Living the RV life is a dream for many people. Taking a camper out on the open road, exploring at your own pace and sleeping at impromptu sites along the way, it all carries a certain romantic charm. But what if you’re not super excited about the whole “motor vehicle” part of the RV adventure? Well, then you just might take a similar route to these two handy fellows who built their own mini-RV on the back of a bicycle.
Or perhaps a tricycle is the more appropriate term, since this is really more of a trike-camper.
Chris and Jeff from the popular YouTube channel Dangie Bros built the contraption with a single goal: taking a 100-mile (160 km) road trip in two days.
The camper itself, which they estimate to weigh around 500 lb. (227 kg), is largely built out of plywood and aluminum siding. It features a kitchen area with working sink and gas stove, electrical outlets for plugging in devices, a roof vent with electric fan, several ventilation windows, and a single door.
A bed can be assembled and broken down in the top “floor” using a few pieces of lumber and plywood, though the video below shows that it has a tendency to deconstruct itself without warning in the middle of the night.
The rather ambitious goal of a 100-mile road trip in two days started to look a bit far reaching once they realized how hard it was to pedal the micro-RV up even a slight incline.
We’ve seen tiny trike campers before, but they always have some form of electric assist or full electric drive. In this case, the pair were attempting to do the entire trip on pedal power alone. To make matters worse, while they were able to trade off riders to rest their legs, the guy taking a breather served as dead weight in the back of the camper. On uphill sections he would have to get out and help push from behind.
Most of the journey was planned to use a rather nice network of bicycle highway, giving cyclists the rare opportunity to commiserate with drivers getting stuck behind a slow-moving RV.
But the project also highlighted the importance of safe, unobstructed cycling infrastructure. Most people don’t need quite as much space for their bikes as this mini-camper does, but it demonstrates how vulnerable cyclists can be when forced to share the road with cars and trucks.
For example, at one point they had to use a sidewalk on the side of a busier road but were stopped in their tracks when a sign post that extended into the air over the sidewalk prevented them from passing. It forced the mini-RV to roll backward until they could find another route.
Between stops to visit fast-food drive-throughs as well as making occasional repairs, they only made it 10 miles (16 km) in the first day. They ended up overnighting in a Walmart parking lot after unsuccessfully trying to camp in a residential neighborhood and being politely ushered on by local police.
It’s technically still bicycle powered if it’s towed by another bicycle.
In the morning, they bought a cheap pedal bicycle and used a tow rope to ride out in front of the camper, pulling it along. Doubling the man-power of the mini-RV helped the pair make more headway on the second day, eventually covering around 25 miles total before calling it quits (and having to return within their wives-imposed timeline).
The project isn’t the most glamorous way to go camping, but it did demonstrate that a massive RV or even a smaller camper van isn’t necessary for carrying your own bed, kitchen, and living room with you on the road. A mere pedal tricycle proved more or less up to the task.
Now, a new group of investors from Singapore has stepped in to take over.
The news was shared on Energica’s YouTube channel, and the company confirmed on LinkedIn that “The judicial process undergoing the sale of Energica has received an offer with a significant deposit from investors based in Singapore.” Energica says that the investors, who so far remain unnamed, “are enthusiasts that believe in, and share the common values of Energica.”
While it’s not certain how the buyout and revival will unfold, it appears that Energica is planning on getting the band back together. “If the process comes through successfully,” the company explained, “the same team behind Energica will be entrusted to run the operations, and we will continue creating cutting-edge technologies for our customers.”
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With many of Energica’s impressive electric motorcycles already in circulation from years of sales leading up to the 2024 bankruptcy, the company seems focused on starting by supporting those riders. ” Our first order of business is to support the customers and community. The judicial process will be completed in 60 days, and we will continue to share updates during the time.”
Energica rose to fame by building high-performance electric motorcycles in Modena, Italy, and was one of the early pioneers in the premium electric two-wheeler space. Its lineup includes models like the Experia electric touring bike and the Ego sportbike. The company previously supplied race bikes for the MotoE World Cup until Ducati took over the role in 2023.
After being acquired by US-based Ideanomics in 2021, Energica initially benefited from an injection of capital that helped expand production and dealer networks. But Ideanomics itself has faced serious financial trouble, becoming unable to invest in the future of Energica.
Energica’s future prospects seemed dim at the time of its insolvency in 2024, but the uncertainty appears to be clearing with the hope that new owners can breathe fresh life into the company.
Even so, Energica’s core competency is building the fastest, most powerful, and longest range production electric motorcycles the world has ever seen, and that’s not exactly an inexpensive enterprise. Combined with current market trends that favor smaller, lighter, and less expensive commuter-spec electric motorcycles, it begs the question of whether or not a newly revived Energica will find a receptive market, or whether the company will be forced to expand the scope of its products to match better the type of electric motorcycles that are selling today.
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Chinese carmaker XPeng is getting perilously close to bringing its AeroHT consumer eVTOL concept to market, thanks to a $250 million Series B round that’s set to accelerate the company’s modular “flying car” production plans.
XPeng subsidiary AeroHT had its first successful proof of concept test flight ahead of the brand’s annual 1024 back in 2023, where the company unveiled a pair of flying car designs. The X3 is an actual flying “car” that can drive, park, and take off on its own, and a second, modular eVTOL that folds up into the back of an electric van called the Land Aircraft Carrier.
That vehicle pair, shown at CES in January, was set to begin production this year, with the eVTOL component set to begin production in 2026 – and that’s looking a lot more likely thanks to the new infusion of capital!
AeroHT at CES 2025
Xpeng Aeroht raised $150 million in Series B1 funding last August, before launching its Series B2 funding round. The most recent announcement that the company has secured an additional $100 million in its Series B2 funding round brings the total amount raised to more than $750 million, with a $1B pre-revenue valuation.
Scooter Doll said it best, writing, “this footage (of the AeroHT test flight) is as scary and concerning as it is exciting and awe-inspiring.” Which is to say that these things are real, they seem like they’re getting built, and they seem like they’ll sell well enough to convince at least one or two remaining boomers that the flying car they’ve been promised their whole lives is – finally! – coming to market.
Here’s hoping.
SOURCE: Xpeng, via CNEVPost; gallery photos by the author.
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Flooring manufacturer Beauflor USA just turned on the biggest rooftop solar system by capacity in metro Atlanta — and it’s now powering part of its Georgia factory.
The new 1,040 kW system in Cartersville officially beats metro Atlanta’s previous rooftop solar record of 1,034 kW. The new array produces enough energy to power more than 100 homes. The system is expected to cover about 10% of Beauflor’s electricity needs and cut its carbon emissions by about 920 metric tons annually.
“This solar installation represents our commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices while making sound business decisions,” said Emile Coopman, continuous improvement manager at Beauflor. He added that the system is designed with room to grow: “This is the first step toward more renewable energy.”
The company partnered with Cherry Street Energy to install the nearly 2,000-panel system, which was completed in less than four months. Cherry Street invested $1.8 million into the project and is covering all construction and maintenance costs through a 30-year energy procurement agreement. Beauflor will buy solar power directly from Cherry Street, allowing it to avoid upfront capital costs while still lowering its energy bills.
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“As Georgia’s manufacturers ramp up production amid rising costs for grid energy, sophisticated operators seek ways to quickly and sustainably address their energy needs,” said Cherry Street CEO Michael Chanin. “On-site solar with no capital expense delivers just that: reliable, affordable electricity.”
Chanin added that the system’s power output is especially impressive: “The previous record-holder for metro Atlanta’s largest rooftop solar required over 4,000 panels. We’re using less than 2,000 to reliably generate even more power.”
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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