Gary Fisher’s Company Morelle Bikes To Debut A 15-Minute Fast-Charging E-Bike At Sea Otter
Legendary bike innovator Gary Fisher is making waves again, this time in the e-bike world. Best known as one of the pioneers of mountain biking, Fisher parted ways with Trek in 2022 and has since teamed up with battery scientist Kevin Hays to develop a new commuter e-bike at their company Morelle Bikes.
While final specs haven’t been confirmed, the teased feature is its lightning-fast charging battery, reportedly capable of reaching full capacity in just 15 minutes. Hays, formerly the director of product development at Ionblox, brings expertise in next-generation battery technology. The new bike will utilize pouch-style lithium-ion batteries, which claim to offer 50% higher energy density and rapid charging.
Our take: What kind of battery tech is behind the Morelle? Is this an advancement in traditional lithium-ion chemistry, or could it be an early sign of solid-state battery integration in the e-bike market? Either way, Fisher’s return to bike innovation is one to watch. Morelle will debut the bike at the Sea Otter Classic next month—expect more details soon.
Orange County, California Will Begin Enforcing New E-Bike Regulations Starting In April
Orange County, California, is set to implement stricter e-bike regulations starting in April. Some of these changes align with new state laws passed last fall, including:
- Licensing and registration for high-powered e-bikes: E-bikes with motors exceeding 750 watts will now require licensing and registration, as they are no longer classified as e-bikes.
- Stricter speed limit enforcement: Authorities will be cracking down on speed violations, particularly in areas shared by pedestrians and e-bikes.
- Penalties for reckless riding: Riders engaging in unsafe behavior will face penalties, though specific consequences have yet to be detailed.
These changes aim to address rising safety concerns, as bike-related accidents in Orange County have reportedly increased by 500% since 2020, according to County Supervisor Katrina Foley.
Some cities are taking additional measures. Cypress, for instance, may ban Class 2 and 3 e-bikes from sidewalks—it recently issued 37 citations in a single day to riders violating new local laws. Meanwhile, the city of Orange has implemented sidewalk speed limits and other new regulations.
Our take: We’re all for common-sense safety measures, and many of these steps seem reasonable. That said, we still believe speed regulation should take priority over motor wattage—just like it does with cars.
Tern Released A New 3rd-Generation Model Of Its Gsd Cargo Bike
According to Tern’s Team Captain, Joshua Hon, “Pretty much every aspect of the bike has been redesigned to work better, from big improvements like handling when heavily loaded to small details like how much effort it takes to get the bike up on the kickstand or how seatpost levers are easier for small hands to operate. The new GSD is just better.”
- Upgrades include:
- Stronger, more reinforced frame: The GSD now features larger-diameter aluminum tubing for improved durability.
- Improved stability: A longer wheelbase and lower center of gravity enhance handling, especially under load.
- Higher weight capacity: The GSD can now handle a maximum gross vehicle weight of 463 lbs, tested to meet German DIN 79010 standards.
- Upgraded Bosch Smart System: Includes GPS tracking, electronic locks, alarms, and ABS braking for enhanced security and control.
- New accessories:
- Folding footboards
- Weather protection: sun shield and rain shield
- Variants include an economical P10 with Shimano components and a premium R14 with Rohloff Speedhub and Gates belt drive
Pricing starts at $5,000, with availability in Europe and North America starting in May.
Our take: Awesome! We’ve loved the Tern bikes we’ve tested. They’re definitely a premium option, but you get what you pay for—and the ability to stand vertically for compact storage is just super cool!
