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Electric trucks are winning over drivers with improved range, towing, and more power off the line than gas-powered pickups. One of the most common questions potential electric truck buyers ask is how much it can tow. Check out two of the most popular electric trucks on the market – the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning – go head to head in a towing test in the video below.

Two automakers – one that’s been building cars for over 100 years and the other founded in 2009. But each has the same goal – to make the ultimate electric pickup.

The Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T are two of the most popular electric trucks simply because they were some of the first on the market.

Ford released its full-size electric pickup in May 2021 as its “smartest, most innovative truck” out of the automaker’s 100-year history building them. Meanwhile, Rivian was the first to produce an electric pickup in the US, with its R1T rolling off the production line in September 2021.

Rivian builds its electric truck to enable and inspire people to do the things they want to take pictures of sustainably, while Ford looks to build the future of the truck.

Although Rivian and Ford’s electric trucks differ, drivers use them for similar activities, including towing. The Ford Lightning offers a max towing capacity between 7,700 lbs (Pro) and 10,000 lbs (XLT, LARIAT). Rivian says its R1T can tow up to 11,000 lbs. Let’s see who wins in a towing test.

Ford Lightning vs. Rivian R1T electric trucks towing test

To answer the question many of you are wondering, Edmunds Cars put a 2022 Rivian R1T and a 2022 Ford Lightning up against each other in its first all-electric towing contest.

Towing with an EV, or any pickup for that matter, will negatively impact range. The less aerodynamic the trailer, the more impact it will have on the truck’s towing ability. So, Edmunds loaded up 17-ft box trailers with Hyundai IONIQ 5 SUVs for a combined weight of roughly 7,500 lbs.

Rivian R1T vs. Ford F-150 Lightning towing test (Source: Edmunds Cars)

The Ford Lightning has 580 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the model in the Edmunds test features the extended-range battery, which is good for 131 kWh of usable power and up to 320 miles of range, but also adds weight, decreasing the EV truck’s maximum towing from 10,000 lbs to 7,700 lbs.

By comparison, the Rivian R1T features 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque with a 135 kWh battery for a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs and 314 miles range.

The test took place in a 200-mile strip of the California desert with steep hills and valleys, meaning they needed to find charging spots along the way due to the increased load.

After over 200 miles of testing, the Lightning averaged 1 mile of range per kWh, and the Rivian averaged 0.9 miles per kWh. According to the testers, the factor that made the most difference was charging.

Despite the Rivian R1T’s ability to charge faster (220kW) compared to the Ford Lightning (150kW), the team didn’t charge the Lightning truck to 100% to save time.

The Lightning had a total charge time of 3 hours and 9 minutes, while the Rivian R1T was 3 hours and 21 minutes despite the Rivian’s ability to charge faster.

In the end, Edmunds says both trucks performed similarly in terms of efficiency and were equally good at climbing steep grades with a powerful electric truck. However, they did conclude that the Ford Lightning offers additional advantages over Rivian’s electric truck for towing.

For example, the Lightning uses extra data and GPS to calculate more accurate range estimates and blind-spot warnings. In addition, Ford’s Pro model offers Trailer Hitch Assist, allowing the electric truck to automatically back up and align its hitch ball to a trailer.

The Rivian did perform better in terms of maneuverability, however, which can be clutch if towing in tight spots.

Rivian’s head of software, Wassyn Bensaid, says a “big towing update” is coming this summer along with several other updates to improve functionality, so stay tuned for more as both of these trucks will continue improving through OTA updates.

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EcoFlow TRAIL 60,000mAh and 90,000mAh power stations at new lows from $104, Leviton 48A EV chargers, Greenworks, more

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EcoFlow TRAIL 60,000mAh and 90,000mAh power stations at new lows from 4, Leviton 48A EV chargers, Greenworks, more

Amazon’s Prime Day event may have formally ended, but that doesn’t mean all the savings have ended with it. EcoFlow has extended its ongoing Prime Day Sale through to next week, with its TRAIL 200 DC 60,000mAh and TRAIL 300 DC 90,000mAh Portable Power Stations (and bundles) headlining today’s Green Deals at new low prices starting from $104. We also spotted Leviton’s 48A Level 2 EV Charging Stations – both smart and standard models – starting from $514, as well as Greenworks’ latest Pro 3,000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer at $320. There’s also three one-day-only Birdfy smart birdhouse/bird feeder deals, and some of the best ongoing Prime Day Sales waiting for you below – with plenty more to browse through in our Prime Day Green Deals hub.

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’s extended Prime Day savings take up to 60% off TRAIL compact power stations at new lows from $104

As part of its extended Prime Day Sale, EcoFlow is continuing to offer the best rates yet on its new TRAIL series of power stations, with extra sitewide savings too. You can pick up the TRAIL 200 DC 60,000mAh Portable Power Station at $103.55 shippedafter using the code 25PDFAFF at checkout for an additional 5% off, while the TRAIL 300 DC 90,000mAh Portable Power Station is down at $141.55 shippedafter using the same code. What’s more, you’ll be getting a free RAPID 30W GaN Charger too (valued at $26), with the prices here also beating out Amazon by up to $7. These new charging solutions launched back at the top of August carrying $200 and $250 MSRPs, which we saw brought down to $113 and $151 with launch savings, dropping further to these rates for the earlier phase of the brand’s Prime Day Sale. You’re getting an extended period to pick them up at the best rates we have tracked, with a total $96 and $108 in savings off the going rates on top of the additional $26 in free gear. Head below to also check out their bundle options.

We’ve been seeing many of our favorite backup power brands releasing similar-sized devices to rival the ones from Anker SOLIX, which might have kicked off the trend with its popular PowerCore Reserve/C200 DC/C300 DC stations. EcoFlow’s smaller TRAIL 200 DC power station is a 4-pound unit with a 60,000mAh LiFePO4 battery, with the 300 DC model bumping things up to a 90,000mAh LiFePO4 capacity. These stations deliver up to 220W and 300W output through their four or five port options. The 200 DC sports two 12W USB-A ports, a 140W USB-C port, and a 100W USB-C port, while the 300 DC has the same USB-A ports but two 140W USB-C ports and a 120W car outlet.

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EcoFlow’s TRAIL power stations have a bunch of protections built right in against overvoltage, overloading, short circuiting, and much more – with both also being given built-in woven handles to make carrying them easier when not stashed inside a bag. Recharging from a standard AC outlet provides 200W or 280W speeds, with the 300 DC model being the one boasting a 110W maximum solar input via an appropriate panel.

***Note: Remember to use the sitewide code 25PDFAFF at checkout to score these prices below!

EcoFlow’s TRAIL power station deals:

Be sure to check out EcoFlow’s extended full Prime Day Sale lineup here while it lasts, with the brand also recently having released its newest DELTA 3 Max and Ultra power stations with up to $2,000 in savings and some FREE gear that start from $759. We also have the ongoing exclusive low price from Wellbots on EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro Ultra Home Backup Power Station with a FREE 400W solar panel at $3,799.

man charging EV with Leviton 48A EV charger

Bring home Leviton’s 48A level 2 EV chargers with or without smart controls starting from $514

Amazon is offering the Leviton 48A Hardwired Level 2 Smart EV Charger at $599.20 shipped, with this being from carried-over Prime Day savings. Normally fetching $749 at full price, discounts have almost entirely kept costs above $629 over the year, with a single fall further to the $527 low back during July’s Prime Day event. While the savings last here, you’re looking at a 20% markdown from the going rate that cuts $150 off the tag for the second-lowest price we have tracked. Of course, if you want to save a bit more and don’t mind losing the in-app smart controls, you can pick up the standard EV charger variant at $514.28 shipped, down from $643.

If you want to learn more about these EV charging stations, be sure to check out our original coverage of these post-Prime Day deals here.

man using greenworks pro 3,000 PSI electric pressure washer to clean front porch stairs

Get a more adaptive cleaning experience with Greenworks’ Pro 3,000 PSI electric pressure washer at $320

Amazon is now offering the newest Greenworks Pro 3,000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer at $319.99 shipped. Normally fetching $450 at full price, discounts over the year have largely kept costs above $330, save for a few drops to the $292 low until Prime Day cut the tag to $305. If you missed out on the two-day-only Prime rate, you can get it for just $15 higher in price while these savings last. You’re still getting a solid $130 markdown here, which lands it at the third-lowest price we have tracked and equips you with the latest and most powerful of the brand’s electric pressure washers.

If you want to learn more about this pressure washer, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Birdfy Nest Polygon smart solar birdhouse strapped to tree

Birdfy’s Nest Polygon smart solar birdhouse is back at $200 low + more from $290 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Birdfy Nest Polygon Smart Solar Birdhouse with camera back at $199.99 shipped, as well as two bird feeder discounts, also only lasting through the rest of the day (more on those below the fold). While it carries a $300 MSRP direct from the brand (currently priced $20 higher), we’ve been seeing it more often keeping between $240 and $260 elsewhere, with discounts regularly falling between $220 and $210 over the year. This low price first appeared in July and repeated once in September, and now it’s back again to give you a $40 to $60 markdown off the going rate for the best price we have tracked. It’s also beating out Amazon’s pricing by $20 right now too.

If you want to learn more about this birdhouse, or see the two bird feeder offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of these one-day-only deals here.

ecoflow early prime day power station sale
lectric one e-bike
anker solix early prime day power station sale

Best Fall 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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Tesla now sells turn signal retrofits in US, a $595 solution to a problem it caused

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Tesla now sells turn signal retrofits in US, a 5 solution to a problem it caused

Tesla is now selling retrofit turn signal stalks for Model 3 vehicles in the US, after having deleted the stalks in its update of the Model 3. At first, they were only available in China for certain cars, for the equivalent of ~$350. Now they’re available in the US, but for $595 instead.

In August, Tesla updated its China website with a new accessory: turn signal stalks. This led to speculation as to when or if the product might make it to the US, and today, it has.

That sounds like the setup for a joke (ha ha, those Tesla drivers never using their signal, am I right?!?! (…. I am a Tesla driver and I always use my signals, get off it everyone)), but for those who are out of the loop, it’s actually a solution to a self-inflicted problem by Tesla a few years ago.

The Tesla Model 3 Highland refresh, released in 2023, came with quite a lot of updates. The model had been out for 6 years without major changes, and got quite a slew of them including better sound dampening, a new front end, a slower steering ratio (not a fan of this change), ventilated seats, rear touchscreen, and so on.

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But one of the more controversial changes, within the various cost-cutting that Tesla did to offer these improvements, was the deletion of the turn signal stalk.

Tesla had already been moving in this direction, with the introduction of a “yoke” wheel on the Model S, which didn’t have stalks and used buttons on the wheel for turn signals and the vehicle touchscreen to change gears.

But the deletion of the turn signal stalk, even on a car with a normal steering wheel, was quite controversial. Even though some drivers have gotten used to using the buttons on the steering wheel, or letting FSD signal for you when it decides to change lanes, the convenience and familiarity of a turn signal stalk was still hard to give up for many.

This all happened in 2023, and Tesla got a lot of flack for it, but didn’t relent for some time. Then, in January of 2025, Tesla released the Model Y Juniper refresh, with many of the same changes that the Model 3 had seen.

In that refresh, Tesla did change the steering wheel, including removing the gear selection lever… but also brought back the turn signal stalk. Reason finally ruled the day.

Soon after that, an interview came in February of 2025, where Tesla’s head engineer Lars Moravy admitted “maybe we deleted too much.”

And now, we’re finally seeing the problem get rectified… first in China, but now it’s available in North America, for $595. The installation includes shipping and labor costs to install the stalk, steering wheel, and column control module.

The stalks seem to be available now. So if you want to set up your appointment, you can head over to Tesla’s website, or find the new item in your Tesla app (which the website will direct you to, anyway).

Interestingly enough, the stalks are more widely available in North America than in China. In China, only vehicles that were produced after February 7, 2025 qualify for the stalks, whereas in the US, it seems that all non-stalk Model 3s will qualify, as the website states that any vehicle produced in 2024 or 2025 can install the retrofit. Given that the Highland Model 3 didn’t come out in North America until January 2024, that should mean all of them can get this stalk installed.


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The Nissan Ariya looks better than ever, but those in the US won’t get to see it

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The Nissan Ariya looks better than ever, but those in the US won't get to see it

Nissan’s electric SUV is due for its first major refresh. The new Nissan Ariya broke its cover, revealing a design closer to the 2026 LEAF, but those in the US won’t get to see it.

The 2026 Nissan Ariya looks like new LEAF

We are finally getting our first look at the new 2026 Nissan Ariya, which will arrive with a fresh new look, updated infotainment, and a smoother ride.

Nissan gave us a sneak peek of the new electric SUV ahead of its official debut at the upcoming Japan Mobility Show.

The new Ariya drops the black, closed-off grille and air intakes for a cleaner, minimalist look similar to the third-generation LEAF. It also adopts the LEAF’s slim, angled LED light design. Nissan said the new front-end design “exudes a more advanced and high-quality feel.”

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Although the front end was fully revealed, we still have yet to see what the rear will look like. Like the 2026 LEAF (which we already got to test out), it will likely arrive with a cleaner shape and updated lights.

Nissan-new-Ariya-looks
The new 2026 Nissan Ariya (Source: Nissan)

Nissan confirmed the new electric SUV will feature a new infotainment system with Google built in. It will also gain vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities. Both of which are already featured in the new LEAF.

With an updated suspension, Nissan said the updated Ariya will feel more comfortable to drive. We will learn more, including prices, range, and other specs, closer to launch.

Nissan-lower-priced-LEAF
Nissan unveils the new LEAF in Japan (Source: Nissan)

The new Nissan Ariya will debut at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, which starts on October 31. It will launch in Japan later this fiscal year, followed by overseas markets.

However, those in the US won’t get to see the updates. Nissan is dropping the Ariya SUV from its US lineup for the 2026 model year as it focuses on launching the new LEAF. The automaker said it will still support current owners, but whether it will return for a 2027 model year remains unclear.

The 2025 Nissan Ariya starts at just under $40,000 in the US with an EPA-estimated driving range of 216 miles. The longer range model, with 289 miles of range, starts at $44,370.

Nissan said the 2026 LEAF will have the lowest starting MSRP of any new EV currently on sale in the US, priced from just $29,990.

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