Wheel-E Podcast: Gazelle’s Bosch hub motor bikes, Eurobike, more

This is an e-bike news roundup, not directly about home energy upgrades, so there's little here that affects a homeowner's retrofit plans. Still, a few items may interest anyone weighing electric bikes as a lower-cost, lower-energy alternative to a car for local trips.

Gazelle has a new e-bike using a Bosch hub motor design, and Monarc introduced a commuter e-bike called the Tracer with dual batteries and a 5-year warranty. DJI, known for its e-mountain-bike motors, is moving into a new "electric SUV bike" category. A company called Amble also showed off a street-legal electric buggy that can go 40 mph, blurring the line between bike and small vehicle.

On the regulatory side, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is considering a new rule that could change safety standards for e-bikes sold in the US. Separately, Florida's governor vetoed an e-bike safety bill that had passed unanimously in the state legislature. Neither of these changes is final or explained in detail here, but they signal that e-bike rules may shift depending on where you live, similar to how energy rebates and codes vary by state. If you already own or are considering an e-bike, it may be worth keeping an eye on how these safety rules develop in your state, since they could affect what's available or required for e-bikes down the road.