In its mission to destroy American energy independence, the Energy Department has now banned any discussion of any of the technologies that might get America off of foreign oil, or of the problem that those technologies might solve – and all at the behest of the former oil executive who wants to raise your fuel prices in order to steal more of your money for his industry.

To begin this article, here are some facts:

• The global climate is warming, and it is warming due to human activity.
• The human activity that is warming the global climate the most is fossil fuel combustion.
• There are other things warming the global climate as well, including the meat industry (both through methane emissions from livestock and through deforestation of the land to grow them and their feed), construction (cement releases significant CO2, though not as much as the previous influences), and others. But fossil fuels are the primary cause.
• That global temperature rise puts many ecosystems out of balance, with disastrous results for those ecosystems.
• Humans rely on functioning ecosystems for their most basic needs – water, air, food, temperature regulation, and so on.
• As ecosystems are disrupted, this will make humans’ lives harder and worse, and lead to greater conflict.
• The fossil fuel industry spends a lot of money and effort to deny and obfuscate these facts because it knows its products are responsible for climate change.

Now that we all understand some of the basic facts about climate change that no serious person contests, let us continue.

On Friday, a memo was sent out to the Energy Dept.’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, as reported by Politico. Currently, the titular head of the US Energy Department is Chris Wright, a former oil CEO who has repeatedly peddled false statements about climate change in his self-serving attempts to enrich his deadly industry at great cost to the general public.

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The memo was sent to the Department by Rachel Overbey, acting director of external affairs. Rachel describes herself as an “Oil & Gas Industry Leader” and as a “Political Appointee” – which is to say, not a scientist, and rather someone who was installed into their position by the dumbest person on the planet.

The memo censors Department of Energy employees, telling them not to use a number of phrases that are relevant to their position and to solving the greatest challenge that humanity has ever created for itself: climate change.

Among the list of words and phrases that the memo seeks to censor are:

• Climate change
• Green
• Decarbonization
• Emissions
• Energy Transition
• Sustainability/sustainable
• “Clean” or “dirty” energy
• Carbon/CO2 footprint
• Tax breaks/tax credits/subsidies

Not only can the workers and scientists in the Department not use these words when communicating to the public, but they’re not even supposed to use them in internal communications.

Memo timed alongside other moves to harm American energy

The timing of the memo is interesting, given that public comment just ended on a plan from the DoE and EPA to delete climate science with the goal of raising your fuel costs by $.76/gallon to fill the pockets of Wright and his oil buddies. The DoE openly admitted earlier this year, in a report signed off on by Chris Wright, that its plan would increase your fuel costs, although its analysis did not include the increased health costs that would come along with the higher levels of pollution that dirty fossil fuel energy would cause.

It is in keeping with the republican plan to harm US energy security and raise costs for Americans. The party has been actively seeking to reduce American energy independence and raise your costs in several ways over the course of the last year.

In keeping with this effort, the Energy Department bragged about a move to raise your energy costs last Wednesday, by stating that it would seize $13 billion in funds that had been allocated to energy efficiency. Wright claimed that the green energy businesses these funds were intended for were “not a business that’s going places” if they rely on subsidies, despite the fact that his industry, fossil fuels, is subsidized in the amount of around $700 billion per year in the US alone (out of $7 trillion globally).

Wright of course did not do anything to reduce that massive subsidy for oil – instead choosing to continue stealing your money (and harming your health) for the oil elites he’s out to benefit.

Which makes the last word on the above list quite interesting – the fact that the Department of Energy doesn’t want to talk about subsidies is perhaps a recognition from the oil stooge squatting in its head office that he’d rather not talk about the massive amounts of subsidy that his industry gets. He’d rather keep pulling the wool over the eyes of the American public, fleecing all of us for all we have as he continues to make us poorer and sicker.

Instead of aiding energy independence, Wright lies about it

And all of this comes at the expense of American energy independence. As it turns out, the most oil-rich nations who have spent a century or more getting the world addicted to their poison don’t tend to “play nice,” because they know they don’t have to as long as everyone is addicted.

Gulf oil nations have extremely high slave populations and murder journalists with impunity, Russia has waged war with little opposition due to historical European addiction to its methane gas, representatives from the US went to a climate conference to try to bully the world into buying more deadly methane (including the dumbest speech ever by a guy who has been wrong about everything), and somehow everyone seems to have forgotten that weekend where not one, but two seas caught fire.

Meanwhile, high penetration of renewables actually increases energy independence. Not only can you generate electricity with resources that exist in abundance within your borders (whether that be sunlight, wind, hydropower, etc), you can then use that to drive more efficient equipment and make the energy you have go farther to benefit your people – far better than having to sell yourself out to nations that have proven themselves to be bad neighbors.

For example, a gallon of oil with 33.7kWh of energy can move your average car 24 miles down the road. Meanwhile, 33.7kWh can move most EVs over 100 miles down the road – meaning you can take the same amount of energy and do more than 4x as much with it.

That’s a huge boon to a nation’s overall productivity, and one that several nations have noticed and acted on with policy, like Ethiopia and Nepal for example. Another nation that has noticed that is the US, where public opinion is widely on the side of climate action and where a more popular government took big climate action three years ago, which the saboteurs now at the wheel are currently trying to reverse.

By working to reduce funding for energy efficiency, and increasing reliance on foreign oil instead of building a green energy economy, all Wright does is sell the US out to his oil buddies, making us sicker and poorer for the benefit of the elites he serves.

And by going to international climate talks with the kind of idiotic, isolating message that isn’t tricking anyone else on the planet, all he and his ilk do is push the rest of the world into the arms of China, which has declared itself as the global leader in confronting the greatest challenge of our time.

But then, this memo is also an admission by oil clowns like Wright (and Zeldin) that they don’t have information on their side and must resort to Orwellian tactics. If they were actually right, they wouldn’t need to ban discussion of these words, because their ideas would stand on their own. And they wouldn’t need to fabricate reports that are immediately contradicted by the sources they use.

But their ideas don’t stand on anything… other than the literal millions of dead bodies per year caused by fossil fuel pollution. Not the best foundation, so I guess the last resort is just to lie about it.

If you’re actually interested in energy independence unlike Chris Wright, consider home solar. The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year, so now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

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This new electric side-by-side from CFMoto is a battery-powered workhorse designed to deliver all the utility and hauling capacity of a traditional side-by-side without any of the noise, emissions, or maintenance headaches of gas power.

CFMoto isn’t a household name in the US – but there really should be a “yet” at the end of that statement. Over the last few decades, the brand has evolved from selling Honda Helix clones with GY6 (?) motors to seriously capable, modern machines like this: their latest U6 EV.

The CFMoto U6 EV is both a credible and relatively affordable SxS contender in this fastest-growing powersports segment. The U6 UTV features a 300V “ternary lithium” battery (Lithium Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt, or “LiNMC“) with 15.29 kW of usable capacity, automotive-grade charging, and payload and towing specs that put it right up against more universally-known (in the US, anyway) rival brands like Can-Am or John Deere.

Power and performance

Unlike the brand’s early scooters, which (if memory serves) used somewhat generic GY6 150cc gas motors, the U6 is equipped with a proprietary powertrain that delivers 35 kW (~47 hp) and 74 Nm (~55 lb-ft) of torque at 0 rpm. More than enough to get the Chinese UTV up to speed on country roads and rugged terrain.

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That battery and motor combination is good enough to offer U6 owners more than 100 km (62 miles) of range, though that drops a bit when the SxS is loaded up with its 460 kg (1,015 lb.) payload (250 kg in the cargo tray, plus passengers), and 800 kg (1,760 lb.) towing capacity.

U6 EV interior

“Inside” the U6 EV’s cabin, drivers will have access to CFMoto’s advanced tech suite, bluetooth connectivity, even a weather and grime-resistant sound system optional.

CFMoto buyers can add a range of additional upgrades and options, as well, including doors, rear windows, windshield wipers, and an opening front windshield. If you’re pu in Wisconsin (where I’d have one, if I had one), there are even aftermarket companies offering “street legalizing kits” in states where ATVs and UTVs like this are legal to be driven on public roads.

The U6 EV is available globally, and will (allegedly) be available in the US sometime in 2026. You can check out the official CFMoto launch video, below, then let us know what you think of the U6 in the comments.

CFMoto U6 EV

SOURCE | IMAGES: CFMoto.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

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.

Can an EV really help power your home when the power goes out? It’s one of the biggest FAQs people have about electric cars — but the answer can be a bit confusing. It’s either a yes, with a but – or a no, with an unless. To find out which EVs can offer vehicle-to-home (V2H) tech to keep the lights on or even lower your energy bills, keep on reading.

UPDATE: a new Acura, and one you can ride hard and put away wet.

Modern EVs have big, efficient batteries capable of storing enough energy to power home for days. That can mean backup power during a storm or the ability to use stored energy during expensive peak hours and recharge again when kilowatts are cheap.

That’s all true – but only in theory. Because, while your EV might have a big battery, that doesn’t mean it has the special hardware and software that allow electricity to safely flow back out of the car baked in. Car companies call this vehicle-to-home (V2H) or bi-directional charging, and only a handful of models currently support it. That’s that, “yes, with a but” asterisk.

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Yes, an EV can power your home, but it has to be one of these.

Acura RSX (2026)

At RE+ 2025 earlier this month, Honda announced that its upcoming all-Honda–developed Acura RSX will feature bi-directional home charging, previewing a future where every new EV built on Honda’s own global EV platform will support both vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities.

So, if you’re excited about the upcoming RSX or Honda’s 0 electric rides and want to take advantage of V2x tech, you don’t have much longer to wait. No word on pricing.

Ford F-150 Lightning

Ford made early headlines using its F-150 Lightning as a life-saving generator during winter ice storms and hurricanes, so it should come as no surprise that it’s included in this list. The best-selling electric truck in America can send up to 9.6 kW of power from its onboard batteries back to the house. More than enough to keep the lights on and the refrigerator running during an outage.

To make it work, you’ll need to install the Charge Station Pro (formerly called Intelligent Backup Power) home charger, the Home Integration System (HIS), which includes an inverter, a transfer switch, and a small battery to switch the system on, as well Ford’s Charge Station Pro 80A bi-directional charger (which comes free with the Extended Range F-150 Lightning, but costs about $1,300 otherwise).

All-in, you’re looking at about $5,000 in hardware, plus installation, to make it work.

Kia EV9

With up to 300 miles of range and ultra-fast charging, the seven-passenger electric SUV from Kia has been a hot seller. And back in March, the Kia EV9 unlocked yet another new feature: vehicle-to-home charging.

When paired with the Quasar 2 bidirectional charger from Wallbox (and the associated Power Recovery Unit, or PRU), a fully-charged Kia EV9 can power a standard suburban home for three days. Longer, still, if you’re keeping the energy use low. The Wallbox Quasar 2 isn’t cheap, though – pricing starts at $6,440 (again, plus installation). For that price, you the PRU plus a wall-mounted 12 kW L2 charger with 12.8 kW of with discharge power on a split-phase system.

Pretty much all the GM EVs

With the exception of the Chevy Brightdrop, GMC Hummer EV, and the hand-built, ultra-luxe Cadillac CELESTIQ, every Ultium-based GM EV can send battery power back to your home through GM Energy’s Ultium Home System – arguably the most fully integrated EV + battery backup + solar option out there outside of Tesla.

GM Energy says its new 19.2 kW Powershift Charger delivers around 6-7% more juice than a typical 11.5 kW L2 charger, delivering up to 51 miles of range per charge hour. Bi-directional charging requires the Powershift Charger to be paired up with a compatible GM EV and the GM Energy V2H Enablement Kit. The full system retails for $12,699, plus installation, and can be financed through GM Financial.

NOTE: some 2024 models might require a software update to enable V2H functionality, which can be done either at the dealer or through an OTA update.

Taiga Orca WX3

Candian startup Taiga have been offering high-performance electric watercraft for several years now. For 2026, their third-gen offering features automotive-grade fast charging that will allow riders to plug into the same fast charging networks their electric cars and trucks use, getting them back in the water in 30 minutes or less.

That said, this isn’t an article about fast-charging your PWC. Taiga is incorporating bidirectional charging into all its electric watercraft as of 2026, turning the PWC EVs into a mobile energy resources that can recharge equipment at the dock, power hotel loads on larger yachts, or bring power to an off-grid cabin or campsite.

Tesla Cybertruck

Tesla Cybertruck owners may have zero taste, but they have two options when it comes to powering their homes with their trucks. If they already have a Tesla Powerwall, they don’t need anything else. If they don’t, they’ll need to install a Universal Wall Connector charger, a Powershare Gateway, and a Tesla Backup Switch.

That second option will run about $3,500, plus installation.

That rounds off the list of vehicles that ship with V2H software baked in, so if you’re wondering whether or not your EV can be used to power your home, now you know the answer is yes, as long as it’s one of the ones listed here. But you might remember that I answered the initial question by saying it was either a yes, with a but – or a no, with an unless. So if you want to use your car’s battery as a backup, but don’t have one of the EVs listed above, that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of luck.

No, with an unless

As some of the earliest and most enthusiastic EV adopters, Tesla fans have also been among the loudest advocates for using the energy stored their cars’ batteries to back up their homes — or even the grid itself. Unfortunately for them, the slow-selling Cybertruck is the only Tesla vehicle that officially supports bi-directional charging. If you’re one of the many Model 3 and Y owners frustrated by those delays, there’s good news: those vehicles are now capable of V2H charging thanks to an “impressive” Powerwall competitor, Sigenergy.

The good news doesn’t stop there, however. The Sigenergy V2X also works with both the popular Kia EV6 and Electrek‘s 2024 EV of the Year, the Volvo EX30 over the DIN70121 protocol, and several VW/Audi/Porsche and Mercedes-Benz EVs over the ISO15118-2 protocol.

Our own Editor-in-Chief, Fred Lambert, recently went on a Sigenergy deep dive with Sylvain Juteau, President of Roulez Electrique, and came away deeply impressed with the system. I’ve included the video, above, and you can read more about the system itself at this link.

And, of course, I look forward to learning about any V2H models or more universal battery backup systems from you, the smartest readers in the blogosphere, in the comments.

Original content from Electrek.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

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.