The LEVA-EU member launches the Ellio Max Octane Grey, an updated version of the popular model with a new neutral colour, additional features and refinements based on user feedback. Some of the upgrades can also be easily installed on other Ellio bikes.
The company states that some upgrades are noticeably visible while others will be felt when riding.
Ellio Max Octane Grey additions and upgrades
Ellio has added the new Octane Grey colour to its latest upgraded model, describing it as a sleek shade which complements the Ellio Max’s powerful and minimalist character.
An updated fixed stem has been incorporated into the design to align even better with the model, and enable quick and easy attachment with accessories. It is compatible with systems including SP Connect, Quad Lock, Fidlock, and Peak Design.
Upgrades which are also available as aftermarket parts
A new feature is the Ergotec M-77 mirror, which can be adjusted inwards or outwards to match the positioning and preferences of riders. Ellio states that its angular design complements the sleek design of Ellio e-bikes.
Ellio has added optional turn signals to the design, which can be added to both Ellio Max and Ellio Original models. The turn signals charge automatically, are flexible for more resilience in a bike rack or tight spaces, and switch themselves off after a few seconds.
It is also introducing a 40W mobile fast charger which not only charges the bike’s battery but can also top up smartphones.
Availability
Available from June 29 2026, the Ellio Max Octane Grey model and new accessories and upgrades can be ordered via Ellio dealers.
The LEVA-EU member’s low-step e-bike, the Suelo, has won one of the bicycle industry’s most prestigious awards.
The Dutch brand was recently presented with the Eurobike Gold Award in the E-Bikes category. Judges praised the outstanding work of its product development team whose craftmanship, creativity and perseverance played a significant part in the groundbreaking design of the Suelo.
Established thirty-five years ago, the company began its mission of giving people back their freedom with mobility, which it still strives towards achieving by bringing a smile to every user of its customised models.
The Suelo is the first Nijland bicycle which marks a new design direction for the company, a platform which it will continue to build on in the coming years as it aims to grow by helping even more people. Nijland has stated that the Eurobike award has given it more confidence to continue in this direction with full conviction.
The Eurobike Award jury published the following statement about it awarding the Gold award for the E-bike category to Nijland’s Suelo:
“The jury grants a Eurobike Award to the “Suelo” low-step Bike by Nijland Cycling. Made for people with a balance handicap it is all about safety and comfort and a very low step-through. While the design is rather functional all members of the jury are delighted with how nicely and casually it feels to ride the Suelo. Being able to put both feet on the ground at any time provides a great feeling of control, especially at low speed, the judges unanimously point out. It was obvious how experienced Nijland Cycling is with products that grant mobility for people with disabilities. “We will need a lot of those bikes in the future”, one judge says.”
The LEVA-EU member’s Road Show stopped in the shopping area of Heron City in the Spanish capital to demonstrate its electric mobility ecosystem for sustainable urban travel.
The Spanish brand was there for two days, giving attendees the opportunity to meet and test its vehicles, with highlights including a new customised version of the S04 electric nanocar, and a Swap Challenge, to experience what it is like to move with Silence.
The LEVA-EU member shared a successful example of a RideSmart partnership, a corporate mobility program, which enables Pilatus Aircraft Ltd employees to purchase cutting-edge e-bikes at exclusive conditions.
The Swiss brand announced that its state-of-the art e-bike Twinner T1 is among a range of bikes which can be tested and purchased by employees at the aircraft company.
Twinner states that the RideSmart business mobility program allows employers to offer meaningful and beneficial cycling experiences to employees at optimised costs. It invites businesses to contact them directly or through the RideSmart website about offering Twinner as a mobility solution for its employees.
The LEVA-EU member attended two events where it showcased its offering and participated in discussions about the future of mobility.
The FAAREN Night of the FAAREN Group took place in Würzburg, Germany, where SOL Motors had the opportunity to discuss current developments in the mobility and automotive industry.
The next day, it participated at the Automotive Business Day 2026, where it was outlined how the industry is developing and the opportunities which new mobility concepts offer.
From the occasions, SOL Motors was pleased with the great interest its Pocket Rockets received. The company was pleased it was able to offer test-riding experiences to show the industry what sustainable, efficient and enjoyable mobility can feel like.
The Dutch municipality has selected two new models from the LEVA-EU member, to reliably assist enforcers on their work in the area.
Enforcement officers in Schouwen-Duiveland require reliable and comfortable vehicles with an appropriate range for supporting supervision in a large area for transportation to beach entrances, village centres, harbours and recreational areas.
The local authority selected the Santos E-Patrol to assist its enforcers with covering large distances and helping them to remain visible, approachable, and flexible in their work area.
Why the Santos E-Patrol is selected by municipalities
Created for intensive daily use, the robust and reliable models are made with national enforcement striping and labelled with the designated municipality’s name. Equipped with a handlebar phone mount, it enables enforcement officers to always receive significant information at their fingertips. Extra comfort for long shifts is provided with a suspension handlebar and seatpost.
The LEVA-EU member’s founders are emerging into the hospitality sector with Micro Rent, a service which provides the microcar on a B2B rental basis. They answered questions about the Microlino as they introduce this new venture.
Brothers Oliver and Merlin Ouboter helped their father, Wim, develop the Microlino microcar light electric vehicle. They realised it was going to exceed their expectations after they presented its first prototype in Geneva, which resulted in them receiving over 500 reservations.
When asked about what many people don’t understand about sustainable mobility, Oliver stated that electrification is the correct path, but smaller vehicles for daily trips offer the most benefits for sustainable travel. He adds that less energy, smaller batteries and less of everything frees up space in cities where there is a lack of space.
Micro Rent bringing Microlino into hospitality
Oliver explains that it’s hard for people to change their regular habits in regards to mobility, but when on holiday they are more open to new experiences, like testing a new vehicle category.
Microlino’s CMO, Merlin, described how the B2B rental channel will be used not just for revenue but also as a brand building tool.
“Our core marketing tool has always been the Microlino itself. It has massive viral potential. With Micro Rent, we take that to the next level. The car becomes a recognizable icon for the hotels. The guest gets a memory. The hotel gets an identity. We get the best kind of test drive there is.”
Microlino Italia partners with Nexity Italia
The latest news about Micro Rent comes as Microlino Italia announces its partnership with Nexity Italia as part of its “Live big, move with the small” campaign.
Effective from 1 June to 31 July, nine Mirari Residences apartments in San Donato Milanese will be offered with a free Microlino, enabling new residents to benefit from compact, sustainable mobility.
The LEVA-EU member’s Co-Founder and CEO, Patrick Bion, explains how its compact urban delivery vehicles are a new category of software-enabled light electric vehicles designed to improve delivery efficiency for businesses, while handling the constraints of dense urban areas.
Over the past decade cities have been redesigning infrastructure to facilitate rising demand in modern mobility modes such as bicycles and scooters. However, there has not been as much change in how goods move through cities, with delivery volumes increasing (parcels, food, grocery and retail deliveries).
It has been noted that delivery vans still dominate this sector, and even with some companies electrifying their vans, there remains an issue of vehicles being too large for their purpose for delivering in dense cities.
In the Micromobility Podcast, Minimal’s Co-Founder and CEO, Patrick Bion, is interviewed by Prabin Joel Jones about how the brand is setting out to solve this issue with its new generation of right-sized urban commercial vehicles.
The background of Minimal’s leader and his goal of improving urban logistics
In 2012, when electric vehicles were still in their early adoption phase, Bion worked on the design team at Tesla. Later, he worked on commercial electric vehicles at Arrival, with customers including Amazon and UPS. This work experience moulded the thesis behind Minimal.
For urban logistics, although the electrification of vans is important, there are issues regarding space that need to be solved. For example, a diesel van and an electric van often occupy the same physical space in city traffic, require similar infrastructure, and, with their size, may be too big for some delivery tasks.
The traditional van tends to travel around cities at extremely low speeds, and is often large, expensive, can be difficult to park and manoeuvre, and might carry less than its full capacity as it makes short delivery drop-offs in congested areas.
Minimal believes that there needs to be a wider range of vehicle types for the future of city delivery, not only vans and cargo bikes, but smaller, software-enabled vehicles that are designed to handle the constraints of dense urban areas more efficiently.
Bion describes Minimal’s mission as “helping businesses move more with less”.
Minimal’s Pedal Four solution
This model is a four-wheeled commercial vehicle with pedal assistance, with its positioning described as between a cargo bike and a van, innovated to optimise urban delivery.
It offers the following:
Payload capacity of 250-300 kg and 3 m³ of cargo volume
Speed assistance of up to 25 km/h
Meets pedal-assist vehicle requirements, including a 250 watt continuous power rating.
A range of 60 km (which may be lower depending on conditions such as hillier cities or more demanding stop-start conditions).
In terms of battery infrastructure, Pedal Four utilises around 2.8 to 3 kWh of battery capacity, much less in comparison to a traditional electric van estimated to carry a battery of 35 to 55 kWh.
Its batteries are hot swappable and don’t require expensive charging infrastructure as they can be charged from standard mains power.
The vehicle is fully software-enabled to facilitate operation as part of a larger fleet system to support better utilisation, predictive maintenance, fleet management and driver safety.
It tracks data including battery health, payload, braking behaviour, driver usage, tyre pressure, vehicle location and state of charge.
Early data from Minimal UK customers has revealed the cost-effectiveness of this model. From approximately 100,000 km of testing and operation, the Pedal Four delivered 36-40% more drops per hour compared to diesel vans in some London use cases. Minimal claims that in some scenarios this efficiency, combined with vehicle cost, service and maintenance, can save operators costs of up to 60% per parcel.
Minimal’s company capabilities for optimising commercial deliveries
Its Fleet OS software platform simplifies the management of multiple vehicle types in one place, optimising efficient monitoring and strategic decision making for businesses.
The company is vertically integrated, with 90% of its vehicle parts engineered, sourced or designed by the company.
Minimal focuses on high efficiency with a microfactory model, where it aims to build smaller assembly facilities close to the markets it’s serving.
Its first microfactory is in West London, with capacity to make 5,000 vehicles per year. Minimal plans to introduce additional microfactory sites in mainland Europe, and the east coast of the USA, to target New York and Boston.
More information about Minimal’s highly sustainable, efficient offering for the urban logistics sector can be accessed on the Micromobility industries website.
Minimal at Eurobike
Most recently, the company exhibited at the globally renowned Eurobike to demonstrate its offering to the world of sustainable mobility. Jessie Ridler, Minimal’s Engineering Product Manager, has also detailed her experience as a member of the judging panel for the Eurobike Award.
Renowned mountain bike brand Nukeproof, which was acquired in February 2025 by LEVA-EU member Belgian Cycling Factory (BCF), is making a transition from a direct-to-consumer model, to a global dealer and distributor network under the guidance of Global General Manager, Russell Merry.
The Nukeproof brand is long-established, founded in 1990 in the USA, and has a strong reputation with both elite riders and keen amateurs, thanks to cutting-edge geometry and durability. The Nukeproof product line-up includes electric trail/all mountain and enduro models, as well as a variety of non-electric MTB categories for adults and children.
Asked by BCF about new priorities for Nukeproof under the BCF umbrella, Merry stated:
“We have pivoted Nukeproof from a consumer direct brand, sold globally by Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle, to a dealer and distributor-led brand through the BCF network. This is a dramatic change, but one that has seen dealers genuinely surprised by the demand for Nukeproof products and the passion for the brand from riders who previously didn’t visit their local shop for Nukeproof.“
“We are putting Nukeproof in front of dealers at shows such as Velofollies and exhibiting at the Taipei Cycle Show. As of March 2026, we have 10 new distributors and over 300 BCF dealers recruited.”
The conversation was conducted ahead of the recent news that seven new partners were added to the Nukeproof distribution network, including new channels for the Southern Hemisphere in Australia and New Zealand. When asked about the new distribution model for Nukeproof under the BCF umbrella, Merry stated:
“We have transitioned from a UK-based mail-order brand to a distributor and retailer-led model, so having local experts in every country is key. In the UK and many parts of Europe, we have our own offices, but we are not experts in regions such as South America or Asia. Therefore, we work with the best distributors to deliver the best local experience, not a bike in a box shipped from the other side of the world.
“If I were a bike dealer, I would make sure I was the official dealer in my area now, because the journey Nukeproof is on is to become the most successful MTB brand in the world within five years. With the backing of BCF and the team we have in place, that ambition is absolutely achievable.”
Merry was also asked about additional models that may be in development, and dropped hints about new products in their eMTB range, as well as highlighting the benefits of purchasing through independent bicycle dealers:
“We know the e-MTB market has seen oversupply, but new motor suppliers will bring innovation, matched with our frame developments. This will encourage riders to consider full-price products again because they have genuinely moved forward.
“We are open to new technology and are working with new vendors to produce carbon and alloy frames in new ways, improving both performance and pricing. Nukeproof has four new Tracker hardtails at €1,000 and below, new kids’ bikes, and a new 170mm suspension bike called the Tracker FS at €2,499, bringing value back to mountain bikes so riders can once again buy from IBDs rather than online brands and still get a class-leading product.”
