Razor is back with yet another electric two-wheeler for adults, though this time it comes in the form of a slick-looking moped-style e-bike. The Razor Rambler 20 was just announced today, adding a larger format e-bike to the existing Razor Rambler line.
Don’t call it a SUPER73… even though it looks like it. This is the Razor Rambler 20, which draws on retro styling combined with 20″ fat tires to create a fun e-bike for adults.
According to the company, the new ride “pairs a retro-inspired mint and chocolate-colored frame with oversized balloon tires and a padded bench seat, to deliver a comfortable commute around town, across campus, or along the coast.”
Despite Razor’s prowess in the scooter industry, the Rambler 20 is anything but a scooter. Its functional pedals and 20 mph (32 km/h) top speed land it solidly in the Class 2 e-bike designation.
A 500W rear hub motor is activated by five different levels of pedal assist for riding at relaxing lower speeds or pedaling right up to that 20 mph limit, depending on the rider’s mood.
The bike’s li-ion battery is said to be enough for 16.6 miles (26.7 km) of range per charge.
Also included on the Rambler 20 are front and rear mechanical disc brakes, an LED headlight and taillight for increased rider visibility, and a dashboard display that shows speed, battery life, and power level.
The Razor Rambler 20 is available from BestBuy (both online and physical stores) for $999.
Until now, Rambler fans had to be content with the Razor Rambler 12 and Rambler 16, whose lower speeds and power levels left them geared toward youth riders.
But as Razor’s vice president of design and development Ian Desberg explained, the Rambler 20 was designed to bring those same fun vibes to Razor’s adult customers:
Rambler 20 is a thrilling extension of our product portfolio. It follows the successful introductions of the smaller Rambler 12 and Rambler 16 for kids and teens. The addition of the new adult model reflects Razor’s desire to get the whole family moving and playing together. But we’ve not only made the Rambler 20 larger, we’ve also given adults the option to pedal, engage an electric pedal assist, or to rely completely on the electric motor. This is a smart, versatile, long-range electric bike that keeps maintenance to a minimum while being a blast to ride.
In fact, Razor actually has several products designed for adults. Electrek readers might remember that in recent months I’ve tested both the Icon retro-styled standing scooter and the EcoSmart Cargo seated scooter. Razor also offers two other adult-focused rides with the Crazy Cart XL and Dirt Quad 500.
Electrek’s Take
It’s fun to see Razor expand its adult lineup, largely because I’ve pretty much accepted the fact that I’ve outgrown children’s toys at this point… even if I won’t admit it out loud.
The Rambler 20 looks pretty darn awesome. There’s nothing incredibly innovative, though I do love those bullet-style headlights and tail lights.
The 500W motor and 36V system don’t scream “high power,” but they’re probably fine for casual cruising and recreational riding. I don’t think anyone expects this bike to compete with SUPER73 on power or performance.
I’m looking forward to testing it out to see how the bike handles and performs, especially considering the budget $999 price.
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Echoing the words of hydrogen critics everywhere, Mahle Chairman Arnd Franz says that building out a hydrogen infrastructure won’t be possible without “blue” H made from fossil fuels.
With that in mind, I don’t want to misrepresent the words of the esteemed Mr. Franz, who claims to be bullish on H’s prospects as a fuel. What I intend to do here, then, is shine a light on the space between Franz’ lines, read whatever’s in there, and then ask if you see what I see.
“We can’t achieve any CO2 emission reductions if you use natural gas or any other fossil sources to produce hydrogen,” Franz is quoted saying. “Today, the overwhelming portion of hydrogen production worldwide is around 90 million tons. That number is going to go up to 130 million tons until 2030. Currently, we have a flourishing and growing portion of that being more sustainable. By more sustainable, I mean blue and, eventually, green hydrogen. In our opinion, [blue hydrogen production is needed] to get the infrastructure going in order to get the ecosystem.”
I read that as saying that, today, there are no carbon emissions reduction benefits from using hydrogen as a fuel, because the overwhelming majority of those 90 million tons is being produced by natural gas and fossil fuels.
What’s more, everyone involved seems to trying to justify that with claims that fossil-generated hydrogen is some kind of “necessary evil” (my words) to build out a viable H ecosystem. See if you hear it, too.
“We will fail [with hydrogen technology] if we don’t use blue hydrogen,” Franz clarified. “Right now, hydrogen is produced from fossil sources with carbon capture, meaning we don’t let the carbon reach the atmosphere. Eventually, we need to get to wind and solar as the sources of energy to make hydrogen, and we believe the US has a really impressive program [thanks to] subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act.”
He was right then, and he’s still right now. “It’s one thing to have the technology and another thing for the technology to be viable,” Vlaskamp told the magazine Expansión (translated from Spanish). “Green hydrogen is not available for transportation and there is no point in switching from diesel to hydrogen if the energy source is not sustainable.”
The UAW union’s Stellantis Council met yesterday to discuss the beleaguered carmaker’s “ongoing failure” to honor the agreement that ended the 2023 labor strike, and their latest union memo doesn’t pull many punches.
In an email sent out by the UAW earlier today (received at 4:55PM CST), UAW President Shawn Fain wrote, “For years, the company picked us off plant-by-plant and we lacked the will and the means to fight back. Today is different. Because we stood together and demanded the right to strike over job security—product commitment—we have the tools to fight back and win … We unanimously recommend to the membership that every UAW worker at Stellantis prepare for a fight, and we all get ready to vote YES to authorize a strike at Stellantis.”
Kia promises the new EV9 GT will have “enormous power,” but that’s not all. For the first time, the Kia EV9 GT was caught with an active spoiler, giving us a sneak peek at potential new upgrades.
The brand’s first three-row electric SUV is already making its presence known in the US, helping push Kia to back-to-back record sales months. Meanwhile, a more powerful, sporty variant is on the way.
Kia confirmed the EV9 GT will top off the electric SUV’s lineup in April. Packing “enormous power,” the high-performance GT model can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 4 secs.
With a “high-output” dual-motor (AWD) system, the EV9 GT can quickly pick up speed despite weighing over 5,000 lbs.
Kia also equipped it with other high-performance features, such as a reinforced suspension and electronic braking system, for better control and stability.
We’ve already caught a glimpse of the performance electric SUV out testing, revealing aggressive new bumpers and wheels. Now, a new design feature has been spotted.
Kia EV9 GT could come with an active rear spoiler
The latest video from HealerTV shows the EV9 GT with what appears to be an active spoiler. As the reporter noted, it could be similar to the one spotted on the Genesis GV70 Magma.
Tesla’s Model X also used to come with an active spoiler until it was dropped a few years back. Although the GT model was spotted with one, Kia could just be testing new features, so don’t get too excited yet.
Earlier this week, a video from HealerTV showed the front row of the EV9 GT, comparing it to the current GT-Line model.
Several differences can be immediately noticed, including a more aggressive, all-black design with a yellow stripe down the center of the seat.
Kia is set to launch the EV9 GT in early 2025. It will rival other performance SUVs like the Tesla Model X Plaid.
Although prices have yet to be confirmed, the GT model is expected to sit above the current GT-Line at $73,900. In comparison, Tesla’s Model X Plaid starts at $94,990 and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 secs.
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