How an orange cone has become the symbol of opposition to the robotaxi in California
A select group of protestors in the San Francisco Bay area are demobilizing robotaxi EVs operated by companies like Waymo and Cruise by placing orange construction cones over their sensors. While opposition to this technology has been present in small doses for years, the resistance against autonomous vehicles has recently gotten more press following a recent vote to expand the services in California. Is this a fear of autonomy or just a fear of change in general?
Self-driving cars, currently present in today’s automotive landscape in several varying tiers of true autonomy, remain a polarizing form of technology for a multitude of reasons. The most often discussed is probably whether we can truly reach full autonomy to the point of humans not operating their vehicles at all anymore.
Some automakers like Tesla have been overpromising and underdelivering on this prospect for years, while others have adopted a less radical approach to driver assistance, settling for Level 2+ or even Level 3 autonomous driving, leaving the others to try and sort out Level 4 and perhaps, one day, Level 5.
One segment in electric mobility that has made the most headway in self-driving vehicles is the robotaxi – led by startups empowered by big innovation and even bigger investments from legacy automakers like GM and capital venture firms who see the potential in rideshares without human error.
While other cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Austin start to lure startups away from Northern California, Silicon Valley remains a major hub for nascent technologies, including robotaxis. While companies like Motional, Cruise, Waymo, and Zoox have made commendable progress in the segment, not everyone around town is clapping.
In San Francisco, a group of robotaxi vigilantes believes the EVs do more harm to traffic conditions than good and have begun immobilizing the cars using traffic cones.
Safe Street Rebels choose the cone as a robotaxi weapon
This act of rideshare deterrence is being referred to as “coning” by a group of Bay Area NIMBYs (although I doubt too many people have a yard in SF), who refer to themselves as the “Safe Street Rebels.”
For the last month or so, the “Rebels” have been placing traffic cones atop robotaxis, rendering them stationary until the orange rubber is removed or the system is rebooted. One could argue that removing a cone from a construction zone or freezing a vehicle in the middle of the street could create more danger for others in traffic, but not according to the “Safe Street” posse.
Robotaxis donning these new debilitating cone crowns is the result of tantrums opposition to a recent vote of approval by the California Public Utilities Commission to expand commercial robotaxi rides throughout San Francisco, allowing startups like Waymo to begin charging passengers for rides.
The cone head protestors have been emboldened by the local transport agency, alongside some city and fire officials in San Francisco, who have said the robotaxis can interfere with emergency responders… just like human drivers, bicyclists, and the occasional pedestrian strolling around on their phone.
Although companies like Cruise and Waymo have not shared how many robotaxis have been coned since the August 10 approval vote, a representative for the former said the number of incidents has already significantly declined. Perhaps the Safe Street Rebels ran out of cones or, better yet, has begun refocusing its energy on helping the people of San Francisco who are actually living on the street and are so desperately in need of assistance and care.
Electrek’s Take
We cover robotaxis all the time, and this narrative never changes. There are hundreds of traffic incidents in a given city each day, brought on by human error, yet a driverless car makes one wrong turn or freezes up, and the technology is suddenly the real danger out there in the streets.
Change the record.
Obviously, this remains a new and emerging technology that will not come without its fair share of bugs, but the progress made to date has been staggering. I’m sure this group of self-proclaimed “rebels” is a very small sample of opposition compared to the general population that supports fewer cars on roads, less pollution, and less of a necessity to own a vehicle in a large city, but unfortunately, negative news like this often gets the spotlight.
I’m guilty as I write this, giving attention to a group that is, in my opinion, a nonstarter in the overall history of autonomous driving, but I feel it’s important to point out that this technology will continue to improve and expand. Whether you embrace safer and more efficient transportation or use paper-thin examples to hide the fact that you simply fear change is up to you.
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Hyundai’s electric SUV is more affordable than ever. After cutting lease prices again this month, you can lease the new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, which now features a longer range and a Tesla NACS charging port, for just $179 per month.
Hyundai cuts 2025 IONIQ 5 lease prices again in June
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is better in every way possible compared to the outgoing model. It now boasts up to 318 miles of driving range, sleek new styling both inside and out, and an NACS port, allowing you to charge at Tesla Superchargers.
Hyundai’s electric SUV remains a top seller in the US with nearly 16,000 models sold through May. After cutting lease prices again in June, Hyundai looks to draw in even more buyers.
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range RWD is now listed at just $179 for 24 months with $3,999 due at signing. That’s a notable difference from May.
Last month, IONIQ 5 lease prices started at $209 a month. Although that was considered one of the best EV deals, the new rate will save you $30 a month.
The SE Standard Range trim starts at $43,975, with a driving range of up to 245 miles. However, the extended range SE model may be an even better deal. You can upgrade to the longer-range SE trim, which has up to 318 miles of range, for just $199 a month.
You can even lease the off-road XRT variant for $299 a month right now. Hyundai’s offers end on July 7 and include the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim | EV Powertrain | Driving Range (miles) | Starting Price* | Monthly lease price June 2025 |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | 168-horsepower rear motor | 245 | $42,500 | $179 |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $46,550 | $199 |
| IONIQ 5 SEL RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $49,500 | $209 |
| IONIQ 5 Limited RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $54,200 | $309 |
| IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 290 | $50,050 | $249 |
| IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 290 | $53,000 | $259 |
| IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD | 320 horsepower dual motor | 259 | $55,400 | $359 |
| IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 269 | $58,100 | $299 |
As an added bonus, Hyundai is still offering a free ChargePoint Level 2 home charger with the purchase or lease of a new 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.
With Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” calling to end federal EV incentives, including the $7,500 tax credit, many of these savings will soon dry up.
Want to check out Hyundai’s electric SUV for yourself? With leases as low as $179 per month, it’s hard to pass up right now. You can use our link to find deals on the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 in your area (trusted affiliate link).
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Canadian oil and gas pipeline giant Enbridge just launched its first solar farm in Texas, adding more clean energy to its “all-of-the-above” energy mix, mainly fossil fuels.
Enbridge’s Orange Grove Solar project in Jim Wells County now sends up to 130 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity to the Texas ERCOT grid. That’s enough to power around 24,000 homes. Roughly 300,000 solar panels stretch across 920 acres.
AT&T has signed a long-term virtual power purchase agreement for all the output from Orange Grove. That deal helps AT&T reduce its carbon footprint and stabilize long-term energy costs.
“We are pleased to be able to deliver additional zero-emission electricity into the grid in support of local and Texas state-wide economic growth and energy demand,” said Matthew Akman, Enbridge’s EVP of corporate strategy and president of its power business.
This isn’t Enbridge’s first dip into renewables: it bought its first wind farm in 2002, and it says its renewable assets are part of its plan to achieve net zero by 2050.
But Enbridge is still ultimately best known for its oil and gas pipelines – and its troubled environmental history. In 1991, the company was responsible for the largest inland oil spill in the US, in Minnesota. It’s faced criticism for other spills and environmental risks tied to its pipeline network, which is the longest across North America and the largest oil export pipeline network in the world.
Enbridge is building a second, much larger solar farm southeast of Abilene in Callahan County. Called the Sequoia Solar project, it’s expected to generate 815 MW of power – more than six times the size of Orange Grove – making it one of the biggest solar farms in North America once it’s complete.
Both projects are part of Enbridge’s growing push into clean power, especially in Texas, where demand for electricity in the ERCOT market keeps climbing. It’s a notable shift for a company still deeply rooted in fossil fuels without plans to abandon them. But it’s now tapping into the sun as part of its evolving energy portfolio.
Akman continued, “Enbridge is proud to operate a wide range of critical energy infrastructure across the Gulf Coast area, including liquids pipelines and export facilities, natural gas pipelines and storage, as well as wind and now solar power.”
Read more: Texas just shot its wind + solar boom in the foot on purpose [Update]
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![The Kia EV4 actually looks pretty sharp in real life [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Kia-EV4-real-life-2.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Kia’s new entry-level EV was spotted driving in the US with its official launch just around the corner. The EV4 is Kia’s first electric sedan, and in real life, it looks even better.
Kia EV4 spotted in real life on US streets
We’ve been waiting since Kia’s first annual EV day in 2023, when we first saw the concept for the electric sedan, to finally arrive. The EV4 is part of the brand’s new lineup of entry-level electric vehicles, alongside the EV2, EV3, and EV5.
After opening EV4 pre-orders in Korea earlier this year, Kia is preparing to launch it globally. The electric car starts at about $30,000 (41.92 million won) in its home market.
Similar to Korea, the EV4 will be offered in the US with two battery options: 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh. The entry-level “Light” trim will come with a standard 58.3 kWh battery, which Kia estimates will provide a range of 235 miles.
The Wind and GT-Line trims will be available with the long-range 81.4 kWh battery, providing up to 330 miles of range.
Kia says the EV4’s sports car-like design contributed to its impressive driving range. With a drag coefficient of just 0.23, the EV4 is Kia’s most aerodynamic vehicle yet.
It will also come with a built-in NACS port on the front passenger side for charging at Tesla Superchargers. With DC fast charging, the EV4 can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes (Light battery). The long-range (81.4 kWh) battery will take around 31 minutes.
The EV4 was recently spotted driving in the US ahead of its official launch, giving us a better idea of what Kia’s electric sedan looks like in real life.
The video, courtesy of KindelAuto, shows the EV4 with Michigan plates on public roads. You can see it’s not your average four-door sedan. Kia calls it an “entirely new type of EV sedan” with a wide, low stance.
Kia’s new “EV Tiger Face” design is showcased up front, featuring vertical headlights and its signature Star Map lighting.
The interior will feature nearly 30″ of screen space as part of Kia’s new connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system.
The setup includes dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens, plus a 5″ climate screen. It also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
Kia will launch the EV4 in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2026. We will learn prices closer to when it arrives, but Kia’s electric sedan is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
We also got a look at the upcoming EV4 GT this week, after it was spotted outside Kia and Hyundai’s facility in Korea.
What do you think about Kia’s first electric sedan? Would you buy one for around $35,000? Let us know in the comments.
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