Trek has just unveiled its lightest electric bike to date, the Trek Domane+ SLR. The stealthy e-bike is designed to slot right in alongside non-electric bikes without sticking out.
Trek Domane+ SLR
Weighing in at a mere 11.75 kg (25.9 pounds), the Trek Domane+ SLR is the company’s lightest electric road bike to date.
The Domane+ SLR’s lightweight design was made possible thanks to a combination of an ultra lightweight carbon frame, minimalist electric motor and a small battery pack, among other gram-saving design choices.
The Domane+ SLR is the first Trek bike to take advantage of the company’s highest level 800 series carbon frame, previously only used on the manufacturer’s pedal bikes.
That frame is said to have saved 700g compared to the frame used on Trek’s previous Domane+ e-bike, or around 6% of the bike’s overall mass.
The bike employs the TQ-HPR50 e-bike drive system, a lesser known but sophisticated e-bike drive powertrain developed by the German TQ Group. It puts out 50 Nm of torque, which isn’t exactly gear melting but should be sufficient for the type of electric gentle assist riding that most road bikers are seeking.
The motor is capable of speeds of up to 45 km/h (28 mph) when integrated into e-bikes destined for the US market, and it appears the Trek will allow the Domane+ SLR to take advantage of that higher speed in the US. In Europe, the bike will still be limited to 25 km/h (15.5 mph) to comply with local regulations.
The bike will sport a 360Wh battery, which the company says should be sufficient for 100 km (62 miles) of assisted riding. That range may be possible in the lowest power mode, but riders taking advantage of the higher end of the bike’s 300W output will likely achieve lower range figures per charge. The bike’s three power modes can be selected using shifter buttons on the bar hoods, allowing riders to keep their hands in place while adjusting the motor’s assistance level.
Trek also offers a 160 Wh range extender battery that fits in the water bottle cage and can add nearly 50% more battery capacity to the bike. That auxiliary battery option, which costs an extra $599, could prove popular for riders who enjoy bikepacking or simply want to push harder and farther on their fitness rides.
While the Domane+ SLR is designed as a road e-bike, its allowance for tires up to 40mm wide could offer decent utility as a gravel e-bike as well.
We’ve seen that with other top end electric road bikes like the Specialized Turbo Creo SL, which has been known to serve double duty as an electric road bike and gravel e-bike, depending on the loadout.
The bike’s integrated battery and hidden bottom bracket motor make the bike largely indistinguishable from many pedal bikes, at least at a quick glance.
One of the few giveaways of the bike’s electric nature is the digital display built into the upper surface of the top tube, which helps keep the handlebars free of digital clutter.
The Trek Domane+ SLR starts at US $8,999 (£8,890, €9,599) with a Shimano transmission, though the price increases to US $12,999 (£12,900, €14,499) for the higher end version with a SRAM Red eTap transmission.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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