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Panning for gold in Alibaba’s electric vehicle catalog is bound to find some real doozies, such as this week’s Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week. Meet this fun little purple three-wheeled electric car that barely manages to fulfill the requirements of a car.

The “Minitype 3 Seater Passenger Electric Passenger Tricycle” is quite a mouthful of a name, but what’s really important here are the specs.

With a single driver’s seat up front and a narrow bench in back, there is theoretically space for three souls aboard this thing. There’s no steering wheel up front, though. Instead, drivers operate the handlebar that controls the front wheel through a fork instead of traditional automotive linkage to two wheels. Think of it like an enclosed tuk-tuk.

That’s probably fine based on the rather low performance of the machine, reaching just 40 km/h (25 mph) and likely taking its sweet time to do so.

It may not seem spacious, but this is one of those “the seats go aaaalllllllllll the way back” kind of cars. Or at least, the one seat.

I’m not sure what kind of freedom or bonus points that buys you, unless your date is super into trikes. But let’s just say that the car is doing everything it can to be a good wingman for you.

If you can’t pick up chicks in this babe magnet, then you’re obviously doing something wrong.

The coolest part about this thing though is the price. Sure, if you try to buy just a single car then it’s a bit expensive at US $1,200. But if you’ll take 15 units then you can knock that price down to $1,100. An order of up to 49 gets you down to an even $1,000.

So which would you rather have? One $50k electric car or 50 $1k electric cars? Well let me answer that for myself with another question. How easy is it to start a Chinese EV racing league in your backyard track with just one $50k EV?

Ok, jokes aside, please don’t anyone try to actually order one of these. This glorified mobility scooter is likely sans batteries for that price, plus you’ll absolutely spend several times the supposed purchase price just to try and get it shipped out of China.

Then there’s the wrinkle of these not being street-legal anywhere outside of China, and potentially not even there.

So let’s just enjoy them from the safe distance of our computer screens, shall we? In the meantime, I’ll appreciate even more the electric mini-truck I actually DID buy from China.

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The new Nissan LEAF gets a price cut thanks to the UK EV grant

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The new Nissan LEAF gets a price cut thanks to the UK EV grant

Nissan announced the new LEAF will start at just £32,249 in the UK after it became eligible for the maximum discount under the government’s Electric Car Grant.

The new Nissan LEAF gets a price cut with UK EV grant

After the UK government expanded the Electric Car Grant program on Friday, drivers will be able to save £3,750 ($4,900) on the new Nissan LEAF.

Nissan announced that the new 2026 LEAF will start at £32,249 ($42,200), including the grant. The government said in a press release that the discount will help boost Nissan’s sales, while also supporting jobs and UK manufacturing.

The new LEAF is on sale, and Nissan plans to begin production at its Sunderland plant in December. The first customer deliveries are scheduled for February.

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Nissan’s new LEAF will be available in four trims: Engage, Engage +, Advance, and Evolve. Initially, all versions will be equipped with a 75 kWh battery, providing a range of up to 386 miles (WLTP). Nissan said a cheaper 52 kWh battery pack will be available, delivering a range of up to 271 miles, which could bring prices under £30,000 ($39,300).

Nissan-new-LEAF-price
The new Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)

With 150 kW DC fast charging, the new LEAF can add 273 miles in about 30 minutes. It’s also the first vehicle to feature Nissan’s new 3-in-1 electric powertrain, boasting 160 kW (215 HP) and 355 Nm of torque.

The interior is revamped with new dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens with Google built in. Upgrading to the Engage+ or higher trim gets a bigger 14.3″ multimedia screen.

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The interior of the new Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)

Including the new grant, the LEAF Engage+ trim is priced from £33,149, the Advance starts at £34,249, and the Evolve trim from £36,249.

For those in the US, the 2026 Nissan LEAF has the “lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale,” starting at just $29,990. It’s available in three trims: S+, SV+, and Platinum+, offering up to 303 miles of range. That’s a 25% improvement from the outgoing model.

Interested in checking it out for yourself? You can use our link to find available 2026 Nissan LEAF models near you.

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NAVEE ST3 Pro, loaded with power and comfort, 20% off for Black Friday

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NAVEE ST3 Pro, loaded with power and comfort, 20% off for Black Friday

Looking for a smarter, cooler, and genuinely more comfortable way to commute this winter? The NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter has officially entered the chat — and for Black Friday, it’s dropping to an unmissable low price. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to commit to electric travel, this is it.

From November 17 to December 2 (PDT), the NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter is 20% off, reducing the price from USD $949.99 to $759.99. Canadian pricing drops from CAD $1,299.99 to $971.09. (On Amazon, the discount window is November 20 to December 1 (PDT).)

And if that wasn’t already awesome, NAVEE has tacked on an extra 5% off for Electrek readers when you use one of these codes:

  • Official Website: Use code ST3PRO5 — valid in the US & Canada through February 28, 2026
  • Amazon: Use code NAVEEST3PRO — valid in the US & Canada through February 28, 2026

Why the NAVEE ST3 Pro is a standout

The NAVEE ST3 Pro pushes the boundaries of what an electric scooter can be. It’s built for real-world riders who want power, range, comfort, and safety with their convenience.

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Auto‑grade ride comfort

The automotive‑grade Damping Arm™ suspension system uses four swinging polymer arms on both front and rear wheels, absorbing impact in ways traditional scooters simply can’t. Whether you’re rolling over brick roads, patched‑up potholes, or gravel, the ST3 Pro smooths out the chaos.

Power that actually counts

The 48-volt platform delivers up to 1350W of peak power, allowing you to power through 28% inclines without any power loss. Switch into Sport Mode when you want max speed of up to 25 mph, confidence, and faster reaction ability.

Safety is priority

With the triple braking system, NAVEE didn’t hold back:

  • Disc brake
  • Drum brake
  • Automotive‑grade eABS + traction control

This blend gives you enhanced stopping precision and a shorter braking distance, even during high‑speed or downhill commutes.

Long ranges that end anxiety

The ST3 Pro features a 596.7Wh battery system offering up to 46.6 miles of TÜV‑certified range at maximum speed. That’s nearly two days of commuting for many riders. For comparison, the ST3 model, with its 477.36Wh battery, achieves a range of up to 37.5 miles.

Regenerative braking adds even more efficiency, reclaiming up to 12% of total range.

Style + smart features

Want a scooter that looks as good as it rides? The ST3 Pro goes full futuristic with ambient lighting built right into the footboard – and not just a basic glow, but 15 fully selectable lighting modes to match your mood. Control it all with a tap in the NAVEE app.

Both the ST3 and ST3 Pro also come fully kitted with commuter‑ready lighting and connectivity:

  • Bright headlight for late‑night rides
  • Clean, visible taillight + turn indicators for safer signaling
  • Full companion app support for smart control, monitoring, and customization

Final thoughts

The NAVEE ST3 Pro isn’t just another Black Friday discount — it’s a chance to level up your urban commute with comfort, precision, and premium technology that feels years ahead.

The 20% off sale runs from November 17 to December 2 (PDT) (on Amazon, it runs November 20 to December 1 (PDT)) — don’t miss out. And don’t forget to use the extra 5% off codes for Electrek readers of ST3PRO5 on the official website and NAVEEST3PRO on Amazon.

You can buy the NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter at the following links:

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Yamaha launches new electric scooter with Honda’s swappable batteries

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Yamaha launches new electric scooter with Honda's swappable batteries

Yamaha is doubling down on urban electrification in Japan with the launch of its new Jog E electric scooter – and in a twist that we’ve been waiting years to see, it runs on Honda’s Mobile Power Pack e: swappable batteries.

Yamaha shared on its social media that the Jog E is set to begin a region-limited pre-sale on December 22, 2025, exclusively through Yamaha EV shops in Tokyo and Osaka. This rollout makes it the first Yamaha two-wheeler built around the Mobile Power Pack e system, which is becoming Japan’s de facto standard thanks to the joint battery-swap venture Gachaco.

It’s the result of an initiative that began way back in 2019, when many of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers built a consortium to develop a single swappable battery standard. At the time, it was seen largely as a way to compete against Gogoro, which had already developed a single swappable battery standard. Ultimately, instead of developing a battery standard, the consortium simply chose to elect Honda’s relatively little-used battery design as its standard. Now we’re finally seeing that battery employed in another major motorcycle maker’s vehicles.

A Yamaha built for battery swapping

Unlike typical electric scooters sold with a fixed battery, the Jog E is offered as a body-only purchase. Riders must separately subscribe to Gachaco’s paid battery-sharing service, which gives access to swap stations located throughout major cities.

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As of now, Gachaco operates 42 battery swapping stations in Tokyo, 7 stations in Osaka, and 2 stations in Saitama. It’s a far cry from the thousands of stations operated by Taiwanese competitors like Gogoro and Kymco, but it’s a start.

It also means Yamaha is restricting initial sales to Tokyo and Osaka EV stores, ensuring that buyers actually have infrastructure available. Yamaha says standalone batteries and chargers will arrive in the second half of 2026 for riders who prefer to own rather than swap.

Built for stop-and-go city life

Yamaha says the Jog E is tuned specifically for dense urban commuting, with smooth acceleration for constant stop-and-go traffic, plus familiar Yamaha scooter ergonomics and universal EV-forward design touches. We don’t get performance specs yet, but the urban focus means we’re likely looking at limited power and speed figures.

Riders will get two color options at launch: dark gray and light gray. Not exactly going nuts with the color wheel, there.

Pricing lands at 159,500 yen (about US$1,050), though that excludes battery service fees, registration, insurance, and other common costs.

Part of Yamaha’s bigger climate strategy

Yamaha says the Jog E plays a key role in the company’s path toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Specifically, it helps reduce emissions under “Scope 3, Category 11” – basically emissions generated from customers using Yamaha products.

The scooter also symbolizes a closer collaboration among Japan’s Big Four motorcycle makers, all of whom co-founded Gachaco along with energy giant ENEOS. Battery swapping is shaping up to be Japan’s most aggressive approach to mainstreaming electric two-wheelers, and the Jog E is a big step in that direction.

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