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Electric hydrofoil specialist Fliteboard is back with a fresh lineup of all-electric foiling products. The company launched its Series 3 range of eFoils today, complete with several upgraded models of varying shape, color, and price, plus an entirely new eFoil promising to be the “world’s lightest.” Check them all out below.

Fliteboard is an Australian-based company founded in 2018 that has quickly risen to prominence in both the hydrofoil segment and as a global brand. It has sold over 9,000 Fliteboards to customers across 90 countries who have collectively logged over 46,000 rides above the water.

The company has since expanded to additional offices in the Netherlands and the United States, established “Fliteschools” on multiple continents, and now has over 300 authorized partners selling its eFoils.

Up until now, Flite and its partners have been selling Series 1 and 2 eFoils, but starting today, the company has launched its latest range of advanced hydrofoil technology. Check them out.

  • Fliteboard
  • Fliteboard

Fliteboard’s new range features swappable propulsion

The global eFoil specialist outlined many of the upgrades customers can expect to see in its Series 3 lineup, including a slew of new color options like gold and bronze, in addition to new board shapes and deck grips.

Although there’s an ultralight eFoil we’ll get to in a second, Flite’s most impressive new technology debuting in Series 3 may be the addition of a Dual Drive propulsion system with optional Flite Jet. Fliteboard explains that Flite Jet is the world’s smallest and lowest drag eFoil jet available today, developed by hydrodynamicists around the globe. By adding Dual Drive capabilities, Fliteboarders can now swap between propeller or jet power, with no tools required.

Fliteboard
Left: Flite Jet / Right: Flitecell Nano

Another major focus of Flite’s Series 3 announcement is the debut of the Fliteboard ULTRA L – an eFoil that utilizes the company’s ultralight Flitecell Nano lithium-ion battery (seen above), which it touts as the “world’s lightest” for eFoils while still delivering up to 45 minutes of foil time.

At 49.6 lb. (22.5 kg), the complete ULTRA L setup (including the 14 lb. battery) is extremely light and maneuverable. In fact, Flite is touting the ULTRA L as the world’s lightest performance eFoil. The company describes the ULTRA L as its most agile and responsive ride yet. Fliteboard CEO and product architect David Trewern spoke to the Series 3 range and the company’s upgraded tech:

A bold vision backed by relentless design and development created the first Fliteboard back in 2018. We continue to break new ground, and are proud to reveal the most sophisticated and innovative electric hydrofoil range on the market. Furthering the pursuit of the ultimate ride, Series 3 offers record-breaking developments with the world’s lightest performance eFoil, lightest ever lithium-ion eFoil battery and the world’s first interchangeable propulsion system. These advances will truly change the way we experience the water.

Lastly, Series 3 introduces a fiberglass range of eFoils available at lower price point, without compromising durability or performance. That range starts at $9,995 and includes wings plus a Flitecell Sport battery.

You can view Fliteboard’s entire lineup of eFoils and propulsion products, including Series 3, here. You can also check out a video of the full Series 3 launch event below.

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U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears

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U.S. crude oil falls below  a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears

A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025. 

Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters

U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.

Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.

Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.

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Oil futures, 5 years

The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.

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What EV sales slump? Illinois’ EV sales outpace the nation by 4:1

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What EV sales slump? Illinois' EV sales outpace the nation by 4:1

Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.

Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.

Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)

What’s going on in Illinois?

File:Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker (33167937268).jpg
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at the Chicago Auto Show; by Ray Cunningham.

While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.

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At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).

We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.

SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.

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XCMG launches XE215EV battery swap electric excavator ahead of bauma

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XCMG launches XE215EV battery swap electric excavator ahead of bauma

The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.

Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.

XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.

We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).

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XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?

Easy in, easy out

XCMG battery swap crane; via Etrucks New Zealand.

The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.

You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.

SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.

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