All posts tagged: MPH

Segway launches 60 MPH electric dirt bike – and it’s basically a full e-motorcycle

Segway launches 60 MPH electric dirt bike – and it’s basically a full e-motorcycle

Published by skeptic

Segway may still be best known for its scooters, but the company has been quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) expanding deeper into the electric two-wheeler space. Between its growing e-bike lineup and earlier Sur Ron-style off-road models, the trajectory has been clear. Now with the launch of the new Xaber 300, Segway is diving headfirst into the electric powersports market. And make no mistake: this is a motorcycle, not an e-bike or an e-scooter. The Segway Xaber 300 is a full-fledged electric dirt bike packing a 21 kW peak power output, good for a claimed top speed of 60 mph (96 km/h) and a 0–50 mph (80 km/h) sprint in just 5.5 seconds. That’s well beyond typical e-bike territory and firmly into lightweight electric motorcycle performance. Weighing just 187 lb (85 kg), the bike also boasts an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 0.25 kW/kg, helping it deliver that kind of acceleration and off-road capability.  Advertisement – scroll for more content Power comes from a 72V and 44Ah battery with just over 3 kWh of capacity, built …

Man builds solar-powered car from e-bikes that can hit 30 mph

Man builds solar-powered car from e-bikes that can hit 30 mph

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Engineering an efficient, affordable solar-power car has eluded automotive enthusiasts for decades. While the technology is increasingly becoming more cost-effective and integrated into global energy grids, using solar cells to reliably propel a standard-sized vehicle long distances simply isn’t quite there yet. But that doesn’t mean you can’t rig a smaller ride to ferry you on shorter trips.  As YouTuber Simon Sörensen demonstrated earlier this year, all you apparently need is a couple of e-bikes, some sustainable energy add-ons, and a little bit of soldering know-how to engineer an extremely enviable, two-person solar car. The diminutive vehicle isn’t a weakling, either. Thanks to his setup, Sörensen even managed to pack his project with four-wheel drive. “What’s cool about this particular setup is that I have a 1000W hub motor in each wheel,” he explained in a recent profile from SupercarBlondie. I Built a Solar-Powered Car – And It Works! To create the car, Sörensen took apart two e-bikes for …

Navee XT5 Pro is a 30 MPH e-scooter with one thing I don’t like

Navee XT5 Pro is a 30 MPH e-scooter with one thing I don’t like

Published by skeptic

After spending some time riding and testing the Navee XT5 Pro electric scooter, I came away with a pretty clear impression: this thing is unapologetically built for speed, comfort, and stability, but not portability. And I’m okay with that – so long as you know what you’re signing up for. The $1,099 XT5 Pro sits firmly in that growing category of high-performance electric scooters, though it keeps things more or less reasonable without entering hyper-scooter territory. With a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), substantial suspension, and big 12″ tires (big by scooter standards), it’s a model designed for riders who want to cover ground quickly and comfortably rather than toss a scooter under one arm and hop on a bus. And while it doesn’t seem to have the same fit and finish as the more expensive models, it checks the two major boxes of fast and far while still looking pretty good, too. Power and performance Let’s start with the headline feature: speed. The Navee XT5 Pro really does hit its claimed 50 …

Fast Heybike Venus e-bike launched with 28 MPH at under 50 lbs!

Fast Heybike Venus e-bike launched with 28 MPH at under 50 lbs!

Published by skeptic

Electric bike maker Heybike has just officially unveiled its latest model, the Venus, a lightweight commuter-focused e-bike designed to bridge the gap between practical urban transportation and relaxed recreational riding. The new model launches with a starting MSRP of $1,499 and brings together a relatively powerful drivetrain, long-range claims, and a lighter frame package aimed at everyday riders.  The Heybike Venus is built around a step-through aluminum frame intended to make the bike approachable for a wide range of riders, with a recommended rider height range spanning from 4’11” to 6’2” (150-188 cm). The company describes the bike as a “dual-use lightweight e-bike,” meant to handle both the harder weekday commuting jobs and the more casual weekend cruising rides without forcing owners to choose between efficiency and comfort.  Power comes from a 750W rear hub motor that produces up to 70 Nm of torque, which should provide enough punch for quick acceleration in traffic or tackling moderate hills. The bike is capable of reaching speeds up to 28 mph (45 km/h), placing it squarely in …

The new low-cost 40 MPH e-moped that teens will love and HOAs will hate

The new low-cost 40 MPH e-moped that teens will love and HOAs will hate

Published by skeptic

Engwe, a popular maker of several different styles of electric bicycles, has just launched what appears to be its boldest and most powerful electric two-wheeler yet, the M20 3.0. Previous versions of the M20 that I tested were already running up against, and sometimes just over, the contentious boundary between electric bicycles and light electric motorcycles. And make no mistake now, the new M20 3.0 blows past that line entirely. This is no longer an electric bicycle… It’s a powerful light electric moped with a top speed that will thrill some and worry others. The Engwe M20 3.0 features a full suspension design with a dual-crown suspension fork and direct-linkage rear suspension. With a 3,300W peak-rated rear hub motor promising 120 Nm of torque, it looks like it can climb just about any hill… and quickly. The high voltage 60V system is powered by either a single or dual 60V 20Ah (1.2 kWh) batteries, giving a claimed 90 or 180 miles (145 or 290 km) of range, depending on the selected battery option. And the …

Why another US state is preparing a 10 mph e-bike speed limit [Update]

Why another US state is preparing a 10 mph e-bike speed limit [Update]

Published by skeptic

Florida is the latest US state to wade into the increasingly crowded waters of e-bike regulation, with lawmakers advancing a bill that would impose a situational 10 mph (16 km/h) speed limit for e-bikes on shared-use paths. It’s a move that fits squarely into a broader national trend, as states and cities across the country reconsider how electric bikes fit into public spaces that were never designed with fast, motor-assisted travel in mind. [Update February 27, 2026: The Florida Senate has unanimously passed this bill, and now it moves on to the House, where if it also passes, it will be sent to the Governor to be signed into law.] The proposed Florida legislation isn’t a blanket crackdown on e-bikes, nor does it rewrite the familiar three-class system like we’ve seen in harsher crackdowns such as the recently created New Jersey law. Instead, it zeroes in on where and how e-bikes are used, particularly on sidewalks and multi-use paths where speed differences between users can quickly become a safety issue. What the bill proposes At …

Why another US state is preparing a 10 mph e-bike speed limit [Update]

Why another US state is preparing a 10 mph e-bike speed limit

Published by skeptic

Florida is the latest US state to wade into the increasingly crowded waters of e-bike regulation, with lawmakers advancing a bill that would impose a situational 10 mph (16 km/h) speed limit for e-bikes on shared-use paths. It’s a move that fits squarely into a broader national trend, as states and cities across the country reconsider how electric bikes fit into public spaces that were never designed with fast, motor-assisted travel in mind. The proposed Florida legislation isn’t a blanket crackdown on e-bikes, nor does it rewrite the familiar three-class system like we’ve seen in harsher crackdowns such as the recently created New Jersey law. Instead, it zeroes in on where and how e-bikes are used, particularly on sidewalks and multi-use paths where speed differences between users can quickly become a safety issue. What the bill proposes At the center of the bill is a requirement that e-bike riders slow to 10 mph (16 km/h) or less when operating on shared-use paths or sidewalks that are occupied by pedestrians. Riders would be required to drop …

The extreme sport of skijoring, where horses pull skiers at 40 mph

The extreme sport of skijoring, where horses pull skiers at 40 mph

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. The high-adrenaline winter sport of skijoring, derived from the Norwegian word for “ski driving,” takes so many forms that it even defies uniform pronunciation. “If you go to France, it’s skijoering, pronounced SKEE-zhor-ing. In German, it’s skijöring, pronounced SHEE-yuh-ring,” says Loren Zhimanskova, founder of Skijor International and Skijor USA. “In Norway, it’s skikjøring, pronounced SHEE-shuh-ring. Every culture has its own version, and that’s part of what makes the sport so special.”  This changeability goes beyond umlauts and accents—it’s at the heart of the evolution and modern practice of this eclectic sport. At its core, skijoring is a winter sport in which a skier is pulled across the snow by a horse. In European competitions, the horse typically runs riderless, while in Western-stye competitions a mounted rider steers the horse through a fast-paced obstacle course. “It’s that free-flowing, wildhearted diversity that makes our sport so attractive,” Zhimanskova says. But that diversity is also why skijoring may never again grace the …

Heybike Villian launched as low-cost 45 MPH light electric dirt bike

Heybike Villian launched as low-cost 45 MPH light electric dirt bike

Published by skeptic

Heybike is best known for affordable commuter e-bikes, fat-tire cruisers, and city-friendly rides. But the company is now stepping well outside the bike lane with something very different. Meet the Villain – a compact electric e-moto that looks and rides far more like a Sur-Ron–style light electric dirt bike than anything you’d legally call an electric bicycle. And crucially, it does so at a price point aimed at riders who want electric dirt-bike fun without dropping full-on motorcycle money. The Villain marks the launch of Heybike’s new “Sports” lineup, signaling a clear shift away from pedal assist and into throttle-only, off-road-leaning electric machines. This is not an e-bike in the regulatory sense. There are no pedals, no pretense of bicycle classification, and performance numbers that place it squarely in light e-moto territory. And fortunately, Heybike doesn’t pretend that it’s an electric bicycle, unlike many brands we’ve seen who enjoy hanging around in the grey area. Advertisement – scroll for more content “Here comes a new era of Heybike Sports,” said the company. “Villain, the first …

Honda’s new 50 MPH commuter ‘electric motorcycle’ rolls out with interesting battery choice

Honda’s new 50 MPH commuter ‘electric motorcycle’ rolls out with interesting battery choice

Published by skeptic

Honda has been releasing new electric two-wheelers at an impressive clip over the last few years, making up for lost time. The company’s latest model, known as the Honda UC3, is soon headed for the Vietnam and Thailand markets. But perhaps more interesting than the bike itself is Honda’s decision to use integrated batteries rather than its own in-house removable-battery standard. Rolling out of Honda’s motorcycle division, the UC3 falls under the definition of an electric motorcycle, even if most in the West would lump it into the scooter category (which is itself a segment of motorcycles, if we want to get pedantic). But no matter how you describe it, it’s clear that Honda has leveraged much of the expertise it has developed during the R&D of other electric motorcycles in its lineup to produce the UC3. Advertisement – scroll for more content The company announced this month that it will begin sales of the new Honda UC3 in Thailand and Vietnam starting this spring. The UC3 is positioned as the electric equivalent of a …