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I was recently invited on an eye-opening trip to visit the sprawling Polaris proving grounds in Wyoming, Minnesota. There, over 600 acres feature 17 miles of trails carved from the earth to test Polaris’ off-road vehicles through a range of heavy duty scenarios. And with the company’s exciting new all-electric RANGER XP Kinetic set to roll out to customers next year, I was stoked for the chance to get an early test on the new utility side-by-side.

I should preface this with the fact that I haven’t actually driven a gas-powered Polaris RANGER before. In fact, I’ve never driven any side-by-side. I’m normally a two-wheeler guy, but I jumped at the chance to test this thing out, and to push it HARD. Coming from motorcycles, I must say it’s amazing how much fun you can have when you don’t have to worry about little details like, you know, tipping over.

Though I did get that electric side-by-side up on two wheels more than once, which is a testament to just how much power the RANGER Kinetic XP has. You can go from a stand still to a hair-raising two-wheel ride in just a few seconds flat. 

There’s a reason the Polaris engineers call it the “best and most powerful RANGER ever built.” It bests every gas-powered RANGER that came before it when it comes to power, throttle control, ease of use, reduced maintenance, and just about everything else.

Check out my testing video below to see me putting the RANGER XP Kinetic through its paces. 

Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic test video

Motorcycle propulsion, four-wheeler ruggedness

The beauty of the Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic is the way it combines the electric motorcycle drivetrain from Zero Motorcycles with the long-standing Polaris RANGER vehicle design, including all the years of ruggedization testing that have gone into the vehicle’s gas-powered older brothers.

If you’re already familiar with the existing RANGER line, then you’ll instantly feel at home in the electric model. Outside of a few key giveaways like the lack of a grille, it’s hard to tell the two apart at a quick glance. Around 95% of the RANGER 1000 accessories are compatible – that’s how similar they are.

The real difference is in the powertrain and in the interface.

The controls are simplified, and you get new fancy features like the RIDE COMMAND screen that adds connectivity and functionality, including features like waypoints for marking important points (that’s where I dropped off those hay bales or left that deer…), viewing the GPS markers of other RANGERs in your group (great for fleet operators or larger farm/ranches with many hands operating multiple vehicles), and a pile of other fun features I didn’t even get a chance to try.

polaris ranger xp kinetic micah toll

But let’s get real – the biggest difference is, of course, the performance. It’s night and day, and that’s why the Polaris engineers aren’t shy about calling the RANGER XP Kinetic the best RANGER they’ve ever built.

I was flying around turns, shooting up inclines and bouncing over obstacles without a care in the world. The journalist driving in front of me hit a damn tree and no one even noticed, including him! That’s the power we’re talking about here, people.

That Zero motor has been custom modified by Polaris, and the side-by-side is using that 110 horsepower to perfection thanks to the engineering team expertly marrying it to the RANGER’s existing vehicle platform.

That doesn’t mean it didn’t require some modifications, of course. With added liquid cooling to keep things from running hot and battery heaters to keep things from running too cold (I learned that remote ice fishing is a serious thing up there), Polaris has turned that electric sport bike powertrain into a monster of utility in a four-wheeled vehicle.

polaris ranger xp kinetic micah toll

Work or pleasure? How about both!

The RANGER line is of course about utility. Polaris has other fun vehicles that are pure recreation, but the RANGER is about getting stuff done. But with this new electric drivetrain, it’s so responsive and powerful that it feels like a joyride anyways.

I was driving it like a dune buggy, getting as much air as I could on ever bump and keeping as few wheels on the ground as possible at any one time.

But when it comes to what it’s designed for, actual honest to goodness work, that’s where I think it is really going to shine. Because everything that went into the electric drive also helps make it that much more potent for utility tasks.

The extra power and torque give it huge towing and hauling capabilities (2,500 pounds and 1,250 pounds, respectively). The low noise means you can operate early in the morning without bothering anyone – get an early start plowing snow without waking the neighbors.

The quiet operation is great for hunters or photographers trying to get deep into the woods without a loud engine scaring off the animals before they can get in range for the perfect shot.

The precision control that comes from the electric motor makes reversing, parking, lining up a tow hitch, and other tight quarters operations that much easier.

Though, on that note, this was my one big complaint. I felt lots of precision in forward gear, but in reverse it felt quite sensitive. I could creep up to a sleeping kitten in forward gear, but I wouldn’t have trusted myself to do the same in reverse – it was like the reverse gear wasn’t programmed as smoothly or something.

And maybe that was it, who knows? These were prototype vehicles, after all. But that’s another cool thing about electric – all that fix takes is a laptop and a data cable. Done!

Want to make modifications or change the torque profile on a gas engine? Cool, start boring out a cylinder or swap a connecting rod. Have fun with that. Want to do it on an electric vehicle? Ok, plug in this USB cable. Done! I don’t envy being an engineer on the ICE team.

Everything is just simpler when its electric, and it just works better. Instead of an ICE engine with hundreds of moving parts, you have a more powerful electric motorcycle with a single spinning shaft.

Do you really want to be dealing with clogged air filters or fouled spark plugs when you’ve got a job to do? No, you just want your vehicle to work. And electric just works. Fewer parts, fewer problems.

BuT WhAt aBoUt tHe RaNgE?!?

So here’s the part where people start to go something like this: “Sure, Micah. You had fun for an afternoon. But what’s the range? Will it work on my 90,000 head of cattle ranch that stretches from Austin to Anchorage?”

Here are the numbers: You get two trim options. The cheaper model (still expensive at $24,999) gets 40 miles of range, and the more expensive model (yikes, it’s $29,999) gets double the battery for 80 miles of range.

That’s enough for you. I know you think it isn’t, but you’re probably wrong. 1 in 10 of you might be right, but that’s enough range for most anyone using these for either recreational or real utility work around the farm. Not only do they charge up straight from a Level 1 or Level 2 charger enjoying 120V or 240V charging, but you can probably do everything you need in a day on a charge.

And now you’re scoffing and saying, “I don’t get it.” But you know who does get it? Polaris. One of the engineers mentioned to me how a big part of the battle is just helping people realize that what they think they need and what they actually need are two different things. When surveyed in the past, many RANGER owners said they rode about a 100 miles a week and average around 35 to 40 mph. When checking data-loggers, it turned out they did more like 20 miles a week and and averaged 17 mph. Whoops.

It feels cool and all to think you’re the biggest baddest rancher of them all and that 80 miles per charge isn’t enough for you, but the truth is, a single charge will last most users for days. Plus refueling is even easier since you do it at home in the garage or barn instead of ferrying red gas cans back and forth each week. And realistically, if you actually are the biggest baddest rancher of them all, then you’d want the most powerful, most capable RANGER of them all. And objectively speaking, that’s the XP Kinetic.

If you ever hear a RANGER coming, you’ll know it’s not as powerful or capable as this one.

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Save exclusive $1,600 on Jackery HomePower 3000 station at new $899 low, Heybike Hauler e-bikes at new lows, Wallbox, more

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October 2, 2025

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Save exclusive ,600 on Jackery HomePower 3000 station at new 9 low, Heybike Hauler e-bikes at new lows, Wallbox, more

Today’s Green Deals are all about keeping devices, appliances, and more topped off – along with some EV spotlights too. Our headliner is the exclusive deal we secured for our readers with Wellbots that takes $1,600 off Jackery’s Explorer 3000 v2 (HomePower 3000) Portable Power Station for a new $899 low. Following right behind is Heybike’s Hauler Cargo e-bike that has single or dual-battery options at new low prices starting from $899. We also have some one-day-only deals on a Wallbox EV charger and Fremo power station – both at lows – as well as UGREEN’s 48,000mAh station, and much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s full Heybike Prime Fall e-bike Sale lineup with many other new and returning low prices, Lectric’s restocked XPedition 2.0 cargo e-bike bundles, 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.

Ride1Up Revv1 DRT Off-Road e-bike sitting in grass

Review: Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike is a rugged off-roader with plenty of suspension and hidden punch

When it comes to e-bikes, most people’s immediate thought is a commuter model designed to get you through streets to your various destinations, but with Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike, the fun is extended (and primarily focused) to off-road adventures, and boy, does this baby have some go in it. It’s been over two years since we reviewed the Revv1 FS counterpart, which we came away quite impressed with its SUPER73-like design. Now we’re heading off the beaten path with this newer off-road variant, which boasts improved specs that outshine its predecessors in the series.

To get our full hands-on impression of this new flagship e-scooter, be sure to check out our review here.

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man using Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 (HomePower 3000) power station to power cooler in garage

Score $1,600 in exclusive savings on Jackery’s Explorer 3000 v2 (HomePower 3000) LiFePO4 station at a new $899 low

Wellbots is disrupting Jackery’s direct website pricing on its Explorer 3000 v2 (HomePower 3000) Portable Power Station – all with exclusive savings for 9to5Toys readers – that can be yours for $899 shipped, after using the code 9TO5JACK100 at checkout for an additional $100 off. Jackery’s second-generation Explorer 3000 model (hence the v2) hit the market back in May, carrying a $2,499 MSRP that we’ve mostly seen discounted between $1,699 and $1,499 in the months since. The brand’s current Early Prime Day Sale, however, kicked off by dropping the price lower than ever to $999, where the discount here would place costs, were it not for our exclusive code. You’ll be saving a total $1,600 off the going rate here, which beats out all our previous mentions and lands it at a new all-time low price.

Known by dual monikers, the Jackery Explorer 3000 v2/HomePower 3000 power station is a great option for camping/RV lovers who also want a reliable means to power devices/appliances/tools on jobsites or at home, particularly should the grid fail. This is the latest generation that has been upgraded to LiFePO4 batteries, with a 3,072Wh capacity that is supported by an improved battery management system and the brand’s ChargeShield 2.0 protections, which we’ve seen added to all its v2 models. There are 12 output ports (with a TT-30R port for RV support) that deliver up to 3,600W of steady power and can surge up to 7,200W when needed.

You’ll have five primary recharging methods to take advantage of with Jackery’s Explorer 3000 v2, with a standard AC outlet getting the battery back to full in around 2.2 hours, as well as the obvious solar capabilities with a max 1,000W input that would refill the batteries in up to 11 hours. There’s also the new option for a gas generator connection, alongside the on-the-go car auxiliary port compatibility and dual AC/DC charging that only takes up to 1.7 hours.

heybike hauler cargo-ebike loaded with appliances parked next to lake on asphalt road

Heybike’s Hauler cargo e-bike with a 440-pound carrying capacity and multi-battery options hits new lows from $899

As part of its ongoing Prime Fall e-bike Sale, Heybike has dropped several models to returning and new low prices, like the standard Hauler Single-Battery Cargo e-bike at $899 shipped while its dual-battery variant sits a little higher at $1,299 shipped. They would normally go for $1,499 and $1,899 outside of discounts, which is honestly rare, as we usually see them discounted to $1,199 and $1,599, with falls lower during sale events. You’re looking at 40% and 32% markdowns here that are cutting $600 off both tags and landing costs at new all-time lows. You can browse the sale’s entire lineup of deals by checking out our original coverage of the event here.

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

wallbox pulsar plus 40A level 2 EV charger attached to wall and plugged into vehicle

Wallbox’s Pulsar Plus 40A J1772 level 2 smart EV charger with NEMA 14-50 plug at $500 annual low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Wallbox Pulsar Plus Level 2 40A Smart EV Charger for $499.99 shipped, which is beating out the brand’s official Amazon storefront by $99. While it carries a $750 MSRP, we’ve more often seen it keeping down near $600, especially at Amazon, with discounts over 2025 only having seen it drop its lowest to this very rate. While we have seen it go lower in past years, you’re looking at the best price we have tracked in 2025, giving you a smarter means to top off your EV’s battery with $100 off the going rate and $250 off its MSRP.

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

ugreen nexode 48,000mAh power bank station sitting amongst devices

UGREEN’s 5-port Nexode 48,000mAh power station with 300W charging speeds returns to $102, more

Through its official Amazon storefront, UGREEN is offering its Nexode 48,000mAh Portable Charger/Power Station back at $101.99 shipped. While this unit does carry a $170 MSRP, it’s been spending the last few months with continuous Prime-exclusive discounting that drops the costs between $120 and $108, with falls to lower rates peppered in once or so a month. Aside from the one-time $100 low that popped up in March, you’re otherwise looking at the best tracked price over the year, with 40% cut from its MSRP for a total of $68 in savings.

If you want to learn more about this charging solution, as well as the lineup of alternative devices getting discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

fremo's X300 portable power station being used outdoors by man and woman sitting at camping table

For the rest of the day, pick up Fremo’s X300 276Wh compact power station at its $180 low

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Fremo X300 Portable Power Station back at $179.99 shipped, which is still out of stock at Amazon since our previous mention at the end of August. This compact model would cost you $330 without any discounts, which has regularly dropped between $250 and $190 over the year, with more frequent falls to $180 in recent months. For the rest of the day, you can pick one up at the best price we have tracked, saving you $150 off its going rate.

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

anker solix early prime day power station sale
ecoflow early prime day power station sale
jackery Early Prime Day Power Station Sale

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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Elon Musk caught lying about Tesla Cybertruck beating Porsche 911 in a race

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2 hours ago

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October 2, 2025

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Elon Musk caught lying about Tesla Cybertruck beating Porsche 911 in a race

Tesla Cybertruck towing vs Porsche 911

Elon Musk was caught lying about Tesla’s Cybertruck beating a Porsche 911 in a quarter-mile race that never actually happened.

The CEO reiterated the claim, despite it having been debunked for more than a year.

When Tesla unveiled the production version of the Cybertruck, it released a video of the electric pickup truck beating a Porsche 911 in what it claimed to be a 1/4 mile race while towing a Porsche 911.

They released a video of the race and then CEO Elon Musk claimed:

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“It can tow a Porsche 911 across the 1/4 mile faster than the Porsche 911 can go by itself.”

However, the claim was quickly challenged for many different reasons.

First off, Tesla is comparing the top-of-the-line Cybertruck, the Cyberbeast, with the Porsche 911 Carrera T, which is the slowest 911. There are literally more than half a dozen variants of the 911 that are faster than the Carrera T or the Cybertruck.

There are some layers to this. Of course, Tesla is trying to highlight an electric pickup truck beating a sports car at “doing what it does best” while the pickup is doing what it does best.

For that, we can let slide the fact that Tesla used a lesser 911.

However, more importantly, the quarter-mile race never actually took place. From the video itself, you can see that the race finishes halfway from the speed boards, which mark the quarter mile.

It means that Tesla only filmed a 1/8-mile race.

The Cybertruck’s lead engineer, Wes Morrill, confirmed that the quarter-mile race never happened outside of simulations:

“The fastest 1/8mi CT hit while towing on the day was 7.808s at 88mph and the trailer tires were only rated to 80mph so we opted to call it a day before someone got hurt. Our simulations showed the full 1/4 mi race would be close but with the same net result, so no need to risk it. We also had some room to further lightweight the trailer but didn’t need to.”

Engineering Explained did the math and challenged the claim that the Cybertruck would beat the 911 while towing:

Furthermore, several people have since recreated a full quarter-mile race, and the Porsche 911 consistently beats the Cybertruck.

Yet, more than a year after the claim was fully debunked, CEO Elon Musk repeated it again:

Tesla has since dropped the claim that the Cybertruck is beating the 911 on the “quarter-mile” and instead only refers to a drag race. However, the CEO is still repeating the quarter-mile claim he made in 2023 when Tesla unveiled the production version of the Cybertruck.

Electrek’s Take

This is an excellent example of Elon Musk or Tesla exaggerating a claim when the truth is already impressive.

They could have performed the 1/8 mile race, made the claim, and it would have been tremendous and truthful marketing.

With that said, I think the whole EV drag race stuff is a bit played out. We know that electric powertrains perform exceptionally well in drag races.

The Porsche 911 is not really a drag race machine; it is a fun sports car that is enjoyable to drive and would ultimately smoke a Cybertruck on an extended race with a lot of cornering.


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Over 23,000 Chevy Equinox EVs hit with a recall for this weird reason

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3 hours ago

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October 2, 2025

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Over 23,000 Chevy Equinox EVs hit with a recall for this weird reason

Chevy-Equinox-EV-recall

GM issued a recall for over 23,000 2024 Chevy Equinox EV models due to a unique situation where they may not make enough noise.

Chevy Equinox EV hit with recall over sound alert system

The nearly silent ride is one of the best things about driving an electric vehicle, but Chevy’s electric SUV might be a little too quiet.

In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) on September 30, GM issued a safety recall for certain 2024 Chevy Equinox EVs.

The recall affects 23,700 electric Equinox models due to a potentially faulty pedestrian alert sound system. GM said in the letter that the sound system might not make enough noise to alert those around the vehicle when traveling at low speeds or shifting into drive.

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As a result, the Equinox EV may fail to meet the safety standards required for the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No 141, “Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.”

Chevy-Equinox-EV-recall
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 1LT (Source: Chevrolet)

After an investigation, GM found that Chevy Equinox EV models built between August 8, 2023, and August 28, 2024, may have incorrect software installed.

GM is not aware of any incidents, but issued the recall out of an abundance of caution. The company is still developing a fix, but said impacted vehicles will require an update to the body control module (BCM), rather than a total replacement.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-recall
The Chevy Equinox EV (Source: GM)

Owner letters are expected to be mailed out on November 10, 2025. You can contact Chevrolet’s customer service at 1-800-222-1020 with any questions. GM’s recall number is N252527170.

You can also call the National Highway Traffic Administration Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.

The recall comes as the Chevy Equinox EV remains one of the most popular electric vehicles in the US. In fact, it’s now America’s best-selling EV outside of the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.

2025 Chevy Equinox EV trim Starting Price EPA-estimated Range
LT FWD $34,995 319 miles
LT AWD $40,295 307 miles
RS FWD $45,790 319 miles
RS AWD $49,090 307 miles
2025 Chevy Equinox EV prices and driving range by trim (Including $1,395 destination fee)

After introducing the 2025 model year last year, starting at under $35,000, Chevy Equinox EV sales have surged. The recall is limited to 2024 Equinox models built during the suspected manufacturing window. Vehicles produced outside the window, including 2025 models, are not included.

Although the $7,500 federal tax credit expired on September 30, GM will continue offering it through leasing for Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac EVs.

The 2025 Chevy Equinox EV is tempting with a starting price of $34,995 and a driving range of 319 miles. Curious to see one up close? You can use our link to find Chevy Equinox EVs available near you (trusted affiliate link).


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