Road Trip

24/04/2023

18/03/2023

17/03/2023

11/10/2022

Kawasaki Goes Electric With Ambitious New Model Plans

All bikes are to be electric or hybrid-power in developed markets by 2035.

At the start of October, Kawasaki officially reformed its motorcycle business—previously called “Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine”—into a new company simply called Kawasaki Motors, and now the firm has revealed its plans for the coming years, which include a wholesale shift toward electric and hybrid vehicles.

At a presentation in Japan, where it also revealed the much-anticipated hybrid bike prototype and showed the latest iteration of the electric sportbike project that was first shown in 2019, Kawasaki revealed that by 2035 all major models sold in developed countries will be either battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

While 2035 might still seem a long way off, the first step of the process is much closer: The company promises to launch “more than 10″ electric or hybrid bikes by 2025—little more than three years from now. The same pattern is to be adopted for the firm’s four-wheelers, with five electric or hybrid production models due by 2025.

In terms of actual bikes, the only sight yet of an electric Kawasaki is the prototype that the firm first revealed in 2019, which was shown again at the firm’s new presentation, albeit with some new graphics. As we explained last year, it’s part of a project that’s been underway for at least a decade, and while it’s sure to have given Kawasaki plenty of insight and experience with electric bikes, it probably shouldn’t be considered a reliable indication of the design or specification of a future production model.

The new electric and hybrid bike onslaught doesn’t mean we’re about to see the end of combustion-engine Kawasakis. The company plans to go on a new model offensive over the next few years, simultaneously working on hydrogen-power ideas to develop ultralow-emissions combustion engines that could give a new lease on life to the tech that’s been at the heart of motorcycling since the very start.

For the road-going motorcycle range, Kawasaki’s plan is to launch an average of 16 new models per year by 2025, including gasoline-powered machines, hybrids, and electric bikes. Off-road, the firm will also develop a BEV and HEV range, but in the meantime is planning to launch 15 new off-road models, presumably mainly using conventional gasoline engines, by 2025. In terms of four-wheelers, the plan is again to adopt BEV/HEV tech and to be launching an average of eight new models per year by 2025.

The company has also reiterated its intention to continue to create high-end, high-priced bikes, with the Ninja 1000-powered KB4 expected to be revealed imminently as the first full-production model since Kawasaki took a 49.9 percent stake in Bimota in 2019.

Amid all this, Kawasaki has also officially adopted the River Mark logo, which has been used on the supercharged H2 models since their launch in 2015 as its new corporate identity. A stylized version of the Japanese character meaning river, the mark dates back to the firm’s earliest days as the Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard, formed in 1878. The mark will be used across all Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ products, including those from the newly formed/restructured Kawasaki Motors.

06/07/2022

Starbucks Plans To Turn 15,000 Stores Into Electric Car Charging Stations

According to one forecast, by 2030, the United States may have up to 26 million electric cars. That means the country needs 10 times more charging stations than it currently has. Embracing this trend, the Starbucks coffee chain thinks it can help fill the void.

In a test this year, Starbucks says it’s working with Volvo and Chargepoint to install EV (electric vehicle) chargers in parking lots along a 2,100-kilometer route from Denver to Seattle, with stops about 160 km apart. “This is one of those charging deserts because there aren’t too many charging stations there,” said Michael Kobori, director of sustainability at Starbucks.

Usually, electric vehicle owners or charge batteries at home to serve for daily travel. However, on long trips, it is not always easy to find a charging station. With current charging technology, this process also takes longer than traditional gas filling.

“Our plan is a combination that can bring convenience to everyone. Imagine, if you are traveling or working far away, you still want to stop somewhere to buy a cup of Starbucks or something. And when you’re waiting to get your food or enjoy, you can charge your car,” Mr. Kobori said.

While charging times vary depending on vehicle type, Volvo says its electric vehicles can go from 20% to 90% in 40 minutes.

According to Mr. Kobori, Volvo and Chargepoint will handle the installation of charging stations at Starbucks stores in towns such as Twin Falls, Idaho and Uintah, Utah. They will adapt to local amenities.

In many areas, charging stations will also make it easier for locals to use, not just for tourists. “This route passes through some economically disadvantaged communities,” Mr. Kobori said. “We wanted to bring charging stations to underserved areas to expand the market for electric vehicles as well.”

During the test, Starbucks will examine usage rates to decide if it wants to expand the service nationwide as part of a larger sustainability plan.

A recent report said the number of new battery-powered vehicles in the US skyrocketed in the first quarter of 2022. This equates to the fact that this type of vehicle currently accounts for 4.6% of the US market.

According to data firm Experian, in the first three months of this year, there were 158,689 electric vehicles registered in the US. It is estimated that Tesla cars accounted for 113,882 of them, up 59% over the same period last year. In second place is Kia with 8,450 vehicles.

It can be said that electric cars are becoming a new trend in the US. In this market, the infrastructure is considered to be relatively suitable for electric vehicles. The use of these vehicles is increasingly popular in the US because they are not much more expensive than gasoline cars and offer a new driving experience.

In addition, the US is also encouraging the switch to electric vehicles instead of fossil fuel vehicles to protect the environment. US President Joe Biden has set a goal that by 2030, half of all new car sales in the US will be electric.

Source: https://vietnaminsider.vn/starbucks-plans-to-turn-15000-stores-into-electric-car-charging-stations/

29/06/2022

Increase Nanaman Daw Next Week.

24/06/2022

The higher the price of fuel, the more you save with electric cars.

17/06/2022

Sanay Na Kami Every Tuesday

Estimated Price Next Week:
Gasoline P0.20 to P0.30 /L
Diesel P1.50 to P2.30 /L

Effective June 21, 2022

04/06/2022

Another Bigtime Increase!

Estimated Price Next Week:
Diesel P6.30 to P6.50 /L
Gasoline P2.60 to P2.80 /L

Effective June 07, 2022

16/03/2022

"On-Board Charging System for Electric Vehicles." It's actually a power bank which is on-board in the EV. But the battery power is unli because it is also solar that runs even at nite. So there's no worry as to expenses for electricity at home. Funded by DOST and patented by IPOPHIL.

The picture is a product prototype of the 3-wheel version ready for interested investors for commercialization. The 4-wheel version is about to be finished also funded by DOST.

This is one of the solutions to the problems of gasoline price increases that we are experiencing right now and competing for the use of scarce charging stations for EV. And this is an indigenous Filipino technology. - Uthred Pendragon