Specialized launches its most affordable electric bike yet, the 28 mph Globe Haul ST utility bike
Specialized, one of the leading manufacturers of high-end bicycles and e-bikes, has launched its first-ever value segment of e-bikes under the Globe line. The company’s launch model is an electric cargo bike known as the Globe Haul ST.
While Specialized calls it a cargo bike, the shorter wheel-base that keeps it in “normal bike” proportions helps put it into a class we often refer to as utility e-bikes. These are e-bikes with extra cargo capacity for hauling extra cargo or passengers, but without the extra bulk and length often associated with oversized electric cargo bikes.
The Globe Haul ST is priced at US $2,700, which might seem to be a bit higher than most budget-oriented e-bikes yet is positively low-cost for a premium brand like Specialized.
The company is pitching the Globe Haul ST as an affordable car-replacing electric bike that can handle many of the daily tasks that many people accomplish with a much larger vehicle.
As the company explained:
The Globe Haul ST represents a new category of e-bike for Specialized, one that fills the gap between a commuter e-bike and a car. The Globe line is designed with increased load capacity and a versatile accessory mounting system allowing riders to travel comfortably around the suburbs and exurbs as well as the off-the-beaten paths of their outdoor adventures.
Compared to many of Specialized’s electric bicycles that lean more toward European-style e-bike designs, the Globe Haul ST is rather Americanized.
That means a powerful 700W hub motor, a massive 772 Wh battery touting 60 miles (96 km) of range, large tires in a 20×3.5″ size, and a massive weight capacity of up to 419 lb. (190 kg).
Oh yeah, and the Class 3 top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h).
That being said, it’s missing one major piece of kit loved by the majority of North American riders: a throttle option. When we first got a look at teaser pics, I called out a thin wire tracing its way up to the right handlebar end. As it didn’t terminate in the brakes and thus couldn’t have been a common brake sensor, I suggested that it may be a giveaway for a throttle. Unfortunately I was a bit too optimistic, as it turns out it’s the switch for the ultra-bright 1,500 lumen headlight.
However, one of the many accessories option includes a plug-in throttle, so it sounds like the company is prepared to offer that option to those that prefer the ability to put their legs on autopilot for a period.
In true Specialized fashion, the bike is outfitted with some very nice parts compared to today’s mid-level e-bikes. Microshift’s 9-speed transmission makes an appearance, as do hydraulic disc brakes on massive 203 mm brake rotors, and there’s even a torque sensor for ultra-smooth and responsive pedal assist.
There’s a telescoping seat post that drops down ultra low for riders as short as 4’5″ (135 cm) or as tall as 6’4″ (193 cm). The rear rack is dual level to create enough space for panniers to clip on while potentially leaving the top bars unencumbered for extra cargo loading.
That rack seems to be a central part of several accessory options, as the company explained:
To further separate itself from the pack, the bike comes with a versatile mounting system and ecosystem of specifically-engineered accessories that allow riders to personalize with the storage and seating configuration best suited to their needs. The Globe Haul ST launches with an accessory line that includes front and rear pannier adaptors, a rear passenger seat, handlebars, and foot pegs, an MIK-ready front rack, rear wheel cover, and plug-in throttle. A rack customization kit also provides various hardware to bolt on just about anything to the front.
Even less critical parts like the included brass bell appear to be nicer quality than the typical accessories slapped on a lot of direct-to-consumer e-bikes.
Priced at US $2,700, the Specialized Globe Haul ST is available in dark and light colorways of Satin Obsidian and Gloss White Mountains. The bike is currently only available in the US, but Specialized representatives have told Electrek that there are still plans to expand international distribution “in the future.”
Electrek’s Take
I’m pretty darn impressed with the Globe Haul ST, and I’m glad to see a throttle option, even if it’s an up-charge. I can already tell you that the lack of a throttle would have considerably cut into the bike’s potential sales in the US. It’s not that all e-bikes have to come with a throttle – I love pedal assist as well. But there are so many US e-bike riders that simply won’t look at an e-bike that doesn’t at least give them the option of throttling when they’re tired.
I think it’s hard to talk about these step-through utility bikes without mentioning the RadRunner, especially since they borrow heavily from the setup popularized by Rad Power Bikes a few years ago. Even the nicest $2,500 RadRunner 3 Plus is still a bit more affordable than the Globe Haul ST, though I doubt Rad can compete with the quality of a brand like Specialized.
I’m loving the loadout here. And I’m loving the fact that you’re basically getting Specialized quality and attention to detail at a more direct-to-consumer price. In fact, the packaging and owners manual alone speak volumes about this e-bike and the company behind it. Most direct-to-consumer e-bikes expect you to say thanks for including a couple Ikea-quality hex wrenches produced out of a steel-butter alloy. But the Globe Haul ST comes with a full tool kit including a freakin’ torque wrench to make sure you not only assemble the bike properly but also torque all the bolts to spec. Mmmm, I love that.
Though for those that don’t want the hassle of self-assembly, Specialized also offers an option to have the bike shipped to their local dealer for professional assembly.
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As “extreme” weather events become more commonplace, the demand for reliable and portable energy continues to rise. In response to that growing demand for dependable off-grid power, Volvo has developed the new PU500 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) designed to take electrical power when it’s needed most.
Designed to be deployable in a number of environments at a moment’s notice, the Volvo Energy PU500 BESS is equipped with approximately 500 kWh of usable battery capacity (up to 540 kWh total). More than enough juice, in other words, to power a remote construction site, disaster response effort, or even a music festival – anything that needs access to reliable electricity beyond a grid connection.
That’s great, but what sets the PU500 apart from other battery storage solutions is its integrated 240 kW DC fast charger.
“With an integrated CCS2 charger, the PU500 is designed to work with all brands of electric equipment, trucks, and passenger cars,” says Niklas Thulin, Head of BESS Product Offer at Volvo Energy. “This ensures that no matter what type of electric vehicle or machinery you rely on, the PU500 can provide the power you need, making it a truly flexible solution for any grid constrained site or location.”
The integrated charger in the PU500 has the impressive ability to charge a heavy equipment asset (be that an electric semi truck or something like a wheel loader) in under two hours. Its on-board capacity allows to fully recharge up to 3 electric HD trucks or 20 electric cars per day, making it an incredibly versatile disaster response asset.
Electrek’s Take
As we often say over at The Heavy Equipment Podcast, “just because you’re working for the power company doesn’t mean you have power,” and there are hundreds of scenarios where the extra power provided by something like the new PU500 would be useful. Its ability to be palletized and easily moved or swapped out of a larger BESS array, too, just add to its flexibility.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo.
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In a bold bid to combat the crippling air pollution crisis in its capital, Delhi, Indian lawmakers have begun high-level discussions about a plan to phase out gas and diesel combustion vehicles by 2035 – a move that could cause a seismic shift in the global EV space and provide a cleaner, greener future for India’s capital.
Long considered one of the world’s most polluted capital cities, Indian capital Delhi is taking drastic steps to cut back pollution with a gas and diesel engine ban coming soon – but they want results faster than that. As such, Delhi is starting with a city-wide ban on refueling vehicles more than 15 years old, and it went into effect earlier this week. (!)
“We are installing gadgets at petrol pumps which will identify vehicles older than 15 years, and no fuel will be provided to them,” said Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa … but they’re not stopping there. “Additionally, we will intensify scrutiny of heavy vehicles entering Delhi to ensure they meet prescribed environmental standards before being allowed entry.”
Making it prohibitively difficult for Dehli’s residents to own and operate older, presumably more polluting vehicles is one way to reduce harmful emissions and air pollution, but Sirsa’s team isn’t just targeting newer vehicles. They’re also planning to deploy more than 900 electric transit buses, part of a larger plan to replace 5,000 of the city’s 7,500 total bus with lower- or zero-emission options this year alone.
The Economic Times is reporting that discussions are underway to pass laws requiring that all future bus purchases will be required to be electric or “clean fuel” (read: CNG or hydrogen) by the end of this year, with a gas/diesel ban on “three-wheelers and light goods vehicles,” (commercial tuk-tuks and delivery mopeds) potentially coming 2026 to 2027 and a similar ban privately owned and operated cars and bikes coming “between 2030 and 2035.”
Electrek’s Take
After a Chinese government study linked air pollution caused by automotive exhausts and coal-fired power plants to more than 1.1 million deaths per year in 2013, the nation’s government took serious action, shuttering older coal plants and imposing strict emissions standards. The country also incentivized EV adoption through license-plate lotteries favoring electric cars and a nationwide EV mandate set to kick in by 2030.
The results were astounding, and the technological innovations that have come from an entire nation of talented engineers all “pulling in the same direction” have put the West to shame, with Western auto executives repeatedly sounding the alarm and lobbying for tariffs and other protectionist policies on both sides of the Atlantic.
To see India make move towards a gas and diesel ban like this, and on such an aggressive timeline, can only mean that they’ve been paying attention … and America is about to fall even further behind.
SOURCE: India Times; featured image by Sumita Roy Dutta.
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Last week, Parker Hannifin launched what they’re calling the industry’s first certified Mobile Electrification Technology Center to train mobile equipment technicians make the transition from conventional diesel engines to modern electric motors.
The electrification of mobile equipment is opening new doors for construction and engineering companies working in indoor, environmentally sensitive, or noise-regulated urban environments – but it also poses a new set of challenges that, while they mirror some of the challenges internal combustion faced a century ago, aren’t yet fully solved. These go beyond just getting energy to the equipment assets’ batteries, and include the integration of hydraulic implements, electronic controls, and the myriad of upfit accessories that have been developed over the last five decades to operate on 12V power.
At the same time, manufacturers and dealers have to ensure the safety of their technicians, which includes providing comprehensive training on the intricacies of high-voltage electric vehicle repair and maintenance – and that’s where Parker’s new mobile equipment training program comes in, helping to accelerate the shift to EVs.
“We are excited to partner with these outstanding distributors at a higher level. Their commitment to designing innovative mobile electrification systems aligns perfectly with our vision to empower machine manufacturers in reducing their environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency,” explains Mark Schoessler, VP of sales for Parker’s Motion Systems Group. “Their expertise in designing mobile electrification systems and their capability to deliver integrated solutions will help to maximize the impact of Parker’s expanding METC network.”
The manufacturing equipment experts at Nott Company were among the first to go through the Parker Hannifin training program, certifying their technicians on Parker’s electric motors, drives, coolers, controllers and control systems.
“We are proud to be recognized for our unwavering dedication to advancing mobile electrification technologies and delivering cutting-edge solutions,” says Nott CEO, Markus Rauchhaus. “This milestone would not have been possible without our incredible partners, customers and the team at Nott Company.”
In addition to Nott, two other North American distributors (Depatie Fluid Power in Portage, Michigan, and Hydradyne in Fort Worth, Texas) have completed the Parker certification.
Electrek’s Take
With the rise of electric equipment assets like Bobcat’s T7X compact track loader and E10e electric excavator that eliminate traditional hydraulics and rely on high-voltage battery systems, specialized electrical systems training is becoming increasingly important. Seasoned, steady hands with decades of diesel and hydraulic systems experience are obsolete, and they’ll need to learn new skills to stay relevant.
Certification programs like Parker’s are working to bridge that skills gap, equipping technicians with the skills to maximize performance while mitigating risks associated with high-voltage systems. Here’s hoping more of these start popping up sooner than later.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Parker Hannifin.
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