538 a Delta moment

Over the weekend I rode my (non-electric) bike out to one of my favorite destinations, Bethel Island.

Bethel is one of these secret places you don't want people to know about, but since relatively few people read this blog, what the heck. 

Did you know that when it's foggy and cool in the city, you can swim in freshwater on a ninety degree day, just a dozen miles from Antioch Bart?

And while we're on the subject of bikes...

So you buy a bike to save the environment. But how long will that take?

Oh, after about a thousand miles of riding a bike versus driving your car, you've, uh, broken even on emissions.

Unless of course you buy a honking big bike, or drive a honking big vehicle. (Like we do... Think we're more on the 500 mile scale.)

If you hadn't guessed by the name "Bike and Battery," I think batteries are big news these days.

We're in early days, really, when it comes to charged ions.

There's a lot of interest, and money, following this tech race.

Half to a third of the cost of an EV is currently the battery.

And getting those costs down will dictate winners and, uh, bankruptcies.


Above, a SPAC that lost it all. Below, the new market champ.

Last year, the Wuling Mini EV was a market disrupter. This year, it's the best selling EV.

You know, just not here.

Or in Europe, yet. But it is in the number one EV market in the world, China.

Just in case you haven't had enough battery news.

Solid state progress.

Look, here's our old prototype next to our new prototype! Somebody form a SPAC, I smell billions.

"Could" and a "few." Yes, everyone, we're that excited about this developing market.

There is a long, long road between idea and consumer product.

Filled with a lot of promises, and maybe a few dreamers. (A nicer word for scammers?)

But seriously, every new wave of tech seems to have this level of uncertainty and excitement. 

Here's a company from Hayward, CA that claims to have built a better battery, one that can charge in minutes.

The secret is how they organized the battery, with a layered structure and end caps, versus a spool. I don't know enough about batteries to fact check anything other than the test battery is tiny, so is ten minutes really that big of a deal?

Well, hopefully the reporter knows more than me, and it is a big deal.

Finally, some crazy bikes...

No suspension, 60mph. Sounds, uh, deadly. I think it was about $6k.

This one was closer to $20k. But it can climb Everest! (Theoretically.)

Ok, so, balance bikes are for kids to learn how to ride. They have no pedals because you push with your feet, which basically stay close to the ground the whole time, so you don't fall over.

This is maybe more of a pit bike than a kids bike? Unless, of course, you really want to piss off mom.

And this one is here just for the design. Yum!

Ride safely!

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