In first ever documented case, Talaria electric dirt bike goes up in flames in US
The new Talaria MX5 Sting Pro electric dirt bike may have just celebrated the one-week anniversary of its launch in the US, but it’s already marking another less-joyous occasion: the first documented major battery fire in a Talaria.
Videos on social media show what is reported to be a Talaria MX5 engulfed in flames as the rider details how he had managed to put only 20 miles (32 km) on the new bike before it caught fire underneath him.
The fire was confirmed by Eric Hicks, the founder and owner of Luna Cycle, which is well known as the main US-based supplier of Talarias and other light electric dirt bikes as well as high-power electric bicycles. Luna Cycle is often credited with introducing Talaria-style electric motorbikes into the US, long serving as Sur Ron’s exclusive distributor in the country and introducing several Talaria models in recent years.
According to Luna Cycle, which sold the Talaria MX5 bike in question, “This is the first major Talaria fire, of any model, reported in the USA. We take this very seriously, and plan to address this concern with the utmost priority.”
Hicks explained that Talaria normally only uses a well-respected battery maker known as Greenway Batteries. Greenway is one of the main suppliers for many electric bicycle brands in the US and around the world.
In fact, Greenway Battery has been the primary supplier for Talaria and Sur Ron electric motorbikes for years, and Luna Cycle has been a distributor and authorized repair center for Greenway Batteries in the US for eight years.
As Hicks continued, “In those eight years we have not seen a Greenway pack cause a fire and it is a big reason Surron and Talaria products have been so safe.”
However, due to a “clerical error made by the Talaria team,” some Talaria MX5 electric motorbikes that were shipped to the US included a battery produced by another supplier known as Scud.
“After investigating the incident and the bike involved in this fire, Luna verified the MX5 that caught fire last night unfortunately had a Scud battery installed in it from Talaria,” continued Hicks. “We are not sure of the cause of this fire and would prefer not to speculate at the possible causes, whether faulty or due to external factors. Regardless of the cause, Luna stands behind every bike and product it sells, and this incident is unacceptable for both Luna, and our customers.”
Luna Cycle has since announced a series of steps intended to address concerns regarding these Scud batteries. The company will replace the batteries in any Talaria MX5 bikes that shipped with Scud batteries and has since cancelled or reversed shipments on orders currently being processed that contain Scud batteries. Those bikes will have their batteries swapped and will ship in the next few days.
Not all Talaria MX5 Sting Pro bikes shipped from Luna Cycle in the past week have Scud batteries, but those customers who did receive an MX5 with a Scud battery will be contacted directly by Luna to receive a replacement Greenway battery.
While lithium-ion battery fires are known in the electric bicycle industry, they are relatively rare in the US compared to the millions of e-bikes already on the road. Such fires are even rarer in the case of more premium models, both premium electric trail bikes like these Talarias and high-end electric bicycles.
The few documented cases of electric bike battery fires in the US are usually related to inferior quality batteries used in bottom-tier budget-class e-bikes.
Several cities and institutions have begun initiating rules and regulations requiring safety certifications such as UL-compliance for micromobility vehicles features lithium-ion batteries, furthering a growing trend towards higher safety 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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