This cool electric hand truck with tank treads can climb stairs
Most of the fun electric vehicles I discover in the depths of Alibaba require me to sit in, on, or around them. But this time, I’ve found something that barely even needs me involved. Check out this awesome electric hand truck that can climb stairs thanks to its nifty tank track operation!
It’s definitely a unique one for this week’s Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week, but it might also be one of the more useful machines I’ve found in a while.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love having the world’s smallest electric delivery van just as much as the next guy, but this thing can do what the similarly-sized electric van can’t: climb stairs!
So how does it work? Well it appears to be a four-wheeled utility cart, at least when it’s not doing stair-climbing duty. It is pushed around with its handle, though can likely also work with electric power while on flat ground if you give it a slight tilt like the gentleman below moving the crate motor.
But the real magic starts when it is presented with an inclined obstacle.
The ramped portions of the tank treads encounter the first stair and help the dolly start climbing. From there, the tank treads lower down and begin to raise the load platform, keeping your pile of sandbags or massive weapons safe vertical instead of tumbling down the stairs.
From there on, it’s just a methodical crawl up the stairs as the tank treads work their magic. Check out the video below to see it in action. It seems to work beautifully, though I’m still a bit worried that it could go slipping down at any moment. I’m guessing the instruction manual has a few warnings in capital letters to NOT WALK BEHIND THE MACHINE AS IT CLIMBS.
The speed is surprisingly fast, or at least I was surprised. Even on low speed, it will climb 10 steps per minute. On high setting, it will climb at 16 steps per minute. Based on the folks I often get stuck behind on the local train station stairs, it seems there are a lot of humans who can’t do 16 steps per minute in their highest setting.
In addition to climbing speed, the spec sheet has some other interesting tidbits as well. The stair trolley has a battery capacity of 80-100 floors, which I think is the first time I’ve ever seen that unit used for battery ratings. It is also listed as operated by “single people”, which either means a lone worker or that those who have already found love need not apply.
The whole contraption weighs a bulky 93 kg (205 lb), yet can carry up to 400 kg (880 lb), meaning you and several of your friends could ride one up the stairs when you’re feeling lazy. What’s that? Your third-floor walkup apartment doesn’t have an elevator? Now it does!
There’s also a helpful product detail image, displaying the different parts of the machine to make it easier to understand. Initially, I was a Part 2 man myself. But as soon as I realized there were two Part 4s, I knew I had to switch teams.
The only real downside I can see is that this thing sure is pricey! At $2,650, it’d be cheaper to pay a couple of strong dudes to muscle that safe up the stairs.
But then again, an electric stair-climbing tank never takes a smoking break or files for worker’s comp after getting a herniated disc. So perhaps they’re on to something here.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. 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. They have 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.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to 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. They have 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 you share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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