Rad Power Bikes, the largest electric bicycle company in the US, is currently running a major sale with some of the best prices it has ever offered on many of its popular e-bike models.
The most affordable model for sale is the RadMission, a single-speed urban e-bike designed for city riders.
RadMission for $499
The RadMission normally carries a $1,199 price tag, but it is currently on sale for just $499. That’s a whopping $700 off!
The bike offers a 500W motor, has a 500Wh battery with around 20-40 miles of range on throttle or pedal assist, and hits a top speed of 20 mph.
It’s a no-frills bike because of its lack of a shifter, suspension, and even a kickstand. But it has everything else most urban riders need, including decent power, good city tires, built-in LED lights, and a choice of several colors across two frame styles.
Despite being the “simplest” e-bike in Rad’s lineup, it’s one of my favorites. Check out my review to see why.
RadCity 3 and RadCity 4 for $1,399
For urban riders who want to add a bit more to their bikes than the RadMission offers, the RadCity 3 Step-Thru and RadCity 4 Step-Over e-bikes are both marked down from $1,599 to $1,399.
Both these models hit the same 20 mph top speed as the RadMission but add in suspension, gears, fenders, a rear rack, and an LCD screen, giving riders more features as standard equipment.
These are the last bikes in Rad’s lineup to offer the larger direct drive motors, as the company has switched all of its other models to geared motors.
RadRover 6 Plus for $1,299
If the RadMission sale wasn’t so good, I might say this was the headliner event. And it may still be. The RadRover 6 Plus is normally priced at $1,999 but is marked down to $1,299 during the sale.
That makes this 750W fat tire electric bike with dual displays, hydraulic disc brakes, front suspension, and 7-speed gearing one of the best-priced fat tire e-bikes in existence right now.
When you add in the included semi-integrated battery, fenders, lighting, and more, this is one heck of a sweet deal.
What’s happening here?
Buried somewhere in this super sale saga is a burning question, “What’s going on at Rad?”
No company does things purely altruistically, even as much as Rad is pursuing its goal of replacing more cars with e-bikes. So where’s the rub? How is the money talking?
My two best guesses are that we’re either looking at an overstock issue — perhaps as a result of heavy purchasing during the springtime parts uncertainties — or that some new models are coming and Rad is moving out the old stock.
The RadCity 3 and RadCity 4 are already fairly old, so those make sense. The RadMission is over two years old now too, so that one could stand a refresher. The RadRover 6 Plus bikes aren’t really that old, though, so those really surprise me. What’s the reason for such a generous sale? Could they be that overstocked, or is there something else going on?
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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