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FLX unveils new electric bicycle based on the timelessly cool Schwinn Stingray

A new electric bike has just been unveiled that is sure to turn nostalgic riders into the coolest big kid on the block. Meet the FLX Menace, which has an unmistakeable resemblance to a certain classic bicycle from the 1960s.

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The post FLX unveils new electric bicycle based on the timelessly cool Schwinn Stingray appeared first on Electrek.


Source: Charge Forward

Hyundai fuel cell trucks won’t be using green hydrogen after all

Governments around the world are dedicating taxpayer money to hydrogen projects, and these are invariably presented as using green hydrogen (produced by electrolysis using renewable energy). Hydrogen detractors often warn that, once these projects are funded, green hydrogen, which isn’t yet available at any scale, will prove impractical, and boosters will quietly switch to grey hydrogen (produced from fossil fuels).

Something along those lines appears to have happened to a project in Switzerland, where Hyundai backed out of a deal to provide hydrogen to fleet operators at a fixed price, and now plans to sell the fuel cell trucks not in Switzerland, but in Germany, where they can be fueled on government-subsidized grey hydrogen.

In 2020, Hyundai announced plans to deliver at least 50 of its Xcient Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks to Swiss fleet customers—the automaker spoke of rolling out as many as 1,600 Xcients by 2025. As part of the deal, Hyundai, in partnership with the Swiss company H2 Energy, would provide clean hydrogen, generated from Swiss hydropower, to customers at a fixed price for eight years. The zero-emission trucks would be exempt from Switzerland’s heavy road tax on commercial vehicles, and the tax savings would bring the cost per kilometer almost to parity with legacy diesel trucks.

Now the company has canceled the project, citing a lack of available green hydrogen and fluctuating energy prices. Hyundai Switzerland CEO Beat Hirschi confirmed to the trade magazine trans aktuell that it will no longer sell the Xcient Fuel Cell truck in the country. The 47 vehicles that have already been delivered may continue operating, but their owners will have to buy hydrogen (of whatever color is available) at market prices. “With the extremely volatile energy prices, we cannot offer eight-year fixed terms,” ​​said Hirschi.

Don’t worry about Hyundai—the trucks that were to go to Switzerland will now be sold in Germany, where they can run on grey hydrogen (produced from fossil fuels) and still benefit from generous government subsidies. “France, Holland and Denmark are also markets that are looking for solutions and we are very confident,” Hirschi added.

Even before the abrupt cancellation, there were warning signs. According to trans aktuell, delivery of the trucks had been repeatedly delayed, their range turned out to be closer to 300 km than to the promised 400 km, and the network of H2 fueling stations was slow to materialize.

It hasn’t been a good week for hydrogen fans.

Shell has closed down all its hydrogen stations in the UK, saying “prototype tech had reached its end of life.” (The oil giant still says it wants to build “multi-modal hubs for heavy-duty trucks.”).

The German state of Baden-Württemberg announced that it will no longer consider hydrogen-powered trains, after a study it commissioned found that hybrid-electric powertrains—or good old-fashioned overhead wires—would be far more economical. The state’s transport agency listed a litany of drawbacks of fuel cell trains: costly filling stations; low efficiency; high energy consumption; high cost; insufficient range; and limited availability of green hydrogen. For one particular line, the report predicted that the cost of operating a hybrid train would be 81% lower than that of a fuel cell train.

ZEV Station installs DC fast chargers in Palm Springs, scores $2.7 million in infrastructure grants

ZEV Station has now launched its first public charging stations, at the Palm Springs Art Museum in California. The new chargers offer both CCS and Tesla charging plugs.

ZEV Station recently secured three California ZEV infrastructure Grants totaling $2.7 million: CEC Rural Charging; EnergIIZE Jumpstart; and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Incentive (HVIP) for ZEV Fleet’s electric vans. The grants will help accelerate the company’s next project, a “highway environmental oasis” off Interstate 10 in Palm Springs.

ZEV Station subsidiary ZEV Fleet plans to demonstrate a total cost of ownership (TCO) model, by leasing electric step vans to last-mile delivery fleets.

“It’s our firm belief that EV charging and later hydrogen will replace gasoline and diesel, respectively,” said ZEV Station CEO Jesse Schneider. “ZEV Station is planning next year to have a larger site, a premier location off I-10, to showcase exactly this.”

Ascend launches two new materials to make EVs safer and quieter

US-based materials company Ascend Performance Materials has introduced two new materials designed for EVs. Starflam X-Protect is a flame-retardant nylon 66 that can withstand a 1,100° C direct flame for 15 minutes.

“Despite being relatively rare, critical battery failure and thermal runaway can occur, and X-Protect was designed to keep people safe even in extreme circumstances,” says Ascend’s Senior Director for E-Mobility Ian van Duijvenboode.

Vydyne AVS is a vibration-damping material capable of reducing cabin sound pressure by 80%, says the company.

“The [Cadillac] Lyriq sports an electric AC compressor mounting bracket made of Vydyne AVS, which effectively helps damp that component’s vibrations at the source while also providing structural support,” according to the company.

Octopus Energy Generation funds EV charging infrastructure in the North of England

Octopus Energy Generation plans to invest up to £110 million on behalf of its Sky fund in Manchester-based EV public charging network Be.EV to install new charge points in the UK.

Octopus Energy says it already supplies all of Be.EV’s chargers with 100% green electricity. Be.EV currently has 150 public charge points in its network, and plans to add 1,000 more “across the North of England and beyond” by 2024.

Observers of the UK’s EV scene often note that public charge points are currently concentrated in London, and scarce elsewhere in the kingdom. Octopus means to address this situation by building community-based charging networks where they’re most needed.

“Everybody, not just the wealthy, must be able to make the switch to electric cars, but currently people who live outside London or in less affluent areas are underserved by public EV charging,” said Asif Ghafoor, CEO and co-founder of Be.EV. “If you live in a flat or terrace, you can’t charge at home. This investment addresses that imbalance and helps kickstart a national infrastructure effort that, for once, doesn’t start in London. We have sites lined up and underway that will form dense clusters of chargers that give people the confidence to go electric. We’re also building infrastructure that communities can be proud of, reinventing charging locations as green neighborhood hubs and developing iconic designs.”

“Our first foray into funding EV charging infrastructure is a significant milestone,” said Matt Setchell, Co-head of Octopus Energy Generation’s fund management team. “We’re accelerating the green energy transition, with more deals coming up to turbocharge it. As a nation, we need to rapidly build more EV charge points to meet the growing number of drivers going electric.”

Moog and Komatsu demonstrate electric wheel loader

Precision control specialist Moog and yellow machine manufacturer Komatsu demonstrated a connected, automation-ready battery-electric wheel loader at the recent bauma trade show in Munich.

Moog’s intelligent machine electrification system includes: an electric traction motor; lift, tilt and steering electric cylinders; power electronics; system control computer; battery and battery management system. Komatsu provided the vehicle-level design and assembly, including structural configurations that take advantage of Moog’s electrification system.

Moog has a long history of converting hydraulic systems to electric, and its intelligent machine electrification system is designed to help Komatsu control not only the loader’s motion but also its energy use to enhance run time and cut maintenance costs compared to diesel alternatives.

Moog’s system integrates multiple subsystems including power management, motion control, connectivity and automation, and it’s designed to enable customers to develop their own differentiated offerings to “bring their vision for next-generation machines to life.”

Moog’s intelligent machine electrification system is designed to be connected, automation-ready and ready to scale to production. The system has the sensing and control capabilities needed for automation while the integrated software framework comes with built-in tools to coordinate multiple axes of motion and precisely control torque, velocity, position, and force. It also supports over-the-air updates.

“The machine, built together with Moog, combines the strengths of both companies, and was finalized within a short period of time,” said Seiichi Fuchita, CTO and President of Komatsu’s Development Division. “We expect the joint testing will show the advantages of a fully electric machine and will prove collaboration is beneficial for both sides.”

“Our focus is accelerating electrification, automation, and connectivity by enabling the world’s safest, most sustainable, and most productive machines,” said Joe Alfieri, VP and General Manager for Moog’s Construction business unit. “Our cooperation with Komatsu shows that industry leaders in the construction industry are ready for zero-emission machines.”