Connect with us

Published

on

French automaker Peugeot is certainly not a newcomer to the electric bicycle world like many other automakers that have only begun dipping their toe in the e-bike waters. Peugeot has a long history producing bicycles that dates back over a century under its PEUGEOT Cycles division. Now the company has just released its latest line of electric bikes and they sure are headturners.

Among the three new e-bikes models are a city commuter e-bike, a long tail cargo e-bike, and a front loader cargo e-bike.

All three offer modern design takes, though the commuter bike is the most eye-catching of them all.

The company explained that the new e-bike models will usher in several new features to Peugeot’s lineup:

“At the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024, PEUGEOT Cycles will expand its range of electrically assisted bicycles with several new innovative models benefiting from the best connected technologies. These, through a new dedicated smartphone application, offer users when it is launched, among other things, adaptive electric assistance, an anti-theft system, an alarm, bike geolocation, real-time navigation, weather forecasts at destination, route statistics, etc.”

The newly revealed Peugeot city e-bike, known as the Digital E-Bike, features an exaggerated downtube that bisects a disconnected and minimized top tube.

A mid-drive motor appears to be tied into the rear wheel by a belt drive system, which replaces a classical chain drive found on most of Peugeot’s other e-bikes.

The bike features tight-hugging fenders, swept back handlebars and hydraulic disc brakes.

peugeot electric bike

Peugeot’s longtail cargo bike, named the Digital e-Longtail, is described by the company as “a bike whose elongated rear can comfortably accommodate up to two children or a load, particularly suitable for family use.”

The bike features a more classically-designed front end with a stretched rear able to accomodate a long rack with a pair of padded bench seats. A child carrier is designed to hold kids or cargo on the long rear rack, and a wheel skirt keeps small, dangling feet from contacting the rear wheel.

A full wraparound running board on either side of the rear wheel looks like it will work in concert with protrusions on the upper rack deck to allow the e-bike to be parked vertically on its tail, similar to the popular Tern cargo e-bikes. This would help the bike take up considerably less space in a garage or apartment.

The third e-bike on display by Peugeot is a front loader e-bike described as “a bike with an extended front wheelbase to accommodate a crate for transporting up to three children or heavy loads, suitable for family or professional use.”

Listed as the Digital e-Front Load, this type of cargo e-bike is quite popular across Europe where it is used similarly to the way SUVs and large cars are used in the US: for moving several children around town or carrying a large amount of cargo such as when grocery shopping.

Peugeot hasn’t announced prices for the new e-bikes yet, but the company will be showing off the new designs next month at the PRO-DAYS show from July 2 to 4, 2023, in Paris Exhibition, Porte de Versailles.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Rivian (RIVN) plans to roll out hands-free driving this year, eyes-free system in 2026

Published

on

By

Rivian (RIVN) plans to roll out hands-free driving this year, eyes-free system in 2026

Rivian (RIVN) plans to launch a new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) this year to enable hands-free driving. The new feature is expected to be similar to Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD). In 2026, Rivian will up the ante with an “eyes-free” system.

Rivian plans hands-free driving in 2025, eyes-free in 2026

At the new Rivian Space opening in San Francisco on Thursday, CEO RJ Scaringe revealed a few exciting developments to look forward to.

According to the folks at RivianForums, Scaringe said during the event that the company plans to launch a hands-free ADAS feature in 2025. Next year, Rivian will follow it up with an “eyes-free” system.

The big question is, will current Rivian R1S and R1T owners gain access? It could depend on whether you drive a Gen 1 or Gen 2 model. All Rivian models built through 2024 are considered Gen 1, while models 2025 and newer are Gen 2.

Rivian introduced the second-generation R1S and R1T last summer. They were “completely reengineered” with hundreds of hardware improvements, fully redesigned software, and more.

The upgrades include its new in-house autonomy system, Rivian Autonomy Platform. It’s powered by 11 cameras, five radars, and predictive AI.

Rivian-hands-free-driving
Rivian R1T (left) and R1S (right) electric vehicles (Source: Rivian)

Rivian said the new platform is “10 times more powerful” than the old system. It also features 360-degree visibility with 8X the number of camera pixels than the previous models. Gen 2 models already include features like Blind Spot Monitoring and Highway Assist.

With the premium version, drivers gain access to Lane Change, while Rivian said Enhanced Highway Assist and other features were coming soon.

Rivian-hands-free-driving
Rivian R2 electric SUV (Source: Rivian)

Although all Rivian R1S and R1T EVs include OTA updates, some features may require additional hardware or software not included on Gen 1 models.

Rivian hands-free and attention-free autonomous highway driving will be available on the upcoming R2 model. The smaller electric SUV is due out in the first half of 2026, starting at around $45,000.

Electrek’s Take

As a Tesla Model 3 driver, I can tell you that Full-Self Driving (FSD) is fun and can be helpful at times. I’ve used it on longer trips, like through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it makes driving or sitting in the car a little more enjoyable.

Although the system still requires you to pay attention, it enables the vehicle to drive itself almost anywhere with “minimal driver intervention.”

The new Actually Smart Summon feature is one of my favorites. Through the Tesla app, you can summon your vehicle to come to you in a parking lot. The vehicle will then move around other cars, people, and objects to find you.

Other functions, like Navigate on Autopilot, will take over while the vehicle is on the highway, changing lanes (with turn signals) and braking or accelerating as needed.

For Rivian owners, it would be like an upgraded system from Highway and Lane Change Assist. The “eyes-free” system coming next year will likely have a few regulatory hurdles to pass before it rolls out, so it should be interesting to see what that will consist of. Check back for more info soon. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

The world’s largest solar + storage project will deliver power 24/7

Published

on

By

The world's largest solar + storage project will deliver power 24/7

The United Arab Emirates is building the world’s largest solar and battery storage project that will dispatch clean energy 24/7.

Emirati Renewable energy company Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) are developing the trailblazing solar and battery storage project. Once it’s online, will become the largest combined solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) in the world.

Located in Abu Dhabi, the project will feature a 5.2 GW solar PV plant coupled with a 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) BESS.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, minister of industry and advanced technology and chairman of Masdar, said:

For decades, the biggest barrier facing renewable energy has been intermittency – to be able to source uninterrupted clean power day and night.

In collaboration with EWEC and our partners, we will develop a renewable energy facility capable of providing clean energy round the clock.

For the first time ever, this will transform renewable energy into a world-leading 1 GW of reliable baseload energy every day on an unprecedented scale – a first step that could become a giant leap for the world.

Masdar announced China’s JA Solar and Jinko Solar, two of the world’s largest solar panel suppliers, and Chinese battery and BESS giant CATL as preferred suppliers. JA Solar and Jinko Solar will supply 2.6 GW of solar panels each. India’s Larsen & Toubro and POWERCHINA have been selected as preferred engineering, procurement, and construction contractors.

Masdar says the project will create 10,000 jobs and doesn’t yet indicate a projected completion date.

Read more: China installed a record capacity of solar and wind in 2024 – in numbers


To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

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*

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Trump signs executive order promoting crypto, paving way for digital asset stockpile

Published

on

By

Trump signs executive order promoting crypto, paving way for digital asset stockpile

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on cryptocurrencies in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 23, 2025.

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to promote the advancement of cryptocurrencies in the U.S. and to work toward potentially developing a national digital asset stockpile.

Venture capitalist David Sacks, who Trump tapped as his crypto and artificial intelligence czar, joined Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of the order.

“The digital asset industry plays a crucial role in innovation and economic development in the United States, as well as our Nation’s international leadership,” the order states.

Trump, who was a crypto critic in his first administration, changed his tune on the campaign trail and attracted hefty contributions from the industry after a tumultuous four years under then-President Joe Biden. Crypto investors, companies and executives accounted for almost half of corporate donations in the 2024 election cycle, with some contributing tens of millions of dollars to help Trump win a second term in office.

Most of the order focuses on establishing technology and rules around crypto and its development in the U.S. One of the critical pieces is the creation of a working group to consider a national digital asset stockpile, “potentially derived from cryptocurrencies lawfully seized by the Federal Government through its law enforcement effort.”

Historically, the U.S. Marshals Service has auctioned off seized bitcoin, along with other cryptocurrencies such as ether and litecoin. Trump promised on the campaign trail that if he returned to the White House, he would ensure the federal government never sells off its bitcoin holdings, though Thursday’s order does not mention bitcoin.

“If I am elected, it will be the policy of my administration, United States of America, to keep 100% of all the bitcoin the U.S. government currently holds or acquires into the future,” he said in July in a keynote at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

The order goes on to outline other key priorities for the digital asset industry, including protecting individuals and private sector companies that use blockchain networks from “persecution.” The document spells out certain protections for developers and miners, noting that they should be able to freely “develop and deploy software” as well as “participate in mining and validating,” a nod to the technicians securing the bitcoin network.

The president has also pledged to defend the rights of those who choose to self-custody their digital assets. That means they do not rely on a centralized entity such as Coinbase to hold their tokens and instead use personal crypto wallets, which are sometimes outside the reach of the Internal Revenue Service. 

The order emphasizes promoting the sovereignty of the U.S. dollar by supporting the growth of legitimate, dollar-backed stablecoins globally.

Bitcoin surges past $100,000 as Trump reportedly plans to unveil new crypto policies

Since his victory in November, Trump has focused on appointing government leaders who support the cryptocurrency sector.

Paul Atkins has been nominated to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins, a former SEC commissioner, is known for advocating market-friendly policies and opposing heavy-handed regulation. If confirmed, he will succeed Gary Gensler, whose aggressive enforcement of crypto regulations made him a divisive figure in the industry.

Earlier this week, the SEC announced the formation of a new “crypto task force,” to be led by Commissioner Hester Peirce. Dubbed “Crypto Mom” for her outspoken support of digital currencies, Peirce has long championed a regulatory framework that fosters innovation rather than hindering it.

Scott Bessent, a pro-crypto hedge fund manager, is Trump’s pick to lead the Treasury Department. Bessent attended the Crypto Ball on Friday in Washington, an event that brought together lawmakers, cabinet appointees and industry leaders and underscored the administration’s plan to make the U.S. a global leader in digital asset innovation.

Sacks told the crowd at the packed Mellon Auditorium on Friday night that “the war on crypto is over.”

“This is just the beginning of America reclaiming its position as the world’s innovation leader,” Sacks said.

Don’t miss these cryptocurrency insights from CNBC Pro:

Trump's latest round of executive orders; crypto work group and national digital asset stockpile

Continue Reading

Trending