Welcome to Ride Review, your weekly roundup of new tech and vehicle launches in the world of micromobility.
What You Need to Know Today
AIMExpo 2024 is in full swing and Team Micro is here covering the event from the show floor. We’re interviewing exhibitors, checking out new products, and even competed in the Super73 e-bike race! Check out our recap of day one.
On display at AIMExpo are electric dirtbikes from Chinese startup Gowow. Their flagship model, the Ori, has a minimalist enduro design with a 50:50 weigh distribution, and generates an impressive 420 nm of torque.
Heybike has teased more information about their upcoming fat tire adventure e-bike, the Hero. It features a full-suspension carbon fiber frame, a 750 watt mid-drive motor, and a nine-speed Shimano pedaling drivetrain.
British brand GoCycle is known for their lightweight & minimalist folding e-bikes, so we were surprised to hear them announce two new cargo bikes. The CXi and CX+ are undoubtably GoCycle with their monocoque folding design, but they’re serious workhorses capable of carrying up to 220 kg (480 lbs).
British startup Hilo EV developed a new lighting module for micromobility vehicles. Called the Intelligent Road Illumination System (IRIS), it uses cameras and AI to dynamically adjust lighting based on rider behavior and the environment.
Daeji Precision Company is a Korean manufacturer focused on special-purpose vehicles, the latest of which is a series of luxury electric golf karts. They come in four and six seat versions and include a wide array of cabin features such as HVAC, heated seats, and a thermoelectric refrigerator.
Trek’s newest electric mountain bike will be one of the most affordable Bosch-equipped products on the market, starting at $2,699. It’s using Bosch’s Active Line Plus motor and is available in five different frame sizes.
Tempo is a new service designed to make owning an electric bike easier. Called the “AAA of e-bikes”, it provides services including bike insurance, roadside assistance, repair & maintenance support, and theft prevention.
Belgian e-bike manufacturer Cowboy now offers an On-Demand service providing in-home maintenance and repairs. The new service was trialed successfully in several European cities before launching, and allows customers to use the Cowboy app to request a range of services including bike setup, maintenance packages, and tire repairs.
Honda made a big commitment to electrification and now they’ve unveiled their first electric two-wheeler for the Indian market. Called the Benley E, it’s an electric moped with front and rear cargo decks and battery swapping technology, and Honda hopes to bring it to market by the end of 2024.
Also coming to the Indian market is the XGT CAT 3.0, a three-wheeled cargo moped from Komaki. It can carry a substantial 500 kg (1,102 lbs) of cargo and is intended for both commercial and consumer use, and it’s powered by a fire-resistant graphene battery.
Ola Electric has launched yet another variant of their S1 X electric moped. Version 4 features a 4 kWh battery pack - the largest yet for the S1 X line - for a hefty maximum range of 190 km (118 miles).
