Palo Alto company, called Also, was incubated within the automotive giant before launching publicly last year with $3,500 flagship product
ALSO’S e-bikes, adorned with software, can “mirror a modern car-like experience,” co-founder Chris Yu declared.
(JESS LYNN GOSS For The Times)
Rivian Automotive has attracted die-hard fans by building a battery-powered truck with enough muscle for off-roading as well as the acceleration and suspension to comfortably glide through city streets. Its little brother — a company called Also — is attempting to do the same for e-bikes.
The Palo Alto company wants to reinvent the battery-driven bicycle applying a powerful generator and software to alter the see, feel and capabilities of two-wheelers. Also announced its flagship bike last October and is preparing to launch deliveries later this year.
E-bike enthusiasts often required separate bikes for different utilizes. Some bikes are good for carrying kids and cargo, others for daily city commutes. Another type is good for biking rough mountain paths.
Also claims its e-bikes can do it all by swapping out a few key components and pressing a button, so the bike behaves differently depfinishing on the day’s requireds.
“Let’s take the same approach as Rivian, the latest and most modern EV approach in architecture, but re-optimize it for compacter-than-car modes,” declared Chris Yu, president and co-founder of Also. “The best EVs have new features and new capabilities that come through a software update every few weeks.”
Also’s e-bike, dubbed the TM-B, starts at $3,500 and can travel up to 28 miles per hour. Many e-bikes are available for around $1,000, though some high-finish options go for more than $5,000.
The company is betting that the $57-billion global e-bike market and $3-billion U.S. market have room for a new player with a unique offering. It’s also building a four-wheel electric vehicle with pedals designed to deliver cargo.
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