Behold the dawning of the e-LUV. Electric hypercar developer Automobili Pininfarina is created a new new breed of luxury vehicles with a new concept called the PURA Vision. The boutique automaker describes the PURA Vision as an electric luxury utility vehicle or “e-LUV” for short. We get our first glimpse of the unique EV today ahead of its public debut at Monterey Car Week later this month. Check it out.
While the Pininfarina name has held its own unique spot in automobiles the past 90 years, our coverage of the brand is much more recent, after it was reborn as an all-electric hypercar developer in 2018.
In that time, our coverage has been exclusively on the Battista – Pininfarina’s ultra-exclusive flagship model that later saw an even more limited Anniversario edition of a mere five units. Last Fall, we saw the Battista smash some world records in Dubai, followed by two more during the EV’s first trip to India.
Just last month, Pininfarina introduced a third iteration of the Battista called the Edizione, dedicated to the first-ever F1 champion, Nino Farina. Like the Anniversario, the automaker only planned to build five.
But enough about the Battista – today we are able to report a new EV from Automobili Pininfarina, albeit a concept. Still, the new PURA Vision is a stunning exercise in design, offering a preview of the Italian/German/Indian automaker’s future of e-LUVs.
See Pininfarina’s new concept before Monterey debut
The original Battista hyper GT first debuted at Monterey Car Week in California – Now, five years later, Automobili Pininfarina is showcasing a new EV concept focused on luxury, dramatic proportions, and innovative technology.
Contrary to the track-focused Battista Hyper GT, Pininfarina’s Hyper GT concept offers a design study that will influence elements in future models. As you can see above, the automaker is experimenting with some bold forms including a narrow glasshouse approach on the side windows and roof, tri-opening pillarless doors, and some unique rear cab proportions.
The result is a Pininfarina concept that reads as a sports car from the front and an SUV from the back. As for the side, well that silhouette is a sight, offering a smooth streamlined design that is mostly body. Chief design officer Dave Amantea elaborated:
PURA Vision embraces the DNA of iconic vehicles from Pininfarina’s past, to shape the future with sharp lines and a modern aesthetic. It is distinctive from every angle and showcases our PURA design philosophy on a new kind of vehicle. A dramatic presence, inviting interior and curated materials make this a car like no other, yet clients will recognize it as a Pininfarina with its beautiful body, timeless proportions and technical lower body detailing.
Other unique features to keep an eye out for include hidden headlights powered by ultra-slim L.E.S.S. nanofiber lighting technology that are less than 1mm thick, a Bianco Siestre Gloss body paired with exposed carbon fiber elements, and a gloss black floating roof.
Those attending this year’s Monterey Car Week August 17-20 will be able to see the PURA Vision concept up close, next to the Pininfarina Battista Nino Farina hyper GT.
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JackRabbit, the maker of pint-sized electric microbikes, is back with a new product designed to quickly recharge their batteries from pure, uncut photons mainlined into an e-bike directly from the sun. In true independent charging form, the Solar Charging Kit from JackRabbit keeps riders rolling even when there’s not a convenient AC outlet in sight.
Unveiled this week, the Solar Charging Kit consists of a single folding solar panel and a tiny voltage converter that is configured to output 42.0V, which is the exact voltage required by JackRabbit’s little e-bike batteries. There’s also an added USB-A and a USB-C charging port for powering other devices in addition to charging JackRabbit batteries.
“This Solar Charging Kit plugs directly into your bike,” explained the company, “letting you recharge without needing an outlet, but with a speed comparable to the charger that comes with the OG/OG2 (42V, 2A).”
That would mean the panel outputs around 80W of solar power, which the company says can recharge its batteries in just three hours. That fairly quick recharging speed is helped by the fact that JackRabbit’s batteries are a mere 151 Wh, or around a third of the size of most e-bike batteries.
If that sounds small, then you’re right – it is. But JackRabbit is all about going micro, offering barely 25 lb rideables that are easy to store and bring on adventures, even when they aren’t actually being ridden.
With small batteries that fit under the 160Wh limit for many airlines in the US, the batteries can be quickly charged and taken to the widest number of locations. And for riders that want to go further than a single 10-mile (16-km) battery will allow, extra batteries are small enough to fit a pants pocket. The company also offers much larger Rangebuster batteries, though they won’t pass by TSA and make it onto an airplane in your personal item.
It sounds like the Solar Chargking Kit should be able to charge up JackRabbit’s large RangeBuster batteries, though likely in more than three hours.
The $349 Solar Charging Kit is a bit pricier than building something similar yourself, but it’s also safer and more convenient than hacking together your own battery charger since it’s designed to work with JackRabbit’s batteries right out of the box.
Technically it’s only inteded for JackRabbit’s micro e-bikes (themselves technically seated scooters, even if they look and feel more like a typical bike), but it’d probably work for just about any 36V e-bike that requires 42.0V to charge.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen solar charging kits for electric bikes, and it’s a trend that is certainly appreciated by outdoors and camping enthusiasts, festival goers, or anyone who finds themself and their bike spending extended periods in the great, sunny outdoors.
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On today’s episode of Quick Charge, Polestar hopes to steal customers from Tesla now that Elon is involved in politics, CATL revenue dips for the first time ever, and a whole new way to feed the orcas drops down under.
As above, Polestar is hoping Elon’s descent into politics spells opportunity for the struggling Swedish/Chinese performance brand, CATL has big news in Europe, and Scooter Doll shows off a new electric submarine that’s so expensive, they won’t even tell us the price.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
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Solar generated 11% of EU electricity in 2024, overtaking coal which fell below 10% for the first time, according to the European Electricity Review published today by think tank Ember.
EU gas generation declined for the fifth year in a row, and total fossil generation fell to a historic low.
“Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy,” said Dr Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead author of the report. “At the start of the European Green Deal in 2019, few thought the EU’s energy transition could be where it is today; wind and solar are pushing coal to the margins and forcing gas into structural decline.”
The European Electricity Review published today by global energy think tank Ember provides the first comprehensive overview of the EU power system in 2024. It analyzes full-year electricity generation and demand data for 2024 in all EU-27 countries to understand the region’s progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity.
Wind and solar continue their meteoric rise in the EU
The EU power sector is undergoing a deep transformation spurred on by the European Green Deal. Solar generation (11%) overtook coal (10%) for the first time in 2024, as wind (17%) generated more electricity than gas (16%) for the second year in a row.
Strong solar growth, combined with a recovery of hydropower, pushed the share of renewables to nearly half of EU power generation (47%). Fossil fuels generated 29% of the EU’s electricity in 2024. In 2019, before the Green Deal, fossil fuels provided 39% of EU electricity, while renewables provided 34%.
Solar is growing in every EU country and more than half now have either no coal power or a share below 5% in their power mix. Coal has fallen from being the EU’s third-largest power source in 2019 to the sixth-largest in 2024, bringing the end into sight for the dirtiest fossil fuel. EU gas generation also declined for the fifth year in a row (-6%) despite a very small rebound in power demand (+1%).
The EU is reaping the benefits of reduced fossil fuel dependency
The surge in wind and solar generation has reduced the EU’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and its exposure to volatile prices since the energy crisis. Ember’s analysis found that without new wind and solar capacity added over the last five years, the EU would have imported an additional 92 billion cubic meters of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes of coal, costing €59 billion.
“While the EU’s electricity transition has moved faster than anyone expected in the last five years, further progress cannot be taken for granted,” continued Rosslowe. “Delivery needs to be accelerated particularly in the wind sector, which has faced unique challenges and a widening delivery gap. Between now and 2030, annual wind additions need to more than double compared to 2024 levels. However, the achievements of the past five years should instil confidence that, with continued drive and commitment, challenges can be overcome and a more secure energy future be achieved.”
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe said: “This milestone is about more than just climate action; it is a cornerstone of European energy security and industrial competitiveness. Renewables are steadily pushing fossil fuels to the margins, with solar leading the way. We now need more flexibility to kick-in, making sure the energy system is adapting to new realities: more storage and more smart electrification in heating, transport and industries.”
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