As part of its Big Spring Sale event, Amazon is taking up to 46% off a huge collection of Schwinn bicycles and accessories, including popular e-bike models like the Schwinn Marshall Electric Hybrid Bike for $755.98 shipped. Down from $899, which is already down from its $1,400 MSRP, this particular model saw a handful of discounts over 2023, with the greatest of them falling from its high MSRP to the now regular $899 list price, and others coming in as short-lived sales over the second half of the year. Today’s deal comes in as a 16% markdown off the going rate – 46% off its MSRP – and lands at the second-lowest price we have tracked. All-in-all you’ll be getting a whopping $644 in savings off its original price.
With an 18-inch aluminum frame built around a 250W hub-drive pedal assist motor that provides quiet boosts of acceleration up to 20 MPH and an integrated 288W downtube battery that can last up to 35 miles on a single charge, the Marshall hybrid e-bike is perfect for commutes, bike trails, or just cruising around with friends. It features a 7-speed twist shifter that offers smooth gear changes paired with mechanical disc brakes for stopping power in all weather types. Its battery also has integrated LED lights on either side, as well as both head and taillights so that you’ll be seen in low-to-no-light rides.
More Schwinn e-bike discounts:
Goal Zero Yeti 200X portable power station is $176
The official Goal Zero Amazon storefront is offering its Yeti 200X Portable Power Station for $175.95 shipped. Down from its $300 price tag, it only saw three major discounts over 2023, and one in January that kicked off 2024 at the lowest price we have tracked. Today’s deal comes in as a 41% markdown off the going rate and lands at the second-lowest price – just $1 above the all-time low from January. This compact portable power station has a 187Wh capacity and can be fully charged via a standard wall outlet in two hours and within two to four hours via a car outlet or 100W solar panel. It features seven ports to cover all your recharging needs: two USB-As, two USB-Cs, one AC, one 6mm port, and one car port.
NIU KQi2 Pro foldable electric kickscooter hits $380 in one-day only sale
Best Buy is offering the NIU KQi2 Pro Foldable Electric KickScooter for $379.98 shipped. Down from a $599 price tag, this particular model only saw a few discounts over 2023, with Black Friday sales dropping costs the furthest to a $369 low. We haven’t seen any notable discounts in the new year before today’s deal, which comes in as a 37% markdown off the going rate and lands at the second-lowest price we have tracked – just $11 above the all-time low from Black Friday sales.
The NIU KQi2 comes equipped with a 300W rear-wheel drive and a 48V battery that pushes the scooter up to 17.4 MPH speeds for a 25-mile range on a single 7-hour charge. It sports a sleek, minimalist design that has been streamlined for more ergonomic comfort and features four different riding modes: e-save, sport, custom, pedestrian. It also has an IP54 water-resistance rating, 10-inch wheels, an LED headlight and taillight, a front drum brake as well as a rear regenerative brake, an LED dashboard display, and a foldable body for easy transport and storage. Through the companion app you’ll be able to connect your smartphone to your e-scooter, allowing you to monitor its performance levels and even adjust settings to fit your needs.
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.
Executives from TravelCenters America (TA) and BP were joined by local elected officials at a ribbon cutting for the two companies’ first DC fast charging hub on I-95 in Jacksonville, Florida – the first of several such EV charging stations to come online.
Frequent road-trippers are no doubt familiar with TA’s red, white, and blue logo and probably think of the sites as safe, convenient stops in otherwise unfamiliar surroundings. The company hopes those positive associations will carry over as its customers continue to switch from gas to electric at a record pace in 2025 and beyond.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey to bring new forms of energy to our customers as we support their changing mobility needs, while leveraging the best of bp and TA,” explains Debi Boffa, CEO of TravelCenters of America. Boffa, however, was quick to – but TA is quick to point out that TA isn’ no’t leaving its ICE customers behind. “While this is significant, to our loyal customers and guests, rest assured TA will continue to provide the same safe and reliable fueling options it has offered for over 50 years, regardless of the type of fuel.”
The charging hub along the I-95 offers 12 DC fast charging ports offering up to 400kW of power for lickety-quick charging. While they’re at the TA, EV drivers can visit restrooms, shop at TA’s convenience store, or eat at fast food chains like Popeyes and Subway. Other TA centers offer wifi and pet-friendly amenities as well – making them ideal partners for BP as the two companies builds out their charging networks.
“As we expand our EV charging network in the US, I am thrilled to unveil our first of many hubs at TA locations,” offers Sujay Sharma, CEO of BP Pulse Americas. “These sites are strategically located across key highway corridors that provide our customers with en route charging when and where they need it most, while offering convenient amenities, like restaurants and restrooms.”
The new e2500-THL and TS electric Ultra Buggies from Toro offer construction and demo crews a carrying capacity of 2500 lbs. (on the TS model), six-and-a-half foot dump height (on the THL), nearly 13 cubic ft. of capacity, and hours of quiet, fume-free operation.
For their open-mindedness, those crews will be rewarded with machines powered by 7 kWh’s worth of Toro HyperCell lithium-ion battery. That’s good enough for up to eight hours of continuous operation, according to Toro – enough for two typical working shifts.
And, thanks to the Toro Ultra Buggies’ narrow, 31.5″ width, they can easily navigate man doors on inside jobs, as well, making them ideal for indoor demolition and construction jobs. A zero-turn radius and auto-return dump mechanism that ensures the tub automatically returns to the proper resting position make things easy for the operator, too.
Toro says that each of its small (for Toro) e2500 Ultra Buggy units can replace as many as five wheelbarrows on a given job site. Pricing is expected to start at about $32,000.
GM has deployed three of its HYDROTEC hydrogen gensets to the Los Angeles area as a way to help generate power for EV drivers and emergency vehicles recovering from the devastating effects of the recent wildfires.
“GM is extending targeted local support to our customers and employees who have been impacted by the California wildfires,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president global commercial growth strategies and operations. “We’re finding ways to help get people back on the road and using our resources to make a difference in the recovery in the weeks and months to come.”
The mobile charging station rollout is part of a broader response to the fires from GM that includes “planned” philanthropic contributions to nonprofits serving affected communities, employee giving campaigns to benefit the American Red Cross Los Angeles region and the California Fire Foundation, and a complimentary subscription to Crisis Assist Services, which enables customers with OnStar-equipped vehicles to get information about the fires, receive routing guidance, and access immediate emergency assistance from an OnStar advisor.
GM also says it’s providing customers with damaged or destroyed GM vehicles assistance toward the purchase or lease of a new GM vehicle, subject to certain terms and conditions, which may include certain qualifications and restrictions. The company will also help cover collision repair deductible costs for damage to GM vehicles incurred from the wildfires – again, subject to certain qualifications and restrictions.
Electrek’s Take
While it’s certainly commendable for GM to take steps in an effort to support wildfire victims, it feels like a company that made more than $19 billion in gross profits in 2023 (and over $20 billion in 2022; 2024 numbers aren’t out yet – but the company did well enough to spend more than $6 billion buying back its own stock) could have done better than announcing “planned” donations and asking its employees to pony up. By my math, GM shareholders could have given each of the 163,000 global employees the company had in 2023 a $36,000 one-time bonus in lieu of those stock buybacks.
That said, how many companies are doing nothing at all? Good on GM for trying, then – here’s hoping others step up, too.