This e-bike comes unlocks with your fingerprint and can wirelessly charge your smartphone

E-bikes offer a more eco-friendly way to get around town. But they aren’t the most affordable options. And that is what e-bike maker Stark is hoping to change. A new pair of bikes from the company offers some compelling features at a more affordable package. The new Stark Drive Torque models have the same folding e-bike concept, allowing for easier transport. But this time, these models get NFC chips, fingerprint sensor, and an 18Ah battery pack with USB ports and wireless charging capability.

The standard Stark Drive Torque gets a 250W mid-drive motor with 80Nm of torque and pedal assistance of up to a top speed of 42km/h. While the beefier Stark Drive Torque Max comes with a 1,000W Bafang Ultra Max motor, thick off-road tires, up to 160Nm of torque, and top speeds of up to 62km/h. Both bikes have nine-speed Shimano gearing, adjustable suspension, and disc brakes. The range of both models will be over 100km. Pricing for the standard version starts at US$999. The Torque Max version doesn’t have a price yet but Stark plans to hold Indiegogo campaigns in August to raise funds for production.

Source: New Atlas

General Motors launches pre-orders for its first e-bikes

Last November, General Motors announced its plans to launch electric bicycles. It wanted the public's opinion on what the brand should be called, so it announced a crowdsourcing campaign. GM has since announced the name—ARĪV, which is pronounced like "arrive"—and has started taking pre-orders in select European countries.

GM will be releasing two models under the ARĪV brand. One is called Meld, a compact e-bike; while the other is called Merge, a folding e-bike. The Merge can be folded easily so you can roll it along on its two wheels when folded.

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