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Rivian gave us a quick 15 minutes with CEO RJ Scaringe to talk about the R2 and R3. Believe me, we took full advantage of that time to ask the pressing questions you told us you had in our watch party and many others. Some of his answers are the first we’ve heard on the matter.

Rivian R3/X !!!

It is hard to believe that this secret was kept so well. It is the sign of a company that has its act together and loyal employees.

On Rivian R3 vs. R2, there is a contingent within the company that wants to bring out the R3 first. At this moment, the R2 is slated to come out first. At this moment, there is a “stagger” between R2 which will be launched out of Normal in 2026 H1. It sounds like it is uncertain if the R3/X will be launched out of Normal or Georgia. Also it is uncertain what this stagger will be but a year would put R3/X at H1 2027, which is a long way off.

On the R3, RJ called out its “incredible, mind-bending” capability and speed. Put in context, the tri-motor R2 will do 0-60 in ‘well under’ 3 seconds and with the same drivetrain, the smaller, lighter R3X should be significantly faster than that. All of that will still include the ability to go off road. In a hatchback (!!) form factor.

Rivian R2 Pack size

RJ didn’t go into specifics on the kWh capacity of the packs but there will be at least 2 pack sizes. The $45K version with RWD will go under 300 miles or about 270 miles. It is uncertain what the actual EPA will be. The larger pack will be over 300 miles even with the Trimotor under 3 seconds 0-60 version, which is an impressive efficiency for a rocket SUV.

If I had to guess, I would say the larger pack will be around 100kWh and the smaller pack around 80kWh.

R2 NACS port

I think our Jamie Dow was the first to lift the cover off the R2 NACS charge port, but it was hidden a little low on the rear passenger side, which makes it a bit of a hassle for Superchargers. RJ went into some details on the thinking here, including that it will be convenient for current Rivian owners. I do wonder if this will present problems for Tesla Superchargers especially while towing.

Camp Compact Kitchen

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe Interview: Hidden R1 bidirectional charging, R2 NACS, 'mind-bending' R3 build timeline, more

Our accessories announcement post assumed that these products would be released in time for the R2. However, RJ said that these new products would be available for R1S/T owners as well and would be released much sooner. This means that the Camp/compact kitchen, complete with an induction oven, will be available soon for R1S and R1T owners. I valiantly offered to review this early, which I know you all would appreciate. Strangely, I’m also interested in the bike rack, tent, and particularly that removable hauler attachment, which can’t come soon enough.

R2 and R1 Bidirectional Charging

This was the first time I’ve heard anyone at Rivian acknowledge on the record that the R1S and R1T had bidirectional charging capability inside, waiting to be unlocked via a software update. That means a 240V inverter could be hung off of it like Ford’s Pro Power and Tesla’s CyberTruck to power a house in case of an outage. This is something that Rivian could “productize” almost immediately and get a good return on minimal investment.

The better news is that R2 will have an integrated 240V AC output option, though only 120V was shown at the event. RJ also said that the 240V AC output would be an upcoming R1S/T option, but it doesn’t sound like it can be retrofitted.

We’re going to keep working to find details here because I know a lot of you (and me) are chomping at the bit for this.

400V or 800V system?

RJ didn’t say on screen which system the battery would be but remarks off the call make me think that this will be a 400V system because of the cost savings aspect. The thinking is that bigger and more powerful vehicles would be better suited to 800V technologies, so perhaps the higher-performance R1/2/3 vehicles in the future will make more sense.

It also means that Rivian vehicles won’t have insanely fast charging compared to Cybertruck, Silverado/Hummer trucks or even Porsche/Hyundai cars but Rivian has been pushing the 400V charging speeds as fast as anyone.

Perhaps what I’ve heard most about Rivian’s presentation today, besides how much everyone wants the R3 and how remarkable it was kept a secret, was that it was refreshing to listen to a down-to-earth, earnest leader.

I’m under no illusion that there is an army of PR folks behind the camera in the interview making sure he reveals as few interesting pieces of news as possible, and you can tell RJ is PR-trained to a fault.

But it is really refreshing that little things like starting the event on time so as not to waste other people’s time, and you can tell this has actually been practiced and reduced to be succinct. Plus, talking to someone in a leadership role who not only knows their product inside and out but also doesn’t make me cringe feels great.

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The U.S. has struggled for crypto clarity. Canada may have the answer

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3 hours ago

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May 15, 2025

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The U.S. has struggled for crypto clarity. Canada may have the answer

PayPal crypto chief discusses adoption of its native stablecoin

TORONTO — Canada has quietly become a global leader in digital assets.

Canada was among the first countries to enact rules for crypto, starting with anti-money laundering guidelines in 2014. The country has repeatedly evolved its regulatory guidance in recent years, while U.S. lawmakers remain stuck in gridlock — even with a pro-crypto White House and a Republican-controlled Congress.

That regulatory clarity has made Toronto a launchpad for blockchain growth, and Wall Street is taking notice.

Robinhood‘s recent acquisition of Canadian crypto firm WonderFi, owner of Bitbuy and Coinsquare, plugs it into Canada’s established user base.

“Canada is a very attractive market for us,” said Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood’s crypto chief. “It’s projected to be more than 30 million users using crypto here in Canada, with revenue projections of about $900 million in 2025.”

The company’s decision to spend just under $180 million to buy WonderFi, which has one of the longest-standing crypto licenses in the country, is a direct bet on that growth.

Galaxy Digital, the digital asset investing giant founded by Mike Novogratz, is headquartered in New York but listed in Canada because it couldn’t go public in the United States. After being among the first to launch spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S., Galaxy will finally debut on the Nasdaq on Friday.

DeFi Technologies, a Canadian player focused on being the Strategy of Solana, is also planning a U.S. listing.

“A lot of companies have started on the Toronto Stock Exchange and are trying to uplist into the Nasdaq,” said Ondo Finance CEO Nathan Allman. “I think we’re going to see more of that.”

At Consensus 2025 in Toronto, one of the world’s largest crypto conferences, JPMorgan, Ondo, and Chainlink announced a $100 billion bet on blockchain with a new platform to tokenize real-world assets.

The two firms say the new offering allows treasuries to be tokenized and settled using blockchain, combining JPMorgan’s Kinexys Digital Payments network with Ondo’s blockchain infrastructure.

“It’s really the first time that there’s been this interoperability between a bank’s permissioned blockchain environment and a public blockchain,” Allman said.

Crypto dealmaking has shown signs of life in recent months, as the United States has shifted its regulatory approach under President Donald Trump.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Federal Reserve have eased restrictions on banks handling crypto, rolling back prior guidance that required pre-approval for digital asset activities.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has also taken a significant step by rescinding its restrictive accounting bulletin, which had forced companies holding crypto assets for clients to record them as liabilities. The new approach aligns crypto custody with traditional financial instruments.

At the same time, the SEC has launched a new Crypto Task Force, inviting public input on how to better regulate digital assets.

Read more about tech and crypto from CNBC Pro

“They want large enterprises like Citi to have a seat at the table,” said Ryan Rugg, global head of digital assets for Citi’s Treasury and Trade Solutions division. “They’re asking for our opinion, where I think in the past, it was not quite the case.”

The booking of Eric Trump, the president’s son and a leader of the newly-formed American Bitcoin, as a headline speaker, highlighted the growing presence of the U.S. in the crypto arena. The firm made waves when it launched in March, and already intends to go public through a merger with Gryphon Digital Mining.

“It’s important to remember: Most countries are totally neutral on blockchain,” said Dan Morehead, CEO of Pantera Capital. “The U.S. had a fairly antagonistic stance on blockchain which made it difficult for companies to get bank accounts, made it difficult for companies to go public.”

He said he believes many companies that would have gone public a few years ago will hit U.S. markets in the next six months.

“There’s obviously tremendous appetite in the public markets,” he said.

Israel-based crypto and stock trading platform eToro went public on Wednesday after pricing above its expected range. Shares soared nearly 29% on its first trading day.

The advancements in the U.S. aren’t without setbacks. A first-of-its-kind stablecoin regulation bill failed to advance in the Senate after Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about national security, while others expressed concerns about the president’s ties to crypto.

Still, the payment giants are charging ahead.

Mastercard announced Thursday that it’s partnering with Moonpay to let customers use debit cards to transact using their stablecoin balances.

PayPal announced Wednesday that it’s partnering with artificial intelligence platform Perplexity to enable chat-powered shopping. PayPal’s senior vice president of blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies told CNBC at Consensus 2025 that he sees a future where customers could transact in AI chats with their PayPal stablecoins or other crypto holdings.

“We are trying to make sure that PayPal and Venmo are the gateway product to get more people into crypto,” said Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal’s senior vice president of blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies. “A lot of people get into crypto through us, and that leads us to continue to add tokens.”

While PayPal leans on accessibility and payments, Robinhood is doubling down on tokenization and staking to capture both retail and institutional users.

“This debate here in the U.S. is really important — it shows that we want to embrace the technology instead of just regulating it and turning it off like it was before,” Kerbrat said, describing his appearance at an SEC roundtable under new chair Paul Atkins.

The company sees blockchain technology as a way to transform everything from stocks to private equity markets and real estate into digital tokens that can be traded instantly.

“We think at Robinhood that it is actually the future, and we can bring a lot more traditional assets on-chain using tokenization,” Kerbrat added.

WATCH: Crypto and stock trading app eToro shares soar in Nasdaq debut: CNBC Crypto World

Crypto and stock trading app eToro shares soar in Nasdaq debut: CNBC Crypto World

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Hyundai’s new EVs are surprisingly affordable

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3 hours ago

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May 15, 2025

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Hyundai's new EVs are surprisingly affordable

Hyundai's-new-EVs-affordable

Hyundai is making it a lot more tempting to go electric with some sweet deals on the new three-row IONIQ 9 and upgraded IONIQ 5. With discounts, Hyundai’s new EVs are surprisingly affordable.

Hyundai’s new IONIQ 9, IONIQ 5 EVs are pretty affordable

The IONIQ 9 is Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV, and it’s pretty impressive. With up to 2,462 liters (87 cubic feet) of interior cargo space, it boasts more room than a Toyota Highlander Hybrid (up to 84.3 cubic feet).

It’s also more affordable. Hyundai launched IONIQ 9 lease prices earlier this month, starting at just $419 for 36 months. With $4,999 due at signing, you will pay $558 per month.

The 2025 Toyota Highlander XLE Hybrid is listed at $579 for 36 months with $2,999 due at signing for an effective cost of $662 per month. That’s over $100 more per month despite the IONIQ 9 costing over $10,000 more.

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Hyundai also offers a $5,000 cash bonus across all IONIQ 9 trims. Combined with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, you can potentially score up to $12,500 in upfront savings. Alternatively, you can opt for 1.99% APR financing for up to 60 months.

Hyundai's-new-EVs-affordable
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 three-row electric SUV (Source: Hyundai)

Including the tax credit and $5,000 cash bonus, prices for the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 RWD S could start as low as $48,000.

The entry-level model starts at $60,555 (including the destination fee) with up to 335 miles of driving range. It also comes equipped with a built-in NACS port to access Tesla Superchargers. Using DC fast charging, the IONIQ 9 can recharge from 10% to 80% in as little as 24 minutes.

Hyundai-IONIQ-9-prices
Hyundai-IONIQ-9-interior-space

For those looking for something a little smaller, the updated 2025 IONIQ 5 is a steal this month, with leases starting at just $209 per month.

The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 now has a driving range of up to 318 miles, a native NACS charging port, and updated styling inside and out.

Hyundai-EV-charging-easier
Hyundai-2025-IONIQ-5-interior

Prices for the base SE RWD Standard Range start at $43,975, with a range of 245 miles. Upgrading to the extended-range SE model costs $46,550, but it has a range of 318 miles. It’s also eligible for the $7,500 tax credit, bringing prices potentially as low as $36,475.

2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim Driving Range Starting Price* 
IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range 245 miles $42,500
IONIQ 5 SE RWD 318 miles $46,550
IONIQ 5 SEL RWD 318 miles $49,500
IONIQ 5 Limited RWD 318 miles $54,200
IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD 290 miles $50,050
IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD 290 miles $53,000
IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor  AWD 259 miles $55,400
IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD 269 miles $58,100
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 prices and range by trim (*includes $1,475 destination fee)

Earlier this month, Hyundai launched new charging features for the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9, including plug-and-charge and in-app charging.

In addition to all of this, Hyundai is offering a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 charger for any 2026 IONIQ 9 or 2025 IONIQ 5 purchase or lease. Hyundai’s offers end on June 2, 2025.

With leases starting at just $209 per month, the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is hard to pass up right now. Ready to try it out for yourself? You can use our link to find deals on the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 in your area today.

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Save up to $2,000 on Jackery’s new HomePower 3000 solar generator bundles, Segway E2 Plus II preorder, Tenways e-bikes, more

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5 hours ago

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May 15, 2025

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Save up to ,000 on Jackery's new HomePower 3000 solar generator bundles, Segway E2 Plus II preorder, Tenways e-bikes, more

Today’s Green Deals feature two new releases along with some older favorites, headlined by the launch of Jackery’s new HomePower 3000 (Explorer 3000 v2) Solar Generator with three early-bird bundle offers at up to $2,000 off starting from $1,999. Right behind it is Segway’s new E2 Plus II eKickScooter that is now available for preorder at $350 through June 3. Next, Tenways is offering up to $807 in savings on its CGO600 Pro and AGO X e-bikes, as well as bonus $200 in savings when buying two together, all starting from $1,599. Lastly, we have a one-day-only sale on the Greenworks 80V 21-inch Cordless Self-Propelled SmartCut Lawn Mower for $430. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s restocked Lectric e-bike deals, the discount on Anker’s 521 power station, 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.

Jackery launches upgraded HomePower 3000 LiFePO4 solar power station bundles from $1,999 ($2,000 off)

Today, Jackery is officially launching its new HomePower 3000 (aka the Explorer 3000 v2) Solar Generator with three early-bird bundle options through May 21 that are getting up to $2,000 off their price tags on top of a free DC Extension cable ($39 value). Things start with the power station and two 200W solar panels for $1,999 shipped, after using the on-page coupon for $1,000 off. This package will carry a $2,999 price tag once the early-bird period ends, but you can take advantage of the savings while they last to score it $100 under the current Amazon pricing for the predecessor Explorer 3000 Pro bundled with the same setup. If you’re looking to score just the station on its own, be sure to check out our ongoing exclusive deal from Wellbots that drops the price down to $1,699, which is the lowest we can find among the retailers who have been offering it ahead of its official release. Head below for more.

Joining Jackery’s lineup of other v2 power stations, the new HomePower 3000 (Explorer 3000 v2) is taking the big upgraded step to LiFePO4 battery cells, increasing its capacity in the process from 3,024Wh to 3,072Wh. The redesign includes the brand’s more advanced battery management system being installed, as well as the ChargeShield 2.0 protections from overvoltage, short circuiting, and much more. You’ll get a steady output power of up to 3,600W, with things surging to 7,200W when you have larger appliance needs, especially during emergency outages. Like its predecessor, this model sports a solid array of ports to cover humble camping, RV ventures, and more, with four AC outlets, a TT-30R port, two 100W USB-Cs, two USB-As, two DCs, and a car port.

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There are five ways to recharge the HomePower 3000’s battery, starting with a standard wall outlet that takes about 2.2 hours to put it back to full. From there, it also offers the option for both AC and DC dual-charging that takes a bit less at 1.7 hours, as well as a gas generator and car charging. Of course, there is the maximum 1000W of solar input you can utilize, with the 400W in this bundle putting the battery back to full in 11 hours with sunny conditions. Jackery is even keeping in mind needs to charge as you sleep, with a new quiet mode dropping its operating levels under 30dB so as not to disturb you.

Jackery’s HomePower 3000 early-bird deals (with free DC extensions):

As I already mentioned, if you have solar panels to go with the station already, you can grab it as a standalone unit for $1,699 while the exclusive savings for our readers last.

Segway E2 Plus II eKickScooter

Preorder Segway’s new E2 Plus II eKickScooter with added front coil suspension at $350 for the rest of the month

Segway is launching its new E2 Plus II eKickScooter for preorder through June 3 for $349.99 shipped, which is also available at Amazon. This new successor to the popular E2 Plus will hold a $400 price tag after this preorder period ends, which happens to be the same starting rate as its earlier counterpart, which is now down at $299.99 shipped. Considering Segway recently raised prices across its newer models, it’s nice to see this release keep down along the same accessible pricing that folks love about the first-gen model, with the $50 markdown here possibly being the best discount we get until the current market finds more stability with ongoing tariff policies.

Segway’s new and improved E2 Plus II eKickScooter is taking the entry-level model that has been quite popular with riders and bumping it up a level, mainly in the form of a new front coil suspension that smooths out the riding experience. It sports the same 300W motor that can peak up to 500W to tackle up to 12% inclines without losing speed, which maxes out at 15 MPH. The 10.2Ah battery provides enough juice to travel up to 16 miles on a single charge, making it perfect for shorter commutes and journeys around town.

It comes in slightly heavier at 36 pounds (4 pounds more), and we’re seeing the continued feature of RGB ambient lighting with 256 color options and 3 lighting effects. There’s also the 8.1-inch inner hollow tires to prevent flats from interrupting your travels, as well as dual braking, an integrated headlight, an IPX4 weather-resistant build, an integrated 2.8-inch LED dashboard, and of course, a folding frame.

Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike

Get up to $807 in savings on Tenways’ CGO600 Pro and AGO X e-bikes from $1,599 + bonus bundled discount

In celebration of the biking season officially arriving, Tenways has taken up to $500 off two of its e-bikes while also offering $200 in additional savings when buying two or more together – plus, there’s the usual free bundles joining your purchase. The first and most popular of Tenways’ models is the CGO600 Pro e-bike for $1,599 shipped for its 8-speed chain drive and belt-drive variants. Both models usually go for $1,899 outside of sales, which we’ve seen go as low as $1,299 for the newer chain-drive, and $1,399 for the belt-drive. With tariffs throwing the market into uncertainty, we haven’t seen the prices come down under today’s rate since March, with the brand announcing on its website that prices will be rising sometime in the near future. You can grab one here with a solid $300 markdown ($400 off each if you’re buying two), not to mention the $118 in free gear you’ll get too for a total of $418+ in savings.

You’ll get four options for colorways with Tenways’ CGO600 Pro e-bikes, which are much more urban-friendly models weighing in at 37 pounds, making them easier to manage up and down stairs and stoops. These are better suited for those that prefer active cycling as they’ve tossed out any pure-electric throttles, but do have four levels of pedal assistance supported by a torque sensor. The 350W rear hub motor lends towards the reduced weight while pairing with the 360Wh battery for an impressive 53 miles of travel on a single charge at up to 20 MPH top speeds.

As I previously mentioned, you’ll have to choose which drivetrain option best suits you. There’s the Gates carbon belt drive that delivers simpler and quieter operations, or the newer 8-speed Shimano chain-drive (which also gets a newer C9 350W motor) for more flexible riding. Aside from those differences, both also come with some other solid features, including puncture-proof tires, Tektro dual-piston hydraulic brakes, LED lighting, streamlined frames with internally routed cables, and a compact OLED screen for setting adjustments.

The second of these discounted options is the AGO X All-Terrain e-bike at its second-lowest price of $1,999 shipped and coming with $307 in free gear. This model doesn’t come as lightweight as the above ones, but does offer some expanded capabilities, though it also comes without a throttle for electric cruising. The Bafang M410 250W mid-drive motor tag-teams with the 504Wh battery to provide 20 MPH top speeds for up to 62 miles, and there are five PAS levels here also supported by a torque sensor. It has a similar streamlined design, with some elevated features like the SR SUNTOUR Lockout Fork, 29-inch puncture-resistant all-terrain tires, integrated front and rear lighting, a 10-speed Shimano derailleur, a TFT LCD color screen that offers navigation when paired to your phone, and more.

Greenworks 80V 21-inch cordless self-propelled smartcut lawn mower

Greenworks’ folding 80V 21-inch cordless self-propelled mower with adaptive SmartCut tech at $430 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower that comes with a 4.0Ah battery and charger for $429.99 shipped. Normally fetching $600 at full price, we’ve seen this package go as low as $380 in 2024, though so far in the new year, we’ve only seen it down at this rate during these one-day sales. You’re still getting a solid $170 off the tag though, which lets you trade-up from gas guzzlers at the third-lowest price we have tracked, even beating out its Amazon pricing by $50.

With the included 4.0Ah battery, this 80V Greenworks mower can run for 45 continuous minutes to tackle up to 1/2 acre of mowing duties on a single charge. The 21-inch heavy duty steel deck provides added durability, housing both the brushless motor alongside the brand’s SmartCut tech that adapts power output to grass conditions, as well as its self-propulsion system that can be adjusted with the variable speed dial. It comes with seven cutting height levels from 1.3 to 4.0 inches with a 4-in-1 functionality for rear bagging, side discharging, mulching, and a turbo mode when picking up or cutting through leaves. There’s also a high-intensity LED headlight, and EZ folding handles to save more space when it’s not in use.

If you already have a sizeable arsenal of Greenworks tools and want to stock up on interchangeable batteries, you can currently find a selection of 40V and 80V models benefitting from discounts, with the G-MAX 40V 5.0Ah Battery even dropping down to its $126 low.

Best Spring 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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