Civilized Cycles
Civilized Cycles manufactures the Semi-Trike, a bicycle-class light electric commercial vehicle with van-sized cargo capacity and a patented load-leveling suspension. It sells directly to commercial fleet operators, logistics providers, and shared mobility companies via quote-based B2B sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Civilized Cycles does
Civilized Cycles is a Detroit-based, privately held electric vehicle company that manufactures the Semi-Trike, a bicycle-class light electric commercial vehicle combining van-class cargo capacity (up to 200 cubic feet) with e-bike regulatory classification, eliminating requirements for commercial driver's licenses and specialized charging infrastructure. Founded in 2016 and operating with 1–10 employees, the company occupies a category-defining niche at the intersection of last-mile urban freight and micromobility, anchored by a patented automatic load-leveling suspension system that addresses cargo stability under varying loads on a heavy electric trike.
The product portfolio centers on a single Semi-Trike platform—a 750W powertrain with boost function, 390 lb-ft of torque, 750 lb payload capacity, 15 mph top speed, and a 48V 96AH LiFePO4 battery that is wall-chargeable and incombustible—paired with four modular trailer attachments: a Van Trailer (NYC 153 cu. ft. or XL 200 cu. ft. with self-leveling air suspension), a Stake Bed Trailer, a Flatbed Trailer, and a Tractor unit. Through a partnership with Grounded RVs, the platform extends into the outdoor market as the Grounded T1 Camping System, a 150+ mile range electric trailer-and-trike configuration targeting eco-tourism and adventure travel.
Civilized Cycles runs a direct B2B sales model, pricing Semi-Trikes between $9,998 (Campus Fleet entry configuration) and over $15,000 (Shared Mobility), with most commercial orders handled through a consultative Request a Quote flow rather than fixed e-commerce checkout. Primary customer segments are logistics and 3PL operators and shared mobility fleet operators (with Lime, MoGo Detroit, and Midtown Composting as named pilot customers), supplemented by campus fleet operators and an emerging outdoor/camping vertical. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and funding to date has been predominantly non-dilutive: approximately $300,000 in direct Michigan state grants and investments (OFME Real World Deployment Grant, Mobility Prototyping Grant, MOIF) plus a share of $1.5 million in implementation funding from the April 2026 Toyota Mobility Foundation Sustainable Cities Challenge win, with the company headquartered at 2050 15th St, Detroit, MI 48216.
Civilized Cycles firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Civilized Cycles
- Legal name
- Civilized Cycles
- Website
- https://civilizedcycles.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Civilized Cycles manufactures the Semi-Trike, a bicycle-class light electric commercial vehicle with van-sized cargo capacity and a patented load-leveling suspension. It sells directly to commercial fleet operators, logistics providers, and shared mobility companies via quote-based B2B sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Civilized Cycles industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Light Electric Commercial Vehicles
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E-bikes & E-cargo Bikes Manufacturing (IMACAOAA)
Keywords
Where Civilized Cycles is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Civilized Cycles business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Semi-Trike Vehicle Sales: Civilized Cycles generates revenue primarily through the sale of its Semi-Trike vehicles and modular trailer attachments to commercial fleet operators, logistics companies, and shared mobility providers. Vehicles are offered at price points ranging from approximately $9,998 to over $15,000 depending on configuration and payload package.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Grounded T1 Camping System — Base electric tricycle camping platform |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Campus Fleet — Entry-level Semi-Trike for campus operations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shared Mobility — Semi-Trike configured for shared mobility fleet operators |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Civilized Cycles product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Civilized Cycles manufactures and sells the Semi-Trike, a bicycle-class light electric commercial vehicle that combines van-sized cargo capacity (up to 200 cu. ft., 750 lb payload) with e-bike regulatory classification and operating costs. The vehicle is sold with modular trailer attachments (Van Trailer, Stake Bed Trailer, Flatbed Trailer, Tractor) to commercial fleet operators, logistics companies, and shared mobility providers for urban last-mile delivery and fleet rebalancing.
Product overview
Civilized Cycles offers a single product platform (Semi-Trike) with modular trailer attachments. The core Semi-Trike is a bicycle-class light electric vehicle for urban freight and last-mile delivery. It pairs with interchangeable trailers including Van Trailer, Stake Bed Trailer, and Flatbed Trailer configurations. The company also offers a Tractor unit for fleet operators. The ecosystem extends to outdoor/camping applications through a partnership with Grounded RVs, creating the T1 Camping System that combines the Semi-Trike with an electric trailer for sustainable travel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Semi-Trike Bicycle-class light electric commercial vehicle combining van-sized cargo capacity with e-bike operating costs, featuring a patented automatic load-leveling suspension system. Designed for urban freight, last-mile delivery, and shared mobility fleet operators. Up to 200 cu. ft. cargo volume and 750 lb payload.
- Tractor Semi-Trike tractor unit for use with various trailer configurations including Flatbed, Stake Bed, and Van trailers.
- Van Trailer Weather-protected trailer with dual rear van doors or sliding curtain doors, available in NYC Platform (153 ft³) and XL Platform (200 ft³) configurations with 750 lb payload capacity and automatic self-leveling air suspension.
- Stake Bed Trailer Versatile flatbed trailer with removable vertical stakes for securing diverse cargo, featuring automatic self-leveling air suspension and optional ladder rack for taller loads.
- Flatbed Trailer Open flatbed trailer attachment designed to pair with the Semi-Trike tractor unit for open-bed cargo hauling.
- Grounded T1 Camping System All-electric trailer and trike system built on the Semi-Trike platform in collaboration with Grounded RVs for eco-tourism, adventure travel, and outdoor recreation. Range 150+ miles; payload 1,460 lbs; top speed 15 mph; pre-order through Grounded RVs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Lime's ridership increased 200% in the year it partnered with Civilized Cycles for Semi-Trike deployment
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Civilized Cycles
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Civilized Cycles technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Civilized Cycles partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LimecoreLime partnered with Civilized Cycles to launch a Semi-Trike pilot in Detroit for its e-scooter operations. The Semi-Trike was used to deploy, rebalance, and conduct battery swaps for Lime's e-scooters, replacing a traditional gas-powered van. Lime's ridership increased 200% during the partnership period. The pilot ran from October 2024 through the close of Lime's 2024 season.
- Grounded RVsminorCivilized Cycles partnered with Grounded RVs (also a MOIF portfolio company) to develop an all-electric trailer and trike system, utilizing the Semi-Trike platform as the foundation for the Grounded T1 — a smart camping system. This collaboration demonstrates the Semi-Trike's versatility in the outdoor/recreational sector.
- Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC)minorMEDC supported the Lime-Civilized Cycles pilot program in Detroit, contributing to the deployment of Semi-Trikes for e-scooter operations in the city.
- Michigan CentralminorMichigan Central, a mobility innovation hub in Detroit, supported the Lime-Civilized Cycles pilot program, contributing to the deployment of Semi-Trikes for e-scooter operations in the city.
- NewlabminorNewlab, a technology and innovation community, supported the Lime-Civilized Cycles pilot program in Detroit, contributing to the deployment of Semi-Trikes for e-scooter operations in the city.
- MoGo DetroitminorMoGo Detroit (municipal bike share) participated in the Semi-Trike pilot program alongside Lime and Midtown Composting, deploying the vehicles for bike-share rebalancing and fleet operations.
- Midtown CompostingminorMidtown Composting was a partner in the $200,000 Real World Deployment Grant pilot program, using the Semi-Trike for composting logistics in Detroit.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Civilized Cycles competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fernhay: Fernhay designs and manufactures commercial electric cargo trikes for last-mile delivery and urban logistics, mirroring Civilized Cycles' core Semi-Trike positioning and shared-mobility / 3PL target customers. Both sell direct to enterprise fleet operators with quote-based pricing.
- Zoomo: Zoomo provides commercial e-bike fleets and financing to delivery and shared-mobility operators globally. It overlaps directly with Civilized Cycles' shared-mobility and 3PL customer segments and competes for similar pilot and fleet contracts.
- Urban Arrow: Urban Arrow manufactures front-loading cargo e-bikes widely used by European urban delivery fleets. It competes for the same last-mile delivery and family/utility use cases that drive demand for the Semi-Trike's van-capacity trailer configuration.
- Tern Bicycles: Tern makes compact cargo and utility e-bikes (e.g., GSD, HSD) for urban commuters and commercial riders. Its products compete with the Semi-Trike for fleet operators seeking bicycle-class cargo capacity in dense cities.
- Riese & Müller: Riese & Müller is a German premium e-bike maker with strong commercial / cargo e-bike lines (Load, Transporter). It targets similar high-payload, urban delivery use cases as the Semi-Trike platform.
- Yuba Bicycles: Yuba designs cargo and family transport bikes, including electric long-tail and cargo bike models. It overlaps with Civilized Cycles' commercial cargo capacity story and competes for the same fleet and family utility buyers.
Broad incumbents
- Rad Power Bikes: Rad Power Bikes is the largest US e-bike OEM with broad consumer and commercial product lines, including the RadWagon cargo e-bike. As a broad incumbent, it could move down-market into commercial fleet territory that Civilized Cycles currently targets.
- Trek Bicycle: Trek offers a wide e-bike portfolio including the Fetch+ cargo lineup aimed at commercial and family use. As a major incumbent with deep dealer networks, it competes for fleet buyer mindshare even when not selling a direct Semi-Trike equivalent.
- Specialized: Specialized sells premium e-bikes and has explored utility / cargo configurations (e.g., Globe / Haul ST). Its scale and dealer network make it a credible broad incumbent adjacent to Civilized Cycles' commercial cargo segment.
Emerging players
- Grounded RVs: Grounded RVs is Civilized Cycles' partner on the Grounded T1 camping system and another MOIF portfolio company. It demonstrates the Semi-Trike platform's outdoor/camping extension and represents a go-to-market collaboration rather than a head-on competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Civilized Cycles social profiles
Digital presenceCivilized Cycles financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Civilized Cycles leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Civilized Cycles funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Civilized Cycles M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Civilized Cycles
What does Civilized Cycles do?
Civilized Cycles manufactures and sells the Semi-Trike, a bicycle-class light electric commercial vehicle that combines van-sized cargo capacity (up to 200 cu. ft., 750 lb payload) with e-bike regulatory classification and operating costs. The vehicle is sold with modular trailer attachments (Van Trailer, Stake Bed Trailer, Flatbed Trailer, Tractor) to commercial fleet operators, logistics companies, and shared mobility providers for urban last-mile delivery and fleet rebalancing.
Is Civilized Cycles a public or private company?
Civilized Cycles is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Civilized Cycles founded?
Civilized Cycles was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Civilized Cycles based?
Civilized Cycles is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Civilized Cycles make money?
One revenue line is on record: semi-Trike Vehicle Sales.
Who are Civilized Cycles's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fernhay, Zoomo, Urban Arrow, Tern Bicycles, Riese & Müller and Yuba Bicycles. Broad incumbents are Rad Power Bikes, Trek Bicycle and Specialized. Grounded RVs is listed as an emerging player.
Does Civilized Cycles have an API?
No public API is recorded for Civilized Cycles.
What industry is Civilized Cycles in?
Civilized Cycles's product category is Light Electric Commercial Vehicles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAOAA, E-bikes & E-cargo Bikes Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336991 and its SIC code is 3751.