5d ago

Rivian spinoff Also raises another $200M to build e-bikes and more

Rivian spinoff Also raises another $200M to build e-bikes and more | TechCrunch

Also Inc., the micromobility startup spun out of Rivian earlier this year, has raised $200 million from Greenoaks Capital, according to a new report from Bloomberg News...

Now established as its own company, Also plans to make micro-EVs of all shapes and sizes, and is supposed to reveal the first designs at some point later this year.

44 comments

I liked Riven but Myst was way better
- slideshows, the game!
So I own stock in Rivian. I guess I don't have any ownership in this comment company, eh?
Any Also bike announced or design pics/features?
I would like to know what this community thinks about e-bikes. Specifically are your opinions about e-bikes on the same level as regular bikes or are they closer to motorcycles which a lot of people in this community also dislikes.
- I think they seem reasonable for stuff like commuting and the like, but for general usage I find them a little... Sad, I guess. I see tons of kids in my neighborhood with them and I dunno, it just feels like it misses the point of biking a bit.
  
  Some kids in my neighborhood have e-bikes and some have regular bikes. The ones on regular bikes look like they are having more fun. They are talking to each other and laughing. The release of endorphins is severely underestimated with a lot of people.
  This post made me miss skateboarding with my friends when I was younger. I am a little to old to fall off one now. I might not get back up. Lol.
- Ebikes are great. Mini electric motorcycles are ridiculous disposable toys
  
  Interesting. Are mini electric motorcycles difficult to fix or are so cheaply constructed it's not worth it?
- Motorcycles are too loud. Otherwise fine.
  Ebikes are better and logistically cooler.
  
  That is fair. I don't like noise pollution altogether. But one other thing I don't like about motorcycles isn't really about the motorcycles. I've seen car drives tailgate people on motorcycles. I've seen car drivers cut off people on motorcycles because they refuse to check their blind spots.
  It's really scary how bad drivers in my area are. I feel like if any driver is at fault in an accident, they have to go back and take a driving test.
- It depends. Button Go e-bikes are different from Level 1 peddle assist e-bikes. I have a Specialized Turbo Levo Gen 2. The bike takes me places I could have only dreamed of before. Talking full mountain climbs. They are no where near motorcycles at Level 1. But a E-Motobike is totally different. And some of the e-bikes with built in throttles are closer to a motorcycle than a bike. I want one of them next. For in town traveling.
  
  I should look at the laws in my area of which I need insurance and registration for.
  Thank you for the info. I'm going to do a little internet research on e-bikes. Last time I tried a couple of years ago, it was a little overwhelming (and some were a little too expensive for my taste). My town is adding more bike lanes so I can go out further. So having an e-bike might be useful.
- Ebikes are just bicycles with motors. They have all the benefits of bicycles but are more accessible to more people, particularly those in hilly locations and those with disabilities.
  Most ebikes are speed-limited and are built using standardised bicycle components. The kind you see ripping down sidewalks at 60km/h are often highly illegal in many places and, depending on local laws, might not even be classified as ebikes and may require a licence.
  
  The kind you see ripping down sidewalks at 60km/h are often highly illegal in many places and, depending on local laws, might not even be classified as ebikes and may require a licence.
  I see these on sidewalks and bike lanes. I see young teenagers on them going really fast without helmets. I always worry too much.
  Thank you for the info.
- Ebikes I think I saw somewhere are the most efficient form of transport interms of energy consumption. Even more so than regular bikes because electricity is cleaner than fueling the rider on food.
  They're great. Make more accommodations for them in the city plan and i think your population will be happier and healthier.
  
  That is interesting. I always assumed biking is the most efficient and beneficial but especially for long distances I can see your point.
  Thank you for the info.
- I like my ebike a lot, just don't ride it enough, there's really no where I can "go" with it from my apartment that is convenient, but just for fun/exercise I enjoy it. Been a couple months... Should take it out again soon
  
  When I lived in NYC, I had a Metro card and a CitiBike pass. They had e-bikes for higher tier accounts but like you, I didn't really need it.
  Thank you for your input.
- I'd say they're probably well-received, as most aren't capable of going as fast as most motorcycles, and certainly don't make the same noise. Both take up far less space than cars.
  
  I don't like noise pollution but I wasn't even thinking of that. Good point.
  Thank you for your input.
- I have an e bike. Love it! It's my daily commuter.
  People in cars are often too impatient and callously ambivalent about anyone's safety who's not in a car. Idk what it is about hopping behind a wheel that makes people so impatient and mean spirited. I mean they're driving around in an environment so comfortable and convenient it would make the pharos of old green with envy.
  The infrastructure for biking, if extant at all, is often jammed in as an afterthought and far less useful, and far more dangerous than your average motorist may realize.
  Also there's a segment of my fellow bikers who bike not because they prefer it to automobiles, but because they're not functional enough to own an auto, valid license, insurance, etc. This segment of the biking community all too often gives the rest of us a bad look.
  And yes, I think a bit of well thought out regulation and enforcement may be in order.
  
  Thank you for your input.
  People in cars are often too impatient and callously ambivalent about anyone’s safety who’s not in a car. Idk what it is about hopping behind a wheel that makes people so impatient and mean spirited.
  It's a combination of power tripping and being protected by the car. Car drivers know they can kill someone in front of them and they have a barrier between them and the outside world.
- I took the plunge buying an ebike and would never look back. I have a normal cycle and love it, and it's still in use but the ebike is more of a serious transport alternative.
  You can set the amount of support, so you don't have to give up cycling. However, the motor allows you to have a more sturdy frame, more comfortable riding position, better suspension, hill climbing ability and a panier to carry anything I need, all while being able to ride in normal clothes, without sweating so no shower needed. I overtake all but the most fit regular cyclists so it's generally quicker.
  To be fair, the same can be said of e-scooters expect ebikes can take much more weight (e.g. shopping) but e-scooters are more comfortable given the more natural position, can be folded up and are much smaller / lighter for carrying and taking on trains / buses.
  
  Serious transport alternative is a good way to put it. We have a pedal-assist e-cargo bike and it's a game changer for mobility.
  When I was pregnant, I was able to ebike to my doctor's appointments pretty much up until I gave birth. My husband uses it for most hardware store runs. Grocery trips for heavy items like cat litter, taking the dogs to the vet, the list goes on.
  These are all possible on a non-e cargo bike (or normal bike + trailer) but realistically we would have defaulted to the car most times. Now we drive less than once a week.
  
  That's a good point. I am such a weakling going up hills on my bike. Lol. The ride down is worth it though.
  Thank you for the info.
- I love my ebike!
  
  You are now froggyebike360!
  Thank you for your input.
- I like bicycles, whether electric or manual. I ride manual, don't mind ebikes so long as they're respectful.
  I also like motorcycles so 🤷
  
  I've seen videos on YouTube of cyclists tell people on e-bike to get off the bike lane. This was years ago though. I never seen this happen in real life living in NYC or visiting LA. This is the main reason why I asked.
- Even though they don't come without challenges, I think they have the chance to increase the access to mobility for a lot of people that could otherwise be limited.
  The same for scooters, as much as I dislike them and refuse to try them, they do provide mobility for a lot of use cases where a human powered bike is not the ideal solution
  
  Anything that helps people is always a good thing.
  Thank you for your input.
- My belief of what this community dislikes comes down to shitty infrastructure and danger to unprotected individuals just having a good time. Also a bit fossil fuels, but I feel that's mainly a bonus point here. So motorcycles fall in the category car infrastructure and danger to others at high speed (and a small bit fossil fuel), but ebikes fall in the category bike infrastructure so that's good although they are still a danger at high speeds but then again also no fossil fuels.
  So scoring between -2.5 (heavy car with ice) to +2.5 (slow durable bike), I'd say ebikes score at least +1.5 here. Wich you could translate to 4 out of 5 or 8 out of 10 so very much not like motorcycles which I would score -2, which is 3 out of 10.
  
  So I've seen people in my neighborhood in bike lanes and sidewalks going really fast.
  After reading the other comments, I don't really know to differentiate an e-bike in a bike lane or an e-motorcycle in a bike lane. I think the latter had people in my neighborhood complaining. It doesn't really bother me since they don't actively try to hit me but a lot of older people don't like it. I just worry that some of them don't wear helmets.
A lot of money, I guess they are going to a pretty large scale then?
- A large scale of embezzlement maybe. The guy behind Rivian has a history of founding EV companies that vanish VC money.

44 comments