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A general view shows the Wujing Coal-Electricity Power Station in Shanghai on September 28, 2021.
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BEIJING — Local Chinese authorities have abruptly ordered power cuts at many factories in the last week, reflecting a system trying to react to a number of directives from Beijing, and macroeconomic developments.

While a few economists have cut their forecasts on China’s GDP growth as a result, others are still waiting to see the scale of the impact.

Here’s a broad overview on how the power crunch developed:

Coal supply drops, prices surge

Back in late 2020, China stopped buying coal from Australia, once the Asian giant’s largest source of imported coal. Political tensions between the two countries have escalated after Australia supported an investigation into how Beijing handled the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, historically cold weather that winter drove up demand for coal. Some cities reportedly restricted electricity use in homes and factories.

Alongside a global surge in commodity prices, thermal coal, the primary fuel for electricity production, saw prices soar by more than 40% over 12 months to around 777 yuan per metric ton ($119.53) in December 2020 on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange, according to data from Wind Information.

As spring approached, central government authorities announced five-year targets for the country to achieve its publicly declared goal of reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030. China aims in the next five years to boost the share of non-fossil fuels to about 20% of energy consumption, up from about 15% currently.

Renewable energy falls off

But as China tried to shift to renewable energy, a severe drought hit the hydropower center of Yunnan province. Water-generated power declined year-on-year in July and August by more than 4% each month, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

Wind-generated power has also slowed its growth, rising 7% in August from a year ago, down from 25.4% growth in July, the commission said.

Analysts have also said China’s climate goals in the latest five-year plan are more moderate than expected. Climate Action Tracker, an international non-profit that reviews countries’ efforts to meet Paris Agreement goals, rated China’s policies and actions as “insufficient” in a report released Sept. 15.

The bulk of electricity in China is still generated by coal. Year-on-year growth in electricity use has surged to its highest in a decade, according to data accessed through Wind.

Power rationing begins

In addition to extreme temperatures, factories are demanding more electricity as they rush to fill global orders for Chinese goods. Exports have surged by double digits amid the pandemic.

“Demand for power has risen with China’s economic recovery,” Eurasia Group analysts wrote in May. They noted that “several industrial hubs along China’s eastern coast, including Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shandong, have warned about potential temporary power supply shortages during the summer peak season.”

In June, state-backed Securities Times reported of some power restrictions in parts of the export hub of Guangdong.

Meanwhile, coal supply was falling as mines shut down in a national effort to reduce carbon emissions. The coal inventory of major power plants reached a ten-year low in August, according to Wind data.

But in mid-August, China’s economic planning agency announced that 20 regions — accounting for about 70% of China’s GDP per Nomura — failed to meet carbon-related targets, prompting local authorities to take action.

Some authorities cut electricity overnight

Some of the latest moves were quite abrupt. For example, on Sept. 23, management of a high-tech business area in Hunan province ordered power restrictions, effective immediately, according to a copy seen by CNBC. The curbs are set to last through Thursday, the day before China’s National Day holiday that runs Oct. 1 to 7.

On Sunday, state-backed Securities Times reported of major power cuts for factories in Guangdong’s manufacturing hub of Dongguang city for the same week. The report also noted sudden power outages in many parts of northeast China, including residential areas in Liaoning province.

“The power outage means products cannot be delivered on time,” said Wen Biao, general manager at Qianhe Technology Logistics Co. in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. He said the situation is the same in Shanghai and the port city of Ningbo.

The drop in production has cut demand for shipping overseas, and prices for shipping to the U.S. West Coast have dropped to $9,000 per container, down from $15,000, he said, noting the declines began Sept. 24.

In all, Reuters reported that more than 10 provinces and regions have restricted power use.

For context, Guangdong province accounts for about 23% of China’s exports by value, while Liaoning accounts for 1.6%, according to official data for January to August.

The abrupt power cuts have also given foreign businesses pause on whether to invest more in China-based supply chains. Some businesses that had planned investments of tens of millions of U.S. dollars in China are now looking at Southeast Asia instead, said Johan Annell, partner at consulting firm Asia Perspective.

This week, China’s State Grid and National Development and Reform Commission pledged to ensure power, especially for residents, and said they would take measures such as allowing greater production of coal and increasing coal imports.

The commission said power demand this winter could exceed the peak levels of this past summer and winter.

Thermal coal prices have nearly doubled this year, and traded just over 1% lower around 1,319.80 yuan per metric ton as of midday Thursday.

Economic impact

The shock to many Chinese factories comes as investors worry about fallout in the massive real estate sector as indebted property giant Evergrande warns of default. Together with related industries like construction, real estate accounts for about a quarter of China’s GDP, according to Moody’s.

After the industry’s roughly two decades of rapid, debt-fueled expansion, regulators have stepped in with tighter rules on how much developers can borrow.

When it comes to the economic impact, Dan Wang, Shanghai-based chief economist at Hang Seng China, said she would “focus more on the restrictive policies in the property market.”

She attributed the power curbs mostly to an inability of authorities to adjust the electricity price, which is largely set by the state. Wang said factories’ rush to fill global demand has also created overcapacity.

“The impact from the power restriction is equivalent to a natural disaster,” she said.

Some economists expect a more severe impact. Among major investment banks, Nomura cut its China GDP forecast on Friday, followed by Goldman Sachs on Tuesday.

“The power cuts by themselves may not be significant enough, but combined with the property sector slowdown and regional Covid outbreaks, they do make me worry more about GDP growth in Q4,” said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. “I have lowered my forecast for Q4 to around 4% from 5%, with risk on the downside.”

Economists at other financial institutions have mostly held off on forecast cuts and are waiting to see how significant the drop in production is.

Also weighing on growth is a crackdown on major internet technology companies for alleged monopolistic practices. A sudden order in July that after-school tutoring companies restructure as non-profits has put hundreds of thousands of jobs — and incomes — in question.

Consumer spending, a major driver of Chinese economic growth, has also been sluggish since the pandemic as Covid-related restrictions have kept many people from traveling and eating out.

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Bluetti camping-ready power stations get up to 56% exclusive savings from $209, Heybike Tyson uni-body e-bike at new $999 low, more

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October 29, 2025

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Bluetti camping-ready power stations get up to 56% exclusive savings from 9, Heybike Tyson uni-body e-bike at new 9 low, more


Leading our Green Deals today is Bluetti’s camping and outdoor-ready Halloween Sale offers with exclusive savings starting from $209. The extra discount for our readers is seeing plenty of new low prices, like the Elite 100 V2 Portable Power Station with a 200W solar panel at $626, among many others. We also have a clearance sale on Heybike’s Tyson Uni-Body Folding e-bike at a new $999 low, as well as Govee’s Matter Outdoor Garden lights 2-Pack at its $130 low for the second time ever, a one-day-only Greenworks snow blower kit, and more of our favorite ongoing deals that will be ending in the coming days. And don’t forget about the hangover deals from last week that are collected together at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 power station launch deals, the $1,116 early Black Friday Tenways e-bike savings, 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.

Exclusively save up to 56% on Bluetti power stations for outdoor adventures starting from $209 for Halloween Sale

As part of Bluetti’s ongoing Halloween Sale, which gave us new and exclusive low prices on the Apex 300 Versatile Power Station and bundles, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the brand’s other camping-ready and appliance backup deals – all with exclusive savings! You’ll find options like the Elite 100 v2 Portable Power Station bundled with a 200W solar panel for $626.05 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5TOYS5OFF at checkout for an extra 5% savings. Normally carrying a $1,299 full price tag here and going for as much as $1,399 at Amazon and other marketplaces, we’ve seen discounts since its release in June take the price as low as $659 in previous sales, including during Prime Day three weeks ago. With the exclusive code being used, you can now score it even lower at a total $673 markdown that gives you the best new price we have tracked. Head below to browse the full lineup of deals we’ve collected for you.

Mimicking much of the same upgrades we’ve seen from the Elite 200 V2 model, Bluetti’s newer Elite 100 V2 power station comes as a smaller option with a 1,024Wh LiFePO4 battery for your campsite and traveling power needs. Your devices and small appliances can receive up to 1,800W of steady power (surging as high as 2,700W) when connected to any of its 11 output ports. Those include four ACs, two USB-Cs, two USB-As, two DCs, and a car port – plus, everything is rated for up to 4,000+ charging cycles, which should last you for years and years to come.

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Plugging the station into an AC outlet can get it back to an 80% battery in 45 minutes or you can wait a little longer for 70 minutes to reach full. The bundle here gives you 200W of its max 1,000W solar input for charging in the sunlight, with options to plug into your car’s auxiliary port, a generator, and even utilizing an AC outlet and solar panels together.

***Note: None of the prices below have had the exclusive savings factored in, so be sure to use the code 9TO5TOYS5OFF at checkout to score the best prices during Bluetti’s Halloween Sale!

Bluetti’s Outdoor adventuring Halloween Sale deals:

Bluetti’s campsite/tailgate Halloween Sale deals:

As I previously mentioned, we also have exclusive savings on Bluetti’s Apex 300 versatile power station and its bundles that hit new lows starting from $1,349 during this Halloween Sale. And don’t forget about the brand’s latest release, with the new Pioneer Na(Sodium) power station and bundles having launched two weeks ago with exclusive savings starting from $735.

man riding heybike tyson e-bike down beach near water

Heybike is clearing stock of its Tyson uni-body folding e-bike with an $800 price cut to a new $999 low

Running alongside its ongoing Halloween e-bike Sale, Heybike is now offering a special clearance sale on its Tyson Uni-Body Folding e-bike for $999 shipped. This model has normally gone for $1,799 at full price, with discounts regularly dropping the costs between $1,399 and $1,599 over the year, with occasional falls to the $1,299 low. This model has been left out of many of the most recent sales, though, and now we’re seeing the brand clearing out its stock by dropping it lower than ever with the $800 markdown here, landing it at a new all-time low price.

If you want to learn more about this uni-body e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this clearance sale here.

flower beds illuminated with govee outdoor garden lights

Govee’s Matter Outdoor Garden Lights 2-pack drops $70 back to its $130 low for the second time

Through the official Govee Amazon storefront, we’re getting a return to the best pricing on the brand’s Outdoor Garden Light 2-Pack at $129.99 shipped. This new lighting device has been on the market since June and carries a full $200 price tag outside of discounts, which we saw keeping above $140 until three weeks ago when Prime Day gave us the first drop to the $130 low. Things have kept above $150 in the weeks since, with that low price returning here today. You’ll be getting a $70 markdown while the deal lasts, landing it back at the lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about these outdoor lighting options, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man clearing snow with Greenworks 80V 20-inch cordless snow blower

This 80V Greenworks 20-inch cordless snow blower kit drops to its $250 low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the best rate on the Greenworks 80V 20-inch Cordless Snow Blower with 4.0Ah battery and rapid charger at $249.99 shipped. Normally, this handy winter machine fetches $450 at full price here, with the closest match we could find on Amazon being the kit that gives you a 2.0Ah battery and standard charger sitting at a full rate of $499. This is only the second time this year we’ve spotted this particular package getting a discount, with February having offered this same rate and 2024 having seen the price taken as low as $300 before that. For the rest of the day, you can pick it up with a $200 markdown that lands it back at an all-time low price.

If you want to learn more about this snow-blowing kit, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

man and woman riding rad power radster trail e-bikes through forest
jackery power stations with spooky pumpkin and bats
woman carries Anker powercore reserve power station towards car near lake

Best Fall 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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More Trump auto job losses as GM blames 3,300 layoffs on regulatory changes

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2 hours ago

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October 29, 2025

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More Trump auto job losses as GM blames 3,300 layoffs on regulatory changes

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Ultium Cells Warren, OH (Source: Ultium Cells)

GM is laying off a total of 3,300 workers at three separate manufacturing sites in Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, and it directly cites government actions as the reason.

The republican party has claimed that one of its primary goals in the current political environment is to bring manufacturing jobs back to America. However, as is the case with many of its claimed goals, the policy it implements acts directly against those goals.

In this case, republicans have been in the process of an all-out assault on American manufacturing – working to reduce investment in America, slow development of new manufacturing projects, make enemies out of countries and companies that had been our former allies, and directly stop efforts to boost America’s manufacturing base and prepare the country for the future.

And today, the effects of the republican party’s recent $4 trillion giveaway to wealthy elites are being felt by one of America’s largest historical manufacturing employers: General Motors.

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GM cites “evolving regulatory environment” as it fires thousands

GM announced that it would lay off 1,200 workers in in “Factory Zero” plant in Detroit and 550 in Ohio at its Ultium battery plant, along with 850 additional temporary layoffs in Ohio and another 700 temporary layoffs at its Ultium plant in Tennessee. That’s a total of 3,300 jobs lost in today’s announcement.

Both Ultium plants will be temporarily idled at the start of 2026, resuming sometime in the middle of the year, with upgrades occurring during the pause.

GM made a statement directly tying the layoffs to “an evolving regulatory environment” which has caused “slower near-term EV adoption.”

Companies have falsely claimed for around two years now that EV demand is down, despite that it has increased for that entire time. However, there was a spike in EV demand last month as the US EV tax credit ended, causing a pull-forward of demand that is likely to result in a period of lower EV sales in the US in the coming months, even as EV sales will continue to rise globally.

While GM is one of the better-selling EV brands in the US, and has quite an extensive stable of options, it has also recently unwisely pulled back on its EV ambitions, offering an opening for its domestic and foreign rivals to fill the gap created by its intransigence. And these are not the only policy-related layoffs GM has announced – it already fired thousands of workers last month.

GM recently said it will lose $1.6 billion this quarter alone as a result of these changes in policy, including rollbacks in clean air regulation from the EPA and DoT, which GM lobbied for through its membership in the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. That’s a lot of money to lose (especially after literally asking for it), so firings were basically inevitable.

Biden brought auto jobs to the US; republicans send them to China instead

The EV tax credit was implemented in 2022 by President Biden and Congressional Democrats, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, a collection of manufacturing and climate-related reforms intended to boost America’s domestic manufacturing competitiveness. Part of the bill included domestic sourcing provisions for EVs and battery materials, which led to hundreds of billions of dollars in investment and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The bill also led to trade deals that would help to wrest control of raw materials from China, the country that currently has most of the world’s supply and refining capacity, such as a US-Japan free-trade deal for battery minerals.

But as soon as this unquestionably good thing happened for America, republicans had to stop it. Their huge giveaway to the rich also included provisions to reverse most of the positive reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act, with the goal of stopping the boom in American manufacturing that happened under President Biden (because, of course, it threatens their oil masters).

In total, the republicans’ efforts to harm US manufacturing and make your air dirtier will likely result in 2 million job losses for America. GM’s 3,300 today are just one small story among many others – a wider retreat in American auto and clean energy manufacturing that is a direct result of the republican party’s actions.

Already, $24 billion in clean energy investments have been lost. These investments would have driven manufacturing growth and created not just those manufacturing jobs, but associated supply and service jobs to fund American communities.

Many of these lost investments are simply a result of making the US less attractive, but some are due to direct government intervention in a specific project. Take, for example, the high-profile ICE raid at a Hyundai plant in construction in Georgia, which saw South Korean businessmen with visas detained and resulted in delayed construction on the plant and a swift popular pushback against US products in Korea.

And the imposition of unwise tariffs is reversing the potential positive impacts of President Biden’s battery trade deals, making the US an island and pushing other countries into the arms of China. Mr. Trump’s tariffs led to immediate job losses in the US and Canada and resulted in Canada, our closest ally with which we share the longest border on Earth, considering a deeper relationship with China (nevermind that the US president can’t impose tariffs on his own… or that Trump himself is barred from holding any office in the US).

And finally, the country that is most likely to benefit from this retreat in US manufacturing is China. China is currently experiencing a boom in EV manufacturing, and recently became the largest auto exporting country in the world due to Western refusal to take high-tech manufacturing seriously. The more the US retreats from manufacturing the vehicles that the whole world wants, the more China will be happy to pick up the slack. And if we stick to this unwise direction, today’s firings will only be a fraction of the misery brought upon America by republican actions.

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.


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Environment

Honda’s adorable electric hot hatch may be small, but it promises to pack a punch

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3 hours ago

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October 29, 2025

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Honda's adorable electric hot hatch may be small, but it promises to pack a punch

Honda's-electric-hot-hatch

The Super-ONE may be Honda’s smallest and most affordable EV, but with new features like Boost Mode, this electric hot hatch punches well above its weight.

Meet Honda’s new electric hot hatch, the Super-ONE

Honda revealed the Super-ONE prototype at the Japan Mobility Show on Wednesday, claiming it will offer a new type of driving experience.

I know, I know. We’ve heard it so many times from different brands that their latest concept will be a game-changer, but this one is real. And it will begin rolling out next year.

Honda said the electric hot hatch has already undergone “extensive testing” under various conditions in Japan, the UK, and other parts of Asia.

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We actually caught a glimpse of it in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Super EV Concept, as it was called at the time, took part in the hill climb event, debuting a funky new look.

The EV hot hatch is based on the N-One, Honda’s retro-looking electric kei car. Honda gave the compact EV a bold new look, adding a body kit that makes it look much bigger than it actually is. The Super-ONE offers much more than that the company promises.

Honda's-electric-hot-hatch-front
The Honda Super-ONE (Source: Honda)

Honda said the name Super-ONE represents its aspirations to create an EV that “transcends conventional norms and standards (“super”) and delivers customer value unique only to Honda (“one and only”).

One of the coolest features is the new Boost Mode, which Honda exclusively designed for the electric hot hatch. When activated, it simulates the jerking and sounds of a gas engine with a simulated 7-speed transmission and an added Active Sound Control system.

Honda's-electric-hot-hatch
The Honda Super-ONE (Source: Honda)

Similar to Hyundai’s N Grin Boost on the IONIQ 5 N, Honda said the Boost Mode feature unlocks the vehicle’s full power output. To top it off, Honda included dedicated features, such as a triple-gauge cluster and unique lighting, that activate during Boost Mode.

Honda's-electric-hot-hatch-interior
The interior of the Honda Super-ONE (Source: Honda)

Inside, the Super-ONE features sports seats exclusively designed for the model and a new horizontal instrument panel.

Starting in 2026, Honda will launch the production model in Japan, followed by other regions where demand for compact EVs is on the rise, such as the UK and Asia.

Honda has yet to reveal specific details, but given the N-One is 3,395 mm (133.7″) long, you can expect the new model to arrive roughly the same size.


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