After defective Fiido X e-bike recalled for breaking in half, now another model is doing it
It’s been a tough six months for Fiido, a Hong Kong-based electric bicycle company whose e-bikes have proven popular in the US as well as other markets. The company’s futuristic-looking Fiido X electric bike was recalled in April after Electrek received reports that the highly engineered frame had a tendency to break in half. Now it looks like another model known as the T1 is suffering a similar fate.
The Fiido X’s undoing was the result of a magnesium frame that was highly engineered with a sleek and minimalist design.
Unfortunately, that design proved to be a bit too minimalist near the folding mechanism, causing the bikes to eventually crack in half due to repeated stress-induced micro-fractures of the frame.
Electrek has now reviewed multiple reports that another Fiido model, the Fiido T1, has also suffered cracks or complete breakage.
The images below were provided by a Fiido T1 owner who explained that the bike simply snapped in half while he was riding at around 8 mph (13 km/h) on a flat road. He added that he was not a heavy rider, that he had never taken it off-road, and that the bike had never been in a crash.
The pictures show that the aluminum frame appears to have cracked several inches above the lower reinforcing tube in the step-through section of the bike.
The rider was uninjured, explaining that the bike essentially crumbled beneath him and he just ran it out, remaining on his feet. But he added that if it had happened on his next ride, he would have had a child on the back.
Another Fiido T1 owner provided an image of his bike with what appears to be a large crack that formed a few inches lower on the same frame tube.
The rider says he hasn’t ridden the bike in a month due to an unrelated issue with the bike, but recently discovered the crack and worries that it could have grown or even led to a complete failure of the frame if he had been riding over the last month.
The Fiido T1’s step-through frame isn’t outwardly unique, and uses a similar design to many other step-through utility bikes. However, small differences in aluminum alloy composition, tube wall thickness, welding quality, tube length, joint angle, and other frame geometry variations can have vastly different impacts on the ruggedness of the resulting frame.
The 36.2 kg (80 pound) Fiido T1 comes with a 200 kg (440 pound) load rating, divided to 120 kg (265 pounds) on the saddle and 80 kg (176 pounds) on the rear rack.
The bike can hit speeds of up to 45 km/h (28 mph) and carries a one-year frame warranty.
Electrek has reached out to Fiido for comment, but has not yet heard back.
When the Fiido X’s frame defect was first discovered, the company quickly issued a recall and followed up with a resolution plan that included offering owners either another model of e-bike, or an updated version of the Fiido X that would include a re-engineered frame.
The company recently began shipping that updated version, which also includes other updates such as a 7-speed Shimano shifter, upgraded handlebar display, more comfortable saddle and handlebar, and of course a beefier folding mechanism that (hopefully) won’t break in half.
A Fiido representative recently explained to Electrek that the company tested the new design extensively, applying 20% more load to it than what is specified by the EN15194 testing standard and raising the number of test cycles to double the amount specified by the testing standard.
The company also shared detailed images showing the upgrades to the frame.
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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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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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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.
Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes
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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.
Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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