United States
Lithium Iron Battery Closes Performance Gap to Nickel Cobalt Systems
Michigan, US A US energy storage technology company recently announced further progress in the range and energy density of its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system, as a safer option to nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) and with greater availability of raw materials. Michigan-based Our Next Energy (ONE) says its Aries II LFP battery pack has…
Carr Brothers Activate US Expansion for Fewer Cars on LA Roads
Los Angeles, US Lug+Carrie founders Daniel and Ben Carr have flicked the on switch for their expansion into the US, with their new Wombi business taking subscriptions in Los Angeles from last Tuesday. Wombi is being billed as the US’s first e-bike subscription service tailored for families, with a unique FamilyFlex bundle that gives subscribers…
Echelon Return to Road Wheel Royalty
Mystic, US Aero wheel specialist Princeton CarbonWorks has signed Echelon Sports as its new distributor in Australia. The young US company heralded the new partnership as an “exciting new chapter in our journey of providing top-tier cycling products to the cycling market in Australia”. Princeton CarbonWorks was founded by three elite rowers who turned cyclists…
Business Focus Gives Huge Sea Otter an Interbike Feel
Monterey, US A total of 528 exhibitors, representing more than 1,000 brands, came to the Sea Otter Classic last month, jamming the Laguna Seca Raceway exhibition area, setting records for attendance, reaffirming the event’s hold on the US bicycle industry, and enhancing its growing cachet among a bevy of foreign exhibitors. Australia was represented by…
Letter from America – New Bugbears for US Industry
SANTA FE, New Mexico It seems the US bicycle industry has set aside – at least for the moment – worries over supply chain disruption, overseas shipping costs, and tariffs on some Chinese imports. That’s not to say these concerns are unimportant, but the industry is moving full speed ahead into other hot button issues.…
BikeExchange Scraps Kitzuma Ready-to-Ride Delivery Service
North Carolina, US Online bike retailer BikeExchange (BEX) has announced it is scrapping the ready-to-ride bicycle delivery service by its Kitzuma subsidiary in the US, which it had earmarked to be replicated in its existing markets. During BikeExchange’s half-yearly financial report to shareholders last week, the company declared it would not be resuming Kitzuma’s ready-to-ride…
$18 Million Injection as Arcimoto Resumes Production
Oregon, US A US company at the forefront of light electric vehicle production, Arcimoto, has accrued a total of US$18 million (A$26.71 million) in funding during the past two months, and late last month resumed production for 2023. Arcimoto recorded a nett loss of approximately US$17 million (A$25.28 million) in the third quarter of 2022,…
US Court Upholds Fraud Claims Against BikeExchange Subsidiary
North Carolina, US A US court has upheld claims of fraud, misappropriation of trade secrets and common-law unfair competition against BikeExchange’s bike delivery service, Kitzuma. The US General Court of Justice – Superior Court Division refused submissions by Kitzuma and two of its founders to have the claims dismissed. The hearing on 30th November was…
Letter From America – Economic Headwinds Bring Dour Outlook for 2023
Sante Fe, US As the year winds down, looking toward 2023 is a daunting task whether as a manufacturer, supplier or retailer. So let’s take a stab at some prognostications and sort out the macro-economic headwinds and the downdrafts wafting through retail. Nonetheless, now is the time to rewrite and rethink forecasts for next year.…
Letter From America: Infrastructure Over Subsidies for Cycling Boost
Santa Fe, US There’s been much wailing and gnashing of teeth of late among e-bike advocates who’ve long hoped the federal government would loosen its purse strings and subsidise the purchase of new e-bikes. And it almost came to be. But a bold plan to offer a 30% tax credit toward the purchase of an…