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I’ve seen some big batteries in my day, but nothing prepared me for the monstrosity of a 60Ah battery hidden in the frame of the Aniioki A8 Pro Max. If you want a super-long-range electric bike, this is the type of battery you’ll want.

This 48V 60Ah battery manages to stuff in 2,880 Wh of energy when fully charged. To put that into perspective, an average electric bike these days has around 600-700 Wh of capacity, and we generally call anything with 1,000 Wh “long range.”

So when you come in with nearly triple the capacity of a traditionally large battery, you’ve pretty much put yourself in an entirely new category of extra-super-duper-long-range e-bikes.

Meet that new category of e-bikes, population: Aniioki A8 Pro Max.

Aniioki A8 Pro Max video review

Aniioki A8 Pro Max tech specs

  • Motor: 1,000W (1,400W peak) geared hub motor
  • Top speed: 51.5 km/h (32 mph)
  • Average Range: Up to 320 km (200 mi) on pedal assist
  • Battery: 48V 60Ah (2,880 Wh)
  • Charge time: 7-8 hours
  • Max load: 158 kg (350 lb.)
  • Weight: 46 kg (101 lb.)
  • Suspension: Hydraulic suspension fork and dual rear spring shocks
  • Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes, 180 mm rotors
  • Extras: LCD display with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS level indicator, odometer, tripmeter, front/rear LED lighting with brake lights, included rear rack, included fenders, adjustable height saddle, keyless start with remote key fob, kickstand
  • Price: $1,999
aniioki a8 pro max e-bike
aniioki a8 pro max e-bike

What’s going on with this thing?

The Aniioki is trying to be a lot of things. First of all, what’s with that name? It almost sounds like a play on the famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley, though that might be giving too much American history credit to a company that seems to be another one of these Asian import e-bike brands that tend to spring up overnight.

And when we take a deeper look at the bike itself, it seems to go in a number of directions. On the one hand, the ultra-long-range battery and the 1,400W motor start to push it toward the moped category. The 32 mph (51.5 km/h) top speed and the 20″ fat tires also help support that moped classification.

The dual suspension design adds a bit of a more premium feel to the bike, and the adjustable saddle gives us something most mopeds don’t: a prayer at actually fitting a wider range of rider heights while feeling marginally pedalable.

To set realistic expectations though, you should know that I’m rather short at 5’7″ (170 cm), and I still had the seat up at its highest position. So while I commend Aniioki for having an adjustable seat on a moped-style e-bike, don’t think that you’re going to be able to set it up for a super-tall person. That isn’t in the cards.

So the design of the bike is certainly a bit of a mashup, but they seem to land it fairly well. It’s a heavy bike, so don’t be mistaken there. At just over 100 lb. (46 kg), this sucker is one of the heaviest e-bikes I’ve ever ridden. But it’s also the longest range e-bike I’ve ridden and has the biggest battery, and so weight comes with the territory. In fact, that battery alone is just over 30 lb. (13.6 kg), so you’re lugging around a lot of poundage in battery cells.

But if you want to go fast and far, this is the e-bike for you. The top speed is just over 30 mph, and I was able to get it up to brief peaks of 32 mph, which is pretty darn fast for an electric bicycle. Most fast e-bikes will drain through their batteries quickly, since going fast takes a lot of power. But with this massive battery between your knees, you can actually sustain those higher speeds for longer periods of time.

They claim a 200-mile range (320 km) on pedal assist and a more modest 110-mile range (177 km) on throttle only, though I’m sure that throttle range is at lower speeds. You won’t bang out 110 miles while traveling at 32 mph, that’s for sure.

The rest of the bike has some nice features, from the full suspension to the hydraulic disc brakes. The suspension makes for a smooth ride and it actually works well. Some e-bikes have stiff or super springy suspension, but the Aniioki A8 Pro Max seems to be fairly comfortable, eschewing the ultra cheap suspension in favor of something that works decently. And those hydraulic brakes use 180 mm rotors that are quite thick, which is exactly what I want to see on such a heavy and fast e-bike.

But there was one issue with the front brake that I never could get to go away: It won’t stop singing to me.

No matter how much I adjust the brakes, the front still resonates like a wine glass. I’ve tightened the rotor. I’ve aligned the caliper. I’ve used multiple disc brake cleaners. I’ve tried repeated full power braking from high speed. I can often get it to go away for a few minutes, but then the singing brake rotor eventually comes back. It’s a mystery that is driving me nuts.

Singing brake rotor aside, there are other nice features included that still score a few points with me, like the included rack and fenders as well as the nice LED light package with a big motorcycle-style headlight and rear tail/brake lights.

There’s even a 7-speed transmission, not that I spent that much time pedaling the bike. With this much power (and on such a heavy bike), I think most people will just ride it like a motorbike and make ample use of the throttle. But if you ever get stuck with a low battery or just want to get some exercise, the shifter will allow you to dial in your pedal cadence for a better pedaling experience.

But then again, there’s another problem with pedaling this heavy e-bike. The pedal assist is somehow both laggy and jumpy. When you start pedaling, there’s a solid second or two until the pedal assist power kicks in, which is quite noticeable on a 100 lb. bike. But then if you’re already using pedal assist and decide to increase the power level, such as from level 2 to 3, the power instantly rockets up and you’d better be holding on. Some e-bikes have jumpy pedal assist, and others can be laggy. But I rarely see an e-bike that has both qualities at once. Bravo, Aniioki, I guess?

So what’s the summary?

Let’s bring this review to a close and tie everything up in a nice, neat bow. There’s a lot to like here. The Aniioki is fast and powerful, yet still comfortable with that full-suspension. The seat is nicely adjustable and of course there’s that long range from the massive battery. But it’s a heavy e-bike that doesn’t have great pedal assist, and there are a few fit and finish issues that leave me a bit disappointed (such as that brake rotor that won’t stop singing to me).

So all told, for $1,999, you’re getting a pretty nice little bicycle-shaped electric motorbike. Just don’t expect to turn this into a true pedaling e-bike, or you’ll be disappointed. For those that just want to fly, the Aniioki A8 Pro Max will help you soar with long-lasting wings, that’s for sure.

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Workhorse electric delivery vans arrive in Canada this spring

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Workhorse electric delivery vans arrive in Canada this spring

Following approval from Transport Canada, EV startup Workhorse will be bringing the W56 and W750 model electric delivery vans to commercial truck dealers in Canada as early as this spring.

Workhorse first showed its W56 medium-duty electric truck at Indiana’s Work Truck Week in 2023, and has sold the trucks to logistics and delivery companies like FedEx and Pride Group – which ordered more than six thousand of the electric vans in 2021, and continues to expand its fleet.

“This is a major step forward for Workhorse,” says Josh Anderson, Workhorse’s chief technology officer in a press statement. “Pre-clearance from Transport Canada opens up a large new market for our products throughout Canada, including with fleets that operate across borders in North America.”

As part of the approval process, Workhorse completed its registration as a foreign manufacturer under Transport Canada’s Appendix G clearance program. Transport Canada confirmed the vans’ compliance with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) for both vehicles – but it remains to be seen if and how the latest tariff-driven trade war between the Trump Administration’s US and Canada will impact Workhorse’s plans to expand throughout North America.

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Despite that uncertainty, Workhorse execs remain upbeat. “We’re excited that our electric step vans can now reach Canadian roads and highways, providing reliable, zero-emission solutions that customers can depend on,” added Anderson.

Canadian pricing has yet to be announced.

Electrek’s Take

FedEx Places First Order for 15 Workhorse W56 Step Vans to Grow Zero-Tailpipe Emission Fleet
FedEx electric delivery vehicle; via Workhorse.

There’s no other way to say it: the Trump/Musk co-presidency is disrupting a lot of companies’ plans – and that’s especially true across North American borders. But in all this chaos and turmoil there undoubtedly lies opportunity, and it will be interesting to see who ends up on top.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Workhorse, via Electric Autonomy Canada.

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Environment

Liebherr developing giant, 140-ton Segway-style autonomous haulers [video]

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Liebherr developing giant, 140-ton Segway-style autonomous haulers [video]

The new Liebherr S1 Vision 140-ton hauler is unlike any heavy haul truck currently on the market – primarily because the giant, self-propelled, single-axle autonomous bucket doesn’t look anything like any truck you’ve ever seen.

Liebherr says its latest heavy equipment concept was born from a desire to rethink truck design with a focus only on core functions. The resulting S1 Vision is primarily just a single axle with two powerful electric motors sending power to a pair of massive airless tires designed carry loads up to 131 tonnes (just over 140 tons).

The design enables rapid maintenance, as important components easily accessible for quick servicing. Wear parts can be replaced efficiently, and the electric drive significantly reduces maintenance work. This helps to minimise downtimes and increases operational efficiency.

LIEBHERR

Because of its versatility, durability, and ability to perform zero-turn maneuvers that other equipment simply can’t, the Liebherr S1 Vision can be adapted for various applications, including earthmoving, mining, and even agriculture. There’s also a nonzero chance of this technology finding applications supporting other on-site equipment through charging or fuel delivery.

The S1 accomplishes that trick safely with the help of an automatic load leveling system that ensures maximum stability, even on bumpy or rough terrain. The company says this technology significantly reduces the risk of tipping while providing smooth and secure operation across various environments.

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Liebherr will show the S1 Vision at this year’s bauma equipment exhibition in Munich, Germany. The design has already been nominated for the bauma Innovation Award in the Mechanical Engineering category – and my money’s on it winning.

Electrek’s Take

This is such goofy, stupid fun that if it was wheelbarrow-sized I’d have three of them. I can’t imagine the insanity of watching one of these things roll across a job site with 100 tons of granite in the bucket – and will have nightmares about the kind of damage it could do if it flipped out like a poorly made Chinese hoverboard clone whipping a toddler across a living room … which, in fairness, would probably get a billion views on Instagram or TikTok or whatever.

I can’t wait.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Liebherr.

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Meet the newest EV from Hyundai – new HX19e electric excavator

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Meet the newest EV from Hyundai – new HX19e electric excavator

The HD arm of Hyundai has just released the first official images of the new, battery-electric HX19e mini excavator – the first ever production electric excavator from the global South Korean manufacturer.

The HX19e will be the first all-electric asset to enter series production at Hyundai Construction Equipment, with manufacturing set to begin this April.

The new HX19e will be offered with either a 32 kWh or 40 kWh li-ion battery pack – which, according to Hyundai, is nearly double the capacity offered by its nearest competitor (pretty sure that’s not correct –Ed.). The 40kWh battery allows for up to 6 hours and 40 minutes of continuous operation between charges, with a break time top-up on delivering full shift usability.

Those batteries send power to a 13 kW (17.5 hp) electric motor that drives an open-center hydraulic system. Hyundai claims the system delivers job site performance that is at least equal to, if not better than, that of its diesel-powered HX19A mini excavator.

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To that end, the Hyundai XH19e offers the same 16 kN bucket breakout force and a slightly higher 9.4 kN (just over 2100 lb-ft) dipper arm breakout force. The maximum digging depth is 7.6 feet, and the maximum digging reach is 12.9 feet. Hyundai will offer the new electric excavator with just four selectable options:

  • enclosed cab vs. open canopy
  • 32 or 40 kWh battery capacity

All HX19es will ship with a high standard specification that includes safety valves on the main boom, dipper arm, and dozer blade hydraulic cylinders, as well as two-way auxiliary hydraulic piping allows the machine to be used with a range of commercially available implements. The hydraulics needed to operate a quick coupler, LED booms lights, rotating beacons, an MP3 radio with USB connectivity, and an operator’s seat with mechanical suspension are also standard.

Like its counterparts at Volvo CE, the new Hyundai excavator uses automotive-style charging ports to take advantage of existing infrastructure at fleet depots and public charging stations. More detailed specifications, dimensions, and pricing should be announced by bauma.

Electrek’s Take

HX19e electric mini excavator; via Hyundai Construction Equipment.

The ability to operate indoors, underground, or in environments like zoos and hospitals were keeping noise levels down is of critical importance to the success of an operation makes electric equipment assets like these coming from Hyundai a must-have for fleet operators and construction crews that hope to remain competitive in the face of ever-increasing noise regulations. The fact that these are cleaner, safer, and cheaper to operate is just icing on that cake.

SOURCE | IMAGES: HD Hyundai; via Construction Index, Equipment World.

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