Photo: Revel
Feb. 16, 2021 By Christina Santucci
Revel, a company best known for its moped-sharing program, is launching a new leasing service for electric bikes, or e-bikes.
The company will be offering stylish e-bikes for $99 per month–starting next month–and will drop off the vehicles to its subscribers’ front door when they enroll. The e-bikes, which fully charge within four hours, can reach up to 20 miles per hour and travel as far as 45 miles per charge, Revel announced today.
The announcement comes at a time when bicycling has increased in New York City in the midst of the pandemic. For instance, data from the city’s Department of Transportation showed that the number of bicycles on East River bridges in October 2020 was up more than 30 percent from October 2019.
The company is promoting the service as being a low-cost, low-maintenance service. For instance, an e-bike can be expensive to buy and can cost hundreds of dollars per year in maintenance costs.
Revel touts its subscription service as a way to have access to an e-bike with less hassle. E-bikes are viewed as an easy alternative to a traditional bicycle, since the electric motor can make pedaling easier.
The program will include “normal wear and tear” repairs and maintenance like flat tires, loose chains and worn brakes, and the company said the fixes will be taken care of within 24 hours of riders requesting service on the Revel app.
The service will also include 24-hour customer support and free delivery and returns of the e-bikes, according to the company’s website.
Subscribers will also receive a lock as well as information about traffic laws for e-bikes, tips about safe riding and best practices to avoid theft.
New Yorkers in four boroughs — Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx — can add their names to a waitlist on Revel’s website or its app starting today. The e-bikes are expected to be available starting next month.
“Revel’s mission is to electrify cities and our e-bike subscription program is the next piece of the puzzle,” said Frank Reig, Revel CEO and co-founder, in a statement.
The company launched its electric moped-sharing service in 2018 and announced earlier this month that it is converting the former Pfizer building in Brooklyn into the largest universal electric vehicle charging depot in North America.
Photo: Revel
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6 Comments
i’m sure its super warm going that extra fast when its 10 below. also, there’s full size e-bikes on walmart for $398. is this worth the $99 a month?
I can’t remember the last time it was as cold as 10 above zero! Our winters have been pretty warm these last few years. I use my bike year-round- it’s fine in the winter and you usually get to your destination much more quickly.
I can’t imagine you’re getting any quality if you buy a $400 e-bike. They typically retail for around $1000. As far as I know, they are very low maintenance. The author of this article claims owners pay “hundreds of dollars per year in maintenance costs” but I’m not sure that’s typical.
I/WE look forward to Revel’s forthcoming SUV subscription business, but only if I/WE can park them in crosswalks, sidewalks, and driveways! LOL
I love Nyc. Looking forward to visiting soon.
that’s hilarious! i saw right through that sarcasm. well done.
Excellent. Fewer cars will make a better Sunnyside.