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.
Honda’s electric SUV took the US by storm, becoming the top-selling EV in the US outside of Tesla in the final three months of 2024. This year, Honda is making the Prologue even more attractive, upgrading it with over 300 miles of range. With 2025 Prologue models now arriving at dealerships, Honda wasted no time launching new deals this week.
2025 Honda Prologue EV deals and offers
After the first models were delivered last March, the Honda Prologue quickly became one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US.
In the second half of 2024, the Prologue was the second best-selling electric SUV, trailing only the Tesla Model Y. This year, it boasts even more driving range and power.
Since Honda didn’t raise prices, it’s essentially a free upgrade (well, sort of). The 2025 Honda Prologue (2WD) now has a “top-class” EPA rating of 308 miles, up 12 miles from the outgoing model. It also packs 220 horsepower (+8) and 243 lb-ft of torque (+7).
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The Prologue is still available in single-motor (2WD) and dual-motor (AWD) versions in three trims: EX, Touring, and Elite.
The AWD version now has a range of 294 miles (+13) for the EX and Touring trims and 283 miles (+10) for the Elite. It also now packs 300 horsepower (+12) and 355 lb-ft of torque (+25).
Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)
With DC fast charging speeds of up to 150 kW, the electric SUV can add 65 miles of range in around 10 minutes.
The 2025 Honda Prologue starts at $47,400, but with the $7,500 EV tax credit, prices could fall to under $40,000. And that’s for the EX single-motor version with up to 308 miles of range.
On Honda’s website, the 2025 Prologue is listed with a promotional rate of 2.99% APR for up to 60 months. Lease prices for the base model are not yet available, but the 2025 AWD EX is listed at $599 for 36 months with $4,299 due at signing.
Although the deals on the 2025 models are not nearly as good as the 0% financing and leases as low as $269 per month for the 2024 Prologue, Honda had to make up for the upgrades somewhere.
Trim
Drive Configuration
Pricing
EPA Ratings
MSRP
After Federal EV Tax Credit
Plus $1,450 D&H
Range Rating
MPGe Rating (City/Hwy/Combined)
EX
Single Motor (2WD)
$47,400
$39,900
$41,350
308
113 / 94 / 104
EX
Dual Motor (AWD)
$50,400
$42,900
$44,350
294
108 / 90 / 99
Touring
Single Motor (2WD)
$51,700
$44,200
$45,650
308
113 / 94 / 104
Touring
Dual Motor (AWD)
$54,700
$47,200
$48,650
294
108 / 90 / 99
Elite
Dual Motor (AWD)
$57,900
$50,400
$51,850
283
104 / 87 / 95
2025 Honda Prologue prices, range, and drive configuration by trim (Source: Honda)
Honda is sweetening the deal with a charging package included in the Prologue’s price. You can choose from a free Level 2 home charger, a portable charging kit, or a $750 public charging credit.
The 2024 Honda Prologue is selling out fast with ultra-low lease and financing rates, while the 2025 model promises even more. Ready to try it out for yourself? You can use our link to find deals on the 2024 and 2025 Honda Prologue in your area today.
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In this photo illustration, the logo for the US tech firm “Block” is displayed and reflected in a number of digital screens on March 03, 2023 in London, England.
Leon Neal | Getty Images
With its stock down more than 30% this year and revenue growth slowing, Jack Dorsey’s Block is going bigger in lending.
The company on Thursday said it secured approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to originate loans through its banking subsidiary, Square Financial Services, allowing it to offer small-dollar consumer loans directly rather than relying on external banking partners.
It’s an expansion of Cash App Borrow, the company’s short-term lending product. But it comes at a time of increased concerns surrounding consumer credit, with President Trump’s expansive tariffs and widespread government job cuts raising talk of a potential recession.
Transaction losses in Block’s lending segment jumped 39% last quarter, and while the company claims its underwriting model is strong, small-dollar lending is inherently risky.
“Cash App Borrow is designed to provide short-term cash flow in a simple and accessible way when alternatives are notoriously expensive and difficult for consumers to navigate,” Block said in the press release. The company added that the average Cash App Borrow loan was under $100 and about a month in duration.
Block didn’t immediately provide a comment.
In getting approval to operate the lending business out of its own bank, Block says it will be able to offer the product nationwide.
Last month, Block reported quarterly results that missed Wall Street expectations, with revenue growing just 4.5% from a year earlier. The stock plunged 18%, its worst one-day drop since 2020.
Around the same time, Block rolled out Afterpay, its buy now, pay later product, on the Cash App card. Chief Financial Officer Amrita Ahuja told CNBC that the launch aimed to provide customers with more credit options, and positioned Cash App as a banking alternative for some customers. Block acquired Afterpay, which competes with Affirm, for $29 billion in early 2022.
Also this week, Block announced a big investment plan in artificial intelligence.
The company said on Wednesday that it will deploy Nvidia’s AI systems with its latest Blackwell chips to power open-source AI research. Block didn’t say what specifically it’s looking to achieve through its AI buildout, but noted in the press release that it will “start exploring novel solutions for our customers.”
Kia is launching its first electric van, the PV5, later this year. If you liked how it looked in pictures, wait until you see it in real life. A production PV5 was spotted in Korea for the first time, giving us a closer look at the futuristic van. See it for yourself in the video below.
Kia’s first electric van spotted in Korea
After teasing it for what seemed like forever, Kia finally took the sheets off the PV5 at its 2025 EV Day event last month.
With its hard-to-miss futuristic design, the PV5 is a near replica of the concept shown at CES last January. The mid-size electric van is set to kick off Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy.
The PV5 will initially be available in Passenger, Cargo, and Chassis Cab setups, but with “unprecedented flexibility,” you can expect to see more options soon. Two of the first will be the PV5 Crew, with additional cargo securing options and a Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle (WAV) version.
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After that, Kia will follow it up with Drop Side, Box Van, Freezer, Box, and Prime variations. It plans to launch a Light Camper conversion.
Kia PV5 spotted in Korea (Source: HealerTV)
With sales kicking off in the second half of 2025, Kia’s electric van was spotted in Korea for the first time without camouflage. A new video from HealerTV gives us a better idea of what to expect when the PV5 hits dealerships later this year.
The PV5 maintains its techy, almost ahead-of-its-time design. Two exterior body colors were shown: white and a darker grey or black. As the reporter notes, it actually looks like an upgrade from the concept.
Kia did what it could at the back so it didn’t look like a bus, giving it more of a rounded overall shape. You can see how it stands apart from most MPVs you see today.
Like the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, Kia’s PV5 looks more like a minibus. At 4,695 mm long, 1,895 mm wide, and 1,899 mm tall, Kia’s passenger electric van is slightly smaller than the European ID.Buzz model (4,712 mm long, 1,985 mm wide, 1,937 mm tall).
It will be available with 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh battery packs, good for up to 400 km (249 miles) WLTP range. The PV5 can also fast charge (10% to 80%) in about 30 minutes. In comparison, powered by an 84 kWh battery, the ID.Buzz now offers up to 293 miles WLTP range.
Kia will launch sales in Korea and Europe later this year, followed by other global markets in 2026. Pre-orders will open soon, so check back for prices.
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