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German equipment manufacturer Kramer showed off a pair of zero-emission equipment options at the Paris Intermat show last week – the 5065e electric wheel loader and 1445e electric telehandler.

Kramer says the quiet operation of its new electric wheel loader and telehandler are ideal for noise-sensitive areas such as city centers, cemeteries and golf courses, hotels, and suburban parks and recreation areas, where it can operate without emitting harmful diesel particulate matter and other forms of air pollution.

Kramer-Werke GmbH is serious about promoting its new EVs in the French market. “That’s why Intermat is an important platform for us,” explains Christian Stryffeler, Kramer’s Managing Director. “We are also looking forward to showcasing our new generation of (electric) wheel loaders and telescopic wheel loaders here.”

Kramer 5065e wheel loader

The 5065e loader is powered a 37.5 kWh, 96V lithium-ion battery that’s good for up to four hours of continuous operation – which is a lot more than it sounds, considering idle time in an EV doesn’t drain batteries the way idling a diesel drains fuel. A 23 kW (30 hp) electric motor drives the electric wheel loader around the job site, while a 25 kW (approx. 35 hp) motor powers the machine’s 40 liters hydraulic system.

Kramer says the battery on its electric loader can be fully charged in just 5.1 hours using a “Type 2 Wallbox” (that’s an L2 charger to you and me). Max payload is 1750 kg, with a 2800 kg tipping load. Top speed is 20 km/h (approx. 12.5 mph).

Kramer 1445e telehandler

The 1445e telehandler uses a 96V battery architecture that’s similar to the one in the wheel loader, but in a smaller 18 kWh or 28 kWh pack. This enables a fleet manager to right-size their equipment’s batteries to provide four hours of run time in different types of work environments. And, also like the wheel loader, a 23 kW (30 hp) electric motor provides the drive while a 25 kW (approx. 35 hp) powers the hydraulics.

Level 2 charging comes standard on Kramer’s electric telehandler, enabling a full charge of the larger, 28 kWh battery in about five hours. Max payload is 1450 kg.

Electrek’s Take

Kramer 5056e electric wheel loader; image via Kramer.

It’s always good to see more manufacturers pushing out electric equipment options. It’s still the “wild west” out there, even more so than in automotive, and Kramer’s offerings seem to be a step behind in some ways (no DCFC capability) and ahead in others (96V where others are 48V), so it’s hard to know where they stand.

More than anything, the lesson seems to be that fleet managers need to choose wisely when they choose to electrify – and work closely with the dealers and OEMs to ensure that they’re buying the right tool for the right job.

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Tesla officially breaks ground at Megafactory in China

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Tesla officially breaks ground at Megafactory in China

Tesla has officially broken ground on its new Megafactory project to build Megapacks for energy storage in China.

The Megafactory in Lathrop, California, was Tesla’s first dedicated factory to produce Megapacks, which were previously produced at Gigafactory Nevada.

It is still ramping up to its full capacity of 40 GWh worth of Megapacks, a battery pack for utility-scale energy storage projects, but it has already helped Tesla break new records of energy storage deployment almost every quarter.

Earlier this year, Tesla announced a plan to replicate the Megafactory in China through a deal with Shanghai’s Lingang authorities.

The project had an official signing ceremony late last year.

When first announcing the factory, Tesla aimed at starting construction during the second half of 2023 and production in Q2 2024.

However, it looks like the project suffered some delays.

The new timeline announced with the signing ceremony stated that construction was going to start soon for a production start toward the end of 2024.

Today, Tesla announced that it is officially breaking ground on the project:

Tesla officials at the ceremony updated the timeline again and they are now aiming for production to start in the first quarter of 2025.

That’s about a year behind the original timeline, but it’s also a super aggressive timeline considering it’s less than a year after breaking ground.

Like the Megafactory in California, Tesla aims for Megafactory Shanghai to eventually produce about 10,000 Megapacks per year, which is about 40 GWh of energy storage capacity.

On top of increasing its total energy storage output, the new production hub is also going to help Tesla slash its logistical costs by shipping its many Megapack projects in Asia-Pacific from there rather than the US.

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FLO’s new Ultra DC fast chargers can charge EVs to 80% in 15 minutes

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FLO's new Ultra DC fast chargers can charge EVs to 80% in 15 minutes

The first FLO Ultra DC fast chargers are rolling off the assembly line at the company’s Auburn Hills, Michigan, factory – and they’re pretty powerful.

The 320 kW FLO Ultra DC fast chargers feature a dual-port power configuration. The EV charging company designed them to comply with the federal government’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) standards and the Buy America Act, including 98% uptime. They can charge most EVs to 80% in just 15 minutes.

Photo: CNW Group/FLO

The FLO Ultra DC fast chargers feature the new FLO motorized cable management system. The EZLift system is designed to keep cables off the ground and provide extended reach, allowing the cable to reach EVs no matter where the port is located. The motorized system makes the cables feel lighter and easier to maneuver.

Martine St-Onge, FLO’s chief manufacturing operations officer, said, “As we ramp up production, we look forward to making it more accessible to own and drive EVs by bringing our FLO Ultra charger to more locations across North America.”

A new Pew Research Center analysis released today found that 64% of US adults now live within two miles of a public EV charger – and those who live close to one are more likely to consider purchasing an EV. Over 95% of Americans now live in a county with at least one public EV charging station.

Read more: FLO is making clumsy DC fast charger cables a thing of the past


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Ford slashes 2024 Mustang Mach-E price with new 0% APR offer

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Ford slashes 2024 Mustang Mach-E price with new 0% APR offer

Just when you thought the EV deals couldn’t get better, Ford is cutting 2024 Mustang Mach-E prices with a new 0% APR offer. The deal comes after Ford slashed Mach-E prices by up to $8,100 earlier this year.

Ford is offering 0% APR on the 2024 Mustang Mach-E

After dropping prices in February, Ford’s EV sales surged 86% in Q1, securing second in the US electric vehicle market.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E was the second best-selling electric SUV behind Tesla’s Model Y, with 9,589 units sold, up 77% over last year.

According to a study by data analytics firm Cloud Theory, the impact of Ford’s price cuts was “dramatic and immediate.” Mach-E weekly movement rose from around 300 to over 1,000, reaching as high as 1,800 in early March.

With the competition intensifying, Ford is sweetening the deal again to make the electric SUV even more attractive.

Based on a new note sent to dealers, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E now features a 0% APR deal for 48 months. According to online auto research firm CarsDirect, this is the best date on the 2024MY so far.

2024 Mustang Mach-E trim Range Starting Price
Mustang Mach-E Select 250 mi $39,995
Mustang Mach-E Premium 320 mi $43,995
Mustang Mach-E GT 280 mi $53,995
Mustang Mach-E Rally 265 mi $59,995
2024 Mustang Mach-E price and range by trim

The offer comes after the 4-year rate went to 1.9% from 2.9% less than a week ago. The report notes most Mach-E rates are about 3% lower than at the beginning of May. For example, the 60-month rate dropped to 0.9% (from 3.9%), while the 72-month rate was cut to 2.9% (from 5.9%).

CarsDirect estimates that the Mach-E is almost $5,000 cheaper than it was in early May on a $50,000 loan. However, the offer is only currently available in certain states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

Ford-Mach-E-APR
Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Bronze edition (Source: Ford)

If you’re looking for more deals, Ford is offering 0% APR (72 months) on all 2023 Mach-E models plus up to $3,000 in bonus cash. Meanwhile, if you’re trading in a Tesla, you can save up to $10,000 in some states.

Are you ready to take advantage of Ford’s new price cuts? We can help you get started. You can use our link to find deals on Mustang Mach-E models at a dealer near you.

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