Cheap solar panels from China are all over Europe – and everyone is freaking out
Europe is installing more solar panels than ever before, thanks to a flood of cheap Chinese solar panels, driving installations by 40% last year. But it comes at a hefty cost: Local solar manufacturers are on the brink of a total collapse that could happen within weeks.
The European Union is considering what steps to take, in that some 95% of solar panels and parts used in the EU are coming from China, according to International Energy Agency data, Reuters reports.
Reap the benefits of all that green energy with containers full of Chinese solar panels, all while crushing the domestic sector and putting people out of business?
“The situation is really, really, really troublesome,” Johan Lindahl, secretary general of the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC), told Politico.
European local solar panel manufacturers have reached a crisis in that they say they can’t compete with cheap imports and oversupply. Businesses are shutting down, while a “glut” of Chinese panels are sitting in warehouses around Europe, according to an earlier report from Reuters last year. The sector has warned that half of its capacity could close within weeks unless the government takes radical action – and that means tariffs.
But not everyone is happy about that. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck wrote to the EU that tariffs on Chinese imports could end Europe’s impressive expansion of green energy, making 90% of the PV market more expensive.
“I have heard that the commission may impose safeguard measures against imports of photovoltaic (PV) modules from China. I have very strong concerns about this,” the letter said, according to Reuters.
Habeck added that the move would put European companies that assemble and install solar panels using Chinese parts at risk as well.
It’s all been a bitter pill for France, which has high hopes of a European green energy reindustrialization. Germany’s solar support has been in peril due to a budget crisis, while Spain hasn’t ruled out tariffs on solar panel imports. A government official from the Netherlands told Reuters that the country “wants to cover solar PV imports with the EU’s carbon border tax.”
For its part, Italy just announced a €90 million investment in a solar panel factory in Sicily.
EU measures that are on the table include a law to fast-track permits for local manufacturers and give EU products an advantage in “future clean tech tenders.”
Electrek’s Take
Trade restrictions are no light matter – especially in that the EU targets more than 320 GW of newly installed PV capacity by 2025, and 600 GW by 2030 – and it’ll likely need Chinese PV to make that happen.
Back in September, the EU launched an investigation into the Chinese EV industry, as European companies are struggling to compete with the cheap, high-tech Chinese EV imports, made by low-cost labor, entering the EU. The EU is probing into what it says are unfair subsidies and bank lending campaigns from Beijing that fueled the outsize growth in China, with fears that China is building EV plants far beyond levels needed for domestic demand. Meanwhile, the US and Europe are tightening their rules on Chinese cars and EV parts being sold in their countries, with tariffs so high in the US that China has turned its focus on other areas, namely South America, Asia, and Europe.
Meanwhile, some European panel makers are saying that China has been doing the same thing with solar panels. “The solar industry in China has been strategically subsidized with hundreds of billions of dollars for years,” Gunter Erfurt, CEO of Swiss PV maker Meyer Burger, told Reuters.
Europe, for now, just can’t compete – and at least needs to buy some more time to catch up.
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It’s Black Friday and that means there are even better deals than usual on some of the highest value electric bikes in the US e-bike market. If you’re on the hunt for a deal on a good e-bike that will get you where you need to go or have you out there enjoying a recreational ride, all without breaking the bank, then I think I’ve got you covered here.
Sure, there are tons of “best e-bike deals” lists already floating around out there. Most of them are simply lazy publications or AI-concoctions, usually finding any two-wheeler with an affiliate link and then throwing dozens or even hundreds of links at you.
And yes, unfortunately, our own deals team takes that spray and pray approach, too… but rest assured that I’m not involved in that. As the internet’s longest-running e-bike reviewer, here’s my carefully compiled list of some of the best value e-bike deals out there today (and for several days to come), all of which are bikes I actually ride myself and would put my friends and family on.
This isn’t some spammy list… It’s my real, honest-to-goodness recommendations.
The following are in no particular order other than how they popped out of my head after scouring my favorite e-bike company’s sites for current deals. Also, this is far from an exhaustive list, so let me know in the comments section at the bottom of the article if you found some great deals. I’ll try to update the list over the next few days as more interesting opportunities for high-value e-bike finds pop up.
Lectric eBikes
It’s hard to go wrong here if you’re looking for bang-for-your-buck. Lectric eBikes offers some of the best value anywhere, with surprisingly good performance e-bikes at shockingly good prices. Plus (and critically), they actually stand behind their e-bikes, which is not something you can say for the slightly cheaper Amazon-specials.
As part of Lectric’s current deals, they’re largely discounting their bundles as opposed to simply dropping the base price on just a lonesome bike. While I’d love a straight up “shave some off the top” deal, Lectric’s year-round prices are already so fair that it makes sense that they can’t cut base prices too much farther. Even so, their huge bundles bring some impressive value to the table.
The Lectric XP4 is the go-to high-value electric folder on the market right now, and they are offering savings of over $300 on their 500W version of the bike and over $500 off their 750W version of the bike. The two packages start at an incredibly reasonable $999 and $1,299, respectively, and bundle in things like suspension seat posts, upgraded headlights, locks, phone holders, and more.
I’d also recommend checking out their XP Lite2 if you want an even lighter and more compact e-bike (and don’t mind giving up the suspension fork and multiple gear ratios).
My third favorite option is the Lectric XPedition2, which is an amazing value for a heavy-hauling cargo e-bike that starts at just $1,399.
And while I don’t ride it as much myself (yet), the XP Trike2 starts at just $1,499 and is great for riders who need that extra help with balance or just prefer a three-wheeled ride!
It should also be noted that Lectric invests more in philanthropy than any other e-bike company, and it’s something I highly respect. Last year, I bought an e-bike from them just to give it away to someone in need since Lectric was donating $250 to charity for every bike sold. I like to support good companies, and they’re good people.
Priority Bicycles
Priority Bicycles is my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants a higher-quality e-bike than a typical direct-to-consumer model. While I love a good budget bike as much as the next guy, no one expects a $1,000 e-bike to last forever. Entry-level e-bikes definitely start showing their age with everyday riding. But a Priority bike? These are built to last for years and years and years, thanks to the higher tolerances, upper shelf components, and better quality manufacturing.
The New York City-based bicycle company got its start with pedal bikes before expanding into electric bikes, so they know how to make a ‘real’ bicycle instead of just a powerful two-wheeled commuter machine. These are bike-first people.
My favorite model is the Priority Current Plus, which has a 750W mid-drive motor, Gates carbon belt drive, powerful hydraulic disc brakes, and a large 720 Wh battery. It also comes with two options for internally geared hubs: either a 5-speed Shimano Nexus or a slick Enviolo continuously variable transmission (CVT).
It’s normally a $3,299 e-bike, but it’s reduced to just $2,749 for the rest of the month (you won’t see the discount until it’s actually in your cart).
That over $500 savings is huge, and Priority has deals that are almost as good on the company’s more moderately priced models, too. The Priority Glide e-bike is marked down to just $1,499 and the Priority E-Coast is marked down to just $1,699! (And I found that if I put more than one bike in the cart, the discounts are even higher!)
These are much higher quality bikes than you’d get from other companies at these prices, so they’re definitely worth a look if you like the idea of a low-maintenance, high-end belt-drive electric bike.
Ride1Up
Ride1Up has long been a solid option for high value in the commuter space, and has spent the last few years expanding beyond merely road roles and into most of the key e-bike categories.
The company’s Vorsa model is an incredible all-around e-bike that can handle just about anything, from commuting to nature trails to cargo hauling and more. Just about the only thing it can’t do is fold (though they’ve got the Portola for that).
Ride1Up currently has a $225 off sale on the Vorsa if you add in a free touring package (suspension seat post, foam saddle, and mirrors), bringing it down to $1,595 for everything.
Again, this is more of a bundled deal than a straight discount (similar to how Lectric runs most of their sales), but it still means you’re getting a better price and more value, which is the goal.
If you’re looking for a more dedicated mountain bike and want the advantages of a mid-drive from Brose, the Ride1Up TrailRush is a BEAUTIFUL example of bringing electric mountain bikes to the masses with quality parts at a reasonable price. It’s $100 off at $1,995. That’s even better than the launch price, and will get you on a bike that feels right at home on technical off-road trails.
Despite the price, this is absolutely not an entry-level electric mountain bike. This is the real deal, just at a great, direct-to-consumer price! Check out my video testing it below.
And lastly, that Portola I mentioned earlier as Ride1Up’s folding e-bike, it’s marked down to just $995. That’s an incredible deal for a slick-looking, excellent-performing 28 mph folding e-bike that offers 750W of power and hydraulic disc brakes wrapped inside of 20×3″ tires, all held in a classy hydro-formed frame.
JackRabbit
JackRabbit doesn’t actually electric bicycles, but these feel more like a typical throttle e-bike than they do an electric scooter, which is probably the better technically-correct classification.
Instead of pedals, they have foot pegs. That means you can’t pedal them, but you get a simpler, lighter, more stripped-down ride that feels like a bike, at least for the vast majority of US e-bike riders that use throttle more than they do pedal assist.
The company is running free shipping on all of their models through December 2nd and offering 25% off of all accessories, but their main sale is on the OG2 Pro, an e-bike I just finished reviewing, and which is marked down by $150. It’s still not exactly low cost, now at just $1,499, but that’s the best price I’ve ever seen it at, and I doubt we’ll see a sale like this again for a long time… likely 12 months!
The OG2 Pro is perhaps one of JackRabbit’s best models, in my opinion. It still features their smallest frame to keep it nice and compact, but boasts big power from a 500W motor and long range from the RangeBuster battery. This is basically a mini motorbike that feels like an e-bike yet only weighs 30 pounds. When I want something small and lightweight, the JackRabbit OG2 Pro is THE bike I go to.
Aventon
Aventon has long been another staple of the value-priced electric bicycle market in the US. They’ve invested heavily in a wide dealership footprint and so in addition to an online e-bike company, they’re also found in hundreds of local bicycle shops.
While they’ve got a model for just about every type of riding, their new Aventure M is definitely one of my favorites from their lineup. It’s a fat tire off-road e-bike so it’s great for trails or where there simply aren’t any trails, but it’s also got a mid-drive motor that gives you the best balance and responsiveness, not to mention great hill climbing power and startup torque.
It’s $100 off from its normal $2,899 price, marking it down to $2,799, so it’s not a huge deal, but it’s an awesome bike if you can afford a higher-end fat tire bike.
It feels like a fat tire-inspired upgrade over the Aventon Ramblas, in many ways, which is a full-featured electric mountain bike marked down from $2,899 to just $2,499. This is definitely another to look into if you’ve got the cash for something nicer like this.
On the budget-friendly end, the brand’s Soltera 2.5 is priced at just $999, marked down by $200, and is an excellent modest-power commuter if you’re on the hunt for something lightweight and easy to ride.
Velotric
One of my favorite parts about Velotric is how heavily they’ve invested in a few key features that I rarely see yet: hardcore waterproofing and location tracking.
Velotric has some of the most waterproof e-bikes out there (and their batteries can be submerged in up to 3 feet deep of water), and they include Apple FindMy tracking in most of their models.
One of my favorite models is the Velotric Fold 1 Plus, which is currently marked down to $1,399, and comes with a free suspension seat post upgrade and free pannier bag.
Between the location tracking, UL-certified batteries that can be drowned in water, and the wide color range including fun options like bright yellow and bright blue, this is definitely one to consider.
What other deals are waiting out there? Let me know in the comments if you found something good and I’d love to check it out!
Stay safe out there, everyone. Happy trails, and may your battery always be charged!
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Environment
Rad Power expands e-bike Black Friday Sale with more savings + lows from $999, Anker smart security devices 50% off, GE appliance, more
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! To celebrate the day, we’ve got another jam-packed edition of Green Deals, with plenty more that you can browse in our official Black Friday Green Deals hub here, encompassing all the sales/deals we’ve collected over the last few weeks that are still alive and well. Headlining today’s features is Rad Power’s expanded Black Friday Sale, which is seeing increased prices to new lows, like the RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike at $1,399, among others. From there, we also have a large collection of Anker eufy solar cams, and other smart security devices starting from $50, as well as GE’s Profile Smart Electric Ventless Heat Pump Washer/Dryer Combo at $2,000, the next EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale, Aiper’s robot pool cleaners, smart composters, hydroponic gardens, and so much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals that are collected together at the bottom of the page (and also in our Green Deals hub), like yesterday’s first post-launch price cuts on the Heybike Mars 3.0 and Ranger 3.0 Pro e-bikes, the Tesla universal EV charger retaining a $50 discount, and more.
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.
Rad Power expands Black Friday e-bike lineup and increases savings to new lows starting from $999
Rad Power Bikes has expanded its Black Friday Sale with additional offers while retaining the previous lineup of new lows and more. Among the bunch, we’re seeing the biggest price cut yet on the RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike at $1,399 shipped. Coming down from the full $1,899 price tag that it has spent much of 2025 keeping to, we’ve mostly seen a mix of free bundle offers (without price cuts) and occasional discounts as low as $1,699. Now, for Black Friday, this newer model is getting a larger-than-ever $500 markdown to a new all-time low price. Head below to learn more about it and the expanded/increased Rad Power Black Friday savings.
The Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus comes as the latest iteration of the brand’s space-saving, folding series, able to condense down to 29 inches high by 25 inches wide by 41 inches long to fit inside closets, car trunks, on RVs, and more. The 750W rear hub motor is paired with a 720Wh battery to carry you for up to 60+ miles with its five PAS levels activated at up to 20 MPH top speeds (supported by a torque sensor). Among its updated features, you’ll be getting a hydraulic suspension fork alongside hydraulic disc brakes for smoother rides and greater stopping power. There’s also the puncture-resistant tires, fenders to go over top of them, a rear cargo rack for added versatility, an LED headlight, a brake-activated taillight, a Shimano 7-speed derailleur, a color display with a USB-C port, and more.
With the brand going through financial turmoil, now’s your chance to cash in on some of Rad Power’s deep clearance-meets-Black Friday savings.
Rad Power’s full Black Friday Sale lineup:
- RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru e-bike (new low): $999 (Reg. $1,599)
- 20 MPH for up to 45+ miles
- RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike (new low): $1,349 (Reg. $1,499)
- 20 MPH for up to 55+ miles
- RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike (new low): $1,399 (Reg. $1,899)
- 20 MPH for up to 60+ miles
- RadRunner Plus Cargo Utility e-bike (new low): $1,649 (Reg. $1,799)
- 20 MPH for up to 55+ miles
- Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike (new low): $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
- 20/28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
- Radster Road Commuter e-bike (new low): $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
- 20/28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
- RadWagon 5 Cargo e-bike: $2,199 (Reg. $2,399)
- 20/28 MPH for up to 60+ miles
- RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike (new low): $2,199 (Reg. $2,299)
- 20/28 MPH for up to 60+ miles w/ most advanced smart features
Anker’s eufy solar security cameras, smart locks, more get up to 50% Black Friday savings to new lows starting from $50
With Amazon’s Black Friday Week Sale in full momentum, Anker’s official eufy storefront is offering up to 50% discounts across its lineup of smart security devices, and the best rate yet on the SoloCam S220 Wireless Solar Security Camera that starts from $49.99 shipped, while its 4-camera package is a great get for multi-point coverage at $179.99 shipped. Normally going for $100 without any discounts, we’ve seen the cost get taken down as low as $60 previously in the year, with this holiday deal bringing even more savings to the mix by cutting the price in half. You’ll save $50 off the going rate for a 50% markdown on the single-cam package, while the 4-camera kit is seeing a 36% cut of $100 – dropping both options to new all-time lows.
If you want to learn more about this model, or check out the full lineup of deals on other cameras, video doorbells, smart locks, and more – be sure to check out our original coverage of these Black Friday deals here.
GE’s 2-in-1 Profile smart ventless electric washer/dryer combo with heat pump at $2,000 (Reg. $2,700)
As part of its Black Friday Appliance Sale, Best Buy is offering the GE Profile 4.8 Cubic-Foot Smart Combo Electric Washer & Dryer with Ventless Heat Pump at $1,999.99 shipped. While it carries a $2,999 MSRP direct from the brand, at Best Buy we normally see it starting lower at $2,700, with the discounts we’ve spotted over the year regularly dropping the rate between $2,200 and $2,000, with things having gone as low as $1,750 once this year back during July’s Prime Day event. You’re still looking at a solid $700 markdown off the going rate (and $999 off the MSRP) to land at the third-lowest price we have tracked. There are also alternate options in Samsung’s massive Black Friday Appliance Sale here to weigh your options.
If you want to learn more about this specific model, be sure to check out our original coverage of these savings here.
Best Fall EV deals!
- Velotric Nomad 2X e-bike (camo) with DELTA 3 Plus station: $3,048 (Reg. $3,298)
- Velotric Nomad 2X e-bike (sage or fig) with DELTA 3 Plus station: $2,948 (Reg. $3,298)
- Velotric Nomad 2X Multi-Terrain Full Suspension e-bike w/ $96 bundle: $2,299 (Reg. $2,399)
- Heybike Hero 750W Mid-Drive Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bike: $2,299 (Reg. $3,099)
- Rad Power Radster Road Commuter e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
- Rad Power Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 35Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $893 bundle: $1,999 (Reg. $2,761)
- Ride1Up TrailRush German Mid-Drive e-bike (first discount): $1,995 (Reg. $2,095)
- Heybike Hero 1,000W Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bike: $1,899 (Reg. $2,599)
- Tenways Wayfarer e-bike with $277 bundle (launch deal): $1,899 (Reg. $2,199)
- Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike (gray or white) with DELTA 2 station: $1,898 (Reg. $2,198)
- Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike (mango or blue) with DELTA 2 station: $1,828 (Reg. $2,198)
- Velotric Summit 1 Versatile Multi-Terrain e-bike with $160 bundle: $1,799 (Reg. $1,999)
- Aventon Aventure 3 Smart All-Terrain e-bike (first discount): $1,799 (Reg. $1,999)
- Aventon Aventure 3 Smart Step-Through All-Terrain e-bike (first discount): $1,799 (Reg. $1,999)
- Lectric XP Trike2 750 Long-Range eTrike with $558 bundle: $1,799 (Reg. $2,357)
- Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike (lowest price): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $744 bundle: $1,799 (Reg. $2,543)
- Aventon Level 3 Step-Over Smart Commuter e-bike (first discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
- Aventon Level 3 Step-Through Smart Commuter e-bike (first discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
- Lectric XPeak 2.0 Long-Range Off-Road e-bike with $583 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,282)
- Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike with extra battery: $1,599 (Reg. $1,799)
- Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,999)
- Ride1Up VORSA Modular Multi-Use e-bike: $1,595 (Reg. $1,695)
- Rad Power RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike with extra battery: $1,499 (No pirce cut)
- Lectric XPeak 2.0 Standard Off-Road e-bike with $434 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,933)
- Lectric XP Trike2 with $257 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,756)
- Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
- Aventon Aventure 2 All-Terrain e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,999)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 13Ah Cargo e-bike with $346 bundle: $1,399 (Reg. $1,745)
- Aventon Level 2 Commuter e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
- Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru Fat Tire e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,599)
- Heybike ALPHA All-Terrain e-bike with $266 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,699)
- Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes with $439 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,703)
- Lectric XP4 750 LR Folding Utility e-bikes with up to $514 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,813)
- Heybike Hauler Dual-Battery Cargo e-bike (new low): $1,299 (Reg. $1,899)
- Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,799)
- Heybike Mars 2.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike with extra battery: $1,199 (Reg. $1,848)
- Lectric XP Lite 2.0 JW Black LR e-bike with $449 bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,548)
- Heybike Hauler Dual-Battery Cargo e-bike with $89+ bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,413)
- Lectric XP4 Standard Folding Utility e-bikes with $326 bundle: $999 (Reg. $1,325)
- Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with $449 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,448)
- Heybike Mars 2.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike with Black Friday gift: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
- Heybike Ranger S Folding Fat-Tire e-bike with Black Friday gift: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
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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