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Oh the irony, it burns! Solar power is supposed to open the door on a new era in which humans and their ecosystems exist in harmony, but for now the record is still stuck on fossil energy. Oil, gas, and coal producers continue to dig up carbon from underground and disburse it about the surface, and solar power is becoming an enabler, providing power to operate — and equip — drilling sites and mines.

More Solar Power For Fossil Fuels

The use of solar power in the fossil energy industry should come as no surprise. After all, extractive energy sites need energy to operate, and the expense of building new transmission lines or ferrying fuel to remote locations can be formidable.

Solar power became the solution after the first practical solar cell was introduced in 1954. Oil producers were the solar industry’s leading customer by 1980, with an emphasis on use at offshore drilling sites.

Those early solar devices were limited in scale, but that changed as solar technology improved. Drillers began installing the first large-scale solar arrays for oil and gas operations in the US as early as 2003.

Alongside a sharp drop in the cost of solar cells, the scale of solar activity at drilling sites and mines has picked up significantly in recent years.

Fossil energy stakeholders have begun leaning on solar power and other renewables to fend off critics with new pledges to reduce carbon emissions. However, when fossil energy stakeholders pledge to decarbonize, they mostly mean reducing carbon emissions from operations under their direct control. Once their product reaches the marketplace, it’s a different story.

In effect, renewable energy is giving fossil energy stakeholders license to keep pumping out more product, exploring more sites for extraction, and building new pipelines, leaving energy consumers to hold the carbon emissions bag.

More Solar Power For Sustainable Steel

That brings us to the latest news about solar power and steelmaking. Steel is one of those tough-to-decarbonize industries, and steel is also the material that makes pipelines and other fossil energy infrastructure. Fossil energy stakeholders could give themselves many brownie points for transitioning their infrastructure to steel made with renewable energy.

For example, last year CleanTechnica was among those to welcome plans for a new solar array at the longstanding Rocky Mountain steel mill in Pueblo, Colorado. The mill is currently owned by the North American branch of Russia’s leading steel and coal producer EVRAZ, and the project has been developed by Lightsource bp, a joint venture between bp and the solar firm Lightsource.

Aside from enabling the mill to offset about 90% of its electricity with solar power, the project also helps to hasten the closure of the nearby Comanche coal power plant.

Why Rain On The Solar Parade?

At the time, the steel mill’s ability to churn out a new generation of extended-length rails for railroads was so exciting that we totally forgot to take a look at its other branches of its business. Our friends over at Colorado Public Radio report that the mill is also known for producing well casings, mainly for oilfields in Texas and North Dakota, in addition to producing steel pipe for, you guessed it, pipelines.

The cat’s out of the media bag now. Earlier this week bp announced that the new solar array, dubbed Bighorn Solar, is now up and running,

According to bp, the new solar array will have the carbon-reducing effect of “removing 92,100 fuel-burning cars from the road,” which is fine if carbon emissions from the mill were the only emissions in question. The bigger problem is that millions of carbon-emitting cars still rule the global roadways, and millions of car buyers are switching over to bigger vehicles that burn more gas.

That’s a problem for bp and EVRAZ, both of which have taken the opportunity to burnish their green cred by touting “the world’s first steel mill to be powered largely by solar energy,” while continuing along with their fossil energy operations.

“It is the largest on-site solar facility in the US dedicated to a single customer, with more than 750,000 solar panels providing nearly all the plant’s annual electricity demand,” bp enthused in a press release earlier this week. “This will enable the mill to produce some of the world’s greenest steel and steel products.”

Dave Lawler, chairman and president of bp America, piled on with this comment:

“Bighorn Solar shows us what the future of American energy can look like. Renewable energy can create a more sustainable, competitive business. Projects like this can make companies more resilient and protect jobs through the energy transition. And it’s another example of how bp is working to help the US and the world reach net zero by 2050.”

Do tell! Just last summer, bp CEO  Bernard Looney seemed to be anticipating that the oil and gas industry would continue to be a leading customer for steel products, if not from the Rocky Mountain mill then from others. In a widely circulated interview with Bloomberg News, Looney foresaw a strong, continuing recovery in demand globally.

It’s Time To Get Serious About Decarbonizing

Looney is not alone. OPEC is also anticipating that oil demand will beat pre-pandemic levels by next year, and demand for coal is practically through the roof.

In terms of promoting a nice, green public image, that is a  problem for EVRAZ and bp. On its part, EVRAZ appears to be ready to resolve part of the problem. As of last January the company was reportedly mulling over the idea of spinning off its coal business to concentrate on steel making.

The sharp uptick in coal demand may have prompted EVRAZ to set those plans aside for now, but the idea could still be percolating. Vanadium is EVRAZ’s other main business branch, and that should help cushion the separation from coal, considering the growing market for vanadium in energy storage as well as steel making.

Last year, EVRAZ also launched a new vanadium R&D center in Switzerland, focusing on expanding its use in the steel industry. That still leaves the door open for fossil energy customers, but EVRAZ seems to have its eye on the growing demand for green steel by the auto industry, which is pivoting into battery electric cars as well as fuel cell electric trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.

No such cushion is at hand for bp. The company is pretty much stuck tinkering around the edges of decarbonization while continuing to pump out oil and gas.

Still, cleantech investments by bp and several other fossil energy firms are not insignificant, and those that invest the big bucks on cleantech gain an important public relations edge over the others.

That could be the motivation behind two interesting solar power moves that bp made right in ExxonMobil’s backyard, the US. The biggest media play went to the company’s gigantic new 9-gigawatts solar acquisition in Texas, announced last June.

Less attention went to a 132-megawatt project in Arkansas, which bp also announced last summer. That sounds like peanuts compared to the Texas buy, and it is, but in the context of solar power growth in Arkansas it’s a huge step forward.

As of halfway through 2021, solar developers in Arkansas were drifting in the range of 12 megawatts or less. Activity finally began to scale up in 2019 after a sea change in the state’s solar policies. The Arkansas branch of Entergy was leading the way, and now bp has spotted an opportunity to stake its claim in a market ripe for rapid growth.

All else being equal, the surging cost of oil and gas for home heating should help juice solar activity in Arkansas and elsewhere, so stay tuned for more on that.

As for the Rocky Mountain steel mill, one day in the sparkling green future it will churn out less well casings and more parts for solar arrays, wind turbines and electric vehicles, but today is not that day.

Follow me on Twitter @TinaMCasey.

Photo: Solar power for Rocky Mountain steel mill courtesy of bp via prnewswire.

 

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DHL takes delivery of its first Tesla Semi electric truck, says more to come next year

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December 8, 2025

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DHL takes delivery of its first Tesla Semi electric truck, says more to come next year

Tesla Semi DHL electric truck

The Tesla Semi program is gaining momentum with another major logistics player officially joining the fleet. German logistics giant DHL confirmed that it has taken delivery of its first Tesla Semi.

For a long time, PepsiCo was the only company operating the Tesla Semi in any meaningful volume outside of the automaker itself. But as we move closer to volume production in Nevada, we are seeing more units land in the hands of major customers like Walmart, Costco, and Sysco.

Now, DHL is officially on board.

In a press release issued last week, the logistics giant confirmed the delivery of its first all-electric Tesla Semi to be integrated into its US operations. This follows a pilot program in Livermore, California, where DHL tested the truck’s capabilities on real-world routes.

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According to the official announcement, during a 390-mile long-haul route, the Tesla Semi averaged 1.72 kWh per mile while hauling a gross combined weight of 75,000 pounds (34 metric tons). We previously reported on the successful pilot program last year.

Jim Monkmeyer, President, Transportation, DHL Supply Chain North America, commented on the performance:

“Our pilot of the Tesla Semi exceeded expectations, proving its ability to efficiently haul a typical DHL freight over long distances on a single charge. Integrating the Tesla Semi into our fleet is an important step toward achieving our decarbonization goals and delivering more sustainable solutions for our customers. With its range of up to 500 miles, the Semi unlocks opportunities that were previously beyond the limits of heavy-duty EVs, and we’re excited to partner with Tesla to make that a reality.”

This efficiency of 1.72 kWh/mile is critical. When Tesla first unveiled the Semi, they promised consumption of “less than 2 kWh per mile.” Many skeptics doubted this figure for a fully loaded Class 8 truck, but DHL’s real-world data confirms that Tesla is not only hitting that target but beating it significantly, even with a 75,000 lb load.

The truck is now operating out of Central California. Interestingly, DHL notes that for its current daily operations, the truck travels about 100 miles per day and only requires charging “about once per week.”

Dan Priestley, Director of the Tesla Semi program at Tesla, commented on the partnership:

“DHL has been a great partner to work with, and we appreciate their early and longstanding support for the Semi program. We are excited to support their deployment in North America, and their experience as a trusted logistics provider will help us make the product even better for future global markets.”

DHL says this delivery expands its fleet of Class 8 electric vehicles in North America to over 150 units. The company plans to add more Tesla Semi trucks in 2026 “as Tesla begins its volume production.”

After planning to start production in 2025 for the past 2 years, Tesla has recently delayed Tesla Semi production into 2026.

Electrek’s Take

For years, we’ve heard arguments from legacy truck makers and industry analysts claiming that battery-electric trucks can’t handle long-haul duties because the batteries are too heavy and the efficiency is too low.

DHL just proved them wrong.

Getting 1.72 kWh per mile with a 75,000 lb gross combined weight is impressive. To put that in perspective, at typical commercial electricity rates, that’s a fuel cost of roughly $0.20 to $0.25 per mile. Diesel trucks often cost $0.60 to $0.80 per mile in fuel alone.

The economics are undeniable.


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Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale with up to $893 e-bike savings + multiple price cuts, EcoFlow EV charger hub bundle $1,199, more

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December 8, 2025

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Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale with up to 3 e-bike savings + multiple price cuts, EcoFlow EV charger hub bundle ,199, more


We’re kicking off this week’s Green Deals with more winter holiday savings, led by Lectric’s Christmas Holiday Sale with up to $893 savings on e-bike bundles, price cuts on multiple models, and up to 25% accessory discounts – with e-bike pricing starting from $999. Right behind it is EcoFlow’s final Cyber Week flash sale (before the main event ends tonight and switches to its next seasonal event), which includes the brand’s Power Pulse EV Charger bundled with a Smart Home Panel 2 at a new $1,199 low. There’s also Segway’s Navimow i and X3 series robot lawn mowers at their second-best prices starting from $699, a return low on a popular Autel level 2 EV charging station with voice controls, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals from last week down below, collected together in our latest edition of Electrified Weekly.

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.

Christmas gift guide promotional banner
Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale e-bike banner

Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale offers up to $893 savings on e-bike bundles + multiple price cuts, more – all from $999

Lectric has officially switched gears from its previous Black Friday/Cyber Week event to its latest Christmas Holiday Sale, continuing many of the offers with up to $893 savings and 25% accessory discounts, alongside some new change-ups, including price cuts on more models than we’ve seen at once before. Of course, across all your options from this brand, my personal pick for holiday scores is the XP4 Folding Utility e-bike with $227 in FREE gear at $999 shipped or the XP4 750 Folding Utility e-bikes with $514 in FREE gear at $1,299 shipped. Without the usual discounts on the bundles themselves, you’d be paying $1,226 and $1,813 for these packages at full price, with the standard models seeing a shrunk-down bundle that still beats the usual $79 package we’ve mostly seen over 2025, and the 750 model continuing over its previous bundle size which has been the largest we’ve seen since it released in early summer. Head below to browse the full lineup of deals across all models from this brand – and you have until December 15 to get orders in to receive them ahead of Christmas.

Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or treating yourself, you really can’t go wrong with Lectric’s XP4 e-bikes, which I have not only incorporated into my life (and loving), but also raved about in my hands-on review here. Your choice primarily depends on how much power and travel range you need, with the standard XP4 e-bike equipped with a 500W brushless geared hub motor (1,092Wh peak) and a 10.4Ah battery that delivers up to 50 miles of pedal-assisted travel. On the flip side, the XP4 750 e-bike boasts a more powerful 750W motor (with a greater 1,310W peak) and larger 17.5Ah battery to give you up to 85 miles of travel range. Both models’ motors also sport upgraded Stealth M24 tech to perform at quieter levels, all while providing up to 20/28 MPH top speeds that depend on what your state laws allow.

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They share features from there, especially the new upgrades, including a zero-degree stem, detachable TFT display, repositioned side key and charging port, and also keyless riding to meet fan expectations/asks. Your riding also benefits from hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant mixed-terrain tires, an integrated brake-activated taillight with turn signaling, an 8-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, and more.

Lectric Christmas Holiday Sale XP4 e-bike bundles:

Lectric XPedition 2.0 e-bike bundles:

ONE LR Belt-Drive e-bike bundle + price cut:

XPress 750 e-bikes bundle:

XP Lite 2.0 LR e-bike bundles:

XPeak 2.0 e-bikes with price cuts:

XP Trike2 price cut offers:

Lectric’s Christmas Holiday Sale accessory deals:

You can also browse Lectric’s full Christmas Holiday Sale lineup here, including the up to 25% accessory discounts.

EcoFlow EV charger in garage powering EV

EcoFlow’s final Cyber Week flash sale offers Power Pulse EV charger + Smart Home Panel 2 at new $1,199 low (Save 57%), more

As part of the final day of its Cyber Week Sale before transitioning into its winter holiday seasonal events, EcoFlow has launched a 24-hour flash sale on four different bundles – three of which are add-on accessory packages, while one is a first-time inclusion of the Power Pulse EV Charger with a Smart Home Panel 2 at $1,199 shipped. Normally carrying a $2,798 MSRP, we’ve been mainly seeing it keep down at $2,199 since September, un-budged to lower rates even during major holiday events like Black Friday. That’s changing today, as this flash sale is not only including it in the lineup for the first time since its release, but also providing a larger-than-ever 57% markdown that cuts $1,599 from the tag for a new all-time low price.

If you want to learn more about this particular pairing, or any of the add-on accessory bundles, be sure to check out our original coverage of this flash sale here while it lasts until tonight.

Segway navimow robot lawn mowers in grass in front of home

Segway Navimow’s i series + newest X3 series robot lawn mowers up to $500 off at second-best prices from $699

Through its official Amazon storefront, Segway is offering its Navimow i105N Robot Lawn Mower at $699 shipped, while the Navimow i110N Robot Lawn Mower is down at $909 shipped, which both match their direct website pricing. Not only these, but you can also find the latest X3 series of models at their second-best prices collected for you here. Segway’s i series of robots would normally run you $999 and $1,299 at full price, which we’ve seen taken as low as $664 and $864 this year back during last month’s Black Friday event. If you missed out on those lows, you can score them here at their second-best prices (the all-time low for the i105N and the second-best annual price for the i110N), saving you up to $390 while upgrading your lawn care routine with smarter functionality. You can also shop Segway’s latest Christmas Holiday Sale deals on EVs right now, too.

If you want to learn more about these two robot lawn mowers, or browse the additional X3 series of offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man using Autel EV charger to power EV

Save $151 on Autel’s MaxiCharger AC Lite 40A level 2 EV charger with voice controls back at $319 low

Coming at us through the official Autel Amazon storefront, you can pick up the brand’s MaxiCharger AC Lite Home 40A Smart AI Level 2 EV Charger back at $319 shipped right now in both colorways, matching the price directly from the Autel Website (where you have a choice between a J1772 or NACS connector). Normally fetching $470 in full, discounts over the year mostly kept costs between $399 and $376, though it did drop as low as $352 until Black Friday when this same rate first appeared. Now, you’re getting another shot at this all-time low price, complete with a $151 markdown. If you want to go with a more powerful EV charging station, you can still find the MaxiCharger Home Level 2 50A EV Chargers starting from their $398 lows.

If you want to learn more about this EV charger’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here. You can also find Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector retaining its Black Friday price cut here.

ecoflow delta pro ultra x power station in front of several solar panels
ecoflow delta 3 ultra power station with solar panels in grass

Best Winter 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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Toyota’s new EVs are finally catching on in China, and the flagship model is about to drop

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2 hours ago

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December 8, 2025

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Toyota's new EVs are finally catching on in China, and the flagship model is about to drop

Toyota's-new-EVs-China

After falling behind in China, Toyota’s new electric vehicles are starting to find their footing. Now, it’s about to launch a new flagship model.

Keeping pace in an intensifying EV market

Although nearly every global automaker has struggled to keep pace in China’s fast-moving auto market, Toyota has been one of the hardest hit.

After its sales in China dropped by 7% in 2024, Toyota blamed the shift to new energy vehicles and “severe market conditions”, including an intensifying price war.

The Japanese automaker has been notoriously slow in the transition to fully electric vehicles, standing by its multi-pathway strategy that still includes hybrids and gas-powered vehicles.

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In China, Toyota has had no choice but to adapt. As part of its China R&D 2.0 strategy, Toyota has tapped China’s biggest tech giants, including Huawei, Xiaomi, and Momenta, to help it compete with domestic brands like BYD.

So far, it seems to be paying off. Through October 2025, Toyota’s sales in China are up 3.5%. Now, Toyota is crediting strong demand for its new EV, the bZ3X, for the growth.

Toyota-$15,000-electric-SUV
Toyota bZ3X electric SUV during winter testing (Source: GAC Toyota)

Toyota’s new EVs help boost sales in China

Toyota’s joint venture, GAC-Toyota, announced that bZ3X sales topped the 10,000 mark for two consecutive months.

The bZ3X is Toyota’s “first 100,000 yuan-level pure electric SUV,” starting at just 109,800 yuan, or roughly $15,000.

Toyota's-EVs-China
Toyota bZ electric vehicles in China (Source: Toyota)

It’s about the size of a RAV4 at 4,645 mm long, 1,885 mm wide, and 1,625 mm tall, but it looks and feels very different from the Toyota models we’re used to, with advanced ADAS features, an intelligent voice assistant, smart storage, and much more.

Now, the Japanese automaker is preparing to launch its new flagship EV, the bZ7. According to Toyota, the bZ7 “possesses a higher level of intelligence than any of Toyota’s offerings in global markets.”

Toyota's-new-flagship-EV
The Toyota bZ7 flagship electric sedan (Source: GAC-Toyota)

GAC-Toyota claimed the new flagship EV “generated significant interest” at the Guangzhou International Motor Show last month, thanks to advanced tech and features.

Like the bZ3X, the flagship electric sedan features a minimalistic interior with a floating infotainment screen, a smaller driver cluster, and a head-up display.

Toyota-bZ7-EV-interior
The interior of the Toyota bZ7 (Source: GAC-Toyota)

The bZ7 is the brand’s first vehicle to feature Huawei’s HarmonyOS intelligent driving system, which controls everything from the infotainment to navigation and climate control.

It’s also equipped with Momenta 5.0, providing nearly 50 new ADAS features, including Navigation on Autopilot in cities and on highways.

Toyota-bZ7-interior
The interior of the Toyota bZ7 (Source: GAC-Toyota)

With Xiaomi’s “Human x Car x Home” smart ecosystem, drivers can manage smart home devices directly from the vehicle’s infotainment or smartphone.

The bZ7 is about the size of the Tesla Model S and the BYD Han L, measuring 5,130 mm in length, 1,965 mm in width, and 1,500 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,020 mm.

Toyota’s new flagship EV will be available with 71.35 kWh and 88.13 kWh battery packs, offering a CLTC range of up to 600 km and 710 km, respectively.

Official prices and more information will be revealed closer to its official launch in early 2026, but GAC-Toyota said the bZ7 is “a top choice among 200,000 RMB [$28,000] luxury pure electric sedans.” The company added that the flagship EV is “poised for a strong start, aiming to achieve one million units in production and sales.”

Can it compete with BYD, Tesla, and others in China? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.


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