NEW YORK (BRAIN) — Ten months after pulling e-bikes from the streets because of brake concerns, Lyft unveiled redesigned Citi Bike e-bikes on Wednesday.
Several hundred of the e-bikes join the bike-share service’s fleet. The e-bikes are spec’d with a drum front brake, a new battery, and a hub-drive motor. The drum brake replaces the Shimano Nexus Inter-M Hub Roller Brake. A Lyft spokesperson would not give the make and model.
Last April, some Citi Bike e-bike riders said excessive front brake force threw them over the handlebars, causing some injuries. The fleet was shelved, with the bike-share service left with only pedal bikes. Shimano said Lyft didn’t follow its requirements to spec’ a power modulator for that model front brake.
Then in July, battery fires sidelined Lyft’s e-bikes in San Francisco, further delaying the New York relaunch. Lyft said it is now working with a new battery supplier, which the spokesperson did not name. Nobody was injured when the two Bay Wheels e-bikes caught fire, and vandalism was not ruled out initially.
“We’re thrilled to power up Citi Bike rides as we launch our brand new e-bike fleet,” said Caroline Samponaro, Lyft’s head of micromobility policy. “With the Citi Bike e-bike, riders can conquer hills and cross the East River bridges without breaking a sweat, and we can’t wait […]
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