Elon Musk brings whole new meaning to ‘high speed’ satellite internet with vehicle-optimized Starlink terminal
One of the options Starlink customers have been waiting on, for quite a while, is the ability to use Starlink terminals while in motion. With Starlink Maritime the company released the ability to use the high-speed internet while in motion out at sea, but at last, there is an official option for customers who want to mount a Starlink terminal on top of their RV or other vehicles for in-motion use.
This capability has a very high up-front cost, however. While the service is available for $135 per month in the US, as part of the Starlink for RV tier, the up-front cost for hardware is $2,500 rather than the $599 of a typical Starlink user terminal. That isn’t for no reason though. This terminal is one of the company’s high-performance terminals, which is much larger for a better connection with satellites. Unlike the pole mounted Starlink terminals, which use a motor to do some alignment and then the fine control of the phased-array antenna, the Flat High Performance terminal has no motor or pole mount, and uses exclusively the phased-array antenna.
SpaceX says this terminal’s “enhanced GPS capability” and wide field of view allow it to connect with more satellites to create a stable connection while in motion. As it’s designed for use in motion, the flat high-performance Starlink terminal also includes a mount for the power supply and router to help keep them in place.
According to their specs, the terminal can survive winds over 174mph. I think the word “survivable” should be examined with a bit of scrutiny – just cause the terminal can survive it doesn’t necessarily mean you can expect a reliable connection at that speed (not that you’ll be mounting the terminal on an F1 car to test it).
Being the high-performance terminal, it also has improved extreme weather capabilities for melting snow and withstanding heat.
This service could be perfect for both RVers and truckers. Even if they don’t need the internet while actually on-the-move, the flat mount would allow them to have high-speed internet whenever they stop, rather than having to unpack a Starlink terminal, find a spot to set it, wire it, and wait for a connection.
While the terminal is costly, I have no doubt that many people will find it a good fit for them and purchase the package. Well before this flat high-performance terminal was released, however, users were modifying their own terminals for a similar experience.
As SpaceX continues to branch out its Starlink products, I believe it’s only a matter until they integrate Starlink data connectivity directly into Tesla vehicles. Tesla and SpaceX have had their cross-promotions plenty of times before. SpaceX launched a Tesla Roadster into space, SpaceX uses Tesla batteries in Starship to actuate flaps, Tesla referral program participants had their photos launched into space, and a limited form of Starlink connectivity will make its way to Tesla vehicles in the coming years. Initially, that will only be the same cell-phone-like connection that the V2 Starlink satellites will bring to any 5G phone. That connection is primarily for emergency calls and texts when outside of cellular connection. But as SpaceX continues to bring the cost down on the terminals, I believe there will eventually be a point that the increased cost of installing a terminal in Tesla vehicles from the factory will be outweighed by the benefits of the new Starlink customers it will attract.
Not the first flat-mount Starlink
People have even created businesses out of modifying Starlink terminals – such as Star-Mount systems. They offer a mounting kit so you can rehouse your own Starlink terminal into a flat mount. Depending on the mount type, you can either keep the terminal in mostly one piece, or cut apart the shell of the standard rectangular terminal and remove the motor and tube for an extremely thin terminal that can be installed on vehicles in a safe manner. Some of these mounts have suction cups at the four corners to allow them to suction onto even the glass-roofs of Tesla vehicles. Some people, of course, did this for their own use, but when Hurricane Ian struck Florida, Brandon Walsh of Star-Mount Systems stepped up and helped the state Hurricane Response and Relief unit to get their terminals modified for more convenient connectivity when responding to the disaster.
This is far from the first time that Starlink has been used in response to disasters, but the community effort behind the support here is worth note and worth celebrating.
There are even some great thoughtful additions to the terminal like an internal Apple AirTag to help keep track to the units in the even one could be stolen.
Even though there is now an official product from SpaceX that offers similar functionality, I’m confident some of the alternative options will have their place. Even with the cost of a standard Starlink terminal and a third party mounting solution, you’ve spent less than half as much as the low-profile higher performance terminal. The standard terminal also draws less power than the high-performance terminal, which is an important consideration for people living off-the-grid. There are certainly trade-offs either way, but I find the ingenuity of some people incredible.
Despite the warnings, BYD continues introducing new discounts. On Wednesday, BYD’s luxury off-road brand began offering over 50% Huawei’s smart driving tech.
BYD introduces new discounts on smart driving tech
After BYD cut prices again in May, the China Automobile Manufacturers Association (CAMA) warned that the ultra-low prices are “triggering a new round of price war panic.”
Although they didn’t single out BYD, it was pretty obvious. BYD slashed prices across 22 of its vehicles by up to 34%, triggering several automakers to follow suit in China.
BYD’s cheapest EV, the Seagull, typically starts at about $10,000 (66,800 yuan). After the price cuts, the Seagull is listed at under $8,000 (55,800 yuan).
It doesn’t look like China’s EV leader plans to slow down anytime soon. Fang Cheng Bao, BYD’s luxury off-road brand, introduced new discounts on Huawei’s smart driving tech on Wednesday.
The limited-time offer cuts the price of Huawei’s Qiankun Intelligent Driving High-end Function Package to just 12,000 yuan ($1,700).
Buyers who order the smart driving tech in July will save over 50% compared to its typical price of 32,000 yuan ($4,500).
Earlier this year, Fang Chang Bao launched the Tai 3, its most affordable vehicle, starting at 139,800 yuan ($19,300). The Tai 3 is about the size of the Tesla Model Y, but costs about half as much.
The Tai 3 will spearhead a new sub-brand of electric SUVs following the more premium Bao 8 and Bao 5 hybrid SUVs.
BYD’s luxury off-road brand sold 18,903 vehicles last month, up 50% from May and 605% compared to last year. Fang Cheng Bao has now sold over 10,000 vehicles for three consecutive months.
The Chinese EV giant sold 382,585 vehicles in total in June, an increase of 12% from last year. In the first half of the year, BYD’s cumulative sales reached over 2.1 million, a YOY increase of 33%.
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Every year, it seems like there’s a new headline about the world’s lightest electric bike. Each year, engineers manage to shave a few more grams off of an exotically designed frame built with even more exotic materials. And each year, the continuously lower weight is balanced by continuously higher prices – often exorbitantly high. But now Dahon has bucked that trend, offering us an incredibly lightweight electric bike at a price that normal e-bike riders can afford. Meet the Dahon K-Feather.
To put things in perspective, some of the previous lightest electric bicycles have included the 11.8 kg (26 lb) LeMond Prolog at US $4,500, the 11.75 kg (12.59 lb) Trek Domane+ SLR at US $8,999, and the 10 kg (22 lb) Hummingbird Flax folding e-bike at US $6,050.
So with that in mind, please allow me to introduce you to the new Dahon K-Feather. This is a 12 kg (26.5 kg) folding electric bike priced at an incredibly reasonable US $1,199 in North America or €1,499 in Europe.
Sure, it’s not the absolute lightest folding e-bike we’ve ever seen, but it’s 90% of the way there and at a quarter of the price. Plus, it comes from Dahon, which is one of the most respected names in the folding bike world and is largely credited with paving the way for the booming folding bike industry we see today. Since the 1980s, Dahon’s innovative designs have been imitated around the world, yet the folding bike maker has continued to innovate and stay several steps ahead of competing brands.
The K-feather achieves its extra low weight through the combination of a novel frame design employing Dahon’s patented frame designs, including the company’s DELTECH technology and “super down tube,” which help improve rigidity and robustness while reducing weight.
The electrical system on the K-Feather is also a featherweight, keeping the e-bike largely in the last-mile category. While the battery claims a maximum range of up to 24.8 miles (40 km), real-world riding and hilly terrain could reduce that range. Still, clever designs like a system that automatically shuts off the extra motor power when detecting a downhill segment help to eke out more range from the small 24V and 5Ah battery.
The ultra-lightweight 250W hub motor also offers just 32 Nm of torque, meaning the assist is more of a helpful push than a powerful shove. But with the inclusion of a torque sensor for the pedal assist, that push comes on quickly and reliably, making the bike feel more like a traditional analog bike being pedaled by someone with extra strong legs.
With 16″ dual-wall rims and 14g spokes, this isn’t the heavy fat tire folding e-bikes we’re used to in North America, and the capacity reflects that. The K-Feather is rated to support riders weighing up to 105 kg (231 lb), though the highly adjustable seating position can support a range of rider heights from 145 to 190.5 cm (4’9″ to 6’3″).
Coming in six colorways, the Dahon K-feather folding e-bike is now available in the US and has launched for pre-order in Europe, with shipments there expected in September.
I had a bit of a preview of the K-feather on my last trip to China when I was able to visit Dahon’s headquarters and test ride the bike.
I still can’t believe how light it felt, both underneath me and while folding it up and carrying it around. Be on the lookout for that full experience from my trip, coming soon.
Electrek’s Take
The K-Feather represents a compelling milestone not just for Dahon, but for the entire folding e-bike market. By delivering a truly lightweight, compact, and fully electric folder at an impressively affordable price point, Dahon has made minimalist e-mobility more accessible than ever.
It’s not just a bike for die-hard lightweight e-bike connoisseurs; it’s a real-world solution for commuters, travelers, and apartment dwellers who want the freedom of electric assist without the bulk or the sticker shock. If the goal is to get more people on two wheels, the K-Feather might just be one of the most important steps forward yet.
Coming in at less than half the weight of most folding e-bikes, and still a fraction of most lighter-duty folders, the K-Feather’s modest performance makes it a great urban ride for those who favor compact size and light weight. In fact, I think it might be perfect for my mother-in-law, who needs an e-bike to get to and from the train she takes to work, but also needs it to be light enough to carry up to her second-story apartment. Hmmm, perhaps I should have her do a review for us…
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The Honda Prologue remains a top-selling EV in the US, but it’s Acura’s luxury electric SUV that’s been the surprise hit this year.
Honda Prologue sales rise while Acura’s EV surprises
After delivering the first Prologue models last year, Honda’s electric SUV quickly became a hit. In the second half of 2024, it was the second-best-selling electric SUV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y.
Despite limited inventory due to the new 2025 model year change, Honda sold 2,799 Prologues last month. In the first half of the year, Honda has now sold 16,317 Prologue models in the US. In comparison, Toyota sold just over 9,200 units of its electric SUV, the bZ4X, during the same period.
Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, sold only 763 RZ models, its sole electric SUV, for a total of 3,779 units in the first half of the year.
Honda Prologue sales have now held steady, averaging over 2,700 units per month, but it’s Acura’s electric SUV that has been quietly gaining ground in the luxury EV space.
With another 1,318 models sold last month, Acura ZDX sales reached 10,355 in the first half of 2025. Acura’s electric SUV is even outpacing the Cadillac Lyriq, which is based on the same Ultium platform.
Sales are significantly higher than the company expected. Earlier this year, Mike Langel, vice president of national sales for Acura, told Automotive News that the company expected to sell around 1,000 ZDX models a month this year.
A significant reason behind the strong demand is the availability of massive discounts, which can reach nearly $30,000 in some states. The luxury electric SUV is more affordable than a Honda CR-V, with monthly leases starting at just $299.
The Honda Prologue is available to lease for as little as $259 per month. The offer is for 36 months with $2,399 due at signing in California and other ZEV states.
With the Trump administration planning to end the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, many of these savings will soon disappear.
If you’re looking to take advantage of the savings while they’re still available, we can help you get started. You can use our links below to find deals on the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX in your area.
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