A suspended Labour councillor who said far-right protesters should have their throats slit has been found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder.

Ricky Jones, 58, drew his finger across his throat and called demonstrators “disgusting Nazi fascists” at an anti-racism protest in east London last August following the Southport murders.

Jones, a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, from 2019, said he felt it was his “duty” to attend the protest in Walthamstow, despite being warned by his party to stay away. He was suspended the day after the incident.

Jones, of Dartford, who denied one count of encouraging violent disorder, told police he was “sorry” he made the comments “in the heat of the moment”, and had not intended for them to be “taken literally”, the court had earlier heard.

On Friday, jurors found Jones not guilty after just half an hour of deliberations. The suspended councillor was seen mouthing “thank you” at the jurors after the verdict was handed down.

Former Home Secretary and Tory leadership candidate James Cleverly called the jury’s verdict clearing Jones “perverse”, writing on X that “decisions like this are adding to the anger that people feel and amplifying the belief that there isn’t a dispassionate criminal justice system”.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the verdict was “another outrageous example of two-tier justice”.

His statement was echoed by former Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, who said the “two-tier justice in this country is out of control” as Jones was cleared “while Lucy Connolly gets 31 months in jail”.

Connolly pleaded guilty – meaning she did not face trial – last year to a charge of inciting racial hatred by publishing and distributing “threatening or abusive” written material on X during the Southport riots.

A video of Jones speaking to cheering protesters went viral on social media after the demonstration, which had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside nearby Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court were told.

It followed the nationwide violent disorder that occurred last summer after the Southport murders when Axel Rudakubana killed three girls and attempted to murder eight others at a summer holiday Taylor Swift-themed event.

Jones, who was also employed as a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) union at the time, was arrested a day after the protest and questioned by police in Brixton.

Jones said during his trial that his comment about cutting throats did not refer to far-right protesters involved in the riots at the time, but to people who had reportedly left National Front stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them.

Before he made the comment, footage shows Jones telling the crowd: “You’ve got women and children using these trains during the summer holidays. They don’t give a shit about who they hurt.”

Prosecutor Ben Holt said during the trial that Jones used “inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd that we will hear described as a tinderbox”.

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He told the court that Jones gave his speech, which was amplified through a microphone and speakers, “in a setting where violence could readily have been anticipated”.

Jones, who said he was on the left of the Labour Party, told jurors that he was “appalled” by political violence, adding that the riots left him feeling “upset” and “angry”.

“I’ve always believed the best way to make people realise who you are and what you are is to do it peacefully,” he said.

We’re closing out this week’s Green Deals with a more sizeable edition of eight top-notch chances at savings, headlined by the newly launched Velotric Last Call Summer Sale that features a partnership with EcoFlow for some EV and power station bundles, alongside EV-only deals. The main standouts are the new Fold 1 Plus e-bike coming with a DELTA 2 Power Station starting from $1,828, while the new Nomad 2X Full Suspension e-bike gets a DELTA 3 Plus Power Station starting from $2,948. From there, we also have the first discount on Linkind’s new 14-pack of SL5C Smart Outdoor Solar Spotlights that amount to $11 per light, as well as a rare return of the $1,425 low on Greenworks’ 80V Venture 20-inch All-Terrain Utility e-bike. There are more power station sales from EcoFlow, Bluetti, and Jackery, as well as a massive lawn care price cut, and a value-packed electric cooler option waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s official Rad Power Radster e-bike price cuts, the exclusive $250 savings on a DELTA 3 Plus bundle, 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.

Bundle Velotric’s new Fold 1 Plus or Nomad 2X smart e-bikes with EcoFlow power stations at up to $370 off, more

Velotric has launched a Last Call Summer Sale running through September 1 with up to $670 in savings across a selection of its e-bikes, including price cuts on a number of its newest models. Of the offers, though, we spotted two very special first-time bundles that give you either Velotric’s new Fold 1 Plus e-bike with an EcoFlow DELTA 2 Power Station starting from $1,828 shipped or the newer Nomad 2X Full Suspension Fat Tire e-bike with an EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Power Station starting from $2,948 shipped – with prices on select colorways of each e-bike bumping the price up by $70 (Fold 1 Plus Stone Gray/Pearl White) and $100 (Nomad 2X Camo). These bundles would normally cost you $2,198 and $3,298 at full price but during this sale period you’ll get the e-bikes and a means to keep them running off-grid with up to $370 and up to $350 in savings, with there no telling if this partnership between brands will continue once September rolls around.

The new Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike brings smarter capabilities to the brand’s folding fleet, starting with a combination of the 750W rear hub motor (peaking at 1,100W) and a 48V 13Ah IPX7-rated battery providing a 12 to 28 MPH speed range (limited to 20 MPH in certain states) for up to 68 miles on a single charge with its PAS activated. Speaking of the PAS, there are three riding modes with five levels of support each for more flexible settings, as well as the system being supported by the brand’s SensorSwap tech, giving you the option to switch between a torque and cadence sensor as you ride. Among the smart features you’ll find Apple Find My integration within the companion app’s controls, with the physical features boasting a hydraulic suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tires, a rear cargo rack with a 120-pound payload, a 3.5-inch full color Bluetooth display, and much more.

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Velotric’s Fold 1 Plus e-bike comes along with one of EcoFlow’s most popular legacy units in the DELTA 2 power station, which starts at a 1,024Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can expand up to 3,072Wh with extra batteries tacked on. It provides a 1,800W steady stream of output power through the 15 connection ports for devices/appliances, surging as high as 2,200W for hungrier needs. The battery takes only 50 minutes to get back to 80% via an AC outlet, or 80 minutes for a full battery. It also has a max 500W solar input to recharge within three to six hours via the sun.

Velotric’s EV + power station bundles:

If you want to browse the other new and legacy e-bike deals aside from the above bundles, be sure to check out our original coverage of this Velotric sale here.

First discount takes $66 off Linkind’s new 14-pack of Smart Solar Spotlights at $154

Coming at us via its official Amazon storefront, Linkind is offering the first cash savings on its new 14-pack of SL5C Smart Outdoor Solar Spotlights at $153.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $66 off coupon. This larger-than-ever bundle package just hit Amazon a few days ago carrying a $220 price tag, with this being the first savings that gives you far more lighting to cover larger yards and gardens. You’re getting a 30% markdown with this deal as the bundle is coming right out the gate that amounts to $11 per light, setting the bar for future discounts in the future. You’ll also find the 2-pack, 4-pack, and 8-pack deals on the same landing page starting from $24.

If you want to learn more about these solar spotlights’ capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this first-time discount here.

Greenworks’ 80V Venture utility e-bike utilizes the brand’s batteries for off-road adventure starting from a $1,425 low

Best Buy is offering a returning low price on the Greenworks 80V Venture 20-inch All-Terrain Fat Tire Utility e-bike (EV only) at $1,424.99 shipped, which beats out the current Amazon pricing by $90. While it carries a $2,100 MSRP direct from the brand, we see it stay down at $1,900 at Amazon, with only one previous fall to this same low rate having appeared over the year, with other discounts having kept the costs between $1,600 and $1,700 on average. The second-chance deal here gives you $475 off the going rate (and $675 off the MSRP) for the best price we have tracked – plus, if you don’t already have the appropriate batteries to power it, you can grab the e-bike with a 4.0Ah battery and charger at $1,649.99 shipped, having come down from $2,200.

If you want to learn more about this Greenworks e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

EcoFlow offers up to 59% off three power station bundles and a solar panel starting from $489

As part of its August Home Backup Sale, EcoFlow has launched the last of its flash sales, with this one taking up to 59% off four offers through August 17. While the lowest price is on a 400W solar panel, among the three power station offers, things start with the DELTA 2 Portable Power Station and an extra battery for $899 shipped. While this bundle carries a $1,798 MSRP, we more often see it keeping to $1,289 at full price at Amazon, where it’s currently priced for $50 more with a FREE $130 solar-charging Power Hat (just add both to your cart, where the discount is automatically applied). Discounts over the last year have seen the costs taken as low as $799 once during March, while more frequently bouncing between $849 and $899 rates. Today’s deal gives you a 50% markdown off the MSRP for the third-lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this bundle or the three other offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of this weekend flash sale here.

Save $126 on the Greenworks 40V 21-inch dual-port cordless mower with a 5.0Ah battery at a new $198 low

Walmart is giving folks a great new low price on the Greenworks 40V 21-inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower with 5.0Ah Battery at $198 shipped, which beats out Amazon’s current pricing by $166 and the brand’s direct website by $202. While it sports a $400 MSRP from both of these alternate sites, at Walmart it keeps down at $324 in full, with discounts having taken things as low as $280 back in February. The deal here gives you a massive 51% markdown from its MSRP, saving you up to $202 at the best new price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this lawn mower, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Keep devices and appliances running with Bluetti’s Elite 200 V2 200W solar bundle at $1,199

Popping into Bluetti’s official Amazon storefront, you’ll find the Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station bundled with a 200W solar panel at $1,199 shipped, which is also matching the price we’re seeing directly from the brand’s website. This bundle normally fetches $1,999 outside of sales, with discounts until June regularly dropping the costs to this rate, beaten out by $1,099 low we last saw during last month’s Prime Day event, after which it’s been mostly falling to $1,299. The deal here gives you an $800 markdown at the second-best price we have tracked, while also equipping you with the means to keep significant devices and appliances running by way of the sun.

If you want to learn more about this solar generator bundle, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

You can bring home Jackery’s expanded 4kWh Explorer 2000 Plus solar bundle with a transfer switch at $2,882

Jackery’s recent sale may have ended yesterday, but the brand’s official Amazon storefront is offering a substantial home backup bundle deal with its Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station that comes with an expansion battery, two 200W solar panels, and a manual transfer switch at $2,882.07 shipped, after clipping the on-page 7% off coupon. This expanded package would normally fetch $5,199 at full price, with the deal here even beating the previous sale rate by $46 – and that’s including the bonus 7% savings you would have gotten during the event. All-in-all, you’re looking at a combined 45% markdown that gives you $2,316.93 in savings at the second-lowest price we have tracked, only beaten out by the one-time $2,599 low we spotted during Prime Day.

If you want to learn more about this home backup bundle, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Go ice-free outdoors with Worx’s value-packed 40V 24-quart PowerShare cordless electric cooler at $399

Amazon is offering the Worx 40V 24-quart PowerShare Cordless Electric Cooler with two 4.0Ah batteries at $398.99 shipped. You’d normally be pressed to pay $500 for this package at full price, with only three previous discounts popping up over 2025 that took the costs down to this same rate. While we have seen it go as low as $380 for Black Friday in 2024, you’re otherwise looking at the best price for 2025 that saves you $101 off the going rate, not to mention saving you from more costly electric coolers like Anker’s SOLIX EverFrost 2 models that currently start from a discounted $599 price tag right now.

If you want to learn more about this electric cooler, or learn about the non-electric Ninja alternative to save more money, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

• Velotric Nomad 2X e-bike (camo) with DELTA 3 Plus station: $3,048 (Reg. $3,298)
• Velotric Nomad 2X e-bike (sage or fig) with DELTA 3 Plus station: $2,948 (Reg. $3,298)
• Aventon Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike: $2,599 (Reg. $2,899)
• Ride1Up Prodigy v2 Brose Mid-Drive Gates Belt CVT e-bike: $2,595 (Reg. $2,795)
• Ride1Up Revv 1 DRT Off-Road Moped-Style e-bike: $2,395 (Reg. $2,595)
• Ride1Up Revv 1 Full Suspension Moped-Style e-bike: $2,395 (Reg. $2,595)
• Segway Xafari Red e-bike: $2,000 (Reg. $2,400)
• Velotric Nomad 2 All-Terrain e-bike with $120 bundle (new): $1,999 (No price cut)
• Rad Power Radster Road Commuter e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
• Rad Power Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 35Ah Cargo e-bike w/ up to $654 bundle: $1,999 (Reg. $2,653)
• Ride1Up Prodigy v2 Brose Mid-Drive 9-Speed e-bike: $1,995 (Reg. $2,495)
• Tenways AGO X All-Terrain e-bike with $307 bundle: $1,899 (Reg. $2,499)
• Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike (gray or white) with DELTA 2 station: $1,898 (Reg. $2,198)
• Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike (mango or blue) with DELTA 2 station: $1,828 (Reg. $2,198)
• Aventon Abound SR Smart Cargo e-bike (new, first discount): $1,799 (Reg. $1,899)
• Velotric Breeze 1 Cruiser e-bike with $150 bundle (new, first discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,799)
• Aventon Pace 4 Smart Cruiser e-bike (new, second-ever discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,799)
• Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike (lowest price): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $505 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,204)
• Lectric XPeak 2.0 Long-Range Off-Road e-bike with $316 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,015)
• Aventon Aventure 2 All-Terrain e-bike: $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
• Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,999)
• Heybike Limited Miami Sunset Ranger 3.0 Pro Folding e-bike (new): $1,599 (Reg. $1,699)
• Rad Power RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike with $109 bundle: $1,499 (No pirce cut)
• Lectric XPeak 2.0 Standard Off-Road e-bike with $227 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,726)
• Lectric XP Trike2 with $227 preorder bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,726)
• Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
• Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bikes with $118 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
• Velotric Nomad 1 Plus All-Terrain e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
• Aventon Sinch 2 Folding e-bike (lowest price): $1,399 (Reg. $1,699)
• Lectric XPedition 2.0 13Ah Cargo e-bike with $326 bundle: $1,399 (Reg. $1,725)
• Aventon Level 2 Commuter e-bike (2025 low): $1,399 (Reg. $1,899)
• Heybike Ranger 3.0 Pro Folding Fat-Tire e-bike (new): $1,399 (Reg. $1,499)
• Ride1Up Roadster V3 Lightweight Premium e-bike: $1,395 (Reg. $1,495)
• Velotric T1 ST Plus Lightweight e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,649)
• Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes with $366 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,665)
• Lectric XP4 750 LR Folding Utility e-bikes with $356 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,655)
• Heybike Mars 3.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike (new): $1,199 (Reg. $1,299)
• Lectric XP Lite 2.0 JW Black LR e-bike with $365 bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,464)
• Ride1Up Portola Folding e-bike with BOGO accessory promo: $995 (Reg. $1,095)
• Lectric XP4 Standard Folding Utility e-bikes with $79 bundle: $999 (Reg. $1,078)
• Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with up to $365 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,364)
• Heybike Hauler Single-Battery Cargo e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
• Rad Power RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,599)
• Navee ST3 Pro Electric Scooter (code SCHOOL15): $727 (Reg. $1,014)
• ENGWE Engine Pro Folding e-bike (use code 9TO5ENGWE50): $750 (Reg. $1,500)

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.

• Rad Power officially drops prices on Radster Trail and Road e-bikes back to all-time lows w/ hundreds in savings
• Aventon’s final summer sale gives the new Abound SR smart cargo e-bike its first discount to $1,799, more from $1,199
• Save an exclusive $1,700 on Anker’s SOLIX F2600 power station with an expansion battery at a new $1,799 low (Reg. $3,499)
• Bundle EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Plus power station with a waterproof bag and get $250 in exclusive savings to $549
• Tote Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh station through the rest of summer and beyond for $80 (Reg. $150)
• Rare chance to grab EGO’s Nexus portable power station with two 7.5Ah batteries at $899 (Reg. $1,099)
• Save 50% on this portable Greenworks 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer combo kit at $110
• Commute and/or haul cargo up to 28 miles with GoTrax’s A7 electric scooter at a new $614 low (Reg. $700)
• Cover up to one mile with Greenworks’ pro-grade attachment-capable 60V cordless string trimmer at a new $165 low (Reg. $300)
• Jackery’s Explorer 300 power station is a compact companion keeping your personal devices running for $169 (Reg. $259)
• Streamline your water system with smart controls through Rachio’s 8-zone sprinkler controller at $169 (Reg. $200)
• Take advantage of up to 50% off this pro-grade 80V Greenworks cordless cultivator at a new $175 low (Reg. $350)
• Segway’s ZT3 Pro e-scooter brings Apple Find My and proximity locking to all-terrain adventures for $900 (Reg. up to $1,300)
• Anker’s SOLIX C300 power stations are portable 90,000mAh backup companions that start from a $150 low (up to 40% off)
• Score up to 61% total savings on EcoFlow 220W and 400W solar panels and bundles at lowest prices starting from $254
• Head to classes on Navee’s ST3 Pro e-scooter with free carbon fiber bag starting from $684 in latest sale (Reg. $950), more
• Velotric’s 70-mile cruising Breeze 1 e-bike with SensorSwap tech, Apple Find My, more gets first savings and free gear from $1,699
• Save up to 60% on EcoFlow bundles for solar panels, extra batteries, and a DELTA 2 Max station from $319 for 48 hours
• Make up to 160 cuts, even in tight spaces, using Worx’s Nitro 20V 5-inch cordless chainsaw kit at $100 (Reg. $150)
• Electrified Weekly – Heybike’s new Ranger 3.0 Pro and Mars 3.0 e-bikes from $1,199, Save up to 59% on power stations from EcoFlow, Anker, more

BYD’s new all-terrain circuit is the first of its kind in China, and it’s pretty wild. It’s more than a test track. The complex is essentially a playground for electric vehicles with indoor sand dunes, ice fields, off-road mountains, and high-speed racetracks. It even has a pool.

BYD builds China’s first all-terrain circuit for EVs

After officially opening its new all-terrain circuit in Zhengzhou on Thursday, BYD said it’s “breaking the barriers of traditional racing tracks with subversive innovation.”

The site features eight unique zones: An indoor sand dune, a low-friction ring, a kick-plate, a wading pool, a dynamic paddock, a race track, an off-road mountain park, and a camping area.

BYD said it’s the first of its kind in China, specifically dedicated to its new energy vehicles (NEVs). After it stopped producing fully gas-powered vehicles in 2022, the company has focused on all-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles.

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The indoor sand dune is not just massive, it’s record-breaking big. It was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s highest and largest for car testing, featuring a 29.6-meter vertical drop and a 28-degree slope.

And then there’s the 70-meter-long wade pool, exclusively built for the Yangwang U8. If you haven’t seen it yet, the U8 can actually float on water. It features an emergency flotation feature that enables it to float on water for about 30 mins.

The kick-plate is a circuit that allows drivers to test vehicles in emergency situations, such as loss of control on icy or wet road conditions.

BYD built the low-friction circle, China’s first 44-meter-diameter circular track, to test drifting with “a constant friction coefficient between that of ice and snow. It consists of 30,000 smoothed basalt bricks with 3 mm of water covering the surface. BYD is using it to showcase its DiSus Intelligent Body Control System and, of course, to give everyone the chance to drift.

When you’re done drifting, you can head over to the 1,758-meter race track. You can take off on the 550-meter acceleration section or try your luck on nine extreme corners.

The 15,300-square-meter dynamic paddock features over 12 different immersive scenarios to showcase BYD’s full range of smart technology, including moose testing and automated parking.

With 27 off-road scenarios, BYD said drivers of all levels, beginner to advanced, can have the opportunity to drive on various rugged terrains.

This is the first of several circuits BYD plans to open. New locations in Hefei and Shaoxing are set to open soon. The Shoaxing off-road area will be massive, spanning 2,000 acres with an altitude of 500 meters.

According to BYD, “By making cutting-edge technologies, professional facilities, and extreme scenarios tangible and accessible, the circuits aim to break down barriers, serving both as a showcase for NEV innovations and a bridge to popularize NEV culture.”

What do you think of the new complex? Perhaps the US, Europe, and other global markets need a few of these so drivers can experience the advantages of electric vehicles.