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If you’ve been wanting to learn how to ride a flying electric surfboard but have been put off by what looks like a steep learning curve, then you’ll want to check out Awake’s new VINGA 3 electric hydrofoil board. The company just launched the eFoil board as a beginner friendly platform for newcomers to the sport.

Hydrofoil electric surfboards, or eFoils, are similar to conventional electric surfboards yet have an additional hydrofoil wing under the water. That allows the surfboard to complety leave the water, often flying 1-2 feet (around half a meter) above the water’s surface.

Not only does it create a unique sensation that feels quite like flying, but it is also much more efficient. Whereas a typical electric surfboard’s battery might last for 45 minutes to an hour, an eFoil with the same battery can often surf for two hours or more.

awake vinga 3 electric hydrofoil board

The Awake VINGA 3 follows on the heels of Awake’s last major launch less than a year ago, the VINGA, which is now renamed as the VINGA S. That sportier eFoil took advantage of the Swedish high performance electric surfboard company’s technology to create a similarly high performance electric hydrofoil board.

The original VINGA saw impressive leaps through the air under the capable feet of talented riders, though wasn’t exactly the easier board to learn to ride.

That’s something I discovered myself this past summer on a trip to Stockholm when I experienced several seconds of blissful flight followed by repeated less-than-gentle re-entries into the water, usually face first.

Electrek’s Micah Toll learning to ride the original VINGA, now renamed the VINGA S

The move also follows Awake’s playbook for its high performance electric surfboards.

The company first released its higher performance RÄVIK S e-surfboard that could carve aggressively and reach speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h).

But that board also proved more appropriate for experienced riders than absolute beginners. So Awake followed it with the RÄVIK 3, a wider and more beginner-friendly board that was still powerful and capable, but was designed to be more stable in order to offer an easier learning curve.

Again, that proved to be exactly my experience when I took to the RÄVIK 3 in minutes, succeeding to stand up and surf it on my first try. But the higher performance RÄVIK S was more difficult for me to master on the first ride.

And that’s exactly the goal of the Awake VINGA 3, which the company touts with the tagline “30 seconds to set up, 5 minutes to fly – you’ll be cruising within the first session.”

Using Awake’s “Click-to-Ride system”, the VINGA 3 features a snap-together locking mechanism to mount the eFoil without screws, cables, or hatches. That also means that the disassembled board is easy to transport to the beach or lake in the trunk of a car or even on a bicycle or moped.

The VINGA 3’s double concave hull is said to offer increased stability and the board’s beginner-friendly safety features include the shielded jet propulsion, soft rails and rounded wings. The battery is also compatible with all of Awake’s other boards, meaning a VINGA 3 owner could upgrade to another board or add to their collection without having to buy another battery.

To see it in action, check out the launch video below.

I spoke about the launch with Awake’s Brand and Sales Coordinator Flo Garbaccio, who also happened to be the guy who taught me to surf Awake’s boards last summer. Flo does double duty as one of Awake’s professional surfers (which makes sense as I’ve seen him jump these boards meters in the air) and so he worked closely with Awake’s R&D team on development of the VINGA 3.

Flo described how the board was designed to be even more accessible while still maintaining the same playful and high-performance style of Awake’s other electric surfboards. He says that the board is even easier to learn than the RÄVIK 3 that I took to in minutes, which is quite promising for someone like me that enjoys electric surfboards but finds the hydrofoil versions to be more difficult to ride.

As Flo explained:

“To compare with the VINGA you tried last summer, this board is bigger with more floatation, and so it is ultra quick to learn on if you are a total beginner in the sport. They both still share the same drive unit (mast and motor), and the same wings and battery. The shape has been designed with a lot of attention to detail regarding the volume distribution and the space to move your body, in order to forgive the classic mistakes you would do when learning how to eFoil. To give an example, I took a 73 year old man for his first time ever on a board and he was flying within just 5-10 minutes!”

The VINGA 3 starts at €12,900 for the lighter SR battery, which is described as being more playful and agile. The larger XR battery has an addition €2,500 pricetag. That battery can offer up to 2 hours of ride time, which Awake says makes it better for coast explorations or rental centers.

All of those prices exclude European VAT. Orders for the new board open today and the first deliveries will take place in April, 2023.

For a chance to see what it’s like to learn how to ride an electric surfboard, check out my video below of my first ever test of Awake’s different boards. Jump to around 5:17 for when I started on the Vinga hydrofoil e-board.

Electrek’s Take

Wow, I’m super excited about this launch.

When I test rode the RÄVIK 3, that was probably the most fun I’ve ever had on an electric surfboard. And I’ve tested several of them from various manufacturers.

The VINGA was also fun, but it was frustrating too because despite being able to ride it seated, I would always wipeout within a few seconds of standing up. And I really wanted to master it since it looked like so much fun when experienced riders flew around on it.

But it sounds like the VINGA 3 is the answer for beginners just like me, bringing the quick-learning design of the RÄVIK 3 to the VINGA’s eFoil platform.

I absolutely can not wait until I can test out the new VINGA 3. After all of those face-first wipeouts, I feel like this is going to be my sweet redemption.

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Why repowering wind farms is wind power’s next big thing

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Why repowering wind farms is wind power's next big thing

Renewables developer Exus Renewables North America is giving a $200 million upgrade to Somerset County, Pennsylvania’s 139 megawatt (MW) Twin Ridges Wind Farm – here’s why repowering projects like this are the future of the wind industry.

Wind energy repowering is all about breathing new life into older turbines or entire wind farms. By swapping out aging parts like turbines, blades, and nacelles for the latest tech, wind farms can see significant boosts in efficiency, power capacity, and overall lifespan. Other infrastructure and control systems can also get a second life, too.

Adding new components to existing infrastructure and grid connections mean it’s less expensive to extend the life of the wind farm with fewer resources. New components make the turbines less prone to breakdowns which means less maintenance, so there are fewer operational costs. Plus, a wind farm’s debt is usually paid off at around 10 years, and it qualifies for new tax credits and new financing at around that time. Existing wind farms often have power purchase agreements in place, and data companies are increasingly chasing power sources as demand grows.

Repowering Twin Ridges meant keeping all 68 towers and foundations while swapping out the nacelles and blades. Vestas, which has identified the repower market as a huge opportunity and engineered a solution that’s compatible with most turbines, supplied US-made nacelles, hubs, blades, and tower adaptors for the project. (Twin Ridges’ original supplier, RES, is no longer in business.)

Jim Spencer, CEO of Exus Renewables North America, said of Twin Ridges, “This upgrade will increase the power generation by 30%, which is a lot more power going into the grid. Repowering will allow it to use more of its allotted grid capacity since wind farms don’t operate at maximum capacity 100% of the time.”

Unlike a new wind farm, which comes online all at once, a repowered wind farm sees refurbished turbines turned on one at a time since the infrastructure is already in place. Out of its 68 upgraded turbines, Twin Ridges has brought 40 repowered turbines online, and a 41st turbine will soon follow.

Industry estimates suggest that up to 50 GW of US onshore wind capacity will be assessed for repowering in the next few years.

Read more: Renewables now make up 30% of US utility-scale generating capacity


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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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New Honda battery electric lawn mowers will be made in the USA

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New Honda battery electric lawn mowers will be made in the USA

Honda is set to introduce a full line of battery electric walk-behind consumer and zero turn electric riding lawnmowers to its US power equipment dealers for 2025.

Gas-powered lawn equipment is horrible for public health — so much so that a single two-strike leaf blower can produce significantly more harmful carbon emissions than a conventional car. That’s why a growing number of cities and states have passed regulations restricting the use of gas-powered lawn equipment.

As our own Jamie Dow put it, “It’s important to mention how horrendous gas lawn equipment is all the time, and how it’s often possible to get electric stuff for cheap because air quality districts know this is some of the lowest hanging fruit. The issue is that ‘small off-road engines‘ (SOREs) usually don’t include any sort of pollution controls, and are often dirtier two-stroke engines that create more power in a small package, but emit orders of magnitude more pollution in the form of unburned particulates from the incomplete combustion process they undergo when compared to four-stroke engines.”

With that in mind, then, we have to consider the recent announcement that Honda will be offering its battery electric HRX, HRN, and HRC walk-behind consumer lawn mowers and a zero-turn-radius (ZTR) commercial electric riding lawn mower at select Honda Power Equipment dealers nationwide in 2025.

Honda electric lawn mower line

Screencap, via Honda Power Equipment.

That’s bigger news than you might think, too. That’s because Honda actually stopped producing new lawn mowers in 2023 amid tightening emissions regulations amid shifting customer preferences. The new battery-powered lineup will, therefor, re-establish Honda dealers as full-line outdoor power equipment (OPE) stores while, at the same time, supporting the company’s electrification vision.

“With the new line of Honda battery-powered lawn mowers, we will deliver the exceptional ownership experience that our customers have come to expect while providing lawn care options for a variety of users, conditions and applications,” says Mark Kohls, vice president of Honda Power Sports & Products at American Honda. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is only part of the challenge, as battery-powered power products must meet Honda standards for rugged performance, ease of use and comfortable operation to meet the high expectations of our residential and commercial customers.”

Honda ZTR electric riding mower

On the commercial front, Honda’s new ZTR mowers are powered by 5 separate, 48V brushless electric motors — 3 motors under the machine’s 60″ cutting deck (12″ wider than the Kubota‘s) that each power a rotating set of twin blades, and 2 drive wheel motors to maneuver the mower with precise control. The company says it’s engineered to, “stand up to the rigors of commercial landscaping, with power to mow at maximum efficiency while maintaining pristine cut quality.”

Honda says the ZTR’s six 48-volt lithium-ion battery packs offer enough power to mow up to 15 acres of lawn on a single charge, and can be recharged in under 6 hours on a 220V outlet.

The new ZTR will be the first electrified power product produced at Honda North Carolina Manufacturing (NCM) facility in Swepsonville, and will be assembled using both “using “domestic and globally sourced parts.”

“Technology is aggressively shaping the future of the world, including the landscaping industry, and trends show that buyers are integrating battery-powered products into their fleets,” said Kohls. “Honda Sports & Products is providing the battery-powered Honda ZTR lawn mower to introduce flexibility into the fleet, help increase operating efficiency and comfort, address labor shortages and support the sustainability goals of commercial landscapers.”

No word, yet, on pricing.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Honda Power Equipment, via Power Progress.

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Black Friday sales take $4,000 off EcoFlow power stations and up to $1,350 off e-bikes from ENGWE, Xtracycle, more

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Black Friday sales take ,000 off EcoFlow power stations and up to ,350 off e-bikes from ENGWE, Xtracycle, more

We’ve got a ton more Black Friday sales for you in today’s Green Deals, with EcoFlow being the first of the major backup power brands to launch its savings event and offering up to $4,000 in savings on units like the new DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station that is at a new $2,789 low. There’s also ENGWE’s sale that has a bunch of savings options too, which has lowered the L20 2.0 e-bike to $699, among others. Xtracycle has taken up to $1,350 off its cargo e-bike bundles starting from $3,999, while Greenworks’ 80V Venture Commuter and Mountain e-bikes are at some of their lowest rates from $1,281. We even have a surprise last-minute entry that was too sweet to pass up as four Juiced e-bikes are getting up to $1,899 taken off their price tags in a massive clearance sale, dropping them to new low prices across the selection that start from $1,300. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s early Black Friday savings from Velotric, the limited Hiboy EX6 e-bike low, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

EcoFlow Black Friday sale drops 4,096Wh DELTA Pro 3 power station to new $2,789 low (Reg. $3,699)

EcoFlow has launched its early Black Friday sale through November 20 which is taking up to $4,000 off its lineup of power stations, bundle packages, and accessories. One of its newest releases, the DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station is now down at $2,789.07 shipped. Normally fetching $3,699, we’ve only seen a few varying discounts since releasing back in July, with it launching at $3,199, and subsequent discounts only bringing costs down to $3,399 at best. This sale though is giving folks the best rate to date as it falls $700 from its price tag and lands at a new all-time low price – but that’s not where the savings stop, as you’ll be getting an additional $210 (7%) off thanks to the bonus savings we discuss more below.

Now, as is often the case with EcoFlow’s big sales, there are some great additional savings that you can get right now. Aside from double points for members and a 30-day price-matching guarantee, you’ll also benefit from extra savings based on reaching certain order thresholds. For orders between $1,000 to $1,999 you’ll receive an additional 5% discount, while orders between $2,000 and $4,999 will receive 7% off discounts, and orders over $5,000 will receive a further 9% taken off the tag. Discounts will be automatically applied in your cart.

EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro 3 power station provides a 4,096Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can expand further up to 48,000Wh, while also dishing output power up to 4,000W – surging to 6,000W and also expandable up to 12,000W when you have three power stations connected together. There’s a massive variety of recharging methods for this model, with seven solo-source options and 18 combination options. A standard wall outlet, for example, gets the battery back to 80% in just 50 minutes, with other options including solar (2,600W input max), EV, automotive cigarette outlets, dual PV charging, and so much more.

Through the EcoFlow app you’ll have full smart controls available via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while the 14 output ports offer plenty of ways to power and recharge your devices/appliances. This is one of three models (alongside the DELTA 3 Plus and RIVER 3 stations) that boasts the brand’s X-Core 3.0 tech, an integrated architecture system that is designed to offer far superior host safety, performance, and intelligence improvement. This upgrade also boosts its surge power rating for your more demanding appliances too, as well as increasing charging speeds, letting it run quieter and cooler than previous models, improving the battery management system and its overall lifespan, and more.

EcoFlow early Black Friday DELTA 3 Pro bundle deals:

EcoFlow’s early Black Friday DELTA power station deals:

EcoFlow’s early Black Friday RIVER power station deals:

EcoFlow’s best early Black Friday DELTA series bundle deals:

EcoFlow’s best early Black Friday accessory deals:

You can view all the main featured deals from EcoFlow’s Black Friday sale on the landing page here, or if you instead want to browse the sale’s offerings in their entirety, check out everything discounted here.

EcoFlow Black Friday

ENGWE’s Class 3 entry-level L20 2.0 e-bike hits $699 in Black Friday sales + bonus savings

ENGWE’s Black Friday sale has kicked into gear through December 2, taking up to $600 off e-bikes and also offering discounted accessories, free gear, and multiple chances to get your order paid back in full (more info below). A notable price cut from previous sales is the entry-level L20 2.0 e-bike that is going for $699 shipped. It’s normally priced at $999 since it was released in March, with the lowest we saw it go being a fall to $659 at the end of summer. Since summer’s end, it’s kept at above $799, most recently during the previous Halloween sale, but that price is getting beaten out today with a total $300 markdown that lands it at the second-lowest price we have tracked – just $50 above the all-time low from summer. Learn more about the sale’s bonus savings and this e-bike below, or you can learn about it in our hands-on review.

For all the orders placed during this sale, ENGWE will have four different drawing periods (Nov 11, 18, 25, and Dec 2) with two winners in each – all of them receiving a full refund on their orders. Along with this, ENGWE is also giving away a free accessory mystery box with every order over $600 that gives you free gear worth up to $109.

One of the newer models coming out of ENGWE, the L20 2.0 e-bike makes for a solid entry-level commuter that will weigh far lighter on your wallet than many other brands. Its 750W geared hub motor provides a 28 MPH top speed when utilizing the pedal assistance, and 20 MPH speeds cruising on pure electric power. The 52V 676Wh battery delivers a range of up to 68 to 80 miles on a single charge (depending on conditions), while only using the throttle cuts that down to around 28 miles, which is still plenty to get you around.

It has a folding frame, making its off-riding storage and transport an easier task, plus is weighs just about 68 pounds making it easy to manage for most folks living in apartment buildings. And for the price, it also comes with some decent additional features, like the mechanical disc brakes on 180 mm rotors, a rear cargo rack, integrated head/tail/brake LED lights, front fork and post suspension, a SHIMANO 7-speed derailleur, puncture-resistant fat tires, and a color LED display.

Best ENGWE Black Friday e-bike deals:

  • Engwe EP-2 Pro e-bike: $949 (Reg. $1,498)
    • Up to 75-mile range
    • with extra battery (up to 150-mile range)
  • M20 Dual-Suspension e-bike: $899 (Reg. $1,199)
    • up to 75-mile range
    • dual-battery option $200 more
  • X20 Triple-Suspension Folding e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,599)
    • Up to 93-mile range
    • Dual-battery options start for $100 more
  • M20 2.0 Full-Suspension Double-Range e-bike: $1,199 (Reg. $1,499)
    • with dual batteries for up to 150-mile range
    • single battery model $200 cheaper
  • LE20 Step-Thru Cargo e-bike: $1,249 (Reg. $1,499)
    • Up to 109-mile max range
  • And much more…
Xtracycle Stoker cargo e-bike

Save $1,350 on Xtracycle’s Stoker off-road cargo e-bike with free gear at $3,999 in Black Friday sales

Xtracycle has begun its early Black Friday sales through November 18, offering up to $1,350 in savings on three different e-bike bundles. Among the three discounted models here, the prices start lowest for the brand’s Stoker Off-Road Cargo e-bike which is down at $3,999 shipped. This higher-end model normally sits at its $4,499 price tag most of the time, not seeing as many discounts as some of its higher-priced counterparts, though we did see a similar bundle offer back during the brand’s Labor Day sales. This month’s sale is giving us a bigger bundle than previously seen, as the included Everyday Rider Bundle also gives you an everyday bike pack, a 40L cargo bag that attaches to the bike’s frame, a padded cushion for passengers, a Hooptie rail system, and a Snackbar rail system – plus, you’ll also be getting free shipping and local assembly fees waived, giving you a total of $1,350 in savings ($260 more value than Labor Day).

The Xtracycle Stoker e-bike is an all-terrain cargo-hauling model that can traverse streets, trails, and more with ease. A Shimano STEPS EP-8 motor and a 630Wh battery reside within its chromoly steel frame, providing a 20 MPH top speed with its pedal assistance system (without any throttle) for up to 60 miles on a full charge. The terrain isn’t much of a concern thanks to the 24-inch NICA’GNAR Cargo Tires which come with fenders over each, and it has 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes for reliable stopping power the moment it is needed. The entire bike is rated for a total 400-pound payload, coming with an integrated rear cargo rack that only has its capabilities bolstered by the free gear. Among its other features, there’s the Sram NX11 X-HORIZON derailleur, integrated LED headlights and taillights, and an E-series cycling computer that gives you easy handlebar access to controlling your settings as you ride.

More Xtracycle early Black Friday e-bike deals:

  • RFA Urban Scout e-bike: $4,499 (Reg. $4,999)
    • 20 to 28 MPH top speeds for up to 60 miles
    • comes with $600 in free gear + free shipping/local assembly ($200 value)
  • Swoop Family Cargo e-bike: $4,499 (Reg. $4,999)
    • 20 to 28 MPH top speeds for up to 60 miles
    • comes with $650 in free gear + free shipping/local assembly ($200 value)
JetCurrent Pro

Get up to $1,899 in massive savings on Juiced e-bikes at lowest prices ever in clearance sale starting from $1,300

Coming to us through Velowave Bikes, we’re seeing a large Black Friday Clearance sale taking up to $1,899 off a collection of Juiced e-bikes at some of the best rates we have tracked to date – including the brand’s newest JetCurrent Pro Foldable e-bike at $1,700 shipped, for example. It’s no secret that Juiced has been having financial troubles this year, with sales running dry over 2024 and folks seeing fewer and fewer differing offers coming from the brand while the stock has not been replenished after models sell out. Today though, thanks to Velowave’s warehouse, you can now score major savings on some of the popular models that bolstered Juiced’s reputation at the lowest prices we have ever seen, particularly its newest model. Head below for pricing.

Juiced e-bike clearance sale deals:

EcoFlow Black Friday

Greenworks’ 80V Venture 27.5-inch commuter e-bike hits new $1,520 low

Amazon is offering rare discounts on a pair of Greenworks’ Venture series e-bikes, with the Greenworks 80V Venture 27.5-inch Commuter e-bike for $1,519.99 shipped. Normally going for $1,900 since first releasing at the start of the year, we’ve only seen one previous discount on this model, which dropped costs to $1,615 back in February. It’s been keeping to its MSRP all this time since but is finally seeing its price come down thanks to the 20% markdown here that slashes $380 off the price tag and lands it at a new all-time low. It also beats out Greenworks’ direct site, where it’s still sitting at full price.

This 80V commuter e-bike is one of Greenworks’ new Venture series models, designed to expand the brand’s versatile battery ecosystem, which is standard across most of its tools. The 350W brushless rear hub motor (that peaks at 500W) is powered by the brand’s included 4.0Ah battery (and you’ll also get a rapid charger) that can also be switched out with other tools/batteries you may already own. Utilizing three different forms of pedal assistance as you ride, you’ll be able to cruise around at 20 MPH top speeds for up to 22 miles on a single 40-minute charge. It also features a front suspension fork, an adjustable suspension seat, a 7-speed Shimano shifter, 27.5-inch Kenda tires, an LED headlight, a rear cargo rack, as well as an LCD display paired with a simple control panel along the handlebars.

If you would prefer an electric mountain bike instead, Amazon is also offering the Greenworks 80V Venture 26-inch All-Terrain Fat Tire e-bike for $1,280.99 shipped, down from $2,100. This model sports a larger 500W brushless rear hub motor (peaking at 750W) to better support you through off-road travels, providing the same speed and mileage as the above model with its three pedal assist modes. You’re getting the same general features too, aside from the 26-inch by 4-inch all-terrain Kenda fat tires and minus the rear cargo rack.

Best Black Friday e-bike deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

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.

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