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Right now, as I’ve highlighted briefly before, there’s a hot negotiation underway between almost every other Democrat in the House & Senate and two Democratic Senators — Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin. Republican Party politicians are non-existent in the negotiations*, and since the US Senate is split 50–50, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the deciding vote, we need 100% of Democratic senators onboard in order to pass anything. (Fun.)

The big push right now is to deliver on Biden’s agenda, what Biden promised and what ~99% of Democrats in office (if not 100%) made promises about when they ran for office. Why that’s something that needs to be negotiated within the party may seem like a mystery, but it appears to just come down to the financial interests of Sinema and Manchin. Though, there is some misleading handwaving and muttering going on about the US budget and economy that might confuse some passersby nonetheless. So, I wanted to take a moment to put a few things into perspective, and to also highlight what is actually in the Build Back Better proposal at the moment. (Also, though, let’s be frank — there’s much more on the line than just what’s in the proposal.)

Build Back Better … Over Next 10 Years

First of all, it should be noted that the “$3.5 trillion bill” most Democrats, Biden included, are pushing for is covering a 10-year period, so the actual annual cost is $350 billion. That us half of the annual cost of U.S. defense spending. One would think that the richest nation on Earth could find some money to spend on something other than the military, right?

Even more poignantly, Bill McKibben (who I recently interviewed) highlighted that the “cost” to these investments is peanuts compared to the cost of unchecked climate change/catastrophe. It’s like saying, I don’t want to spend $1 to drive to work, so I’m just not going to work any more. Not intelligent.

But What’s In The Build Back Better Bill?

But I just fell into the same trap others in the media and politics have fallen into with this bill, focusing on the price tag of the bill rather than what’s in it. Let’s look at what 99% of Democrats are trying to get passed, what the majority of the American public has indicated it would like to see passed (large chunks of Republicans as well), and what two seemingly self-serving senators (plus the 50 on the Republican side) are blocking. Who better to explain it than a congressman who knows how to speak in plain English. But he can also start with some perspective on the price tag (I know, I know):

So, let’s recap:

  • modest but important funding to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, solar energy, and wind energy
  • giving Medicare the ability to negotiate drug prices so that pharmaceutical companies don’t rip them off as much
  • instituting a long-term version of the current child tax credit so that less wealthy families with young kids can afford food, housing, and a bare minimum quality of life in the richest nation on Earth (note: aside from the fact that this is just the moral thing to do, helping these families to have a basic foundation with regard to the necessities of life will make it more likely the kids will become productive members of society as they grow up)
  • not nearly as much as Europeans get (after all, “we can’t afford” to have the nice things Europeans have), but some guaranteed time off for when people have medical or family needs to take care of
  • dental and vision coverage for seniors on Medicare — because, you know, those are thing that old people may need help with, and we supposedly care for our neighbors in this country.

So, that’s some of the key stuff in this bill. You can see more here as well. How anyone can oppose this is beyond my moral comprehension. The level of selfishness and warped logic required to oppose those things are truly bewildering.

But we’re not done yet. The price tag is supposedly the concern.

How To Pay For The Build Back Better

Again, that make no sense on the surface considering that the annual federal budget is $5 trillion, meaning that $350 billion is a drop in the bucket, but there’s much more to note at all. This is not a check to an alien society on a foreign planet. The “cost” also comes with significant returns on the investment. In actuality, the economic benefit will easily surpass the cost. Here’s a partial explanation from Mr. Casten:

Difficult? No. Risky? No. Completely sensible and good for the United States? Yes!

This is simply about investing in the American people and taking care of our elderly rather than letting the 0.1% continuously explode their wealth to levels they can’t fathom and that don’t even change their lives in any notable way.

Remember, aside from 50 Republicans in the Senate (feel free to call their offices or the companies that fund them if any represent you), there are just two Democratic politicians blocking the above bill — Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Senator Joe Manchin. Contact them and let them know how you feel and how inclined you are to support them in the future. You have contact forms above, and here are the phone numbers:

*Since they have become the party of do-nothing-but-cut-taxes-on-the-richest-of-the-rich robots and authoritarian, brainwashed seditionists (which are enabled by the former). I think the former outnumber the latter, but who knows these days? Look at the detailed history of the rise of Mussolini, Hitler, and other fascist authoritarians.

Featured photo by Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 2.0 license)

 

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Anker SOLIX Early Prime Day Sale with up to 65% power station discounts from $299, Exclusive DELTA 2 + 5,000mAh power bank low, more

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September 26, 2025

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Anker SOLIX Early Prime Day Sale with up to 65% power station discounts from 9, Exclusive DELTA 2 + 5,000mAh power bank low, more

As yesterday was particularly EV heavy, today’s Green Deals is being led by multiple power station discounts, with the headliner being Anker’s SOLIX Early Prime Day Sale with up to 65% initial discounts, free gifts, extra savings, and more starting from $299. Among the massive lineup, we spotted Anker’s SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station starting at a new $1,449 low. There’s also an exclusive $690 in savings on EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 Power Station with a FREE 5,000mAh magnetic power bank at a $379 low, as well as the brand’s latest 48-hour Early Prime Day flash sale, which has dropped the DELTA Pro 3 440W solar bundle to a new $2,999 low. From there, we have Birdfy feeders/birdhouse lows, Velotric’s $699 folding e-bike, a rare Husqvarna tool discount, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Lectric Ultimate Tailgating Flash Sale, or the Segway Roll into Fall Savings Sale, 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.

Save up to 65% on power stations during Anker’s SOLIX Early Prime Day Sale with extra savings, free gifts, and more from $299

Anker has launched its SOLIX Early Prime Day Sale through October 6 with up to 65% initial discounts, plus there are three tiers of extra savings, free gifts on select units, and you can score an additional 7% savings by subscribing and becoming a member, if you’re not one already. Amongst the massive lineup of deals, we spotted Anker’s new SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station with a FREE protective cover ($99 value) dropping to $1,449 shipped right now, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $50 that doesn’t come with any cover. It’s been carrying a $2,599 full price since hitting the market in June, which we’ve seen drop as low as $1,599 until today, which was the one-time rate seen during July’s Prime Day event. Now the costs are going lower than ever, as you score $1,249 in savings at a new all-time low price. Head below for more on this unit, the sale’s promotions, and the rest of the SOLIX lineup of deals.

Let’s rundown all the extra savings opportunities while Anker’s SOLIX Early Prime Day Sale continues, starting with the 7% extra savings you can earn by subscribing on the site (for free), which will be emailed to you. From there, orders over $3,000 will receive an additional $120 discount, orders over $4,000 get a $200 discount, and orders over $5,000 get a $350 discount – all off the cart’s total. Depending on which units you’re buying, you might also be getting FREE included gear like protective covers, cables of various kinds, and more.

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If you want significantly more backup power than smaller, more compact units afford, then Anker’s SOLIX F3000 power station is likely the perfect companion to join your at-home and out-of-home life. It starts with a 3,072Wh LiFePO4 capacity that you can invest further in to expand up to 24kWh. It boasts 11 output ports (including a TT-30R AC port for RV support), through which it can deliver up to 3,600W of power that will double to 7,200W if you pair two stations together (with the appropriate cable).

This newer model brings along passthrough charging functionality from gas generators for up to 3,600W of input that adds versatility to its emergency backup capabilities after sudden power loss. You can also plug it into an AC outlet, as well as charge from your EV too, and don’t forget the 2,400W of solar input that can fully recharge its battery in under two hours with enough sunlight.

***Note: Extra savings – particularly the 7% discount you may be able to score – has not been factored into the prices below, so be sure to subscribe if you’re not already a member to score even better deals! Also be aware that any free gear accompanying particular purchases are shown on the unit’s varying landing pages.

Anker’s other SOLIX Early Prime Day F3000 deals:

Anker’s Early Prime Day SOLIX F2000 deals:

Anker Early Prime Day Standard F3800 station/solar deals:

Anker Early Prime Day Standard F3800 home backup deals:

Anker Early Prime Day SOLIX F3800 Plus station/solar deals:

Anker Early Prime Day SOLIX F3800 Plus home backup deals:

Anker’s Early Prime Day SOLIX C1000 Gen 1 and 2 deals:

Anker’s Early Prime Day under 1kWh SOLIX station deals:

Anker’s Early Prime Day SOLIX electric cooler deals:

For Anker’s full lineup of SOLIX Early Prime Day Sale accessory deals on expansion batteries, solar panels, and more – be sure to scroll to the bottom of the landing page here to check them out.

ecoflow delta 2 power station sitting on windowsill surrounded by plants

Pick up EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 1,024Wh LiFePO4 station with a FREE 5,000mAh magnetic power bank at an exclusive $379 low ($690 savings)

We have an exclusive deal for our readers from Wellbots on EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 Portable Power Station with a FREE Rapid 5000 Magnetic Power Bank for $379 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5FREEBIE at checkout. It’s starting off already down from its $999 tag to $429, which is the second-best price we have tracked on the standalone power station, behind its $399 all-time low. Not only does the extra savings cut that price further to land $20 under that low price, but you’re also getting additional value in the free power bank that would run you $70. All-in-all, you’re looking at a total of $690 savings at the best price we can find anywhere.

If you want to learn more about this power station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this exclusive deal here.

man using EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 power station to run computer in blackout

EcoFlow’s latest Early Prime Day flash sale drops the DELTA Pro 3 440W solar bundle to a new $2,999 low, more

As part of its ongoing Early Prime Day Sale, EcoFlow has launched the second of its 48-hour flash sales, taking up to 61% off four units – though, if you want to score the DELTA 2 power station, you’ll get it at $379 and coming with a 5,000mAh magnetic power bank with our exclusive deal we secured. Among the other three offers, we’re seeing EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station bundled with two 220W solar panels for $2,999 shipped, with the closest bundle at Amazon being with a single 400W panel that sits $100 lower. This bundle would normally run you $3,699 at full price, with discounts up until this sale only having seen it go as low as $3,099. You’re looking at a $700 discount through September 27, dropping the price lower than ever to the best rate we have tracked.

If you want to learn about this power station’s impressive capabilities, as well as the other offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of this 48-hour flash sale here.

Birdfy Smart Hummingbird feeder and solar panel set up with birds flying around it

Enjoy up-close Hummingbird visits with this smart solar-powered Birdfy feeder at its $110 low, more from $100

Through its official Amazon storefront, Birdfy is offering a massive amount of discounts on its eco-friendly and solar-powered smart feeders, birdhouses, and more, like the Hummingbird Feeder with a solar-powered camera at $109.99 shipped. This device has only been on the market since June, first launching with a $200 price tag on Amazon, which has been keeping lower at $130 since August. This rate first appeared as a series of short-term discounts that are now extending for a much longer period, giving you more time to take advantage of the $20 markdown off the going rate for the best price we have tracked. Head below for more on this device and the others seeing discounts right now.

If you want to learn more about this smart feeder, or the other devices seeing discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

Velotric's Fold 1 Lite e-bike

Velotric’s space-saving Fold 1 Lite e-bike with a 440-pound payload and up to 48-mile range at second-best $699 rate

Velotric has some looming discounts on a selection of e-bikes at the moment, with a notably low price on the Fold 1 Lite e-bike at $699 shipped. It would normally cost you $1,099 were you buying it at full price, which we’ve mainly seen dropped down to $999 and $899 rates over 2025, with some falls as low as $599 that only appeared once back in July. You’re looking at the next-best price while the $400 savings last here, giving you a much more affordable commuter that doubles on saving space when not in use.

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

woman shaping up grass around flower bed with Husqvarna WeedEater 320iL 16-inch cordless string trimmer

Husqvarna’s WeedEater 320iL 16-inch cordless string trimmer comes with a 4.0Ah battery at $269

Amazon is now offering the Husqvarna WeedEater 320iL 16-inch Cordless String Trimmer with a 4.0Ah battery at $269 shipped, after clipping the on-page coupon. Normally going for $319 in full, we saw it drop to its $200 low for July’s short Prime Day period, with things since the middle of that month having kept costs at its full rate, with two drops to $280 in the time since. While this isn’t the lowest price, it is one of the rarer instances of a significant discount on Husqvarna equipment recently, with the 16% markdown here providing a solid $50 in savings while giving you a heavy-duty means to keep weeds and grass under control.

If you want to learn more about this string trimmer, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

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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Hyundai wants you to feel how smooth its EVs drive with a unique 24-hour ‘Rest Drive’

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3 hours ago

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September 26, 2025

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Hyundai wants you to feel how smooth its EVs drive with a unique 24-hour 'Rest Drive'

Hyundai-Rest-Drives-EVs

Hyundai wants to give you the chance to see for yourself just how peaceful the ride is in its EVs. In the UK, Hyundai is offering a new 24-hour “Rest Drive” for the new Kona Electric, allowing you to experience it on your daily travels.

Hyundai UK launches 24-hour ‘Rest Drive’ to test EVs

If you haven’t driven an electric vehicle, it’s hard to describe how much more relaxing the drive is compared to a traditional gas-powered car.

Without a massive internal combustion engine (ICE) under the hood and drastically fewer moving parts, EVs are nearly silent to drive. This is why most places require them to have some sort of alert system when backing up now.

Hyundai sees it as an opportunity. After conducting a study, Hyundai Motor UK found that 73% of parents admit to taking their child for a ride in the car to help them fall asleep.

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Apparently, those laps around the neighborhood add up quickly. On average, it added up to nine hours a month behind the wheel. The biggest frustrations for parents trying to get their kids to sleep were sitting in traffic (42%), engine noise (41%), and stopping for gas (36%).

Hyundai-Rest-Drives-EVs
Hyundai launches “Rest Drives,” a 24-hour test drive of the Kona Electric (Source: Hyundai UK)

On the other hand, parents said a smooth ride (65%) was the top factor that would help their child fall asleep more easily.

To allow parents in the UK to experience the peacefulness of EVs, Hyundai launched “Rest Drives.” The new program offers 24-hour test drives of the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Hyundai-Rest-Drives-EVs
The Hyundai Kona Electric (Source: Hyundai UK)

The Kona EV offers a WLTP range of 319 miles, fast charging capabilities, and is equipped with Hyundai’s latest safety and connectivity tech.

Hyundai offers an electric vehicle for almost everyone, including the Inster, Kona Electric, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and IONIQ 9. Next year, it will launch the IONIQ 3, the production version of the Concept THREE unveiled at IAA Mobility 2025 earlier this month.

Hyundai-Rest-Drives-EVs
The interior of the Hyundai Kona Electric (Source: Hyundai UK)

Looking to try out the Kona Electric? Hyundai is offering the extended Rest Drive offer until October 31, 2025, at the following participating retailers. You can apply and find more information on Hyundai’s UK website.

  • Marshall – Gatwick
  • Berry – Chiswick
  • Vertu – Banbury
  • Evans Halshaw – Milton Keynes
  • Howards – Taunton
  • Paul Rigby – Stratford upon Avon
  • Wessex – Cardiff
  • Read – Burton
  • West Riding – Manchester
  • Drive Hyundai – York
  • Vertu – Edinburgh West
  • Vertu – Nottingham
  • Vertu – Bristol
  • Arnold Clark – Glasgow

At the end of the test, retailers will offer parents a “Rest Drives” baby box. The gift includes a soft Jellycat toy, cosy travel blanket, engaging baby book, and healthy snacks, which Hyundai said were carefully chosen to keep kids “calm, content, and rested on the road.”

Hyundai doesn’t offer this kind of program in the US. At least, not yet. But, if you want to get behind the wheel of the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, IONIQ 9, or Kona Electric, you can use our links below to find models near you.


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Rivian patent filings hint at a deployable rear diffuser, on screen ‘gadgets,’ and new architecture

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3 hours ago

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September 26, 2025

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Rivian patent filings hint at a deployable rear diffuser, on screen 'gadgets,' and new architecture

Rivian patent

American EV automaker Rivian submitted a slew of patent applications with the USPTO this week, including a deployable rear diffuser mechanism to adjust a vehicle’s drag and some software systems related to infotainment, navigation, and video playback.

Okay, with Rivian news like this (on a Friday afternoon no less), we just want to dig right into to the juicy, patent-clad details. And we will… but first, we have to have the olbigatory conversation around patents and patent filings.

Just because it was submitted to the USPTO does not mean it will EVER come to fruition. Automakers like Rivian submit hundreds of patent applications to protect potential IP. For example, we’ve covered patent filings for Rivian’s revamped Camp Kitchen, and “Front Dig Mode,” among other rumored tech.

Many of these designs will never be more spotlighted than those submitted patent pages or our ensuing coverage. That said, this round could be different! This week, Rivian submitted several patent applications to the USPTO alongside some cool images. Let’s start with the deployable diffuser.

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Source: Rivian/USPTO

Breaking down Rivian’s latest patent filings

The image above is from patent application US 12,420,876 В2, submitted by Rivian on September 23, 2025. It describes a rear diffuser that can automatically deploy from the rear of a vehicle and use sensors to adjust itself and affect drag. Per the patent filing’s abstract:

The system can include a diffuser disposed at a rear of a vehicle. A side of the diffuser can be positioned to face the earth. The system can include an actuator coupled with the diffuser and configured to deploy the diffuser to adjust drag on the vehicle. The system can include a sensor configured to detect an obstacle. The system can include one or more processors that are in communication with the sensor and the actuator. The one or more processors can be configured to identify a mode of operation of the vehicle. The one or more processors can be configured to determine, based on input from the sensor and the mode of operation, a position to which to move the diffuser. The one or more processors can be configured to transmit a command to the actuator to move the diffuser to the position.

  • Rivian patent
    Telling navigation the route is incorrect
  • Rivian patent
    Acknowledging feedback
  • Rivian patent
    Rating chargers in real time on the screen

On September 25, 2025, Rivian submitted three additional patent applications, including software detailed in US 2025/0297863 A1 that enables real-time contextual feedback to Rivian’s navigation system. As you can see in the images above, the software enables users to tap through a series of menus to report issues with a given route. In the example above, the desired destination was in the wrong location (fig. 48).

The system then acknowledges that submitted feedback, so it hopefully doesn’t happen to the next driver using that route (fig. 49). Additionally, the patent describes grades for a charger session on an A to F scale, which drivers can submit in real-time following a visit.

Source: Rivian/USPTO

Rivian also filed US 2025/0296443 A1, which showcases a “Visual Gadget Management System” or VGMS for short. The system focuses on video playback and metadata displays on the infotainment screen. Per the patent, the system allows metadata to be captured alongside video footage from the Rivian vehicle’s cameras in the form of an MP4, meaning owners can access coinciding drive data metrics tied to the vehicle during the recording.

From the image above, it appears that Rivian owners would be able to customize what “gadgets” they want on display, similar to widgets on iOS. The featured image of El Capitan also comes from the same Rivian patent filing, hinting that the system could act as a sort of tour guide in real-time by displaying landmarks and other data metrics on the infotainment screen.

Last but not least, Rivian submitted a third patent application for a BEV architecture design without any low-voltage batteries. This would alleviate the need for an EV’s 12V battery to power specific modules—dated tech that has affected the ability of several EVs across multiple brands to start up effectively. I drive an R1S and recently had my 12V battery replaced due to a recall. This design (which is far too complex and filled with jargon for me to grasp fully) would alleviate that reliance.

That’s all for now. Do with that information what you will, but take it with a grain of salt. At the very least, it’s cool to dream about, and if Rivian does enact one of these patents into its EVs, you’ll be able to say you remember when you first heard about it.

If you haven’t ridden in a Rivian yet, I highly recommend you do so, so you can understand what we’re talking about. Schedule a test drive today.


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