The utility and cargo electric bike market is booming with plenty of interesting new models hitting the scene lately. Now Velotric is rolling out its new Packer and Go models to claim its stake in the utility e-bike field. Both the Velotric Go and Velotric Packer come ready with interesting features and performance-oriented specs designed for riders that do more than just commute or recreate on their bikes.
Both bikes come 48V 14.4 Ah with UL2271 certified batteries and 690 Wh of capacity as well as UL 2849 certification for the entire e-bike. They both also feature 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes on 180 mm rotors, 5 levels of pedal assist, Apple Find My integration and 3.5″ LCD screens with USB charging.
From there, the rest of the specs begin to differ.
The Velotric Go 1 is the more compact of the two, designed to offer utility needs in a package that fits inside the footprint of a typical bicycle.
The bike features a total payload of up to 440 lb (200 kg) with cargo load making up 120 lb (50 kg) of that capacity.
The Velotric Go uses a Velopower H50 drive system that offers a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) out of the box, making it a Class 2 e-bike. However, riders can unlock speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h), though that may affect the bike’s legal classification in certain jurisdictions. Generally the unlocked modes for e-bikes are advised as being “for off-road use only.”
The bike has a maximum range of 48 miles (77 km) on throttle or 55 miles (88 km) on pedal assist, though both of those are measured when traveling at slower speeds. Making full use of the 500W continuous rated rear motor (with 900W of peak power) will drain the battery more quickly.
The 65 lb (29.5 kg) bike has a 60mm travel hydraulic suspension fork, 15mm thru-axle for strength, a frame-integrated rear platform rack, Shimano 7-speed shifter, and CST 20×3.0″ tires. Additional accessories are available, including front and rear baskets, passenger handrails/footpegs and seat pads, but those accessories will cost extra on top of the US $1,799 MSRP. Though if you act fast, the bike is on sale for the rest of the month for just $1,499.
The Velotric Packer, which is priced slightly higher at US $1,999 MSRP, though it is currently on promotional sale for the launch at just $1,799. The Packer also comes with a higher cargo rating of 176 lb (80 kg), despite having the same overall payload capacity of 440 lb (200 kg).
The longtail cargo e-bike has a higher power 750W continuous motor with 1,200W of power. It also has slightly more torque than the Velotric Go (75 Nm vs 65 Nm), though it is also a Class 2 e-bike capable of 20 mph (32 km/h) out of the box and 25 mph (40 km/h) when unlocked.
The 75 lb (34 kg) bike features an 8-speed Shimano shifter as well as mismatched tires with a 26×2.4″ tire up front and a 20×3.0″ tire in the rear for lower cargo deck height. The front hydraulic suspension fork features 80mm of travel and also includes a 15mm thru axle.
The company’s adoption of Apple’s Find My system is a big value-added that provides GPS-like bike tracking in fairly built-up areas. It won’t help if you lose your bike in the woods where there aren’t many iPhones around to ping it, but you’ll basically have 24/7 updates on your bike’s position if you live in a city or other relatively populated place. It’s not the same as GPS, but it’s a great addition to a bike (and doesn’t drain the battery like GPS does).
I’m glad to see high weight capacities as well as other rugged notes like thru-axles and suspension. All in all, I’m liking what I’m seeing here.
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Archer Aviation has announced partnerships in the Miami metropolitan area to establish a new air taxi network to support travelers around several key areas in Southern Florida, including local airports.
As you probably alrready know at this point. Archer Aviation ($ACHR) is a California-based developer of eVTOL and eCTOL aircraft that it continues to work toward implementing into commercial air taxi rides in the future. The plans for its network of sustainable aircraft have expanded to cities like New York and Chicago, as well as other countries like Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
In California, south of its headquarters, Archer intends to take to the skies above Los Angeles with a proposed air taxi network announced in August 2024. Building upon that network, Archer shared earlier this year that it had become the exclusive air taxi provider of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
On the other southern coast of the United States, Archer is planning another exciting air taxi network that includes the option of quiet, sustainable air travel around Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and several other key landmarks.
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Source: Archer Aviation
Archer partners up to establish Miami air taxi network
Archer Aviation shared details of its new air taxi network plans for Miami in a press release early this morning. If and when it comes to friuition, the proposed air taxi network will be a result of several new partnerships established by Archer in the Miami metropolitan area.
Some of those partnerships include real estate company Related Ross, Apogee Golf Club, Hard Rock Stadium – where existing heliports will be configured for eVTOLs and/or new air taxi vertiports will be erected. Stephen Ross, CEO and Chairman of Related Ross and Owner of the Miami Dolphins:
Our partnership with Archer marks a pivotal step in expanding South Florida’s regional connectivity through cutting-edge technology. We are integrating Archer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into our flagship locations across South Florida, including the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Related Ross developments in West Palm Beach, and Apogee Club in Hobe Sound. We’re excited to embrace a forward-thinking vision that transforms how people and businesses move across the region.
According to Archer, the new air taxi network will connect passengers to populated areas around Miami Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, offering 10 to 20 minute flights. Plans also include easier travel to major airports around Southern Florida, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), plus several general aviation airports. Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez, also spoke:
Miami has never been afraid to bet on the future. We’re a city that attracts visionaries, embraces breakthrough technology, and turns bold ideas into real impact. For years, I’ve worked with Archer as they’ve advanced a vision for an air-taxi network that will elevate Miami’s position as a global capital for innovation and mobility. What they’re building isn’t just transformational transportation, it embodies the Miami mindset: we lead, we innovate, and we redefine what’s possible.
Archer did not share a timeline on when this air taxi network may be operational around Miami, but we’d wager it’s still at least a couple of years away given the need for additional eVTOl development and FAA certifications in order to begin commercial operations in the US.
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EnBW He Dreiht offshore wind farm (Photographer: Rolf Otzipka)
Germany’s largest offshore wind farm hit a big milestone: The first turbine at EnBW’s He Dreiht project has produced its first kilowatt-hour of electricity and sent it into the grid.
More turbines are expected to come online over the coming weeks. European energy provider EnBW has already installed 27 of the wind farm’s 64 turbines, all of which are scheduled to be commissioned by summer 2026.
Peter Heydecker, EnBW board member for Sustainable Generation Infrastructure, described the November 25 milestone as a “significant moment for EnBW.” With 960 megawatts (MW) of total capacity, He Dreiht is now Germany’s largest offshore wind farm.
Vestas supplied the 15 MW turbines, marking their world debut. Nils de Baar, president of Vestas Northern and Central Europe, said the giant turbine’s technology sets a new standard for offshore wind. “Its efficiency and performance enable a significant increase in energy yield per turbine.”
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Just one rotation of the 15 MW turbine’s rotor can power the equivalent of four households for a day. The hub stands 142 meters (466 feet) tall, and the rotor’s 236-meter (774-foot) diameter sweeps a 43,742-square-meter (10.8-acre) area — roughly the size of six football fields. To put the scale into perspective, EnBW’s first offshore project, Baltic 1 in 2010, used 2.3 MW turbines.
EnBW wrapped up the wind farm’s internal cabling in August. Those lines connect all the turbines and feed into a converter platform operated by transmission system operator TenneT. That’s where the power is collected, converted from AC to DC, and sent to shore through two high-voltage DC cables.
Once complete, He Dreiht will generate enough electricity to power about 1.1 million households. The project is being built without state funding and sits roughly 85 kilometers (53 miles) northwest of Borkum and 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Heligoland. EnBW’s offshore office in Hamburg is coordinating the build.
A partner group made up of Allianz Capital Partners, AIP, and Norges Bank Investment Management owns 49.9% of the project. Total investment comes in at around €2.4 billion.
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The Yangwang U8L is among the most expensive Chinese vehicles, starting at about $180,000. To prove it’s built for just about anything, BYD dropped a 2-ton tree on it, three times, and the ultra-luxury pretty much brushed it off.
BYD drops a tree on its ultra-luxury SUV during testing
BYD launched the Yangwang U8L in September, a long-wheelbase version of the U8 off-road SUV. The U8 was first introduced in September 2023 as the first vehicle from BYD’s ultra-luxury sub-brand, Yangwang.
Yangwang is a new energy vehicle (NEV) brand that sells high-end plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and 100% battery electric (BEV) vehicles as BYD expands into new segments.
The U8L is Yangwang’s fourth vehicle, following the U8, U9, and U7. It’s available in China with a quad-motor extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system, delivering a CLTC range of 200 km (124 miles) on battery power alone.
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A 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine serves as a generator, delivering a combined CLTC range of 1,160 km (720 miles).
Measuring 5,400 mm in length, 2,049 mm in width, and 1,921 mm in height, the Yangwang U8L is even bigger than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Range Rover Long Wheelbase.
BYD’s ultra-luxury SUV is priced from 1.28 million yuan ($180,000), making it one of the most expensive models from a Chinese brand.
It may look pretty, but the Yangwang U8L is built for far more than just good looks. Like the U8, the long-wheelbase version is equipped with advanced features such as emergency float mode, which allows it to float on water for up to 30 minutes, tank turns, crab walking, and more.
To prove its durability, BYD engineers put the luxury SUV through the paces, dropping a massive 2-ton tree on it, not once, but three times.
During the final drop, the company said the maximum impact energy reached 50.4 kJ, or about 37,200 lb-ft. After three consecutive drops, the Yangwang U8L barely even got a scratch. The body structure remained intact, the door still opened, the columns didn’t bend, and the vehicle could even drive like normal.
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