BDN reports that Yuasa has just delivered the biggest energy storage plant in the world, in northern Hokkaido, Japan. The installation, which stores power from a wind energy transmission network, has no less than 3.3 million cells, a power output of 240MW and a capacity of 720 megawatt-hours.
Vmoto headed into EICMA with a new Guinness World Record in the bag - for the "greatest distance on an electric scooter in 24 hours by a team in relay". Team Vmoto achieved the distance of 1,931 km, improving the previous record by 151 km, on the Circuito Tazio Nuvolari in Cervesina near Pavia. The scooter used was a standard Vmoto CPx PRO, driven by a crew of five pro riders and journalists.
Boise, Idaho based Rekluse has launched what is describes as "Next-Generation Auto Clutch Tech" with its EXP 4.0. Said to offer riders "more direct power delivery to the rear wheel, unmatched durability even under high temperatures, and an enhanced lever feel for more connected and precise control", highly responsive engagement is due to an improved base and wedge design with pins and bearings that enable rolling instead of sliding to expand the disc - reducing resistance in engagement.
Following the launch of the Open Bluetooth Intercom (OBI) protocol, a new software update for cross-industry Bluetooth connectivity allows Cardo wireless communication systems to connect seamlessly with a non-Cardo Bluetooth unit "as seamlessly and fluidly as connecting via Bluetooth to another Cardo communicator".
Triumph has introduced seat-lowering tech for its Tiger 1200. A new enhancement to its advanced Showa semi-active suspension, the new Active Preload Reduction feature reduces the rear suspension preload as the Tiger slows, allowing seat height settings to be reduced.
The residents of Strasskirchen near Munich, Germany, have voted overwhelmingly to welcome the building of a new BMW Group facility for high-voltage battery assembly. BMW has a 105-hectare site awaiting development there, with rights to a further 29 hectares of adjacent land.
Motorcycle thefts in USA rose 7% last year, according to a new NICB report. Motorcycle thefts increased 7% from 2021 to 2022, marking a third year of rising thefts according to the NICB's 2022 Vehicle Type Theft Report. An average of 4,561 motorcycles were reported stolen each month in 2022. Thefts climbed steadily from a low of 2,879 in February, peaking in July at 6,394. Californians again led the pack in reporting the most motorcycle thefts with 9,838 stolen bikes in 2022 (30% of all motorcycle thefts in USA), followed by Florida (4,563) and Texas (4,145). The top 10 states for motorcycle thefts made up 60% of the 54,736 motorcycle theft reports in the U.S. in 2022. More than 40% are recovered.
Peugeot Motocycles Deutschland (PMD - which includes the BSA brand in Germany) has appointed Éric Apode as new CEO, with former Triumph Germany dealer network director Boris Grimm as the new Country Manager Germany, and long-time marketing executive Priscilla Sellier as press director for Germany and Europe. Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) sold a 50% equity share and a controlling 80% stake in its Peugeot Motocycles subsidiary to private equity investor Mutares SE & Co. KGaA - a Germany based holding company. The decision to effectively offload the financial heavy lifting that Peugeot Motocyles required is thought to have been prompted by the long-term potential that M&M sees in focusing its capital resources primarily on the BSA brand.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com
