SUPER73’s neo-retro electric motorcycle shown in first actual testing video
LA’s most iconic electric bike brand wowed us earlier this year with a new concept electric motorcycle known as the SUPER73 C1X. At the time we only had the chance to look at a full-scale mock up of the eye-catching design. But now the company appears to have a functional prototype at their disposal.
We got our first look at the functional prototype via a brief teaser video sent out to reservation holders.
The video, embedded below, shows the SUPER73 C1X electric motorcycle making several passes through a parking lot, flanked by SUPER73’s electric bicycles.
The C1X prototype in the video is described as currently undergoing “preliminary testing”. We don’t know exactly what that entails, but the prototype appears to smoke a stock SUPER73 e-bike off the line, as one would expect.
SUPER73 is largely known as an electric bicycle company that is built around a strong community of riders and a powerful lifestyle brand.
When they unveiled the C1X electric motorcycle concept earlier this year, it was the first clue that the company had larger ambitions for two-wheeled EVs that passed beyond high-powered electric bicycles.
SUPER73 C1X electric motorcycle – so many questions
The SUPER73 C1X doesn’t have many published tech specs to its name yet, but the company said it is aiming for a top speed of over 75 mph (120 km/h) and a weight of under 300 pounds (136 kg).
SUPER73 is also aiming for a city range of over 100 miles (160 km), but we don’t have any details yet regarding the actual battery capacity. Though to be fair, there are electric motorcycles that are much closer to production that we still don’t have information yet about their batteries either.
The bike is said to roll on 15″ wheels and offer a 31″ minimum seat height, making it more comfortable for shorter riders. It may end up being closer to a Honda Grom or CSC City Slicker-sized motorcycle.
Unlike large flagship electric motorcycles, it should slot into a middleweight category between high-powered electric bikes and full-scale electric motorcycles.
Don’t expect to see it rolling out to reservation holders anytime soon though, as it appears to have a good year or more of development and production planning on the horizon.
We’ve seen other lightweight electric motorcycles from e-bike companies take their own long and circuitous path to production.
The SONDORS Metacycle electric motorcycle was unveiled nearly two years ago and just recently began making its first deliveries to California-based customers.
The Ryvid Anthem electric motorcycle has a similar power level and top speed as both the SONDORS Metacycle and the SUPER73 C1X, and is expected to roll out to reservation holders next year.
Kollter’s ES1 and RS1 electric motorcycles both offer commuter-level specs at relatively modest prices, at least compared to the more expensive flagship electric motorcycles.
CSC also has a commuter-spec electric motorcycle coming soon, offering the 80 mph CSC RX1E with an adventure bike-styled design yet with more urban friendly performance.
So while the SUPER73 C1X still appears to be prepping for testing, it will eventually roll out into a market with an interesting mix of lightweight and middleweight electric motorcycles designed to give riders motorcycle-level performance in a more approachable (and more affordable) format.
My single biggest remaining question though is this: How much will it cost?
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First Solar just cut the ribbon on a huge new factory in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, and it dwarfs the New Orleans Superdome. The company’s $1.1 billion, fully vertically integrated facility spans 2.4 million square feet, or about 11 times the size of the stadium’s main arena.
The factory began production quietly in July, a few months ahead of schedule, and employs more than 700 people. First Solar expects that number to hit 826 by the end of the year. Once it’s fully online, the site will add 3.5 GW of annual manufacturing capacity. That brings the company’s total US footprint to 14 GW in 2026 and 17.7 GW in 2027, when its newly announced South Carolina plant is anticipated to come online.
The Louisiana plant produces First Solar’s Series 7 modules using US-made materials — glass from Illinois and Ohio, and steel from Mississippi, which is fabricated into backrails in Louisiana.
The new factory leans heavily on AI, from computer vision that spots defects on the line to deep learning tools that help technicians make real‑time adjustments.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry says the investment is already a win for the region, bringing in “hundreds of good-paying jobs and new opportunities for Louisiana workers and businesses.” A new economic impact analysis from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette projects that the factory will boost Iberia Parish’s GDP by 4.4% in its first full year at capacity. The average manufacturing compensation package comes in at around $90,000, more than triple the parish’s per capita income.
First Solar CEO Mark Widmar framed the new facility as a major step for US clean energy manufacturing: “By competitively producing energy technology in America with American materials, while creating American jobs, we’re demonstrating that US reindustrialization isn’t just a thesis, it’s an operating reality.”
This site joins what’s already the largest solar manufacturing and R&D footprint in the Western Hemisphere: three factories in Ohio, one in Alabama, and R&D centers in Ohio and California. Just last week, First Solar announced a new production line in Gaffney, South Carolina, to onshore more Series 6 module work. By the end of 2026, the company expects to directly employ more than 5,500 people across the US.
Read more: First Solar pours $330M into a new South Carolina solar factory
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No, it’s not the new Bolt. GM’s design team previewed a new high-riding “sporty Chevrolet EV” that should be brought to life.
Is Chevy launching a new sporty EV?
This is the all-electric vehicle Chevy should sell in the US. General Motors’ design team released a series of sketches previewing a sporty new Chevy EV.
Although it kinda looks like the new 2027 Chevy Bolt EV as a higher-sitting compact crossover SUV, the design offers a fresh take on what it should have looked like.
The new Bolt is essentially a modernized version of the outgoing EUV model with a similar compact crossover silhouette. Nissan adopted a similar style with the new 2026 LEAF as buyers continue shifting from smaller sedans and hatchbacks to crossovers and SUVs.
Will we see the sporty Chevy EV in real life? It’s not likely. For one, the “exploration sketch” is by GM China Advanced designer Charles Huang.
GM Design posted the sketches on its global social media page, but the caption read “Sporty Chevrolet EV for the China Market.”
It’s too bad. The Bolt could use a sporty sibling like an SS variant. Chevy introduced the Blazer EV SS (check out our review) for the 2026 model year, its fastest “SS” model yet. Packing up to 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the Chevy Blazer SS can race from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds when using Wide Open Watts (WOW) mode.
Will the Bolt be next? I wouldn’t get my hopes up. And if GM does bring the sporty Chevy EV to life, it will likely only be sold in China. Like all the fun cars these days.
What do you think of the design? Would you buy one of these in the US? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
While deliveries of the 2027 Bolt are set to begin in early 2026, Chevy is offering some sweet deals on its current EV lineup, including up to $4,000 off in Customer Cash and 0% APR financing for 60 months.
Ready to test drive one? You can use our links below to find Chevy Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs at a dealership near you.
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Environment
Podcast: Electricity is the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, new Porsche Cayenne EV, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss electricity becoming the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, the new Porsche Cayenne EV, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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