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For nearly a decade, utility companies have been targeted by companies and individuals selling a particular kind of snake oil. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think a lot of these people are acting maliciously (I’ll get to that in a minute). In fact, I think a lot of these people have the best of intentions at heart — there’s just a problem in the way they look at the world, and that’s this: they’re wrong about what the utility companies’ role in the transition to EVs needs to be, and there is a whole lot of incentive for them to stay wrong.

How We Got Here

Before we talk about how we got here, we need to talk about what “here” is. Basically, we exist in a world that is still very much influenced by pressures that started way back in 2008 and 2009 when the housing market collapsed, fuel prices soared, and carmakers were desperate to sell new cars and trucks to just about anyone who could still buy them. The flex-fuel Dodge Ram pickups (Ram was still part of Dodge back then) had “Runs on Corn!” written in broad strokes across the windshield while they baked in the Napleton Northlake Dodge parking lot.

It was a wild time, for sure, but it was the first real shake to the ever-growing US car market that many of us had lived through, and it was very much the dawn of the EV startup. There was Tesla, there was Fisker, there was Aptera, heck, there was even Paul Elio and his goofy tadpole thing. Everyone was pushing for 40 MPG or 50 MPG cars, hybrids were in the limelight, and nobody back then really knew if it would be biofuels or hydrogen or battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) that would win the day.

Now, as I type this, it’s obvious that BEVs won. It wasn’t so much that BEVs won, though. It was Tesla that won, and every other carmaker has been forced to participate in the electric future that Tesla created. And, to their credit, just about every one of them — with a few notable holdouts, like Toyota and Mazda — have jumped into the BEV race with both feet, committing to a majority electric future by 2030, if not a fully electric one … and the environmentalists are pushing this as a huge win.

The EV Future Is Not An Environmentalist Victory

No to Climate Death! Used under CC License.

Read that heading again, carefully. This isn’t an article that’s claiming EVs are worse for the environment than internal combustion (those articles are complete and utter bullshit, anyway). What this is is an article that hopes to explain that Tesla — and, by extension, all EVs — didn’t win because they are better for the environment. The EVs won because they are better cars.

That’s it. That’s the reason. Electric cars are better cars. Electric cars are succeeding as a product, in other words, not as an ideology.

It’s not the planet. It’s a sad fact, but almost no one cares about the planet. Even in a liberal Utopia like Portland, Oregon, headlines about record heat waves hover over pictures of JetSkis leaping over the waves and scantily-clad women on motor yachts enjoying mojitos. Hardly the picture of doom and gloom that you’d expect from a burning planet facing record heat waves, record droughts, and a global pandemic that’s still churning out thousands of newly-stuffed body bags every day, you know?

You know.

The Consultants Get Paid

Screencap from Breaking Bad.

The success of Tesla has given the internal-combustion stakeholders a bloody nose, and the environmentalists and activists — even the most well-meaning among them — have done everything they can to draw attention to that fact. As such, the sharkiest sharks have had no choice but to smell the blood in the water, and find a way to cash in. Who are they? Consultants.

While the environmental activists are working hard to change the way that people think about cars with talk about “average commutes” and “savings calculators” and “cradle to grave emissions” and “educating the public about the benefits of EVs” to anyone who will listen, the consultants have found someone who is not just willing to listen, but who is willing to reach into some very, very deep pockets when they’re done listening. That someone is the utility companies.

Utility companies, almost without exception, have millions of captive customers who must pay them every month or risk their health, their jobs, or more. That also means they have millions of dollars to play with. Combine that huge budget with pressure from policy makers and those very same, well-meaning environmentalists, and you end up with a large company that has a large PR incentive to spend large amounts of money on large projects — projects like getting people to buy more EVs! (Maybe even large ones!)

The first problem is that even the most well-meaning and sincere among the policy makers and activists typically have no idea how the car business works. Like, none. Not even a little bit. They don’t know about floorplans or co-ops or CSI scores or allocations — and they certainly, as a group, have no idea how those things can conspire against a dealer or salesperson who might very much want to sell you an electric car, but who literally cannot, through no fault of their own.

The second problem is that very few people at the utility companies understand how the car business works, either, but they at least know enough to know that they don’t know enough, and that’s where the consultants swoop in and convince the utilities that it’s their job — no, their mission — to convince people to buy electric cars.

To aid in that mission, the consultants have created a cottage industry of certificate programs, expensive training seminars, and online buyers’ guides that are terrible at convincing people to choose a perfectly reasonable EV instead of a loud and emotional Hemi-powered monster, terrible at their stated mission of helping dealers to sell cars, and terrible at showing people how an electric car can fit into the lives, today, but that are very good at convincing utility companies to transfer money from their bank accounts to the consultant’s.

They got it wrong, and that was the elephant in the room right now that everyone was afraid to talk about at that “big” EV web conference took part in last month. The environmentalists and activists who wanted the utility companies and policy-makers to engage in conversations with John Q. Public about “wheel to well emissions” and change the way people make decisions about cars got it 100% wrong. EVs aren’t succeeding because people are changing the way they think, they’re succeeding because they’re meeting new car buyers where they’re at today with body styles, performance figures, and capabilities that are more in line with what mainstream Americans are already buying, which also includes easily knowing how and where to fill up. The EV evangelists got it wrong, and the consultants took advantage of their political clout in order to siphon money out of the utilities. Full stop.

TL;DR: environmentalists and activists lobbied utility companies to become more visibly “green,” and the consultants took advantage of that by convincing the utility companies that it’s their job to sell cars, when it’s actually their job to sell electricity.

Selling Electric Fuel

Image courtesy Western Electric Co., circa 1915.

Utility companies sell electricity, plain and simple. But, they’ve had such a captive market and such a strong natural monopoly on their primary product that almost no one involved in a utility company’s day-to-day even thinks about selling electricity.

Want to see someone flounder? Ask someone at a utility company why you should buy electricity from them.

It seems like an asinine question, doesn’t it? A given, even, that you must buy electricity — but that wasn’t always the case. At the turn of the last century, though, it was a legitimate question. My own home outside of Chicago still has gas fixtures in it, for gas lights. There are pictures of lamplighters on the streets right outside, and the reason those gas lamps aren’t lit tonight is that, once upon a time, someone sold electricity to the people of this neighborhood.

Electricity is a superior product, and it succeeded because it was cleaner than gas and oil, sure, but I’d weigh that at about 10% of the reason why. The reasons that weighed heavier were many. The electric lights burned brighter, the smell of burning fuel oil was gone, the hassle of refilling oil lamps was eliminated, there was no smoke to stain the walls or ceilings, either.

That was it. That was the reason: electric fuel was better fuel. It succeeded as a product and not an ideology.

Image courtesy Chicago Edison Co.

Fast forward a hundred-odd years, and electric fuel is still better fuel. The electricity pushes cars to highway speeds faster than gasoline can, that gasoline smell that sticks to your hands is gone, the hassle of pumping gas into the car every few days is eliminated by at-home charging, and there are no harmful tailpipe emissions, either.

What’s more, electricity is cheap, it’s familiar, and it is absolutely everywhere. Sure, there may not be a 20 minutes-to-200 miles fast charger on every street corner (yet), but there very much is a power outlet that will, given time, charge your electric car, and every new electric car sold is a new car that needs electric fuel.

That’s it. That’s the difference. An electric car is just a regular car that you fill up with different stuff, and the utility companies, environmentalists — and every other stakeholder, come to think of it — would be better served by understanding that they’ll never “advance” or “accelerate” EV adoption by getting people to change the way they think about cars, but they may have a chance by getting people to change the way they think about the fuel that they’re putting in their cars.

Not dirty. Clean!
Not hard to find. Everywhere!
Not an expensive luxury. Affordable!
Not for hippies and tree-huggers. For everyone!
Not a sacrifice for a better tomorrow. Better for me, now!

Once the utility companies understand their role, they can start affecting real change, and let the dealers do what they know how to do best: sell cars that people want to buy to the people that want to buy them. And if that means that one or two of these opportunistic “consultants” has to find a different 9-5? So much the better.

Original content from CleanTechnica.


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NIU BQi-C3 Pro e-bike at new $999 low, Segway’s latest Ninebot Max G3 e-scooter $400 off, EV charger adaptor, Greenworks, more

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NIU BQi-C3 Pro e-bike at new 9 low, Segway's latest Ninebot Max G3 e-scooter 0 off, EV charger adaptor, Greenworks, more

We’re kicking off this week’s Green Deals with a mix between one new release along with several budget-friendly options for your commutes and lawn mowing duties. To start, we have NIU’s BQi-C3 Pro e-bike that not only offers up to 90 miles of travel (and a bunch of solid features), but is also dropping down to a new $999 low. Behind it is Segway’s latest flagship release, the Ninebot Max G3 Electric Scooter, which is getting a $400 post-launch discount to $1,000. There’s also Leviton’s NACS to J1772 EV Charger Adaptor dropping to $32, as well as the popular Greenworks 40V 16-inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower that comes with a 4.0Ah battery for $210. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals from last week are in the links at the bottom of the page, collected together in our Electrified Weekly roundup – but don’t miss out on the many sales that are ending tonight!

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.

Get a long-traveling budget-friendly commuter in NIU’s BQi3-C3 Pro e-bike at a new $999 low

Best Buy is offering the best rate yet on the NIU BQi-C3 Pro e-bike for $999 shipped. Normally posted up at a $2,200 price tag, this e-bike has been more frequently seen discounted between $1,300 and $1,500 on average, with the $1,299 low appearing more often too since first appearing in June. Today’s deal though takes costs lower than we’ve ever seen them with a 55% markdown that puts $1,201 back into your pocket for a new all-time low and the best price we have currently find.

With three colorways to choose from – black, white, or grey – NIU’s BQi-C3 Pro e-bike offers up some solid commuting power at a far more affordable rate than many other models with similar capabilities. The streamlined frame houses dual integrated 10.0Ah batteries that work alongside the 750W rear hub motor and Gates carbon belt to provide top speeds of 28 MPH for up to 90 miles on a single five-hour charge when its three PAS levels are being utilized.

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Your ride is further enhanced by the extra features you’ll find here, like the integrated rear cargo rack, front suspension, puncture-resistant tires, and a 3.5-inch TFT color display. Along with these, you’ll also find fenders over both those tires, an LED headlight and taillight, a kickstand, and mechanical disc brakes – plus, all its wiring is internally routed for a cleaner look on top of the motor’s IP65 waterproof rating and the batteries’ IP67 rating.

Segway Ninebot Max G3 Electric Scooter

Segway’s new Ninebot Max G3 e-scooter with Apple Find My and autonomous locking falls to $1,000

Amazon is now offering the new Segway Ninebot Max G3 Electric Scooter for $999.99 shipped. Coming down from its $1,400 price tag, this all-new flagship e-scooter just officially hit the market a week ago after having a pre-launch sale that saw it drop to $900. If you missed out on those pre-sale savings this is the next-best price we have seen, cutting $400 off the going rate to give you the second-lowest price we have tracked and even coming in $100 under Segway’s direct site.

Picking up the mantle from the Max G2, Segway’s all-new Ninebot Max G3 brings some impressive upgrades to your commute, starting with an 800W motor that can peak all the way to 2,000W, tackling up to 30% inclines at top speeds up to 28 MPH. By activating its Boost Mode, acceleration is pushed to its max, getting you up to 15.5 MPH in 2.4 seconds before increasing further up to its top speed. With the 597Wh battery that it’s been given, travel distance has been bumped up to 50 miles on only 3.5 hours of charging, which is due to the built-in fast-charger – plus, by connecting a DC charger cable for simultaneous charging, you can hop back on to ride in a shorter 2.5-hour timeframe.

Among its upgraded features you’ll find improved handling, disturbance resistance, and slip resistance at any speed thanks to the Stability Enhancement System here. Two notable standout features though, are the Apple Find My inclusion alongside the autonomous locking/unlocking functionality, which you can adjust in terms of its activation via your distance from it. There’s also the dual suspension, 11-inch self-sealing tires, the automatic 6W headlight, underglow deck lighting, and a 2,4-inch smart TFT display which provides navigation, caller IC, and smart charge management through your phone.

Leviton NACS to J1772 EV charger adaptor

Add Leviton’s NACS to J1772 EV adapter to your glove box for wider charging access at $32

As part of its Big Spring Sale, Amazon is having a Lightning deal on the Leviton NACS to J1772 EV Charger Adapter for $31.60 Prime shipped, with non-members needing a cart total of over $35 to score the free shipping. This handy little adapter normally keeps up at its $39 MSRP, which is getting a solid 19% markdown here today for as long as supplies last. What few discounts we’ve seen have mostly kept prices above $35, though December did see a drop to the $31.20 low that repeated once at the top of the month. You’re looking at the second-lowest price we have tracked here today, which comes in just $0.40 above the lowest ever.

If you’re sticking with your Tesla or any NACS-centered EV and want to expand your charging options, this might be a good adapter to have tucked away in your glove box. You’ll gain access to any charging station that sports J1772 connectors – so trips visiting friends and family with such setups no longer need planning around should you need to top of your EV’s battery. Not only is it designed to have no problems in indoor and outdoor environments, regardless of the season, but it also allows for up to 60A charging speeds when in use.

Greenworks 40V 16-inch cordless electric push lawn mower

Get lawn care support on a budget with Greenworks’ 40V 16-inch cordless push mower at $210

As part of its Big Spring Sale, Amazon is offering the Greenworks 40V 16-inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower with a 4.0Ah battery for $209.99 shipped. This model has been keeping down at $300 lately, a drop-off from its usual $330 price tag, with the discounts in 2025 mostly dropping costs between $250 and $225, though there have been occasional returns to this same rate, which we last spotted in February. While we have seen it go lower in the past, you’re still looking at the best price on Amazon for the last year, saving you $90 ($120 off its previous price tag) while also getting you prepped for mowing duties throughout the warmer months ahead. It’s even beating out Greenwrok’s direct site by $90.

This 40V Greenworks push lawn mower is a budget-friendly model that is perfect for smaller yards, as the included 4.0Ah battery provides it with enough juice for 45 minutes of runtime on a single charge, though you can certainly switch it out with others to extend performance. There are five cutting height positions that you can choose from here, ranging from 1 1/4 inches to 3 3/8 inches, with the push button start eliminating the need to wrestle with pull-strings and the foldable frame saving you storage space. It even provides two different collection options, mulching or rear-bagging, giving you more versatility over single-function counterparts.

Best New Year EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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Home solar buyers are asking for Tesla Powerwall alternatives

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Home solar buyers are asking for Tesla Powerwall alternatives

New data from EnergySage shows that home solar buyers are increasingly asking for Tesla Powerwall alternatives as the brand damage extends to Tesla’s energy business.

Tesla has long been the brand leader in home battery packs with Powerwall.

The automaker launched its energy division in 2015 with the release of the first Powerwall, which help greatly expand the home battery pack market.

With Powerwall 2, Tesla Energy became the market leader and with Powerwall 3 last year, the company achieveied a truly impressive production ramp – albeit not without some questions.

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It remains the most popular option for people looking for home backup power or to make better use of their home solar system, but there’s competition and Tesla’s brand issues are turning people to those competitors.

EnergySage is a service that enables homeowners to easily source and compare solar quotes for free without any sales call.

It gives them a lot of data about the home solar and battery industry.

The company says that homeowners have consistently chosen the Powerwall when adding a battery to their quote, but it has gone down since Trump’s inauguration and Musk’s salutes:

From January 1 through January 19, about 73% of homeowners selected a battery quote that included the Tesla Powerwall. That number dropped to 64% between January 20 and March 10.

Futhermore, EnergySage says that it has seen a surge in people mentioning Tesla in the quote process and 68% specifically asked for a Tesla Powerwall alternative:

Homeowners receiving quotes mentioned Tesla more than twice as often in emails in the first two months of 2025 compared to the same time last year; 13.5% expressed unfavorable views towards Tesla or Musk, while 68% specifically requested a Tesla alternative.

EnergySage shared an example of one such message from one of its clients:

“Do you offer a battery from a supplier other than Tesla? Though we have a Tesla Powerwall and love it, and we love our Tesla Model 3 and Y, we are outraged at Musk’s politics, so we don’t wish to send him more money,”

North Carolina-based Renu Energy Solutions says that 78% of the home batteries it installed last year were Tesla’s Powerwalls.

Nicholas Boles, Solar Energy Advisor Manager at Renu, confirmed that they are now seeing a surge in requests for alternative this year.

Boles said that they are now pushing Franklin batteries as a Tesla alternative:

“The last 14 deals I’ve sold as a manager have all been Franklin batteries.”

The Franklin aPower 2 has very similar specs as the Powerwall 3 with a bit more energy capacity and a bit less power capacity, but it also has a better warranty:

Specification Tesla Powerwall 3 Franklin aPower 2
Energy Capacity 13.5 kWh 15 kWh
Continuous Power Output Up to 11.5 kW 10 kW
Peak Power Output Up to 30 kW (for 10 seconds) up to 15 kW
Load Start Capability 185 A Locked Rotor Amps (LRA) Supports up to a 5-ton A/C unit
Scalability Up to 4 units Up to 15 units per system (225 kWh total)
Battery Chemistry Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
Round-Trip Efficiency 89% (solar to battery to home/grid) Not specified
Operating Temperature Range -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C) -4°F to 131°F (-20°C to 55°C)
Dimensions (H x W x D) 43.25 in x 24 in x 7.6 in (1099 mm x 609 mm x 193 mm) 45.2 in x 29.5 in x 11.8 in (1149 mm x 750 mm x 300 mm)
Weight 287 lbs (130 kg) 357 lbs (162 kg)
Enclosure Rating Not specified IP67 (battery pack & inverter); IP56 (wiring)
Warranty 10 years 15 years or 60 MWh throughput

While there’s evidence that Tesla’s brand issues are pushing more people to alternative, it is still clear that Powerwall remains popular.

Kowalczyk of Solartime USA told EnergySage that the Texas-based solar installers still gets more requests for Powerwalls than any other battery system.

Electrek’s Take

It makes sense that Tesla’s brand issues would also affect its energy business. Megapack being a business-to-business product isolates from the brand issues, but the Powerwall is still a consumer product.

However, the Powerwall was already so dominant that even significant brand issues would still result in significant market share for Tesla.

There’s also a lack of competition, but they are coming. Franklin aPower 2 is a good example as it fairly close in price and specs as Powerwall 3.

That said, with the still growing home solar business as people are trying to avoid increasing electricity rates. Tesla isn’t likely to have a demand issue with the Powerwall anytime soon.

If you are interested in getting solar and/or batteries for your home, we recommend using EnergySage. You will be able to get quotes without any hassle and only talk to someone when you are ready to move forward.

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Genesis will launch the GV80 EV we’ve been waiting for, but first a hybrid is coming soon

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Genesis will launch the GV80 EV we've been waiting for, but first a hybrid is coming soon

The luxury Genesis GV80 SUV is finally getting an EV variant. Genesis is launching the next-gen model as soon as next year. For the first time, it will be available as a hybrid. An all-new, fully electric GV80 is set to follow.

When is Genesis launching the GV80 EV?

Genesis has emerged as a dark horse in the luxury segment as the auto industry continues shifting toward electrification.

Although Genesis initially planned to launch all new vehicles exclusively as EVs, starting this year, that will no longer be the case.

Hyundai’s luxury brand will introduce a series of hybrids after it “overachieved” in the EV department. Genesis now plans to launch hybrids for as many models as possible, including the GV80. After sales of the midsize luxury SUV hit a new global record in the first half of 2024, Genesis is preparing to launch an updated model.

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According to South Korean blogger MotorsJason, the next-gen Genesis GV80 will debut in 2026 or 2027 with a new 2.5L hybrid variant.

Currently, the SUV is only available in 2.5-liter four-cylinder or twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 options. A hybrid variant will likely help boost the midsize SUV’s appeal even more.

Genesis will follow up with an all-new GV80 EV, which is expected to launch in 2028. The electric SUV will reportedly be built on Hyundai’s new eM platform, set to replace its current E-GMP.

Although details are slim at this point, Hyundai’s new EV platform is expected to boost range and charging speeds while cutting costs. It’s designed for vehicles of all sizes, from sedans to pickups. The platform will also underpin the upcoming ultra-luxury Genesis GV90.

Genesis-GV80-EV
Genesis GV80 Coupe concept (Source: Genesis)

At 4,940 mm long, 1,975 mm wide, and 1,715 mm tall, the Genesis GV80 is about the size of a BMW iX (4,952 mm long, 1,967 mm wide, and 1,695 mm tall) or slightly bigger than the Tesla Model Y and Porsche Macan EV.

Genesis is also reportedly working on an electric G70 sports sedan. Like the GV80 EV, it likely won’t arrive until 2027 or 2028.

Can the Genesis GV80 EV compete with the BMW iX or upcoming Porsche Cayenne EV? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, MotorsJason

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