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When I recently took a trip to China to see the world of electric micromobility, I was greeted with a wide range of personal electric vehicles. From e-bikes to e-scooters and even e-dirt bikes, I saw it all. But one of the most interesting examples, and clearly the most divergent from our own vehicles in the West, was what I saw while touring Wuzheng’s electric three-wheeler factory.

I know, I know. This isn’t what most of us think of when we hear the words “farm truck.” Trust me, I get it. I spent the first couple decades of my life in the southeastern US, a good ol’ southern boy. I grew up running through cornfields, barrel racing, and taking dates to watch the tractor pulls and demolition derbies at the county fair. In other words, I know rural living and what it means to work with your hands as a way of life. My current truck may be far from the typical work truck you’ll see on most farms and ranches, but I get it.

And so, while taking the bullet trains that cut through extremely rural areas of China, I was amazed to see both sights I recognized well and things that were completely new to most Westerners. At the end of the day, farmers are farmers. Their farmers may swap out our worn-out ball caps for their wider conical straw hats, but they put in the same long days in the fields that we do. More interesting to me though, was what they were using instead of our work trucks.

In the vast landscapes of rural China, electric three-wheeled vehicles seem to have become an indispensable part of daily life for farmers and workers. There, these vehicles are valued for their affordability, versatility, and efficiency.

Farmers use these electric trikes for a wide range of tasks, from transporting their harvests to local markets, to carrying fertilizers, tools, and crops across their fields.

The compact size and robust design of these vehicles make them ideal for steering around the narrow and often unpaved rural roads that characterize much of China’s countryside – places larger trucks would struggle to navigate. And without the need to buy or store expensive diesel, they can charge them up cheaply anywhere they can run an extension cord.

To see how these types of electric three-wheeler farm trucks are built, I went to visit the factory of one of the largest three-wheeler producers in the country, Wuzheng.

The company knows a thing or two about farm equipment. They’ve been building gas and diesel tractors and farm equipment since 1984, with their first combustion engine three-wheeler coming out around that time. They’ve since switched their three-wheelers over to electric drive, which makes them more reliable and requires less maintenance. Plus, they cost significantly less to own and operate with the reduced maintenance and lower fuel costs of electric vehicles. That reduced cost of ownership is a major reason I saw so many electric three-wheelers all over rural China and used on almost every farm I passed through.

One of the key reasons for the widespread adoption of electric three-wheelers among rural Chinese communities is their cost-effectiveness. Traditional vehicles like tractors or trucks are often prohibitively expensive for small-scale farmers and rural workers. In contrast, electric trikes are significantly cheaper to purchase and maintain. Additionally, the cost of electricity used to charge these vehicles is substantially lower than that of gasoline or diesel, making them an economically sustainable option for daily use. This affordability extends the mobility and operational range of rural workers, enabling them to transport heavier loads over longer distances with minimal expense.

The design is also optimized for daily work. The bed is lower than a typical pickup truck bed, making it easier to load, especially over the long side rails. The three-wheelers usually have tailgates and side gates, allowing them to convert into flat-bed trucks in seconds. The bed almost always tilts, turning them into dump trucks when necessary.

Visiting Wuzheng’s factory gave me a lot of insight into how the company is able to produce hundreds of thousands of these electric three-wheelers every year.

At this single factory, just one of many in Wuzheng’s sprawling grounds, there were a pair of assembly lines running side-by-side. Both lines cranked out electric three-wheelers, with one producing open-top variants and the other producing models with fully enclosed cabs.

Both styles are popular for different use cases, and the underlying frame and components are largely the same. To create both, the company begins with the raw materials in another massive warehouse next door. There, giant spools of steel sheets are cut and stamped into the sheet metal panels surrounding the vehicle.

At the same time, steel tubes are cut, formed, and welded into the frame and subassemblies of the three-wheelers.

The jobs are done mostly manually, with different workers specializing in different aspects, from manning the cutting and forming machines to welding the individual frame members and cab panels. Unlike some other factories we’ve seen with increased levels of automation, the process seems to be completed largely with human workers instead of robotics. As automation is still sweeping across the Chinese manufacturing industry, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more robotic operations added in the coming years.

From there, the frames and bodies are passed on to the coating and painting stage, where they begin to take on their recognizable forms.

The bare chassis almost resembles what we’d consider a ‘normal’ truck body, and it’s not until that single front wheel is added that the trike character shines through.

And that’s exactly what comes next, as those chassis move on to the assembly lines. Here is where they turn from a pile of parts into fully-functional work vehicles.

A series of stations equipped with gantry cranes lower major sections of the vehicles into place as workers manually mount the components.

From there, the vehicles are finished with Wuzheng’s branding and then driven right off the end of the assembly line into the staging yard ahead of final testing and loading onto trucks to distribute them across the country.

Wuzheng has hundreds of dealers spread around the country, and as one of the largest electric three-wheeler makers, sells hundreds of thousands of these machines every year.

But before two different styles of the company’s machines could make it onto a truck for delivery, I got the chance to borrow them for a few minutes and have my own joyride around the complex.

The first model I tested was an open-top variety, which represents the majority of electric three-wheelers you see in rural areas of China. It’s also the most cost-effective, since you don’t have the extra expense and complexity of an enclosed cab.

Without doors, it’s easy to hop on and off repeatedly, which you very well may be doing as you ride around fields and tend to any number of tasks.

These are usually rated for carrying many hundreds of kilograms and sometimes even over a metric ton (2,200 pounds). Riding around with an empty bed was obviously not taxing the machine, so I asked several of the company’s employees to hop aboard with me. Even with four adult men (or three adult men and one man-child journalist), the performance was unchanged.

And that make sense, since it’s common to see these electric three-wheelers loaded high with heavy cargo such as farm crops, or used for delivering bulk products like cases of heavy bottled drinks. They regularly carry hundreds of kilograms of goods, and so they’re built with torquey electric motors to handle that load.

Next, I hopped into an enclosed vehicle. This time, the cab included doors and a weather-sealed interior. Interestingly, the handlebars for the single front wheel were replaced by a steering wheel. Since you couldn’t see the single wheel in front of you, it really felt more like a standard four-wheeled vehicle from the inside.

Again, the power was more than sufficient, and it handled quite nicely. Neither machine had a particularly sophisticated suspension setup, but they were perfectly fine for riding around the bumpy complex we were touring.

The enclosed version obviously offers a big advantage during inclement weather, allowing riders to stay dry during rain or even use air-conditioning during hot summers.

The main question most people are probably wondering about is stability. We all know that three-wheelers aren’t as stable as four-wheelers, so what about tip-overs?

I can tell you that from testing the vehicles myself and doing parking lot donuts, I never felt like I had any issues with rollover. The machines put their heavy batteries low on the chassis, and the motor is mounted even lower on the axle.

That means the machine’s center of gravity is so low that you’d probably have to hit a hairpin turn at speeds faster than these are capable of to actually roll one.

This isn’t like the electric tricycle e-bikes I often cover, which can easily lift a wheel in sharp turns. For those, you’ve got a rider that weighs more than the machine sitting high up above the centerline axis. With these Chinese farm trucks, your rider is a small fraction of the total vehicle weight, which is designed to keep a super low center of gravity and optimize stability. When the majority of your weight is axle height, tipping the vehicle over is quite a chore.

Visiting Wuzheng’s factory and experiencing this style of work vehicle firsthand was an eye-opening experience. Electric three-wheeled vehicles like these have become a crucial tool for Chinese farmers and rural workers due to their affordability, efficiency, environmental benefits, and practicality.

As rural China continues to modernize and seek sustainable development, these vehicles will likely remain a cornerstone of daily life, facilitating agricultural productivity and improving the quality of life for millions of people across the countryside. With prices starting at less than the equivalent of a thousand US dollars, these vehicles are a much more affordable and accessible option for average working families.

And just because they aren’t shaped like the farm trucks we’re used to, doesn’t mean they don’t move the same bales of hale or bushels of corn. They just do it with fewer wheels on the ground and more wind in your hair.

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Segway ZT3 Pro smart all-terrain e-scooter at $915 (Save $385), Anker SOLIX C300 DC power station $160, Greenworks, DEWALT, more

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June 17, 2025

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Segway ZT3 Pro smart all-terrain e-scooter at 5 (Save 5), Anker SOLIX C300 DC power station 0, Greenworks, DEWALT, more

Leading today’s Green Deals is the best post-launch pricing we’ve seen on the Segway ZT3 Pro eKickScooter with smart features like Apple Find My, proximity locking, and more, down at $915. Right behind it, we have Anker’s SOLIX C300 DC 90,000mAh Portable Power Station undercutting the brand’s current sale pricing at $170, as well as its AC and bundle variants. There are also two Greenworks deals today, the first being on the brand’s 24V 12-inch Cordless Compact Chainsaw for $130, while the 40V 25-inch Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is coming along with two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port rapid charger at $525. Lastly, for folks who rely on DEWALT tools, you can score the brand’s 20V Max 4-Port Rapid Charger at $168. Plus, there’s all the rest of the hangover Green Deals in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s extended EcoFlow Father’s Day Sale offers, the new exclusive low price we secured on the Bluetti AC180P 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.

Segway’s ZT3 Pro eKickScooter with smart features and a 43.5-mile range at best post-launch price of $915

Amazon is now offering the best post-launch pricing we’ve seen on the Segway ZT3 Pro eKickScooter at $914.99 shipped, which beats out the brand’s direct website pricing by $85. This model normally carries a $1,100 price tag at Amazon and a higher $1,300 MSRP direct from the brand. The discounts we’ve seen often keep things near or above $1,000, while there have been occasional falls lower, usually to $950, though there was a single short-lived drop to $920 back in March. Today’s deal is bringing a total 30% markdown off the MSRP, giving you $385 in savings off buying it directly from Segway for the best price we have tracked since its $900 preorder low back in September 2024.

Segway’s ZT3 Pro eKickScooter is an all-terrain cruiser that brings many smart features into your riding experience. To start, there’s a 1,600W brushless motor that dishes out enough torque to scoff at inclines up to 25% steep. With its 597Wh battery, which comes supported by the brand’s RideyLong tech that features an advanced controller algorithm to extend its travel capabilities “by up to 20%,” this model gives you up to 43.5 miles of travel on a single four-hour charge, with it able to max out at top speeds of 24.9 MPH. Speaking of the fast charging times, it’s even been designed with last-minute travels in mind, as just plugging it in for 30 minutes can get you back enough battery to travel 6.2 miles.

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Your safety and comfort have been taken into serious consideration with Segway’s ZT3 Pro eKickScooter, as it comes loaded with features to smooth out and give you more control than other models, including a full suspension frame – even having it sit six full inches off the ground for more clearance – as well as 11-inch tubeless tires for all-terrain adventure, and a Segride stability enhancement system paired alongside a traction control system. There’s even the smart features that include Apple Find My, proximity locking/unlocking, and more. You can get an even deeper rundown in our launch coverage here.

Anker SOLIX C300 DC Portable Power Station

Carry Anker’s SOLIX C300 DC power station with pop-up camping light for mobile device charging at $170

Anker’s official SOLIX Amazon storefront is undercutting its ongoing Father’s Day Sale pricing on the C300 DC Power Station at $169.99 shipped. Normally priced at $250, it’s mostly been dropping between $180 and $190 in the past three months, with the brand’s current sale only dropping costs to $190 through June 19. While we’ve seen it go as low as $140 in the past (last seen during 2024 Black Friday/Christmas sales), you’re looking at a 32% markdown here while the savings last, cutting $80 off the tag and dropping things to the fourth-lowest overall price we have tracked. Head below for more on this model and its counterparts that are also seeing discounts.

A totable companion for camping trips, road trips, and even at-home backup power for devices during outages, Anker’s SOLIX C300 DC power station is a compact and totable 90,000mAh/288Wh unit that delivers up to 300W charging speeds. Among its output options, you’ll have four USB-C ports (a 15W port, a 100W port, and the two 140W ports), two 12W USB-A ports, and a 120W auxiliary port to top off devices. You’ll have a few different means to recharge its battery including a wall outlet, with its 100W max solar input, or by utilizing the two bidirectional 140W USB-C ports at the same time for up to 280W speeds.

One notable carry-over feature from its 60,000mAh PowerCore Reserve predecessor is the integrated pop-up LED light that has three brightness levels to be used as a camping lantern or emergency light source. There’s also the usual array of smart controls available through its companion app, allowing you to monitor and adjust its settings via a Bluetooth connection, with readouts also shown on its display.

Anker’s other compact power station deals:

Be sure to also check out the ongoing Anker SOLIX Father’s Day Sale that is continuing through June 19, with up to 55% in initial discounts, along with three tiers of extra savings (3%, 5%, 7%) and free gear along with select purchases.

Greenworks 24V 12-inch cordless compact chainsaw

Cut through the storm cleanup this season with Greenworks’ 24V 12-inch cordless compact chainsaw at $130

Over at Amazon, you can pick up the Greenworks 24V 12-inch Cordless Compact Chainsaw for $129.99 shipped, with the price also matching directly from the brand’s website. Normally carrying a $190 price tag, it’s been more often returning to a $183 high at Amazon, while discounts have mostly kept costs above $140 until this month, when the savings have taken the price lower to $130. The deal here is the best we have tracked over the last 12 months, cutting $70 off the MSRP and giving you a more compact means to clean up after any upcoming storms.

We’re stepping into hurricane season, which means there will likely be plenty of cleanup ahead for folks in the southern portions of the country, and this Greenworks electric chainsaw will be ready to tackle any tree pruning, disposals, and the like. The 12-inch bar and chain comes supported by an automatic oiler, keeping it all lubricated and running smoothly, while the tensioning system allows you to keep it set at ideal levels without any extra tools being needed. You won’t have to wrestle with pull strings thanks to the push-button start, and the included 4.0Ah battery provides you with 85+ cuts on a single charge.

Greenworks 40V 25-inch Cordless Self-Propelled lawn mower

Cover 1/2 an acre with this Greenworks 40V 25-inch cordless self-propelled mower and two 4.0Ah batteries at $525

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 40V 25-inch Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower with two 4.0Ah batteries and dual-port rapid charger for $524.99 shipped. Normally fetching $700 at full price, we’ve only seen it returning to this same rate twice during 2025 so far. While we have seen it go as low as $450, which was last seen during Black Friday 2023, you’re otherwise looking at the second-best pricing at Amazon over the last 12 months and the lowest price we have tracked in 2025, saving you $175 off the going rate in the process, which is matching the price we’re seeing direct from the brand’s website.

With the two included 4.0Ah batteries, this 40V 25-inch Greenworks mower provides a 70-minute continuous runtime to tackle mowing for up to 1/2 an acre on a single charge, with the dual port rapid charger that’s accompanying the package getting them back to full at the same time. It’s been given a 25-inch steel deck for added durability, with its smart pace self-propelled system making maneuverability all the easier. There are seven cutting height levels to choose from here, as well as the 3-in-1 functionality for mulching, side discharging, and rear bagging. It operates at far lower noise levels than a gas model, so you won’t disturb neighbors at particular hours, and also sports the usual push button start.

DEWALT 20V Max 4-Port Rapid Charger

Keep up to four DEWALT batteries going with this 20V Max 4-port rapid charger at 168

Woot is offering the DEWALT 20V MAX 4-Port Rapid Charger for $167.99 shipped. Normally carrying a $309 price tag here, with it sitting at a higher $329 pricing at other retailers like Lowes and ACE, discounts can usually be seen dropping the costs between $185 and $238 on average. While we have seen it go as low as $153 in the past, you’re otherwise looking at one of the lowest prices we have recently tracked, giving you a sizeable $141 markdown off the going rate. It’s even beating out Amazon’s current pricing by $42.

A perfect addition for garages, shops, and jobsite kits that tend to rely on DEWALT equipment, you’ll be able to top off four of the brand’s 12V Max, 20V Max, and FLEXVOLT 20V/60V Max batteries simultaneously with this DEWALT 4-port charger. It delivers 8A charging speeds to each individual port, with it getting a 4.0Ah battery back to full in 40 minutes, while a 6.0Ah battery can be refilled in 60 minutes. It even comes with cord wraps for added organization, as well as through-holes should you wish to mount it to your wall or workbench.

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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Kempower’s 1.2 MW EV charger powers big trucks and cars at the same time

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3 hours ago

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June 17, 2025

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Kempower’s 1.2 MW EV charger powers big trucks and cars at the same time

Kempower
Image: Kempower

Kempower’s MORE Power fast and flexible charging solution is set to deliver megawatt-level charging to both electric trucks and cars, and it’s shipping from Finland.

Kempower is kicking off deliveries of its high-powered “MORE Power, MORE Plugs” EV charging solution from its factories in Lahti, Finland. The company made waves in April when it announced it would be the first DC fast charger maker to ship 1.2 megawatts (MW) of dynamically distributed charging power, and now it’s happening.

The new charging setup can feed that 1.2 MW across up to eight charging points, all controlled by Kempower’s smart power distribution system. That includes the company’s regular Satellite dispensers for passenger EVs—but now, Kempower is also offering a Mega Satellite option with a CCS2 connector that delivers up to 700 amps.

One dynamic system for cars and trucks

Here’s how it works: you can set up a charging hub with anywhere from one to seven charging points for passenger vehicles and add one ultra-high-powered 700A CCS2 connector for electric trucks. And the system isn’t static. It dynamically shifts power. So if there’s no truck plugged in, that full 1.2 MW can be distributed to cars. When a truck does show up, the system gives it priority and cranks up the juice.

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“Electric trucks are still relatively rare on the roads, but their numbers are expected to grow rapidly over the next few years,” said Jussi Vanhanen, Kempower’s chief market officer. “With MORE Power, charging providers can serve trucks today and scale up later as adoption grows.”

Existing Kempower chargers can be upgraded

If a provider already has a Kempower DC fast charging setup, they can upgrade to the 1.2 MW MORE Power configuration in terms of total power and the number of outputs. Kempower is also putting together a design guide to help customers and partners make the leap.

“There’s strong demand for practical know-how when it comes to site design and EV charging tech,” Vanhanen said. “Our guide will make it easier for everyone to plan and build charging hubs—helping speed up the shift to electric mobility.”

Kempower’s MORE Power comes with:

  • 1.2 MW charging capacity (that’s two 600 kW power units working together)
  • Up to 8 Kempower Satellite DC fast-charging points per system
  • Optional Mega Satellite with CCS2: 700 A continuous at 40C, 150–1,000 VDC
  • Dynamic power distribution between EVs and trucks
  • Retrofit-ready for existing Kempower charging systems
  • Fits just about anywhere: retail lots, fleet depots, ports, public stations
  • Supports simultaneous charging for cars and heavy-duty trucks

Kempower’s 1.2 MW charging units are ready to ship from Europe now, with North American deliveries coming soon after. The phased rollout is designed to ensure support and availability in every region as demand ramps up.

Read more: Kempower and Ziegler partner on EV fast charging for fleets

If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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Kia is offering up to $12,500 off the EV9, but there’s a catch

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4 hours ago

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June 17, 2025

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Kia is offering up to ,500 off the EV9, but there's a catch

Kia-$12,500-off-EV9

With a new rebate, you can score up to $12,500 off the Kia EV9 right now. However, not all models are eligible for the promotion. Here’s how you can snag some savings.

Kia offers up to $12,500 off select 2026 EV9 models

Just as the 2025 model year sold out, 2026 Kia EV9 models are now arriving at dealerships across the US. Kia was offering generous discounts, including a $10,000 customer cash rebate or 0% APR financing, to make way for the 2026 models.

After Kia launched a new rebate, you can potentially save even more on the new model year. Kia is offering a $7,500 rebate on certain 2026 EV9 Light Long Range models.

Even better, it can be stacked with a $4,000 Customer Cash bonus, offered on every EV9 trim. Kia is also offering a $1,000 conquest bonus if you drive an EV or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) from a rival brand, for up to $12,500 in savings. That’s pretty significant at about 20% off MSRP.

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Kia-$12,500-off-EV9
2026 Kia EV9 (Source: Kia)

The $7,500 rebate only applies to select models, however. A company spokesperson confirmed with CarsDirect that only Model Code P4342, specifically the 2026 Kia EV9 Light Long Range trims with Option Groups 008 and 009, qualify.

Kia is offering a new rebate to compensate for some EV9 models losing eligibility for the federal EV tax credit. The discount, which is typically available when leasing, is now being offered on purchases as well. You may want to check with your local dealer to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Kia EV9 trim 2025MY price 2026MY price
EV9 Light Standard Range $54,900 $54,900
EV9 Light Long Range $59,900 $57,900
EV9 Wind $63,900 $63,900
EV9 Land $69,900 $68,900
EV9 GT-Line $73,900 $71,900
2025 and 2026 Kia EV9 price by trim

Despite the discounts, Hyundai’s new three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, still appears to be a better deal this month, offering up to $13,000 in savings.

The 2026 Kia EV9 is available for lease at $429 per month for 36 months, with a $4,999 due at signing. Hyundai’s IONIQ 9 is available for lease at just $419 per month, also for 36 months with $4,999 due at signing. The IONIQ 9 also boasts more overall interior space than the EV9.

Ready to test one for yourself? We can help you get started. Check out our links below to find offers on Kia and Hyundai’s three-row electric SUVs at a dealer near you.

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