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If you’re looking to save money by transitioning to solar energy and ensure your home is prepared for grid outages and extreme weather, BLUETTI has you covered. BLUETTI, one of the most trusted names in energy storage solutions, has announced the exciting launch of the BLUETTI Solar+ Program for Texas homeowners. The program encompasses a wide range of flexible solar and battery home power solutions designed to not only slash your energy bills but also propel your home into an era of clean and resilient energy. What’s more, with BLUETTI’s Solar+ Program, you get a free battery with your solar setup – an incredible savings to start your solar journey.

BLUETTI Solar+, which just launched on December 22, aims to revolutionize the adoption of solar energy in Texas by making it easy to do so: The program provides a seamless, cost-effective, and hassle-free way to transition to clean, sustainable power. Regardless of what you’re looking for – from achieving energy independence and off-grid solutions to reducing your energy bills – the BLUETTI Solar+ Program has a solution that can fit your needs.

One-stop solution: Pay for solar, get a free battery

One of the best aspects of the Solar+ Program is when you pay for your solar setup, you get a complimentary BLUETTI battery – which makes the transition to solar that much sweeter. Depending on which battery storage setup you choose, the idea works like this: The BLUETTI modular system connects to solar panels installed on your roof, stores and supplies that power, ensuring uninterrupted energy during outages, or powering your home at night or when you need it. The program is flexible and can be customized to meet your power needs, from cutting down on energy bills to supplying enough juice to run your indoor appliances during a blackout. That way your food stays fresh and your family can enjoy the comforts of home without stressful disruption.

Another exciting part of BLUETTI Solar+ is that homes that get abundant sunlight (and there’s a lot of that in Texas) can convert that surplus solar energy into a lucrative revenue stream. Homeowners can sell this surplus power to BLUETTI partners, making passive income from your free sunlight. It’s a win-win.

A stress-free and seamless transition to solar

One of the major sticking points for homeowners who want to convert to solar power is handling the bureaucratic paperwork, the complexities of deciding which system to use, and any number of cumbersome decisions and tasks that come with it. That is where BLUETTI Solar+ steps in, offering homeowners an easy way to go solar without the hassle.

How it works is that when homeowners opt for the BLUETTI Solar+ Program, they are guaranteed a hands-on, stress-free experience. For the initial consultation, BLUETTI’s energy consultants analyze your energy requirements, preferences, and site specifics, offering customized configurations for solar panels and battery storage systems. BLUETTI’s custom software provides a comprehensive mockup of what your home will look like with solar installation, so there are no surprises. Plus you’ll get a full overview of all the financial returns and backup power available from your solar battery system. Flexible financing options are also available. 

A BLUETTI Solar+ project manager will take care of all the details, from overseeing the design to handling permits to all of the paperwork completion, buildout, and troubleshooting. Installation usually takes about a day, and BLUETTI manages the inspector quality assurance to make sure everything is on track.

Meanwhile, you can sit back and enjoy peace of mind in knowing your home is prepared, more resilient, and ready for anything. Plus by going solar with BLUETTI Solar+, you’re not just saving money, you’re also actively contributing to a sustainable future and being part of the solution – and that is something Electrek readers care a lot about. Plus you get a free battery with your solar setup!

If you’re a homeowner in Texas, check out more details about BLUETTI Solar+ here.

About BLUETTI

Backed by more than 10 years of experience and a fierce commitment to the environment, BLUETTI has curated an extensive and reliable product portfolio tailored for adventures, emergency backup power, and off-grid living, making a tangible and positive impact on minimizing its carbon footprint for the planet. That’s why BLUETTI is an industry leader available in more than 100 countries and trusted by millions of customers around the world.  

For more information, please visit BLUETTI online.

Photos: BLUETTI

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Tesla tops 36 car Autopilot test, affordable Model Y spied, and a $5,000 EV

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Tesla tops 36 car Autopilot test, affordable Model Y spied, and a ,000 EV

Credit where credit is due: in a massive, 32-car multinational independent test, Tesla’s Autopilot ADAS came out on top, the new affordable Tesla turns out to be a corner-cutting Model Y, and one of the company’s original founders compares the Cybertruck to a dumpster. All this and more on today’s episode of Quick Charge!

Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec – the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure! To that end, we’ve got a pair of Retrospec e-bike reviews followed up by a super cute, super affordable new EV from China with nearly 150 miles of range for less than $5,000 USD.

PLUS: listeners can get an extra 10% off by using code ELECTREK10 at retrospec.com!

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.


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.

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Tesla teases new Roadster as ‘the last best driver’s car’

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Tesla teases new Roadster as 'the last best driver's car'

Tesla is again teasing the new Roadster, which is now five years late, as “the last driver’s car” before self-driving takes over.

The chicken or the egg. Is Tesla delaying the Roadster to match the development of self-driving technology, or is it delaying the development of self-driving technology to match the delayed release of the Roadster?

The prototype for the next-generation Tesla Roadster was first unveiled in 2017, and it was initially scheduled to enter production in 2020; however, it has been delayed every year since then.

It was supposed to achieve a range of 620 miles (1,000 km) and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds.

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It has become a sort of running joke, and there are doubts that it will ever come to market despite Tesla’s promise of dozens of free new Roadsters to Tesla owners who participated in its referral program years ago.

Tesla used the promise of free Roadsters to help generate billions of dollars worth of sales, which Tesla owners delivered; however, the automaker never delivered on its part of the agreement.

Furthermore, many people placed deposits ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 to reserve the vehicle, which was initially scheduled to hit the market five years ago.

When unveiling the vehicle, CEO Elon Musk described it as a “halo car” that would deliver a “smack down” to gasoline vehicles.

That was almost eight years ago, and many electric hypercars have since launched and delivered this smackdown.

Tesla has partly blamed the delays on improving the next-gen Roadsters and added features like the “SpaceX package,” which is supposed to include cold air thrusters to enable the vehicle to fly – Musk has hinted.

Many people don’t believe any of it, as Tesla has said that it would launch the new Roadster every year for the last 5 years and never did.

Now, Lars Moravy, Tesla’s head of vehicle engineering, made a rare new comment about the next-generation Roadster during an interview at the X Takeover event, an annual gathering of Elon Musk cultists, last weekend.

He referred to Tesla’s next-gen Roadster as the “last best driver’s car” and said that the automaker did “some cool demos” for Musk last week:

We spent a lot of time in the last few years rethinking what we did, and why we did it, and what would make an awesome and exciting last best driver’s car. We’ve been making it better and better, and it is even a little bit more than a car. We showed Elon some cool demos last week and tech we’ve been working on, and he got a little excited.

The timing matches Musk’s recent claim that Tesla is going to have ‘the most epic demo ever, ’ but we heard that one before.

We suspected that the comment might be about the Tesla Roadster, as the CEO made the exact same comment about Roadster demos in 2019 and 2024. You will not be shocked to hear that these demos never happen.

Electrek’s Take

The “last best driver’s car” before computers are going to drive us everywhere. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy if you continue to delay the car. It might literally be the last car ever made that way. How would we ever know?

The truth is that the Roadster was cool when it was unveiled in 2017, but that was a long time ago. Tesla would need to update the car quite a bit to make it cool in 2025, and I don’t know that cold air clusters are it. You will have extreme limitations using those.

The Roadster is almost entirely in the “put up or shut up” category for me at Tesla. They need to stop talking about it and make it happen; otherwise, I can’t believe a word.

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Kia’s electric van spotted in the US again, but will it ever launch?

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Kia's electric van spotted in the US again, but will it ever launch?

The PV5 is already available in several markets, but will Kia launch it in the US? After Kia’s electric van was spotted testing in the US again, a US debut could be in the works.

Is Kia’s electric van coming to the US?

Kia launched the PV5, the first dedicated electric van from its new Platform Beyond vehicle (PBV) business, in South Korea and Europe earlier this year, promising it will roll out in “other global markets” in 2026.

Will that include the US? Earlier this year, Kia’s electric van was caught charging at a station in Indiana. Photos and a video sent to Electrek by Alex Nguyen confirmed it was, in fact, the PV5.

Kia has yet to say if it will sell the PV5 in the US, likely due to the Trump Administration’s new auto tariffs. All electric vans, or PBVs, including the PV5, will be built at Kia’s Hwaseong plant in South Korea, which means they will face a stiff 25% tariff as imports.

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Following another sighting, a US debut cannot be ruled out. The PV5 Passenger model was spotted by Automotive Validation Engineer Chris Higa (@Chrisediting) while testing in Arizona.

There’s no denying that’s Kia’s electric van, but it doesn’t necessarily confirm it will launch in the US. But it could make sense.

Despite record first-half sales in the US, Kia’s EV sales have fallen significantly. Sales of the EV9 and EV6 are nearly 50% less than in the first half of 2024.

To be fair, part of it is due to the new model year changeover, but Kia is also doubling down on the US market by boosting local production. Earlier this year, Kia said the EV6 and EV9 are now in full-scale production at its West Point, GA, facility.

The PV5 Passenger (shown above) is available in Europe with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh, rated with WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo variant has the same battery options but offers a WLTP range of either 181 miles or 247 miles.

During its PV5 Tech Day event last week, Kia revealed plans for seven PV5 body types, including an Open Bed (similar to a pickup), a Light Camper, and even a luxury “Prime” passenger model.

Kia's-electric-van-US
Kia PV5 tech day (Source: Kia)

Kia is set to begin deliveries of the PV5 Passenger and Cargo Long variants in South Korea next month, followed by Europe and other global markets, starting in Q4 2025. As for a US launch, we will have to wait for the official word from Kia.

Do you want Kia to bring its electric van to the US? Drop us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

Source: Chris Higa, TheKoreanCarBlog

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