NETJETS US VOLUME 15 2021

POWERED UP
From top: Serial 1’s Rush/Cty Step-
Thru; the Greyp e-SUV T5.
IT’S RARE A NEW TECHNOLOGY receives universal approval—
remember the ill-fated Segway?—but as increasing production
and sales demonstrate, e-bikes have managed to garner fans
across the full spectrum of cyclists. At the most basic level, the
battery-powered two-wheelers provide a leveling out effect,
allowing less able riders, including those of a certain age, to keep
pace with faster partners and to explore more adventurous trails
and experiences. Urban governments, too, have welcomed the
development of the e-bike as an alternative mode of transport
to help reduce pollution in city centers. Perhaps best of all, the
opportunities afforded by this relatively nascent form of transport
have piqued the minds of creative types around the world,
leading both to new cycling innovations—different materials
for the frame, belt drives replacing the cumbersome chain, and
integrated controls through apps—as well as to eye-catching new
designs. Be they tough trekkers or city slickers, the e-bikes of today
represent remarkable displays of forward-thinking imagination.
A leader in the this revolution is Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes
(radpowerbikes.com), which between April 2019 and 2020 enjoyed
a 297% rise in sales and was named as one of the 2021 TIME100
Most Influential Companies. Its latest model, the RadRover 6
Plus, exemplifies its ingenuity, with the fat-tired bike featuring an
upgraded user interface and a 750w custom-made hub motor that,
among other advantages, makes hill climbing much, much easier.
Another American mainstay making e-bikes a success is Trek
(trekbikes.com), a venerable name in the pedal-power market that
has effortlessly turned its hand to the modern version. Ease of use and
comfort are features of its award-winning Domane series, shown by
NetJets
49