Jump e-bikes being sent to the crusher... Who killed the electric bike?

[FlatSix911]

Another tragic waste of resources when many could benefit from increased electric mobility.

Who killed the electric bike? Jump e-bikes spied being sent to the crusher

Remember that terribly depressing scene from Chris Paine’s 2006 documentary, Who Killed The Electric Car? of the EV1 electric cars being...

electrek.co

Posted on Electrec by Micah Toll May. 28th 2020

"As an electric bicycle advocate, this is really hard for me to watch.

Even if those bikes are being taken out of commission due to safety concerns with older vehicles (though many seem to be just fine), there are so many parts that could be salvaged to be reused on other electric bicycles. If you look on Amazon, you’ll find electric bicycle kits and e-bike motors for hundreds of dollars. Yet here we are, watching these valuable parts being shredded before our eyes. All of these parts that could have been donated to high schools and engineering clubs, but instead are just being shredded for the metal.

To make matters worse, the US is in the middle of a historic e-bike shortage caused by surging demand for electric bicycles. E-bike shops are selling out of e-bikes and even giant online retailers are having trouble keeping e-bikes and e-bike kits in stock."

 

[harryS]

Crappy lowest common denominator ebikes. They must have been, when application of front brake threw the rider over the handlebars.

The venture capitalists who threw their $20 million dollar chips at the ebike start-ups can write off the losses. Walking around money for them. They probably borrowed the money at a ridiculous low rate. What's a bankuptcy to them, when they have a dozen others iron in the fire. Your taxes at work, by the way.

I am sure some scrap guy bought the batteries. Maybe I can snag one for 50 bucks. I am running two ebikes right now on $50 segway packs.

 

[FlatSix911]

Crappy lowest common denominator ebikes. They must have been, when application of front brake threw the rider over the handlebars.

The venture capitalists who threw their $20 million dollar chips at the ebike start-ups can write off the losses. Walking around money for them.
They probably borrowed the money at a ridiculous low rate. What's a bankuptcy to them, when they have a dozen others iron in the fire. Your taxes at work, by the way.

I am sure some scrap guy bought the batteries. Maybe I can snag one for 50 bucks. I am running two ebikes right now on $50 segway packs.

Perhaps, but still a tremendous waste of resources. It's sad that this venture did not end well.

 

[Art Deco]

Crappy lowest common denominator ebikes...Your taxes at work, by the way.

Crappy "cheap as chips" ebikes are in high demand on Amazon and eBay IIRC. And brakes are fixable. Someone didn't want these available, probably to protect margins I suspect. Anyway a criminal waste. Not sure about the tax dollars, but would not be surprised if taxpayers cover the losses. That's why car guys call GM "government motors".

 

[TMH]

For some reason the folks who spend all of their time on social media think that companies like Jump, Uber, Lime, etc. are out to save the planet.

These companies exist for the exclusive reason of making money. This was the cheapest way for them to deal with a dog - If they had had multiple meetings to plan out how to properly dispose of these bikes in a different manner, it would have cost the company more than just scrapping them. Now it will just cause them to temporarily lose face, which will soon be forgotten.

Money and cost triumphed over any environmental enlightenment, regardless of any catch phrases these companies may use in their advertising.

 

[Art Deco]

For some reason the folks who spend all of their time on social media think that companies like Jump, Uber, Lime, etc. are out to save the planet.

These companies exist for the exclusive reason of making money. This was the cheapest way for them to deal with a dog - If they had had multiple meetings to plan out how to properly dispose of these bikes in a different manner, it would have cost the company more than just scrapping them. Now it will just cause them to temporarily lose face, which will soon be forgotten.

Money and cost triumphed over any environmental enlightenment, regardless of any catch phrases these companies may use in their advertising.

Just throw it away, untill there is no more "away" to throw it ?

 

[TMH]

Just throw it away, untill there is no more "away" to throw it ?

Well, it is not like these are going straight into a landfill. There are many recyclable materials in these bikes. These materials will be re-claimed and re-sold in some form to future consumers.

I was more commenting on some of the other suggestions as to how these bikes could be disposed of, like 'donating them to high schools or engineering clubs.' That suggestion was a good one to me, and made me even believe for a minute that shop classes were still being given in high schools.

But at least there are still some Trade Technical colleges around, and I'm sure they could have benefitted from some e-bike donations to give their students some more real world skills.

 

[Art Deco]

Well, it is not like these are going straight into a landfill. There are many recyclable materials in these bikes. These materials will be re-claimed and re-sold in some form to future consumers.

I was more commenting on some of the other suggestions as to how these bikes could be disposed of, like 'donating them to high schools or engineering clubs.' That suggestion was a good one to me, and made me even believe for a minute that shop classes were still being given in high schools.

But at least there are still some Trade Technical colleges around, and I'm sure they could have benefitted from some e-bike donations to give their students some more real world skills.

Good point. I am not familiar with this particular issue with these bikes, but I am old enough to remember that "Recycle" was supposed to be the last and least important step of four: Reduce, Repair, Repurpose, and Recycle. We seem to skipped the first three as a society. And that isn't a healthy mindset. Also I'm cheap.

 

[ebikemom]

Wow. Rental ebikes have been very popular with students on the large college campus where I work, in a very hilly city. I hope a new vendor comes in with a high quality, durable and safe ebike bikeshare.