Although several automakers are pushing back plans to launch affordable EVs, Nissan is moving quicker to bring them to market.
“We thought the process was step by step, but it has accelerated a lot faster.” Nissan’s CEO Makoto Uchida admitted that the EV market was “moving faster” than expected at the Japan Mobility Show this week.
Nissan’s leader referred to the low-cost electric vehicles from Chinese automakers like BYD and SAIC’s MG. Uchida called the arrival of affordable EVs from China a “wake-up call.”
In response, Nissan is “having discussions on price.” Uchida said the automaker is “looking at affordable pricing for EVs across the world,” calling it a key priority going forward.
Nissan is revamping development plans to keep up in the rapidly evolving auto market, according to Autocar. The company’s leader clarified the distinction between Nissan introducing affordable EVs at a good value rather than simply producing smaller, cheaper cars.
Nissan Ariya electric SUV (Source: Nissan)
Nissan moves to take advantage of affordable EVs
The comments come in stark contrast to industry rivals. Earlier this week, Honda said it was ditching plans to build affordable electric models with General Motors.
Honda’s CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, cited a “changing business environment” as the reason. GM and Honda expanded their partnership in April 2020 with plans to launch low-cost EVs using advanced Ultium battery tech. However, that will no longer be the case.
GM also announced it would delay production of several EVs, including the Equinox, Silverado RST, and GMC Sierra electric trucks.
2024 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)
Meanwhile, Ford said on its Q3 earnings Thursday it would push back around $12 billion in planned EV manufacturing investments.
Ford’s CEO Jim Farley stressed on the company’s earnings call, “A great product is not enough in the EV business anymore.” He added, “We have to be totally competitive on cost.”
Farley explained that “Tesla actually gave us a gift with a laser-focus on cost and scaling the Model Y.” He went on to say Tesla “set the standard” as it advances on its second and third-gen models.
Uchida didn’t offer a timeframe for when we can expect affordable Nissan EVs but said the company “had a plan.”
Nissan’s leader said China is giving automakers like Nissan “a wake-up call.” In response, Nissan is ramping up its ability to lower EV costs.
Nissan Sakura mini EV (Source: Nissan)
Meanwhile, Nissan’s Sakura is the top-selling EV in Japan. After launching last year, the electric minicar beat out Tesla to earn the top spot. One of the biggest reasons – it’s incredibly affordable and functional. The Saura cost around ¥2 million ($13,300), including government incentives.
The automaker unveiled a new “X-in1” powertrain that will reduce development and manufacturing costs by 2026, according to Nissan. Uchida said the automaker also overhauled management to maximize efficiency by region.
Electrek’s Take
Despite many automakers proclaiming the EV market has cooled, Nissan’s comments highlight an important point.
Affordable electric vehicles with functional range and modern tech are selling. Consumers don’t want to overpay for a model that doesn’t offer value for the price.
Ford said Thursday that “buyers are unwilling to pay a premium for their EVs over gas or hybrids,” which is pressuring prices and profitability.
Meanwhile, affordable models like Tesla’s Model Y and BYD’s SEAL continue taking market share in key markets. Tesla’s Model Y is already the best-selling car in Europe and is on its way to becoming the top-selling vehicle (electric or gas) globally this year. It will be the first EV to accomplish the feat.
The point is – EVs are selling. Buyers are just going with brands that offer the best value. And right now, that’s Tesla and several Chinese brands.
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Anker’s new SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 LiFePO4 power station arrives with launch discounts starting from $429
Anker SOLIX is starting the week off with the official launch of its newest SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station at $449 shipped for those who didn’t jump on the pre-sale savings discount that takes things down to $429 shipped – which you should have received via email. Outside of these launch prices, this new unit will fetch $799 at full price, with it not yet available on Amazon. It was first unveiled and opened to its preorder promotion three weeks ago, which entailed simply signing up directly on the brand’s website to receive the emailed promo code. For those who missed the chance, you’re still looking at a solid 44% markdown that cuts $350 off the tag straight out of the gate. There’s also an option to bundle the station with a water-resistant protective bag at $529 shipped, down from $899, as well as some solar panels and discounted accessories available on the same listing page.
The second generation of one of Anker’s popular camping-focused models, which gives folks an ample LiFePO4 battery to cover devices/appliances during short-term power failures and off-grid trips, Anker’s SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 station comes with a more compact 1,024Wh capacity over the predecessor’s 1,056Wh capacity. On the flip side, its output potential has increased up to 2,000W (surging up to 3,000W), and comes with 10 varying ports to cover your bases: five AC ports, two 140W USB-C ports, one 15W USB-C port, one 12W USB-A port, and one 120W car port.
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Recharging the SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 station’s own battery is done via the usual methods you’d expect, but with some notable improvements, like the faster 49-minute charging time to a full battery when plugged into a standard AC outlet. There are also the options to utilize a gas generator, connect panels up to its max 600W solar input, use an AC outlet and solar input simultaneously, or plug into your car’s auxiliary port. There’s plenty more in-depth information you can get by checking out our thorough launch coverage of this new model here.
As part of Rad Power’s ongoing Fall Savings Sale, which we saw pop up last week to offer multiple extra battery e-bike bundles, including on the new RadRunner series, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the brand’s popular RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike that is also getting an extra battery at $1,599 shipped. The e-bike alone would cost you $1,799 at full price, which we’ve seen dropping down to $1,599 and $1,499 in 2025. While this is the second-best price of the year, you are also getting the 10Ah Safe Shield Battery ($449 value) for free, making it one of the best savings opportunities we’ve tracked this year – just be sure to add both the e-bike and the battery to your cart for the discount to be applied automatically.
EcoFlow’s latest 48-hour flash sale drops DELTA Pro 440W solar bundle to new $1,899 low, more from $709
As part of its ongoing September Home Backup Sale running through to next week, EcoFlow has launched a 48-hour flash sale that is taking up to 62% off four units, though sadly, these are not benefitting from any extra savings codes. Among the four offers, we spotted the DELTA Pro Portable Power Station bundled with two 220W solar panels for $1,899 shipped, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $300. This package usually goes for $4,997 at full price without any discounts, though it’s more often kept down around a $3,999 starting price at Amazon, with discounts having dropped costs as low as $2,199 there, while we’ve seen it dip lower to $2,089 with bonus savings in past sales directly from the brand’s website. You’re looking at a lower-than-ever price for the next two days, cutting $2,100 off the going rate ($3,098 off the MSRP) for the lowest price we have tracked. Head below for more on this model and the other 48-hour flash offers, and if you want the above station on its own, check out the new promotional low price you can score here through the coming weeks.
Shape and clear weeds with EGO’s 56V cordless 15-inch trimmer and 670 CFM blower combo at $320 low
Amazon is offering a second chance at the best price on the newer EGO Power+ bundle that gives you a 56V Cordless 15-inch String Trimmer and Cordless 670 CFM Leaf Blower with a 4.0Ah battery at $319.99 shipped. This combo kit first hit Amazon back at the top of March and has since been seen ranging from $370 to $410 when at full price. We’ve seen discounts take things down to this $320 low in April, while June saw the price stay at a raised rate, which only dropped to $330 for July’s Prime Day event and the following week. Now, the low price is coming back around, with the 22% markdown here cutting up to $90 off the going rate.
Building decks, fences, and more can start with Greenworks’ 82V cordless earth auger at a new $326 low
Amazon is now offering the Greenworks 82V Cordless Earth Auger with 4.0Ah battery and dual-port charger at $326.49 shipped, which beats out the pricing direct from the brand’s website by $174. While it carries an $800 MSRP direct from the brand, it starts off at $600 at Amazon, which we’ve seen keeping between $466 and $546 with most discounts, though there was a fall to $350 back in July. Today’s deal comes in as a larger-than-ever 46% markdown that cuts $274 off the tag for the best and lowest price we have tracked to date.
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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Polestar officially launched its long-anticipated 5 GT in Munich today, opening orders for select markets while sharing the performance specs future customers can look forward to experiencing.
The journey to today’s official reveal of the Polestar 5 was years in the making, dating back to 2020. That’s when the EV brand unveiled its Precept Concept before confirming a year later that the four-door GT would be developed into a passenger model called the Polestar 5.
We’ve since seen plenty of images of the Polestar 5’s development, as well as a prototype debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2022. That prototype was followed by an updated variant at Goodwood a year later.
In the spring of 2024, we got an idea of the Polestar 5’s charging specs, as its development shared non-camouflaged images of its validation prototype #1 charging from 10% to 80% in just ten minutes. In the time since the initial debut of the Precept concept, we’ve seen Polestar launch several versions of the 2, plus market debuts of the Polestar 3 and 4 SUVs.
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The Polestar 5 has always been next in line and was scheduled to hit the market this year, offering plenty of optimism about annual profits linked to the appeal of its newest model, poised to compete against noted EVs like the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan.
With that global launch closer than ever, the automaker has officially revealed the production version of the Polestar 5 alongside some excellent performance specs.
Polestar shares 5 specs ahead of global market launch
This evening, Polestar held an exclusive reveal event for the Polestar 5 GT in Munich, Germany, coinciding with IAA Mobility. While we’ve seen plenty of images of the Polestar 5 four-door Grand Tourer throughout its five-year development, this is the official reveal of the flagship production model, alongside confirmed performance specs. Per Poelstar CEO Michael Lohscheller:
Polestar 5 is bringing the future to our present. Our vision for Polestar’s design, technology, and sustainability direction is no longer a dream but a reality our customers can buy. With its pure Scandinavian design inside and out, unique platform, powerful motors, sophisticated chassis, cutting-edge technology, and consciously sustainable materials, the Polestar 5 is a guiding star for the industry and the perfect Polestar flagship.
As previously reported, the Polestar 5 will launch as the brand’s first BEV to operate on a new 800V platform, enabling faster charging up to 350 kW (DCFC). You’ll notice plenty of aerodynamics outside, from its light bar to rear vent and diffuser, plus retractable door handles. Per the automaker, those design specs contribute to a 0.24 Cd on the Polestar 5 Dual Motor.
The interior (see images above) features a sleek, minimalist design that Polestar is known for. It includes a 14.5-inch vertical center display complete with a Polestar-specific Android Automotive operating system with Google built-in.
Interestingly, Polestar outlined the components that make up the 5’s ADAS and SmartZone system specs, but as you’ll see in the table below, LiDAR is no longer mentioned. In February 2023, Polestar confirmed it would integrate Luminar LiDAR into the 5, but that is not the case. Per a spokesperson for Polestar who spoke with Electrek:
Currently there are no plans for LiDAR to be available for Polestar 5. Polestar 5 utilizes the same camera-based system as Polestar 4 from Mobileye. This has 11 vision cameras, one driver monitoring camera, 12 ultrasonic sensors and one midrange radar.
As promised, here’s a full breakdown of the Polestar 5 performance specs pertaining to two initial trims at launch:
* – Based on retail price in Germany, including handover fee. Local market pricing may differ.
According to Polestar, the 5 is now available to order in select markets, including 24 of the 28 current regions in which it sells its BEVs. Per the Polestar website, the 5 GT will be delivered in 2026. Unfortunately for US customers, pricing and availability for North America will be “announced at a later date.” At least we have the Polestar 5 performance specs to whet our beaks!
Following today’s reveal event, the Polestar 5 can be seen on display at Polestar’s booth at the IAA Open Space at Ludwigstrasse, from September 9 through the 14th. Polestar’s CEO is also performing a keynote address at IAA on September 9, a call for EU policymakers to stick to their announced 2035 targets:
The EU’s 2035 target to end sales of new combustion cars was a turning point. It gave clarity to the industry, direction to investors and certainty to consumers. Weakening it now would send the opposite signal: that Europe can be talked out of its own commitments. That would not only harm the climate. It would harm Europe’s ability to compete.
We will follow up with more specs and pricing details of the Polestar 5 as we learn more about this global EV launch.
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Today, Tesla is expected to unveil a next-generation Megapack in the margins of RE+, the largest clean energy event in North America.
It comes as competition intensifies and Tesla’s own battery suppliers for the Megapack are launching competing products.
Tesla has been a leader in using large Li-ion batteries for stationary energy storage.
It began in 2015 with the Powerwall and Powerpack, but today, most of Tesla’s energy storage capacity is deployed through the Megapack, a container-sized battery system that can be deployed in series to provide utility-scale energy storage.
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Tonight, Tesla is expected to unveil a new generation of the Megapack during an event in the margins of RE+ in Las Vegas at around 8 PM PT (11 PM ET):
Not much is known about the keynote, except that it will be about the Megapack.
Tesla states that the event will be held in Las Vegas, where RE+, the largest clean energy event in North America, is currently taking place.
Several solar power and energy storage companies are announcing new products at the event.
CATL is also at the event and plans to showcase “advanced energy storage solutions” later this week.
Last year, the Chinese battery giant unveiled its own Megapack competitor, CATL Tener, with 60% more energy capacity than Tesla’s.
This is a problem for Tesla since CATL is one of its leading suppliers of battery cells for electric vehicles and stationary storage.
Therefore, Tesla’s Megapack is now competing with the supplier of its own main part: battery cells.
However, there’s one aspect where Tesla still holds an advantage: power electronics. While CATL has a massive lead in energy storage, Tesla has the expertise in power capacity and has integrated its own commercial inverter in the Megapack.
It’s unclear what the next generation will bring, but CEO Elon Musk has previously discussed integrating transformers into the product, which could significantly reduce the need for separate substations at large energy storage projects and lower installation costs.
Electrek’s Take
I’d expect incremental improvements in power and energy capacity, mostly due to using new and improved battery cells from suppliers.
Tesla also recently released a paper on the importance of grid-forming. Therefore, I wouldn’t be surprised if the next-gen Megapack is optimized for that.
This is all good news. However, I fear for Tesla that its energy storage business is going in the same direction as its EV business.
With its EV business, Tesla is only doing well in the US, while it is being squeezed in Europe and China due to competition moving at a faster pace. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the same thing happen here as CATL has already managed to steal a few large-scale battery contracts away from Tesla.
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