There’s no real beating around the bush here; the Rattan Pinus is one borrowed vowel away from the king of all middle-school humor. But trying to put that aside for just a few moments, the bike itself is actually a really fun ride and pretty darn decent, too. It’s definitely far from a premium-level e-bike, but it’s interesting as a modest budget option!
Sure, funny name aside, there’s actually a lot to like here.
Check out my video review to see it in action. Or if you’re more of a reader, keep scrolling for my written review!
Rattan Pinus Video Review
Rattan Pinus Tech Specs
Motor: 750W continuous (1,200W peak) rear geared hub motor
Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph), though I got a bit higher
Range: Claimed up to 160 km (100 mi) with second battery
Battery: 48V with either 20Ah (960 Wh) or 40Ah (1,920 Wh) options (single vs double battery)
Max load: 181 kg (400 lb)
Brakes: FastAce hydraulic two-piston disc brakes on 180 mm rotors
Extras: Torque sensors, LCD display, LED head and tail lights with turn signals, left-side thumb throttle, kickstand, suspension fork, 4″ fat tires, two color options (red and blue), and included fenders & rear rack
What do you get here?
First of all, the bike is quite powerful and fast.
They claim a top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h), but I blasted past that into the low 30s multiple times on flat ground, so there’s something fishy here. Maybe they just underrate for legal reasons like a late 60s GTO, I’m not sure. But any way you slice it, you’ve got a lot of power and speed at your fingertips.
That’s also 28+ mph on throttle-only, which is either “questionably legal” or downright not allowed in many states, since it doesn’t quite qualify as Class 3 anymore.
Of course, you can always limit the speed in the display settings, if that’s an issue for you. But for most people, knowing you’ve got a little more room to push is a nice addition.
Next, the range is quite good. The base bike comes with a 48V 20Ah battery that offers 960 Wh of capacity. They also say it’s a UL-compliant battery.
The claimed range is 50 miles (80 km), though you’ll of course get less than that if you’re flying fast on throttle. But a 960Wh battery is definitely bigger than you’ll find on most e-bikes, so you’re going to go farther than the average competitor.
For those that want even more range, you can get a second battery and double up for twice the range. The second battery mounts on the top of the down tube, and it’s not as nicely hidden as the internal battery, but if you really want 100 miles of theoretical range, getting the Pinus extension is your only option.
Buying that second battery bumps the price up a good bit though. The base model’s $1,699 price tag jumps up to US $2,178 with the double battery option, which is nearly a $500 premium. Ouch.
The rest of the components around the bike are a mix of decent and good. The 8-speed SunRace derailleur? Decent.
The hydraulic disc brakes? Good.
The plastic fenders? Decent.
The LED lighting with turn signals? Good.
The suspension fork? Decent.
The folding system? Good.
It’s a grab bag of various parts, though the premium component that brings it all home is the torque sensor, giving much better pedal assist than you’d expect from a chunky, fat tire e-bike like this.
To be fair, most people will use the throttle on this e-bike most of the time anyway, but it is still nice to know you’ve got some good pedal assist should you decide to pedal.
One other nitpicky thing I found was that the cranks felt a bit long for the bike, and I would occasionally have some pedal strike when pedaling around corners that I could normally pedal around on other bikes. I would also more catch my cranks on obstacles when pushing the bike around more often than I normally do with most of my other rides.
Bikes with 20″ wheels sometimes have lower bottom brackets to begin with, caused by the lower height of the frame. However, the cranks are usually sized accordingly to prevent this from being an issue. I think the Pinus could have benefited from the cranks being a few millimeters shorter, but it doesn’t really affect the usability of the bike, and the longer cranks are nicer for actual pedaling.
Some e-bikes, like SUPER73s for example, can have comically short cranks that result in a funny feeling while pedaling, so a bit of a longer crank is generally better, as long as you remember to splay your pedals forward and backward in the turns, as is good practice on any bike.
Ultimately, the Rattan Pinus isn’t that different from many other 20″ wheel folding fat tire electric bikes out there. Sure, it’s got a funny name, but at the end of the day, it’s still your basic high-power, high-speed, moderate-quality runabout.
There are lots of options in that crowded market, but the Pinus does make a compelling case. I’d have loved to see this come in a bit cheaper than $1,699, and then I’d be more gung-ho about recommending it. As it stands now, I definitely enjoy the bike, and I’d gladly let my friends ride my Pinus any time they wanted. It’s a solid option, but it’s not that different from a lot of other e-bikes out there.
Perhaps that few extra hundred bucks is worth all the jokes to some people, though.
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A Vestas wind turbine near Baekmarksbro in Jutland.
Afp | Getty Images
European wind power stocks tumbled Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump said he would prevent the construction of new turbines.
“We’re going to try and have a policy where no windmills are being built,” Trump told reporters at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on Tuesday afternoon.
The Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems and Danish wind developer Orsted fell about 7% Wednesday in the wake of Trump’s remarks.
The president-elect went on a lengthy attack against wind turbines during yesterday’s press conference, arguing that they are too expensive, require subsidies and lack public support.
Trump’s opposition to wind power creates further challenges for an industry that has already struggled in the face of high interest rates that have raised the cost of developing new projects more expensive. In late 2023, for example, Orsted took a $4 billion writedown and canceled two offshore wind projects off the coast of New Jersey.
Still, wind power has expanded in the U.S., growing from 2.4 gigawatts in 2000 to 150 gigawatts by April 2024, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. Electricity generation from wind hit a record in April 2024 and beat generation from coal-fired plants, according to EIA data.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released an encouraging new report revealing that 90% of wind turbine materials are already recyclable using existing infrastructure, but tackling the remaining 10% needs innovation.
That’s why the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated over $20 million to develop technologies that address these challenges.
Why this matters
The wind energy industry is growing rapidly, but questions about what happens to turbines at the end of their life are critical. Recyclable wind turbines means not only less waste but also a more affordable and sustainable energy future.
According to Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, “The US already has the ability to recycle most wind turbine materials, so achieving a fully sustainable domestic wind energy industry is well within reach.”
The report, titled, “Recycling Wind Energy Systems in the United States Part 1: Providing a Baseline for America’s Wind Energy Recycling Infrastructure for Wind Turbines and Systems,” identifies short-, medium-, and long-term research, development, and demonstration priorities along the life cycle of wind turbines. Developed by researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, with help from Oak Ridge and Sandia National Laboratories, the findings aim to guide future investments and technological innovations.
What’s easily recyclable and what’s not
The bulk of a wind turbine – towers, foundations, and steel-based drivetrain components – is relatively easy to recycle. However, components like blades, generators, and nacelle covers are tougher to process.
Blades, for instance, are often made from hard-to-recycle materials like thermoset resins, but switching to recyclable thermoplastics could be a game changer. Innovations like chemical dissolution and pyrolysis could make blade recycling more viable in the near future.
Critical materials like nickel, cobalt, and zinc used in generators and power electronics are particularly important to recover.
Key strategies for a circular economy
To make the wind energy sector fully sustainable, the DOE report emphasizes the adoption of measures such as:
Better decommissioning practices – Improving how turbine materials are collected and sorted at the end of their life cycle.
Strategic recycling sites – Locating recycling facilities closer to where turbines are decommissioned to reduce costs and emissions.
Advanced material substitution – Using recyclable and affordable materials in manufacturing.
Optimized material recovery –Developing methods to make recovered materials usable in second-life applications.
Looking ahead
The DOE’s research also underscores the importance of regional factors, such as the availability of skilled workers and transportation logistics, in building a cost-effective recycling infrastructure. As the US continues to expand its wind energy capacity, these findings provide a roadmap for minimizing waste and maximizing sustainability.
More information about the $20 million in funding available through the Wind Turbine Technology Recycling Funding Opportunity can be found here. Submission deadline is February 11.
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Mazda is finally stepping up with plans to build its first dedicated EV. The upcoming Mazda EV will be made in Japan and based on a new in-house platform. Here’s what we know about it so far.
The first dedicated Mazda EV is coming soon
Although Mazda isn’t the first brand that comes to mind when you think of electric vehicles, the Japanese automaker is finally taking a step in the right direction.
Mazda revealed on Monday that it plans to build a new module pack plant in Japan for cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells.
The new plant will use Panasonic Energy’s battery cells to produce modules and EV battery packs. Mazda plans to have up to 10 GWh of annual capacity at the facility. The battery packs will power Mazda’s first dedicated EV, which will also be built in Japan using a new electric vehicle platform.
Mazda said it’s “steadily preparing for electrification technologies” under its 2030 Management Plan. The strategy calls for a three-phase approach through 2030.
The first phase calls for using its existing technology. In the second stage, Mazda will introduce a new hybrid system and EV-dedicated vehicles in China.
Mazda EZ-6 electric sedan (Source: Changan Mazda)
The third and final phase calls for “the full-fledged launch” of EVs and battery production. By 2030, Mazda expects EVs to account for 25% to 40% of global sales.
Mazda launched the EZ-6, an electric sedan, in China last October. It starts at 139,800 yuan, or around $19,200, and is made by its Chinese joint venture, Changan Mazda.
Mazda EZ-6 electric sedan (Source: Changan Mazda)
Based on Changan’s hybrid platform, the electric sedan is offered in EV and extended-range (EREV) options. The all-electric model gets up to 600 km (372 miles) CLTC range with fast charging (30% to 80%) in 15 minutes.
At 4,921 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,485 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,895 mm, Mazda’s EZ-6 is about the size of a Tesla Model 3 (4,720 mm long, 1,922 mm wide, and 1,441 mm tall with a 2,875 mm wheelbase).
Mazda EZ-6 interior (Source: Changan Mazda)
Inside, the electric sedan features a modern setup with a 14.6″ infotainment, a 10.1″ driver display screen, and a 50″ AR head-up display. It also includes zero-gravity reclining seats and smart features like voice control.
The EZ-6 is already off to a hot sales start, with 2,445 models sold in November. According to Changan Mazda, the new EV was one of the top three mid-size new energy vehicle (NEV) sedans of joint ventures sold in China in its first month listed.
Will Mazda’s first dedicated EV look like the EZ-6? We will find out with Mazda aiming to launch the first EV models on its new in-house platform in 2027. Stay tuned for more.
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