Verge just open-sourced electric bikes the way Raspberry Pi did computers

E-bikes are having their ‘Raspberry Pi’ moment, and I’m absolutely here for it. You know how the Raspberry Pi allowed pretty much anyone to build their own computing device? You didn’t have to rely on larger, bulky models – you could literally put together your own computer and configure it to be exactly the kind of device you wanted it to be – whether something as complex as a robot dog, or something as simple as a single-sensor IoT device. Verge is bringing that plug-and-play simplicty to electric bikes by practically open-sourcing its own e-bike framework. Their new B2B arm, titled Verge Next, will help pretty much any third-party (whether it’s a one-off hobbyist or a mobility company) build their own e-bikes directly on Verge’s open platform.

If you’ve seen Verge’s bikes, you already know they don’t play by conventional rules. Their hubless rear wheel, powered by the company’s famed Donut engine, is both a visual showstopper and a functional revelation. By integrating the motor into the wheel rim, Verge eliminates traditional drive chains or belts, resulting in fewer mechanical losses, a cleaner design, and notably smoother torque delivery. And now Verge is making it available to everyone.

Designer: Verge Motorcycles

Verge Next is where this transfer of power happens, figuratively and literally. It’s a tech licensing arm that operates like a sandbox – a space where manufacturers can play with proven hardware and software stacks, build on them, tweak them, and get to market without reinventing the wheel. Quite literally.

At the core is the Donut engine, developed by Verge’s partner company, Donut Lab. It’s scalable, adaptable, and designed for integration across a range of vehicle formats. Need a compact version for an urban commuter bike? Done. Want a higher-output variant for a sportier electric motorcycle? Also done. Verge has even demonstrated how the system integrates seamlessly into two-wheelers of multiple types, from sportsbikes to cafe racers to scooters and even more skeletal dirt bike-style riders.

Verge has been fielding inquiries from companies around the world, all eager to tap into its tech. Instead of gatekeeping, Verge is choosing to be the bridge. Verge Next gives these manufacturers access to a constantly evolving ecosystem of performance tools, software integrations, safety enhancements, and drivetrain tech. Think better battery management systems, smarter traction control, and optimized chassis balance—all available as part of the Verge Next package.

Verge Motorcycles CEO Tuomo Lehtimäki is pretty clear on the why. Verge paved the path with its own bikes, but now it’s time to expand the impact. While the parent company keeps pushing the envelope with its own electric motorcycles, Verge Next will focus exclusively on licensing and supporting integration across the industry. This isn’t Verge walking away from its core—it’s Verge scaling it.

And if you’re wondering about Donut Lab’s role in all this, Marko Lehtimäki—Donut’s CEO and also Verge’s chairman—makes it clear. They’re not just handing over parts. They’re giving manufacturers the full blueprint for innovation, wrapped in a high-competence team and backed by years of road-tested experience. This isn’t about flooding the market with Verge clones. It’s about setting a new standard.

So the next time you see an electric scooter zipping down your street, or a sleek e-bike carving through traffic, take a second look. That torque you feel, that silence, that seamless drive—it might just be powered by a Donut.

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