The Current News- January 13, 2023

Hello, dear readers and riders! Welcome to the second installment of our EV news roundups for 2023. This week, we’ll be covering CAKE’s new report on zero emissions, a design student who conceptualized an e-Scooter way back in 1995, tons of new charging networks, and more. See any stories you think we should cover? Shoot them our way at stephanie@thevintagent.com. Let’s roll.

Slick New e-Bike Makes Its Debut

Japanese design firm Edgenity recently unveiled its newest e-Bicycle, the Nocturne. The sleek new bike features linear-styled LED lights at the front and bright red rear ones below the seat. Both sets of lights display bright bursts to help nighttime riders be more visible. Thanks to the high-output motor, the Nocturne has a maximum torque of 40Nm, making it great for adrenaline junkies. More safety-conscious riders will appreciate the e-Bike’s advanced sensors, which alert them to road surface inclinations and weather changes.

A Battery that Doesn’t Die?

Researchers at the University of California at Irvine recently developed a groundbreaking technology that could significantly extend the lifespan of EVs, computers, smartphones, and even spaceships. The researchers found that by coating the gold nanowires in batteries with manganese dioxide shells and then wrapping them in an electrolyte made from Plexiglas-like gel, batteries become much more reliable and failure-resistant. Their first prototype endured almost 200,000 recharge cycles during a three-month period.

Big Plans for New Charging Networks

New charging networks will soon be coming to North America. Luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz is planning to build 400 hubs featuring 2,500 chargers across North America by 2027. Meanwhile, urban mobility company Revel is slated to open the largest charging hub in the western hemisphere in New York City.

Designer Conceptualized e-Scooters Almost 30 Years Ago

While EVs are fairly new concepts, STILRIDE co-founder Tue Beijer has been conceptualizing them for decades. In fact, he created his very first ideation and iteration of the Sport Utility Scooter way back in 1995 and displayed his concept at the Turin Auto Show Italia in 2000. Beijer’s latest innovation is a project for his Master’s degree at the Royal College of Art in London. The sleek design is inspired by BMW with just a touch of Lamborghini’s aerodynamic aesthetics.

 A Not-So-Pristine Start Toward Zero Emissions

e-Bike manufacturer CAKE released a new report this week about the world’s journey toward zero emissions. The report found that though driving an EV is considered zero emissions, the overall carbon footprint is not zero. The term “zero emissions” refers only to the use phase of the vehicle. While EVs don’t produce any tailpipe emissions, they do create emissions from a life-cycle perspective. Even the electricity used to power the battery has a carbon footprint. Report the full report here.

New Solar-Powered Car Is Priced to Please

According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of an electric vehicle is $66,000. Want a more affordable option? Then check out the solar-powered Lightyear 2. Priced under $43,000, the new four-door fastback features both solar panels and a plug. This allows the car to charge in about a third of the time as conventional battery-electric vehicles and provides an additional 500 miles of range between charges from the grid. Production is slated to start in 2025.