With the flick of a Sharpie marker, new tariffs on goods imported from Canada, Mexico, and China were imposed this morning and will take effect next week on February 4, 2025. According to President Trump, the tariffs are intended “to protect Americans”, though nearly all economists agree that they will result in higher prices for consumer goods and increased inflation, devaluing the US dollar.

The Trump Administration’s new 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico are larger than the 10% additional tariffs on Chinese goods, but the latter will have the biggest impact on the electric bicycle industry in the US.

Electric bicycles have grown in popularity among Americans over the last decade, offering an accessible and affordable alternative to cars and public transportation. They’ve also proven popular among recreational riders and those seeking the fun of fitness on an e-bike, which can be more enjoyable and last longer than leg-powered rides alone.

But now the US electric bike industry is bracing for potential price increases following President Trump’s new executive order imposing a 10% tariff on US imports from China. With the majority of electric bicycles and their components manufactured in China, the tariff is expected to impact both retailers and consumers, adding further strain to an industry still facing the cascading challenges of supply chain frustrations followed by overstock issues.

China dominates global e-bike production, supplying a significant portion of the US market with both complete electric bicycles and key components like motors, batteries, and controllers.

Industry estimates suggest that over 90% of e-bikes sold in the US are either fully assembled in China or contain Chinese-made parts, making them particularly vulnerable to new trade restrictions.

With an additional 10% import tariff coming into effect soon, US e-bike brands will either need to absorb the extra cost or pass it on to consumers, potentially leading to price increases across many popular models.

Make no mistake – these tariffs are not paid by Chinese exporters of electric bikes, but rather by the American companies that import them. That directly increases the cost of goods for US e-bike retailers, which usually results in increased prices.

Tariffs placed on Chinese goods, including electric bikes, are not a new phenomenon. The US e-bike industry has been navigating these tariffs since Trump’s first presidency, with those tariffs largely continuining throughout the Biden Administration from 2021 to 2025 as well, despite periods of tariff exemptions coming and going.

In the past few years, we’ve seen cases of the additional cost being passed on to consumers, but on rare occasions, we’ve also seen e-bike companies opt to absorb the increased cost and avoid raising prices.

With so much experience navigating the choppy waters of China tariffs over the last few years, many US e-bike companies have taken steps to mitigate the impact of new rounds of tariffs like these. Several major brands have been working to diversify their supply chains, moving production to other countries such as Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, and other areas with favorable economic conditions or incentives.

However, shifting away from China is neither quick nor easy, as the country remains a dominant producer with established manufacturing infrastructure. E-bike importers will likely also consider applying for tariff exemptions, as was the case under previous trade restrictions. However, this is a complex and uncertain process, with no guarantees of whether or how long such exemptions could be granted.

The US has seen rapid growth in e-bike adoption, with many cities and states launching incentive programs to encourage e-bike use as a sustainable transportation alternative. Price increases caused by tariffs could slow adoption, particularly among budget-conscious consumers who rely on e-bikes as an affordable commuting solution.

As the new tariffs take effect, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers will surely be watching closely to see how the industry responds. Some companies may adjust pricing strategies, shift production, or lobby for relief, while consumers may face difficult choices between absorbing higher costs or delaying purchases.

The long-term impact of these tariffs remains uncertain, but for now, one thing is clear: some e-bikes in the US are about to get more expensive.

Dannar keeps adapting its Mobile Power Station to meet the needs of the electrified off road market, bringing power to forests, construction sites, and rural farms when it’s needed. But now, the MPS doing more than just provide the power to do the work – its moving dirt!

Since I first saw it at the 2020 AFWERKS challenge, the Dannar MPS has seemed to be a solution in search of a problem. What I mean is that, while a 22,000 lb., 500 kW self-propelled battery that can charge itself up on grid power then make its way to the off-grid vehicles that need it makes sense, there just haven’t been that many electric equipment assets deployed. Even at Volvo Days this past summer, where a Dannar MPS was used to bring energy to a Volvo EC230E Electric excavator and L120 Electric wheel loader, it wasn’t obvious that Dannar had a better, more effectively deployable solution than Volvo itself.

Again, a solution in search of a problem – or, is it?

Recently, Dannar has adapted its MPS concept into something more than “just” a rolling battery. Now, Dannar is adding implements, controls, and even whole operator cabs to turn the MPS into a vehicle that cam do real work.

Dannar evolution

Equipment assets and construction equipment are expected to perform thousands of tasks, but a lot of those assets can be built on a common chassis, with third-party upfitters adding the specialized bodies and implements that ultimately get the job done.

After proving that its MPS works, Dannar is pushing the idea that it can serve as a “common chassis” for a few hundred different types of vehicles, too – with Dannar’s (relatively) proven technology platform underneath.

“The chassis cab idea’s been around for a long, long time,” explained Gary Dannar, in an interview with Charged EVs. “It has a frame and possibly a cab on the front, along with an engine and transmission. Now, you can put an ambulance body on there, you can put a tank on there, you can do whatever you want with it.”

Emergency response

Dannar sees a universe where its MPS is something like a new-age ox, ready to take its high-capacity V2G-capable batteries wherever they’re needed, and help clear the road from whatever snow, rocks, or downed trees are blocking its path.

And, in many cases, Dannar is using implements and attachments that are already popular on the market. “We have a hydraulic system on the Mobile Power Station now,” adds Dannar. “The hydraulic system is run from an electric motor, so you end up with the best of both worlds. You have a high-torque electric motor with variable speed that is able to run a hydraulic system extremely efficiently and with a lot of control. That means a lot of these hydraulic attachments and tools actually work better (on the MPS).”

You can see a few concept renderings illustrating some of the possibilities of an upfit Dannar in the field, as well as a prototype MPS with an operator cab and bucket attachment, below. Once you give those a look, let us know what you think of Dannar’s do-it-all concept in the comments.

Dannar MPS + bucket attachment

SOURCES: Dannar, Charged EVs, Power Progress.

Leveraging its advanced autonomy stack, Oshkosh corporation’s AeroTech group has debuted a series of electric support vehicles for the “Airport of the Future” that includes this driverless, electric baggage and cargo handler.

Airport ground support vehicles like baggage handlers, fueling rigs, and airplane tugs are ideal use cases for electrification. They’re purpose-built, route-based vehicles operating exclusively on controlled job sites, on predictable routes, and performing tasks that reward high torque at low speeds. It should come as no surprise, then, that as Oshkosh looks ahead to the future it sees EVs.

“Technology is only as valuable as the positive impact it has on our lives and within our communities,” said John Pfeifer, president and chief executive officer, Oshkosh Corporation. “Our innovations use AI, autonomy, connectivity and electrification to support a safe, productive, quiet and clean future.”

The company believes its electric and autonomous gate and ground support equipment, combined with other connected technologies, will help airlines to optimize operations and reduce travel delays related to cargo and loading.

Oshkosh at CES

The company unveiled its baggage handler at CES last month, where Oshkosh showed-off AI-powerd self-driving vehicles and connected solutions like iOPS and ClearSky Smart Fleet technologies to improve operator safety both at airports and on construction job sites.

The best part? Instead of the vehicle going back to a designated charging area to power up, the power comes to it. When the EV is expected to be stable for a few minutes, an Oshkosh-developed Autonomous Mobile Charging Robot (AMCR). This concept brings wireless charging capabilities directly to equipment to help optimize uptime and support accelerated adoption of electrified products through the company’s ClearSky Smart Fleet technology.

You can check the vehicles out for yourself in the photo gallery, below. The AMCR is shown wearing JLG livery (JLG is a construction equipment brand owned by Oshkosh), and can provide power to any vehicle using a conventional J1772/CCS connector.

Oshkosh gallery

SOURCE | IMAGES: Oshkosk; photos by the author.