Electrek
Duke Energy brings $100M, 50 MW battery project online
Just in time for this weekend’s wicked weather, Duke Energy has powered up a 50 MW grid battery at the former Allen coal plant — a major infrastructure upgrade that could help stabilize the grid and drive down energy costs across the Carolinas.
Podcast: Tesla Robotaxi grift, Volvo EX60 is a beast, Aptera in danger, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla’s latest Robotaxi grift, Volvo EX60 being a beast, Aptera in danger, and more.
China shuts down Elon Musk’s claim that Tesla FSD will be approved next month
Just as Tesla investors were getting excited about a potential rollout of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in its second-largest market, China has reportedly shut down Elon Musk’s latest timeline.
According to a new report from Chinese state media, Musk’s claim that FSD would be approved “next month” is simply “not true.”
This feels like a case of “Elon time” meeting China’s no-nonsense.
Lectric offers extremely rare $100 price cuts across all e-bikes from $799 lows, Anker SOLIX 72-hour flash sale, Autel, BougeRV, more
We have a jam-packed Green Deals to close out this week for you, starting with the extremely rare Lectric weekend price cut flash sale that is dropping all its e-bikes by $100 – plus offering up to $220 bundles on select models – all starting with the XP Lite2 JW e-bike from a $799 low. From there, Anker SOLIX has launched a 72-hour flash sale that is not only retaining the previous flash sale’s low prices, but also adding new ones, like the C1000 Gen 1 Portable Power Station with an expansion battery and water-resistant bag for a new $729 low, and many others. You can also find Autel’s AC Pro 80A Level 2 EV Charger back at $909, as well as a bunch of BougeRV camping equipment at some of their best prices, a handy pair of Worx sawhorse steals, some smart ambient lighting for outdoors and indoors, and so much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals that are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s three exclusive deals on VMAX VX2 EXTREME and VX4 e-scooters, and more.
Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.
The Chevy Bolt EV never got a fighting chance as GM flips back to gas cars
The new Chevy Bolt EV just went into production at GM’s Fairfax plant in Kansas in November, but it won’t be built there for long. Once Bolt production ends, likely in 2027, GM said only internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will be made at the facility.
Honda ProZision Autonomous ZTR electric riding mower gets real
An 800 lb. gorilla just entered the race to electrify the commercial lawn care space as Honda has officially begun production of its new ProZision series of battery-electric zero-turn mowers — including the all-new, all-electric ProZision Autonomous ZTR.
It’s time to start recommending some Tesla Powerwall alternatives [update]
NOTE: since most of the US is currently getting hit with a huge winter storm, I’m republishing this list of home batteries as a reminder to be prepared for the next one – particularly for folks who are looking at hours or days without power.
For years, Tesla Powerwall has been the go-to recommendation for homeowners looking for a painless, low-effort experience from their first home solar and battery backup solutions. But with a recent recall on more than 10,000 home batteries over fire safety concerns following a year (or more) of CEO Elon Musk’s political antics, more and more people are beginning to look for alternatives to the trailblazing Tesla tech. The good news: there are plenty of other great home solar battery solutions are there!
EV battery leader CATL set to launch first sodium-ion batteries in passenger vehicles
Lectric eBikes just did something it almost never does: a real price cut
Lectric doesn’t really do old-school sales. At least not the kind most of us think of when we hear the word. Sure, North America’s largest electric bike retailer, Lectric eBikes, has tons of great deals all year round. But the seasonal sales are often value bundles where the prices remain the same, but you get a ton of great accessories thrown in. Now for a limited time though, Lectric has launched an honest-to-goodness, save-you-some-real-money sale on America’s most popular electric bikes.
The Volkswagen ID.4 gets a sharp redesign and a new name you’ll recognize
Solar car maker Aptera (SEV) prices $9 million public offering at $2 per share; stock plunges
Aptera Motors has announced the pricing of a new $9 million public offering, and the terms are putting significant pressure on the stock today. The solar electric vehicle startup is issuing shares at $2.00, a steep discount to yesterday’s closing price of $2.41, as it races to secure capital for production.
Tesla cuts standard Autopilot, paywalls basic safety feature behind FSD subscription
Tesla has officially removed Basic Autopilot as a standard feature for new Model 3 and Model Y orders in North America, effective immediately. The move forces buyers to subscribe to the $99/month Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package to access lane-keeping capabilities that were previously free.
It appears to be a somewhat desperate move amid demand and profit headwinds.
Heybike Villain launched as low-cost 45 MPH light electric dirt bike
Heybike is best known for affordable commuter e-bikes, fat-tire cruisers, and city-friendly rides. But the company is now stepping well outside the bike lane with something very different. Meet the Villain – a compact electric e-moto that looks and rides far more like a Sur-Ron–style light electric dirt bike than anything you’d legally call an electric bicycle.
And crucially, it does so at a price point aimed at riders who want electric dirt-bike fun without dropping full-on motorcycle money.
Federal EV incentives ended, California’s ZEV sales grew anyway
The California Energy Commission (CEC) reported this week that the state passed 2.5 million cumulative new zero‑emission vehicle (ZEV) sales in 2025.
Tesla didn’t remove the Robotaxi ‘safety monitor’ – it just moved them to a trailing car
Earlier today, Elon Musk announced on X that Tesla had “just started Tesla Robotaxi drives in Austin with no safety monitor in the car.” Tesla’s stock immediately jumped over 4% on the news. Headlines across the financial press celebrated the milestone.
There’s just one problem: it appears to be another game of smoke and mirrors. The Robotaxi cars spotted without “safety monitor” were all being followed by a trailing black Tesla supervising the “driverless” Robotaxi.
It means Tesla didn’t “remove the safety monitor”, it just moved them to a vehicle behind them.
The 641hp Hyundai IONIQ 6 N launches in the UK with a new virtual gear shift and fun extras
Here are 8 tips for the best EV winter range and performance
[Editor’s note: Since most of the US is about to get hit with a huge winter storm, I’m republishing these tips as a refresher – particularly for folks who aren’t used to this kind of weather.]
Whether you’re a seasoned EV driver in cold climates or this is your first winter driving an EV, there’s always more to learn about how to get the best range and performance when the temperatures drop.
Electrek asked two experts for smart winter EV driving advice. This is what Richard Reina, product training director at CARiD.com, and Casey Donahue, CEO of Optiwatt, a residential managed charging platform in North America, had to say.
Exclusive $450 savings on VMAX VX2 EXTREME + VX4 e-scooters from $749, Anker 24-hour F2600 + F3800 station lows, more
Leading our Thursday Green Deals this week is the three exclusive $450 discounts you can score on VMAX’s VX2 EXTREME LT and ST electric scooters + the VX4 LT electric scooter – all starting from $749. Right behind those, we have an exciting 24-hour Anker SOLIX winter flash sale that you won’t want to miss, which offers the F2600 power station at a new $849 low alongside the F3800 power station at its $1,799 low, and other units. We also spotted BougeRV’s three varying bike carriers that hold up to 200 pounds – all at their lowest rates, as well as Greenworks’ 2-in-1 24V cordless polesaw + pole hedge trimmer combo kit, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals that are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s new MSI EV Life NEMA 14-50 Level 2 chargers with NACS or J1772 connectors, the Mammotion YUKA 2000 robot mower, and more.
Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.
Tesla starts Robotaxi rides without safety monitor in Austin: what you need to know [Updated]
Tesla has started offering Robotaxi rides without a safety monitor in Austin, Texas. After yet another set of missed timelines and a full decade of broken promises, Elon Musk is finally getting a version of the “win” he has been desperately seeking. But considering the alarming crash data we have and the evidence of heavy remote monitoring, should we be excited or terrified?
Update: New video evidence shows that Tesla’s supposedly “unsupervised” Robotaxis in Austin are being closely followed by black Tesla trailing cars with safety monitors inside. Tesla didn’t remove the safety monitors – it just moved them to a different vehicle.
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