Hello, dear readers and riders! Welcome to the latest installment of our EV news roundup series. This week, we’ll be taking a look at tree-based batteries, a foldable carbon-fiber bike made from vegetable resins, Honda’s new EM1e, and why Arrival will move production to US soil. Read an EV story that you think we should cover? Drop us a line at stephanie@thevintagent.com. Let’s roll.
CAKE’s Beefy Bukk
CAKE’s new Bukk is a 250-class off-road eBike, and we understand they’ll offer a road version in the future, just as they did with the Kalk. [CAKE]CAKE recently dropped its latest off-roading e-Bike, the Bukk. It will be the biggest and fastest model the company has ever made.
Tree-Based Batteries
Batteries made from trees? As more investment pours into EVs, battery tech will become more sustainable. [StoraEnso]Stora Enso, a leading provider of renewable packaging products, is now developing batteries for EVs that are made from trees. Most trees are composed of 20% to 30% lignin, which is a complex organic polymer that gives woods its rigorousness and rot-resistance. Stora Enso is transforming lignin by-product into a fine carbon powder, which will be used to make electrode sheets and rolls which are fused with different components, including separators and positive electrodes, to turn them into lithium-ion batteries.
Folding e-Bike Made from Veggie Resin
A folding bicycle made from plants? Manufacturers concerned with their carbon footprint are exploring options, always. [Ossby]Mobility company Ossby recently dropped a lightweight folding e-Bike that is made from a composite of plant-based resins and recycled fibers. Called the Ossby Geo, the bike’s frame is promised to be stronger and more eco-friendly than the aluminum foldable bikes on the market, while still weighing less than 25 pounds. The Geo has a range of about 31 miles thanks to its 250W DC motor.
Honda’s New Little Electric Commuter
In the battery-swap camp like Gogoro, Honda’s new eScooter the EM1e. [Honda]Honda recently unveiled its new commuter e-Scooter, the EM1e, at the EICMA show in Milan. The neat thing about this little scoot is its quick-swap batteries, allowing it to swiftly replenish its energy supply. The EM1e will be available in the EU next summer.
A New Gorgeous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Is Here
Promising 500hp and a 3-minute charge – big promises from new player Hopium Māchina Vision.
First unveiled during 2022 Paris Automotive Week, the Hopium Māchina Vision is the first high-end hydrogen-powered sedan the world has ever seen. Set to hit the market in 2025, the Māchina features an electric motor that is juiced by hydrogen fuel cells and offers 620 miles in range, 500 ponies, and top speeds of 143mph while being able to be refueled in just three minutes flat.
Arrival is Arriving in the US
Arriv(al) in style: a new concept in EVs coming to the USA for the tax credits. [Arrival]
EV startup Arrival recently announced its plans to shift production stateside, with North Carolina predicted to be its main manufacturing base. The company cites the Inflation Reduction Act as the reason for the move, which offers between $7,500 and $40,000 in tax credits for commercial vehicles.
Another Six Figure EV Is Hitting the Market
The Aerha is an Italian luxury EV with 800hp and a 500-mile range. [Aehra]Italian electric vehicle startup Aehra recently revealed its ultra-lux electric SUV. Slated to enter production in 2025, the new EV promises to deliver 500 miles worth of range and features a dual-motor layout with 804hp. Priced at $140,000, the SUV was designed by Filippo Perini, formerly of Lamborghini.
California Voters Say “No” to Taxing the Rich for New EVs
This week, California voters rejected a measurement that would have increased tax rates on incomes over $2 million to help produce more electric vehicles. Most of the funds would have gone to programs that help people buy EVs or to install more chargers.
Shared e-Scooters Reduce Carbon Emissions
A new study from German research institute Fraunhofer ISI found that shared e-Scooters can reduce carbon emissions within major city transportation networks. The researchers surveyed Lime scooter riders from Paris, Stockholm, Melbourne, Berlin, Dusseldorf, and Seattle and found that these riders would have taken a taxi or car if the scooter sharing service wasn’t available.
Stephanie Weaver is the EV Editor at The Vintagent, and a Philadelphia-based freelance writer. When she’s not locked to her laptop, she can be found riding horses and motorcycles.
