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DHL reaches 50 electric truck milestone with Orange EV, plans to double down

DHL was the first major company to put an all-electric class 8 yard truck into service in 2015. Now, DHL has 50 electric yard trucks from Orange EV in its logistics fleet, with plans to fully phase out diesel trucks by 2025.

Whether you call them terminal trucks, yard dogs, mules, or anything else, these heavy-duty trucks do work that’s ideally suited to electrification. It’s all low-speed, extreme-torque, short distance, high-precision operation, all the time. And the quiet, vibration-free, instant power operation of electric drive is in its element. DHL knows this better than most, which is why the company has electric yard trucks currently deployed at more than 30 DHL Supply Chain sites across the US – all part of DHL’s goal to both phase out diesel trucks by 2025 and reducing logistics-related carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

“We cannot ignore the impact our operations have on the environment as a logistics company and therefore we are committed to implementing more sustainable approaches to doing business,” explains Stephan Schablinski, VP of “GoGreen” initiatives at DHL Supply Chain. “Through partnerships with companies like Orange EV we have been able to develop innovative solutions that reimagine the industry of logistics and take us closer to a green future.”

It’s worth noting, too, that the those first electric yard trucks DHL put into service back in 2015. Affectionally dubbed “Sparky I” and “Sparky II,” the electric semi trucks have individually clocked more than 24,000 hours and 17,000 hours of operation. What’s more: they’re still on their original battery packs.

“DHL Supply Chain’s first two Orange EV orders are a great example of how we work together to right-size a fleet’s EV projects to economically meet site specifications and rigorous duty cycles,” says Kurt Neutgens, Orange EV co-founder, President, and CTO. “DHL Supply Chain first purchased an Extended Duty truck and charger … and DHL’s well-trained, committed team maximized opportunity charging to keep both trucks running at peak efficiency.”

DHL Supply Chain announced plans to double its current electric yard truck fleet last month – a move that would bring them to 100 all-electric Orange EV class 8 trucks and 0 diesels over the next two years.

Electrek’s Take

There was a line in Orange EV’s press release that’s been playing “on repeat” in my head since I read it. “Diesel yard trucks which are often used just 5 years or 15,000 hours before maintenance and repair costs become prohibitively expensive,” it reads. “In its deployed fleet, Orange EV currently has 35 trucks exceeding 15,000 hours of operation – 14 of which have surpassed 20,000 hours – with many more that will cross those thresholds soon.”

I called Mike Switzer, my co-host on The Heavy Equipment Podcast and a fleet manager who’s tracked thousands of assets in his twenty-plus years in the industry, and asked him if that sounded right.

“Here’s the thing,” he said. “Typically, on-road fleets are tracked in miles. We do oil changes every 5-10,000 miles and try to maintain a 400-500,000 overhaul on the heavy equipment trucks. That’s barring clutch replacements, if needed, stuff that gets messed up. Now, with the automated manuals, a lot of that goes out the window and it all makes it to the rebuild point where we down the truck (hopefully scheduled) between 400 and 500,000 miles, so 15,000 hours you’re right there. Obviously a heavy haul places a bigger toll on the powertrain vs. someone that’s pulling general freight, but some of the general freight guys are going 900,000 or even a million miles on an engine just because of the work load. That’s not to say there’s not a place for electric, there definitely is and I think the yards and ports are a great place for it, but I wouldn’t say that 15,000 hours is any kind of real limit.”

Some quick, back-of-the napkin math tells me that 15,000 hours times an average 30 MPH would put us at 450,000 miles. Right in Mike’s 400-500,000 mile rebuild window, in other words. Admittedly, 30 MPH is high for a terminal truck, but the constant heavy load stop-and-go nature of a yard truck’s day to day more than makes up the difference in my view … and the fact that we’re talking about trucks that are coming up on 9 years of continuous heavy duty operation on the original batteries?

EVs can’t get a much better endorsement than that.

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Velotric’s new Fold 1 Plus and Nomad 2X e-bikes bundled with EcoFlow power stations at up to $370 off, Linkind solar lights, and much more

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August 15, 2025

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Velotric's new Fold 1 Plus and Nomad 2X e-bikes bundled with EcoFlow power stations at up to 0 off, Linkind solar lights, and much more

We’re closing out this week’s Green Deals with a more sizeable edition of eight top-notch chances at savings, headlined by the newly launched Velotric Last Call Summer Sale that features a partnership with EcoFlow for some EV and power station bundles, alongside EV-only deals. The main standouts are the new Fold 1 Plus e-bike coming with a DELTA 2 Power Station starting from $1,828, while the new Nomad 2X Full Suspension e-bike gets a DELTA 3 Plus Power Station starting from $2,948. From there, we also have the first discount on Linkind’s new 14-pack of SL5C Smart Outdoor Solar Spotlights that amount to $11 per light, as well as a rare return of the $1,425 low on Greenworks’ 80V Venture 20-inch All-Terrain Utility e-bike. There are more power station sales from EcoFlow, Bluetti, and Jackery, as well as a massive lawn care price cut, and a value-packed electric cooler option waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s official Rad Power Radster e-bike price cuts, the exclusive $250 savings on a DELTA 3 Plus bundle, 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.

Bundle Velotric’s new Fold 1 Plus or Nomad 2X smart e-bikes with EcoFlow power stations at up to $370 off, more

Velotric has launched a Last Call Summer Sale running through September 1 with up to $670 in savings across a selection of its e-bikes, including price cuts on a number of its newest models. Of the offers, though, we spotted two very special first-time bundles that give you either Velotric’s new Fold 1 Plus e-bike with an EcoFlow DELTA 2 Power Station starting from $1,828 shipped or the newer Nomad 2X Full Suspension Fat Tire e-bike with an EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Power Station starting from $2,948 shipped – with prices on select colorways of each e-bike bumping the price up by $70 (Fold 1 Plus Stone Gray/Pearl White) and $100 (Nomad 2X Camo). These bundles would normally cost you $2,198 and $3,298 at full price but during this sale period you’ll get the e-bikes and a means to keep them running off-grid with up to $370 and up to $350 in savings, with there no telling if this partnership between brands will continue once September rolls around.

The new Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike brings smarter capabilities to the brand’s folding fleet, starting with a combination of the 750W rear hub motor (peaking at 1,100W) and a 48V 13Ah IPX7-rated battery providing a 12 to 28 MPH speed range (limited to 20 MPH in certain states) for up to 68 miles on a single charge with its PAS activated. Speaking of the PAS, there are three riding modes with five levels of support each for more flexible settings, as well as the system being supported by the brand’s SensorSwap tech, giving you the option to switch between a torque and cadence sensor as you ride. Among the smart features you’ll find Apple Find My integration within the companion app’s controls, with the physical features boasting a hydraulic suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tires, a rear cargo rack with a 120-pound payload, a 3.5-inch full color Bluetooth display, and much more.

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Velotric’s Fold 1 Plus e-bike comes along with one of EcoFlow’s most popular legacy units in the DELTA 2 power station, which starts at a 1,024Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can expand up to 3,072Wh with extra batteries tacked on. It provides a 1,800W steady stream of output power through the 15 connection ports for devices/appliances, surging as high as 2,200W for hungrier needs. The battery takes only 50 minutes to get back to 80% via an AC outlet, or 80 minutes for a full battery. It also has a max 500W solar input to recharge within three to six hours via the sun.

Velotric’s EV + power station bundles:

If you want to browse the other new and legacy e-bike deals aside from the above bundles, be sure to check out our original coverage of this Velotric sale here.

split photo of house with linkind SL5C solar spotlights lighting up yard

First discount takes $66 off Linkind’s new 14-pack of Smart Solar Spotlights at $154

Coming at us via its official Amazon storefront, Linkind is offering the first cash savings on its new 14-pack of SL5C Smart Outdoor Solar Spotlights at $153.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $66 off coupon. This larger-than-ever bundle package just hit Amazon a few days ago carrying a $220 price tag, with this being the first savings that gives you far more lighting to cover larger yards and gardens. You’re getting a 30% markdown with this deal as the bundle is coming right out the gate that amounts to $11 per light, setting the bar for future discounts in the future. You’ll also find the 2-pack, 4-pack, and 8-pack deals on the same landing page starting from $24.

If you want to learn more about these solar spotlights’ capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this first-time discount here.

woman riding Greenworks 80V Venture 20-inch utility e-bike down sidewalk

Greenworks’ 80V Venture utility e-bike utilizes the brand’s batteries for off-road adventure starting from a $1,425 low

Best Buy is offering a returning low price on the Greenworks 80V Venture 20-inch All-Terrain Fat Tire Utility e-bike (EV only) at $1,424.99 shipped, which beats out the current Amazon pricing by $90. While it carries a $2,100 MSRP direct from the brand, we see it stay down at $1,900 at Amazon, with only one previous fall to this same low rate having appeared over the year, with other discounts having kept the costs between $1,600 and $1,700 on average. The second-chance deal here gives you $475 off the going rate (and $675 off the MSRP) for the best price we have tracked – plus, if you don’t already have the appropriate batteries to power it, you can grab the e-bike with a 4.0Ah battery and charger at $1,649.99 shipped, having come down from $2,200.

If you want to learn more about this Greenworks e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

four people sitting under awning with ecoflow delta 2 power station and extra battery

EcoFlow offers up to 59% off three power station bundles and a solar panel starting from $489

As part of its August Home Backup Sale, EcoFlow has launched the last of its flash sales, with this one taking up to 59% off four offers through August 17. While the lowest price is on a 400W solar panel, among the three power station offers, things start with the DELTA 2 Portable Power Station and an extra battery for $899 shipped. While this bundle carries a $1,798 MSRP, we more often see it keeping to $1,289 at full price at Amazon, where it’s currently priced for $50 more with a FREE $130 solar-charging Power Hat (just add both to your cart, where the discount is automatically applied). Discounts over the last year have seen the costs taken as low as $799 once during March, while more frequently bouncing between $849 and $899 rates. Today’s deal gives you a 50% markdown off the MSRP for the third-lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this bundle or the three other offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of this weekend flash sale here.

woman mowing grass with greenworks 40V 21-inch cordless lawn mower while mad weed wacks in background

Save $126 on the Greenworks 40V 21-inch dual-port cordless mower with a 5.0Ah battery at a new $198 low

Walmart is giving folks a great new low price on the Greenworks 40V 21-inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower with 5.0Ah Battery at $198 shipped, which beats out Amazon’s current pricing by $166 and the brand’s direct website by $202. While it sports a $400 MSRP from both of these alternate sites, at Walmart it keeps down at $324 in full, with discounts having taken things as low as $280 back in February. The deal here gives you a massive 51% markdown from its MSRP, saving you up to $202 at the best new price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this lawn mower, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man and woman enjoy coffee at table with appliances run by Bluetti Elite 200 v2 power station

Keep devices and appliances running with Bluetti’s Elite 200 V2 200W solar bundle at $1,199

Popping into Bluetti’s official Amazon storefront, you’ll find the Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station bundled with a 200W solar panel at $1,199 shipped, which is also matching the price we’re seeing directly from the brand’s website. This bundle normally fetches $1,999 outside of sales, with discounts until June regularly dropping the costs to this rate, beaten out by $1,099 low we last saw during last month’s Prime Day event, after which it’s been mostly falling to $1,299. The deal here gives you an $800 markdown at the second-best price we have tracked, while also equipping you with the means to keep significant devices and appliances running by way of the sun.

If you want to learn more about this solar generator bundle, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

jackery explorer 2000 plus power station sitting on beach next to two solar panels

You can bring home Jackery’s expanded 4kWh Explorer 2000 Plus solar bundle with a transfer switch at $2,882

Jackery’s recent sale may have ended yesterday, but the brand’s official Amazon storefront is offering a substantial home backup bundle deal with its Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station that comes with an expansion battery, two 200W solar panels, and a manual transfer switch at $2,882.07 shipped, after clipping the on-page 7% off coupon. This expanded package would normally fetch $5,199 at full price, with the deal here even beating the previous sale rate by $46 – and that’s including the bonus 7% savings you would have gotten during the event. All-in-all, you’re looking at a combined 45% markdown that gives you $2,316.93 in savings at the second-lowest price we have tracked, only beaten out by the one-time $2,599 low we spotted during Prime Day.

If you want to learn more about this home backup bundle, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

two women around Worx 40V 24-quart PowerShare cordless electric cooler in truck bed

Go ice-free outdoors with Worx’s value-packed 40V 24-quart PowerShare cordless electric cooler at $399

Amazon is offering the Worx 40V 24-quart PowerShare Cordless Electric Cooler with two 4.0Ah batteries at $398.99 shipped. You’d normally be pressed to pay $500 for this package at full price, with only three previous discounts popping up over 2025 that took the costs down to this same rate. While we have seen it go as low as $380 for Black Friday in 2024, you’re otherwise looking at the best price for 2025 that saves you $101 off the going rate, not to mention saving you from more costly electric coolers like Anker’s SOLIX EverFrost 2 models that currently start from a discounted $599 price tag right now.

If you want to learn more about this electric cooler, or learn about the non-electric Ninja alternative to save more money, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

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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BYD opened China’s first all-terrain circuit and it’s like a massive playground for EVs

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3 hours ago

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August 15, 2025

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BYD opened China's first all-terrain circuit and it's like a massive playground for EVs

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-EVs

BYD’s new all-terrain circuit is the first of its kind in China, and it’s pretty wild. It’s more than a test track. The complex is essentially a playground for electric vehicles with indoor sand dunes, ice fields, off-road mountains, and high-speed racetracks. It even has a pool.

BYD builds China’s first all-terrain circuit for EVs

After officially opening its new all-terrain circuit in Zhengzhou on Thursday, BYD said it’s “breaking the barriers of traditional racing tracks with subversive innovation.”

The site features eight unique zones: An indoor sand dune, a low-friction ring, a kick-plate, a wading pool, a dynamic paddock, a race track, an off-road mountain park, and a camping area.

BYD said it’s the first of its kind in China, specifically dedicated to its new energy vehicles (NEVs). After it stopped producing fully gas-powered vehicles in 2022, the company has focused on all-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles.

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The indoor sand dune is not just massive, it’s record-breaking big. It was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s highest and largest for car testing, featuring a 29.6-meter vertical drop and a 28-degree slope.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-Sand-Dune
The indoor sand dune at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

And then there’s the 70-meter-long wade pool, exclusively built for the Yangwang U8. If you haven’t seen it yet, the U8 can actually float on water. It features an emergency flotation feature that enables it to float on water for about 30 mins.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-Wade-Pool
The Yangwang U8 in the wade pool at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

The kick-plate is a circuit that allows drivers to test vehicles in emergency situations, such as loss of control on icy or wet road conditions.

BYD built the low-friction circle, China’s first 44-meter-diameter circular track, to test drifting with “a constant friction coefficient between that of ice and snow. It consists of 30,000 smoothed basalt bricks with 3 mm of water covering the surface. BYD is using it to showcase its DiSus Intelligent Body Control System and, of course, to give everyone the chance to drift.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-circular-track
The circular track at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

When you’re done drifting, you can head over to the 1,758-meter race track. You can take off on the 550-meter acceleration section or try your luck on nine extreme corners.

The 15,300-square-meter dynamic paddock features over 12 different immersive scenarios to showcase BYD’s full range of smart technology, including moose testing and automated parking.

BYD-all-terrain-EV-circuit
An off-road mountain at the BYD all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

With 27 off-road scenarios, BYD said drivers of all levels, beginner to advanced, can have the opportunity to drive on various rugged terrains.

This is the first of several circuits BYD plans to open. New locations in Hefei and Shaoxing are set to open soon. The Shoaxing off-road area will be massive, spanning 2,000 acres with an altitude of 500 meters.

According to BYD, “By making cutting-edge technologies, professional facilities, and extreme scenarios tangible and accessible, the circuits aim to break down barriers, serving both as a showcase for NEV innovations and a bridge to popularize NEV culture.”

What do you think of the new complex? Perhaps the US, Europe, and other global markets need a few of these so drivers can experience the advantages of electric vehicles.

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Tesla, Rivian, and others see billions in revenue disappear as US officially end emission credits

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4 hours ago

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August 15, 2025

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Tesla, Rivian, and others see billions in revenue disappear as US officially end emission credits

EV-battery-prices-plummeting
(Source: Tesla)

Tesla, Rivian, and other EV automakers in the US are seeing billions of dollars in revenue disappear as the US is officially ending the emission credit market.

As we previously reported, Trump’s recently passed ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ is expected to have numerous impacts on the EV sector in the US.

The main one is the removal of the federal tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles on September 30th.

Another change is the end of penalty enforcement for automakers with lower average fuel economy – aka those that produce more gas-guzzling vehicles and fewer electric vehicles.

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This change is now already entirely in effect.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially stopped issuing compliance letters to automakers for violating fuel economy standards. This eliminates the market for credits under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard.

Automakers that didn’t comply with CAFE rules had to pay fines or purchase credits from other automakers that had a surplus, primarily those that only sell electric vehicles, such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid.

Those automakers would sell the credits for less than the fines, but now that the Trump administration has officially eliminated the penalties, it has officially killed the market for credits.

Many automakers had deals to purchase the credits, and following the passing of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, it wasn’t clear if those deals would continue or if

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), an EV trade group, filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals to force NHTSA to resume issuing the letters.

In comments attached to the petition, Christopher Nevers, Rivian’s director of public policy, stated that the company is unable to finalize its credit deals due to the NHTSA’s decision to end the issuance of compliance letters, resulting in a loss of $100 million in revenue.

Rivian no longer expects any CAFE credit revenue this year.

A NHTSA spokesperson claimed that it will return to issuing compliance letters after a review of the CAFE standards (via investing.com):

“NHTSA is focusing on fixing CAFE standards to make cars more affordable again. When that process is complete, we will return to issuing compliance letters to manufacturers.”

But there’s significant doubt that this will happen under the Trump administration.

Ironically, the automaker most affected by this change is Tesla, whose CEO donated hundreds of millions to Trump’s campaign.

Over the last four quarters, Tesla reported almost $2.5 billion in revenue from regulatory credits, which accounted for a significant portion of its net income during the period.

Those are global regulatory credit revenues, and the automaker doesn’t disclose what part comes from the US, but it is estimated that as much as half comes from its US sales.

Electrek’s Take

It’s a sad day. This was a direct transfer of money from companies that contribute to deadly pollution to companies that try to reduce that pollution.

It was undeniably a good thing, and we are now already seeing automakers slow down their electric vehicle plans in the US.

Yesterday, I asked Honda executives what they think are the main reasons for the slow adoption of electric vehicles in the US, and their response was emphatic: “policies”.

It’s not just the actual policies, but the uncertainty and constant changes that make it hard to deploy a clear strategy.

In my opinion, EVs are the superior product, and automakers should strive to deliver the best product possible. However, corporations have different objectives, and I understand that these policy changes make it challenging to operate.

The result is that the US will fall further behind in electric vehicles while the world moves forward at full speed.

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