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If you thought fat tires were already wide enough, then think again. Himiway’s newest fat tires are still packing a little holiday weight, and the company is not ashamed. Now it’s showing it off on its latest electric bikes.

Himiway has used typical 26.0″ x 4.0″ tires on its e-bikes for quite some time, opting for one of the most common fat tire sizes in the electric fat bike industry.

But the company has just announced that it is loosening up one belt notch to outfit its e-bikes with an updated 4.5″ tire. The tires come with more than just an extra half-inch of rubber width. They also have an entirely new tread pattern.

The new tires are Himiway-badged Kenda tires, specifically the Kenda 26 × 4.5 K1277.

This model replaces the previous 4-inch Kenda fat tires that used a knobbier design with a new wider and more multi-surface tread. The stud-style tread blocks of the old tires are replaced by a flatter tread pattern that still offers significant grooves but provides more rubber surface in contact with the ground.

The company explained that “the 4.0″ Kenda model comes with moderately sized knobs and moderate spacing that can’t offer the desired highly secured grip in extremely mucky and loose terrain. On the other hand, the new 4.5″ Kenda model has proven to offer the best service for extreme performance for an extensive and versatile range of riding styles and conditions.”

Himiway’s new fat tire (left) versus the previous fat tire (right)

We’ve seen e-bikes with 4.5″ fat tires before, but they generally use that more pin/stud-style tread that is idea for traction in grass and dirt, as opposed to this hybrid-style tread for multi-surface riding.

The new 4.5″ fat tires will grace many of Himiway’s e-bike models including the Himiway Cobra Pro, Big Dog, Escape Pro, and Zebra.

I had the chance to review the Himiway Big Dog late last year, and you can check out that video below. Just try and imagine it with an extra half inch of rubber.

Electrek’s Take

I’ll be honest, seven or eight years ago when fat-tire e-bikes were first becoming popular, I thought it was silly. Those ridiculously large tires just looked dumb to me, and I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to reduce their range with all that extra rubber or make the bike that much harder to pedal with a dead battery.

And then I started riding fat-tire e-bikes, and I instantly understood. It was just more fun to ride off-road. The massive tires with low air pressure allowed me to hit obstacles that I would previously have taken great lengths to avoid. They weren’t as nimble at mountain bike tires, but that didn’t matter for the type of recreational riding that most leisure riders do. And if you keep an eye on your battery consumption, you’re never stuck having to pedal those big tires back home.

In this case I’m not sure there’s a vast difference between 4.0″ and 4.5″ fat tires, but it certainly does add even more credence to the idea of floating over obstacles. The bigger difference here — and what interests me more — is that pseudo-urban tread pattern. Since so many people are using fat tire e-bikes for city and suburban riding, I’m betting this tread will feel better on streets than the typical pinny-style knobby fat tires that come on many electric fat bikes. Conversely, I wonder how well it will work for slippery terrain like snow, mud, or sand.

But there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to try them myself. Himiway, if you’re listening, let’s put these big ol’ fatties to the test, shall we?

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Ford slashes F-150 Lightning prices by up to $4,000 and bumps up the range

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Ford slashes F-150 Lightning prices by up to ,000 and bumps up the range

Ford is cutting prices on the electric pickup by up to $4,000 to offset the loss of the federal EV tax credit. The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning now offers more driving range at a lower price.

2026 Ford F-150 Lightning prices and range by trim

After the Tesla Cybertruck took the title as America’s best-selling electric pickup last year, the Ford F-150 Lightning is back on top in 2025.

Ford sold over 10,000 Lightnings in the third quarter, nearly double the roughly 5,400 Tesla Cybertrucks sold. Through September, Ford has sold over 23,000 electric pickups. According to Cox Automotive, Tesla has only sold 16,097 Cybertrucks this year, 38% fewer than it did during the same period in 2024.

After the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expired at the end of September, many automakers, including Ford, are bracing for less demand.

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To keep the momentum going, Ford is reducing prices for the 2026 F-150 Lightning by up to $4,000. Company spokesperson Martin Günsberg confirmed with Electrek that Ford is cutting prices on the flash trim by $4,000 and the Lariat by $2,000.

Ford-2026-F-150-Lightning-prices
The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX (Source: Ford)

Ford introduced a new base STX model that replaces the XLT for 2026. The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX starts at $63,345, the same as the 2025 STX, but it delivers an extra 50 miles of driving range.

A 123 kW extended range battery powers the STX, providing an EPA estimated 290 miles of range. In comparison, the XLT delivered 240 miles of range from a 98 kWh battery.

Ford-F-150-Lightning-STX-interior
The interior of the 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX (Source: Ford)

Ford also raided the F-150 parts bin to add a few off-road goodies like running boards from the Tremor, new wheels, and more.

The 2026 F-150 Lightning Flash will start at $65,995, down from $69,995. Meanwhile, the 2026 Lariat and Platinum trims will be priced from $74,995 and $84,995.

Ford F-150 Lightning trim 2025 Starting Price 2026 Starting Price Range
(EPA-est miles)
XLT $63,345 N/A 240
STX N/A $63,345 290
Flash $69,995 $65,995 320
Lariat $76,995 $74,995 320
Platinum $84,995 $84,995 300
2025 and 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning prices and range by trim (excluding destination fee)

Although Ford decided not to move forward with plans for a program to extend the $7,500 EV tax credit, the company is still offering significant incentives to compensate for the loss of it.

The 2025 Ford F-150 Lighting STX is eligible for up to $11,500 in savings in California and other ZEV states. Ford is offering a $9,000 lease cash bonus and an additional $2,000 Ford Power Promise cash bonus. Alternatively, Ford is offering 0% APR financing for 72 months plus an extra $2,000 Power Promise bonus nationwide.

With the 2026 Lightning arriving, Ford is offering big savings on 2025 models. The 2025 F-150 Lightning XLT is currently listed for lease as low as $279 per month in California. You can use our link to find offers on the Ford F-150 Lightning near you (trusted affiliate link).

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US, Europe, and China drive global EV boom to record highs

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US, Europe, and China drive global EV boom to record highs

Global EV sales passed the 2 million mark for the first time in September 2025, according to new data from EV research house Rho Motion – here’s how it breaks down.

A record-breaking September

Rho Motion’s data shows that 2.1 million EVs were sold worldwide in September, the highest monthly total ever recorded. The US, UK, South Korea, and China all hit major milestones, with tax credit deadlines, new registration cycles, and local incentives fueling the global boom.

“Global EV sales topped 2 million units in a single month for the first time, driven by record-breaking demand across major markets,” said Rho Motion’s data manager Charles Lester. “The US surged ahead as buyers raced to claim expiring tax credits, the UK hit new highs on the back of fresh registration plates and the Electric Car Grant, and South Korea set records thanks to Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, and rising BYD imports. Year to date, EV sales have reached 14.7 million – up 26%.”

EV sales by the numbers YTD (Jan–Sept 2025)

  • Global: 14.7 million (+26%)
  • China: 9.0 million (+24%)
  • Europe: 3.0 million (+32%)
  • North America: 1.5 million (+11%)
  • Rest of World: 1.2 million (+48%)

Europe surges on incentives

Europe had a record-breaking month with 427,000 EVs sold, up 36% year-over-year and 55% from August. The UK led the charge with record demand tied to the launch of new license plates and the government’s Electric Car Grant, introduced in July. BEV sales rose 30% year-over-year, while PHEVs jumped nearly 60%.

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Germany’s EV market is expected to get another boost in 2026 after the government approved a new €3 billion ($3.5 billion) incentive package targeting low- and middle-income households. It replaces the subsidy scheme that expired in December 2023. Italy and Spain also continue to see strong growth, with sales up two-thirds and more than double, respectively, compared to 2024.

US buyers rushed to beat tax credit deadlines

In North America, EV sales soared 66% year-over-year in September as US consumers scrambled to take advantage of federal incentives before they expired on September 30. The tax credits supported both purchases and leases.

But Rho Motion expects Q4 2025 demand to dip sharply as those credits disappear. Some automakers are already taking defensive steps: Hyundai has cut prices, while Mercedes-Benz has paused production of four EV models. GM has suspended a production shift at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant, and Volkswagen is stopping ID.4 production in Tennessee in October. Nissan has gone further, scrapping its plans to manufacture EVs in the US altogether.

China is the world’s EV powerhouse

China still dominates the global EV market, selling 1.3 million EVs in September, a record-breaking month powered by strong BEV demand. Pure-electric sales rose 28% year-over-year to 800,000 units, while PHEVs and range-extended EVs dipped by 2% to 470,000.

China has sold nearly 9 million EVs YTD, up 24% from 2024, cementing its position as the world’s largest and most mature EV market.


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First-ever Jeep extended range EV, Mazda gets in the price war, and antique hybrids

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First-ever Jeep extended range EV, Mazda gets in the price war, and antique hybrids

On today’s hyped up hybrid episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the first extended range electric Jeep in North America – the 500-mile new Grand Wagoneer PLUS news that Mazda is getting into the plug-in price war, and a whole lot more.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

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Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.


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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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