Verge opens US pre-orders for its hubless electric motorcycle with 25 minute charging
The Verge TS is one of the most revolutionary new electric motorcycles hitting the market thanks to a wild design for the drivetrain. It was previously only available in Europe but has now opened reservations in the US after showing off an updated model known as the TS Ultra at CES 2023.
The Verge TS Ultra improves upon the already impressive performance we’ve seen in the past from the TS and TS Pro models.
The bike retains a similar drivetrain made up of a hub-less rear wheel motor. That’s right, it’s an in-wheel motor but it’s not a hub motor, since there isn’t actually a hub to the wheel.
Instead, the motor’s copper core and magnet ring are housed in the outer portion of the wheel.
It’s a complicated design that pays off in more than just the aesthetics department. Putting the motor so far out from the wheel’s axis of revolution helps increase the torque.
That gives the Verge TS Ultra an impressive spec sheet, touting a peak power of 150 kW (201 hp) and a peak torque of 1,200 Nm. For the rest of us, that’s a massive 885 stump-pulling foot-pounds of torque!
The bike is speed limited to 200 km/h (124 mph), but that’s of course faster than anyone really needs for use on public roads.
Riders may not get a chance to feel that top speed very often, but they can enjoy the intense acceleration on every start. With that much power, the Verge TS Ultra boasts a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of just 2.5 seconds. The single-speed drivetrain means that performance is reproducible with every launch as there are no gears to quickly shift through.
That extreme acceleration beats out other high performance electric motorcycles like the LiveWire One that offers a slower 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds (imagine calling that a “slow” time).
The company hasn’t listed a battery pack size for the TS Ultra but claims a maximum range of 223 miles (359 km). That’s likely the city range, but it still rivals the longest ranges offered by market leaders like Zero Motorcycles.
Riding at highway speeds could see that range figure cut nearly in half, though the bike’s DC fast charging option will ensure speedy recharges on longer trips. Verge quotes a recharging time of just 25 minutes during fast charging, though fast charge times are usually measured on a nearly complete charge, such as 15-85%. Charging rates slow down near the end of the charge cycle to prolong the life of the battery.
There’s plenty of competition from flagship electric motorcycles in the US market already, but Verge is betting on its futuristic design and high-performance figures to help it score a slice of that pie.
As the company’s CEO Tuomo Lehtimäki explained:
“We are currently working on entering the US market in select states and hope to start sales and deliveries in 2023. We see a lot of potential in the market, and the wait of bike enthusiasts will soon be rewarded with even more powerful and futuristic electric motorcycles.”
The Verge TS and TS Pro have slightly more muted specs, though the performance is still sporty with a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 and 3.5 seconds, respectively. The TS starts at $26,900 while the TS Pro is priced at US $29,900. The highest performance TS Ultra model is significantly pricier at US $44,900.
A $100 reservation lets you begin configuring a bike and holds your spot in line ahead of anticipated US deliveries later this year.
Electrek’s Take
I’ve been following the Verge TS electric motorcycle for something like 4-5 years now, at least. I’ve seen it transform from pretty ideas on paper into a beautiful example of far-out design meets talented engineering.
Few electric motorcycles that begin with this level of out-of-the-box design actually make it onto the road, and so watching Verge bring these motorcycles to life in Europe and rack up riding miles has been quite rewarding.
Are they expensive? Hell yea they are. I probably won’t own one anytime soon, but at least they start out in line with other flagship electric motorcycle prices. And by including features like DC fast charging, they’re actually a step ahead of many other electric motorcycles that are sorely missing such in-demand options.
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Environment
Tesla hires celebrity ambassador despite Elon Musk saying they don’t pay for endorsements
Tesla has hired a celebrity ambassador, a departure from Elon Musk’s policy of not paying for celebrity endorsements.
Musk has often bragged about the fact that Tesla doesn’t pay for celebrity endorsements in contrast to other automakers who hire celebrity brand ambassadors to promote their cars.
Much like advertising, Musk seems to be abandoning this strategy.
Tesla announced that it hired Olympic shooter Kim Ye-ji, whose performance at the Paris Olympics this summer went viral, to be the automaker’s brand ambassador in Korea.
Kim said about her new partnership with Tesla:
I’m very excited to work with Tesla, who have recognized me. I hope to convey a positive message together with Tesla.”
Here are a few pictures released to announce her new partnership with Tesla:
Kim’s agency said that her relationship with Tesla started from CEO Elon Musk tweeting about her viral performance at the Olympics:
“The relationship between Kim Ye-ji and Tesla developed after Elon Musk mentioned her. The company said that Kim is Tesla Korea’s first brand ambassador.”
She is not only Tesla Korea’s first ambassador, but she is the first known paid celebrity ambassador for Tesla globally.
The policy change is not entirely surprising since the policy of Musk not paying celebrities to endorse Tesla’s products was often attached to the automaker’s strategy not to advertise.
Musk went as far as to say that he “hates advertising,” and Tesla started advertising last year.
The change in strategy coincidently, or not, came after Musk bought Twitter, a company relying on advertising, and Tesla even started to advertise on Twitter, now called X.
Tesla sales in Korea haven’t been amazing, but the country’s auto market greatly favors domestic brands. The American automaker does fairly well for a foreign brand with the Model Y becoming the best-selling imported vehicle in Korea during the first half of 2024.
Although, it amounted to just over 10,000 units.
Electrek’s Take
It’s a change of strategy, and Elon certainly can’t claim that Tesla doesn’t pay for celebrities to endorse its products, but it is probably a smart move due to the fact that Koreans prefer domestic brands.
Kim could help create a deeper level of attachment to the Tesla brand, but I don’t really know. I’m just speculating.
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Kia just broke its October sales record as its impressive US sales run continues. After another record-breaking month, Kia said the growth is fueled by “strong demand” for its electric vehicles.
Kia sets new October sales record in the US
Kia sold 69,908 vehicles in the US last month, up 16% from its previous October sales record in 2023.
According to Kia, higher demand for its electric models is charging up sales in the US. Kia’s electrified sales (EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs) reached its highest ever in October.
All-electric vehicles (EVs) led the way, with sales surging 70% year-over-year (YOY). Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid (HEV) sales were up 65% and 49%, respectively, from October 2023.
Kia’s first dedicated electric model, the EV6, set a new October sales record with 1,941 units sold. Through the first ten months of 2024, Kia has now sold over 17,700 EV6 models in the US. Meanwhile, its first three-row electric SUV, the EV9, continues to defy expectations.
With another 1,941 models sold last month, Kia EV9 sales reached 17,911 through October. That’s even more than the EV6 despite costing +$12,000 more.
Kia’s first US-made EV9 rolled out of its West Point, GA plant this summer. Although the EV9 is expected to qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit next year, Kia is matching it for now through incentives.
Next year, we will also finally see the EV9 GT, which Kia promises will have “enormous power.” Ahead of its official debut, we got our first look at the sporty electric SUV with an active spoiler last month.
| 2025 Kia EV9 Trim | Starting Price* |
| Light Standard Range | $54,900 |
| Light Long Range | $59,900 |
| Wind | $63,900 |
| Land | $69,900 |
| GT-Line | $73,900 |
Earlier this month, we learned that the 2025 EV9 will start at $54,900 (not including the destination fee), which is only $700 more than the 2024 model.
With prices dropping to potentially under $50,000, Kia’s three-row electric SUV is a steal. If you’re ready to experience the EV9 for yourself, we can help you get started. You can use our links below to view deals on Kia’s electric vehicles in your area.
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The outcome of the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5 won’t affect oil production levels in the short- to medium term, Exxon CEO Darren Woods told CNBC on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump has called for unconstrained oil and gas production to lower energy prices and fight inflation, boiling his energy policy down to three words on the campaign trail: “Drill, baby, drill.”
“I’m not sure how drill, baby, drill translates into policy,” Woods told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Friday after the largest U.S. oil and gas company reported third-quarter results.
Woods said U.S. shale production does not face constraints from “external restrictions.” The U.S. has produced record amounts of oil and gas during the Biden administration.
Over the past six years, the U.S. has produced more crude oil than any other nation in history, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Output in the U.S. is driven by the oil and gas industry deploying technology and investment to generate shareholder returns based on the break-even cost of production, the CEO said.
“Certainly we wouldn’t see a change based on a political change but more on an economic environment,” Woods said. “I don’t think there’s anybody out there that’s developing a business strategy to respond to a political agenda,” he said.
While shale production has not faced constraints on developing new acreage, there are resources in areas like the Gulf of Mexico that have not opened up due to federal permitting, the CEO said.
“That could, for the longer term, open up potential sources of supply,” Wood said. In the short- to medium term, however, unconventional shale resources are available and it’s just a matter of developing them based on market dynamics, he said.
Exxon Mobil shares in 2024.
The vast majority of shale resources in the U.S. are on private land and regulated at the state level, according to an August note from Morgan Stanley. About 25% of oil and 10% of natural gas is produced on federal land and waters subject to permitting, according to Morgan Stanley.
Vice President Kamala Harris opposed fracking during her bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. She has since reversed that position in an effort to shore up support in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, where the natural gas industry is important for the state’s economy.
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