Infinite Machine creates two-person electric vehicle built for bike lanes

New York-based startup Infinite Machine has unveiled the Olto minimalist e-bike that looks like a scooter but doesn't require a motorcycle license, according to the brand.

The $3,495 e-bike is the follow-up to the brand's debut vehicle, the P1 – a futuristic $10,000 electric scooter that required a motorcycle license to ride, according to New York standards.

Unlike P1, Olto was designed to be accessible to anyone. It can seat two passengers, features convertible footrests that double as pedals, and even includes a reverse function, which is unusual for e-bikes.

It has a 30 mph (48 kmh) top speed and has a 40-mile (64 kilometer) range based on its "hot-swappable" under-the-seat battery, which drives power to the rear 750w engine.

The body was built using extruded, weatherproofed aluminum.

"Our goal was to capture the magic of the P1 – its performance, technology, and design – in a package that was bike-lane friendly and easy for anyone to use," said Infinite Machine co-founder and chief engineer Eddie Cohen.

While major cities look to reduce car dependency and reclaim public space, micromobility vehicles like e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds have become essential tools for urban dwellers.

With more protected bike lanes, congestion pricing, and car-free zones on the rise, compact vehicles could help cities transition toward cleaner, more flexible, transportation systems.

"Our overarching mission is empowering autonomous humans through boundary-pushing personal vehicles, focused on urban mobility and freedom," Cohen told Dezeen.

Most e-bikes start with a bicycle frame and retrofit components around it, but Infinite Machine inverted that process.

"We took P1 and slimmed it for the bike lane," said Cohen.

Every element of Olto is custom-made, and there are no off-the-shelf components. Cohen said the convertible pedals were a significant engineering challenge and the team had to invent a clutching mechanism for them. A hidden set of foot pegs folds out for a second passenger.

Olto includes nine modular mounting points that allow riders to hang, slot, or lock various accessories like soft panniers, child carriers, or a helmet.

With urban theft a growing concern, the 178-pound (80.7 kg) bike comes equipped with six built-in security features, including an electronic steering lock, and a wheel immobilizer. If anyone tampers with it, the bike will sound an alarm that is powered by its own battery, and send a notification on your phone.

Infinite Machine's visual language has drawn comparisons to Tesla's Cybertruck, but Cohen cited different influences, like Marcello Gandini, the Italian designer behind many Lamborghini sports cars, as well as architects Tadao Ando and Marcel Breuer

Olto has launched almost two years after the leading e-bike maker VanMoof went bankrupt. It joins a growing ecosystem of e-bikes such as LEMMO, Angell, or Pendler.

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