Buying an e-bike without a battery might sound a little like buying a car without a motor. But that’s exactly what Minnesota-based e-bike company Monarc is now offering – and there’s actually a pretty good reason for it.

Monarc has just rolled out a new pricing structure for its highly acclaimed Marker and Tracer e-bikes, allowing customers to choose between two batteries, one battery, or no battery at all.

The Monarc Marker, which normally costs $1,999 with two batteries, can now be purchased for $1,749 with one battery or $1,499 without a battery.

The Monarc Tracer gets the same $250-per-battery reduction, dropping from $1,899 with two batteries to $1,649 with one battery or just $1,399 without either battery.

Of course, the battery-less versions aren’t really intended for someone buying their first Monarc. Instead, the company is targeting existing owners who already have compatible batteries and chargers sitting around.

That makes sense, since when the company first launched its premier e-bikes earlier this year, it did so with an impressively high-value package that included not just one but two batteries. At the time, it was seen as a bold move – especially since many e-bike companies hold back spare batteries as a significant upsell opportunity. But in this case, it looks like Monarc was angling for a different strategy more akin to the power tool world: build all your products around a single battery and then let owners swap just a few batteries among them.

If you already own a Monarc and want to add a second bike for a spouse, family member, or just a different style of riding, why buy another battery and charger if you don’t need them?

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