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Cranes stand at the construction site of the second phase of Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, invested by state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China Huaneng Group, on June 28, 2023 in Changjiang Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province of China.

China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images

China is the breakaway global leader in new nuclear construction.

China has 21 nuclear reactors under construction which will have a capacity for generating more than 21 gigawatts of electricity, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. That is two and a half times more nuclear reactors under construction than any other country.

India has the second largest nuclear buildout right now, with eight reactors under construction that will be able to generate more than six gigawatts of electricity. Third place Turkey has four nuclear reactors under construction with a presumed capacity of 4.5 gigawatts.

The United States currently has one nuclear reactor under construction, the fourth reactor at the Vogtle power plant in Georgia, which will be able to generate just over 1 gigawatt. (For the sake of comparison, a gigawatt is about enough to power a mid-sized city.)

“China is the de facto world leader in nuclear technology at the moment,” Jacopo Buongiorno, professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told CNBC.

China is “the determined and pacing leader in global nuclear ambition at the moment,” agrees  Kenneth Luongo, president and founder of the Partnership for Global Security, a nuclear and transnational security and energy policy non-profit. China is “leading, even racing ahead,” Luongo said.

It hasn’t always been that way.

The United States’ existing fleet of nuclear reactors is a testament to its prior dominance.

The United States has 93 nuclear reactors operating with capacity to generate more than 95 gigawatts of electricity, according to the IAEA That is more than any other country by far. Many of those reactors should be viable for some time to come, as nuclear reactors can be licensed to operate for 60 years and in some cases for as long as 80 years, the World Nuclear Association said in a recent report on the nuclear supply chain.

Exelon’s nuclear plant in Byron, Illinois on Sept. 7, 2021.

Chicago Tribune | Tribune News Service | Getty Images

The country with the next most operating nuclear reactors is France, with 56 and a capacity for generating more than 61 gigawatts, according to the IAEA. China comes in third with 55 operating reactors and capacity of over 53 gigawatts.

“It is generally agreed that the U.S. has lost its global dominance in nuclear energy. The trend began in the mid-1980s,” Luongo told CNBC.

China was just getting started as the United States nuclear industry began to take a back seat.

“China began building its first reactor in 1985, just as the U.S. nuclear build-out began a steep decline,” Luongo told CNBC.

How did China become the new nuclear leader?

Power follows demand, so the new nuclear reactors tend to be built where fast-developing economies need power to fuel their growth.

While more than 70 percent of existing nuclear capacity is located in countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, nearly 75 percent of the nuclear reactors currently under construction are in non-OECD countries, and half of those are in China, according to the World Nuclear Association’s recent supply chain report.

As China’s economy has grown, so too has its energy output. China’s total energy output reached 7,600 terawatt hours in 2020, a massive increase from 1,280 terawatt hours in 2000, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“The primary imperative is to meet what has been a staggering growth in demand over the past twenty years,” John F. Kotek, senior vice president of policy development and public affairs of the nuclear advocacy group, the Nuclear Energy Institute, told CNBC. “So they haven’t just been building a lot of nuclear, they’ve been building a lot of everything.”

Cranes stand at the construction site of the second phase of Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, invested by state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China Huaneng Group, on June 28, 2023 in Changjiang Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province of China.

China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images

Currently, nuclear energy accounts for only 5 percent of the total amount of energy produced in the country, while coal still accounts for about two-thirds, according to the International Energy Agency.

But China’s use of coal to meet its surging demand for electricity has caused a secondary problem: dirty air. “With the huge growth in coal use, along with a dramatic increase in private vehicle ownership, has come a dire need for more clean electricity generation,” Kotek told CNBC.

Nuclear energy generation does not release any of the greenhouse gasses that contribute to air pollution and global warming, so China has turned to nuclear as a way to produce large quantities of clean energy fast.

“The Chinese have been pro-nuclear for a long time, but now they seem to have committed to a truly massive scale up to 150 gigawatts in 15 years. And they seem to be on track to meet that goal,” Buongiorno told CNBC.

“This will be the largest expansion of nuclear capacity in history, by far,” Buongiorno said.

China kickstarted its nuclear program by buying reactors from France, the United States and Russia, Luongo told CNBC, and built primary homegrown reactor, the Hualong, with cooperation with France.

One reason for China’s dominance is the government’s strong control over the energy sector, and most of the economy.

“They built a state-supported, financed industry that allows them to build multiple nuclear units at lower cost,” Luongo told CNBC. “They don’t have any secret sauce other than state financing, state supported supply chain, and a state commitment to build the technology.”

China’s focus on building nuclear energy has global climate benefits, but it also poses ge-political challenges.

“China’s prowess and commitment to nuclear is good for the technology, for China’s energy security, grid stability, economy and air pollution, as well as global climate change mitigation,” Buongiorno said. “If they start to export nuclear technology to other countries, the concern is the geo-political-economic dependence on China that such projects will create for those countries. The same logic applies to Russia.”

HUIZHOU, CHINA – FEBRUARY 19: Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant is pictured on February 19, 2023 in Huizhou, Guangdong Province of China. Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant is scheduled to be put into operation in 2025.

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images

U.S. pinning its future on advanced nuclear tech

The United States could catch up and regain some of its former dominance in the nuclear space, experts say.

The United States and Europe have slowly started to build nuclear energy again with middling success.

“These countries restarted building nuclear plants only 10 to 15 years ago. The supply chain and specialized workforce had virtually disappeared, which has resulted in serious cost overruns and schedule delays,” Buongiorno said.

To wit, the two large new nuclear reactors at the Vogtle Plant in Georgia have become infamous for taking much longer than initially expected and blowing through early budget estimates.

Vogtle nuclear reactor 3

Source: Georgia Power

But the U.S. is making moves to regain its previous dominance in the nuclear space.

“The U.S. has reversed its political opposition to nuclear power at home. It now is a rare issue of bipartisan agreement,” Luongo told CNBC.

A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found support for nuclear energy is up among both Democrats and Republicans: 57 percent of Americans report favoring more nuclear reactors to generate electricity, up from 43 percent of Americans who favored nuclear reactors in 2020.

The U.S. is providing subsidies to keep some existing nuclear plants open, selling some large nuclear reactors to eastern Europe. But the country pinning much of its ambition on scaling up the market for small modular and advanced reactor technology and building the associated fuel enrichment capacity.

“The US may catch up if the new technologies being developed here — small modular reactors and microreactors above all — will prove to be technically and commercially successful, which is currently uncertain,” Buongiorno told CNBC.

Smaller nuclear reactors are less expensive because they are smaller, but also because the modular design allows for component parts to be made in a factory and put together on site. That process is faster and cheaper than building each reactor as a boutique one-off.

The NuScale small modular reactor and Westinghouse AP300 are scaled-down light-water reactors, which is the design most conventional nuclear reactors are using, while some other small modular reactor designs are “more exotically fueled and cooled,” Luongo said, like the TerraPower Natruim Reactor or the X-Energy high-temperature gas cooled reactors.

An artist rendering of the new Westinghouse AP300, a small modular reactor.

Artist rendering courtesy Westinghouse

“The U.S. government is pouring billions of dollars into their development and demonstration in the anticipation that they will work, be less expensive than large reactors, and provide the U.S. with a larger market for their export,” Luongo told CNBC. “We’ll see where we are by 2027 when Congress has mandated the demonstration phase. Delays and cost growth in some technologies are already popping up.”

In addition to being smaller and cheaper to build, small modular reactors are well suited for providing heat for industrial processes, Kotek of the Nuclear Energy Institute told CNBC.

Part of the United States’ attempting to re-ignite its nuclear industry is also its desire to be an exporter of nuclear reactor technology.

“The U.S. has decided that it is at a disadvantage in the nuclear export arena and is trying to reposition itself to be a major competitor in the next 15 years. This began with the Trump administration and Biden has amped it up,” Luongo told CNBC. Some of this export business will be large nuclear reactors, like those being sold to Eastern Europe, but “a significant part of this strategy is small modular and advanced reactors,” Luongo said.

Here, again, the U.S. is up against China.

“China rightly views nuclear energy as a strategic industry. They know that nuclear energy exports help build long-term relationships with partner countries. So they have invested heavily in their domestic nuclear energy capabilities and are now seeking to export their reactor designs to other nations,” Kotek told CNBC. China and Russia both offer “very attractive financing” and other kinds of incentives to spread their nuclear industry aboard, Kotek said.

For the United States to win the export business, it must prove it can put steel in the ground in the United States.

“The U.S. is widely recognized to offer world-leading nuclear energy technology, but having great designs on paper is not enough – most other nations want to see that technology demonstrated before they will consider building it in their country,” Kotek told CNBC. “So the U.S. would be wise to incentivize an accelerated build-out of next-generation nuclear energy systems here at home, so that we’re in a position to take proven designs into the global marketplace and take back our position as the world’s top nuclear energy exporter.”

Jockeying for the top spot in the international nuclear industry is going to get more intense as demand for clean energy continues to climb.

“We and our close nuclear energy allies are at what I think is just the start of a fierce competition for supremacy in global nuclear energy export markets,” Kotek said.

How nuclear power is changing

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Podcast: Tesla is now Elon’s, Xpeng goes AI, Rivian earnings, and more

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November 7, 2025

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Podcast: Tesla is now Elon's, Xpeng goes AI, Rivian earnings, and more

electrek podcast

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss how Tesla is now Elon’s after the shareholders’ meeting, Xpeng going all-in on AI, Rivian’s earnings, and more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

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We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:


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The Nissan Juke looks way better as an EV: Here’s your first look

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November 7, 2025

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The Nissan Juke looks way better as an EV: Here's your first look

Nissan-electric-Juke

Following the LEAF, the new all-electric Nissan Juke is next in line to receive a glow-up. The Juke EV was spotted for the first time rocking a new look ahead of its debut.

First look at the new electric Nissan Juke

Let’s be honest, the Juke wasn’t exactly what you’d call a head-turner. At least not for the right reasons. Nissan pulled the Juke from its North American lineup after the 2017 model year, replacing it with the Kicks.

The Juke is still Nissan’s second-best-selling vehicle in Europe, behind the Qashqai. As part of its up to £3 billion ($3.9 billion) investment to upgrade its Sunderland, UK plant, Nissan revealed plans to launch three new EVs: the LEAF, Qashqai, and Juke.

After launching the new, third-gen LEAF, Nissan plans to introduce the electric Juke in 2026 and Qashqai EV in 2027.

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With its official debut coming up, the electric Nissan Juke was spotted for the first time out in public. Although it’s camouflaged, you can already see that it’s shaping up to be a big improvement over the outgoing Juke.

Nissan-Juke-electric
Nissan Juke and Qashqai (Source: Nissan)

The images from Motor.es (you can view them below), reveal the EV version still has a profile similar to the current Juke, but the front and rear ends appear to be closer in style to the new LEAF. The grille is now closed off, and the front features Nissan’s new V-Motion front fascia. Meanwhile, the rear gains a new light bar connecting the taillights.

We also got a sneak peek at the interior, revealing dual central infotainment and driver-cluster screens. Like the LEAF, 12.3″ screens will likely come standard with 14.3″ screens available on higher trims.

Nissan has yet to reveal final specs or prices, but the electric Juke is expected to be based on the same CMF-EV platform as the new LEAF. The new Nissan LEAF is available in the UK with two battery options: 52 kWh and 75 kWh, offering WTLP ranges of 271 miles and 386 miles, respectively.

Although the electric Juke is set to arrive next year, an Automotive News report in August claimed Nissan may continue offering the gas version due to slower-than-expected EV demand.


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Velotric early Black Friday Sale up to $600 off e-bikes, Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus at new $999 low, Heybike lows from $999, more

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November 7, 2025

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Velotric early Black Friday Sale up to 0 off e-bikes, Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus at new 9 low, Heybike lows from 9, more


We’re closing out this week’s Green Deals with a full e-bike edition, led by Velotric’s early Black Friday Sale with up to $600 savings on a selection of models, like the Discover 2 Step-Thru Commuter e-bike at $1,899 and getting $120 in FREE gear. Right behind it is Rad Power’s RadRover 6 Plus e-bike at a new $999 low, as well as Heybike’s ALPHA All-Terrain Mid-Drive e-bike getting $266 in FREE gear at a new $1,299 low, and the Ranger S Folding e-bikes (750W and 1,000W) down at annual lows starting from $999 – but keep in mind that these two are only staying at these rates for four days – plus, other ongoing early Black Friday deals waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals that are collected together at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s full Rad Power Black Friday e-bike sale lineup, the Jackery early Black Friday deals + an exclusive solo deal, 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.

Save up to $600 in early Black Friday savings on Velotric e-bikes starting from $1,099

Velotric has launched its early Black Friday Sale with up to $600 in e-bike savings in the form of price cuts and FREE bundled gear. Among the lineup, we’re seeing a rare price cut on Velotric’s Discover 2 Step-Thru Commuter e-bike to $1,899 shipped, which is also getting $120 in FREE gear. In 2025, the MSRP on this newer model increased from $1,899 to $1,999 from tariff hikes, with the largest discount we saw in 2024 being a one-time drop of $200, while we’ve only seen one previous cut to $1,899 that happened back in August. Today’s deal is bringing back that same second-best rate, giving you $100 off the tag while also providing you with a $120 FREE suspension seat post. Head below to check out Velotric’s full early Black Friday lineup.

The second-generation of Velotric’s flagship Discover 1 Plus model (which has been sold out since the Prime Sale last month), the Discover 2 commuter e-bike is a more advanced solution that still retains a reasonable price despite its notable upgrades. Things start at the newer 750W 75Nm rear hub motor (peaking to 1,100W) alongside a 705.6Wh battery to reach up to 20/28 MPH top speeds (depending on your state’s laws) and provide pedal-assistance support for up to 75 miles on a full charge. One big improvement here is the SensorSwap tech that lets you switch between a cadence or torque sensor as you need them, with the PAS boasting three modes that each have five levels.

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There’s plenty more to love about this model, with additional features including Apple Find My integration, hydraulic disc brakes, Kenda puncture-resistant tires, an auto-on integrated LED headlight, a rear cargo rack with an integrated taillight (complete with turn signaling, as well as brake, flashing, and steady lighting), an 8-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, a 3.5-inch full-color display with a USB-C port, and more.

Velotric’s early Black Friday deals on new e-bikes:

  • Fold 1 Plus Folding e-bike: $1,499 (No price cut)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 68 miles
    • comes with $120 in FREE gear
  • Breeze 1 Cruiser e-bike: $1,699 (Reg. $1,799)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 70 miles
    • comes with $270 in FREE gear
  • Discover 2 Step-Thru Commuter e-bike: $1,899 (Reg. $1,999)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 75 miles
    • comes with $120 in FREE gear
  • Nomad 2X Multi-Terrain Full Suspension e-bike: $2,399 (No price cut)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 75 miles
    • comes with $50 in FREE gear

Velotric’s early Black Friday legacy e-bike deals:

You can browse the full Velotric early Black Friday Sale on the main landing page here.

rad power's radrover 6 plus e-bike standing on boulders

Rad Power’s RadRover 6 Plus e-bike gets $600 Black Friday discount to a new $999 low (Reg. $1,599)

As part of Rad Power’s ongoing Black Friday Sale that will only last as long as supplies hold out, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru Fat-Tire e-bike at $999 shipped. You’d be paying a full price of $1,599 outside of sales, with the discounts we’ve seen this year having taken things down between $1,399 and $1,299, with some rare cuts as low as $1,199. Now, with these early Black Friday savings, we’re seeing it go lower than ever with a $600 markdown that lands $200 under the former low for the best new price that we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this early Black Friday deal here, or check out the full lineup of deals during this sale here.

man riding up steep incline on Heybike's ALPHA e-bike

For four days, get Heybike’s ALPHA all-terrain mid-drive e-bike with $266 in FREE gear at a new $1,299 low

As part of Heybike’s ongoing early Black Friday Sale, and running alongside the short-term Ranger S $999 annual low, there is also a 4-day flash sale on the ALPHA All-Terrain Mid-Drive e-bike at $1,299 shipped with it also getting $266 in FREE gear. It carries a $1,699 MSRP, but over the year, we’ve regularly seen it drop to $1,599 and $1,499, with a flash sale that took things to $1,399 last month for the first time. Now, during this 4-day window, you can score a larger-than-ever $400 markdown that drops things to a new all-time low price. On top of this price cut, you’re also getting a steel cable lock, helmet, a waterproof backpack, a large cargo basket, and a gift pack.

If you want to learn more about this e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this 4-day early Black Friday flash sale here.

woman with Heybike's Ranger S e-bike on beach with dog in front basket

Heybike’s 4-day early Black Friday flash sale cuts $500 off Ranger S folding e-bikes to $999 and $1,199 annual lows

As part of Heybike’s early Black Friday Sale, the brand is giving folks a 4-day flash sale on two models, with a surprise price cut on the Ranger S 750W Folding Fat-Tire e-bike to $999 shipped that also comes with a FREE Black Friday gift pack, or you could go with the upgraded 1,000W variant at $1,199 shipped and get the same gift pack. These two models would normally run you $1,499 and $1,699 at full price, which discounts have almost exclusively dropped as low as $1,099 and $1,299 over the year, if not at higher rates. While we have seen the price go as low as $899 and $1,099 in the past, those rates haven’t been seen since last year, making the $500 markdowns here the best prices we’ve tracked in 2025.

If you want to learn more about this e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this 4-day early Black Friday flash sale here.

Best Fall 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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