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Luxury electric bike company Riese & Müller generally ships its e-bikes the same way every electric bike maker in the world does so: in cardboard bike boxes. But now the company is switching to a new, greener solution.

Riese & Müller has just unveiled its new reusable packaging. Constructed of polypropylene and sealed using velcro, the e-bike boxes are designed to be more eco-friendly than typical cardboard boxes.

Cardboard is of course recyclable, but its one-time use design makes it energy and carbon intensive.

A reusable box would help reduce the material and carbon footprint of shipping large, heavy e-bikes around the world. According to the company, the reusable boxes can be used around 30 times before ultimately being recycled. That would save around 80% of CO2 emissions compared to typical packaging.

In fact, Riese & Müller plans to use these reusable plastic boxes worldwide for both its bikes and small components.

The reusable boxes are the same size as typical cardboard bike boxes, yet can fold down into much smaller and compact forms after the bikes have been delivered. Those knocked down plastic boxes can then be shipped back to the company via the same delivery platforms to be reused for future e-bikes and components.

Trials of the new boxes will begin next month. By early 2024, the company plans to incorporate the boxes into 60% of its e-bike packaging and up to 70% of its packaging for shipping small components.

According to Riese & Müller, the new packaging will help the company and its dealers “reduce their waste generation in retail by 905 tonnes of cardboard per year, which will make another major contribution to greater sustainability in the e-bike sector.”

Electrek’s Take

This is great, and any progress towards increased sustainability is a step in the right direction. It’s only making e-bikes greener.

But at the same time, I can’t help but imagine how the energy and emissions savings of Riese & Müller’s new e-bike packaging are a fraction of a drop of water in the ocean of emissions out there. That’s nothing against Riese & Müller. Bravo, freunde. But let’s get real folks, closing the Autobahn for five minutes would have a greater impact on global CO2 than every R&M bike box ever made.

But hey, Riese & Müller are doing what they can with what they have. I applaud it, while still encouraging folks to focus on the bigger picture: reducing global emissions caused by transportation, energy production and agriculture – the three biggest global sources of emissions. We can have a much bigger impact if we simply ride an e-bike, put sun-blocking film on our windows and eat a black bean burger.

It’s not too late, but it almost is.

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Wheel-E Podcast: ’70 MPH e-bikes’, Vietnam bans gasoline bikes, more

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Wheel-E Podcast: '70 MPH e-bikes', Vietnam bans gasoline bikes, more

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes “70 MPH e-bikes” prompting new law changes, recalled Amazon/Walmart e-bikes, Vietnam banning gasoline-powered motorcycles, and more.

The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 8:00 a.m. ET (or the video after 9:00 a.m. ET):

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Exxon earnings beat estimates as production growth softens impact of lower oil prices

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Exxon earnings beat estimates as production growth softens impact of lower oil prices

Exxon earnings beat estimates as production growth softens impact of lower oil prices

Exxon Mobil reported second-quarter earnings on Friday that declined significantly compared to last year, though the company beat Wall Street estimates as production growth in the Permian Basin and Guyana softened the impact of lower oil prices.

Exxon’s net income fell 23% to $7.1 billion, or $1.64 per share, compared to $9.2 billion, or $2.14 per share, in the same period last year.

Here is what Exxon reported for the second quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: $1.64 vs. $1.54 expected
  • Revenue: $81.5 billion vs. $80.77 billion expected

The oil major pumped 4.6 million barrels per day, the highest output for the second quarter since Exxon and Mobil merged more than 25 years ago. Production in the Permian hit a record 1.6 million bpd.

Exxon’s production business posted a profit of $5.4 billion, down 23% from about $7.1 billion in the same period last year on lower oil prices. Its refining business booked earnings of $1.37 billion globally, up 44% compared to $946 million in the year-ago period due to higher refining margins.

Exxon paid out $9.2 billion to shareholders, including more than $4 billion in dividends and $5 billion in share repurchases. The oil major said it’s on pace to purchase $20 billion of shares this year.

Exxon has slashed its costs by $1.4 billion so far this year and $13.5 billion since 2019. It is aiming to cut another $4.5 billion through the end of 2030.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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Chevron profit hit by low crude oil prices and loss from Hess acquisition

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Chevron profit hit by low crude oil prices and loss from Hess acquisition

Chevron profit hit by low crude oil prices and loss from Hess acquisition

Chevron on Friday reported second-quarter earnings that took a substantial hit due to low oil prices and a loss on its acquisition of Hess Corporation.

The oil major’s net income declined about 44% to $2.49 billion, or $1.45 per share, from $4.43 billion, or $2.43 per share, in the same period last year.

Chevron booked a $215 million loss on the fair value measurement of Hess shares. When adjusted for that charge and other one-time items, Chevron earned $1.77 per share to beat Wall Street estimates.

Here is what Chevron reported for the second quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: $1.77 adjusted vs. $1.70 expected
  • Revenue: $44.82 billion vs. $43.82 billion expected

Chevron completed its acquisition of Hess on July 18, after prevailing against Exxon Mobil in a long-running dispute that threatened to blow up the $53 billion deal. An arbitration court rejected Exxon’s claim to a right of first refusal over lucrative Hess assets in Guyana, clearing the way for Chevron to complete the transaction after a long delay.

Chevron expects the deal to begin adding to earnings in the fourth quarter. It also hopes to reduce annual run-rate costs by $1 billion by the end of 2025.

Chevron pumped a record 3.4 million barrels per day worldwide for the quarter, a 3% increase over the same period last year. U.S. production jumped about 8% to 1.69 million bpd compared to the year-ago period, with production in the Permian Basin hitting 1 million bpd. The Hess acquisition will add assets in the Bakken formation and Gulf of Mexico in addition to Guyana.

Chevron’s production business posted a profit of $2.72 billion, down 38% from $4.47 billion in the same period last year due to lower oil prices. Its refining business booked earnings of $737 million, up 23% from $597 million last year on higher margins for product sales.

Chevron paid out $5.5 billion to shareholders in the quarter, including $2.6 billion in share buybacks and $2.9 billion in dividends.

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