The Current News: March 31, 2022

Hello dear readers and riders! They’ve always said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, right? Well, as far as EV news is concerned, the last week of March was anything but soft and meek. This week’s electrifying stories include the largest e-Bike in the world, a startup looking to swap out plastic parts for paper, and a new EV that boasts some incredible autonomous driving features. As always, drop us a line at stephanie@thevintagent.com if you see any news you think we should cover. Let’s roll.

Paper or Plastic?

EV manufacturer CAKE recently announced a partnership with a Swedish startup called PaperShell that wants to replace plastic parts with paper. While this may seem like an absurd endeavor, PaperShell’s paper-packed technology seems to be possible. Founded in 2021, PaperShell is aiming to replace plastic components with an eco-friendlier alternative that “resembles an artificially engineered and exclusive wood.” In the most basic sense, the company would press their sustainable concoction into whatever shape you’re looking for, be it parts for an electric scooter or a spoon.

“Our components are made by press molding, or inflation bladder molding. They create 3D surfaces that are hard and load-bearing for indoor and outdoor products,” PaperShell said. The natural fiber composite solution is hydrophobic, UV, fire-, and weather-resistant. The company states that since the amount of bio carbon is close to 100%, every 1kg of fossil-based plastics replaced with the solution will keep 7.5kg of fossil-based CO2 from being released into the atmosphere at end of life.

The First Rolls-Royce EV Will Arrive Next Year

Luxury car manufacturer Rolls-Royce will release their first electric car, the Spectre, late next year. The company’s winter testing recently wrapped up, and another 1.24 million miles of testing is already scheduled. Most of the winter testing took place on the frozen surface of Lake Kakel in Sweden. The company’s goal for testing its new model in -40-degree conditions was to ensure the vehicle handled as well as any other Rolls. “By driving on low traction surfaces such as snow and ice and willfully destabilizing Spectre, the engineers can create dynamic circumstances at low speeds that would ordinarily occur at high speeds,” the company stated in a release. “This can be reviewed and guided in situ and in slow motion, in doing so parametrizing and finessing cold-weather vehicle performance in areas such as handling, controllability, stability, predictability, and the ‘waftability’ that defines the Rolls-Royce experience.”

Barq’s New e-Scooter is the First from the Middle East

Abu Dhabi-based startup, Barq, just dropped their Rena Max, the first EV from the Middle East. Barq explained that their e-Scooter was intentionally designed for use in the “last-mile” delivery market and aims to combat “inefficient costs and low productivity.” To do that, the scooter features state-of-the-art tech, including battery cooling regulation and an integrated software system that will regulate the temperatures in the scoot’s storage to boost the quality of deliveries. “The insulated top box includes a food safe lining, configurable shelving and integrated thermometer,” Barq said. Designed by CALLUM, the scooter will also feature an integrated eight-inch touch screen, adjustable riding modes, and an 150km range per charge. The bike will be able to hit top speeds of 97kph. Talk about a fast delivery!

The World’s Largest EV Made is Perfect for Giants

If you were 7’1”, what type of EV would you choose to ride? Probably one with 36” tires. DirtySixer, founded by 6’6” David Folch, has been developing larger bikes for larger people since 2013. The company, loved by NBA legends including Lebron James and Shaquille O-Neal, recently introduced their first EV model, fittingly called the eDirtySixer. You’ve got to be leggy to ride this thing. The massive e-Bike features 36” tires, a Shimano E8000 mid-drive motor, and a 500wH battery. And did we tell you that this baby also lacks a chain? Rather, the motor is linked to the rear wheel through a Gates carbon fiber-reinforced belt drive. This makes the eDirtySixer quieter, cleaner, and more durable.

Meet the Lotus Eletre

Lotus recently unveiled their new electric “hyper” SUV dubbed the Eletre. It will be the first of a trio the company plans to release during the next four years. The Eletre, which translates to “coming to life,” can skyrocket from 0 to 60mph in just under three seconds and has 373 miles worth of range on a full charge. The SUV is “future proofed” with hardware that can be controlled via over-the-air software updates to enhance its driver assistance system. Lotus also plans to have four light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors “deploy” when needed. When not in use, the sensors will be tucked away at the top of the windscreen, rear glass, and front wheel arches. These sensors enable the vehicle to enter and exit parking spaces through a smartphone app.