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Bicycles

Utility Series ebikes designed to give the family car the day off

By Paul Ridden
May 15, 2023
Utility Series ebikes designed to give the family car the day off
The "minivan" of the Utility Series is the Pie, which features a dual battery setup, can ride as Class 2 or Class 3 and is rated to haul up to 440 lb (including rider and cargo)
The "minivan" of the Utility Series is the Pie, which features a dual battery setup, can ride as Class 2 or Class 3 and is rated to haul up to 440 lb (including rider and cargo)
View 6 Images
The "minivan" of the Utility Series is the Pie, which features a dual battery setup, can ride as Class 2 or Class 3 and is rated to haul up to 440 lb (including rider and cargo)
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The "minivan" of the Utility Series is the Pie, which features a dual battery setup, can ride as Class 2 or Class 3 and is rated to haul up to 440 lb (including rider and cargo)
The Pie cargo ebike comes with a frame-integrated rear rack and front cargo module
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The Pie cargo ebike comes with a frame-integrated rear rack and front cargo module
The Pie is equipped with a 1-kWh dual battery for up to 80 miles of per-charge riding
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The Pie is equipped with a 1-kWh dual battery for up to 80 miles of per-charge riding
The Slice DLX model features the same 500-W mid-mount motor as the Pie, but rolls with a single 600-Wh battery
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The Slice DLX model features the same 500-W mid-mount motor as the Pie, but rolls with a single 600-Wh battery
The Slice Lite weighs just 60 lb, and comes packing a Vvolt adjustable front cargo module
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The Slice Lite weighs just 60 lb, and comes packing a Vvolt adjustable front cargo module
The Slice Lite features a 350-W rear-hub motor, 500-Wh battery and a Gates Carbon Drive belt
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The Slice Lite features a 350-W rear-hub motor, 500-Wh battery and a Gates Carbon Drive belt
View gallery - 6 images

Portland, OR-based e-mobility outfit Vvolt says that most trips by car in the US are less than a few miles, making cargo ebikes an attractive alternative. The new Utility Series models have been "designed from the ground up to help folks ride more and drive less."

The Vvolt Utility Series is made up of three family ebike models, topped by the Class 1/Class 3 Pie, which comes with a 500-W mid-mount motor for up to 20 mph (32 km/h) of Class 1-compliant riding or 28 mph (45 km/h) at Class 3. It features torque, cadence and speed sensors for a responsive ride, a Gates Carbon Drive belt, and a Boost button for motor help at the lights. And there's an Enviolo CVT in-hub transmission with 380% gear range. The dual battery setup tops out at more than 1,000 Wh for between 30 and 80 miles (48 - 128 km) of per-charge range.

There's a 24-inch wheel at the back and a 20-inch wheel up front, each wrapped in a 3-inch puncture-resistant tire. Stopping power is provided by four-piston hydraulic brakes, there's integrated lighting front and back, and a frame-integrated cargo rack is included plus an adjustable front module. Optional accessories can be had too. The ebike is rated to haul up to 440 lb (200 kg) including rider and cargo.

The Pie cargo ebike comes with a frame-integrated rear rack and front cargo module
The Pie cargo ebike comes with a frame-integrated rear rack and front cargo module

This model also rides with a GPS and 4G smart system for theft protection (including a built-in alarm), mobile app connectivity, remote diagnostics and over-the-air updates. It's open for US$200 reservations now, and deliveries are expected to begin from late 2023. The launch price is US$4,499.

The Slice DLX cargo ebike is essentially the same as the Pie, but rolls with a single 600-Wh battery and doesn't sport an integrated rear rack. This one is also penciled in for late 2023 availability, with a target price of $3,999.

Finally, the Slice Lite is a Class 2 single-speed version with a 350-W rear-hub motor for up to 20 mph (32 km/h) of pedal-assist plus throttle only, a 500-Wh battery, dual piston hydraulic brakes but no smart connectivity (at the moment). This model is up for pre-order now at $2,049 with a free front cargo module included in the pre-order package. Shipping is due to start in July.

The video below has more.

Meet the Vvolt Utility Series ebikes

Product page: Vvolt Utility Series

View gallery - 6 images

Tags

Bicyclescargo bikeebikesPedal-assisted
3 comments
Paul Ridden
Paul Ridden
While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.

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3 comments
michael_dowling
Another day,another expensive e-bike. I could use something like this for runs to the supermarket,but where I live,you take your life in your hands riding on local roads with idiots in 2 ton SUVs gunning for you.
Jinpa
That seat is a candidate for the least-comfortable imaginable.
jerryd
That price is more than I have in my 200 mile range S-10 conversion. They are about 50% higher priced than the competition.
Nice bikes though and will increasingly replace a lot of cars, trucks with these kinds of e bikes. Especially with a bike trailer.
Many places have separate bike lanes now but I've been riding a bike in traffic without them 55 yrs, you just need to learn how to drive with them. If a lane is too narrow, I take the center until it is safe for them to pass.
An E bike goes a long way helping this is much easier to keep up with traffic.