Lifeboat Foundation

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to visit the sprawling new production facilities for California-based Electric Bike Company (that’s an advantage to being an early mover in any industry, you get to pick the good names). The company has been building electric cruiser bicycles in Newport Beach since the mid-2010s. And as founder Sean Lupton-Smith proudly explained to me as I toured the factory grounds, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

This isn’t my first time visiting Electric Bike Company. Nearly two years ago I toured the previous EBC factory to learn about how e-bikes were being built in the US.

Continue reading “Electric Bike Company’s ‘made in America’ e-bikes are key to its success. Here’s why” »

Tesla has introduced the new AMD Ryzen chip and 12v Li-ion battery in 2022 Model 3 Model Y vehicles.

Earlier this month, we reported on a bunch of new features and changes coming to the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y that leaked through a test program in Europe.

Amongst many things, the leak revealed that new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles coming to Europe, which are made in China, would come with the new AMD Ryzen chip that is powering the media computer in the new Model S and Model X and the Model Y Performance made in China. Also, the lead-acid 12v battery will change to a Li-ion battery system.

If you missed out on Black Friday electric mower deals, then you’re in luck. The Greenworks 48V 17-inch brushless cordless electric mower is back at its third-best price that we’ve seen all-time at $246. Not only does this bundle include the gas-and oil-free mower, but also two 4Ah 24V batteries and a 24V drill/driver. You’ll also find discounts on electric lawn mowers and much more below, as well. We also have a wide selection of Tesla, Greenworks, and other e-bike discounts in today’s New Green Deals, so you won’t want to miss that either.

Head below for other New Green Deals that we’ve found today, more on why going electric for your yard tools like the mower on sale is important, and of course Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Amazon is offering a deal on the Greenworks 48V 17-inch Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower with 24V Drill/Driver for $245.99 shipped. Down from a $360 normal going rate, today’s deal is the third-best price that we’ve tracked all-time. This kit includes Greenworks’ 48V 17-inch brushless battery-powered mower, two 4Ah 24V batteries, a charger, and a 24V drill/driver. That’s right, you don’t just get the mower and batteries here, the drill/driver will help you with honey-do tasks around the house once spring arrives. Of course, no gas or oil is required for this mower to function, and being battery-powered also removes the requirement to have cylinders or noisy exhaust. All-in-all, this is a solid buy at the third-best price that we’ve seen all-time.

Sunny way.

A ‘bike highway’ running between Daejon and Sejong in South Korea is a sight —or rather, a concept —, you surely haven’t thought of before: It stretches for 20 miles (32 km), and it not only shields cyclists from the sun but also generates power at the same time.

Continue reading “South Korean 20-Mile Solar ‘Bike Highway’ Generates Electricity” »

Hyundai announced that it is shutting down its internal combustion engine development team as the automaker focuses on electric cars.

For 40 years the Korean automaker has been developing internal combustion engines to use in its vehicle lineup, but no more.

The Korea Economic Daily reports that Hyundai’s new R&D chief Park Chung-kook confirmed in an email to employees that they are shutting down new engine development:

What a challenge COVID-19 has had on our global supply chains, exposing vulnerabilities in production capacity, shipping logistics and in particular last mile enablements. According to a recent report of Technavio, the last mile delivery market will grow to USD $14.96B from 2021 to 2025, with a CAGR of 15.06%. Also according to tier one market research firm, Gartner Group, by 2023, 50% of leading global enterprises will have invested in real-time transportation visibility solutions.

Last mile delivery is defined as the transportation of goods and services from a distribution hub to the final customer destination, within a reasonable time at an affordable rate and in mint condition. Supply chain focus on the last mile has significantly become top of mind given the COVID-19 global pandemic, as organizations have had to refresh/rethink their conveyance systems and develop new creative strategies to build more proficient conveyance intelligence.

In times of unprecedented challenges, especially in the past two years, companies are accelerating their investments in robotics, trade channel expansion, laser precision targeted product and supply chains, and last mile intelligence systems.

With the future of transportation for cars all set to be electric, all eyes are now on how the bigger haul vehicles will make their transition. While the biggest hurdle to overcome still remains the range of these vehicles, with automation also making progress, the designs of these trucks are also set for a change.

With their Atlantis, designers Dolzhenko and Voronezhstev imagine a future where these semi-trucks have reached Level 5 automation, where vehicles are completely autonomous and require no human intervention at all. In contrast, even as it is labeled ‘Full Self Driving’, Tesla is inching closer to a Level 3 automation 0, even as it aims to achieve a Level 4 someday.

It’s made for high speeds and for showing off!

In the past, we have brought you Lazzarini Design Studio’s mega yacht concept, Prodigium. The King of the Seas, as it’s also known, was shaped like a giant shark and spanned a whopping 501 feet (153 meters) long.

Inspired by Roman architecture, Prodigium was equipped with Roman statues and two columns that supported its upper deck, an impressive and unique design. Now, the same studio that brought you this marvel of the seas has produced a superbike concept called Hypercycle that is bound to grab your attention.

Continue reading “This Superbike Concept Shapeshifts Into a More Aerodynamic Model” »

The French company Moonbike is preparing to bring its fun-looking snow transporter to the US, just in time for winter riding.

The Moonbike may have “bike” in its name, though it’s hard to call it a true snow bike.

But don’t let that rear track fool you. It’s not really a traditional snowmobile either, in that it rides on a single forward ski instead of two.