Skip to main content

Volta ebike from Pure Cycles packs 40 miles worth of self-riding power

volta ebike screen shot 2017 03 01 at 10 12 45 am
Image used with permission by copyright holder
This is one bike you won’t want to keep hidden away in your garage. Meet the Volta, an ebike that promises to be everything you’ve ever wanted and more out of two-wheeled transportation. Not only is it motorized, but it’s also smart, with remote activation, activity tracking, and GPS security tracking as just a few of the perks that come included. So if you’ve been meaning to get outside more or drive less, the Volta may just be your ticket out of doors.

“From Palo Alto to San Francisco, from Brooklyn to the Bronx and back, with 40 miles of power, your rides are no longer limited by your legs,” Volta notes on its Kickstarter page, “Let your imagination plan your route and see where it takes you.” And clearly, this bike has captured the imagination of the Kickstarter community. Already, the bike has raised over $45,000, and still has more than six weeks to go in its campaign.

Recommended Videos

So what’s so special about this bike? First off, while the Volta comes with some serious power, there’s no bulky battery or ugly system to ruin the aesthetic. Rather, Volta’s rear-mounted motor helps keep your bike balanced and delivers power directly to your rear wheel, letting you zoom ahead as needed.

Then, there’s the GPS tracking function, which helps you keep an eye on your bike, even if you can’t see it. Should someone try to take your Volta, you’ll be able to point the authorities in the right direction. And of course, this smart bike comes with a companion app that lets you track your stats so you can work on your fitness. Keep tabs on your calories burned, miles traveled, and more.

The Volta also comes with integrated headlights and taillights, as well as plenty of storage space in its front basket. And despite all these features, it only weighs in at 35 pounds.

So if you’re in need of a new bike, you may want to consider the Volta. You can pre-order one now for the super early bird price of $1,399.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The best hurricane trackers for Android and iOS in 2024
Best hurricane tracking apps.

The hurricane season instills fear in those who find themselves in the paths of these storms, and in their loved ones who are concerned for their safety. A hurricane app is essential if you’ve stayed up all night worrying about a family member who's alone during a destructive storm.

Many hurricane trackers are available to help you prepare for these dangerous events, monitor their progress, and assist in recovery. We’ve compiled a list of the best apps for tracking storms, predicting their paths, and providing on-the-ground suggetsions for shelters and emergency services. Most of these apps are free to download and supported by ads. Premium versions are available to remove ads and add extra features.

Read more
Best lawn mower deals: Cordless, gas, electric and robotic
A robot lawn mower in a backyard while a family relaxes.

Mowing a lawn can be very therapeutic unless you have an older lawnmower, which makes life difficult and constantly causes you frustration. Luckily, you can snag a new lawnmower for a pretty good price, and even the more budget-oriented options have a lot of quality-of-life features that you wouldn't find on lawnmowers ten or even five years ago. To that end, we've gone about and collected some of our favorite lawnmower deals across the board, including some great robot lawn mowers that are worth checking out.
Litheli Cordless Lawn Mower U20 Handy+ -- $120, was $140

If you want a solid lawn mower, this offering from Litheli has a 13-inch cutting width, which is pretty good for the deal that you're getting. Even better, you get a 30L grass bag so you're not having to clean up after yourself, and you can mow for longer without having to stop. You also get 5 height adjustments so you can hone in the length of your grass to the perfect height, plus you get a 4.0Ah portable battery included.

Read more
Juiced Bikes offers 20% off on all e-bikes amid signs of bankruptcy
Juiced Bikes Scrambler ebike

A “20% off sitewide” banner on top of a company’s website should normally be cause for glee among customers. Except if you’re a fan of that company’s products and its executives remain silent amid mounting signs that said company might be on the brink of bankruptcy.That’s what’s happening with Juiced Bikes, the San Diego-based maker of e-bikes.According to numerous customer reports, Juiced Bikes has completely stopped responding to customer inquiries for some time, while its website is out of stock on all products. There are also numerous testimonies of layoffs at the company.Even more worrying signs are also piling up: The company’s assets, including its existing inventory of products, is appearing as listed for sale on an auction website used by companies that go out of business.In addition, a court case has been filed in New York against parent company Juiced Inc. and Juiced Bike founder Tora Harris, according to Trellis, a state trial court legal research platform.Founded in 2009 by Harris, a U.S. high-jump Olympian, Juiced Bikes was one of the early pioneers of the direct-to-consumer e-bike brands in the U.S. market.The company’s e-bikes developed a loyal fandom through the years. Last year, Digital Trends named the Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 as the best moped-style e-bike for 2023, citing its versatility, rich feature set, and performance.The company has so far stayed silent amid all the reports. But should its bankruptcy be confirmed, it could legitimately be attributed to the post-pandemic whiplash experienced by the e-bike industry over the past few years. The Covid-19 pandemic had led to a huge spike in demand for e-bikes just as supply chains became heavily constrained. This led to a ramp-up of e-bike production to match the high demand. But when consumer demand dropped after the pandemic, e-bike makers were left with large stock surpluses.The good news is that the downturn phase might soon be over just as the industry is experiencing a wave of mergers and acquisitions, according to a report by Houlihan Lokey.This may mean that even if Juiced Bikes is indeed going under, the brand and its products might find a buyer and show up again on streets and trails.

Read more