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A utility-scale renewable energy plant using wind and solar combined with battery storage opened last week, a US first, with the potential of powering 100,000 homes with clean, reliable energy. The project gives us a glimpse into the future as the US shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.

The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is the first utility-scale development in North America to implement wind and solar generation with battery storage.

Until the Inflation Reduction Act was passed in August, energy storage projects were only eligible for tax incentives if they were exclusively based on solar energy. However, the IRA bill opens up new possibilities by providing incentives for mixed (wind and solar) and standalone battery storage projects.

As a result, more projects like the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility will likely be in the works. The combination of wind and solar energy can improve reliability, adding value to the grid.

The renewable energy plant is made possible through a partnership between NextEra Energy Resources and Portland General Electric. NextEra purchased the development rights to a wind farm and expanded upon it with the help of PGE, adding solar capability and battery storage.

Rebecca Kujawa, CEO of Nextera Energy, talks about the benefits of combining renewable energy sources, stating:

Bringing wind, solar and energy storage together at one site is quite a significant moment for renewable technologies.

Kujawa adds:

These facilities generate low-cost, homegrown energy and will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Morrow County over the life of the project.

The facility opened last week in Morrow County, Oregon, and is the first of its scale, according to the companies.

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Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities/Source: PGE

Details of the solar, wind, and battery storage project in Oregon

The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Project is an example of how combining renewable energy sources (solar and wind) with battery storage can help provide reliable, sustainable energy as utility companies look to cut back on carbon emissions.

The renewable energy plant includes:

  • 300 MW wind capacity via 120 GE turbines
  • A 50 MW photovoltaic solar energy generating facility
  • A 30 MW battery storage facility

Using power generated from wind and solar, the battery storage system will save unused energy, providing it for use at any time.

Morrow County Commissioner Don Russel says:

We’re pleased to have Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities located in Morrow County and to play a part in providing clean energy to Oregonians. This facility provides jobs and tax revenue for our schools and county services while also supporting economic opportunities for the agricultural community. Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities also strengthens Morrow County’s position in the region’s clean energy economy.

The renewable energy facility created about 300 jobs during construction and employs around 10 full-time employees.

Electrek’s Take

With new incentives to start battery storage projects, the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is, hopefully, the first of many of its kind from a utility company.

Combining wind and solar with battery storage offers advantages over using either system individually. Hybrid systems like these can generate energy essentially at any point. When the sun is shining, it can generate power from solar, and when the sun is not as intense in winter months, it can generate energy from the wind and store it for later use.

The combination of technology is what will provide the most value over time. To hit the US’s goal of a 100% carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035, more will need to be done, and this is exactly the type of project that can help us get there.

Renewable energy is being deployed around the globe. A new report shows renewable energy sources were used to meet the rise in global electricity demand in the first half of 2022. If hybrid systems like Wheatridge can be utilized, it can help speed up the transition to clean energy while building a reliable grid for the future.

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Hyundai’s first EV sports sedan has arrived: The 650 hp IONIQ 6 N launches in Korea for $57,000

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Hyundai's first EV sports sedan has arrived: The 650 hp IONIQ 6 N launches in Korea for ,000

Hyundai officially launched the new IONIQ 6 N in its home market this week. The IONIQ 6 N, Hyundai’s first electric sports sedan, packs a monstrous 650 horsepower, yet Hyundai insists it’s not all about the performance.

Hyundai’s first EV sports sedan hits Korea: The IONIQ 6 N

After unveiling the IONIQ 6 N at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, Hyundai promised the electric sports car “redefines the EV driving experience” with new vehicle control software, fun features, and plenty of power.

The IONIQ 6 N is Hyundai’s first EV sports sedan and second electric vehicle to receive the “N” treatment. Hyundai’s first, the IONIQ 5 N, has been one of the most awarded high-performance electric SUVs since its debut in 2023.

With the addition of the new IONIQ 6, Hyundai said its N brand is “once again redefining the boundaries of high-performance electrification.”

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Hyundai launched the IONIQ 6 N sports sedan in Korea on October 1, with prices starting at just 79.9 million won. That’s about $57,000 and doesn’t include government subsidies.

Hyundai's-first-EV-sports-sedan
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 N launches in South Korea (Source: Hyundai)

Drawing power from a dual-motor AWD powertrain, Hyundai’s EV sports sedan delivers up to 609 horsepower (448 kW) and 740 Nm of torque.

However, if you really want to feel the power, there’s an added N Grin Boost function that bumps the output to 650 horsepower (478 kW) and 770 Nm of torque, enabling a 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) sprint in just 3.2 seconds.

Hyundai's-first-EV-sports-sedan
The interior of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 N (Source: Hyundai)

The IONIQ 6 N features an 84 kWh battery, good for 291 miles (469 km) WLTP range, but Hyundai fine-tuned it to optimize efficiency, power output, and temperature control.

With a new electronically controlled suspension (ECS), front Hydro G bushings, and rear dual-layer type bushings, the EV sports car offers “precise body control.” Like the IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai has added performance features such as N e-Shift, which simulates the sensation of shifting gears, and the N Active Sound + system, which replicates the sounds of a gas-powered engine.

Hyundai's-first-EV-sports-sedan
The interior of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 N (Source: Hyundai)

Although it packs a punch, Hyundai said the electric sports sedan is designed for both the track and as a daily driver.

“Hyundai Motor Company’s first high-performance sedan EV, the IONIQ 6 N, offers a comfortable ride during everyday driving and predictable performance,” a company official said.

Hyundai-IONIQ-6-N-EV
Hyundai IONIQ 6 N (Source: Hyundai)

At 4,935 mm long, 1,940 mm wide, and 1,495 mm tall, the IONIQ 6 N is about the size of the Porsche Taycan, but it’s about half the cost.

Following its home market, Hyundai will launch the IONIQ 6 N in Europe by the end of the year and in the US in early 2026. We will learn prices closer to launch, but given the IONIQ 5 N starts at $66,200, it’s expected to arrive at a slightly lower price.

Hyundai announced the 2026 IONIQ 5 will start at under $35,000 in the US after cutting prices across all trims. It also plans to continue offering the $7,500 federal tax credit on 2025 models. The IONIQ 6 could be next in line.

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BMW keeps the good times going with $7,500 off MSRP on all its EVs

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BMW keeps the good times going with ,500 off MSRP on all its EVs

The $7,500 tax credit may be gone, but that isn’t stopping BMW. The Ultimate Deal Machine is rolling into the Brave New World of EVs this October with a $7,500 purchase credit off MSRP across the board (and that’s just the beginning).

The sitting administration killed off the $7,500 Federal EV tax credit abruptly after September 30th, leading many casual industry watchers to proclaim that the age of the great EV deal was over. And, while many argued that view was too cynical, it turns out it wasn’t too cynical enough with OEMs like Ford and GM turning to tricky accounting and others like Hyundai simply cutting prices to keep demand for its EVs high.

German performance brand BMW is also getting in the mix, offering a “$7,500 purchase credit off MSRP” across its electric and electrified vehicle lineup. And, while it may sound like a 1:1 sort of replacement for the Federal tax credit, there’s a few significant reasons to believe that this deal might actually be better than the one that went away.

Everyone gets the money


Electric vehicle offers; via BMW.
Electric vehicle offers; via BMW website.

The EV tax credit was (advertised as) a great tool to help people overcome the higher up-front cost of EVs, but vehicles with starting price tags over $80,000 and income caps at $150,000 for individual filers meant that many Americans who were interested in a new EV were never benefitting to begin with. At the same time, Americans who didn’t have a $7,500 tax burden may have wondered how or if the tax credit would work for them.

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While BMW’s latest $7,500 across-the-board discounts likely won’t move the needle much for Americans who don’t earn enough to pay $7,500 in taxes, the fact that it applies to even the lofty 2025 BMW i7 M70 with its $169,675.30 MSRP (don’t forget those thirty cents) is, at least conceptually, a move towards a more universally applied EV incentive to counter the “forgotten costs” of oil subsidies.

It’s a really nice car, you guys


2025 BMW i7 M70; via BMW.

If that take isn’t quite cynical enough, consider this: the rebate probably convinced more OEMs to artificially jack up the prices of their US-bound EVs by $7,500 (give or take) than it did to reduce any supposed barriers to entry.

Time will tell if that proves to be the unexpected consequence of EVs incentives going away or not. In the meantime, BMW is pairing its lower-priced electric cars with 2.99% subsidized financing rates for up to 60 months and up to $5,000 in loyalty money as well, so if you’ve been waiting to see for yourself why the company has occupied the top spot in J.D. Power’s EV satisfaction surveys for the last few years, now might be your chance.

SOURCE | IMAGES: BMW.


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Urban Arrow launches new, more affordable electric cargo bike

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Urban Arrow launches new, more affordable electric cargo bike

Urban Arrow, a Dutch brand best known for its front-loading cargo box bikes (or bakfiets), has just expanded into new territory with the launch of the Urban Arrow Breeze, the company’s first-ever longtail electric cargo bike. In addition to bringing a new form factor to the brand, it also offers a more affordable price.

Long recognized for their high-quality electric family and commercial cargo bikes that feature massive front boxes, Urban Arrow is now jumping into the more compact and versatile longtail category, putting them head-to-head with several of the biggest longtail cargo bike competitors. And true to form, they’re not cutting corners, just complications.

Longtail cargo bikes are generally more streamlined to produce due to simpler steering and more conventional frames, allowing the Breeze to look and feel more like a typical urban bike, while still offering plenty of cargo goodness.

The Breeze is designed to carry serious loads without taking up as much space. With a wheelbase comparable to a standard city bike, the Breeze can still handle up to two child seats on the rear rack while keeping a nimble footprint. Total carrying capacity tops out at 200 kg (440 lb), and the rear rack is fully MIK-compatible, allowing for fast, tool-free swaps of baskets, bags, and child seats. Both the front and rear racks are included with the bike.

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Powering the Breeze is the Bosch Cargo Line motor, a popular choice among heavy-hauling e-bikes thanks to its torque-rich, low-speed performance. Riders can choose from 400 Wh up to 800 Wh of battery capacity via the online configurator. The front end features a beefy Suntour Mobie 34 suspension fork, and the bike rolls on 26” wheels with wide tires for extra comfort and stability.

Priced at €5,499 in Europe, the Breeze undercuts Urban Arrow’s other pricier models, yet still offers family vehicle performance. The model also comes standard with a double kickstand for easy loading, and Urban Arrow is offering a wide range of accessories at launch, including everything from panniers and cushions to protective side rails.

Available now in black or green, the Urban Arrow Breeze marks a significant step for a brand that helped define the modern e-cargo bike, and now looks ready to expand its offering by showing what an Urban Arrow longtail can do.

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