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Founders: Gene Berdichevsky (CEO), Gleb Yushin, Alex Jacobs
Launched: 2011
Headquarters: Alameda, California
Funding:
$930 million
Valuation: N/A
Key technologies:
Nanotechnology
Industry:
Automotive
Previous appearances on Disruptor 50 List: 1 (No. 34 in 2021)

Persephone Kavallines

As the electric vehicle fast becomes the future for major automakers, critical elements including lithium are poised to be the equivalent of new oils.

Elon Musk has been saying for years that if there’s any business a smart entrepreneur should get into, it’s lithium refining. He didn’t wait too long: The Tesla CEO just broke ground on his own lithium refining plant in Texas this week.

Using metals and minerals in batteries isn’t new, with lithium-ion tech commercially available since 1991, and inside not just the growing EV production lines but smartphones — and in the case of next-generation battery chemistry startup Sila, Whoop fitness trackers. But with the ambitious growth targets for EV production from both automakers and governments, the race is on to secure the natural resources needed for the auto industry’s energy transition, and none is more important than lithium.

According to research published earlier this year from the University of California, Davis, and the Climate and Community Project, “If today’s demand for EVs is projected to 2050, the lithium requirements of the U.S. EV market alone in 2050 would require triple the amount of lithium currently produced for the entire global market.”

That’s potentially bad for a lot of reasons, including the expansion of mining. But there are a variety of workarounds, from new battery recycling programs to reengineering the size of the EV battery, and its chemistry, to do more with less.

Silicon Valley-based Sila, founded by former Tesla engineers, is moving into autos with its new lithium-ion technology to help solve this growing problem.

More coverage of the 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50

Sila is building off the standard approach of two electrodes – an anode (negative) and a cathode (positive) – but with its development of a silicon-based anode to replace graphite, more lithium ions can be stored in the battery, increasing energy density, and more of the battery can be constructed from recycled materials. The company says its approach can increase the energy density of batteries by 20%, and serve as a “drop-in” replacement to give batteries a boost across auto companies.

It shipped its first commercial products in 2021, but the real growth is yet to come, with key EV partners in Mercedes-Benz and the U.S. government.

Last October, the Department of Energy awarded $100 million to Sila for construction of its 600,000-plus-square-foot manufacturing plant in Moses Lake, Washington, part of the multi-billion investment in EVs and battery tech included in President Biden’s infrastructure plan. The 160-acre campus is targeting production of 20 gigawatts of capacity by 2026, which it estimates is enough to power 200,000 electric vehicles. Mercedes’ G Class series is the first production line slated for the new batteries, though production lines are not expected to be fully underway until the first half of 2025.

Sila is not alone in seeking to remake the lithium-ion battery, with rival startups such as Amprius Technologies and Group 14 Technologies also focused on silicon, and in deals with Porsche, and beyond autos, Airbus and the U.S. Army, among others.

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The new Aventon Pace 4 is getting closer to a theft-proof electric bike

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The new Aventon Pace 4 is getting closer to a theft-proof electric bike

Aventon has officially announced its latest electric bicycle, the Pace 4, adding advanced smart bike technology and enhanced rider comfort to its popular line of urban-friendly e-bikes. The Pace 4 builds upon Aventon’s successful formula of accessibility and ease of use, now augmented with new connectivity and security features that make it harder to steal and easier to get back.

At the heart of the Pace 4 is Aventon’s latest innovation: the Aventon Control Unit (ACU). The ACU significantly upgrades the bike’s intelligence and security capabilities, bringing GPS tracking, geofencing, and remote locking to the Pace 4.

With the addition of the ACU, riders gain the ability to monitor their bike’s location in real-time, set virtual boundaries that trigger alerts if the bike leaves a specified area, and remotely lock the rear wheel, helping to improve security and peace of mind. A startup passcode can also be enabled to further improve theft deterrence, ensuring the bike can only be activated by authorized users.

The remote locking and passcode can help deter some theft, but the GPS tracking makes it easier to get the bike back if it ever does find itself in the wrong hands. The GPS feature and the 4G data communication both require a 4G data subscription, which is provided complimentary for one year at the time of purchase.

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Of course, there’s no such thing as a theft-proof bicycle, but these types of smart features help riders get closer to that goal. Plus, as bike thieves become more aware of which e-bikes include built-in GPS or other theft deterrence features, hopefully those models will become less attractive targets.

The Pace 4 doesn’t only upgrade its intelligence. Its performance and comfort have also received their own improvements.

Powered by a 500W rear hub motor rated for a peak output of 864 watts and 60 Nm of torque, the Pace 4 provides decent power for smooth urban commuting and enjoyable leisure rides. According to Aventon, riders can expect consistent and reliable performance across various terrains and riding conditions.

It may not match the 750W continuous-rated motors we often see in the North American market, which usually output peak power in the low four figures of watts, but it should still provide good power and climbing performance on moderate hills.

The Pace 4 features a 36V 20Ah battery, which Aventon states can deliver a range of up to 70 miles (112 km) when ridden in ECO mode. Of course, few people actually ride solely in the lowest power mode, and so the real-world range is likely to be somewhat lower – especially for riders who make ample use of the throttle. But with just over 720 Wh of battery capacity, the Pace 4 is likely still ideal for extended city commutes, recreational rides, and weekend exploring. And with the included torque sensor, the pedal assist is more responsive, giving riders more reason to let go of the throttle and enjoy the pedal assist performance.

The 27.5×2.1″ urban tires will be most at home on pavement but can likely still handle fairly smooth trails. Whether for daily commuting or leisurely outings, the bike seems outfitted for a variety of use cases.

The Pace 4 lacks traditional suspension but the bike does include a suspension seat post offering 2 inches (50mm) of travel. This feature absorbs shocks and vibrations from rough roads, preventing them from traveling up through the saddle and into the rider’s rear, enhancing the riding experience. Complementing this is an ergonomic handlebar design aimed at promoting a relaxed, upright riding posture, reducing rider fatigue on longer trips and increasing overall comfort.

Neither of these can replace true front or rear suspension, but they go a decent way toward adding more comfort to the ride.

Aventon has also emphasized accessibility with the Pace 4. It features a step-through frame design that makes getting on and off the bike much easier than swinging a leg over the rear, helping the bike cater to riders of all ages and abilities. Available in two frame sizes and three colors of Flint, Mica, and Blue Steel (grey, black, and light blue), the Pace 4 also offers a bit of variation to help riders dial in the size and style closer to their tastes.

Priced at $1,799, the Pace 4 is entering the market at a time when new tariffs are hammering e-bike prices. The model is now available for purchase through Aventon’s official website and Aveneton’s wide network of authorized dealers.

Electrek’s Take

The new Aventon Pace 4 sticks with the company’s recent drive to push the boundaries of e-bike technology, combining smart connectivity, enhanced security features, modest performance, and some nods toward comfort. I’d imagine the bike would appeal to a broad range of riders if it wasn’t for the price, which feels fairly high to me. Plus, the base model doesn’t include a rack, fenders, or other commuter staples that will only elevate the price further. That being said, the Pace 4 launches at a time when e-bike prices are expected to arrive across the board, either slightly for models built in various Asian countries or significantly for models built in China.

But ignoring the price (as hard as that may be), I do like what I see here. It’s hard to compare to Class 3 e-bikes with more powerful 48V systems, but this isn’t designed to compete with those models. It’s a more modest, easier-going model. But for its intended audience, it comes with some nice features that we don’t often see elsewhere.

I really hope features like built-in tracking become more common across the board, as they’re hugely valuable for riders.

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400 kW DC fast charging On The Run arrives in Canada – and it’s FREE!

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400 kW DC fast charging On The Run arrives in Canada – and it's FREE!

British Columbia got its first 400 kW DC fast charger last week at Canadian C-store chain On The Run, but that’s not the good part. As part of a limited time offer, these chargers are FREE!

The Canadian convenience store chain just took the wraps off its new, ABB-developed, 400 kW chargers earlier this month, but they’re already planning to bring the ultra-fast 400 kW dispensers to at least four more locations in BC this spring, and have them online just in time for the summer road trip season – something On The Run hopes its customers will appreciate.

“The A400 charger delivers an enhanced customer experience, with reliability and performance from a 32-inch screen to higher power charging sessions and power sharing,” reads the company’s official announcement, via LinkedIn. “Download the Journie Rewards app to start the charge – free for a limited time.”

On The Run’s new 400 kW ABB DC fast chargers are compatible with CCS and CHAdeMO plugs, and can accommodate Tesla and other NACS-equipped vehicles with an adapter. That said, the company seems to imply that Tesla drivers in particular will have a maximum charging speed of “just” 50 kW, which feel hilarious (given the current state of affairs between Tesla and the Canadian government), but probably isn’t.

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In addition to the ABB A400 400 kW units shown here, On The Run locations also employ the ABB Terra 184 dispensers rated at 180 kW. On The Run plans similar deployments at the four BC locations mentioned above, as well as two more each in Quebec and Ontario slated to go live towards the end of this year.

Electrek’s Take

Tesla’s controversial CEO Elon Musk once mocked 350 kW charging speed as being “for a child’s toy,” despite the fact that, nearly nine years later, his own cars and Superchargers can barely make it to 325 kW while others have sailed right on past. I made fun of that fact on the Quick Charge episode shown, above – and, while I do think it’s funny and relevant, the much more relevant piece of news here is that companies like BP Pulse, Revel, and Wallbox are actively deploying 400 kW solutions, today (while others hit the same mark as far back as 2017).

It’s just a fact: Tesla has fallen way behind.

SOURCE | IMAGES: On The Run, via Electric Autonomy.

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Terawatt opens its first electric charging truck stop in California

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Terawatt opens its first electric charging truck stop in California

Terawatt Infrastructure‘s first medium- and heavy-duty electric charging truck stop in California is now online, in Rancho Dominguez.

Located 12 miles north of the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the private Rancho Dominguez site, which is shared among multiple fleets, will support electric trucking fleet operations in and out of the largest container ports in the US.

First customers include Dreaded Trucking, Hight Logistics, PepsiCo, Quick Container Drayage, Southern Counties Express, Tradelink Transport, and WestCoast Trucking & Warehousing.

Terawatt’s electric charging truck stop features 20 pull-through and bobtail DC fast charging stalls with a capacity of 7 megawatts (MW), enabling charging for up to 125 trucks per day using a simple reservations system. Terawatt’s site features a proprietary charge management system, in-house technicians, 24/7 customer service, and onsite parts management.

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“This launch underscores growing collaboration between enterprises, shippers, carriers, and charging infrastructure providers to advance sustainable technologies across logistics and transportation operations, especially in the medium and heavy-duty sectors,” said Neha Palmer, CEO and cofounder of Terawatt. Palmer added that the company will bring another charging site online in Rialto, California, in June.

Terawatt joined some of the world’s largest shippers and carriers in September 2024 to launch the I-10 Consortium heavy-duty EV operations pilot, the “first-ever US over-the-road electrified corridor.” Terawatt is providing charging infrastructure, including software, operations, and maintenance support at six of its owned charging hubs along the I-10 corridor.


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