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After revealing a slate of new electric models at the brand’s EV Day in Korea, Kia is already planning its next-gen lineup. Kia will launch an EV2 electric car starting at around $30,000 that could serve as a worthy follow-up to the Soul EV.

Kia revamps lineup at EV day

Kia teased three new electric models earlier this month, due to debut at its first annual EV Day. We knew one of the models would be the Kia EV5, revealed in China this summer.

The automaker revealed the final details for its compact SUV, which includes up to 447 miles (720 km) CLTC range, a spacious interior, advanced heat pump, and a load of new features.

The EV5 will start at around $35,000 for the base model. Equipped with a 64 kWh battery pack and 160 kW motor, the standard EV5 is expected to feature up to 330 miles (530 km) range. The longer-range model features an 88 kWh battery and the same 160 kW motor for an estimated 447 miles range.

Inside, the EV5 includes Kia’s connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment with a Panoramic Wide display and dual 12.3″ screens.

  • Kia-EV5
  • Kia-EV5
  • Kia-EV5

The EV5 will ride on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform – the same used for the EV6 and IONIQ 5. Kia is also planning to launch a GT version, which will be revealed later. Production will take place in both China and Korea, but it’s not likely to make the trip overseas to the US, unfortunately.

Kia’s new compact electric SUV will join the EV6 electric sedan and flagship EV9, the brand’s first three-row electric SUV, in its growing lineup.

  • Kia-EV3
  • Kia-EV3
  • Kia-EV3
  • Kia-EV3

At the event, Kia also introduced two new electric vehicles, the EV3 and EV4 concepts. The EV3 is a compact crossover that takes design cues from the EV9 and EV5 in an “accessible form.” It includes Kia’s “Opposites United” design and futuristic interior with a center console grown from mushrooms.

Meanwhile, the EV4 looks like a four-door sedan, but Kia says it’s “an entirely new type of EV sedan” as a symbol of its innovation.

  • Kia-EV4
  • Kia-EV4
  • Kia-EV4

Kia is launching a cheaper EV2 electric car

The new EV2 was confirmed at Kia EV Day Thursday with a target price of around $30,000. It will join the new EV3, EV4, and EV5 in the automakers growing lineup within the next three years.

Speaking to Autocar, Kia CEO Ho-Sung Song explained that providing affordable EVs is “very important” to the brand. Kia’s boss added that the EV2 is a “very unique and important model for the European market.”

Kia-EV2
Kia EV Day (Source: Kia)

The report suggests it could be an electric hatch, but given Kia’s emphasis on SUVs, it will likely include a crossover design. That said, it could serve as a modern Kia Soul EV successor.

You can expect Kia’s new signature design touches like its “Tiger grille” up front and dynamic lines. It will likely ride on an upgraded 400V E-GMP platform used for the models above.

The Kia EV2 will also receive a sporty GT version. A Kia official told Autocar that every model in its lineup will get a performance GT model.

Kia-EV2
Kia EV Day (Source: Kia)

Production is slated to begin in 2025, with deliveries following the following year. It will be built at Kia’s Slovakia plant, joining the other models.

The four new Kia models will join the EV6 and EV9 as Kia aims to sell 1.6 million electric cars annually by 2030.

Electrek’s Take

Kia is revamping its lineup to include a wide range of offerings in nearly all segments with prices between $30,000 and $80,000.

It will focus on the EV6 and EV9 in emerging markets with slower EV adoption while introducing new models in bigger markets. The brand said it’s establishing a reliable EV production network and battery supply chain. Kia aims to expand to eight production facilities by 2025.

In Europe, Kia will focus on building small and medium-sized EVs like the EV2, EV3, and EV4, while in China, the emphasis will be on mid to large electric models.

Kia says it will “introduce a diverse range of EV models in North America” to take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act. The automaker has yet to confirm which models that will entail.

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Celebrate Labor Day with these awesome (electric) work truck deals

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Celebrate Labor Day with these awesome (electric) work truck deals

It’s Labor Day weekend, which means big deals on car lots across America – especially if you’re shopping for a new electric vehicle to help with your labor. We’ve rounded up the best offers on electric pickups, vans, and even a great option for ride share drivers!

Sure, there’s a bit of irony in pitching “work vehicles” on a holiday meant for not working – but for many small business owners, work is part of who they are. And with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit set to expire, plus a wave of great Labor Day deals on work-ready EVs, now might be the best time yet to plug into a new electric ride.

Here are some of the standout electric vehicles offers we found this Labor Day weekend (2025), organized by vehicle type.

Electric pickup | F-150 Lightning


2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Is Cheaper To Lease Than Its ICE-Powered F-150 Sibling
F-150 Lightning; via Ford.

The “Ford for America,” summer sales event continues through Labor Day with interest-free 0% financing, $0 down payment, and zero payments for up to 90 days for retail customers. Ford is also throwing in $0 maintenance for 24 months.

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But wait, there’s more! Ford Authority is reporting that a complimentary home charger and standard installation might also be included as part of the Ford Power Promise promotion happening at participating dealers in select markets with the purchase of a new F-150 Lightning pickup through the end of September.

Lease customers aren’t being left out, either. You can lease a 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT 4P 311A pickup at $399 per month for 36 months, with “just” $399 due at signing (basically your first month’s payment).

Electric van | Chevy Brightdrop


Chevrolet Brightdrop ZEVO; via GM.

The best electric vehicle deal in the business keeps on truckin’ into Labor Day weekend, with new 2025 Brightdrop models currently eligible for up to $21,500 in manufacturer rebates before any Federal, state, local utility, or even Costco membership incentives kick in.

For your money, you get a capable, Ultium-based electric cargo van with more room than your college dorm and a nationwide dealer network to keep it up and running when you need it most.

Electric van (hon. mention) | Mercedes eSprinter


2024 eSprinter; via Mercedes-Benz.

Despite being based on the company’s existing diesel platform, Mercedes’ eSprinter has proven itself a capable urban hauler in the hands of Amazon, DHL, and countless European tradespeople. Despite that, there are still a handful of leftover 2024 models hanging around dealer lots – enough that Mercedes is offering up to $30,000 (!) Customer Cash on any new ’24MY eSprinter purchased from dealer stock.

That discount is enough to bring the price of this 2024 eSprinter in Chicago from $87,823 all the way down to $57,823 this Labor Day weekend – and that’s before you factor in state and local utility incentives that can bring the price down even further.

As you can imagine, there’s some fine print on that Customer Cash deal. It can’t be combined with Special APR programs through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS), but it can be combined with the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Medium Fleet Program.

Ride share ride | VW ID.4


Volkswagen-ID.4-lease-deal
VW ID.4 AWD Pro S; via Volkswagen.

Ride share drivers looking for comfortable seats, room for five adults and their luggage, proven battery life, and lickety-quick charging speeds can stop looking. Volkswagen is offering a sweet ID.4 lease at nearly half the cost of an entry-level Jetta with payments starting at just $129/mo. – that’s despite the ID.4 carrying a significantly higher MSRP.

And, while we’re at it, it’s probably worth noting that serious road warriors will probably save more than $129/mo. in fuel alone.

If you prefer to own your vehicles after making payments on them for a few years, you can also get 0% interest financing on select ID.4s for up to 72 months. It’s important to note here that Volkswagen’s deals can vary wildly by region. That $129/mo. offer is available in California and a few other West Coast states, for example, but the electric crossover’s listed at $329 for 24 months with $4,499 due at signing in others.

Disclaimer: the vehicle models and financing deals above were sourced from CarsDirectCarEdge, and (where mentioned) the OEM websites – and were current as of 29AUG2025. These deals may not be available in every market, with every discount, or for every buyer (the standard “with approved credit” fine print should be considered implied). Check with your local dealer(s) for more information.

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Denver Public Library deploys novel solar and battery storage system

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Denver Public Library deploys novel solar and battery storage system

Sustainable construction experts McKinstry have teamed up with leading BESS developers Viridi and the Denver Public Library to deploy a first-of-its-kind solar and battery storage system that sets a new standard for fire safety.

The Denver Public Library sought a battery energy storage system (BESS) that could deliver cost savings without compromising safety for staff, visitors, or the architecturally significant, Michael Graves–designed structure itself. That required a battery backup solution that not only met the city’s fire safety standards, but also addressed public fears about the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.

That unique set of project priorities led the library to Viridi, makers of the RPSLinkEX battery solution that’s equipped with a unique, “passive Fail-Safe thermal management and anti-propagation technology” designed to prevent the sort of thermal runaway that leads to li-ion battery fires.

“Public facilities like the Denver Public Library are at the forefront of demonstrating that energy resilience and safety can go hand in hand,” said Jon M. Williams, CEO at Viridi. “This installation highlights how fail-safe battery storage can empower communities to maximize renewable energy, reduce costs, and maintain reliability – all without compromise.”

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Keeping it safe


Denver Public Library; by Michael Graves.
Denver Public Library; by Michael Graves.

Viridi doesn’t talk too much about how its passive Fail-Safe thermal management system works, but if you’re picturing heat-dissipating layers, fire-resistant insulation, and strategically-placed phase change materials (or PCMs) limiting the transfer of heat from one cell to another if it begins to overheat, you’ve probably cracked it.

These passive safety features enable safer deployment scenarios in occupied buildings or near critical infrastructure by reducing dependence on active fire suppression systems like sprinklers or fire extinguishers, and convinced the City of Denver to move forward with the project, which is the city’s first-ever solar + battery storage system.

“The entire McKinstry team is very excited about developing and constructing the first Solar + BESS project for the City and County of Denver,” said Jon Ensley, Sr. Construction Project Engineer at McKinstry. “We are appreciative of all our partners and stakeholders who helped to achieve this goal. We value Viridi’s expertise in deploying this technology and the whole team has been great to work with.”

McKinstry says this latest solar project sets, “a new benchmark for how cities can combine renewable energy and battery storage without compromising safety.” And, with solutions like the RPSLinkEX building systems that meet city planners and politicians where they are, instead of trying to educated them about the objective, proven safety of li-ion batteries, Viridi is helping communities adopt cleaner, more resilient clean energy solutions sooner rather than later.

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SOURCE | IMAGES: Viridi, via PV Magazine; Michael Graves.


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China installs the world’s most powerful wind turbine

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China installs the world's most powerful wind turbine

China’s Dongfang Electric has installed a 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine, snatching the title of world’s most powerful from Siemens Gamesa’s 21.5 turbine in Denmark.

Photo: Dongfang Electric Corporation

The Chinese state-owned manufacturer announced today that it has installed the world’s most powerful wind turbine prototype at a testing and certification base. This turbine, the world’s largest for capacity and size, boasts a blade wheel diameter of more than 310 meters (1,107 feet) and a hub height of 185 meters (607 feet). Dongfang shipped the turbine’s nacelle earlier this month – the world’s heaviest – along with three blades.

This offshore wind turbine is designed for areas with wind speeds of 8 meters per second and above. With average winds of 10 meters per second, just one of these giants can generate 100 GWh of power annually, which is enough to power 55,000 homes. That’s enough to cut standard coal consumption by 30,000 tons and reduce CO2 emissions by 80,000 tons. Dongfang says it’s wind resistant up to 17 (200 km/h) on the extended Beaufort scale.

In May, Dongfang said it had completed static load testing on the turbine’s blades, and the turbine is now undergoing fatigue testing, which could take up to a year before the turbine is fully certified.

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Read more: Trump just killed all offshore wind zones as US power needs surge


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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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