Walmart has a super cheap 20 MPH electric moped but the handlebars are backwards
Here’s something I didn’t expect to see today. Walmart has an interesting electric moped on sale for an attractive $779. The only problem is that it comes with the handlebars apparently installed backwards.
The Colorway e-bike is a mystery wrapped in a riddle. It comes with either a 750W or 250W rear hub motor, depending which line of the spec sheet you read. The bike claims a 20 mph (32 km/h) top speed, though it’s a bit worrying that Walmart admits right there on the spec sheet that it can only hit 20 mph when the battery is fully charged.
Then it’s got a 48V 15Ah battery for 720 Wh of capacity. That’s actually fairly impressive, and is slightly larger than the industry average, believe it or not. And if you’re in the mood for believing, Walmart says it will go as far as 20-40 miles (32-64 km) on a single charge of that battery.
The electric moped rides on 20″x4″ tires, features a 7-speed Shimano shifter and even includes full-suspension, though neither the front fork or rear shock look like high end suspension.
For now we’ll ignore the odd choice of name “Colorway”, which is a bit like naming a new car “Paint job”.
But the real kicker on this $1,299 e-bike that is currently marked down to $779 is that the handlebars are installed backwards.
Yes, that’s right. Check out the stem (the part that clamps the handlebars to the bike). It’s reversed, pointing back towards the saddle instead of forwards like normal.
To be fair, there’s an argument to be made that it isn’t “wrong”, per se. A reversed stem is a possible way to set up a bike, it’s just almost never done outside of a few niche cases. For extra small riders that aren’t large enough to handle a bigger bike, it puts the bars close enough to reach with their short arms. Some people also reverse the stem when using the bike for stunts.
The configuration is exceedingly rare though and in this case is almost certainly a mistake.
The setup is sometimes referred to as “tiller steering”, since instead of the stem letting the handlebars lead the bike, it is reversed like a boat tiller. That means the rider is sort of pulling the bars from side to side in the same motion as controlling the tiller on a boat.
The biggest downsides of the setup are that it creates a cramped cockpit and can lead to jerkier steering, especially for someone who isn’t used to the setup.
In this case, it’s possible that the bike was intended to be used this way. But based on the ultra budget cost and the fact that it’s being sold at Walmart, I’d wager that it’s equally possible that someone simply installed the handlebars wrong before the bike was sent for its product photoshoot. Lending credence to that theory is the fact that some of the riding shots show the handlebars installed correctly, like in the image below.
For those that would like to reinstall the handlebars the correct (or at least traditional) way, it’s possible but not exactly simple.
There’s more to it than just loosening the stem bolts and spinning the handlebar back around. You’ll also need to remove the brake levers, shifter, display and any other accessories on the handlebars like the bells and reflector. Then they’ll need to be reinstalled correctly. It’s not something that anyone armed with a 5mm hex wrench and a Phillips head screwdriver can’t handle, but it’s not a two minute job, either.
Of course the bike would probably work fine the way it is, as long as you could get used to the somewhat odd prospect of having your handlebars on backwards. But hey, you do you, Walmart!
Read more: These are the best electric bikes for every budget
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JackRabbit, the maker of pint-sized electric microbikes, is back with a new product designed to quickly recharge their batteries from pure, uncut photons mainlined into an e-bike directly from the sun. In true independent charging form, the Solar Charging Kit from JackRabbit keeps riders rolling even when there’s not a convenient AC outlet in sight.
Unveiled this week, the Solar Charging Kit consists of a single folding solar panel and a tiny voltage converter that is configured to output 42.0V, which is the exact voltage required by JackRabbit’s little e-bike batteries. There’s also an added USB-A and a USB-C charging port for powering other devices in addition to charging JackRabbit batteries.
“This Solar Charging Kit plugs directly into your bike,” explained the company, “letting you recharge without needing an outlet, but with a speed comparable to the charger that comes with the OG/OG2 (42V, 2A).”
That would mean the panel outputs around 80W of solar power, which the company says can recharge its batteries in just three hours. That fairly quick recharging speed is helped by the fact that JackRabbit’s batteries are a mere 151 Wh, or around a third of the size of most e-bike batteries.
If that sounds small, then you’re right – it is. But JackRabbit is all about going micro, offering barely 25 lb rideables that are easy to store and bring on adventures, even when they aren’t actually being ridden.
With small batteries that fit under the 160Wh limit for many airlines in the US, the batteries can be quickly charged and taken to the widest number of locations. And for riders that want to go further than a single 10-mile (16-km) battery will allow, extra batteries are small enough to fit a pants pocket. The company also offers much larger Rangebuster batteries, though they won’t pass by TSA and make it onto an airplane in your personal item.
It sounds like the Solar Chargking Kit should be able to charge up JackRabbit’s large RangeBuster batteries, though likely in more than three hours.
The $349 Solar Charging Kit is a bit pricier than building something similar yourself, but it’s also safer and more convenient than hacking together your own battery charger since it’s designed to work with JackRabbit’s batteries right out of the box.
Technically it’s only inteded for JackRabbit’s micro e-bikes (themselves technically seated scooters, even if they look and feel more like a typical bike), but it’d probably work for just about any 36V e-bike that requires 42.0V to charge.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen solar charging kits for electric bikes, and it’s a trend that is certainly appreciated by outdoors and camping enthusiasts, festival goers, or anyone who finds themself and their bike spending extended periods in the great, sunny outdoors.
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Solar generated 11% of EU electricity in 2024, overtaking coal which fell below 10% for the first time, according to the European Electricity Review published today by think tank Ember.
EU gas generation declined for the fifth year in a row, and total fossil generation fell to a historic low.
“Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy,” said Dr Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead author of the report. “At the start of the European Green Deal in 2019, few thought the EU’s energy transition could be where it is today; wind and solar are pushing coal to the margins and forcing gas into structural decline.”
The European Electricity Review published today by global energy think tank Ember provides the first comprehensive overview of the EU power system in 2024. It analyzes full-year electricity generation and demand data for 2024 in all EU-27 countries to understand the region’s progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity.
Wind and solar continue their meteoric rise in the EU
The EU power sector is undergoing a deep transformation spurred on by the European Green Deal. Solar generation (11%) overtook coal (10%) for the first time in 2024, as wind (17%) generated more electricity than gas (16%) for the second year in a row.
Strong solar growth, combined with a recovery of hydropower, pushed the share of renewables to nearly half of EU power generation (47%). Fossil fuels generated 29% of the EU’s electricity in 2024. In 2019, before the Green Deal, fossil fuels provided 39% of EU electricity, while renewables provided 34%.
Solar is growing in every EU country and more than half now have either no coal power or a share below 5% in their power mix. Coal has fallen from being the EU’s third-largest power source in 2019 to the sixth-largest in 2024, bringing the end into sight for the dirtiest fossil fuel. EU gas generation also declined for the fifth year in a row (-6%) despite a very small rebound in power demand (+1%).
The EU is reaping the benefits of reduced fossil fuel dependency
The surge in wind and solar generation has reduced the EU’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and its exposure to volatile prices since the energy crisis. Ember’s analysis found that without new wind and solar capacity added over the last five years, the EU would have imported an additional 92 billion cubic meters of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes of coal, costing €59 billion.
“While the EU’s electricity transition has moved faster than anyone expected in the last five years, further progress cannot be taken for granted,” continued Rosslowe. “Delivery needs to be accelerated particularly in the wind sector, which has faced unique challenges and a widening delivery gap. Between now and 2030, annual wind additions need to more than double compared to 2024 levels. However, the achievements of the past five years should instil confidence that, with continued drive and commitment, challenges can be overcome and a more secure energy future be achieved.”
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe said: “This milestone is about more than just climate action; it is a cornerstone of European energy security and industrial competitiveness. Renewables are steadily pushing fossil fuels to the margins, with solar leading the way. We now need more flexibility to kick-in, making sure the energy system is adapting to new realities: more storage and more smart electrification in heating, transport and industries.”
Read more: China installed a record capacity of solar and wind in 2024 – in numbers
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