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ALSO, Rivian’s Micromobility Spinoff, Unveils Its First E-Bike With a Virtual Drivetrain

ALSO’s TM-B is a Rivian-backed spinoff’s first e-bike, using a software-controlled generator-and-motor drivetrain instead of a conventional chain. Here are the current prices, specs, delivery timing, and ownership risks.

By CarCody Team

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ALSO’s TM-B is not simply a Rivian-branded bicycle. It is the first e-bike from ALSO, a separately operated micromobility company backed by Rivian, and its defining feature is DreamRide: a series-hybrid, software-controlled pedal-by-wire system with no conventional chain-driven connection between the pedals and rear wheel.

Current official pricing starts at $3,500 for the standard TM-B and $4,500 for the TM-B Performance. ALSO currently lists delivery for late 2026. Claimed range is up to 60 miles for the standard model and up to 100 miles for the Performance version, although those are manufacturer estimates rather than independent test results. See ALSO’s current trim and reservation information.

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What is ALSO, and why is Rivian involved?

ALSO began as an internal Rivian “skunkworks” project focused on smaller electric vehicles. It has since become an independent micromobility company, with Rivian retaining a minority investment and board relationship. ALSO has described the TM-B as the first product in a broader platform that may also include electric quad concepts.

Calling the TM-B “Rivian’s e-bike” is understandable shorthand, but it is technically imprecise. Rivian does not fully own the company, and the available evidence does not establish that Rivian manufactures, sells, or services the bicycle through its automotive retail network. WIRED’s reporting explains the corporate relationship and corrected an earlier suggestion that Rivian locations would repair the e-bike.

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The more accurate description is: the TM-B is an ALSO e-bike developed by a Rivian-backed micromobility spinoff.

The unusual part: a virtual drivetrain

A conventional bicycle sends the rider’s pedal power through a mechanical chain:

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Pedals → crankset → chain or belt → gears → rear wheel

ALSO’s DreamRide system takes a different route:

Pedals → generator → battery and control electronics → wheel motor

The rider’s pedaling turns a generator rather than directly turning the rear wheel. Electrical energy is then managed by the battery and power electronics, while a separate motor drives the wheel. Software controls the relationship between cadence, resistance, assistance, and wheel output.

That is why “virtual drivetrain” is a useful plain-English description, although DreamRide and pedal-by-wire are ALSO’s own terminology. The system is closer in architecture to a small series-hybrid vehicle than to a standard bicycle with an electric motor added to the crank or wheel. ALSO describes the DreamRide architecture in its technical material.

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There is no conventional derailleur, cassette, or direct chain connection to shift. Instead, software can alter the apparent gear, pedal resistance, and assistance level.

What is it supposed to feel like?

ALSO says riders can select a preferred cadence and let the software adjust the system as terrain changes. In its automatic riding mode, the company says hills are intended to require approximately the same pedal effort as flat ground while the system maintains the selected cadence. These are company-described ride characteristics, not independently verified performance findings.

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In practical terms, the design aims to provide:

  • No conventional gear shifting or derailleur adjustment.
  • Electronically controlled pedal resistance.
  • A consistent cadence across changing terrain.
  • Different software-defined riding sensations without changing mechanical gears.
  • Regenerative braking, which can send some braking energy back to the battery.

“No gears” does not mean “no resistance.” The rider still pedals against a controlled generator load. The difference is that resistance is created electronically rather than by selecting a mechanical gear ratio.

The experience could feel natural to some riders and unfamiliar to others. Cyclists accustomed to a chain, freewheel, and predictable mechanical feedback should test the TM-B before ordering if possible. A software-controlled pedal sensation may be smooth and consistent, but it will not necessarily feel like a traditional bicycle.

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TM-B specifications and current pricing

The following figures come from ALSO’s current product and trim pages or Rivian’s Gear Shop listing. Range figures are estimates and can change substantially with terrain, rider weight, payload, speed, weather, tire pressure, and riding mode.

Specification TM-B TM-B Performance
Starting price $3,500 $4,500
Estimated range Up to 60 miles Up to 100 miles
Pedal-assist speed Up to 28 mph, according to ALSO’s product material
Wheel torque 180 Nm listed in official product material
Assist multiplier Up to 5× Up to 10×
Suspension 120 mm front and rear
Wheel size 20 inches
Rider height Approximately 4 ft 11 in to 6 ft 8 in, according to the product page
Maximum payload 324 lb listed by Rivian’s Gear Shop; verify limits for each configuration
Charging USB-C charging up to 240 W
0–80% charging Approximately 1.8 hours with the standard battery and 2.25 hours with the large battery, according to official material
0–100% charging Approximately 2.3 hours with the standard battery and 3.75 hours with the large battery

See the official TM-B product page, current trim-selection page, and Rivian Gear Shop listing for configuration-specific details.

Modularity is central to the design

The TM-B uses an interchangeable top-frame system intended to let one platform serve several roles. ALSO says the top frame can be exchanged without tools in less than three seconds.

Potential configurations include:

  • Solo riding.
  • Bench seating.
  • Cargo carrying.
  • Child or passenger transportation.
  • Accessories such as racks, panniers, luggage, and phone holders.

This could make the TM-B more useful than a single-purpose commuter bike. A rider might use one configuration for commuting, another for shopping, and another for carrying a passenger. The key ownership question is cost: the reviewed official material establishes the modular strategy but does not provide a complete, independently verified price list for every top frame and accessory.

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Buyers should also confirm the maximum payload for each frame, whether the rider’s weight is included in the stated payload, which restraints and foot protection are supplied, and whether a passenger configuration is legal for children in their jurisdiction. A modular frame does not automatically make every passenger arrangement safe or legally approved.

What happens when the battery is empty?

This is one of the most important unresolved questions about the TM-B.

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On a conventional bicycle, a depleted e-bike battery generally leaves the chain and pedals available for ordinary riding. DreamRide has no direct mechanical pedal-to-wheel path. The official pages explain the generator, battery, motor, and software architecture, but they do not clearly document a normal bicycle mode for a completely depleted or failed system.

That means prospective buyers should not assume the TM-B can be ridden normally after the battery reaches zero. ALSO should provide a definitive answer covering both a low battery and a total electrical failure. Until then, dead-battery behavior should be treated as a purchase-blocking question, particularly for long commutes, remote riding, or cargo use.

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Do not assume that pedaling will recharge a completely dead system. Regenerative operation and generator charging require functioning electronics, a battery-management system, and a motor-control system; the available product material does not establish that a fully disabled bike can restart itself through pedaling.

Advantages of pedal-by-wire

The technology is genuinely distinctive, but distinctive does not automatically mean superior. Its potential advantages include:

Consistent effort on hills

Software can adjust electrical resistance and motor assistance as the terrain changes. In theory, that lets the rider maintain a preferred cadence without manually shifting gears.

Less conventional drivetrain maintenance

Removing the chain, cassette, derailleur, and conventional gear-shifting hardware could eliminate some common bicycle maintenance tasks. It does not make the TM-B maintenance-free: tires, brakes, suspension, bearings, electronics, software, and other components still require attention.

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Regenerative braking

ALSO says the TM-B can recover some kinetic energy during braking and that regeneration can be adjusted through settings. Regeneration cannot eliminate conversion losses or guarantee a meaningful range increase, so its real-world benefit requires independent testing.

Software-defined ride modes

The same hardware can potentially offer different pedal resistance, cadence targets, and assistance behavior through software. That flexibility may also help ALSO use related electrical and software systems in future micromobility products.

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The drawbacks are more important than the novelty

Battery dependence

A mechanical drivetrain offers a basic fallback: if the chain and wheels work, the bicycle can usually be pushed or pedaled. A series-hybrid bicycle depends much more heavily on its battery, sensors, generator, motor, controllers, and firmware.

Complexity has moved, not disappeared

DreamRide removes familiar mechanical parts but adds or emphasizes:

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  • A pedal generator.
  • A traction motor.
  • Power electronics and motor controls.
  • A battery-management system.
  • Cadence and other sensors.
  • Firmware and display hardware.
  • Potential app, account, and connectivity dependencies.

A failed derailleur can often be repaired using widely available bicycle parts. A failed controller, generator, sensor, or software component may require proprietary diagnostics and specialized parts.

Efficiency remains unproven

Pedal energy that passes through generator, battery, power electronics, and motor conversion stages faces losses that a direct mechanical chain does not. The architecture may offer controllability and packaging advantages, but the available material does not prove that it is more efficient than a conventional drivetrain. Independent testing is needed to evaluate energy consumption, heat, range, and performance under load.

Service and software support

Before paying a premium, buyers should ask who performs repairs, whether ordinary bicycle shops can handle the bike, how firmware updates work, whether an account or cloud connection is required, and how long replacement batteries and electronic parts will remain available.

Price and portability

At $3,500 to $4,500 before accessories, the TM-B is a premium utility e-bike rather than an inexpensive commuter. The reviewed specifications also do not provide a complete confirmed bike weight. That matters for apartment storage, car transport, stairs, and loading into a rack.

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Is it legally an e-bike?

ALSO’s material describes the TM-B as a Class 3 e-bike with pedal assistance up to 28 mph. However, e-bike definitions are local. Rules may differ for throttle operation, helmet use, trail access, passenger transport, insurance, registration, and the maximum permitted power or speed.

Some launch coverage reported a throttle capability up to 20 mph, but that detail should be confirmed for the exact configuration and market before relying on it. A software setting does not automatically make every available mode legal on every road or trail.

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Before ordering, check the rules where the bike will actually be used. In particular, confirm whether your local authority permits a Class 3 cargo or passenger e-bike on intended paths and whether the selected top frame changes the legal requirements.

Availability has changed since the launch

ALSO unveiled the TM-B in October 2025. Early coverage described a $4,500 launch or Performance model and projected spring 2026 deliveries. The current official trim-selection page now lists a $3,500 standard TM-B, a $4,500 Performance model, and delivery in late 2026.

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That current official timing should take priority over the original spring estimate. Individual online reports about Launch Edition deliveries are not enough to establish broad commercial availability, so buyers should confirm the estimated delivery date, reservation terms, cancellation policy, and exact included equipment directly with ALSO.

Who should consider the TM-B?

The TM-B makes the most sense for an early adopter who values configurable utility, software-controlled assistance, and freedom from conventional gear shifting. It may also appeal to households that want one platform for solo trips, cargo, and passenger duties and are comfortable waiting for a new product with an unusual architecture.

A conventional premium cargo or utility e-bike is likely the safer choice for buyers who prioritize:

  • Easy roadside repair with common bicycle parts.
  • Established local dealer and service networks.
  • Low weight.
  • Lower total cost.
  • Long-term reliability evidence.
  • A guaranteed mechanical fallback when the battery is empty.

Before reserving the TM-B, obtain written answers about dead-battery operation, warranty duration, battery replacement, software support, service locations, top-frame pricing, total weight, payload limits, and whether the bike functions fully without cloud connectivity.

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Bottom line on ALSO’s virtual-drivetrain e-bike

The TM-B is not merely another e-bike with a motor added to a bicycle. DreamRide replaces the conventional mechanical drivetrain with a generator, battery, motor, and software-controlled pedal-by-wire system. That could deliver unusually consistent effort, flexible ride modes, regenerative braking, and a distinctive modular platform.

It also creates serious questions about efficiency, failure recovery, repairability, long-term software support, legal classification, and total ownership cost. With current official pricing starting at $3,500 and delivery listed for late 2026, the TM-B is best viewed as an intriguing premium technology product—not a proven replacement for a simple chain-driven bicycle yet.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

AlsoDreamRideE-BikesElectric Bikesmicromobilitypedal-by-wireRivian

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