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On Monday’s Capital Markets Day, Ford detailed its second-generation electric vehicles, including a new full-size pickup and three-row SUV EVs. The new models will help the automaker deliver on its EV targets going forward.

Ford previews its next-generation electric vehicles

Ford is sticking with its strategy of introducing EVs in segments the brand is known for. For its first-generation electric vehicles, Ford converted customer favorites to EVs, including the Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning, two segments Ford has done traditionally well with.

With a rich history of building trucks, Ford says it will introduce another full-size electric pickup, codenamed Project T3.

The American automaker revealed the T3 project in March, with CEO Jim Farley referring to it as “like the Millennium Falcon – with a back porch attached.”

According to Ford, the electric truck will focus on efficiency with minimal trims and a streamlined manufacturing process designed to reduce costs across the board.

Ford says the new electric truck, like the Lightning, will be built for work and the new digital era with continuous software updates via OTA.

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Ford’s new electric Explorer released in Europe (Source: Ford)

Its new three-row electric SUV, Ford says, is designed for road trips with a spacious interior and up to 350 miles of range (300 miles cruising at 75 mph). Ford ruled out the idea of an electric Expedition, saying it would be too big and would require too many battery resources.

Instead, the battery in its new electric SUV will be one-third the size and maximize tire and propulsion efficiency to maximize range.

The new electric SUV will include fast charging (150 miles in less than 10 mins). Perhaps, most importantly, it will be affordable. However, Ford hasn’t shared pricing yet.

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Ford F-150 Lightning (Source: Ford)

How Ford plans to hit its EV targets

To cut costs, Ford is introducing a new platform designed to streamline manufacturing across all segments. Ford’s next-gen platform is due out in 2025 and will offer advanced tech and software, including potential level 3 autonomy.

Ford aims to build 2 million EVs annually by 2026 by vertically integrating its supply chain, including through its new BlueOval City EV mega campus. So far, Ford claims to have secured 90% of the nickel needed and revealed partnerships with three major lithium makers, including Albermarle, SQM, and Nemaska Lithium.

Albermarle will supply over 100,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium for roughly 3 million future Ford electric cars. The agreement is over a five-year period and starts in 2026.

Nemaska, on the other hand, will supply up to 13,000 tons of lithium hydroxide per year over an 11-year period.

When BlueOval SK begins operation in 2026, Ford believes it will offer the least expensive EV batteries in the US.

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Ford Mustang Mach-E (Source: Ford)

Ford is also introducing a new distribution model featuring an improved buyer and ownership experience. Customers will be able to skip negotiating prices at dealerships with flexible purchase options, including replenishment centers designed to accelerate deliveries (vehicles in as few as 10 days).

To achieve its 8% EBIT margin by the end of 2026, Ford will continue driving down costs and improving efficiency in its first-gen products. Ford says its new second-gen electric vehicles will be EBIT-positive in their first year.

Lastly, Ford believes its BlueCruise will account for about 20% of the Ford Model e’s EBIT margin by 2026. BlueCruise offers a less cyclical, higher margin revenue source that Ford plans to continue improving and scaling.

Because of this, Ford believes it is less exposed to the EV transition in the industry than other automakers.

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China’s nationwide ‘cash for clunkers’ trade-in program causing huge e-bike boom

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China's nationwide 'cash for clunkers' trade-in program causing huge e-bike boom

While much of the Western world is still figuring out how to get more people on electric bikes, China just flipped a switch, and the results are staggering. Thanks to a generous nationwide trade-in program rolled out around six months ago, China has seen an explosive surge in electric bicycle sales, with over 8.47 million new e-bikes hitting the road in the first half of 2025 alone.

The program, which offers subsidies to riders who trade in their old, often outdated electric bikes for newer, safer, and more efficient models, has sparked a new e-bike sale boom in a country already dominated by e-bike travel. In major provinces like Jiangsu, Hebei, and Zhejiang, over one million new e-bikes were sold in each region in just six months. That’s a tidal wave of e-bike sales.

The incentives vary depending on location and the model being traded in, but for many consumers, the subsidies cover a substantial portion of a new e-bike’s price – enough to turn a “maybe next year” purchase into a “right now” upgrade. And these aren’t just budget bikes either. The program has driven demand for higher-quality models with better batteries, safer braking systems, and more reliable electronics, accelerating both adoption and innovation across the industry.

The move has proven successful in replacing the millions of older models with lower-quality lithium-ion batteries that had posed safety risks around the country. Instead, China has pushed for higher-quality lithium-ion batteries, a return to a newer generation of higher-performance AGM batteries, and even interesting new sodium-ion battery options.

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Most e-bikes in China look more like what we’d consider seated scooters

According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, more than 8.4 million consumers have participated in the e-bike trade-in program so far, contributing to a sales increase of 643.5% year-over-year and more than doubling sales month-over-month. Meanwhile, production of new electric bicycles rose by nearly 28%, as manufacturers scrambled to meet demand. The sales boosts have already been seen in the financial reports of major industry players like NIU.

And it’s not just the big players benefiting – over 82,000 small independent e-bike dealers reported average sales increases of ¥302,000 (around US $42,000), giving a serious boost to local economies.

What’s particularly striking here is how fast this happened. The program was officially launched late last year as part of a broader effort to stimulate domestic consumption and phase out outdated vehicles and appliances. But while most analysts expected gradual growth, the e-bike sector responded much more quickly. In less than a year, the trade-in subsidies have reshaped the electric bicycle market, creating a consumer-driven boom that shows no signs of slowing.

For those of us watching from outside China, it’s hard not to wonder what might happen if other countries tried something similar. While most families in Chinese cities already own an electric bike and thus see this as an opportunity to trade it in for a newer model, Western countries like the US are still figuring out how to stimulate commuters into buying their first e-bike.

It’s too soon to know exactly how long the boom will last or whether the momentum will carry into 2026 and beyond. We’ve seen bicycle industry bubbles grow and burst before. But one thing’s clear: with the right incentives, even modest ones, it’s possible to ignite real, large-scale change. China just proved it with nearly 8.5 million new e-bikes to show for it.

And if you’re wondering what it looks like when a country takes electric micromobility seriously, this is it.

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Day 1 of the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2025 [Gallery]

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Day 1 of the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2025 [Gallery]

Today was the official start of racing at the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2025! There was a tremendous energy (and heat) on the ground at NCM Motorsports Park as nearly a dozen teams took to the track. Currently, as of writing, Stanford is ranked #1 in the SOV (Single-Occupant Vehicle) class with 68 registered laps. However, the fastest lap so far belongs to UC Berkeley, which clocked a 4:45 on the 3.15-mile track. That’s an average speed of just under 40 mph on nothing but solar energy. Not bad!

In the MOV (Multi-Occupant Vehicle) class, Polytechnique Montréal is narrowly ahead of Appalachian State by just 4 laps. At last year’s formula sun race, Polytechnique Montréal took first place overall in this class, and the team hopes to repeat that success. It’s still too early for prediction though, and anything can happen between now and the final day of racing on Saturday.

Congrats to the teams that made it on track today. We look forward to seeing even more out there tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some shots from today via the event’s wonderful photographer Cora Kennedy.

Stay tuned for more!

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Tesla sold 5,000 Cybertrucks Q2, Optimus is in chaos, plus: the Infinity Train!

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Tesla sold 5,000 Cybertrucks Q2, Optimus is in chaos, plus: the Infinity Train!

The numbers are in and they are all bad for Tesla fans – the company sold just 5,000 Cybertruck models in Q4 of 2025, and built some 30% more “other” vehicles than it delivered. It just gets worse and worse, on today’s tension-building episode of Quick Charge!

We’ve also got day 1 coverage of the 2025 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix, reports that the Tesla Optimus program is in chaos after its chief engineer jumps ship, and a look ahead at the fresh new Hyundai IONIQ 2 set to bow early next year, thanks to some battery specs from the Kia EV2.

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 (and sometimes Sunday). 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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