Huffy upgrades Green Machine for electric age as $600 adult drift trike
In case your neighbor didn’t have a Green Machine (video below) growing up as I did, the “big wheels” alternative looked like a little 3-wheeled pedal sled that was steered with two sticks instead of handlebars or a steering wheel. If you wanted to spin out (and what else would you want to do?), you’d simply push one stick forward and the other stick back and hold on!
Well, a lot has changed in the almost 50 years since the Green Machine debuted, and Huffy knows it has many adults, like myself, nostalgic for that drift experience without having to do all of that pedaling.
Enter the Huffy Electric Green Machine…
So when Huffy said it was building an electric drift trike based on the Green Machine, I was, of course, intrigued. Who amongst us 50-year-olds doesn’t need a drift trike to zoom around the driveway every so often?
Drift Trikes are popular with adults and children, and gasoline and electric versions are also available.
It turns out Huffy used much of its e-bike expertise to build the Electric Green machine.
The front wheel is made of more traditional bike rubber and has a 250-watt hub motor. If that doesn’t sound powerful enough, remember that this is geared for a max output of 15mph (or maybe up to 20mph later with some updates), which means high torque and acceleration.
There are three speed levels, and each one will get you drifting. The battery is a removable 36V without a stated capacity, but I’d guess close to 400Wh. More importantly, it has a cool array of LED power indicators. The seat is adjustable from below 5 feet to over 6 feet. Instead of pedals on the front wheels, there are now pegs for your feet.
The rear wheels are replaceable drift sliders that are easily removable once wear has rendered a new set necessary. There is only a front brake, but it is a big disk, and with the rubber meeting the ground, it stops the Green Machine in its tracks, even in the middle of a drift.
According to Huffy, this can be throttled to full speed for over an hour, meaning that at 15mph, you have a range coming close to 20 miles. Could this be a commuter? It is pretty low, so you might want to get one of those big orange flags for your big wheels commute to school or work.
We got a special opportunity to try it in New York City this week. My 12-year old had a blast (though it is officially 14 years+ and up to 220lbs) and of course I felt some serious nostalgia getting behind the ‘wheel’. It is super easy to get drifting and a lot of fun to race around a track.
We were on a smooth cement surface, but I look forward to trying it on my driveway at a later date.
Huffy will put these bad boys on sale for $599 later this year, and of course, they’ll be ready for holiday shoppers. Look out for our review in the coming weeks and months ahead.
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CASE CE is responding to government regulations that are pushing industries towards a zero-emission future by developing a new line of all-electric equipment – which now includes a new, 3.8 ton compact wheel loader.
Last week, CASE Construction Equipment introduced the 12EV, an all-electric 3.8 ton compact wheel loader with a 1.5 ton payload capacity that the company says demonstrates its commitment to zero emissions and alternative fuel solutions.
These new electric vehicles mean more choices for CASE customers, enabling them meet their carbon footprint reduction targets and eco-efficiency goals while providing power and performance on par with their conventional, diesel-powered offerings.
The CASE 12EV comes equipped with a 23 kWh, cobalt-free, lithium-ion battery sends power to a 17 kW motor that delivers drive to the axles, as well as a 22 kW motor that powers the hydraulic system for the loader arms and bucket cylinder. The battery pack is good for up to six hours of continuous operation (depending on load). It can charge overnight on 220V Level 2 charging, or from 10 to 80% on a DC fast charger in just under an hour.
But wait, there’s more!
The 12EV wheel loader is the third production BEV from CASE, following the introduction of the CX15EV and the CX25EV mini excavators that weigh in 1.5 and 2.5 tons, respectively. The excavators are powered by 21.5 kWh and 32.3 kWh battery packs, respectively, sized to enable “full shift” runtime.
CASE showed off its full line of electric excavators at a UK earlier this summer, the first time UK equipment operators and other stakeholders a chance to sample the battery electric machines and learn about a variety of other carbon reducing initiatives, including sustainable charging and waste management.
Electrek’s Take
We had the chance to interview CNH (CASE/New Holland) chief innovation officer (CIO) Marc Kermisch on the Heavy Equipment Podcast a few weeks ago, where we discussed the impact of automation and electrification on construction and agriculture, the lack of new farm and equipment operators, alternative fuels, and more. You can check that out, below, and let us know what you think of CASE’s sustainable roadshow in the comments.
SOURCE | PHOTOS: CNH/CASE CE.
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Fifty million miles. Eighty million kilometers. Two thousand laps around Carl Sagan’s pale blue dot. However you measure it, there’s no denying it: Volvo Trucks have driven a whole lot of battery-electric miles!
Since Volvo Trucks began delivering its first generation of all-electric semi trucks to customers in 2019, the trucks have dramatically reduced fleets’ harmful carbon emissions, reduced their operating costs, and improved the working environment for drivers with smoother, quieter, and cleaner operation.
How much cleaner? Volvo claims that covering the same fifty million distance with equivalent diesel-powered trucks would have consumed more than 25 million liters of diesel fuel and more than 68,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
It pays off to be an early adopter – transport companies with electric trucks have a strong competitive advantage when being able to offer emission-free transport to transport buyers.
“I am happy to see how transport companies are embracing the benefits with electric trucks in daily operations,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks. “The transport sector represents 7% of global carbon emissions and battery-electric trucks is an important tool to reduce the climate footprint. Thanks to many early adopters we can already now see the huge potential with this technology.”
We’ve come a long way
Since 2019, Volvo Trucks’ global deliveries of electric trucks increased grew to 1,977 Class 8 trucks in 2023 (up 256% from the year before, and still growing, as the company sees continued interest from customers in 2024). In addition to sheer numbers, Volvo has market share. In Europe, more than 50% of electric truck buyers chose a Volvo during Q1 of ’24 – fully 56%, in fact, with a 44% share of electric trucks sold in the US, as well.
“Not only transport companies, but also buyers of transport – and logistic services are signing up to SBTi (Science Based Target initiative), and are starting to demand sustainable transport solutions from their providers,” says Alm, about the 3,500 electric Volvo semis sold in 45 countries (so far). “This is yet another driver of the shift to electric trucks.”
Electrek’s Take
I talked about the head start companies like Einride and Freightliner had in developing autonomous driving for commercial trucks even as companies like Walmart and McDonald’s are turning to Tesla’s competitors instead of waiting for its Semi in today’s episode of Quick Charge – and I didn’t need Reuters to tell me that.
That said, fifty million miles and five years is one heck of a head start.
SOURCES | IMAGES: Volvo Trucks, Reuters.
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