Tern recently updated its midtier electric cargo bike, the Tern HSD. I recently had the chance to check out the bike along with Tern’s founder and team captain, Josh Hon, at Eurobike 2023, and here’s what I learned.
First of all, if you aren’t familiar with Tern, then you’re in for a treat.
When it comes to premium electric bicycles that are built specifically for utility jobs, Tern is one of my go-to companies. There are other high-quality e-bikes out there for fitness riding, mountain biking, hardcore commuting, or even just cruising around.
You can spend a pretty penny these days on a high-end e-bike. But for pure utility – such as doing an entire week’s worth of grocery shopping or dropping a couple of kids off at school – Tern has long led the cargo pack. And it’s done so in a package that is barely larger than a typical bike.
I had the chance to test out the first version of the HSD several years ago when it was originally unveiled. It filled an interesting role, bringing many of the advantages of the company’s flagship (and equally flag-expensive) Tern GSD cargo bike. But it did so without a few of the bells and whistles, bringing the price down to a more approachable middle ground that didn’t sting as sharply to the average rider.
Since then, Tern has rolled out a few new models with even more approachable prices, which is why it makes sense that, with the new Tern HSD, the company has focused on heading a bit higher up the market.
With more options available with comfortable price tags, the HSD was able to incorporate several upgrades, chief among them an even more robust design.
One of Tern’s hallmarks isn’t just that their e-bikes are designed for heavy hauling but that they actually go above and beyond to ensure that they are the safest they can be during that heavy hauling. And it goes well past mere UL listing. Tern has used Bosch powertrains for years that come with UL certification. Getting an e-bike UL certified is child’s play compared to what Tern does.
As Tern’s Josh Hon explained to me, they go further than just about any e-bike maker to certify their bikes to extreme loads, such as the 400-pound (181-kilogram) limit of the new Tern HSD.
Most e-bike standards don’t even cover test procedures for weights that high. Several test benches aren’t even capable of physically supporting load testing at that level. And so Tern has largely entered uncharted territory.
They’ve tested their e-bikes up to those extreme load limits to ensure that anyone riding around with two kids on the back will never have to worry if the weight rating on their e-bike is a guesstimate or not – which, unfortunately, it often is. “A lot of manufacturers seem to be saying now, ‘Tern rates its bikes for 400 pounds, so I guess we need to also,’” explained Hon. And yet many of these lower-cost bikes either don’t have certification or they use a certification that stops testing at much lower weight limits.
In fact, many budget bikes that cost a fraction of a Tern HSD (which starts at $4,299) yet are rated to a similar 400 pounds of payload would actually fail at much lower weights – something we’ve seen before. It’s not just how much weight the bike can support but also what happens when a bike carrying two adults hits a pothole.
The Tern HSD includes several hidden touches that help reach that heavyweight rating, especially around the weak points. Creating a basic diamond frame that can support such heavy weight isn’t nearly as hard as ensuring that critical points like the seat tube can also support such heavy loads. Areas like the HSD nameplate behind the seat also serve as hidden gussets that strengthen the frame beyond what a typical bike can handle.
Then there are the non-Tern components. Parts from other OEMs, such as the fork, also have to support those extreme figures. After all, a bike is only as strong as its weakest component. Tern has even helped its suppliers improve the strength of their components to ensure that the HSD would be as rugged as possible. They discovered that their fork supplier wasn’t properly heat-treating the metal in the fork – a process critical for strength – because Tern had required the fork tubes to be extra thick; thus, the oven heating time was no longer sufficient to fully penetrate the metal. As forks kept breaking on the test bench, Tern was able to discover the problem and help the supplier improve its manufacturing to create a stronger component in the end.
This kind of attention to detail – to each and every component that supports a heavy rider or a heavy cargo load – is a testament to what separates the different levels of e-bikes out there. That’s not a dig at budget e-bikes. I ride one every day. But then again, I’m not putting two kids on it, either.
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Elon Musk claims Tesla has delivered its first car fully autonomously from the factory to a customer’s home “across town.”
If true, I’d argue that this is actually a bigger deal than its “Robotaxi” with supervisors, but there are still questions about the value of such a system.
The Tesla CEO announced on X:
The first fully autonomous delivery of a Tesla Model Y from factory to a customer home across town, including highways, was just completed a day ahead of schedule!!
Musk has been known to stretch the meaning of the words “fully autonomous” over the years, but he did give a few more details:
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There were no people in the car at all and no remote operators in control at any point. FULLY autonomous! To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fully autonomous drive with no people in the car or remotely operating the car on a public highway.
This would be somewhat of an improvement from its recently launched Robotaxi service, which involves a Tesla employee in the passenger seat at all times, ready to hit a kill switch.
However, Musk’s last comment is not valid. Several companies have tested fully autonomous driving with no one in the driver’s seat or in the car, and Waymo has even started offering rides to paying passengers on freeways.
Highway driving is part of Waymo’s operations in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, although it is currently only available to employees through Waymo’s internal app in the latter two markets.
Musk says that a video of the milestone is coming soon.
The milestone comes after Tesla has been moving its vehicles autonomously from the end of the line to its delivery lots at factories in the US for the last few months.
Electrek’s Take
With in-car supervisors at all times and numerous issues arising in just the first few days of operations, Tesla’s Robotaxi launch fell short of expectations. For anyone who had previously experienced Tesla’s Supervised Full Self-Driving or a more comprehensive product like Waymo, it didn’t feel special.
An autonomous drive with no one in the car, including highway driving from the factory to a customer’s home, can be more impressive, albeit with some potential caveats.
“No people in the car at all and no remote operators in control at any point.” In some sense, Tesla’s FSD and Robotaxi programs would be able to do that too, it’s just that Tesla is not confident that they can do it reliably enough over long periods of time to remove the supervision.
Which raises the question: what’s different with this?
No one in the car, so Tesla doesn’t take the safety concerns as seriously? That would be weird, as the safety of people outside of the vehicle, aka other road users, also needs to be considered.
It’s possible that Tesla tested the particular route for this drive several times and then remotely, even potentially with a trailing car, as it was spotted several times in recent months, monitored it with someone ready to stop it at all times.
It wouldn’t be that far from what Tesla already operates, and not something scalable until we see data that shows Tesla can consistently do this safely over hundreds of thousands of miles.
Ultimately, that remains the main issue. Tesla is big on making videos and making showy statements when it comes to self-driving, but it has never released any relevant data. Ever. Let’s see it.
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The 2026 GMC Sierra EV is already over $27,500 cheaper than the outgoing model. With new deals dropping this month, the electric pickup is even more affordable.
The 2026 GMC Sierra gets more affordable and capable
After introducing the new Elevation and AT4 variants for the 2026 model year, GMC said the Sierra EV is now “right in the heart of the premium truck market.” It looks like GMC wasn’t just talking.
The 2026 GMC Sierra EV Elevation starts at $64,495. That’s $27,795 less than the 2025 Denali edition, which has a base price of $92,290 (which we had the opportunity to try out).
After launching new lease deals and other discounts this month, the 2026 GMC Sierra EV is surprisingly affordable. The base Sierra EV 4WD Elevation is listed for lease at just $559 per month. In comparison, monthly leases for the 2025 model year start at $949.
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The offer is for a 36-month lease with $5,599 due at signing and based on an MSRP of $64,495. However, the deal is only good until June 30, 2025.
2026 GMC Sierra EV AT4 (left) and Elevation (right) trims (Source: GMC)
Since the Elevation and Denali trims start under the $80,000 threshold, they qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit (as long as it’s still available).
GM is offering more ways to save on the 20,25 model year, including 2.9% APR for 72 months and a $3,000 Purchase Allowance.
2026 GMC Sierra EV AT4 (Source: GM)
The 2026 GMC Sierra EV is available with three battery pack options: Standard, Extended, and Max Range, boasting a range of up to 478 miles.
With an all-electric powertrain, the Sierra is more capable than ever. The base Elevation trim offers a best-in-class rating of up to 605 horsepower and can tow up to 12,300 lbs.
2026 GMC Sierra EV AT4 with MultiPro Tailgate (Source: GM)
It also comes with a few added perks, including GMC’s MultiPro Tailgate, a flexible tailgate system with six different configurations that make hauling even easier.
Inside, the electric pickup features a 16.8″ infotainment system with Google built-in. GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance system comes standard on AT4 and Denali trims.
The new AT4 model features an added 2″ of ground clearance, a lifted coil suspension, perimeter grille illumination, and 35″ all-terrain tires. It also has an exclusive Terrain Mode, which maximizes torque, control, and more using GM’s new software.
2026 GMC Sierra EV trim
Starting Price (MSRP including $2,05 DFC)
Max Driving Range
Elevation (Standard Range)
$64,495
283 miles
Elevation (Extended Range)
$72,695
410 miles
AT4 (Standard Range)
$81,395
390 miles
AT4 (Extended Range)
$91,695
478 miles
Denali (Standard Range)
$71,795
283 miles
Denali (Extended Range)
$79,995
410 miles
Denali (Max Range)
$100,695
478 miles
2026 GMC Sierra EV prices, battery, and trim options (Source: GMC)
With DC fast charging speeds of up to 350 kW, the 2026 Sierra EV can gain about 100 miles of range in roughly 10 minutes.
After cutting lease prices last month, Chevy’s electric pickup, the Silverado EV, may also be worth considering right now.
Navee’s new GT3 Pro Electric Scooter debuted alongside the brand’s new flagship ST3 Pro model, with much of the same performance, albeit without the new damping arm suspension system, but it does sport a front fork suspension paired with a rear cylinder suspension. This high-end commuter comes equipped with a 400W motor that can ramp itself as high as 1,000W to tackle steep inclines and provide faster acceleration up to its 19.9 MPH top speed, while the 477.4Wh battery gives you a max 37.3-mile travel range.
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The GT3 Pro electric scooter comes with an IPX5 water-resistant construction for when you may be caught mid-journey by sudden weather changes, and sports other features, including regenerative rear brakes alongside front drum brakes, 10-inch tubeless puncture-resistant tires, an auto-on headlight, a taillight with brake lighting, turn signal indicators on the ends of its handlebars, a foldable design, an integrated LED display, and more. It also brings some smart features to your experience, like the Apple Find My integrations, as well as other app-based smart controls.
Save up to $500 through 4th of July on a selection of Ride1Up e-bikes starting from $995
Ride1Up has launched its 4th of July Sale, which is offering similar savings that we’ve seen in recent sales, with up to $500 being taken off four e-bikes and their variants. Among the offers, you’ll find the lightweight and more urban-friendly Roadster v3 e-bike down at $1,395 shipped after being restocked, with it coming with either a 9-speed chain drive or a single-speed belt drive, and three options for frame sizing. It’s only down from a $1,495 full price, which we’ve seen throughout sales in 2025 so far, and sits as the best price we have tracked in the last year.
A considerably upgraded model from its predecessor, sporting more frame and drivetrain options, the Roadster V3 is a stealthy and minimalist ride that is easily managed within urban environments thanks to its 40-pound weight. It comes with a 500W angled-gear MIVICE hub motor for quieter performance, as well as a 320Wh battery, which pairs together to provide up to 40 miles of pedal-assisted travel (half that using the throttle), at top speeds of 25 MPH for the belt-drive setup or 28 MPH for the chain-drive.
Among the other features you’ll be getting, there’s the Intui-Drive torque sensor for ultra-responsive and smoothed out PAS support, 2-piston hydraulic brakes, a choice between Schwalbe G-One RS or Pirelli Cinturato gravel tires, fenders over each tire (depending on our tire choice), a water-resistant 36V 18A MIVICE controller, a two-tone 1.3-inch VeloFox tempered glass OLED display, and more.
Aiper’s solar-charging HydroComm smart pool monitor covers testing for pH, ORP, EC, TDS, and temp at $350
Coming through its official Amazon storefront, you can pick up Aiper’s latest HydroComm Smart Pool Monitor in its blue colorway at $349.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $50 off coupon. This new device hit the market back in mid-April with a $500 price tag, which has recently been staying at $400 since the previous discount at the top of June. Today’s deal comes in as the second-lowest price we have tracked, giving you $50 off the going rate and landing it $50 above the launch discount from April. It’s also beating out Aiper’s direct website pricing by $20. Head below to learn about this device and check out the brand’s robot pool cleaners that are seeing discounts.
No need to deal with outdated testing kits after you’ve added Aiper’s HydroComm monitor to your pool, providing 5-in-1 testing support for pH, ORP, EC, TDS, and temperature levels. A standout feature is the built-in solar panel that gives it a continuous 24/7 runtime as long as it gets some sun during the days. And when the sun decides to hide amongst the clouds, rest easy knowing you can also recharge it via the DC input.
Amazon is offering the best recent pricing on the Worx Nitro 40V 15-inch PowerShare Pro Cordless Driveshare String Trimmer with two 4.0Ah batteries, a dual-slot charger, and a replacement trimmer head for $229.99 shipped. Down from its $300 price we have been tracking most recently, this bundled package hasn’t been this low in well over a year, with it otherwise keeping at its full rate. Today’s deal brings a 23% markdown into the mix, cutting $70 off the going rate to land it at the best price we’ve tracked over the last 12 months and the second-lowest price overall – $10 above the low. If you already have plenty of 40V PowerShare batteries, you can get the trimmer and the replacement head at $199.99 shipped.
A more versatile model of string trimmers, this 40V Nitro model from Worx comes sporting the Driveshare functionality, with a split-shaft design that allows for the brand’s various attachments to be swapped out with the trimmer head – and it’s compatible with many other brand’s attachments to boot. The brushless motor can be dialed up or back with the variable speed control, which includes an Eco mode for optimal runtimes, while the 15-inch dual-exit head makes replacing broken lines all the faster and easier. Plus, there’s the lack of gas, fumes, pull strings, and noise over gas-guzzling counterparts.
Keep hedges in tip-top shape with Greenworks’ legacy 24V 22-inch cordless laser cut trimmer kit at $97
Amazon is offering the best rate we’ve seen in years on the legacy Greenworks 24V 22-inch Cordless Laser Cut Hedge Trimmer for $97.49 shipped, with the price also matching directly from Greenworks’ website. While it carries a $150 MSRP from the brand, we’ve been seeing it keep down at $127 over at Amazon since mid-April, with today’s sudden discount taking it lower than we’ve seen it go in over a year. You’re looking at a 23% markdown that gives you $30 off Amazon’s going rate and $53 off the MSRP, landing it at the best price we’ve tracked in over 12 months.
You’ll reliably be able to upkeep your hedges and shrubbery through the seasons with this tried-and-true Greenworks 24V cordless hedge trimmer. It comes with a 4.0Ah battery that provides up to 60 minutes of continuous runtime off a single charge, with the battery even doubling as a 24,000mAh USB power bank when it’s not powering the tool. The dual-action, laser cut 22-inch steel blades allow for up to a 3/4-inch cutting capacity, while the ergonomic rotating handle provides more flexibility and comfort when hitting awkward angles and performing more complex shape-ups.
If you’re more interested in the brand’s commercial-grade lawn care solutions, we’ve spotted quite a few low prices on solid packages over the 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.