WHEEL-E PODCAST: WALMART MID-DRIVE E-BIKES, HARLEY'S NEW EMTB, CHINESE ELECTRIC ATV & MORE

EV Channels Review

This episode of the Wheel-E podcast covers a diverse range of electric personal mobility, with a significant focus on e-bikes. The discussion begins with Walmart's surprising entry into the mid-drive, full-suspension e-bike market with a Kent-branded model, priced affordably at $498, noted for offering a mid-drive experience previously unavailable at this price point, though component quality is expected to be basic. Harley-Davidson's Serial 1 unveils a new electric mountain bike, a significant upgrade from its previous rigid model, now featuring front suspension, a Brose S-Mag motor, a 529 Wh battery, and a 12-speed drivetrain, priced at $4,500, positioning it as a more premium offering. The podcast also touches on Urban Arrow's high-end $8,000 family cargo e-bike, highlighting its car-replacing potential and Bosch Gen 4 motor. REI enters the utility e-bike space with two new models, praised for their accessibility and serviceability, though noted as lower-powered Class 1 bikes. The discussion expands to more unconventional electric vehicles, including Trikke's 45 mph standing electric tricycles for police use, a 6,000W all-wheel-drive standing electric ATV purchased from Alibaba, and the Microlino quadricycle, a compact, car-like vehicle with a unique front-opening door. Finally, the Arc One electric speedboat is presented as a powerful, albeit expensive ($300,000), electric watercraft option, sparking debate on efficiency versus brute force in electric marine propulsion.