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It’s been a week of new beginnings in the e-bike market, with today’s green deals once again headlined by a special pre-order discount, this time on Lectric’s all-new XPress Commuter e-bikes, with some models receiving $500 off discounts along with free extra batteries – all starting from $999. It is joined by Anker’s latest SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station returning to its $499 low, as well as a return 1-day sale on the NIU KQi3 Max Folding Electric KickScooter for $760. Plus, you’ll also find all of the other day’s best Green Deals below.

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.

Pre-order the new Lectric XPress Commuter e-bikes with $500 launch discount and extra battery

Lectric eBikes has launched its new XPress Commuter e-bikes line with four specific models to choose from. You can read up on what’s new in our initial announcement coverage. The biggest savings are to be had on the XPress 750 High-Step model for $1,299 shipped or the XPress 750 Step-Thru model which is also going for $1,299 shipped. Both are down from a $1,799 price tag, with today’s $500 off deal being the first official discount on these new models as well as the new all-time low going forward. Jumping on this deal now not only gets you $500 off the going rate until it begins shipping in June, which is when we expect it to return to its MSRP but also scores you a free extra battery that is valued at $500 as well.

The Lectric XPress 750 e-bike has two color schemes that also go along with its designs, with the high-step model coming in black and the step-thru model coming in white. They are equipped with a 750W rear hub motor (1,310W peak) and a removable 48V battery that pushes the e-bikes up to 28 MPH for up to 60 miles normally (doubled with your extra battery). They have five levels of pedal assistance that are monitored by a unique torque sensor combined with the company’s PWR+ technology, as well as an ergonomic below-the-bar trigger throttle for pure electric action. It also comes with a variety of features like puncture-resistant tires, hydraulic mineral oil brakes, a 7-geared freewheel paired with a Shimano derailleur, removable pedals, a thru axle wheel attachment system for tool-free installations, kickstand, a hidden cable routing system, an integrated headlight and taillight, and a full-color LCD display with a USB-A port to charge your personal device.

You’ll also find the standard models available for pre-order as well, with the black high-step model going for $999 shipped, and the white step-thru model also going for $999 shipped. Unlike the above models, these do not have the upgraded 750W motors but instead sport 500W rear hub motors (1,092W peak) alongside the same removable 48V batteries that can also reach a 28 MPH top speed, but with a lesser 45-mile range. Aside from those differences though (and the inclusion of the extra battery) these e-bikes offer the same features as the 750 models, all the way down to the USB-A port for device charging.

Anker’s new SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station returns to $499 low

The official Anker Amazon storefront is offering its newest SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station for $499 shippedafter clipping the on-page $150 off coupon. Down from its $649 price tag, this is only the second official discount since the device’s release last month, which saw a similar launch discount down to the $499 low. You can get a full rundown on what to expect from our initial launch coverage. All-in-all, you’re looking at a 23% markdown off the going rate, which also matches the current discount on Anker’s website as well and returns costs to the all-time lowest price we’ve seen. You’ll also find bundle options available, with it coming with a 100W or 200W solar panel for $848 or $1,048after clipping the on-page $100 off coupons.

You’ll also find the standard C800 model on sale as well for $449after clipping the on-page $150 off coupon. The only difference here is the lack of the two LED camping lights and their respective pole arm, giving you a $50 difference in price. Aside from this, you’ll receive all the same features as the Plus model, so decisions likely lie on how much lighting you already have for your campsite or for emergency power outages. You’ll also find some bundle options available as well, with the standard model paired along with a 100W or 200W solar panel for $798 or $998after clipping the on-page $100 off coupons.

NIU KQi3 Max Foldable Electric KickScooter hits $760 in another 1-day sale

Best Buy is offering the NIU KQi3 Max Foldable Electric KickScooter for $759.98 shipped through the end of the day. Normally fetching $1,000, this model saw few discounts over 2023, dropping to $559 with the biggest of them. Last month we saw this same 1-day discount down to $760, with today’s deal coming in as a repeat 24% markdown off the going rate that lands at the fourth-lowest price we have tracked. Equipped with a 450W rear-wheel drive motor and a 48V battery, this scooter can reach top speeds of 23.6 MPH with a range of up to 40 miles and can handle up to a 25% incline. It features a triple braking system alongside self-healing tires that are able to seal themselves if and when punctured, giving you a more worry-free ride. It also features a halo headlight, brake lights, a foldable frame, and an array of smart capabilities through the NIU app or the LED display, such as allowing you to lock your scooter, check your riding statistics, and even customize your speed and cruise control functions.

Spring e-bike deals!

man holding a folded up Jetson Canyon electric kickscooter in a crosswalk. Picture is within post for the Lectric XPress Commuter e-bikes

Other 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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Communication is now even more important to getting renewable projects off the ground, experts say

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Communication is now even more important to getting renewable projects off the ground, experts say

(From left) CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick moderates an IoT panel with Cenk Alper, CEO of Sabanci Holding, Christina Shim, chief sustainability officer of IBM, and Mitesh Patel, interim CEO and COO of SunCable International, at CONVERGE LIVE on March 13, 2025.

Renewable energy companies can shorten the long approval process needed for their projects by communicating better with stakeholders, according to experts.

Christina Shim, IBM’s chief sustainability officer, said sponsors need to focus on the business value — in addition to the environmental benefits — when discussing their projects.

“That being said … there are some triggering words now, depending on where you sit around the world, and I think the more that you can quantify business value for what you’re doing and tie it to, again, the business operations and business decision making, it’s only going to be more and more important,” Shim said Thursday.

“As long as the outcomes are the same, you just need to make sure that you’re communicating in an appropriate way with the right stakeholders.”

She compared it to how one might talk to a CFO, versus an investor, versus someone in procurement. “You kind of have to talk about things a little bit differently.”

Mitesh Patel, interim CEO and COO at SunCable International, agrees that adjusting communication for the right audience is crucial.

“For politicians, the voters are their constituency, not your project or not your company. You have to help them translate what benefits your project will bring to the constituents,” said Patel, whose company is developing a project to deliver solar energy from Australia to Singapore via undersea cables.

The project, called Australia-Asia PowerLink, is valued around $24 billion and expected to supply Singapore with 1.75 gigawatts of electricity — or around 15% of its electricity needs, according to the company.

The comments by Shim and Patel, who were speaking to CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick on a panel in Singapore, come as renewable energy projects often take many years to get off the ground.

A report from the Global Infrastructure hub, which is part of the World Bank’s Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility, noted the complex nature of preparation needed before an infrastructure project gets underway. It put the average project preparation time at 6 years but said it can take up to 14 years if the project is not planned properly.

Political will is 'absolutely essential' for cross-jurisdiction sustainability projects: SunCable International

Cenk Alper, CEO of Sabanci Holding, a Turkish conglomerate, said the biggest obstacle to getting renewable energy projects off the ground is often regulatory.

“The biggest problem is still government — the permits. Because from licensing to making a project ready, the total time is longer than the construction time,” he said.

The situation in Europe is worse, he added, citing a project where connecting to the grid took two years.

Alper said Western countries need to streamline the approval process for renewable energy projects, noting China has embarked on more projects in the last five years than the rest of the world combined.

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Killing IRA EV tax credits will ruin US EV and battery industries – Princeton study

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Killing IRA EV tax credits will ruin US EV and battery industries – Princeton study

A new study from the REPEAT Project led by Princeton University’s ZERO Lab warns that the repeal of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits could decimate the growing EV manufacturing sector.

The report “Potential Impacts of Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Repeal on US Vehicle Market and Manufacturing” clearly outlines the risks. The Princeton study states that repealing the IRA federal tax credits and the EPA’s clean vehicle regulations would sharply reduce EV demand.

Specifically, EV sales could drop around 30% by 2027 and nearly 40% by 2030 compared to sticking with the policies implemented by the Biden administration. That means the share of EVs among new cars sold would shrink dramatically – from about 18% to 13% by 2026 and from 40% to just 24% by 2030.

“While no one has a perfect crystal ball, this is our best attempt to survey available quantitative forecasts and develop an outlook on US EV sales,” explained the study’s project leader, Jesse D. Jenkins, assistant professor at Princeton’s Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Andlinger Center for Energy & Environment in an email. “The report is also the only analysis I’m aware of to date that draws the connection to US manufacturing as well.”

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Here’s why this matters: The report points out that repealing these policies wouldn’t just slow down EV adoption – it could seriously derail the US manufacturing renaissance now underway. Up to 100% of planned expansions for EV assembly plants could be canceled or shuttered. Battery manufacturing would also take a huge hit, with between 29% and 72% of battery cell production capacity becoming redundant by 2025. That means factories under construction or those just coming online would be at risk.

To put that into perspective, an Environmental Defense Fund report released in January found that $197.6 billion worth of investments in EV and battery manufacturing have been announced at 208 facilities around the US, with two-thirds announced since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022.

It’s probably a good time to point out that, in order to qualify for IRA federal tax credits, EVs must be domestically assembled, use battery components that have been substantially domestically produced, and use critical minerals produced, processed, or recycled in North America or free trade agreement countries.

Why, then, is the Trump administration torpedoing an industry that’s achieving the very thing it says it wants to achieve, which is to boost domestic manufacturing and jobs?

And let’s not forget the broader EV supply chain – materials, parts, and component suppliers across the country would also suffer, though these effects haven’t even been fully quantified yet.

Bottom line: Repealing the tax credits and regulations wouldn’t just slow down EV sales – it would threaten the jobs, investments, and communities counting on America’s EV manufacturing boom.

Read more: Republican districts lose billions as clean energy cancellations surge


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Cadillac’s most affordable EV just got even cheaper

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Cadillac's most affordable EV just got even cheaper

The Optiq, Cadillac’s most affordable EV, just got a price cut. Despite being on the market for less than two months, GM cut lease prices by nearly $100 a month. Here’s how you can snag the deal.

GM cuts lease prices on Cadillac’s most affordable EV

Compared to Cadillac’s other electric vehicles, like the Escalade IQL, which starts at over $130,000, and the Vistiq, which has a price tag of over $77,000, the Optiq already looks like a steal at about $55,000.

Cadillac’s electric SUV arrived in January with lease prices starting at $489 per month. Although this was already its cheapest SUV (gas or EV), GM is making it even more affordable this month.

The 2025 Cadillac Lyriq is now listed at just $399 for 24 months with $4,929 due at signing. In less than two months, the OPTIQ’s lease prices have fallen by $90, or almost 20%. The deal is for the 2025 Cadillac Optiq AWD Luxury 1 with an MSRP of $54,390.

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Cadillac’s lease deal runs through March 31. However, there are a few limitations you should know about. The deal includes a $2,000 loyalty or conquest offer.

Cadillac's-most-affordable-EV-lease
Cadillac Optiq EV lease deal (Source: Cadillac)

The fine print states you must be a lessee of a 2020 model year or newer non-GM vehicle for at least 30 days. According to online car research firm CarsDirect, this extends to 2011 and newer electric vehicles from a competitor brands such as Tesla, Rivian, Porsche, BMW, Ford, and Honda, among several others.

At 190″ long, 75″ wide, and 65″ tall, the Cadillac Optiq is about the same size as the Tesla Model Y (187″ long x 76″ wide x 64″ tall).

Powered by an 85 kWh battery pack, the electric SUV has a driving range of up to 302 miles. With 150 kW DC fast charging, the Optiq can gain up to 79 miles of range in about 10 minutes.

2025 Cadillac Optiq trim Starting Price
(including destination)
Driving Range
(EPA-estimated)
Luxury 1 $54,390 302 miles
Luxury 2 $56,590 302 miles
Sport 1 $54,990 302 miles
Sport 2 $57,090 302 miles
2025 Cadillac Optiq price and range by trim

Inside, the Optiq features a massive 33″ infotainment and “segment-leading” cargo (57 cubic feet) and second-row space.

GM has been introducing new deals on new EV models all year. Chevy’s new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs are all available with 0% APR with leases starting as low as $299 per month.

Ready to take advantage of the savings? We can help you get started. Check out our links below to find deals on GM’s most popular EVs in your area.

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