Porsche is the latest automaker to try its hand at making and selling electric bikes, and the result looks very interesting and very expensive. The Volkswagen-owned company announced that it would start selling a pair of full-suspension e-bikes this spring. The bikes were announced alongside the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, which was just unveiled today. There are two models of Porsche e-bike, the Sport and the Cross. The Sport is a road bike intended for everyday use, with a full-suspension carbon fiber frame, integrated front and rear lights, Shimano mid-drive motor, and a price tag that would make Jeff Bezos blush. The Sport, which weighs a little less than 48 pounds, will set you back about $10,700, which is just an astonishing price for an e-bike. But then again, carbon fiber frame bikes are traditionally more expensive than other bikes, and the Porsche badge on the head tube is worth a premium to a certain cross-section of bike rider. (I’m often reminded of how much money … [Read more...] about Porsche unveils a pair of ridiculously expensive electric bikes
General electric
GM is close to building a second EV battery factory in the US, report says
General Motors is considering building a second battery factory in the United States, The Wall Street Journal reports , in order to ramp up its production of electric vehicles in the interest of becoming a completely carbon neutral company by the year 2040 . The factory would be built in collaboration with LG Chem, the South Korean battery maker that is already working with GM on a battery factory in northern Ohio. According to the Journal , the second facility is likely to be located in Tennessee, though a final location has yet to be selected. A spokesperson for GM confirmed that a second factory is being discussed with LG Chem, and a decision is expected sometime in the first half of 2021. GM announced the construction of its first battery factory in December 2019. The automaker set up a joint venture with LG Chem, with the two companies committing to spend $2.3 billion on a new facility located in Lordstown, Ohio. GM, the largest automaker in North America based … [Read more...] about GM is close to building a second EV battery factory in the US, report says
Hurricane Sandy is 2012’s No. 2 Topic on Facebook
Hurricane Sandy has been dominating Facebook chatter over the past week, making it the second most talked about event on the social network in 2012. Facebook's "Talk Meter" rated Sandy an 8.34, CNN reports . Data also showed that men and women are equal in talking about the storm, but older users (over 55) are posting more about the hurricane than younger users. SEE ALSO: After Sandy, ‘We Are OK’ Is Top Facebook Status Politics was another hot topic on Facebook's 2012 Talk Meter. The first presidential debate scored an 8.18, the vice presidential debate got a 6.79 and the announcement of Rep. Paul Ryan as Gov. Mitt Romney's vice-presidential candidate was rated at a 5.21. Watch the video above to see more Facebook stats. What topic do you think you've talked most about on Facebook this year? BONUS: Captivating Hurricane Sandy Photos Taken By Readers Williamsburg, Brooklyn: 10 a.m. "Bracing for Sandy in Williamsburg." Submitted by Jenna . … [Read more...] about Hurricane Sandy is 2012’s No. 2 Topic on Facebook
Hearing aids: How they work and which type is best for you
Hearing aids are small electronic devices that a person wears in or behind their ears. These devices amplify ambient sound and allow people with mild to severe hearing loss to hear the sounds around them. They do not restore a person's hearing, but rather increase the volume of environmental sounds. How do hearing aids work? Most modern hearing aids are digital. Digital hearing aids consist of three parts, according to Johns Hopkins : —a microphone, to pick up sound waves and convert them into a digital signal; —an amplifier, to make specific sound frequencies louder; —a speaker, to convert the digital signal back into sound waves and transmit the louder sound down a person's ear canal. Who benefits from hearing aids? The World Health Organization estimates that 1.5 billion people worldwide have some degree of hearing loss, and that this number will rise to 2.5 billion by 2050. There are three primary types of hearing loss, depending on which part of the … [Read more...] about Hearing aids: How they work and which type is best for you