Flite’s new Flitescooter with removable handlebars makes electric hydrofoils easier
Learning to ride an electric hydrofoil is easier than ever, thanks to Flite’s latest addition to its product lineup – the Flitescooter. Complete with removable handlebars, this entry-level foil mimics that of a scooter or bike and is designed for beginners, families, or those who simply wanna cruise the waters leisurely. Check it out.
In five short years, Australian hydrofoil developer, Flite, has made quite a name for itself. Its ever-growing portfolio of electric hydrofoils of varying sizes and levels of rider expertise has kept consumers busy in a nascent segment of marine mobility that continues to grow.
The company kicked off the year by launching its Series 3 lineup of Fliteboard eFoils, including the ULTRA L, marketed at the “world’s lightest.” Flite’s current portfolio ranges from PRO-level eFoils made of carbon fiber to the Fliteboard AIR – an inflatable, beginner-level eFoil that offers increased buoyancy and stability.
To ensure electric hydrofoil riding is an experience everyone can enjoy, Flite has now introduced the Flitescooter, which offers even more stability for new riders – or those who may need a little extra help standing on their own.
Flitescooter is easy to learn with minimal instruction
During today’s announcement of the new Flitescooter, its makers explained that it was designed with the intent to offer riders with little or no watersports experience the chance to learn and develop eFoiling skills.
Flite’s new jet propulsion system implemented on each Flitescooter offers a smooth and safe ride that’s easy to control using a built-in thumb control throttle. The company says the stability of the handlebars can get any new rider on the water in a few minutes with minimal instruction.
Flite CEO, founder, and product architect, David Trewern, shared further insights into the development of the Flitescooter, which is the product of his desire to experience eFoiling with a loved one:
We are thrilled to offer riders a new way to fly with the global launch of Flitescooter. Since I developed the first Fliteboard prototype back in 2018, I have been working on ways to encourage my wife to join me on the water. Flitescooter is the solution. It’s so easy and forgiving to learn, yet offers similar thrills to Fliteboarding.
Once riders develop their skills on the Flitescooter, its handlebars can be removed to easily convert the eFoil into a conventional Fliteboard for surf-style riding without the “training wheels.”
The new Flitescooter is open for pre-orders starting today and retails for $12,995. Deliveries are expected to begin in late August 2023. Check out the new eFoil in action in Flite’s introductory video below:
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Executives from TravelCenters America (TA) and BP were joined by local elected officials at a ribbon cutting for the two companies’ first DC fast charging hub on I-95 in Jacksonville, Florida – the first of several such EV charging stations to come online.
Frequent road-trippers are no doubt familiar with TA’s red, white, and blue logo and probably think of the sites as safe, convenient stops in otherwise unfamiliar surroundings. The company hopes those positive associations will carry over as its customers continue to switch from gas to electric at a record pace in 2025 and beyond.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey to bring new forms of energy to our customers as we support their changing mobility needs, while leveraging the best of bp and TA,” explains Debi Boffa, CEO of TravelCenters of America. Boffa, however, was quick to – but TA is quick to point out that TA isn’ no’t leaving its ICE customers behind. “While this is significant, to our loyal customers and guests, rest assured TA will continue to provide the same safe and reliable fueling options it has offered for over 50 years, regardless of the type of fuel.”
The charging hub along the I-95 offers 12 DC fast charging ports offering up to 400kW of power for lickety-quick charging. While they’re at the TA, EV drivers can visit restrooms, shop at TA’s convenience store, or eat at fast food chains like Popeyes and Subway. Other TA centers offer wifi and pet-friendly amenities as well – making them ideal partners for BP as the two companies builds out their charging networks.
“As we expand our EV charging network in the US, I am thrilled to unveil our first of many hubs at TA locations,” offers Sujay Sharma, CEO of BP Pulse Americas. “These sites are strategically located across key highway corridors that provide our customers with en route charging when and where they need it most, while offering convenient amenities, like restaurants and restrooms.”
Electrek’s Take
As I type this, BP has more than 37,000 EV charging ports operational globally, and plans to have more than 100,000 in service by 2030. The company made headlines in 2022 when it announced that its EV chargers were “on the cusp” of being more profitable than its gas pumps. Three years on, it seems like that’s a done deal.
As ever, money talks.
SOURCE | IMAGES: BP.
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The new e2500-THL and TS electric Ultra Buggies from Toro offer construction and demo crews a carrying capacity of 2500 lbs. (on the TS model), six-and-a-half foot dump height (on the THL), nearly 13 cubic ft. of capacity, and hours of quiet, fume-free operation.
Despite the second Trump administration’s loosening grip on emissions regulations, the fact remains that a growing number of municipalities in both red and blue regions of the US are continuing to clamp down on noise regulations, which means that construction crews with quiet running electric equipment will be able to get jobs that crews stubbornly holding on to diesel and gas won’t. Toro absolutely gets it, which is why its e2500-THL and TS Ultra Buggy line will be welcomed by smart crews with open arms.
For their open-mindedness, those crews will be rewarded with machines powered by 7 kWh’s worth of Toro HyperCell lithium-ion battery. That’s good enough for up to eight hours of continuous operation, according to Toro – enough for two typical working shifts.
And, thanks to the Toro Ultra Buggies’ narrow, 31.5″ width, they can easily navigate man doors on inside jobs, as well, making them ideal for indoor demolition and construction jobs. A zero-turn radius and auto-return dump mechanism that ensures the tub automatically returns to the proper resting position make things easy for the operator, too.
Toro says that each of its small (for Toro) e2500 Ultra Buggy units can replace as many as five wheelbarrows on a given job site. Pricing is expected to start at about $32,000.
Electrek’s Take
Electric equipment makes job sites cleaner, quieter, and safer than they are under diesel or gas power – and as more municipal and private sector RFPs begin to enforce ZEV requirements and quiet hours, more and more viable electric alternatives to ICE power will start to show up on more and more job sites (regardless of who is in the White House).
SOURCE | IMAGES: Toro, via Construction Equipment.
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