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The sun rises over frost-covered houses in December 2022 in London, England. Cold weather has returned in January, causing the U.K. power supplier to offer financial incentives for households to cut use at peak times.

Leon Neal | Getty Images News | Getty Images

LONDON — More than a million British households and businesses are being offered cash incentives to cut their energy consumption during peak times, with supply margins expected to tighten more than usual as temperatures drop below freezing.

On Monday, three out of five back-up coal power stations were told to fire up to provide back-up supply, although the measure was reversed early Tuesday.

National Grid ESO, which has overall responsibility for managing Britain’s electricity supply, said the public should not worry about blackouts. The steps were “precautionary measures to maintain the buffer of spare capacity we need,” it said.

The cold weather has combined with a drop in wind power — a key energy source for Britain — which frequently generates more than half of the country’s electricity. Over the weekend and into this week, the wind power share has dropped below a quarter, with gas taking over as the primary source.

Coal frequently supplies under 2% of this energy mix. In the summer of 2020, Britain marked a record 67 days and 23 hours without using coal. The government has set an October 2024 target to eliminate coal from electricity generation.

RBC: It will be even harder for European countries to refill natural gas storage in 2023 than it was this year

The energy saving scheme ran from 5pm to 6pm Monday and will be active again on Tuesday between 4:30pm and 6pm. It sees households that have signed up to National Grid ESO’s Demand Flexibility Service get discounts on their bills for cutting their electricity use during peak time.

To qualify, consumers must be on a smart meter and customers of one of 27 registered suppliers, which include British Gas, EDF and Drax. This is the first full roll-out of the scheme, which was previously tested on a small scale.

Supplier Octopus Energy said that participating customers would earn £4 worth of points for every unit of power saved, which can be converted into cash. The company expected the average household to save around £36 through the winter.

This is then covered by National Grid ESO, which on Monday said it paid suppliers between £3 and £6 per kilowatt hour of energy saved.

National Grid ESO was legally separated from listed utility firm National Grid in 2019. Lawmakers are in the process of attempting to fully nationalize it, in order to appoint an independent body to oversee the green transition.

Lauren Broadfield, European gas analyst at research consultancy Energy Aspects, told CNBC this week’s measures were not a cause for concern.

“It’s not unusual for system operators to take steps to ensure a sufficient margin between expected supply and demand,” she said by email, noting the combination of colder-than-average weather and low wind speeds were causing higher demand and lower supply.

“National Grid early this morning cancelled its previous instruction for three coal units to start up as margins should once again be sufficient this evening,” she added.

British households are being given government support to help with sharply higher energy costs this winter, providing a £400 discount to all households on their energy bills spread across the period between October 2022 and March 2023.

The government is also compensating suppliers in order to cap the maximum amount they can charge households. The length of the scheme was scaled back by Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt in the autumn, bringing the amount that the average household is expected to pay over a year up from £2,500 to £3,000 in April.

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This electric pickup is taking Korea by storm, now it’s going global on a ‘full-scale conquest’

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This electric pickup is taking Korea by storm, now it's going global on a 'full-scale conquest'

It’s not a Kia or Hyundai, but the Musso EV pickup truck is shaking up the Korean Market. After the first models left for Europe, the company’s CEO is already saying it will be a “driving force” as it goes on a global conquest.

Korea has a new EV pickup that’s going global

During an event celebrating the first exports of its new Musso EV and Torres HEV pickup trucks, KG Mobility’s CEO, Kwak Jae-Seon, said the new models “have already received favorable reviews and garnered much attention from reporters and sales agents.”

KG Mobility (KGM) expects them to serve as “a driving force” as it expands exports into new global markets. The first Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) hit the seas on June 12 carrying 983 vehicles, 184 Musso EVs, and 799 Torres HEVs.

The vessel is headed for Europe, where the first models will be sold in Germany, Spain, Norway, Hungary, and other markets, starting in August.

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Jae-Seon, who personally drove the Musso EV onto the car carrier, said during the event that pickup is now on a “full-scale conquest” as it rolls out globally.

EV-pickup-Korea-global
KG Mobility Musso EV and Torres HEV pickup launch event (Source: KG Mobility)

KGM’s EV pickup has already generated quite the buzz in Korea, beating Hyundai and Kia to the first fully electric pickup truck.

After launching the Musso EV pickup in Korea in March, the company announced it had secured over 3,200 orders in two weeks. The Special Edition model sold out in an hour and a half.

KGM promotes the vehicles as “a new alternative to mid-size SUVs” that’s more useful as an everyday ride with more interior space.

Measuring 5,160 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, and 1,740 mm tall, the electric pickup is about the size of a Ford Ranger (5,225 mm long, 1,910 mm wide, and 1,866 mm tall).

EV-pickup-Korea-global
KGM Musso EV electric pickup truck interior (Source: KGM)

The infotainment system looks a lot like new Hyundai and Kia EVs with a dual 12.3″ driver cluster and touchscreen navigation screens in a panoramic display.

It also comes with a Land Rover-like ClearSite Ground View camera, allowing you to see what’s beneath you through several strategically placed cameras.

The electric pickup is powered by an 86.6 kWh LFP battery, providing a range of nearly 250 miles (400 km). With up 200 kW fast charging, it can recharge to 80% in 24 minutes.

KGM’s Musso EV is available in both single (FWD) and dual-motor setups. The FWD version features a 152.2 kW front motor, producing up to 207 horsepower, while the AWD model boasts up to 413 horsepower. It can tow almost 4,000 lbs (1.8 tons) and includes a “trailer sway function” to stabilize the vehicle while towing.

The Musso EV pickup starts at 48 million won, or about $35,000. With incentives, KGM says the purchase price is closer to 39.62 million won ($29,000).

With more monthly exports in May than it has in 10 years, KGM expects the Musso EV pickup to accelerate the momentum.

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Republic Airways to evaluate an electric aircraft from BETA Technologies for regional flights

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Republic Airways to evaluate an electric aircraft from BETA Technologies for regional flights

More news out of day one of the Paris Auto Show, as aerospace manufacturer BETA Technologies announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Republic Airways Holdings in which the latter will evaluate the potential of BETA’s all-electric ALIA CTOL aircraft for regional passenger and cargo flights.

Republic Airways is a regional airline based in Indianapolis that operates services for other larger US airlines like American, Delta, and United. As a regional travel provider, eVTOL and eCTOL travel are becoming genuine travel options as companies like BETA Technologies move closer to certification and commercial operations.

As reported earlier this month, BETA Technologies recently completed a flight into New York City with actual passengers aboard its ALIA CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing) aircraft. One of those passengers was Republic Airways President and Chief Commercial Officer, Matt Koscal.

Koscal must have been impressed by BETA’s ALIA CTOL, because Republic Airways and BETA announced a new agreement to evaluate the aircraft for future service, beginning later this year.

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Republic Airways
Republic President and Chief Commercial Officer, Matt Koscal (left) and BETA founder and CEO, Kyle Clark / Source: BETA
Technologies

Republic Airways to test viability of BETA’s ALIA CTOL

According to BETA Technologies, it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Republic Airways Holdings Inc. Through the agreement, BETA will give Brickyard Connection, LLC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Air, access to a pre-certified ALIA CTL aircraft.

From there, Brickyard Connection and BETA will assess the aircraft’s performance, operational economics, infrastructure requirements, and overall viability for regional passenger and cargo flights. Today’s MoU news builds upon an existing relationship between BETA and Republic Airways, which could lead to bona fide regional eVTOL and eCTOL travel. Matt Koscal elaborated:

We’re excited by the opportunities Advanced Air Mobility technologies represent for regional connectivity and BETA’s innovative approach to electric flight aligns with our vision. We’ve been working with BETA for the past 18 months and continue to be impressed—not just by the performance and design of their CTOL aircraft, but by the company’s leadership, culture, and values. We look forward to exploring real-world use cases and our joint pursuit of cleaner, quieter, and more efficient air travel.

In addition to evaluating the ALIA CTOL aircraft, BETA and Republic Airways said they will also research the potential deployment of the former’s aircraft charging technology to support future operations. Per BETA, Republic Air and Brickyard Connection should gain access to the ALIA CTOL sometime in late 2025.

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EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max bundle with 500W panel $1,405, Bluetti AC180P station at new exclusive $461 low, Aiper, EGO, Greenworks, more

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EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max bundle with 500W panel ,405, Bluetti AC180P station at new exclusive 1 low, Aiper, EGO, Greenworks, more

We’re kicking off this week’s Green Deals with a mix of new all-time and 2025 low prices, led by the extended EcoFlow Father’s Day Sale that has added new member-only deals, like the first-time offer of the DELTA 2 Max Solar Generator bundle with a 500W bifacial modular panel at $1,405, among others. We also secured a new and exclusive low price on the Bluetti AC180P Portable Power Station for $461, while also noticing Aiper’s Surfer S2 Solar Robotic Pool Skimmer hitting a new $306 low. From there, we have two tool discounts, with the first being on EGO’s 56V 14-inch Cordless Electric Chainsaw for $189, and the second being on Greenworks’ 40V 10-inch Cordless Tiller/Cultivator for $206. Plus, there’s all the rest of the hangover Green Deals from last week in the links at the bottom of the page, collected together in our Electrified Weekly roundup.

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 extends Father’s Day Sale with new bundles like the DELTA 2 Max with a 500W panel at $1,405

EcoFlow has extended its Father’s Day Sale offers through June 22, which is including most of the savings we’ve been seeing alongside ongoing sitewide bonus savings. The big changeup with this extension is the addition of more member-only pricing (free to sign up), which includes a first-time offer for the DELTA 2 Max Solar Generator bundle with a 500W bifacial modular panel for $1,405.05 shippedafter using the sitewide code EFFDAFF5 at checkout for an additional 5% off. This package deal is getting a 48% combined markdown here for the next few days, bringing costs down from its full $2,699 price tag. We typically see its variant bundle with two 220W panels selling for between $1,499 and $1,424 during recent sales. This bundle, however, offers more solar input for $19 less, setting the bar for future discounts in the process, while also running you a bill for $1,998 at Amazon right now when grabbing the power station and 500W panel separately.

A great mid-range and expandable backup power option, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max brings a reliable 2,048Wh LiFePO4 battery along for your trips into the wilds or even to cover appliances during unexpected blackouts. With the addition of its compatible expansion batteries, you can increase that capacity up to 6,144Wh. There’s also the 2,400W of steady power you’ll get through its 15 output ports, surging as high as 3,400W once its X-Boost mode has been activated within its companion app.

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With EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 Max, you can connect up to two panels, with the station boasting a 1,000W max solar input for solar charging, while also being able to refill its battery through a wall outlet (1.1 hour recharge), or through dual charging by solar and AC simultaneously to reach 80% in 43 minutes. With the purchase of an alternator charger, you can also take advantage of charging as you drive.

***Note: The additional 5% in savings has not been factored into the prices below, so be sure to use the code EFFDAFF5 at checkout for the maximum savings!

EcoFlow’s new Father’s Day member-only deals:

You can browse the rest of EcoFlow’s extended Father’s Day Sale lineup in our original coverage here, and don’t forget that you’ll have until June 22 to take advantage of these deals before the sale officially ends.

Bluetti AC180P portable power station

Pick up Bluetti’s AC180P 1,440Wh LiFePO4 power station with exclusive $438 savings to a new $461 low

We’ve secured an exclusive new low price from Wellbots for our readers on the Bluetti AC180P Portable Power Station for $461.34 shippedafter using the exclusive code BLUETTI9TO5 at checkout. You’d normally be shelling out $899 for this unit at full price here, while it carries a higher $999 tag directly from the brand and can be found as high as $1,099 at other retailers. We’ve had two previous exclusive deals on this model over the last year, the first being in October for $499, while in February it was brought down to $487. The savings are increasing even more today, as this combined 49% markdown cuts $438 from the going rate and lands it at a new all-time low.

Bluetti’s AC180P power station comes as the largest unit in the brand’s AC180 series, providing you ample support for off-grid camping while also having your back for essential emergency power. There’s a 1,440Wh LiFePO4 capacity here, with it dishing out a steady output of up to 1,800W (surging as high as 2,700W when needed). What’s nice about power stations is their ability to retain charges for long periods of emergency backup, with this model able to hold an 80% charge for three to six months, letting you always have it at the ready by just charging it two to four times throughout the year. There’s more output ports here too, with it providing four ACs, four USB-As, one USB-C, one DC car port, and even a wireless charger.

There’s a versatile array of charging options too, with turbo-charging tech lending to a 45-minute charge time to an 80% battery (100% in 1.8 hours) via a standard wall outlet. You can also connect up to its 500W max solar input to refill the battery in 3.3 hours via the sun, or you can plug it into your car’s auxiliary port for a 12.5-hour charge, which is esepcially helpful while driving (as it could drain the car battery if left for too long).

Aiper Surfer S2 Solar Robotic pool skimmer

Automate pool skimming with Aiper’s latest solar-charging Surfer S2 robot at a new $306 low

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Aiper is now offering the best price yet on its Surfer S2 Solar Robotic Pool Skimmer at $305.98 shipped, which also matches its direct pricing from the brand’s site. This model has only been on the market since January, with it previously carrying a $540 price tag, though we’ve been more recently seeing it keep down at $400, with discounts having taken it as low as $320 up until today. It’s beating out our previous mention from last month by $14, giving you a great opportunity to upgrade your pool cleaning routine at the best new price we have tracked.

Aiper’s Surfer S2 robot comes with improved designs over its first-generation predecessor, including its DebrisGuard anti-leak design, a more powerful brushless motor, and a larger suction inlet that is paired alongside a 150-micron filtration system, giving you better performance regardless of it being for smaller or larger debris. There’s a larger battery with this model too, letting it run for up to 35 hours on a single charge, with the onboard solar panel topping it off during every sunny day, while also providing a DC adapter as a backup charging option during cloudier times.

Aiper has given this robot dual dToF sensors that work with the brand’s algorithms for greater obstacle avoidance capabilities – with it even knowing when to deploy or retract its four anti-standing columns to keep it from getting caught on pool steps. Should these columns fail at preventing this, the robot has self-rescue programming to get it back to deeper waters. It comes with a full array of smart controls through its app, letting you monitor or adjust settings, as well as manually steer it should you want a particular area taken care of. You can check out all the other discounted models from Aiper in the brand’s official Amazon storefront here.

EGO Power+ 56V 14-inch cordless chainsaw

Make quick work of trees and shrubbery with EGO’s 56V 14-inch cordless electric chainsaw at $189

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ 56V 14-inch Cordless Electric Chainsaw for $189 shipped. This model has been recently fetching $229 at full price, with it having been available at $189 off and on since mid-May. You can pick up your own while the savings last, cutting $40 off the going rate at the best price we have tracked over the last 12 months.

The brushless motor inside this 56V EGO chainsaw is equivalent to a 30CC gas model, giving you up to 6,800 RPM for more eco-friendly and efficient cuts, while also allowing you to toss out that noisy and fume-belching gas guzzler. The included 2.5Ah battery provides enough juice for up to 100 cuts on a single charge, giving you ample support for firewood or cutting up trees and shrubbery that may becomes damaged from this year’s hurricane season. What’s especially nice about EGO tools/batteries is that they come compatible with each other, allowing you to switch things around for longer runtimes or to power multiple different tools off one source.

Greenworks 40V 10-inch cordless tiller/cultivator

Aerate soil before planting with Greenworks’ 40V 10-inch cordless tiller/cultivator at $206

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 40V 10-inch Cordless Tiller/Cultivator for $206.20 shipped. Normally going for $280 at full price, discounts have mostly kept the costs above $240 during 2025 so far, with a few previous falls as low as $216. The deal here brings a 26% markdown to the pricing, cutting $74 off the tag for the best price we have tracked. It’s even beating out the direct pricing from Greenworks’ website, where it’s sitting $32 higher.

While we’re no longer in the prime cultivating time of spring, the weather this year for many regions around the country has only just begun warming up, meaning that this Greenworks tiller/cultivator would still be good to use – and that’s not counting any fall planting you’ve got on the books which will need prepping for. The included 4.0Ah battery keeps the motor running for up to 45 continuous minutes of breaking up/aerating your soil, coming with an adjustable tilling width of 8.25 to 10 inches. The best part is that it’s virtually maintenance-free, as you won’t have to deal with gas, oil, or noisy/fume-heavy emissions. If you already have the appropriate battery for it, you can pick up just the tool on its own for $170, down from $220.

Best Spring EV 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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