
Best last-minute stocking stuffers and gear for electric bike lovers
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1 year agoon
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If there’s one thing I love nearly as much as electric bikes, it’s getting to enjoy some new gear on my rides. With the holidays barreling down on us, there’s still a little bit of time left to bring that joy to an e-bike lover near you! Here are some of the coolest pieces of gear I’ve tested this year that would make great stocking stuffers for anyone who rides an e-bike (or a pedal bike!) in your family or friend group.
Foldylock Forever
I know this is going to be a bold statement, but I think I’ve found the best folding lock in the world. The Forever from Foldylock is a veritable BEAST of a lock. I used to think ABUS was the name to beat for folding locks, but having tried both theirs and Foldylock’s, the Foldylock Forever is definitely top of its class.
Its link joints are so tight that there’s no room to get a tool in anywhere. Its pivot where the lock connects back into its housing actually wraps around 360 for the most freedom when locking, unlike other leading brands that only bend up around 90 degrees. It’s also weirdly quiet. I’m used to the many links in a folding lock resulting in lots of rattling. But the Foldylock Forever has such tight tolerances that it doesn’t move around or rattle. Even the bike holder keeps it secure from moving and making noise.

The only bummer is its a bit short at just 90cm, though the company is apparently going to be releasing a longer version soon, which I’ll probably want to upgrade to.
For just over $100, it’s not even that expensive compared to most high-security bike locks. And ever since I had a $3,000 e-bike stolen, I’ve rethought just how much it’s worth it to buy high quality locks.

Hiplok Z Combo
This one might seem like a strange bike lock, but it’s super handy in a pinch as a quick and dirty low-security option. It’s only a 3 digit combo, which means brute forcing it would only require a maximum of 999 combinations. But that’s really not an issue because someone could literally brute force physically attack it even quicker. A pair of quality garden shears would likely go through it.
So why am I recommending it? Because this isn’t a main lock, but rather just a nice and tiny supplemental lock. At under $25, it’s a fairly cheap sense of light security that barely weighs anything and you’ll forget you even have it with you. It’s basically a security zip-tie.


It’s great for locking your helmet to your bike, or just locking a wheel to the frame if you need to run in somewhere for a minute. Any thief armed with pretty much any type of cutter bigger than a pair of scissors could get through the thin steel strap in the core, but the point is to protect against theft of opportunity attacks – the guy walking down the street and thinks to himself “I’d like that helmet”. A professional thief will be through it in seconds but a random dude on the street is going to mess up his palms trying to rip it apart by hand.
In fact, it’s so small and handy that I keep one strung through the molle loops of my everyday backpack so I always have a quick way to lock something – or anything – always at my fingertips. Even if I just need to lock my bag for a bit while traveling or go full Jason Bourne with incognito flexicuffs, it’s there.
Hover Air X1 drone (flying camera)
Speaking of traveling, I think I’ve found the perfect filming drone for traveling and bike trips. I often travel to other countries for test rides and vacation, and I often debate whether to bring the drones that I use for pro-level filming. Even my DJI Mini drones are still not that small, meaning they take up a decent portion of my backpack. That’s a bummer for someone like me who tries to travel with just a backpack.
But the Hover Air X1 is the smallest drone I’ve found that still gives me good pictures and video. I’ve only been playing with it for a few days so far, and so of course I’ll be back with more on my experience with this flying camera, but it’s been an awesome experience so far. The image quality isn’t quite as good as my DJI drones but to be honest, it’s not that far off. I can definitely use the photos and videos professionally, at least if you can call what I do a profession.


The tracking, hovering, orbiting, and other smart flight paths give me quick little clips of interesting shots, like a spin around my bike shot, and also mean I don’t waste a lot of battery life setting up shots. The battery only lasts around 9 minutes, but I can pop a spare in if I need to. I only have the one battery though, and I’ve found it to be sufficient for grabbing lots of different shots on a charge. And since there’s a USB port on the side, I can top up the charge inside my bag from a portable power bank.
There’s also 32Gb of built-in memory, though around 10 Gb are taken up by the firmware. That still leaves me with lots of space for 2.7k video, which I can download right to my phone and clear up more space on the drone.
One of the reasons I don’t mine the small 9-minute battery is because the drone just doesn’t go very far. I’ll send my DJI drones out a mile or more exploring, but the Hover Air X1 launches from the palm of your hand (literally), does whatever flight you set it for, then returns to your hand.
There’s no controller – though you can buy third-party tiny controllers if you want to fly it manually or fly it from your phone.
Basically, it’s a great way to bring a drone with you traveling or on bike rides when you don’t want the bulk of a bigger piece of equipment but still want to get those higher perspective or third-person photos and video.
XNITO helmet
I’ve tested a lot of helmets over the years, but the XNITO helmet impressed me as one that is quite comfortable while still feeling like it gives me good wraparound protection.
It doesn’t look like a big egg on my head, it doesn’t feel too nerdy and it doesn’t look like I’m qualifying for the olympic cycling team. It just looks like a nice urban helmet, which is what I’m going for.
The quick-release clasp is also great for one handed removal, and it’s hard to go back to a normal two-handed buckle systems when I’m not wearing the XNITO.

The integrated front and rear LED lights are key, and it they’re especially important if you’re on a bike, scooter or skateboard that doesn’t already have integrated lighting. But even on my e-bikes that do have lights, I like knowing I’ve got one more bright red light up high to make me extra visible to distracted car drivers coming up on my six.
The forward-facing light isn’t really bright enough to light up your way like a headlamp, but it’s perfect for being seen. When you roll up to an intersection, drivers will definitely see your bright white spot on top of your forehead.
For $120, I’d have loved to see a MIPS safety lining, but otherwise I’m very happy with this helmet. It looks good, feels good, works well – what’s not to like?!
Electric Bike Company custom helmet
If you want your helmet to be a bit sexier looking, and you like the idea of customizing it however you’d like, you’ll want to check this out. The Electric Bike Company uses the same awesome Customizer program that allows you to create a 100% custom-painted e-bike, but now they’re applying it to helmets as well.
I made a really pretty blue helmet that my wife has since stolen from me. And you can even customize the strap and trim colors. Plus it’s got built-in front and rear LED lights so you’re always visible, even if your bike lights aren’t working.
Even better yet, the helmet is actually super comfortable, so it’s not just one of those good-looking but poor-performing helmets. It feels as good as it looks.

Woowind electric bike pump
I’ve used a few electric pumps over the years, but this is one I bought a few months ago to have as a spare and I’ve been super happy with it.
It claims to go up to 120 PSI, though I never run my tires that high so I’ve only used it up to around 40 PSI. But I can confirm that the battery lasts a long time, it feels well made with an aluminum case, and it’s even bright red so it doesn’t get lost in a pile of black bike gear.
I’ve never actually run it empty, but I tend to charge it every ten uses or so and it’s never made me feel like it was about to run out of battery.

It came with a bunch of attachments I’ve since lost, but I only ever use the Schraeder valve anyway so I don’t worry too much about the Presta adapter or the sports-ball tips.
At $42, it’s not cheap. But it’s also infinitely nicer than using a manual hand pump. And as a bonus, its battery lasts long enough that you can use it to top up car and motorcycle tires too!
Cycplus mini electric pump
While the pump above is great for having a larger battery, the Cycplus mini electric pump is incredible for being so tiny. I can literally carry it around in my pocket and forget that it’s there. As an emergency pump to carry on your bike, you’ll never notice the few extra grams and it won’t take up much space in your limited on-bike storage.
It gets quite hot while you use it, but it has a silicone condom thing for it that I assume is there to prevent you from burning your fingers. It also probably helps protect the unit in case you drop it.

The main downsides are that there’s no screen to let you know how much pressure you’re at, and the small pump only has enough battery for two tires. But I can just pinch the tire to get a feel for pressure (this is more of an emergency pump anyway) and two tires is exactly how many tires I have on my bike, so it’s perfect!
It’s a bit pricey at $89. But like many things, the best pump is the one you have with you. And a pump this tiny is easy to bring it along.
Dynaplug tubeless repair tool
Last year I was surprised to see this Dynaplug tool show up in my mailbox. It’s a nifty little repair kit for tubeless tires.
It’s about the size of a space pen, which itself is around half the size of a typical ballpoint pen. Basically, it’s tiny.

The only problem is that I’m not fancy enough to own any tubeless bikes. So I gave it to a lycra friend of mine and forgot all about it. Fast forward nearly a year or so and I received this text message from him recently:
Hey, so a while back you gave me a tire plug in a small stainless steel pen shaped tube. On my way home this evening I’m barreling down the trail, pssssssss, tire sealant goes everywhere…I have one hand stopping the air from coming out of the tire, the other hand reaches to the bottom of my saddle bag, as if placed by an angel from heaven your tire plug contraption falls out as I am fumbling around to see what’s in the bag. I untwist the sucker with my mouth, stab the it into the hole in the tire, pull it out aaand I hear the trees swaying into the wind, the train rattle by and my tire sealed.
I guess it works pretty well.

Topeak Ratchet Stick
The Topeak Ratchet Stick is probably my favorite bike tool of all time.
It doesn’t have every tool in the box, but it has most of the hex driver sizes you’ll need for common tasks (adjusting brakes, saddles, racks, etc.), and then the second plastic holder that snaps onto it carries even more drivers that you probably don’t need as often (mostly the Torx drivers).

To be honest I don’t even know where the second plastic holder with the other drivers is anymore, I’ve probably long since lost it in the bottom of my bike parts bin. That’s how infrequently I need any of those extra bits. The five drivers that fit in the handle are all that I use on a daily basis.

The main part of the tool without the extra bits is a godsend. Not only do you have all of your common drivers in one place, but they fit into a ratchet tool that makes it super easy to install bike parts. Instead of trying to spin an Allen wrench 20 degrees for 100 repetitions until you finally tighten down a bolt, it’s so much easier to use a ratchet. No more pulling off your Allen wrench, resetting it, then turning. The ratchet does it all for you. And the quick direction change lever has you going from tightening to loosening in a second. It’s a bit pricey at $54, but so, so worth it if you are wrenching on your bikes as often as I am.
Smallrig folding tool
I bought this tool specifically to have the smallest collection of common bike tools possible. It’s perfect. It fits into the watch pocket of my jeans so I forget it’s there, but it’s ready in a second when I quickly need a 5mm Allen or a Phillips head screwdriver. I don’t use the Torx bit much, but it’s great to have that Phillips there in addition to the common metric hex sizes.

In fact, it’s not even a bike tool. This is a camera tool meant to be used for adjustments on tripods and other filming equipment. But universality is the whole point of metric bolts, and so whether those bolts are holding a camera quick-release plate or a bike headlight, the tool still works! And it’s just $20, making it a great deal for a tool that puts all of the most common bike drivers in something the size of your thumb.
The big flat thing is mostly for screwing in the 1/4-20 tripod plates used in photography, but I often use it as a pry bar. I’m thinking of filing down the end to make it a bit narrower and work as a smaller flat-head screwdriver as well.
In fact, I love this little thing so much that after I had my first one confiscated by airport security, I went back and bought a second one. Now I just remember not to leave it in my pocket when travelling carry-on.

Redshift Arclight pedals
These are the coolest bicycle pedals I have ever seen in my entire life. Hands down.
They’re also quite expensive, so prepare yourself. But trust me, they’re awesome.
You swap these in place of your existing pedals and then – boom! – you’ve got headlights and tail lights that move with you.

Each pedal has two removable LED lights, one facing forward and one facing backward. But you don’t have to make sure you get the orientation right, since they have some sort of witchcraft in them to automatically tell which way they are facing and light up with the correct color. I’ve tried flipping them quickly to trick them, but they always instantly change color to keep white facing forward and red facing the rear.
Plus there’s a 5th LED module that mounts on your seat post for a standard tail light. It’s wild!
And the fact that the pedal lights are moving in a circle makes them even more obvious to drivers. The only thing that stands out more at night than a bright LED light is a bright LED light in motion.
The set of pedals costs $140, which is not cheap, but then again they’re not just smart lights but also a good set of pedals. For another $40, you can get that fifth module to mount on your seat post.
You can see the pedals and tail light in action below. That bright headlight isn’t part of the kit though –that’s the next light below.

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Environment
Anker SOLIX EverFrost 2 coolers + bundles $200 off, G-Force’s new DE-S cargo e-bike $1,399, EcoFlow DELTA 2 bundle flash sale, more
Published
49 mins agoon
May 5, 2025By
admin

We’re starting off this week’s Green Deals with a spotlight on Anker’s SOLIX EverFrost 2 Electric Cooler discounts that are running as part of the brand’s ongoing Mother’s Day Sale, which start from $700. Next, we have G-Force’s extended e-bike savings, including its newest DE-S Premium All-Terrain Fat Tire Wide Cargo e-bike that is down at $1,399. Lastly, there’s EcoFlow’s latest flash sale that is offering a DELTA 2 bundle with an expansion battery and bag for $849, as well as an additional solar panel bundle offer. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals from last week are in the links at the bottom of the page, rounded together in our Electrified Weekly coverage, including the free extra battery preorder deal on Rad Power’s new RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike and Lectric’s teasing of its upcoming XP 4 e-bike that will be revealed tomorrow, May 6, 2025.
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 $200 on Anker’s SOLIX EverFrost 2 40L and 58L electric coolers and bundles starting from $700
Looking back in on Anker’s SOLIX Mother’s Day Sale which is continuing through May 11, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the deals for brand’s latest release, the EverFrost 2 Portable Electric Coolers. You’ll find the 40L model discounted to $699.99 shipped here (matching at Amazon), while its 58L counterpart is down at $899.99 shipped (also matching at Amazon), as well as alternate bundles that give you a secondary removable battery below. These two models would normally run you $900 and $1,100 at full price, with these prices only having been beaten out by the February pre-sale launch discounts to $600 and $800 from Anker, while the 58L model saw a drop to $809 from Wellbots. We’ve been seeing these same discounts repeat in recent sales, bringing you another chance at $200 off the going rates for the best post-launch prices we have tracked. Head below for more information on these coolers and their bundle options, or you can get our hands-on take from our review here.
Currently only sporting the two mentioned model sizes (though there is a smaller 23L cooler slated to hit the market later in the year), Anker’s SOLIX EverFrost 2 Electric Coolers see to it that ice runs will no longer be needed during gatherings and other events. There’s currently the 40L model that provides a single compartment with dual functionality and the 58L model that has two compartments – each with dual functionality – that can cover simultaneous cooling and freezing. The big change from its predecessors is the trading of a direct cooling system for the new air-cooled system, providing compartment cooldowns at much faster speeds.
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Both the 40L and 58L models have been given dual battery ports (with the second battery either being sold separately or within bundles that you can find below), which provide up to 104 hours of continuous runtime when set to Eco Mode, according to Anker. Each of these batteries come with a 288Wh capacity and can also be repurposed as power banks when not running the coolers, giving you a little added versatility to keep personal devices juiced up with either the 60W USB-C or 12W USB-A ports. There are four ways to recharge the batteries – with a max 100W solar input, plugging the cooler into a wall outlet or 12V car port, or you can use a USB-C connection directly to the batteries. Both models sport IPX3 water-resistance ratings, as well as large 6-inch wheels for semi-rough terrain and a fold-down tray that is also used as a handle. You can get a full rundown on what to expect in our hands-on review here.
Anker’s SOLIX Mother’s Day EverFrost 2 deals:
If you’re looking to electrify your life with a backup power solution, be sure to browse the power station discounts while the Anker SOLIX Mother’s Day Sale continues through May 11, complete with free gifts that accompany select purchases. We also spotlighted the brand’s deals on its other latest release, the F3800 Plus Portable Power Station that start from $3,199.

Get serious cargo-hauling power on G-Force’s DE-S premium all-terrain e-bike with 160-mile range for $1,399
Despite G-Force’s Spring Sale e-bike offers slated to end with April, it appears that the brand has extended the savings, giving folks a little more time to score them at these lower prices before rates are raised down the road due to tariffs. Among the continuing deals, the brand’s latest release, the DE-S Premium All-Terrain Fat Tire Wide Cargo e-bike is still being offered at $1,399 shipped. This new model normally carries a $1,799 price tag, with things uncertain as to how high it may rise in the future, with the brand’s previous Spring Sale bringing costs down to this same rate last month. It’s a solid $400 off the going rate while things last, with this being the lowest price we have tracked since the brand came onto our radar.
A serious model with equally serious cargo-hauling capabilities, G-Force’s DE-S e-bike comes with a 750W brushless geared hub motor alongside a waterproof and flame-retardant 45Ah removable battery in order to provide you with 28 MPH top speeds and up to 160 miles of pedal-assisted travel on a single charge. While this bike comes with a cadence sensor, the brand has also equipped it with an additional PAS sensor that allows the rider to control the e-bike’s output power, “eliminating the need for a torque sensor to achieve a smooth riding experience,” according to the brand.
It’s got a solid array of features that make the riding experience all the better, like the smoothed-out cruising thanks to the adjustable front fork suspension paired with the rear suspension system, further bolstered by the fat tires. Alongside these, there’s also hydraulic mineral oil brakes, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, a 48V LED “ultra bright” headlight, an integrated taillight, an extended rear cargo rack that supports multiple load modes (cargo, passenger, child seat installation, more), hidden cable routing, removable pedals, a telescopic comfort saddle, and a backlit LCD display.
G-Force’s other e-bike deals:
- RC Folding Commuter e-bike: $799 (Reg. $1,199)
- 28 MPH for up to 45 miles
- RE Folding Commuter e-bike: $1,099 (Reg. $1,499)
- 28 MPH for up to 60 miles
- ZM All-Terrain Fat Tire e-bike: $1,199 (Reg. $1,999)
- 28 MPH for up to 80 miles
- Upgrade to dual battery for $200 more
- Comes with pair of HD wide-angle rearview mirrors
- RS Premium All-terrain Fat Tire e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,799)
- 28 MPH for up to 100 miles
- RS Step-thru Premium All-terrain Fat Tire e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,799)
- 28 MPH for up to 100 miles
- T7 Long-Range Folding e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,799)
- 28 MPH for up to 130 miles
- ZM Pro All-terrain Fat Tire Moto Style e-bike: $1,899 (Reg. $2,599)
- 34 MPH for up to 210 miles

EcoFlow offers flash sale on 2,048Wh LiFePO4 DELTA 2 bundle with an expansion battery and bag at $849 (Today only)
As part of its ongoing Spring-to-Summer sale, EcoFlow has launched another 24-hour flash sale with two offers – one to provide backup power support while the other provides solar support to your power stations. The first of these offers gives you a DELTA 2 Portable Power Station bundled alongside a Smart Extra Battery (expansion battery) and a bag for $849 shipped. The combination of the station and battery would normally cost you $1,798 at full price, which we’ve been seeing in the brand’s direct 2025 sales usually falling to $949. This means that you’re getting the additional travel bag with a further $100 markdown, one of the best prices we have tracked that is also currently matching on Amazon, though, without the bag.
This is quite a solid combination for short-term off-grid power needs, as well as at-home emergency backup. With the inclusion of the extra battery, EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 power station goes from a 1,024Wh to 2,048WH LiFePO4 capacity, which you can further expand to 3,072Wh with another battery connected. It delivers up to 1,800W of steady output through its 15 port options, which surges to 2,200W for larger needs. There’s the usual array of smart controls available through its companion app, as well as the unit coming with an IP68 waterproof construction, knowing that it’ll likely accompany you out into the wilds of the world.
The station’s battery can be recharged in a short time thanks to the fast-charging tech that the brand has given it, letting you refill 80% of its battery in just 50 minutes via a wall outlet, with things taking a little longer at 80 minutes to get it back to full. Of course, there’s also the solar charging capabilities if you have or plan to buy the appropriate panels, with a max 500W input that can recharge the battery in three to six hours, depending on weather conditions.
EcoFlow is also providing the opportunity to grab two of its 110W Solar Panels at $329 shipped while these flash savings last. Outside of this discount, the panels are currently going for $209 each (and regularly run $399), making this is a great chance to score both at about $165 each, giving you the means to recharge the above station’s – or any other model – battery with the sun’s rays.
Be sure to check out the full lineup of deals we’re seeing from EcoFlow’s Spring-to-Summer Sale while they last – which is only a few days longer. You’ll also find some additional coverage of the deals on the brand’s new WAVE 3 AC/Heater and GLACIER electric coolers that are starting from $807.
Best Spring EV deals!
- Aventon Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike: $2,599 (Reg. $2,899)
- Lectric ONE Long-Range e-bike with $220 bundle: $2,399 (Reg. $2,507)
- Rad Power RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike with free extra battery: $2,299 (Preorder)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 35Ah Cargo e-bike w/ up to $654 bundle: $1,999 (Reg. $2,741)
- Tenways AGO X All-Terrain e-bike with $307 bundle (new low): $1,899 (Reg. $2,499)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $505 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,204)
- Rad Power RadRunner 3 Plus Utility e-bike (new low): $1,699 (Reg. $2,199)
- Aventon Aventure 2 All-Terrain e-bike: $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
- Lectric XPeak 2.0 Long-Range Off-Road e-bike with $316 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $1,915)
- Tenways CGO800S Step-Thru Commuter e-bike with $315 in free gear: $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
- Aventon Level 2 Commuter e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,899)
- Tenways CGO600 Pro belt-drive e-bike with $118 bundle: $1,599 (Reg. $1,899)
- Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,999)
- Tenways CGO600 Pro chain-drive e-bike with $118 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
- Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
- Lectric XPeak 2.0 Standard Off-Road e-bike with $227 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,726)
- Lectric XP Trike with $420 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,918)
- Aventon Sinch 2 Folding e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,699)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 13Ah Cargo e-bike with $296 bundle: $1,399 (Reg. $1,725)
- Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes with $316 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,615)
- Rad Power RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,599)
- Lectric XP 3.0 Long-Range e-bikes (new low): $999 (Reg. $1,564)
- G-Force ZM 20Ah All-Terrain Fat Tire e-bike with $49 in free gear: $1,199 (Reg. $1,999)
- Lectric XP Lite 2.0 JW Black LR e-bike with $365 bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,464)
- Heybike Ranger S Folding Fat-Tire e-bike: $1,099 (Reg. $1,499)
- Heybike Hauler Cargo e-bike with free rear basket (new low): $1,099 (Reg. $1,499)
- Rad Power RadRunner 2 Utility e-bike (new low): $999 (Reg. $1,499)
- Aventon Soltera.2 Urban Commuter e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,199)
- Lectric XP 3.0 Standard e-bikes (new low): $799 (Reg. $1,309)
- Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with up to $316 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,315)
- Heybike Mars 2.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
- Hiboy U2 Pro Electric Scooter (new model): $900 (Reg. $1,500)
- Segway Ninebot F3 eKickScooter: $700 (Reg. $850)

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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Environment
Rivian CEO posts image of the new Maximus drive unit that will power the upcoming R2 EVs
Published
2 hours agoon
May 5, 2025By
admin

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe just posted a fresh image of a Maximus drive unit—a vital component teased for some time now that will be a key piece in Rivian’s goal to reduce the cost per drive unit in its R2 EV builds.
Rivian continues to show strength during uncertain times in the automotive industry, particularly regarding legacy automakers’ electrification strategies. While threats to EV adoption linger, demand for Rivian’s American-made BEVs has stayed high despite a slight dip in deliveries last quarter.
The company is still riding the success of its first two flagship models—the R1S and R1T, which are now in the second generation. Better still, fans of the brand and EV enthusiasts alike are highly anticipating the arrival of Rivian’s encore to the R1 models, the R2, which will then be followed by a smaller R3 and a rally-like R3X.
As a young automaker, Rivian has overcome hurdles to establish itself in the EV industry, finally achieving scaled production at its Normal, Illinois, facility. Part of that strategy includes consistent innovation and improvement to improve vehicle function and performance for its customers and optimize manufacturing to reduce overall cost.
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An excellent example of that evolution is Rivian’s Enduro drive unit, which was implemented on dual-motor versions of the R1T and R1S. Since then, Rivian has been teasing a new drive unit called Maximus, which we thought may also make its way into R1 builds, but have since learned will debut in the upcoming R2 EVs.
Today, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe offered a close-up look at Maximus being developed within the R2 design. Check it out:

RJ teases the Maximus drive unit in the Rivian R2
According to RJ Scaringe, the image above is Rivian’s new Maximus drive unit configuration implemented in the R2. There’s not much else of the upcoming BEV to see here, but an exciting little tidbit nonetheless.
While most consumers have been attracted to the Rivian R2’s size and look, Maximus will play a key role in Normal as the American automaker works to reduce the per-unit cost of its drive units—a primary goal it has previously shared with the public.
One key improvement we already know about is Maximus’ stator windings—one of the key components of any electric motor. Previously, Rivian shared that Maximus uses a new continuous winding technique that reduces the total welds per stator and thus the total overall cost of building each one. For comparison, Rivian’s current Enduro drive unit requires 264 stator welds, while Maximus only needs 24.
Rivian has also integrated the front rotor shaft and gear into a single forged, CNC-milled component and reduced the number of required bearings. The result is a simpler, more compact drive unit that is cheaper to build and weighs less, which is excellent news for EV range and efficiency.
With Maximus development underway, Rivian appears to remain on track to officially launch the R2 next year as promised. Be sure to check back with Electrek often for the latest Rivian news about the R2 and beyond.
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Environment
Rivian (RIVN) gets $16 million for a new supplier park: A ‘key enabler’ to ramp EV production
Published
3 hours agoon
May 5, 2025By
admin

Rivian (RIVN) is charging ahead with another major project. The EV maker is building a new 1.2 million-square-foot supplier park near its Normal, Illinois, manufacturing plant as part of a nearly $120 million investment. With a $16 million incentive package from the state, Rivian expects it to be “a key enabler” as it ramps up EV production.
Rivian to get $16 million for a new supplier park
Rivian and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced the new supplier park on Monday. The nearly $120 million investment will create about 100 direct jobs “while bolstering the supply chain and manufacturing ecosystem” in the state.
“In Illinois, we aren’t just making electric vehicles: we are creating an entire ecosystem,” Pritzker said in a statement.
A subset of Rivian’s suppliers will complete light assembly and manufacturing at the new 1.2 million-square-foot site. Then, to accelerate output, the parts will be moved to Rivian’s main plant through an underground tunnel connecting the two.
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Construction is slated to be completed in 2026. Rivian’s CEO, RJ Scaringe, said the new supplier park will be “a key enabler to increasing production” when the company launches its midsize R2.
The state of Illinois is offering Rivian a $16 incentive package to offset some of the upfront costs, including a $5 million Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV Illinois) tax incentive over 20 years.

Rivian said the new supplier park will also help boost production of its current EVs, the R1S, R1T, and Commercial Van, all built in Illinois.
In addition to the new supplier park, Rivian is upgrading its manufacturing plant with a 1.1 million-square-foot expansion to prepare for R2. Once the upgrades are complete, Rivian expects an annual production capacity of around 215,000 vehicles, up from 150,000.

Rivian said R2 is still on track to launch in 2026. It will start at around $45,000, or nearly half its current R1S and R1T.
Rivian plans to open its new plant in Georgia in 2028. Once up and running, it’s expected to increase annual vehicle production capacity to around 400,000 units.
As it upgrades the facility, Rivian expects fewer vehicle deliveries. After delivering 8,640 vehicles in the first quarter, the company reaffirmed plans to deliver between 46,000 and 51,000 in 2025.
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