenerative braking, meaning you can basically forgo touching the mechanical brakes entirely, instead relying on the motor’s regenerative braking to slow and stop the scooter. The Apollo Pro’s fancy features like wireless phone charging and surround lighting make it a standout in the industry — even before you consider the 43 mph (70 km/h) top speed!

apollo city pro at micromobillity america conference
I had the pleasure of testing an Apollo City Pro

Artful Design Group’s Airglide electric scooter

I’ve seen a lot of different types of micromobility products but never anything quite like this. While still a prototype, the Airglide electric cargo scooter was on site to show off what could be possible with a seated cargo e-scooter.

In addition to offering plenty of space for cargo in the front bucket, the scooter is designed with a saddle for comfortable seated riding and even collapses down into a cart that can be wheeled around through a grocery store to do your shopping.

Don’t expect to find this one in stores this year, but the future could see big things for a small-yet-mighty folding e-scooter like this.

airglide scooter at micromobility america conference

Aventura X electric scooter

Vespa vibes without the Vespa price! The Aventura X electric scooter has all of the old-timey charms of a classic Piaggio-style scooter, yet with a $3,300 price tag that is around half the cost of a Vespa Elettrica electric scooter.

I had the chance to test ride one, which you can see in my video from the event above.

The scooter isn’t the fastest out there, maxing out at just 30 mph (48 km/h). But it’s a fun, smooth, and easy-to-manage ride that will have you enjoying the slower pace of life.

It’s just so much fun that you’re not thinking “I wish this thing went faster.” Instead, you’re mostly wishing you had a beautiful girl on back en route to a picnic in the Italian countryside.

I’m not sure it will rival a CSC Monterey, but it gets close.

aventura x at micromobillity america conference

Bo electric scooter

Bo’s electric scooter looks like the designers threw out the conventional Chinese electric scooter that everyone seems to build these days and, instead, drew up their own idea of how e-scooters should be built.

The head tube is basically as tall as the stem, giving them a much wider spacing between steering bearings and resulting in a much stiffer and safer-feeling scooter.

The body panels give it a sleeker appearance too, making it look as good as it feels.

Big props to the designers on this one!

bo scooter micromobillity america conference micah toll
Who looks sleeker – me on that Bo scooter… or the Tesla?
bo scooter

Boaz Bikes

I had a blast meeting the team behind Boaz Bikes, and it was quite obvious that their passion for their product and service really shines through.

The takeaway message that they kept coming back to was safety. They operate as a rental service, but they also sell their micromobility vehicles to people that enjoy the unique form factor and want to own instead of rent.

Despite the name, these “bikes” are actually scooters. They have a low seating position that allows riders to feel stable, with a low center of gravity, and easily put both feet on the ground if they need to quickly regain their balance.

With suspension, baskets, lights, fenders, and disc brakes, the little scooters have basically everything a rider needs in a small utility scooter. Plus, the max speed of 30 mph on the private version makes these a fast urban vehicle that can easily replace a car.

I didn’t get a chance to hop on one of these at the show, and now I regret it. They look so awesome – I really need to try one out. Maybe I’ll get lucky after they read this, and they’ll want me to do a review on it in Florida. Fingers crossed!

boaz bikes micromobility America

Eli electric micro car

The Eli electric micro isn’t a car at all, but rather is listed as a quadricycle where it is already sold in Europe.

That puts it in a class of vehicles that fall somewhere between motorcycles and cars, enjoying the more lax regulatory environment of the former and the enclosed weather protection of the latter.

In the case of the Eli, it drives around at a max speed of around 25 mph (40 km/h) and offers a carlike interior, complete with a micro-trunk in the back for a couple of backpacks or other small cargo.

eli electric vehicle micromobility america
I had a blast hopping back in the Eli for another test ride!

The Eli was definitely one of the largest electric vehicles at Micromobility America, but it was still quite small compared to real cars.

Interestingly, the glass doors give it a larger interior feeling than it deserves, making the cramped interior feel much roomier.

I had the chance to give one of the first Eli vehicles a quick test drive last year in Milan, which you can see in my brief video below.

Escend Blades electric roller skates

These Escend Blades are absolutely wild and push the lower end of the micromobility size spectrum even further.

The concept is simple. They’re like roller skates – but electric. That’s it. Small, light, effective.

They use electric skateboard parts, including an e-skate controller to wirelessly communicate with the skates. That gives riders a thumb-controlled throttle and brake dial in their hand, without requiring a tether or wired connection.

It seems like there are dedicated boot versions and also naked skate platforms like those old-school roller skates that strapped onto kids’ shoes from the 1950s.

Faction’s driverless Arcimoto

Faction was at Micromobility America with its driverless Arcimoto designed as an autonomous delivery vehicle.

It’s pretty trippy to look inside and realize that both seats have been replaced by a giant, open area for cargo and goods.

The Arcimoto FUV platform is already quite striking, but a robotic version is straight-up SciFi if you ask me.

More “normal” Arcimoto FUVs were also at the show, including one that the company let me borrow for a couple of days to use as my wheels while I was in San Francisco. Flying over the bridges at 80+ mph and getting looks from drivers around me was definitely a highlight of the trip, but I’ll have more on my few days of driving an Arcimoto FUV soon.

Faction Arcimoto at micromobility america

Hunter Boards

South American electric skateboard startup Hunter Boards showed off its latest highly-engineered electric skateboard at Micromobility America.

The board uses what appears to be a modified double wishbone suspension system that is more at home on large four-wheeled vehicles than skateboards.

It looks like a mechanical engineering student’s dream and gives the boards a futuristic yet still mechanical vibe.

Combined with the high performance and removable batteries, the design helps make these Hunter electric skateboards memorable in the industry.

hunter board at micromobility america

JackRabbit

The JackRabbit brings a smile to my face every time I see one.

Referred to as a micro-bike, these are technically seated electric scooters due to the lack of pedals.

They may look funny with that short wheelbase, but they have pretty good performance.

They get up to 20 mph and have ranges of over 10 miles, despite their tiny batteries, meaning they’re great for short city commutes when riders want the stability of a bike but the size and lightweight design of a scooter.

jackrabbit at micromobility america

I had the distinct pleasure of reviewing one of these earlier this year, where I learned just how much fun this micromobility device can be.

You can check it out in my video review below. Trust me, you’re going to want to see me ride this thing. It’s not a circus bear on a tricycle situation, but it’s not the farthest thing in the world from that either.

Nimbus One

This is another one of those “What is it?” type of micro-EVs. The Nimbus One falls somewhere in the Velo-bike/micro-car/leaning e-trike trifecta. It’s another example of a vehicle that pushes the limits of what we consider to be micromobility.

The enclosed design makes it great for inclement weather that would cause many people to leave their bikes in the garage. But the narrow size and leaning design mean it operates more like a bike than a car, which should appeal to car-shunning cyclists.

And of course, the electric drive makes it easy and, more importantly, environmentally sustainable, which everyone should appreciate.

I can’t say for sure what it’s actually like to pilot. But I can agree that it’s fun to look at!

nimbus one at micromobility america

Pytes batteries

These guys say they’re the third largest battery suppliers in the micromobility business.

Frankly, based on the list of e-bike companies they rattled off as their customers, I’m surprised they aren’t in the first or second spot.

They were on-site to show off their wide range of batteries for electric bikes, scooters, and other micromobility devices.

It seems they make just about every type of battery under the sun. And bonus points, they’re fans of my videos! From now on I’m going to tell people, “Yeah, well you may not have heard of me, but I’m big in China!”

Veo Apollo

Tons of companies offer shared electric scooters or e-bikes. Lime and Bird at the big ones for many people, but dozens of other companies compete in the space.

No one has a two-seater e-bike quite like Veo though, who just rolled out the Veo Apollo in a debut at Micromobility America.

The Class 2 e-bike has a 750W motor in the rear wheel and gets up to a top speed of 20 mph.

It makes it easy to avoid calling for an Uber or Lyft – instead, take a friend with you on the back of a shared micromobility device. Right on!

veo apollo at micromobility america

WAU Bikes

Sorry, WAU, you guys really screwed yourself when it comes to alphabetical order, getting left near the end of this post. That’s a shame because your bikes deserve to be at the top of so many lists.

Between the slick-looking battery case (with a 100-mile range battery!) and the neat frame-mounted rear lights, these are some awesome e-bikes that I really want to test out.

Those taillights even do double duty as turn signals and brake lights, and they are actually large and wide enough to serve those roles well, unlike many tiny gimmicky turn signals we’re starting to see on other e-bikes.

Weel

Last but definitely not least on the list is Weel, an innovative e-bike that offers something akin to Tesla Autopilot, but for e-bikes.

It’s designed to help riders who lack the skills or confidence to safely ride a bike and uses a steering tube motor to help adjust the steering for riders and keep the bike stable. Computer vision helps riders stay on course by tracking the edges of bike lanes and avoiding obstacles.

The bike is also designed to remove as many traditional hardware components from the bike as possible. For example, instead of a typical moving brake lever, the Weel bike’s brake lever is fixed and uses a strain gauge to measure how hard it is pulled.

It’s a wild and completely novel design. Time will tell whether or not the bike will be commercially viable when it eventually hits the market.

Make sure you check out my video of the event, embedded below. There, you’ll see all of these companies up close, plus even more!

And if you live across the pond, keep your calendar marked for June 8-9, 2023, when Micromobility Europe returns to Amsterdam!

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Environment

Podcast: New Tesla Model Y unveil, Mazda 6e, Aptera solar car production-intent, more

Published

34 mins ago

on

January 10, 2025

By

Podcast: New Tesla Model Y unveil, Mazda 6e, Aptera solar car production-intent, more

electrek podcast

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the official unveiling of the new Tesla Model Y, Mazda 6e, Aptera solar car production-intent, and more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

BYD’s new Han L EV just leaked in China and it’s a monster

Published

35 mins ago

on

January 10, 2025

By

BYD's new Han L EV just leaked in China and it's a monster

BYD-Han-L-EV

The Chinese EV leader is launching a new flagship electric sedan. BYD’s new Han L EV leaked in China on Friday, revealing a potential Tesla Model S Plaid challenger.

What we know about the BYD Han L EV so far

We knew it was coming soon after BYD teased the Han L on social media a few days ago. Now, we are learning more about what to expect.

BYD’s new electric sedan appeared in China’s latest Ministry of Industry and Information Tech (MIIT) filing, a catalog of new vehicles that will soon be sold.

The filing revealed four versions, including two EV and two PHEV models. The Han L EV will be available in single- and dual-motor configurations. With a peak power of 580 kW (777 hp), the single-motor model packs more power than expected.

BYD’s dual-motor Han L gains an additional 230 kW (308 hp) front-mounted motor. As CnEVPost pointed out, the vehicle’s back has a “2.7S” badge, which suggests a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint time of just 2.7 seconds.

BYD-Han-L-EV
BYD Han L EV (Source: China MIIT)

To put that into perspective, the Tesla Model S Plaid can accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 2.1 seconds. In China, the Model S Plaid starts at RBM 814,900, or over $110,000. Speaking of Tesla, the EV leader just unveiled its highly anticipated Model Y “Juniper” refresh in China on Thursday. It starts at RMB 263,500 ($36,000).

BYD already sells the Han EV in China, starting at around RMB 200,000. However, the single front motor, with a peak power of 180 kW, is much less potent than the “L” model. The Han EV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.

BYD-Han-L-EV
BYD Han L EV (Source: China MIIT)

At 5,050 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, and 1,505 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,970 mm, BYD’s new Han L is roughly the size of the Model Y (4,970 mm long, 1,964 mm wide, 1,445 mm tall, wheelbase of 2,960 mm).

Other than that it will use a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack from BYD’s FinDreams unit, no other battery specs were revealed. Check back soon for the full rundown.

Source: CnEVPost, China MIIT

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Tenways’ new chain-drive CGO600 Pro e-bike returns to $1,399 low, ALLPOWERS New Year sale, Camplux water heater lows, Anker, more

Published

2 hours ago

on

January 10, 2025

By

Tenways' new chain-drive CGO600 Pro e-bike returns to ,399 low, ALLPOWERS New Year sale, Camplux water heater lows, Anker, more

Today’s Green Deals are closing out the week by headlining Tenways’ new 8-speed CGO600 Pro e-bike that is getting $118 in free gear while down at its $1,399 low during the brand’s New Year sale, with the other models seeing similar offers. We also have New Year savings from ALLPOWERS across a collection of power stations and bundle packages, with bonus gifts and extra 10% off promotions – all starting from $89. For folks struggling to enjoy shower time, Camplux’s 18kW and 27kW Electric Tankless Water Heaters sitting at their lowest rates from $240 for the time being. We also spotted a further drop in price on Anker’s SOLIX C200 DC 60,000mAh Power Bank Station to its all-time low of $100 too. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals can be found in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s phase 2 of EcoFlow’s New Year sale, the $1,000 in savings on LG’s all-in-one washer/dryer combo, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Tenways returns new 8-speed CGO600 Pro e-bike with free gear to $1,399 low in New Year sale ($500 off)

Tenways is wishing folks a happy 2025 by launching a New Year flash sale that is bringing back some Black Friday pricing while the month is still fresh, complete with price cuts and extra savings in promo code form. The most notable model benefitting from this sale is the new CGO600 Pro 8-speed chain-drive e-bike for $1,399 shipped, after using the promo code HAPPY2025TW at checkout to save the extra $200. This new model was released back in October carrying a $1,899 price tag, which cut down costs in the brand’s Black Friday and Christmas sales – first to the $1,399 low, next to $1,599. That same low price is returning again today for the second time, saving you $500. Tenways’ more veteran belt-drive CGO600 Pro e-bike is also down at $1,399 shipped, after using the promo code, its second-lowest rate sitting $100 above its Black Friday low. There are also extra savings for medical providers, military members, first responders, and teachers, with verification slashing an additional $150 off your purchase.

Ideal for folks who enjoy active cycling but also want the option for electric support, Tenways’ CGO600 Pro e-bike weighs in at just 37 pounds, making it very manageable in urban environments. You won’t find any throttle on this model, as the cut-down weight partly comes from the smaller 350W rear hub motor and 360Wh battery, which still provide significant support via four PAS levels (activated with a torque sensor) that cover your efforts for up to 53 miles on one charge, topping out at 20 MPH speeds.

As stated before, Tenways offers two drivetrain options for the CGO600 Pro e-bikes – either the Gates carbon belt drive for quieter operations or the new 8-speed Shimano drivetrain (which also gets the brand’s newest motor too). Aside from those big differences, you’ll enjoy the same features elsewhere on the bikes, with internally routed cables for a streamlined look, LED lighting, puncture-proof tires, Tektro dual-piston hydraulic brakes, and a compact OLED display for controls. You’ll also be getting $118 in free gear in the form of lightweight mudguards and a kickstand.

***Note: The prices below have had the additional $200 promo code factored in – but be sure to use it (HAPPY2025TW) at checkout to maximize savings!

Tenways New Year flash sale e-bike discounts:

  • CGO800S Step-Thru Commuter e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,999)
    • 20 MPH for up to 53 miles
    • Turn-signaling and color display
    • comes with $227 in free gear
  • AGO X Step-Over Urban e-bike: $1,799 (Reg. $2,499)
    • 20 MPH for up to 62 miles
    • Shimano 10-speed drivetrain
    • comes with $307 in free gear
  • AGO T Step-Thru Premium e-bike: $2,499 (Reg. $2,699)
    • 20 MPH for up to 62 miles
    • Enviolo stepless shifting hub
    • comes with $178 in free gear
ALLPOWERS New Year power station sale

ALLPOWERS is helping folks prep for the rest of the year with its New Year sale through January 26 that is taking up to 48% off its backup power units, with orders also getting an additional 10% struck from the price thanks to the promo code AF2025 being used at checkout, as well as some bonus gifts. One of the brand’s best-selling solar generator packages, the R2500 Portable Power Station paired with a 200W solar panel has been dropped to $1,043.10 shipped, after using the promo code AF2025 at checkout for the additional 10% in savings. This combination would normally cost you $1,599 at full price, with this sale dropping it lower than we’ve ever seen direct from ALLPOWERS. While we have seen it go lower at third-party dealers over on Amazon, this is still a solid $556 in savings, dropping it amongst the lowest tracked rates there.

As we’ve seen with similar sales, aside from the 10% off promo code for your total order, ALLPOWERS is also giving away free gifts at certain thresholds while its New Year sale continues. You’ll receive a free 100W solar panel on orders over $1,800 or a free 200W solar panel on orders over $2,800.

Ready to cover your trips out of the home or even support appliances through blackouts, ALLPOWERS’ R2500 power station offers a 2,016Wh LiFePO4 capacity housed within a streamlined formfactor. It’s capable of power output up to 2,500W regularly through its 14 port options, able to peak up to 4,000W for larger appliance needs. There are four ways to recharge the unit’s own battery, with an AC wall outlet taking 1.3 hours to refill its capacity, or you can solar charge in 2 hours with its maximum 1,000W solar input connected. That timeframe can be cut down further to just one hour if you take advantage of its dual AC and solar capabilities, or you can hook it up to your car when you’re in a bind to fill it by the other means.

***Note: The additional 10% in savings has not been factored into the prices below, as the discount takes the percentage off your cart’s entire order – don’t forget to use the code AF2025 for the best prices!

ALLPOWERS best-selling New Year sale bundles:

ALLPOWERS best New Year sale power bank/station deals:

ALLPOWERS best New Year sale expansion power deals:

ALLPOWERS best New Year sale solar generator bundles:

ALLPOWERS New Year sale add-on deals:

Camplux electric tankless water heaters

Keep it steamy with Camplux’s 18kW and 27kW electric tankless water heaters at lowest prices from $240

Through its official Amazon storefront, Camplux is offering its 18kW Electric Tankless Water Heater at $239.99 shipped. This unit would normally cost you $350 at full price, with discounts often keeping prices above $280, aside from the one previous drop to the $240 low at the end of summer. Today’s deal is cutting $110 off the going rate, giving you a second chance at the lowest price we have tracked.

Nothing beats a nice hot shower, especially in the middle of winter. Camplux’s 18kW unit not only ensures things stay steamy, but its compact form factor ensures far less space is taken up compared to traditional water heaters. Once installed, according to Camplux, you won’t have to “wait more than 3 seconds to get plenty of hot water,” with the fast-heating low-consumption heating rods boasting “efficiency up to 99.8% and saving 60% water heating costs for your home.” There are plenty of safety protections built right in, like against overheating, anti-dry heating, water-electricity separation, and more. Do keep in mind though that it requires a minimum 0.66GPM water flow to activate, as well as two double-pole 40A breakers, a wire gauge of 2 x 8 AWG, and a 3/4-inch NPT connection.

Of course, depending on your home’s size and the number of people expected to use the shower, or even how many water sources will be supplied from the unit, you may want to consider something bigger. Right now, you can instead grab the Camplux 27kW model down at a new low of $259.99, a drop from its usual $450. Not only does it promise round the clock hot water delivery, but it’s also rated for multiple points of use over small models.

Anker SOLIX C200 DC power bank station

Anker’s new SOLIX C200 DC 60,000mAh power bank station falls to $100 low

Anker’s official Amazon storefront is offering a return to the best rate on its latest SOLIX C200 DC 60,000mAh Power Bank Station going for $99.99 shipped. Normally this newer model would run you $170 at its full rate, which has seen a few discounts since releasing a few months ago, the biggest of which saw a drop to the $100 low with Cyber Monday savings. With this deal coming in today, you’re getting another shot at its Cyber Monday pricing, saving you $70 as it returns to the lowest price we have tracked. It even beats out Anker’s direct website right now, where it is priced at $110.

Anker’s SOLIX C200 DC power bank station is a smaller and more compact version of the brand’s new C300 DC and AC models, coming in with a slightly smaller 60,000mAh/192Wh LiFePO4 capacity. It delivers up to 300W of output power to your devices through its five port options (two USB-As, one 140W USB-C, one 15W USB-C, one car port). You can refill the units own battery via three ways, with its 140W USB-C port giving you an 80% charge in 1.3 hours through a wall outlet, or you can utilize up to 100W of solar input or the car port for 80% in 1.6 hours.

You’ll also find the larger 90,000mAh C300 DC and C300 AC models matching their direct Anker discounts at Amazon for $180 and $200 at the moment. Not only are you getting the expanded 90,000mAh LiFePO4 capacity here, but they also come sporting different variations of built-in lights for camping trips. You can get the full rundown on its other capabilities in our launch coverage here.

Best New Year e-bike deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending