Drone maker DJI shows teaser for first electric bike
It sounds a bit out of left field, but there’s not really any other way to interpret a new teaser posted by drone maker DJI on the brand’s Instagram. It looks like DJI has an electric bicycle in the works.
And not just any e-bike, but a mid-drive electric bike, at that.
Mid-drive electric bicycles, which mount their motor by the pedals instead of in the wheel hub, are generally seen as higher-end and more refined due to the better balance and power delivery offered by centrally mounted motors. However, that added complication also often comes with added cost.
In the DJI teaser posted to the brand’s Instagram account (embedded below), an electric bicycle mid-drive motor is seen in an exploded view, falling into place on the frame of some type of bicycle. The image doesn’t show much of the bike frame, making it hard to tell in what direction DJI may be heading with their two-wheeled plans.
Other than the name “DJI Avinox” inscribed on the motor casing, we don’t know much else about the drive system. However, it looks like DJI will be making an official announcement about the upcoming product on July 3, so we expect to learn more soon.
While DJI is best known for its consumer and pro-level drones, the company has greatly expanded in recent years to leverage much of its filming tech into the wider videography industry. We’ve seen DJI roll out stabilized cameras and action cameras, as well as wireless audio systems and other filming accessories.
But this would mark a new direction for DJI, potentially expanding into the consumer personal transportation space.
E-bikes have become a prime market for brand expansions, with significant incursions from both the automotive industry and from consumer electronics brands.
Hundreds of unique e-bike brands are available the US market alone, with thousands around the world all competing for a share of the quickly growing market.
Without any single major player yet dominating the e-bike space, the fragmented market has proven ripe for experimentation by established brands and newcomers alike.
DJI, renowned for its drone technology and innovative consumer electronics, is well-positioned to make a run at that growing electric bicycle market. Leveraging its expertise in advanced aerodynamics, battery management, and compact yet powerful motors, DJI could potentially develop an e-bike or motor system that offers superior performance, efficiency, and user experience. The company’s strong track record of integrating sophisticated software and hardware could also lead to significant advancements in intelligent features.
Furthermore, DJI’s extensive experience in creating user-friendly interfaces and robust mobile applications could translate well into the e-bike space. Imagine an electric bicycle equipped with smart controls, real-time diagnostics, and seamless connectivity to mobile devices, allowing riders to optimize their routes, monitor battery health, and enhance safety features.
DJI’s potential to incorporate drone-like automation and AI technology into e-bikes could lead to innovations such as automatic obstacle avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and advanced theft prevention systems. Given its history of pushing technological boundaries, DJI’s foray into electric bicycles could be an exciting chance to deliver a product that is technologically advanced in a way not yet seen before in the industry.
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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.
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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
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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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