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Mercedes Concept

This week, we got a special invitation to Carlsbad, California, to peek behind the curtain of Mercedes-Benz’s International Design Center (IDC). It was here that the automaker’s creative team shared details of its fifth design strategy, which includes NFTs, augmented reality, and some exciting new motor technology. The true star of the show, however, was the debut of Mercedes’s latest all-electric concept, the Vision One Eleven – a hyper-futuristic nod to an experimental legend that debuted over 50 years ago.

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California dreamin’… in orange

While we can’t talk about the main reason for our trip to California just yet, Mercedes-Benz and its design team had a jam-packed schedule for us leading up to an exciting world premiere of a new Vision concept that features several innovations we could eventually see in production EVs.

This is a similar design approach to last year’s debut of the Vision EQXX EV, of which several new technologies have since been integrated into EV designs donning the star badge, including the automaker’s upcoming MMA platform.

Before the official debut of the new Vision One Eleven, we were swiftly but politely herded like cattle through the sectioned-off IDC, station to station, where we learned about many of the exciting designs the automaker has going on.

Admittedly, some of these stations involved combustion vehicles – or, at the very least, hybrids – so we’re going to skip that recap. I do however want to point out two very interesting technologies that I got to learn about firsthand – both of which relate to the Vision One Eleven concept seen below.

  • Mercedes concept

Mercedes’s concept imagines a new way of augmented driving

One of the stations we were shuffled into at the Mercedes-Benz IDC was an augmented reality experience built around a cockpit that simulates that of the Vision One Eleven concept. When we went and saw the Vision EQXX last year, the automaker was working on some exciting tech in 3D maps in its UX navigation – some of which we’ve seen integrated into actual EQ-line EVs.

With the Vision One Eleven however, the Mercedes design team has taken the reality of the traditional driving experience and accentuated it with augmented vision technology. One that blends seamlessly with your real-world surroundings.

Like much of the tech you’ll hear about surrounding this concept EV, there will need to be some concessions made to actually make it into a production vehicle. The need for special glasses be damned, Mercedes-Benz is dreaming big here and may be well ahead of its time.

The AR experience previews a genuinely plausible future in which our vehicles will interact with us and the world around us through a combination of what’s actually in front of our faces and what is being digitally displayed. Whether its vehicle stats, 3D maps, or nearby points of interest, this experience was a treat to “drive,” and was well executed by the company in my opinion. We won’t see anyone driving around wearing AR goggles any time soon, but I’d imagine there’s a middle ground where the technology is successfully integrated.

  • Credit: Mercedes-Benz/YASA
  • Mercedes concept
  • Mercedes concept

Axial flux motors could be the future of electric hypercars

Have you ever heard of YASA? Yeah me neither, but you probably will. The company was founded by Dr. Tim Woolmer back in 2009 while he was still studying at Oxford. Although the market for EVs back then was a mere iota of what it exists as today, Woolmer had the foresight to understand the impending need for smaller, more powerful, and more efficient electric motors in the future.

Fast forward to today and YASA has successfully taken an archaic motor design dating back to the 1820s and optimized it using modern-day technology and materials in truly clever ways. The result is the axial flux motor – a truly viable alternative to traditional radial motors used in most EVs today. After an EV equipped with six axial flux motors ripped up the hill and into the record books at the Pike’s Peak climb in 2015, YASA started to turn some heads – including some big names in hypercars.

Its motors have since been integrated in production vehicles like Koenigsegg Regera, as well as the Ferrari Stradale SF90 hybrid. Naturally, Mercedes-Benz’s performance arm AMG wanted to learn more, which led to the umbrella wholly acquiring YASA in 2021. While YASA does still develop technologies for the automakers mentioned above, Mercedes-Benz and AMG in particular is its prime focus now and going forward.

This week, we got to see the first implementation of axial flux motors in a Mercedes vehicle beneath the Vision One Eleven concept… although how many motors are actually present remains a mystery. In speaking with the automaker’s chief technology officer Markus Schäfer, the Vision One Eleven can house up to four YASA motors, but as for how many are currently on the EV, we were told “multiple.”

Alright, time for the moment you’ve been waiting for. Here’s the new Vision One Eleven concept from Mercedes in all its glory, next to a familiar(?) face that inspired it. Hope you like orange paint and silver leather!

Mercedes Concept

Mercedes’s new concept is an exercise in nostalgic creativity

Before the fog machines got pumping and Mercedes-Benz chief design officer Gorden Wagener rolled out in the radically designed Vision One Eleven concept, the German team was dropping us hints throughout the afternoon.

Whether it was a subtle, untitled photo in a presentation, or a virtual silhouette during the augmented experience, us visitors were eventually able to deduce what we would be viewing. Honestly the orange “One Eleven” branding everywhere was a dead giveaway too.

Mercedes’s latest concept is a nod to the fabled C 111 – a limited group of experimental vehicles from the late ’60s and early ’70s that were used to test turbodiesel engines and polymer-based body shells.

During the debut, we breathed an assuring sigh of affirmation when Markus Schäfer cruised out in one of the few remaining C 111’s in the world. It was quickly followed by the modern-day concept it inspired, the Vision One Eleven. Check the two out side-by-side.

Oh how the times have changed…

Like the experimental turbodiesel that inspired it, the Vision One Eleven concept is not expected to reach assembly lines. Instead, and like its Vision EQXX sibling, the One Eleven is more of a creative study in design – and a preview of some technologies we may see in production EVs one day.

The exterior design was dreamt up as a statue (the art) sitting atop its black base (the aerodynamics). It also features Mercedes-Benz’s iconic gull-wing doors, just like the original C 111. Gorden Wagener spoke to the design themes that went into the concept:

Our goal at Mercedes-Benz is not to do styling – our goal is to create icons. To me, that makes the difference between mainstream design and luxury. Design icons like the Type 300 SL and C 111 – both with gullwing doors – are part of our DNA. These legendary vehicles were major inspirations for the iconic design of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven. This is beauty and the extraordinary united in one vision of the future. Our all-electric vision show car is the modern-day interpretation of the C 111, which was avant-garde at the time. The element of surprise comes from its exceptionally clean, purist and, at the same time, extremely muscular proportions. This iconic clarity is also reflected in the interior. The equally sensual but minimalist design language stands for ICONIC LUXURY by Mercedes-Benz.

The look of it is one thing. We’ll let you peruse the images below for a closer look, but despite its unique aesthetic, Markus Schäfer told us in a roundtable interview that the true focus of the Vision One Eleven concept – particularly, in regard to technologies we could see sooner rather than later – is performance. The Mercedes CTO refrained from sharing any specific details of what the concept can do on the track – but it is designed with technology that could break some records – especially the axial flux motors from YASA.

Schäfer explained that thanks to their considerably smaller size, weight, and increased power density, YASA motors will definitely be a part of Mercedes-Benz-branded EVs in the future, whether its a production hypercar closer in look to the Vision One Eleven, or an AMG performance version of a passenger EV powered by those boring old radial motors.

Another very interesting component (briefly) mentioned by Schäfer was the concept’s liquid-cooled cylindrical batteries, inspired by Formula 1 cell chemistry. During the concept debut, the CTO said Mercedes has some truly exciting battery technology to share with the world… just not yet. We will have to wait for a separate event at a later date (sure to also include more classwork on German engineering for us writers). Schäfer spoke:

The Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven combines breathtaking design with groundbreaking powertrain technology. Like its historical namesake, it explores new paths for the future of sporting performance. At the heart of the compact and extremely efficient powertrain is the innovative YASA axial-flux high-tech electric motor. It offers a motorsport-like power output from a considerably smaller package. This makes the YASA axial-flux motor ideal for electric high-performance vehicles. Combined with the liquid-cooled cylindrical-cell battery with Formula-1 inspired cell chemistry, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is yet another proof point for the broad performance spectrum encompassed by our four-pronged development strategy for electric drive.

So while we likely won’t see a Mercedes-Benz Vision One Eleven on public roads someday, it does offer some exciting hints to what the automaker and its designers are up to. Performance is the name of the game in EVs going forward, as the company seems to still have luxury down pat.

The integration of axial flux motors and this mysterious new battery chemistry could soon offer another echelon of performance trims in existing Mercedes EVs, and/or help power future MB hypercars to new world records.

Next, we will need to see what that aforementioned battery tech is all about, and try to find out where and when we can see YASA’s motors in action within a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, concept or not.

Electrek’s Take

What do we think?

Before y’all start with the “it’s a concept, who cares,” hear me out, please. You should care. Will you be able to buy a Vision One Eleven one day? Probably not. Would you want to though? You see those silver leather seats? Not for me, personally. Eek.

The real star here in my opinion is the YASA motors. The axial flux technology was the talk among many of the writers and definitely one of the most impressive things I saw during the trip. Smart move by MB wholly acquiring this company. Its founder was working to make this technology feasible long before there was a genuine need for it. Hell, there wasn’t even really a bonafide EV industry when Dr. Woolmer was trying to bring the original 1800s design to fruition.

His clever use of liquid cooling and segmented “pole pieces” are genius innovation and should help enable some of the lightest, fastest, and most powerful EVs we’ve ever seen… we just need viable battery technology to keep up.

I’m already looking past the concept reveal and want to learn more about Mercedes’s new batteries. I was assured I’d get the invite, so stay tuned on that. In the meantime, enjoy the imagery above and the debut video below.

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Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind project mid-build

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April 17, 2025

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Trump admin halts billion NY offshore wind project mid-build

Equinor Empire Wind
Photo: Equinor

In its most aggressive attack against offshore wind yet, the Trump administration halted the $5 billion Empire Wind 1, already under construction off New York’s coast.

Norwegian developer Equinor announced yesterday that it received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) ordering Empire Wind 1 to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted this tweet yesterday:

Burgum gave no indication of what insufficiencies there were in the approval process for the fully permitted offshore wind project, despite Trump’s recent declaration of a national energy emergency that speeds up permitting processes.

The commercial lease for the 810-megawatt (MW) Empire Wind 1’s federal offshore wind area was signed in March 2017 during the first Trump administration. It was approved by the Biden administration in November 2023 and began construction in 2024.

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The project is being developed under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Empire Wind 1, which was due to come online in 2027, has the potential to power 500,000 New York homes.

“Halting construction of fully permitted energy projects is the literal opposite of an energy abundance agenda,” said American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet in a statement. “We encourage the administration to quickly address perceived inadequacies in the prior permit approvals so that this project can complete construction and bring much-needed power to the grid.”

As Electrek reported, Equinor secured $3 billion to finance Empire Wind 1 in January. The total amount drawn under the project finance term loan facility as of March 31 was around $1.5 billion. 

As of March 31, Empire Wind has a gross book value of around $2.5 billion, including South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (pictured above), which was expected to become the US’s largest dedicated port facility for offshore wind.

In response to BOEM’s stop work order, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued the following statement:

Every single day, I’m working to make energy more affordable, reliable and abundant in New York and the federal government should be supporting those efforts rather than undermining them. Empire Wind 1 is already employing hundreds of New Yorkers, including 1,000 good-paying union jobs as part of a growing sector that has already spurred significant economic development and private investment throughout the state and beyond.

As Governor, I will not allow this federal overreach to stand. I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy and New York’s economic future.

Equinor says it’s considering appealing BOEM’s order.

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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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Jackery Earth Day Sale takes up to 50% off units with bonus savings, G-Force moto-style ZM e-bike at $800 off, Greenworks, more

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April 17, 2025

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Jackery Earth Day Sale takes up to 50% off units with bonus savings, G-Force moto-style ZM e-bike at 0 off, Greenworks, more

Leading today’s Green Deals is Jackery’s Earth Day Sale that is taking up to 50% off power stations, with many of them being marked down from the brand’s short-term Easter savings, complete with bonus savings. Among the lineup, we spotted the expandable Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station bundled with a 500W solar panel at its $1,614 low. Coming up right behind it is G-Force Bikes’ Spring Sale with up to $800 in e-bike savings, the largest of which is on the moto-styled ZM All-Terrain Fat Tire e-bike that starts at $1,199 for an 80-mile trekking single-battery setup, with a double battery option not much higher. Lastly, we have a one-day-only new low price on the Greenworks 1,900 PSI Steel-Framed Electric Pressure Washer at $118, as well as a bonus cleaner attachment deal. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Earth Day savings on both Bluetti power stations and Lectric’s e-bike bundles, 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.

Invest in sustainable power for on-the-go and home backup at up to 50% off with Jackery’s Earth Day Sale from $90

Jackery has officially launched its Earth Day Sale through April 25 which is lowering many of its previous Easter offers with up to 50% off a collection of power stations, solar generators, and some accessories – and we’re also seeing on-page promo codes for extra savings. One such bundle gives you the brand’s Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station with a 500W solar panel for $1,614.05 shipped, after using the promo code EXTRA5 at checkout for an additional 5% off. It’s already coming down from its usual $2,949 price tag, with the bonus savings dipping that price further, back to the best we’ve seen from some of this year’s previous events. You’re looking at a combined 45% markdown here, putting $1,335 back in your pocket and equipping you with an expandable means for on-the-go and at-home backup power at the lowest price we have tracked. Like most of the deals in this sale, you’ll find this package beating out its Amazon pricing too, where it’s currently sitting $307 higher.

Grabbing this Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus bundle starts you off with a 2,042Wh LiFePO4 capacity that can support up to five extra batteries that increase things to 12,000Wh – plus, there’s the option to continue expansion with two of these setups being linked together to reach 24,000Wh. Power output here provides a steady 3,000W through the 10 ports, surging to 6,000W for larger needs, which becomes its regular output levels within expanded setups. It also has a 1,200W maximum solar input, which recharges the battery to full in two hours with six 200W panels (so around 5+ hours with the bundle here). You can also have the battery recharged via a wall outlet in two hours as well, though this doesn’t account for expandable setups.

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***Note: The extra 5% off discount has not been factored into the prices below – be sure to use the code EXTRA5 at checkout for the maximum savings!

Jackery Earth Day flash offers (through April 18):

Jackery’s Earth Day Sale home backup deals:

Jackery’s Earth Day Sale appliance backup deals:

Jackery’s Earth Day Sale outdoor backup deals:

Jackery’s accessory deals:

You can shop through Jackery’s entire Earth Day Sale on the landing page here.

G-Force ZM All-Terrain e-bike

G-Force Spring Sale drops moto-styled ZM all-terrain e-bike with 80-mile range to $1,199

G-Force Bikes is having a Spring Sale running through the rest of the month that is also being billed as a “last-chance sale” before prices increase due to tariffs, with the brand providing a countdown clock on its site. Among the up to $800 we’re seeing across the brand’s lineup of e-bikes, we spotted the ZM All-Terrain Fat Tire e-bike down at $1,199 shipped. Normally fetching $1,999 direct from the brand, with third-party sites pricing it as high as $2,499, the discounts we have tracked over the last year have mainly been seen dropping costs between $1,299 and $1,499. It’s getting the maximum savings during this sale at $800 off, dropping it to the lowest price we can find while also giving you a pair of HD wide-angle rearview mirrors free of charge, valued at $49.

The G-Force ZM e-bike borrows heavily from motorcycle styling while still retaining a street-legal class 3 status, equipped with a 750W brushless gear hub motor that can peak as high as 1,300W to deliver up to 86Nm of torque power, topping out at 28 MPH speeds. What’s more, for such an affordable price, it also provides some extensive traveling range, with the standard 20Ah single-battery option carrying you 60 to 80 miles with its five PAS levels or you can double that to 120 to 160 for just $200 more with the 40Ah dual-battery setup.

For such a low price, there’s a nice array of quality features that it brings along, like the full suspension, with an adjustable front fork and rear system for smoother riding, along with hydraulic disc brakes for guaranteed stopping power, and 20-inch puncture-resistant tires with fenders over each for those off-road ventures. That’s not all, as you’ll also find it has a 400-pound payload, a 48V LED headlight, an integrated rear light with braking functionality, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, a wear-resistant padded bench seat with room for a passenger, a half-twist throttle for electric cruising, and a large color LCD with a USB port for charging up devices as you ride, particularly nice if you use your phone as a GPS.

G-Force’s other Spring Sale e-bike deals:

Greenworks 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer

Get rid of muck with this steel-framed Greenworks 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer at new $118 low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the best rate yet on the Greenworks 1,900 PSI Steel-Framed Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer for $117.99 shipped. This model usually goes for $200 in full, with the discounts we’ve seen taking things as low as $120 over the past year. That rate is getting beaten out here by $2 for the rest of the day only, providing you a total of $82 in savings and marking a new all-time low. You won’t find this model currently available at Amazon, nor is it getting any discounts direct from Greenworks either. Below, you’ll also find a secondary one-day-only deal on a cleaning attachment that amplifies its capabilities.

Sporting a durable open steel frame design, the 13A motor on this Greenworks pressure washer provides you with up to 1,900 PSI at a 1.2 GPM flow rate to tackle the muck and grime along driveways, walkways, and the like. You won’t need to wrestle with pull strings, as it starts up with the press of a button, not to mention its electrical functionality, getting rid of the fumes and costs from gas – plus, it even has a waterproof plug at the end of its 35-foot power cord to ensure extra protection. You’ll have on-board storage for the included nozzles, the hose, and the metal spray gun, as well as an integrated soap tank for detergent when you need some extra cleaning power.

A secondary deal lasting the rest of the day that compliments the above or any of the brand’s pressure washers, is the 12-inch Surface Cleaner Attachment for $20.99 shipped, down from $40. It has a quick-connect feature for a faster and more effortless setup, with dual cleaning nozzles on its underside to level up the pressure washer’s cleaning power and coverage area.

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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China cracks down on automated driving features after Tesla’s FSD launch

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6 hours ago

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April 17, 2025

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China cracks down on automated driving features after Tesla's FSD launch

Tesla FSD v12.5

Just after Tesla launched its ‘Full Self-Driving’ package, in China, the country announced that it cracking down on automated driving features with new limitations.

In February, Tesla launched a first version of its “Full Self-Driving” FSD package in China for owners with the latest “Hardware 4.0”, or “HW4”, vehicles.

Most of the features under Tesla’s FSD package have been limited to North America due to Tesla training its system for this market first and due to regulatory limitations in other markets.

Shortly after Tesla launched FSD in China, the American automaker had to pause its rollout due to updated requirements from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

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Now, MIIT has confirmed that it held a meeting with automotive industry stakeholders yesterday, and it has further clarified the rollout of advanced driver assistance (ADAS) features.

CNEV reported on the meeting:

Car companies were asked to refrain from using words like “self-driving,” “autonomous driving,” “smart driving,” “advanced smart driving,” and instead use the term “combined assisted driving” to avoid misleading consumers, according to the minutes of the meeting.

Tesla had already changed the name from ‘Full Self-Driving’ to “Intelligent Assisted Driving” following the launch in China.

Based on a statement from MIIT, the meeting focused on enforcing the previously announced updated requirements that launched right after Tesla introduced FSD in China (translated from Chinese):

The meeting emphasized that automobile manufacturers must deeply understand the requirements of the “Notice”, fully carry out combined driving assistance testing and verification, clarify the system functional boundaries and safety response measures, and must not make exaggerations or false propaganda. They must strictly fulfill their obligation to inform, and truly assume the main responsibility for production consistency and quality safety, and truly improve the safety level of intelligent connected vehicle products.

Regulators want automakers to reduce the frequency of new software updates and instead focus on extended testing before releasing new updates.

The last few months have been quite chaotic for ADAS systems in China. Along with Tesla’s FSD release, several Chinese companies released their systems, including BYD, Xiaomi, and Huawei.

Xiaomi reported a fatal accident in which its ADAS system was active just seconds before the crash, and Tesla owners using FSD racked up thousands of dollars in fines due to FSD making mistakes.

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