"We planned 2026 as a transition year, with gradual recovery, tighter business cases and continued pressure on bill-of-materials costs," says Comodule CEO Teet Praks. After completing the first half of the year, and in the run-up to Taichung Bike Week, we asked the supplier of IoT devices for connected e-bikes, e-scooters, and other light electric vehicles how the market performed and what they expect for the months ahead?

At Velofollies this month, Stromer took the opportunity to present its new concept for the future in an exclusive area requiring pre-access and no mobile phones. Behind the veil was a concept of the brand's new speed pedelec, which aims to make its debut at Velofollies in 2027. As part of the announcement, the company initiated a 365-day countdown to the launch. Although no photos or press kits were given, the new speed pedelec will be the fruits of four years in development and marks 'the future of Stromer'.

Battery theft continues to be a thorn in the side of global e-bike business, an illegal resell ecosystem thriving off of valuable components that are both easy to remove and difficult to trace. The bicycle industry has been moving incrementally toward tackling this issue, but challenges in development and standardisation continue to limit widespread adoption.

The next major leap for e-bikes won't come from motors or frames alone, but from smart technologies already well established in adjacent industries. That became clear last week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where AI and automotive platforms dominated and robots roamed the aisles. Yet beneath that familiar surface, the show carried a message that is of profound importance to micromobility.

TALINN, Estonia - "One of the most important mobility tools of our time, affordable, sustainable, and perfect for modern cities, is stuck in an analogue mindset. The cycling industry keeps polishing mechanical parts while the rest of the world has moved on," connectivity specialist Comodule wrote in a recent blog. The company laments at how e-bikes are creating a smoother commute, "but the bike itself is disconnected and largely dumb."

FRANKFURT, Germany - Taiwanese IT company, OKGO has developed a cloud-based, full-service platform to support the development of a smarter e-bike industry. Additionally, the company recognises that digital solutions are evolving from 'nice to have' to 'need to have' as more regulations come into play. On display at Eurobike, the company debuted its fully compliant Battery Passport solution developed in collaboration with Chinese battery manufacturer Greenway.