New Turkish insurance rules on oil tankers carrying Russian crude continue to slow down the movement of tankers off the coast of Turkey and between Russia’s Black Sea ports and the Mediterranean. Sixteen vessels (none Russian-flagged) are waiting for insurance clearance, according to MarineTraffic, and that number is expected to grow.
Based on MarineTraffic data, 35 vessels including nine Russian-flagged tankers have departed from Russia since the first day (Dec. 5) a G7 nation oil price cap and European Union ban on most Russian crude purchases went into effect.
“All the vessels heading to the Bosphorus from the north (to leave Black Sea) are mostly full,” said Captain Adil Ashiq, United States Western Region executive for MarineTraffic.
“The majority of crude is going to Turkey, followed by Greece, Italy, and India,” Ashiq said.
Tankers with a destination of Russia can be seen in the corresponding MarineTraffic graphic.
‘Shadow fleet’ from China, India
VesselsValue tells CNBC that the average wait for tankers at the Bosphorus has increased compared to last week by roughly 47%, based on analysis of 14 vessels with an average wait duration of 64 hours and a combined tonnage capacity of 1.46 million tons.
“As we get further into the duration of the Russian crude oil sanctions and price cap, we expect to see increasing congestion on the north and south side of the Bosphorus, along with areas around the Dardanelles Strait for the same reasons,” said a VesselsValue spokesperson.
Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, tells CNBC that concerns about the age and quality of the shadow fleet carrying Russian crude oil through the Bosphorus will only grow.
“As the EU sanctions take hold, these transit delays will impact Chinese and Indian refiners who remain the largest and grow in importance for Russian oil sales,” Lipow said. “Turkey wants insurers to provide full and all-encompassing liability insurance for anything sanctions related and of course, P&I [maritime protection and indemnity insurance] clubs are not going to do that.”
Hop on Rad Power’s RadExpand 5 Plus or RadExpand 5 folding e-bikes at their lowest prices starting from $999
Rad Power’s Back to School Sale may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still pick up two of the brand’s space-saving folding e-bikes at their lowest prices. Now through August 20, alongside the ongoing RadExpand 5 e-bike’s $999 low, you can grab the RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike at $1,699 shipped. This model released last year but has been keeping posted at its full $1,899 rate for most of the time since, with only a free accessory package and one discount to this same rate on the books in 2025. The low price we first saw during Memorial Day sales is coming back around to save you $200 on this newer model that will also save you on storage space at home, in your dorm, or anywhere else.
The Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus comes as the latest iteration of the space-saving series, able to condense down to 29 inches high by 25 inches wide by 41 inches long to fit inside closets, car trunks, on RVs, and more. The 750W rear hub motor is paired with a 720Wh battery to carry you for up to 60+ miles with its five PAS levels activated at up to 20 MPH top speeds (supported by a torque sensor). Among its updated features, you’ll be getting a hydraulic suspension fork alongside hydraulic disc brakes for smoother rides and greater stopping power. There’s also the puncture-resistant tires, fenders to go over top of them, a rear cargo rack for added versatility, an LED headlight, a brake-activated taillight, a Shimano 7-speed derailleur, a color display with a USB-C port, and more.
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If you’re looking to still save space while paying less, the brand’s predecessor RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike is remaining at its $999 low for as long as supplies last. It has a similar combination of a 750W motor with a smaller 672Wh battery that provides up to 45+ miles of pedal-assisted travel at up to 20 MPH top speeds, and also comes with a foldable design for more convenient storage options. It’s a tried-and-true legacy model that offers a nice array of features, including a rear cargo rack, an auto-on LED headlight, an auto-on taillight with brake lighting, a 7-speed MicroShift derailleur, an LED display, and more.
Bluetti’s August solar generator sale drops Elite 100 V2 bundle with 200W panel to $799 low, more from $169
Jackery cuts power station and accessory prices by up to 50% alongside bonus 5% and 7% savings starting from $89
Jackery is having an August home backup sale running through August 13, which is taking up to 50% off its power station lineup, complete with member-only pricing on top of an extra 5% and 7% savings on orders over $1,300. Among the lineup, we’re seeing continued Prime Day pricing on the brand’s new HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station for members (free to sign up) starting from $1,614.05 shipped, after using the code BACKUP5 at checkout for an additional 5% off, matching the price on Amazon. This new unit hit the scene back in May at $2,499, and is now matching the Prime Day low. You’re getting a third-ever drop to this all-time low price here, cutting $885 off the tag.
You can cut in tighter quarters with Greenworks’ 24V 6-inch cordless mini chainsaw at $95
Amazon is offering the Greenworks 24V 6-inch Cordless Mini Chainsaw with a 2.0Ah battery for $94.99 shipped, which is matching in price directly from the brand’s website. This model normally fetches $130 at full price, which we saw spending the first four months of 2025 keeping to $100, before rising back in price and dropping to the $90 low in June and during July’s Prime Day event. If you missed out on those all-time lows, you can pick it up now at the second-best price we have tracked, cutting $35 off the tag and landing it just $5 above the low.
Get 17 miles of budget-friendly campus commuting on Hiboy’s S2 SE e-scooter at a new $270 low (Today only)
As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the best pricing yet on the newer Hiboy S2 SE Electric Scooter for $269.99 shipped just ahead of students going back to classes. This model hit the market back at the top of 2025 carrying a $550 price tag, with Best Buy instead regularly offering it these days at $330 without discounts. Among the previous discounts this year, the lowest we’ve seen the price go before today was $294 during Prime Day last month, with the deal here cutting $60 off the going rate ($280 off the MSRP) at the best price we have tracked. It’s even beating out Amazon’s pricing by $60 and Hiboy’s direct pricing by $27.
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.
The Inster EV is currently Hyundai’s most affordable electric SUV. With starting prices under $30,000, the compact EV is already making inroads in overseas markets.
Hyundai’s most affordable electric SUV invades Germany
After launching earlier this year, the Inster EV quickly became one of the top-selling electric cars in the heart of Europe.
In the first half of the year, Hyundai’s electric SUV was the best-selling electric small car in Germany. The Inster has now ranked among the top 10 best-selling EVs in the region for the third straight month with over 1,000 registrations.
With another 1,130 registrations in July, Hyundai’s most affordable electric SUV has now secured 6,300 registrations through the first seven months of 2025.
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“We’re delighted that Germany’s best-selling electric small car is a Hyundai,” said Ulrich Mechau, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Germany.
Hyundai’s regional boss added that “With the Hyundai INSTER, we’re hitting the right note – because even in electric mobility, there must be affordable cars with an excellent price-performance ratio.”
Hyundai Inster EV (Source: Hyundai UK)
Led by strong demand for EVs, Hyundai placed third among importers in Germany. Through July, electric vehicles account for 28% of Hyundai’s registrations in Europe’s largest auto market, a 10% increase compared to the same period last year.
Hyundai pointed out that it’s significantly outpacing the German electric vehicle market, which accounts for about 17.5% of registrations.
Hyundai Inster EV (Source: Hyundai UK)
The Inster EV is Hyundai’s most affordable electric SUV in Germany, starting at 23,900 euros ($28,000). It features a driving range of up to 370 km (230 miles) on the WLTP cycle, fast charging (10% to 80% in 30 minutes), and advanced features such as vehicle-to-load (V2L).
Hyundai’s EV lineup in Germany includes the Inster EV, Kona Electric, IONIQ 5, and soon the refreshed IONIQ 6 and new IONIQ 9 will be launched.
Hyundai Inster EV (Source: Hyundai Germany)
In the overall European market, the Inster EV was the 19th best-selling EV in June. With 3,322 registrations, it outsold the Dacia Spring (3,264) and the Toyota bZ4X (2,848).
Hyundai sells the Inster EV under the name Casper Electric in its home market of South Korea. Unfortunately, the low-cost electric SUV is not set to launch in the US.
For those of you in the US, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 remains one of the most affordable EVs on the market. With leases starting at just $179 per month, it may just be the best EV deal available. The IONIQ 5 is coming off its best sales month in the US yet, with 5,818 units sold in July.
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Tesla used car prices continue to plummet, while the average used car price is increasing. Despite being considered a premium brand, used Tesla vehicles are now cheaper than the used car sale price.
However, when the market started to recover in March 2025, Tesla’s used car prices didn’t. It continued to drop.
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In fact, it has now dropped so much that the average used Tesla vehicle costs less than the average used car on Car Gurus:
This is unprecedented. Although the brand has taken a significant hit over the last year, Tesla is still regarded as a premium brand in the industry. The fact that its average used car sale price would dip below the industry average, which includes inexpensive mass-market vehicles, is quite exceptional.
Used Tesla car prices are now down 4.59% year-over-year, compared to the market average being up 1.22%:
Make/Model
Avg Price
Last 30 days
Last 90 days
Year over Year
CarGurus Index
$28,039
+0.19%
+1.22%
+1.22%
Tesla
$27,814
-1.75%
-4.59%
-4.59%
All Tesla vehicles are down year-over-year, with the Cybertruck unsurprisingly leading the charge.
However, Cybertruck has started to recover in the last few months, along with Model 3.
The Model Y, which is by far Tesla’s most popular model by volume, is dragging the average down as it continues to fall:
Make/Model
Avg Price
Last 30 days
Last 90 days
Year over Year
Cybertruck
$83,963
+0.88%
+0.3%
-30.44%
Model 3
$23,318
+0.2%
+0.75%
-8.04%
Model S
$26,534
-5.48%
-9.53%
-22.61%
Model X
$37,747
-2.33%
-9.24%
-16.8%
Model Y
$29,216
-0.49%
-0.68%
-11.97%
Electrek’s Take
Many Tesla owners have been selling their used vehicles and switching to new brands, increasing the supply and putting pressure on prices.
I expected this, but I didn’t expect the pressure to be so great that prices would dip below the average used prices.
This is significant.
It’s proof that the Tesla brand has taken a massive reputational hit and there’s no clear recovery in sight.
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