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If you’ve been hanging around in the world of electric bikes for any decent amount of time, you’ve probably come across Bafang. They don’t make electric bikes, but they’ve long made many of the components used by them. I visited the factory back in 2019, and recently returned for a second visit to see what had changed. Boy, was I unprepared for what awaited me…

When I say that Bafang makes many of the components found in the e-bike you probably have at home, that now seems like an understatement. With all of the new tech and developments the company has made, they now produce just about every part used in electric bike drive systems.

And not only that, but their production processes have changed significantly over the last few years.

To see behind the scenes yourself, check out my video from the visit below.

Even from the first moment I walked through the gates, the updates were apparent. Since my last visit, Bafang has moved into a massive new complex, which is important since some of their new production now includes the addition of full e-bike battery design and manufacturing. That obviously requires significantly more of a footprint than just a motor and drive system maker.

But before I get to the new battery work, let’s start at the beginning. I began my visit in the R&D department, where a dedicated team of engineers and designers work together on drawing up the next generation of e-bike components. When I visited in 2019, there were hints in the air that Bafang was working on a solution to the common issue of e-bike motors having an unfortunate tendency to wreak havoc on traditional bicycle transmissions. There’s just a limited amount of power that most bicycle shifters and derailleurs are designed for, and that amount usually falls above leg power but below motor power.

Now I was pleased to see that Bafang has several options for their own in-house developed transmissions built around internally geared hubs (IGHs). IGHs are prized in the bicycle world for their clean, low-maintenance design that completely replaces a hanging derailleur. However, the use of an internally geared hub generally means you can’t use a hub motor (or have to put it in the front wheel, which is less desirable). But not only has Bafang developed their own IGHs, but they’ve even incorporated hub motors into the design, creating multi-speed transmissions that share the same wheel hub as an electric motor. That innovation, known as the Bafang GVT line (Gear Variable Transmission), opens a whole new world of e-bike possibilities by putting an internally geared hub and a hub motor in the same product. And on top of that, the shifting occurs entirely automatically and without external cables or wires. Clever use of mechanical components keeps the entire thing sealed and without additional external components that can wear out or fail.

I was able to check out a few of these designs in Bafang’s showroom, and even tested them out later in the day on a few different e-bikes sporting Bafang’s components. But alas, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Bafang GVT-2S, an all-in-one two-speed automatic transmission and hub motor

A big part of R&D goes beyond just imagining new components. Bafang has to rigorously test their designs to ensure they can handle the harsh world in which e-bikes live. From pressure tanks of water that expose any air gaps in motors to brutal drop tests and shaker tables, the company’s engineers absolutely torture these poor devices while looking for how and where they can fail.

That testing not only leads to design improvements, but sometimes even to the development of new materials. Bafang uses their own proprietary material for the gears used in their motors, offering more strength and ruggedness than typical nylon gears, but less noise than steel gears.

There are soundproof rooms for making the most minute measurements of the sounds produced by various components, and even an EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) chamber for electrical safety testing and compliance certification, where e-bikes and components can be tested to ensure that all of the various pieces are working together properly without creating any unnecessary or potentially problematic electromagnetic radiation. This is also critical to ensuring compatability of various electrical components so that they don’t interfere with one another.

With a better understanding of the process that goes into R&D, I moved on to the factory where production occurs. Here it all begins in with quality inspections that ensure that the components that go into Bafang’s products are within manufacturing tolerances. Components like motor shells and bearings are critical to the performance of an e-bike’s drive system, and so components are scrutinized in fine detail with micron-level measurements before they make it to the factory floor where they will be incorporated into assemblies.

After passing their checks, components head into a largely automated process. For example, the motor shells are handled by robots that move them through several stages on an assembly line, adding gears, spreading grease, and receiving their motor cores.

Those motor cores pass through their own robotic lines, with the copper wire spun by precision machines. This type of work was often done by hand years ago, but has now been supplanted by automated machines that are faster and more accurate.

At this point, the sub-assemblies move to a final assembly line, one of the few places you still see a large number of human workers. Here, mid-drive motors receive their final assembly by hand. There are still several differences I noticed though, such as the lack of laser-engraved serial numbers, which have now been replaced by special stickers that retain the motor shell’s corrosion-resistant finish instead of engraving it away. The single sticker also replaces the several stickers of various sizes and shapes that use to offer a hodgepodge of information, and have now been streamlined into a single unobstrusive marker that also leaves the protective coating of the motor’s shell unaffected.

Motors are tested one final time on a bench apparatus, ensuring they meet all the correct specifications, before reaching their final stop on the conveyor belt: packaging.

Nearby, another machine sorts small parts such as nuts and washers that are included with products like hub motors, automatically bagging them to be included in the motor boxes.

It’s a similar story for several other components I saw, from handlebar displays to wiring harnesses. Much of the process has now been automated with special machines that automatically strip wires, mount connectors, glue display covers, and other steps that are highly manual and repetitive. Not everything has been replaced by robots, and you certainly still see many line workers, but a significant number of the tasks have been automated, and that seems like a trend that will continue.

One other intersting update I saw was a change to the way the soldering stations are set up. Previously, fumehoods were mounted above soldering stations that would suck out the fumes from the soldering operations.

That helps prevent those fumes from building up in the room, but the individual workers at each booth aren’t as protected since the fumes still pass by their faces.

The new setup has vacuum holes in the actual workstation surface that suck the fumes down and out through the table, preventing even the initial worker from being exposed to soldering fumes.

It’s a nicer setup that protects everyone, and I was glad to see the upgrades.

Bafang Battery Factory

The next part of the tour took me into the battery factory, which was like entering a brave new world for an e-bike parts supplier. Generally, battery factories are standalone operations run purely by battery makers. But Bafang has grown so large that at this point, it makes sense for them to invest in building their own high quality battery packs. It’s something they’ve been studying for nearly a decade, mostly staying in the R&D phase. But in the last few years, they’ve brought those designs to life and entered full battery production.

Again though, I’m getting ahead of myself. Becuase it’s that design stage that is critical to the quality and safety of batteries. Similarly to the e-bike drive system side of things, the battery factory has its own R&D section that scrutinizes different cells and batteries while preparing and testing new designs to ensure they can meet the proper safety and performance requirements set by Bafang. Assuming they do, they may end up slated for production and become one of the company’s new battery pack offerings.

Production on the factory floor starts with the individual battery cells that will eventually make up the larger battery packs. They are tested to ensure they pass quality checks before being automatically sorted by robots into the most appropriate combinations of cells based on similar internal resistances.

Computer-controlled ultrasonic welding machines then combine those battery cells into larger packs, which are encased in various enclosures depending on the specific model of battery. Before the battery cases are even sealed, each battery is put through a series of bench tests to ensure it meets the proper parameters. After the batteries pass those checks, they get sealed and sent to perform a complete testing cycle, where rows of shelves house hundreds – maybe thousands – of actively charging and discharging battery packs. After getting the green light following a successful charge and discharge cycle test, the battery is finally packaged and prepared to be sent on its way to an e-bike factory.

The scale of Bafang’s operations is nothing short of impressive. I’ve visited dozens of Chinese factories at this point but I’ve never seen such an all-encompassing operation from an e-bike component maker. With the addition of battery packs, not to mention all the other drivetrain components made by Bafang, the company truly is a one-stop shop now for e-bike OEMs.

It has been an incredible experience to see not just the components and designs, but the way that production has fundamentally changed inside of Bafang’s walls over the last several years. And at this rate, I’m fascinated to see what new innovations the next few years may bring.

Don’t forget to check out the video of this behind-the-scenes tour, below!

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Block shares fall on profit, revenue miss

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15 hours ago

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February 20, 2025

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Block shares fall on profit, revenue miss

Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square, speaks on stage at the Bitcoin 2021 Convention, a cryptocurrency conference held at the Mana Convention Center in Wynwood in Miami, Florida, on June 4, 2021.

Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Block reported fourth-quarter results on Thursday that fell short of Wall Street expectations. The stock dropped more than 7% in extended trading.

Here is how the company did, compared to analysts’ consensus estimates from LSEG.

  • Earnings per share: 71 cents adjusted vs. 87 cents expected
  • Revenue: $6.03 billion vs. $6.29 billion expected

Revenue increased about 4.5% from $5.77 billion a year earlier.

Block, formerly known as Square, posted $2.31 billion in gross profit, a 14% increase from $2.03 billion a year ago. The company, which was an early leader in providing point-of-sale systems for smaller businesses, faces increased competition from the likes of Toast and Fiserv’s Clover unit.

Gross payment volume came in at $61.95 billion, beating analysts’ estimates of $61.3 billion, according to StreetAccount. Block posted adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $757 million, topping the $740 million average analyst estimate.

Block said it expects to deliver gross profit growth this year of 15% to $10.22 billion and adjusted operating income of $2.1 billion for a margin of 21%.

Block’s payments business has expanded beyond traditional point-of-sale transactions to include lending and financial services. The company acquired Australian buy now, pay later firm Afterpay for $29 billion in 2021, integrating the service into Cash App and Square’s ecosystem.

Block shares drop after reporting earnings and revenue miss

CEO Jack Dorsey has positioned Block’s Cash App card as a potential alternative to traditional credit cards, with plans to deepen its connection to Afterpay. Analysts see lending as a key driver of future monetization, with some pointing to additional revenue opportunities in merchant services and advertising within Cash App.

The Cash App, a popular mobile payment platform and a key driver of overall profitability, posted $1.38 billion in gross profit, a 16% year-over-year increase and ahead of the $1.36 billion average analyst estimate, according to StreetAccount.

“From a Cash App perspective, with the bank, our base strategy, it’s important that we continue to grow the engagement with our customers,” Chief Financial Officer Amrita Ahuja told CNBC. She said the number of paycheck deposit actives increased 25% to 2.5 million.

Under Dorsey’s leadership, Block made a big jump into crypto, creating a new unit focused on its efforts in that area. However, last year, the company wound down some of those projects after they failed to gain traction.

— CNBC’s Robert Hum contributed to this report.

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What to watch from Block ahead of earnings

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Rivian (RIVN) hit its gross profit goal in Q4, now what?

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16 hours ago

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February 20, 2025

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Rivian (RIVN) hit its gross profit goal in Q4, now what?

Rivian-Q4-profit

Rivian (RIVN) hit its goal of achieving a positive gross profit in the fourth quarter. The EV maker released its fourth-quarter earnings after the market closed on Thursday. Here’s a full breakdown of Rivian’s Q4 2024 financials.

Rivian achieves first gross profit in Q4 2024 earnings

Yesterday, in our Q4 earnings preview, we noted that the biggest thing investors will be looking for is if Rivian will achieve a positive gross profit as it has guided all year.

Rivian hit its goal, posting a gross profit of $170 million in the fourth quarter, a $776 million improvement from Q4 2023. Of which, $100 million was from auto sales, and the other $60 million was from software and services.

Lower costs, including per vehicle delivered, drove the achievement. In addition to plant upgrades, Rivian saw a noticeable cost improvement after launching its second-generation R1 models.

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Rivian posted total fourth-quarter revenue of $1.73 billion, easily topping Wall St expectations of $1.4 billion. Total automotive revenue was $1.52 billion, primarily from the 14,183 vehicles Rivian sold in the quarter. Rivian also generated $299 million from the sale of regulatory credits and $484 million from software and services.

  • Rivian Q4 2024 Revenue: $1.73 billion vs $1.4 billion expected
  • Rivian Q4 EPS loss: 0.46 loss per share vs 0.68 loss per share expected

CEO RJ Scaringe said, “This quarter, we achieved positive gross profit and removed $31,000 in automotive cost of goods sold per vehicle delivered in Q4 2024 relative to Q4 2023.”

Rivian generated $110 million in automotive gross profit in the quarter compared to a loss of $611 million in Q4 2023. For the full year, Rivian generated a negative automotive gross profit of $7 million, an improvement from the $12 million loss in 2023.

Rivian-Q4-2024-earnings-profit
Rivian Q4 2024 financials (Source: Rivian)

The EV maker produced 49,476 vehicles at its Normal, IL plant last year and delivered 51,579. That includes the R1S SUV, R1T pickup, and electric delivery van (EDV) for Amazon. Earlier this month, Rivian also opened orders for its Commercial Van for customers outside Amazon.

Rivian posted a net loss of $743 million in the fourth quarter, down from an over $1.5 billion loss in Q4 2023. For the full year, Rivian posted a net loss of $4.75 billion, down from $5.43 billion in 2023.

Rivian-Q4-profit
Rivian R2 (Source: Rivian)

The next growth stage

During the fourth quarter, Rivian also closed its EV joint venture with Volkswagen. The deal is worth up to $5.8 billion, of which Rivian says $3.5 billion is expected to be received over the next few years. Rivian will supply its EV architecture and software for Volkswagen’s next-gen models.

The first will be Rivian’s midsize R2, a smaller, more affordable electric SUV. It will start at around $45,000, or nearly half the current R1S ($77,700) and R1T ($71,700).

Rivian-R2-R1S
Rivian R2 vs R1S size comparison (Source: Rivian)

Rivian plans to begin R2 production in Normal early next year, but it expects to significantly scale up with its new manufacturing plant in Georgia.

Although it closed its loan agreement with the US DOE for up to $6.6 billion right before Trump took office last month, Georgia Gov Brian Kemp said this week he’s unsure where the funding stands.

Rivian-Q4-profit
Rivian EV production plans (Source: Rivian)

Rivian is still confident the funds will be available when they draw on them next year. The plans include building the plant in two stages, each adding 200,000 units of capacity. Rivian’s upcoming R2 and even smaller R3 are “critical drivers in the company’s long-term growth and profitability.”

The company said on Thursday that the DOE loan and capital from the VW partnership, in addition to its current cash and equivalents, “is expected to provide the capital resources to fund operations through the ramp of R2 in Normal, as well as the midsize platform in Georgia—enabling a path to positive free cash flow and meaningful scale.”

Rivian-gross-profit-Q4
Rivian’s next-gen R2, R3, and R3X (Source: Rivian)

Rivian remains focused on cutting costs, improving efficiency, and launching its mass-market R2 electric SUV. The first R2 development vehicles recently completed winter testing. Meanwhile, Rivian is currently expanding its Normal manufacturing plant to prepare for the R2 launch in the first half of 2026.

Scaringe said, “I couldn’t be more excited about R2, and I believe the combination of capabilities and cost efficiencies, along with the amazing level of excitement from customers, will make R2 a truly transformational product for Rivian.”

Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Full-Year 2024 2025 guidance
Deliveries 13,588 13,790 10,018 14,183 51,579 46,000 – 51,000
Production 13,980 9,612 13,157 12,727 49,476 N/A
Rivian deliveries and production by quarter in 2024

Despite this, Rivian expects lower deliveries of between 46,000 and 51,000 in 2025 due to external factors, including changes in government policies and regulations. After delivering more EDVs to Amazon in Q4, Rivian expects lower volume in 2025

The company expects an adjusted EBITDA loss between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, with Capital Expenditures of $1.6 billion to $1.7 billion.

With “meaningful” improvements, including operational efficiencies and reduced variable costs, in addition to higher selling prices with its Tri-Motor model hitting the market, Rivian expects to achieve a modest gross profit in 2025.

Rivian ended the quarter with $7.7 billion in cash and equivalents. Including other capital, the company ended the year with slightly over $9 billion in liquidity.

Check back for more updates from Rivian’s fourth-quarter earnings call. We’ll post updates below.

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Tenways’ latest 8-speed CGO600 Pro e-bike hits new $1,299 low, Wi-Fi smart hose timer from meross $66, EcoFlow 4-day flash sale, more

Published

18 hours ago

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February 20, 2025

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Tenways' latest 8-speed CGO600 Pro e-bike hits new ,299 low, Wi-Fi smart hose timer from meross , EcoFlow 4-day flash sale, more

We have a well-balanced collection of Green Deals for you today, starting with Tenways’ flash sale offer on its new Shimano 8-speed CGO600 Pro e-bike using the ongoing Valentine’s sale pricing as a starting point to jump even further to a new $1,299 low. We also have the first savings hitting the new meross Wi-Fi Smart Water Hose Timer Kit at $66 while a bunch of electric Greenworks lawncare tools are seeing up to 42% discounts, with the brand’s 60V 16-inch Cordless Electric String Trimmer down at $160, for example. Lastly, there’s EcoFlow’s 4-day flash sale that is dropping the modular DELTA Pro Ultra Portable Power Station to $4,799 through the rest of the brand’s Valentine’s Day sale. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s three new low prices on Rad Power e-bikes, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Tenways flash sale drops Shimano 8-speed CGO600 Pro e-bike to new $1,299 low

Running alongside its ongoing Valentine’s Day sale, Tenways is having a flash sale on its newest 8-speed CGO600 Pro e-bike that brings prices further than ever to $1,299 shipped, while its original belt-drive model is remaining at $1,499 shipped. Normally fetching $1,899, the Shimano 8-speed model launched just a few months ago and has seen a few sales take its pricing as low as $1,399 (the lowest price we’ve seen on the belt-drive too). Today’s deal beats all previous sales with a greater 32% markdown, giving you $600 in savings at a new all-time low. Keep in mind that this discount won’t be eligible to stack with the dual purchase one – but, you will be getting free mudguards and a kickstand worth $118 along with your purchase. As always, Medical providers, military, first responders, and teachers can also score a further $150 cut on orders.

Coming in four colorways and weighing in at just 37 pounds, the lightweight Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike is a great model for urban commuters who might need to manage it up building stairs or live in smaller apartments. Seeing as it doesn’t offer any throttle, it’s an ideal ride for those who enjoy active cycling but also want the option for PAS support. The lessened weight is thanks to the smaller 350W rear hub motor paired beside a 360Wh battery, still providing an impressive 53-mile travel distance at up to 20 MPH on one charge, with four pedal assistance levels supporting you while a torque sensor supports them.

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For your drivetrain options, there’s either the Gates carbon belt drive for quieter operations or the new 8-speed Shimano drivetrain (which also gets the brand’s newest motor too). Aside from those big differences, you’ll enjoy the same features elsewhere on the bikes, with internally routed cables for a streamlined look, LED lighting, puncture-proof tires, Tektro dual-piston hydraulic brakes, and a compact OLED display for controls.

meross Wi-Fi smart water hose timer

Cultivate greenery with intelligence by installing meross’ new Wi-Fi smart water hose timer at $66 (First discount)

We just spotted the first chance at savings on meross’ new Wi-Fi Smart Water Hose Timer Kit for $65.99 shipped direct from its site, while the timer alone is down at $45.99 shipped. This model is fresh to the market, normally carrying a $100 price tag and sliding into the same category of outdoor smart gear next to the popular Rachio timer and hub that is a regular feature here. Today is your first chance at cash savings on this all-new device, putting $25 back in your pocket while also putting a smarter solution for water management into your home’s outdoor ecosystem. You can also find it getting its first discount at Amazon too, albeit at a slightly higher rate of $74.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page 25% off coupon.

This new Wi-Fi smart timer from meross works along with the hub in order to deliver smart home controls to your outdoor water supply as it flows from your spigots. Working alongside HomeKit, with voice controls via Alexa, and Google Assistant – you’ll be able to monitor and control flow rates while also setting schedules, ensuring your lawn and/or gardens never go under or over-watered. To that same end, it also boasts a smart weather skip feature, which utilizes local weather forecasts and data to automatically pause/skip watering before, during, or after rain, freezing temperatures, or windy conditions. You’ll also be kept up-to-date through the app with alerts whenever there is an issue in its performance – plus, you can keep up to 24 timers connected to one hub, which promises the whole house to be covered.

Greenworks electric tools

Keep edges sharp and straight with Greenworks’ 60V 16-inch cordless string trimmer at $160

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 60V 16-inch Cordless Electric String Trimmer for $159.99 shipped. Normally going for $200, we’ve mainly seen it keeping above $170 over the past year, with August seeing the lowest drop further to $139. Even during Black Friday and Christmas sales we saw it keep at $170, with today’s deal coming in as the second-lowest price we have tracked, giving you $40 off the going rate while expanding your lawncare arsenal.

For folks who take their home’s outward appearance seriously, this string trimmer from Greenworks makes a reliable tool for keeping up with the edges around your yard, fences, walkways, flower beds, and more. It provides a 16-inch cutting swath, with spool reloads only taking seconds thanks to the dual line bump feed head, ensuring you don’t have to stop in the middle of the job when the lines break. With the included 2.5Ah battery (complete with charger), you’ll get a nice 65 minutes of runtime (per 60 minutes of charging) to cover all the areas that need trimming, with the battery also swappable for even longer jobs, should you have them lying around.

Other notable Greenworks tool deals:

EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra portable power station

EcoFlow 4-day flash sale drops expandable DELTA Pro Ultra 6.1kWh LiFePO4 power station to $4,799

Running parallel with the final days of its ongoing Valentine’s Day sale, EcoFlow has launched the next of its flash sales, this one lasting longer than the others through February 23 with the DELTA Pro Ultra Portable Power Station dropping to $4,799 shipped, after using the promo code DPUAF300OFF at checkout for an additional $300 off. Starting from its usual $6,098 price tag, we’re seeing an initial $799 off the going rate, which is combined with the sale’s bonus savings promotion taking an additional $100 off for every $2,000 spent. From there the code drops things further, and though we have seen it go lower – $4,649 during Black Friday from EcoFlow and an exclusive deal from Wellbots last year that dropped it lower than we’ve seen again – you’re still getting a solid $1,299 in savings here at the third-lowest price we have tracked. It also beats out Amazon where it sits at a $100 higher rate.

Coming in as EcoFlow’s biggest and baddest home backup solution, the DELTA Pro Ultra starts with a 6.1kWh LiFePO4 capacity, dishing out up to 7,200W of power output, which is already quite impressive. If you invest in further equipment, those numbers can be expanded upwards to a 90kWh capacity and 21.6kWh output (three inverters with five batteries each). The base station setup that comes with this deal is rated to keep essentials running for up to two days while the full expansion setup bumps that number up to 15 days – all without factoring in any solar panels you may have to recharge it all. Aside from just supporting you through blackouts with the auto-switchover, it will analyze your regular power usage to offset peak rates while utilizing solar charging to help lower your energy costs (requires Smart Home Panel 2, sold separately – bundle option found here).

It should come as no surprise that there are plenty of recharging options here, with its solar input also expanding with your setup up to 16.8kW. On this note, if you were to build up in the fully-stocked system (90kWh setup), a single hour of solar charging could give you enough power to run your home for the entire day. Now back at its starting size, a wall outlet will take just two hours to re-juice the 6.1kWh capacity, with other options like EV piles and the brand’s dual fuel smart generators.

Be sure to check out the full lineup of EcoFlow Valentine’s Day sale deals while the savings continue through February 23.

Best New Year EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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