Heybike & Upway Capitalize E-bike Growth In The US Amid UK Charity's Warnings

The buzz of electric motors has become a common sound in our homes, workplaces, and beyond. From autonomous ride-hailing giants to electric vehicles powering intelligent transport systems, electric modes of transport are becoming popular.

One such variant is electric bikes or e-bikes, whose combination of pedal power with electric motors is gaining popularity among commuters.

As the popularity of e-bikes grows, numerous important aspects have come into the big picture, ranging from the appealing features and costs to critical questions about their safety and sustainability.

So, here’s the latest from the world of electric transportation!
 

Heybike’s Alpha Delivers Robust Features At A Mid-Level Price

Heybike, a Chinese e-bike manufacturer, made headlines with the launch of its Alpha e-bike. This durable, fat-tired, all-terrain electric cycle made a good first impression, especially considering its $1,699 price tag.


One of Alpha's primary characteristics is its mid-drive motor with a torque sensor. This combination offers a more natural and intuitive riding experience than the more prevalent hub-mounted motors.  The inclusion of both pedal assist and a throttle, along with a manual shifter is another exciting feature that makes Alpha stand out in a quickly saturating electric bike market.

Its battery life also appears to be a significant advantage, with a 680Wh battery working in tandem with Heybike's Galaxy eDrive system offering an impressive battery life of 60 miles.

Besides its performance, Alpha demonstrates practicality with a solid design, with a rear rack capable of transporting large objects. The thick tires and hydraulic front fork suspension make it suitable for a variety of terrains, including pothole-ridden metropolitan streets and off-road tracks. Despite its robust features, the 71-pound weight is not unduly heavy, thanks to its aluminum alloy frame.

However, there are some challenges with the initial setup, the unintuitive battery cover, and a surprisingly loud horn. The accompanying app also lacks some of the more useful features found in other e-bike applications. Furthermore, the limited color options might be a consideration for some.

Despite these drawbacks, the overall impression of the Heybike Alpha has been positive, with its competitive price point for a mid-drive e-bike with extensive capabilities.

Yet, Heybike is not the only one introducing low-cost, feature-rich e-bikes. Read on!
 

How Upway Is Giving Pre-Owned E-Bikes A Second Life

Addressing both affordability and sustainability, French startup Upway is tapping into the burgeoning e-bike market with a platform for certified pre-owned e-bikes.

Recognizing that the average $2,000 price tag of a new e-bike can be a barrier for many, Upway offers a more accessible entry point by refurbishing and reselling used models.

Since its European launch in 2021 and its US expansion in 2023, Upway has reportedly refurbished over 50,000 e-bikes, thanks to the massive funding it received to support its operations.

The company sources its bikes through direct sales from consumers, trade-in programs with retailers, and partnerships with manufacturers for returned bikes. Each acquired e-bike undergoes a rigorous process of inspection, diagnosis, and repair, including assessing the electronics, verifying battery capacity (replacing it if below 80%), and fixing or replacing any damaged parts.

This certification process ensures that consumers receive a high-quality, pre-owned e-bike backed by a warranty, offered at a significant discount compared to the retail price, sometimes offering potential savings of up to 65%.

“What that means is, concretely speaking, as a consumer you get access to top brands,” Toussaint Wattinne, Upway’s co-founder and CEO said. He added, “You save over $1,000 on average compared to retail price, and you enjoy a doorstep delivery and a bike that comes with a warranty because it’s been certified by our mechanics, brought back up to the highest quality standards.”

Despite the growing popularity of e-bikes, it raises several important safety concerns, as evidenced by recent reports about lithium-ion battery fires.
 

The Hidden Risk OF E-Bikes: Lithium-Ion Batteries

Even though e-bikes have several benefits and are growing in popularity, there is a worrying concern about the safety of their lithium-ion batteries. News reports from the UK paint a worrying picture of fires being caused by e-bike batteries, described as "tearing through homes."


UK-based fire and rescue services say that lithium-ion batteries are the "fastest growing" source of fire risk. These batteries, also found in smartphones, laptops, and e-vapes, can go through a process called "thermal runaway" if they aren't up to par, are damaged, or charged incorrectly.

This runaway effect is an uncontrollable increase in temperature that can lead to intense fires and even explosions. The risk is quite serious, with 136 fires involving lithium-ion batteries in South Wales alone from April 2020 to March 2025.

A lot of such accidents have involved e-scooters and e-bikes, with one death being linked to a broken battery charger. Concerns are rising in other parts of the UK as well, with lithium battery fires causing more accidents and injuries.

Charities such as Electrical Safety First are urgently calling for stricter regulations around the sale of e-bike and e-scooter batteries to mitigate these risks. It emphasizes the immense energy released during a battery failure and the difficulty in stopping a thermal runaway reaction once it begins.

The UK government has also acknowledged these concerns and is working on updating product safety laws to prevent unsafe products from entering the country. Meanwhile, experts advise consumers to be vigilant, urging them to purchase e-bikes, batteries, and chargers from reputable retailers and to avoid counterfeit goods.

Experts also highlight risks associated with wear and tear, using incompatible chargers, and water damage. Further, safe disposal of lithium-ion batteries is also crucial to prevent fires at waste sites, which may release harmful gases causing environmental contamination.

While the adoption of e-bikes shows no signs of slowing down, safety concerns around e-bike batteries need an urgent, multifaceted approach that includes tougher laws, increased consumer awareness, and responsible manufacturing processes.

The popularity of e-bikes is evident in the significant growth reported by micromobility services like Lyft, which saw substantial increases in e-bike ridership in major North American cities.  

As e-bike adoption evolves, with Heybike and Upway in the lead, initiatives to improve safety, affordability, and sustainability will also be crucial in shaping the future of urban mobility.

Do you think cost-effective or refurbished e-bikes can help balance environmental responsibility with automotive convenience?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!