AYRO Vanish utility LSV unveiled as one of the most affordable US-assembled electric trucks yet
The AYRO Vanish utility LSV has just been unveiled, launching the company’s new roadmap of electric Low Speed Vehicles assembled in the US.
LSVs, or Low Speed Vehicles, are a federally recognized class of vehicles that fall into a regulatory class somewhere between motorcycles and cars.
Similar to L6e or L7e quadricycles in Europe, LSVs in the US are four-wheeled car-like vehicles that aren’t technically cars. Instead, they exist in their own distinct class of vehicles with fewer safety and manufacturing regulations than highway-capable cars.
They still require basic safety equipment like DOT-compliant seatbelts, backup cameras, mirrors and lighting, but aren’t required to feature expensive and complicated equipment like airbags or meet crash safety requirements.
That safety trade-off allows them to be produced in lower volumes and for lower prices. With full-size electric trucks from US-based manufacturers such as Ford, GM, and Rivian all raising prices recently, the pint-sized AYRO Vanish electric mini-truck could be a breath of fresh air.
LSVs in the US are permitted to operate on public roads with posted speed limits of up to 35 mph (56 km/h), but are themselves limited to a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h).
Thus, the AYRO Vanish may not be a speedster, but it still packs in some serious utility.
The electric mini-truck has a highly adaptable bed to support both light-duty and heavy-duty operations. It has a maximum payload capacity of 1,200 pounds (544 kg) in the LSV variant, though the company indicated that a non-LSV variant will have a higher payload capacity of 1,800 pounds (816 kg).
An estimated range of 50 miles (80 km) certainly won’t compare to a new Rivian or Ford F-150 Lightning, but the AYRO Vanish is designed for more local operations where 50 miles of range is likely plenty. Think job site utility or local deliveries, not cross-country drives.
When it comes time for a recharge, the electric mini-truck can use either a conventional 120V or 240V wall outlet, or can be configured for a J1772 charger like those used in most public charge stations.
At just under 13 feet long (3.94 meters), the AYRO Vanish is around two-thirds of the length and width of a Ford F-150 Lightning. The company says it can even drive through double doors when the side mirrors are removed.
The development process for the Vanish included the filing of two new design patents, multiple underlying seminal patents in sustainability, four U.S. utility patents, and two additional U.S. utility patent applications.
The vehicle is assembled in AYRO’s Texas facility using a combination of mostly North American and European components.
As AYRO’s CEO Tom Wittenschlaeger explained in a statement provided to Electrek:
We designed the AYRO Vanish from the ground up. From concept to production to implementation, we wanted to make sure every detail was considered. Also, the vehicle is primarily sourced from North America and Europe, with vehicle final assembly and integration in our Round Rock, Texas facility, thus eliminating concerns regarding rising costs of trans-Pacific shipping, shipping times, import duties and quality.
The company described the ideal applications for the AYRO Vanish as industries where conventional pickup trucks are too large, yet a golf cart or UTV may be too small. Areas such as universities, corporate and medical campuses, hotels and resorts, golf courses, stadiums, and marinas could all be ideal applications, as well as for use as an urban delivery vehicle.
In crowded cities where the speed of traffic rarely surpasses 25 mph (40 km/h), the AYRO Vanish would fit right in while offering a zero-emission alternative to conventional delivery vehicles.
As Wittenschlaeger continued:
Our goal at AYRO is to redefine the nature of sustainability. We at AYRO, working in concert with our customers, are working toward a future where our solutions move beyond just limiting carbon emissions. As we developed the AYRO Vanish, and our future product roadmap, we’re considering tire tread, fuel cells, toxic fluids, discordant sound and even harsh visuals in our designs. It’s everything – sustainability isn’t just a destination, it’s a constantly evolving journey.
LSVs are a small but growing industry in the US. Vehicles like the GEM neighborhood electric vehicle often seen at hotels, resorts, and airports are some of the most visible. Several Asian varieties that aren’t street legal have started entering the US in limited numbers. I even imported my own electric mini-truck from China at a fraction of the cost of what most US-based importers of Chinese electric mini-trucks charge.
The AYRO Vanish is expected to start at around US $25,000, putting it well above the cost of less capable golf carts, and closer in line to the cost of US-built electric UTVs. That’s equivalent to a $25,000 Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic UTV and less than a $26,500 GEM utility vehicle when outfitted with lithium-ion batteries (though the GEM utility vehicle starts at closer to $17,00 with lead acid batteries).
Compared to the only other street-legal electric mini-truck in the US with somewhat steady inventory, the Pickman electric mini-truck, the AYRO Vanish is around 25% more expensive. It’s local assembly and US/European parts could help make up for its $5,000 premium over the $20,000 lithium-ion version of the Pickman truck.
AYRO’s pricing may still be a bit pricey for most private consumers, though the price pales in comparison to highway-capable full-size electric trucks. It is more likely though that the AYRO Vanish will attract commercial customers instead of private drivers. Optional rear cargo configurations including food boxes, flat beds, utility beds with three-sided tailgates, and van boxes for secure storage all point to potential commercial applications for the vehicle.
For those that are ready to sign on the dotted line, pre-orders are expected to begin soon.
As AYRO’s Senior VP of Strategic Business Development Scott Bruce explained:
Our first test vehicles will roll out later this year. We will also begin accepting pre-orders early next year followed by a ramp up to production in the first quarter of 2023.
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The Subaru BRZ may live on as an EV after all. Subaru wants its share of the sports car market, and an electric BRZ could hit the sweet spot.
Is Subaru launching an electric BRZ?
Subaru discontinued the BRZ in Europe in 2020 after the first generation. Although its twin, the Toyota GR86, was sold until the 2024 model year, the BRZ was released as a US-only model.
In its third generation, it could return as an EV. Speaking with Autocar, Subaru’s European head, David Dello Stritto, said, “Our options are open,” hinting that the BRZ could make a comeback in electric form.
Subaru’s global EV product boss, Inoue Masahiko, confirmed an electric version of the sports car “was under consideration.” He added that Subaru has extensively looked into an EV version of the BRZ with its partner, Toyota.
Masahiko explained that “We did consider electrifying the BRZ and GR86, but the win-win relationship is more important.” So far, “We can’t get the kind of benefits from both sides,” he added.
Subaru is already launching several new electric vehicles in Europe, including the new Uncharted, E-Outback (known as Trailseeker in the US), and an updated Solterra SUV.
Stritto said that an electric sports car will depend on the success of these models first, especially the Uncharted. According to Subaru’s European boss, the Japanese automaker feels “very positively about Subaru enthusiasts, but we need to see how Uncharted does first.”
As for an “electrified” powertrain, or hybrid, Masahiko said the vehicle’s packaging “would make it difficult,” adding an EV version would be “easier” to create.
The comments come after Stritto told Autocar last week that a new entry-level EV could also be in the works. However, that will also depend on how well the Uncharted sells.
For those in the US, don’t worry – Subaru is not planning to discontinue the BRZ. If it did launch as an EV, would you consider one? It would go up against the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 N and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
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The new Nissan LEAF will arrive at dealerships this fall, and to go with it, the company has introduced a new one-stop shop for EV chargers and more.
Nissan launches new shop for EV chargers and more
Nissan says it’s “building more than electric vehicles” after launching its new “Nissan Energy Marketplace” on Thursday.
The new one-stop shop was developed in collaboration with Electrum, a leading home energy marketplace provider. Electrum has built similar platforms for other major automakers, including Tesla (in certain regions), Hyundai, and Honda.
Nissan joins in just as the new and (much) improved LEAF is about to hit US dealerships. Through the new marketplace, you can research and find EV chargers, solar panels, and battery storage options.
With the help of Electrum’s Energy Advisors, you can compare prices from a nationwide network of contractors. You can also find local, state, and federal incentives to reduce your costs further.
The 2026 Nissan LEAF will reach US dealerships this fall. Dropping the iconic hatch design, the LEAF is now all grown up with a more crossover SUV-like profile.
Powered by a 75 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, the new LEAF has up to 303 miles of driving range. That’s a significant difference from the maximum 212-mile range offered on the outgoing model, which was powered by a 62 kWh battery.
It can also recharge from 10% to 80% in as little as 35 minutes. Perhaps the best part is that the 2026 Nissan LEAF will include a built-in NACS port, enabling access to Tesla Superchargers.
Nissan has yet to reveal prices, but the new LEAF EV is expected to start in the $35,000 to $40,000 range. The new LEAF is one of ten new Nissan and Infiniti models slated to launch in North America by 2028, as the Japanese automaker seeks to revamp its brand. A new “adventure-focused” electric SUV is set to arrive around 2027, followed by a luxury Infiniti EV SUV.
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Two years after world leaders pledged to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, a new report shows that most countries still aren’t planning like they mean it.
Global energy think tank Ember released new data showing that national targets for renewable energy have barely budged since the COP28 climate summit in 2023. Collectively, countries are now aiming for just 7.4 terawatts (TW) of renewable energy by 2030 – that’s only a 2% increase in ambition since the agreement was signed. To hit the global tripling goal of tripling renewables by 2030, we need to reach 11 TW. Right now, we’re still on track for just a doubling.
“The purpose of a national renewables target is less so to force more renewables to be built, but rather to make sure they are built smarter,” said Dr. Katye Altieri, global electricity analyst at Ember. Setting clear goals helps governments plan where to build projects and how to best integrate them into the grid, and it helps companies invest in supply chains. What results is cheaper, more secure electricity.
Since COP28, only 22 countries have updated their renewables targets, and most of them are in the European Union. Outside the EU, just seven countries have made changes. That sluggish response highlights how most governments are still moving at their usual planning pace, despite the climate emergency.
The world’s biggest electricity producers haven’t done much either. The US still doesn’t have a national 2030 renewables target — and with Trump’s rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), there’s little to no chance of that happening during this administration. India’s target of 500 GW hasn’t moved, but it’s already aligned with the tripling goal. Russia has no 2030 target at all, and no plans to set one.
China is finalizing its 15th Five-Year Plan for Energy, which is expected to include a 2030 renewables target, though it’s unclear if that will be part of the plan, its nationally determined contribution (NDC), or both. South Africa is also updating its Integrated Resource Plan, which could bring a new 2030 goal.
This report lands just as countries are gearing up for COP30 in Brazil, and without urgent, ambitious target updates and a clear path to implementation, the world is set to miss the 2030 goal. That would also be a missed opportunity to boost investment, cut fossil fuel use, and build a more affordable and resilient energy system.
Read more: Batteries are so cheap now, solar power doesn’t sleep
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