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I’d like to think that the only thing I need to live a car-free life is my bike and my enthusiasm. But it’s the extra gear that helps me stay as two-wheeled as possible. In this regular column, I take a deep dive into some of the coolest and most interesting gadgets and pieces of kit that make it possible to swap a car for an e-bike on a daily basis. This time, we’re checking out a fascinating smartphone-controlled keyless e-bike lock called the Linka Lasso.

That’s right, there’s no physical key shipped along with the Lasso, at least not of the metal variety. There is an optional SmartMotion key that works like a fob in a keyless ignition car, but for the most part, the lock is operated completely by your phone.

I tested two versions, the Linka Lasso 8 and Linka Lasso 10 Moto. They have the same locking mechanism, but 8 and 10 mm hardened steel links, respectively. The Lasso 8 is also shorter with 100 cm (39 inch) chain length, while the Lasso 10 Moto has a larger 140 cm (55 inch) locking circumference. Theoretically, the smaller chain would be fine for e-bikes, while the larger one is meant more for motorcycles, but I’d opt for the larger one on my e-bikes just to give me more room and freedom to lock more of the frame and/or wheels to secure objects.

They both have the same Sold Secure Silver rating, though the thicker hardened steel chain links on the Lasso 10 surely stand up to attacks for longer.

The general idea of the lock is that you use the accompanying smartphone app to unlock Lasso, meaning you don’t need to put yet another key on your crowded keyring. And if you’re the kind of person that only bikes occasionally and thus don’t walk around with your bike lock’s key on you all the time, you don’t need to remember to grab the key on the way out since your phone IS the key.

And to answer the question many of you already thinking, there’s a solution for when your phone’s battery runs out. During the lock setup routine, you have to create a secret code that you enter through the single push button on the lock, which unlocks it.

Granted, that solution is a bit cumbersome to use since there’s only a single button, and so it takes a lot longer to punch in a code than with a typical wheeled combo lock. But it’s not something you’d ever do unless your phone actually died while your bike was locked up, which I imagine is a pretty rare occurrence. If you’re like me, you starting sweating when your phone battery is under 50%. If you’re a psychopath like my wife that can giggle as your phone battery dips down to 2%, you may want to remember that secret lock code.

Using the lock for the first time is kind of mind-blowing. The first time you push a software button on your phone and hear your bike chain make a whirring noise then release itself, it kind of blows your mind. It’s a real “welcome to the future” moment.

That lock mechanism feels super solid, which it better, since it’s also housing the lock’s battery and electronics. A special little magnetic charging cable is included to charge up the lock, and you better not lose that little cable because of course it’s not the same cable as the one you use to charge your phone.

As cool as unlocking your bike lock from your phone is, the device also works with smartwatches. I don’t have a smartwatch, but the Lasso is compatible with many leading smartwatches which means I wouldn’t even actually have to pull out my phone to unlock it, if I had a smartwatch.

Obviously, unlocking via a smartphone is the main trick here. But the Linka Lasso is a lot more than just a smartphone lock. The same technology that allows the smartphone-based unlocking also opens the door to a number of other cool features.

First of all, the lock has an optional SmartMotion key, which is basically a proximity tag that you can put on your keyring. But it’s not a direct replacement for a physical key – meaning it’s not just a fancy electronic version of a cut steel pin that you still have to fetch from your keychain. You don’t swipe it or hold it up to the lock like an NFC card. It can stay in your pocket while allowing the Linka Lasso to unlock from the push button on the lock simply by recognizing that the tag is less than one meter (3 feet) away from the lock. That means when you have the SmartMotion key on you, you don’t even have to pull out your phone to unlock your bike. You simply walk up to the lock and push a button. It’s basically the same idea as keyless ignition cars that recognize the key fob is sitting in your pocket.

That makes the lock super fast to use. Instead of fumbling in your pocket for keys, unlocking the lock, and then fumbling to put your keys away, you simply walk up to the lock and push a button. It unlocks instantly since it reads the SmartMotion key in your pocket. The process takes literally two seconds. Most of us aren’t so stressed that an extra 20 seconds of key fumbling is going to ruin our day, but it does feel pretty nice to skip that step and just ride away from the bike stand in seconds.

Next, the connected nature of the lock allows you to actually share unlocking credentials with other people. For example, if my wife and I share a bike, we can also share the “key” to the lock by both being able to unlock it from our phones. Or if you leave your bike at a buddy’s place, you can give him access to unlock it. You can even pair multiple Linka locks, like their Dutch-style wheel lock, to your phone to unlock them all together.

I should also mention that it’s nice to see that the lock comes with a 5-year warranty. I sometimes worry about how well electronics will hold up when they’re built into things that get knocked around every day.

What’s the downside?

The first bummer of chain locks is simply that they’re heavy. The Lasso 8 weighs 1.8 kg (3.9 lb), and the Lasso 10 Moto weighs a hefty 3 kg or 6.6 lb. My current favorite lock weighs half of that and has a higher security rating, meaning the Linka Lasso doesn’t win on a per-pound basis. But then again, it does what other locks can’t on the technology side, so the trade-off is there for each person to weigh on their own.

Next, there’s the issue of battery life. They say that the Linka Lasso’s battery will last for two months if you’re using it with the app, or up to 5 months if you only use the proximity key. That’s pretty good, in my opinion, until you forget that you need to be charging it. As long as you set a reminder to charge it once a month or so, I think it won’t be an issue. But if you ever forget, you’ll be SOL until you bring a little portable battery charger out to your bike, at which point the lock will fire right back up.

The lock will also give you notifications that its battery is running low via the smartphone app, so in all fairness, it does its best to not let you forget about it.

They’re also not cheap, not by a long shot. The Lasso 8 is currently on sale for $149, and the Lasso 10 Moto is on sale for $179. Oh, and if you want that SmartMotion key, that’s an extra $25. You’re really paying for the features here, since while Sold Secure Silver is quite good, there are higher-rated locks for lower cost. So again, it’s not a dollar per dollar basis here, but rather paying for fancier features.

Oh, and it’s got that special little magnetic charging port, meaning if you ever lose that weird little charger, you’ll also be up a creek unless you head back to the Linka to get a replacement. That’s not a charger you’ll find at the corner store.

So while there are definitely some downsides, the Lasso has some major upsides that I haven’t seen in any other lock on the market. If it was Sold Secure Gold instead of Silver, I’d be over the moon. But as it stands, I think it’s a great second lock to add your security regiment. Because you’re definitely not locking your nice e-bike up with only one lock, right?!


Read more: The strongest and most secure folding bike lock in the world

Read more: Adding a headlight to any helmet

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Former coal mine land to host 5.5 GW of solar as Peabody partners with RWE

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Former coal mine land to host 5.5 GW of solar as Peabody partners with RWE

US coal giant Peabody and Germany’s RWE are teaming up to develop 5.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar and energy storage projects on former mining land in the Midwest.

It’s an unlikely but strategic partnership: RWE is one of the world’s leading renewable energy developers, while Peabody was once the largest private-sector coal company in the world.

RWE is buying into R3 Renewables, a joint venture that Peabody launched alongside Summit Partners Credit Advisors and Riverstone Credit Partners. With this move, RWE is acquiring Summit and Riverstone’s stakes and taking a majority position, while Peabody will hold on to a 25% equity interest. The projects are spread across Indiana and Illinois, focusing on large-scale solar and energy storage on land that Peabody previously mined for coal.

The plan is to develop 10 projects totaling 5.5 GW. RWE will take over seven of these projects, while the remaining three will continue under a joint venture with Peabody. If all goes to plan, these projects could generate enough electricity to power more than 850,000 homes.

For Peabody, which has faced growing pressure to pivot as the world transitions away from fossil fuels, the partnership is part of a broader effort to create value from its reclaimed mining sites. Jim Grech, Peabody’s CEO, says the partnership with RWE marks “significant added momentum” for their renewable energy initiatives.

RWE sees this as a big opportunity to expand in the US Midwest. Andrew Flanagan, CEO of RWE Clean Energy, called the partnership “an exciting opportunity to invest in rural regions of Indiana and Illinois,” promising economic development through construction jobs, investment, and community benefits. The plan aims to support the energy transition while ensuring that communities historically tied to coal still see benefits – this time from clean energy.

Read more: Ørsted’s largest solar farm in the world is now online in Texas


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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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Wall Street launches new ways to bet on bitcoin

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Wall Street launches new ways to bet on bitcoin

Bitcoin hits fresh record high after Nasdaq lists options on BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF

For years, bitcoin won by being boring.

Investors weren’t able to do all that much with it besides buy and hold it. But that was precisely why the world’s largest cryptocurrency was valuable.

It was a commodity, like gold — or corn. It didn’t get too fancy on its offerings. In fact, bitcoin’s core team of developers has intentionally moved as slowly as possible on everything that touches the base blockchain specifically to avoid breaking things. That’s why many of crypto’s more cavalier coders headed to other blockchains to tinker and do things like build decentralized applications.

The approach worked. Traders poured their money into bitcoin not just because it was the OG coin but also because the network was robust and reliable, and they knew what they were getting. As solana reported hack after hack, bitcoin didn’t really change. The asset was volatile, but aside from a major system upgrade that took four years to design and green-light, bitcoin kept its status as the world’s biggest cryptocurrency by market cap by sticking to the status quo.

But times are changing for the original coin.

Developers are increasingly building on bitcoin’s base blockchain in unexpected ways. Wall Street is also decking the coin out with all its familiar trappings such as exchange-traded fund wrappers and allowing traders to hedge positions and make leveraged bets.

In January, spot bitcoin ETFs began trading, which opened the door to more mainstream investors. Last week, options on those spot crypto products finally started to go live on the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange. CBOE Global Markets is also set to list its first cash-settled bitcoin ETF options Dec. 2.

Creating this new margin framework around bitcoin means that both retail traders and institutions alike will be able to get more exposure to the asset class relative to how much cash they’re investing.

How Wall Street is capitalizing on crypto resurgence as market cap hits record $3.2 trillion

New ways to bet on bitcoin

Collectively, the U.S.-issued spot bitcoin funds hold north of $100 billion in assets under management. Last week, they notched their largest weekly inflows on record, totaling more than $3.1 billion. And according to CoinShares, year-to-date net flows are up to $37 billion versus U.S. Gold ETFs, which drew around $309 million in their first year.

Nearly half of those flows into the spot bitcoin products took place after U.S. interest rates were cut for the first time in four years in September.

Vetle Lunde, head of research at K33 Research, told CNBC there has been record high open interest for futures on the CME derivatives exchange, the way most U.S. institutions currently buy bitcoin futures contracts. But a lot of traders have been waiting for options on spot bitcoin ETFs on major exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq, since it enhances liquidity and offers hedging tools.

Lunde says that demand for leveraged long exposure to bitcoin and ether is climbing, with VolatilityShares’ BTC exposure hitting new all-time highs.

Galaxy Digital’s trading team told CNBC the firm has observed significant volume in BlackRock’s IBIT ETF options, the first to launch on the Nasdaq last week. BlackRock is the largest digital asset manager in the world after it eclipsed Grayscale in August. BlackRock’s bitcoin trust IBIT holds $48.4 billion in bitcoin compared with the $34 billion in its gold trust.

Options on IBIT had a blockbuster debut, with 353,716 contracts traded on its first day, according to Galaxy Digital. The firm noted that the previous most active debut of options trading was when Facebook options went live in 2012 and 360,000 contracts changed hands.

Galaxy sees notable trading activity extending out to January 2027, roughly halfway into Donald Trump’s administration. On the campaign trail, the president-elect had an about-face on bitcoin and went from criticizing digital assets to making big promises to the crypto industry. Bitcoin is up roughly 40% since Election Day, Nov. 5.

“This level of concentrated, long-dated activity reflects investor confidence in the ETF’s long-term growth potential, signaling bullish sentiment for the years ahead,” Galaxy’s trading team told CNBC.

Until now, offshore crypto native platforms such as Binance and Deribit have been the main marketplace for bitcoin derivatives trading. Galaxy told CNBC there is a noticeable volatility premium between Deribit, CME and IBIT, which could present arbitrage opportunities among the varying platforms offering derivatives trading.

On Friday, more than $9 billion in bitcoin options contracts expire on Deribit, which could lead to greater price volatility as the expiration date approaches.

“There’s a ton of leverage in the system right now,” Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz, a longtime crypto investor, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Friday.

“You look at the funding rates to do crypto in our market, right? The perpetual market, as high as they’ve been, the basis is high,” Novogratz said. “The crypto community is levered to the gills, and so there will be a correction.”

Bitcoin was within striking distance of $100,000 on Friday but retrenched over the weekend. The cryptocurrency is currently trading at around $95,000.

Bitcoin tops $82,000 as crypto euphoria over Trump win shows no sign of waning

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Hyundai doesn’t care if Trump kills the EV tax credit, it plans to keep growing either way

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Hyundai doesn't care if Trump kills the EV tax credit, it plans to keep growing either way

Although President-Elect Donald Trump is promising to end the $7,500 EV tax credit, Hyundai is confident it will continue growing in the US. The company just opened a massive new $7.6 billion manufacturing plant in Georgia as it looks to grab a bigger share of the US market.

A Reuters report earlier this month claiming Trump’s transition team is planning to end the $7,500 federal EV tax credit is causing US automakers to brace for the potential major impacts.

Although US market leader Tesla reportedly supports the move, Hyundai Motor, including Kia, is preparing for any outcome.

“Hyundai did not build our [US] investment plan based on incentives; the plan was even made before Trump’s [first] term,” Hyundai’s newly elected CEO, Jose Munoz, said at the LA Auto Show last week.

In an interview with Korean media at the event (via Korea JongAng Daily), Munoz said, “If the Inflation Reduction Act goes out, it goes out for everybody, and we can even do better.” Although Hyundai’s EVs currently don’t qualify for the full $7,500 credit, like some US rivals, the company is still gaining market share.

“Competitors like Tesla step by step are losing market share and we continue to increase our share,” Hyundai’s current global chief operating officer explained.

Hyundai-Trump-EV-credit
Jose Munoz with the Hyundai IONIQ 9 (Source: Hyundai)

Hyundai to remain flexible if Trump ends the EV tax credit

Hyundai opened its massive new $7.6 billion manufacturing plant in Georgia last month. The first vehicle that rolled off the assembly line was the new US-made 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5. Hyundai upgraded its top-selling EV with more range, features, and a sleek new design. It also comes with an NACS port to charge at Tesla Superchargers.

Last week, the company also unveiled its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, which will also be built at the facility.

2025-Hyundai-IONIQ-5-prices
Hyundai’s new 2025 IONIQ 5 Limited with a Tesla NACS port (Source: Hyundai)

However, until the battery unit opens next year, Hyundai’s US-built EVs qualify for a partial $3,750 credit. Until then, Hyundai is passing on the full $7,500 for leases.

Hyundai fast-tracked production to level the playing field in the US, its most important market. With Trump reportedly planning to end subsidies, Hyundai’s new CEO said the company will remain flexible.

“We will not only produce EVs but also hybrids and extended-range EVs at our plants, and therefore, the key for us is flexibility and then being able to adjust to what the customers want,” Munoz told reporters.

2025-Hyundai-IONIQ-5-prices
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Source: Hyundai)

As the US is expected to pull back, China’s EV market continues surging. China became the first country to build over 10 million new energy vehicles (EVs and PHEVs) in a single year.

EV leaders, like BYD, are looking overseas to drive growth as a wave of low-cost rivals is hitting China. As sales continue surging, BYD is quickly catching up to Ford in global deliveries.

Hyundai-Trump-EV-tax-credit
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT (Source: Hyundai)

Munoz said, “China is a big threat,” but he believes Hyundai can compete with “technological prowess” and “quality.”

“A lot of consumers, when they buy Chinese products, they realize maybe the quality is not as good as others,” Hyundai leaders explained. That’s where Hyundai wants to “elevate our game in terms of providing not only the best quality but also the best services to our customers.”

Hyundai Motor, including Kia and Genesis, is outpacing Ford and GM as the second-largest seller of EVs in the US through September. With US production kicking off, Hyundai aims to solidify its spot in the US auto market.

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