Should we be getting excited for Ola’s flashy new electric motorcycle concepts?
The darling of India’s electric scooter industry, Ola Electric, just held a major product unveiling as part of its Customer Day event. In addition to launching its impressively updated electric scooter line with new models, the company also showed off four electric motorcycle concepts.
The electric motorcycles are certainly eye-catching, especially the flagship-looking supersport Diamondhead model. The futuristic bike even incorporates rarely seen hub steering, though the complicated and pricey technology only further stretches the imagination regarding how long it could take such flashy concepts to one day become reality.
In addition to the Diamondhead, Ola also shared images of an upcoming cruiser electric motorcycle, as well as an adventure model, and even a naked roadster.
Ola’s CEO Bhavish Aggarwal described the motorcycles not as concepts, but rather prototypes. There were physical models of each of the bikes on display at the event, and at least one appeared to be working when it was ridden out onto the stage, but “prototype” is still a fairly vague term.
The company has floated 2024 as a potential release year for its electric motorcycles, starting in a “phased manner,” but then again Ola has also made lofty promises regarding product launches that are still years behind.
Unfortunately Ola hasn’t provided any technical or performance specifications on the new electric motorcycles, further underscoring the extremely early-stage nature of the project.
Electrek’s Take
I’m excited to see that Ola is interested in expanding into electric motorcycles. They’ve floated the idea before, but they also claimed to be developing an electric car and we’ve barely even heard crickets on that subject in over a year.
The lack of any concrete numbers at all is also disappointing. Even Kawasaki shared basic tech specs when it unveiled its first electric motorcycle prototype. The figures were laughably terrible, but the company shared them anyway. And to Kawasaki’s credit, the specs on the company’s upcoming production electric motorcycles appear to be just as pitiful. There’s something to be said for consistency, I guess.
But just because I don’t think we need to get too excited just yet for these bikes on account of Ola’s penchant for announcing big plans and not following up on them, there may be hope. There’s still room for excitement about the possibilities.
There’s a reason Ola is so gleefully celebrating its scooter success right now. Barely two years ago the company’s scooters came out of nowhere, rushing from renders to the road in short order. Despite some initial hiccups, they’ve largely been a success. The company has shown impressive numbers and is making a huge push to replace combustion engine scooters and motorbikes in India. Sure, they got some help from buying the original scooter design from a failed European e-scooter company, but then again it also looks their Diamondhead electric motorcycle design is also lifted from a European e-moto company on questionable financial footing after a previous bankruptcy. And so if Ola has made it happen before, who’s to say they won’t succeed to do it again? A couple years from now, we may just be riding around on Ola electric motorcycles.
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![E-quipment highlight: CFMoto U6 electric side-by-side UTV [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/pc4.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
This new electric side-by-side from CFMoto is a battery-powered workhorse designed to deliver all the utility and hauling capacity of a traditional side-by-side without any of the noise, emissions, or maintenance headaches of gas power.
CFMoto isn’t a household name in the US – but there really should be a “yet” at the end of that statement. Over the last few decades, the brand has evolved from selling Honda Helix clones with GY6 (?) motors to seriously capable, modern machines like this: their latest U6 EV.
The CFMoto U6 EV is both a credible and relatively affordable SxS contender in this fastest-growing powersports segment. The U6 UTV features a 300V “ternary lithium” battery (Lithium Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt, or “LiNMC“) with 15.29 kW of usable capacity, automotive-grade charging, and payload and towing specs that put it right up against more universally-known (in the US, anyway) rival brands like Can-Am or John Deere.
Power and performance
Unlike the brand’s early scooters, which (if memory serves) used somewhat generic GY6 150cc gas motors, the U6 is equipped with a proprietary powertrain that delivers 35 kW (~47 hp) and 74 Nm (~55 lb-ft) of torque at 0 rpm. More than enough to get the Chinese UTV up to speed on country roads and rugged terrain.
That battery and motor combination is good enough to offer U6 owners more than 100 km (62 miles) of range, though that drops a bit when the SxS is loaded up with its 460 kg (1,015 lb.) payload (250 kg in the cargo tray, plus passengers), and 800 kg (1,760 lb.) towing capacity.
U6 EV interior
“Inside” the U6 EV’s cabin, drivers will have access to CFMoto’s advanced tech suite, bluetooth connectivity, even a weather and grime-resistant sound system optional.
CFMoto buyers can add a range of additional upgrades and options, as well, including doors, rear windows, windshield wipers, and an opening front windshield. If you’re pu in Wisconsin (where I’d have one, if I had one), there are even aftermarket companies offering “street legalizing kits” in states where ATVs and UTVs like this are legal to be driven on public roads.
The U6 EV is available globally, and will (allegedly) be available in the US sometime in 2026. You can check out the official CFMoto launch video, below, then let us know what you think of the U6 in the comments.
CFMoto U6 EV
SOURCE | IMAGES: CFMoto.
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![Yes, an EV really CAN power your home – if it's one of these [update]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/taiga_orca-wx3.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Can an EV really help power your home when the power goes out? It’s one of the biggest FAQs people have about electric cars — but the answer can be a bit confusing. It’s either a yes, with a but – or a no, with an unless. To find out which EVs can offer vehicle-to-home (V2H) tech to keep the lights on or even lower your energy bills, keep on reading.
UPDATE: a new Acura, and one you can ride hard and put away wet.
Modern EVs have big, efficient batteries capable of storing enough energy to power home for days. That can mean backup power during a storm or the ability to use stored energy during expensive peak hours and recharge again when kilowatts are cheap.
That’s all true – but only in theory. Because, while your EV might have a big battery, that doesn’t mean it has the special hardware and software that allow electricity to safely flow back out of the car baked in. Car companies call this vehicle-to-home (V2H) or bi-directional charging, and only a handful of models currently support it. That’s that, “yes, with a but” asterisk.
Yes, an EV can power your home, but it has to be one of these.
Acura RSX (2026)
At RE+ 2025 earlier this month, Honda announced that its upcoming all-Honda–developed Acura RSX will feature bi-directional home charging, previewing a future where every new EV built on Honda’s own global EV platform will support both vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities.
So, if you’re excited about the upcoming RSX or Honda’s 0 electric rides and want to take advantage of V2x tech, you don’t have much longer to wait. No word on pricing.
Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford made early headlines using its F-150 Lightning as a life-saving generator during winter ice storms and hurricanes, so it should come as no surprise that it’s included in this list. The best-selling electric truck in America can send up to 9.6 kW of power from its onboard batteries back to the house. More than enough to keep the lights on and the refrigerator running during an outage.
To make it work, you’ll need to install the Charge Station Pro (formerly called Intelligent Backup Power) home charger, the Home Integration System (HIS), which includes an inverter, a transfer switch, and a small battery to switch the system on, as well Ford’s Charge Station Pro 80A bi-directional charger (which comes free with the Extended Range F-150 Lightning, but costs about $1,300 otherwise).
All-in, you’re looking at about $5,000 in hardware, plus installation, to make it work.
Kia EV9
With up to 300 miles of range and ultra-fast charging, the seven-passenger electric SUV from Kia has been a hot seller. And back in March, the Kia EV9 unlocked yet another new feature: vehicle-to-home charging.
When paired with the Quasar 2 bidirectional charger from Wallbox (and the associated Power Recovery Unit, or PRU), a fully-charged Kia EV9 can power a standard suburban home for three days. Longer, still, if you’re keeping the energy use low. The Wallbox Quasar 2 isn’t cheap, though – pricing starts at $6,440 (again, plus installation). For that price, you the PRU plus a wall-mounted 12 kW L2 charger with 12.8 kW of with discharge power on a split-phase system.
Pretty much all the GM EVs
With the exception of the Chevy Brightdrop, GMC Hummer EV, and the hand-built, ultra-luxe Cadillac CELESTIQ, every Ultium-based GM EV can send battery power back to your home through GM Energy’s Ultium Home System – arguably the most fully integrated EV + battery backup + solar option out there outside of Tesla.
GM Energy says its new 19.2 kW Powershift Charger delivers around 6-7% more juice than a typical 11.5 kW L2 charger, delivering up to 51 miles of range per charge hour. Bi-directional charging requires the Powershift Charger to be paired up with a compatible GM EV and the GM Energy V2H Enablement Kit. The full system retails for $12,699, plus installation, and can be financed through GM Financial.
NOTE: some 2024 models might require a software update to enable V2H functionality, which can be done either at the dealer or through an OTA update.
Taiga Orca WX3
Candian startup Taiga have been offering high-performance electric watercraft for several years now. For 2026, their third-gen offering features automotive-grade fast charging that will allow riders to plug into the same fast charging networks their electric cars and trucks use, getting them back in the water in 30 minutes or less.
That said, this isn’t an article about fast-charging your PWC. Taiga is incorporating bidirectional charging into all its electric watercraft as of 2026, turning the PWC EVs into a mobile energy resources that can recharge equipment at the dock, power hotel loads on larger yachts, or bring power to an off-grid cabin or campsite.
Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla Cybertruck owners may have zero taste, but they have two options when it comes to powering their homes with their trucks. If they already have a Tesla Powerwall, they don’t need anything else. If they don’t, they’ll need to install a Universal Wall Connector charger, a Powershare Gateway, and a Tesla Backup Switch.
That second option will run about $3,500, plus installation.
That rounds off the list of vehicles that ship with V2H software baked in, so if you’re wondering whether or not your EV can be used to power your home, now you know the answer is yes, as long as it’s one of the ones listed here. But you might remember that I answered the initial question by saying it was either a yes, with a but – or a no, with an unless. So if you want to use your car’s battery as a backup, but don’t have one of the EVs listed above, that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of luck.
No, with an unless
As some of the earliest and most enthusiastic EV adopters, Tesla fans have also been among the loudest advocates for using the energy stored their cars’ batteries to back up their homes — or even the grid itself. Unfortunately for them, the slow-selling Cybertruck is the only Tesla vehicle that officially supports bi-directional charging. If you’re one of the many Model 3 and Y owners frustrated by those delays, there’s good news: those vehicles are now capable of V2H charging thanks to an “impressive” Powerwall competitor, Sigenergy.
The good news doesn’t stop there, however. The Sigenergy V2X also works with both the popular Kia EV6 and Electrek‘s 2024 EV of the Year, the Volvo EX30 over the DIN70121 protocol, and several VW/Audi/Porsche and Mercedes-Benz EVs over the ISO15118-2 protocol.
Our own Editor-in-Chief, Fred Lambert, recently went on a Sigenergy deep dive with Sylvain Juteau, President of Roulez Electrique, and came away deeply impressed with the system. I’ve included the video, above, and you can read more about the system itself at this link.
And, of course, I look forward to learning about any V2H models or more universal battery backup systems from you, the smartest readers in the blogosphere, in the comments.
Original content from Electrek.
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Environment
Trump is wielding the power of the state to back critical mineral companies. These are the possible next targets
The Trump administration needs to strike multiple deals with U.S. miners to secure the nation’s supply chain against China, said Mark Chalmers, CEO of Energy Fuels, a miner focused on uranium and rare earth minerals.
The Pentagon decision to take an equity stake in MP Materials, the largest U.S. rare earth miner, in July and support the company with a price floor surprised many in the industry, Chalmers told CNBC.
But it was a necessary step that the White House should now follow with more deals to diversify the U.S. supply chain and reduce the risk that would come with backing a single national champion, the CEO said.
“One company doesn’t fix it,” Chalmers said of the MP Materials deal. “You have to have multiple deals to ensure that you don’t just have the company risk, because all companies aren’t going to deliver.”
The White House is “not ruling out other deals with equity stakes or price floors as we did with MP Materials, but that doesn’t mean every initiative we take would be in the shape of the MP deal,” a Trump administration official told CNBC.
Rare earths are key inputs in weapons platforms such as the F-35 warplane as well as consumer products like electric vehicles and smartphones. The U.S. is almost entirely dependent on China, which supplied 70% of rare earth imports in 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
China has manipulated the market by suppressing prices to drive Western competition from the market, said Ryan Castilloux, founder of Adamas Intelligence, a critical mineral market research firm. The MP deal demonstrated that the U.S. is willing to break with free market ideals and push back against China by mimicking its model of strategic capitalism when necessary, Castilloux said.
“We’ve seen just how disadvantaged the free market view is versus a long term, industrial policy driven market — and something needed to give,” Castilloux, an expert on critical minerals, told CNBC.
Possible rare earth targets
Energy Fuels’ stock has surged nearly 200% since the MP deal on July 10, as investors speculate that it could be a deal target for the Trump administration. Critical mineral miner NioCorp Developments is also up almost 200%, Ramaco Resources has gained 140%, and USA Rare Earth is up more than 70%.
MP Materials will likely need more heavy rare earths as it develops a second facility to make magnets under the Defense Department deal, Castilloux said. Heavy rare earths are needed to produce magnets that can withstand high temperatures in EV motors and defense industry applications, he said.
Headquartered in Denver, Energy Fuels is the largest uranium miner in the U.S. and is forming a rare earth operation through mines it has acquired around the world. Its operation will produce heavy rare earths, Chalmers said.
Energy Fuels is focused on “providing a product that is attractive to the U.S government” and complements the strengths of MP Materials, the CEO said.
“The government cannot bet on one horse — it just doesn’t make sense,” Chalmers said. “We spend a lot of time in D.C. making sure they understand the merits of our strategy,” he said.
Trump eyes lithium
Other critical minerals like lithium, cobalt and graphite are ripe for federal investment to smooth out volatile price fluctuations that undermine U.S. miners, said Rich Nolan, CEO of the National Mining Association. Those minerals are all used in batteries, among other applications.
The Trump administration has proposed an equity stake in Lithium Americas, as the Canadian company renegotiates the terms of a $2.2 billion loan from the Department of Energy for its Thacker Pass mine in northern Nevada. The mine is expected to become one of the largest sources of lithium in North America, with the first phase of the project scheduled to start operations in late 2027.
Lithium Americas stock surged more than 90% this week on news of the potential government stake.
Albemarle CEO Kent Masters told CNBC that something “in the ballpark” of the MP deal could apply to the lithium sector. Albemarle, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the largest lithium producers in the world.
“What you want to do is move the market such that private industry can invest behind it,” Masters told CNBC in July, pointing to Apple‘s offtake agreement with MP just days after the Defense Department deal.
Miners seek price floors
While it might take a government equity stake to move the market in some cases, the price floor established by the Pentagon in the MP deal is the “critical part” that allows private industry to invest and build out the supply chain, Masters said.
Price support from the federal government “sends a true market signal that these investments are long term, that they are here to stay,” the National Mining Association’s Nolan said.
Under the MP deal, the Pentagon set a price floor of $110 per kilogram for neodymium-praseodymium oxide, or NdPr, a key input in rare-earth magnets. The government pays MP the difference when the market price is below $110 but in turn takes 30% of the upside when the price is above $110.
The price of NdPr surged 40% in the wake of the MP deal, Castilloux said.
“It serves as a blueprint for any market where suppressed pricing is slanting the competitive playing field against the U.S. and its allies,” the analyst said of the price floor. The deal signals that “there is a way to break free of China’s artificially suppressed pricing,” he said.
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