Electric Vehicle News

Rivian to build $5-billion battery and assembly plant near Atlanta

Rivian Automotive is the brightest rising star in the EV firmament at the moment, and it’s flush with cash following a $11.9 billion stock offering in November. Now the company has announced plans to put some of that nest egg to work at a new $5-billion battery and assembly plant east of Atlanta, which is projected to employ 7,500 workers.

[Superlative alert:] Sources told AP that the headcount at the plant could grow to as many as 10,000, which would make it among the largest auto assembly complexes in the US. The deal is expected to be the largest industrial project in Georgia history, surpassing the 4,400-worker Kia complex that opened in West Point in 2009.

Founder and CEO Robert Scaringe told Bloomberg Television in November that the ability to recruit good workers [read: non-unionized workers] was the most important factor in the decision.

The state of Georgia is believed to have offered rich incentives to Rivian, which reportedly also considered factory sites in Texas, Arizona and Michigan. Georgia’s Mega Project Tax Credit could be worth $118 million in state income tax credits, and local governments may also reduce property taxes.

Rivian, like Tesla, sells directly to customers, and has no plans to build a dealership network. Georgia, like Texas, generally prohibits this sales model. We expect Rivian to work the political levers to try to change this state of affairs (as Tesla has been doing in Texas for years, so far without success).

Many foresee surging demand for EVs, and Rivian, which says it has a yearly capacity of 150,000 vehicles at its existing plant in Normal, Illinois, is not the only automaker that’s expanding production capacity. At least one auto analyst is skeptical. “It seems like it might be a little premature to invest that much in another large plant just yet,” said Sam Abuelsamid, Principal Mobility Analyst for Guidehouse Insights, adding that Rivian may also be scouting a site in Europe.

Abuelsamid expects Rivian to make various parts for its vehicles at the new Georgia plant, as Tesla does at its factory in Fremont, California. Tesla has often become frustrated with suppliers’ inability to react quickly enough to its rapidly-evolving needs, and brought production of parts in-house.

With this massive new investment, Rivian has plunged further into the dreaded Valley of Death, and it needs to start bringing in some serious revenue before the massive costs of ramping up production drain its bank account. “If actual deliveries don’t start picking up, the markets could turn against [Rivian] as they have with some other EV startups not called Tesla,” Abuelsamid said. “Rivian will be facing serious competition in a much shorter time frame than the near-decade head start that Tesla had.”

Mr. Abuelsamid is referring to Ford, GM and Tesla, which will be bringing their own electric pickup trucks to market soon.

Ride1Up launches 28 MPH Cafe Cruiser dual-rider electric bike with low entry price

Ride1Up has spent years earning a well-deserved spot at the front of the pack for commuter e-bikes. But now the San Diego-based electric bike company is branching out into a new class of rides with a more beach cruiser-esque model known as the Cafe Cruiser.

The new e-bike is likely to help expand Ride1Up’s reach beyond its existing urban-oriented market, with the brand now expanding further into comfort and lifestyle-type electric bikes.

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The post Ride1Up launches 28 MPH Cafe Cruiser dual-rider electric bike with low entry price appeared first on Electrek.


Source: Charge Forward

Save $100 on the Jetson Eris electric scooter at new low of $225, more in New Green Deals

Are you tired of walking or taking the car to and from the store or work? Maybe it’s time to pick up an electric scooter to assist with shorter trips. Jetson’s Eris electric scooter is great for that as it has a 12 mile range and 14MPH max speed, which makes it simple to get from place to place without gas or oil. Plus, since this electric scooter is on sale for $225 today from its normal $325 going rate, you’ll save $100 and enjoy a new all-time low that we’ve tracked. 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.

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The post Save $100 on the Jetson Eris electric scooter at new low of $225, more in New Green Deals appeared first on Electrek.


Source: Charge Forward