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Buongiorno! Scooter here, back with another first-drive review with Maserati. This time, I flew north of Milan, Italy, to Lake Maggiore, where I took in tons of beautiful vistas while testing out Maserati’s first all-electric convertible, the GranCabrio Folgore. This is a beautifully done new model, but I worry about its starting price.

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Background on Maserati’s first all-electric convertible

My most recent Maserati drive event was almost two years in the making, as we first reported on the Trident brand’s all-electric GranCabrio convertible in October 2022. At the time, we only saw a camouflaged prototype. Still, Maserati relayed that the initial stages of GranCabrio Folgore development and testing had begun through the streets of Modena in Northern Italy.

Since then, Maserati has launched two initial Folgore BEV models—the GranTurismo coupe and the Grecale Folgore SUV, which I test-drove in Southern Italy this past March. In April, I was back in Italy at Maserati’s public launch of the GranCabrio Folgore convertible in Puglia.

It was then that we learned what specs this tri-motor sports car will deliver, including its 2.8-second 0-100km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time. While we still await the GranCabrio Folgore’s official launch in the North American market, I recently got to visit Maserati’s native lands and test it out for myself. I’ve shared my thoughts below.

GranCabrio Folgore performance specs and features

What’s refreshing about Maserati and its Folgore BEVs is that they come as they are—one variant with all the available features, all of which are top-of-the-line in design and function. This sort of business model makes my job easier because when I talk about specs, features, and pricing (brace yourself for that one in a bit), I only have to talk about a single option.

With that said, here are some pertinent specs in the Rose Gold Maserati GranCabrio Folgore convertible I tested out:

  • Powertrain: 3x 300kW radial motors (2 rear, 1 front)
  • Max Power: 560 kW (751 hp) / 610 kW (818 hp) w/ MaxBoost
  • Max Torque: 1,350 Nm (996 lb-ft)
  • Top Speed: 180.2 mph
  • 0-60 mph Acceleration: <2.8 seconds
  • Battery Capacity: 92.5 kWh (nominal) / 83 kWh (usable)
  • Charging:
    • DCFC – 800V: 270 kW (up to 48 miles in 5 mins)
    • DCFC – 400V: 50 kW (12 miles in 5 mins)
    • DC Charge Time: 20 to 80% in 18 mins (@800V – 270 kW)
    • AC Charge Time: 48 miles per 1 hour (@15 kW)
  • Range: Up to 233 miles (EPA estimated)
  • Homologated Weight: 5,249 lbs.
  • Weight Distribution: 50/50
  • Turning Radius: 40.68 ft.

The specs of the Maserati convertible are not bad compared to its competitors in the luxury segment, but the range certainly leaves something to be desired. That said, the GranCabrio Folgore was not necessarily designed for long road trips. We had plenty of range left after our day our driving (and driving FAST).

From my experience, it is perfect for cruising along the coast with the top down and opening it up on straightaways. A downside to Maserati’s unique 800V platform is the limited space for more batteries. On the flip side, however, the Italian automaker was able to deliver a 50/50 weight distribution, which is better than its combustion counterpart, even with an extra 933 pounds of weight from the batteries.

Driving Maserati’s tri-motor BEV convertible in Italy

As the convertible version of Maserati’s first BEV on its 800V platform, the GranCabrio offers a bit more freedom (and headroom) than the GranTurismo Folgore. When I drove the Grecale Folgore SUV, I found its exterior to be a tad flat and boring.

That is not the case with the GranCabrio Folgore. It carries a sleek but muscular design and drives bigger than it looks due to its weight. Notice its unique clam-shell hood that extends as one entire stamped piece across the front of the vehicle and over the wheel wells. How often do you see so few lines up front? Stunning.

Inside and out, tiny details have been executed to the utmost quality standards, and this is the most aesthetically pleasing Maserati I have personally seen and driven. The interior is comforting and spacious up front, but the rear seats are obviously quite tight, given the sporty EV’s overall length (4,966 mm).

I found the center display easy to navigate and operate, with very little need to tap through multiple menus. Most of your most used functions are quickly accessible from the steering wheel or display and are intuitively placed.

I don’t necessarily mind physical buttons for drive functions like Park and Drive, but I was not a fan of Maserati’s decision to place them in the center of the dash between the displays. My hand’s instinct was to go to the wheel or in between the front seats to shift modes.

  • Source: Scooter Doll

This convertible’s all-electric drive modes, however, were very easy to scroll through using a knob on the steering wheel. I admittedly spent most of my time in “Sport” and “Corsa” modes to feel the full performance, but I did test out each mode of the Maserati along my journey and enjoyed the feel of each and every one… especially the stiffness and torque vectoring of Corsa.

The acceleration was superb. This baby can go. We often times outpaced the combustion Trofeo versions on the road thanks the the Folgore’s triple motors and massive torque. Overtaking nearly any other car on the highway or back roads should be no problem for future owners.

Despite being a convertible, I found the ride of the Maserati GranCabrio surprisingly quiet. It’s obviously quietest with the top and windows up, but even top-down and windows up was very nice, and I really can’t complain about driving top and windows town either.

Air-conditioned seats were there for me when I was in the sun, and a heated “air scarf” feature is available near your neck in the front seats if you’re getting chilly from the fresh air.

One of the downsides I noticed, which comes with most convertibles, is the lack of trunk space in this Maserati, especially when the top is down and folded up. That said, there’s additional storage in the rear seats if you have anything larger than a couple of carry-on suitcases.

Maserati convertible

GranCabrio Folgore pricing, availability, our video review

Overall, this is my favorite Maserati BEV model I’ve driven to date. I think its overall design is the sharpest in the lineup, and it offers the performance to match its luxury. Even as a convertible, I found the GranCabrio Folgore to drive smoothly and as quiet as can be for having no roof.

Maserati’s battery placement in the 800V platform truly shines in this model, as its added (and evenly distributed) weight helps keep the tires on the road, even on hairpin turns. After driving this model, my two critiques are its range and its price.

The EPA’s estimated range of 233 miles is adequate for a vehicle of this size and type, but I would have liked to see more, given how much Maserati is asking for the all-electric convertible. This brings me to my next issue: the GranCabrio Folgore starts at an MSRP of $205,000 before an additional $1,995 in destination and handling fees.

At a premium like that, I can’t help but wonder who will buy this model. Maserati die-hards may still opt for the combustion version, although I’d argue the Folgore is only $13,000 more and delivers significantly better performance. Also, EV enthusiasts, even the more affluent ones, are probably going to opt for a Lucid Air GT or Tesla Model S Plaid for half the price of the GranCabrio.

Is it really worth the extra money for a convertible? The market will answer that question when the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore makes its way to North American showrooms this fall as a 2025 model.

Until then, be sure to check out my driving footage and impressions around Northern Italy below:

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Jackery power stations 50% off in early Easter sale, Tenways AGO X e-bike at new $1,899 low, EcoFlow flash offers from $159, more

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April 7, 2025

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Jackery power stations 50% off in early Easter sale, Tenways AGO X e-bike at new ,899 low, EcoFlow flash offers from 9, more

We’ve got three different sales to kick off this week’s Green Deals, starting with Jackery’s newly launched early Easter savings that are taking up to 50% off units, including a new low price on the Explorer 3000 Pro solar generator bundle with a 500W panel for $1,947, among others. We spotted Tenways’ Spring Sale fresh out of the gate with up to $600 in e-bike savings (as well as up to $385 in bonus free gear), the largest of which is hitting the AGO X All-Terrain e-bike for a new $1,899 low. Lastly, running as part of EcoFlow’s ongoing Easter Sale and Mega Sale, we have two short-term flash offers on the RIVER 3 Portable Power Station to its $159 low, as well as a much more massive dual DELTA Pro 3 home backup bundle. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals from last week are in the links at the bottom of the page, collected together in our Electrified Weekly roundup.

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’s early Easter sale offers Explorer 3000 Pro solar generator with a 500W panel at new $1,947 low

Jackery is launching its Early Easter Sale through April 11, offering up to 50% off a collection of power stations for home backup, individual appliance backup, and outdoor adventures – plus, there is a limited-time bonus 5% off discount too. One noticeable price drop for RV roamers is the brand’s Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station bundled with a 500W solar panel for $1,946.55 shipped, after using the code EXTRA5 at checkout for an additional 5% off. Coming down from its $3,449 price tag here, with a higher $3,699 rate elsewhere, this is only the third discount we have seen on this newer bundle after first appearing as a short-term flash offer to $1,999 before returning to that rate for its longer sale at the end of March. It’s going lower than ever here today as the 44% markdown strikes $1,502 off the going rate at a new all-time low. It also beats out the Amazon pricing that is only bringing costs down to $2,299.

A great choice to gear up for camping trips – whether you’re planning to rough it in tents or take out the RV – Jackery’s Explorer 3000 Pro is one of the more versatile options in terms of what it can power. It boasts a 3,024Wh capacity and provides up to 3,000W of average power output, surging to 6,000W for those larger appliance needs. There are 10 port options to connect to for a juice up, one of them even being a RV-dedicated TT30 port, putting it alongside the Explorer 2000 Plus and Explorer 5000 Plus as the best support for RV travels/living (deals on them below). On that note, if you want to possibly invest to build up your system, these two alternate models come as modular setups that can expand upward in capacity and output, unlike the 3000 Pro.

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Plugging the Explorer 3000 Pro into a wall outlet will get you back to a full battery in about 2.4 hours, or you can take advantage of its maximum 1,200W of solar input that takes a little longer at three to four hours when using the sun’s rays (which will be a little over twice that timeframe for the 500W bundle here). There’s also the third option to connect it to your vehicle, which refills the battery in about 35 hours.

***Note: None of the following prices have had the bonus savings factored in, so be sure to use the code EXTRA5 where applicable to score the most savings (you’ll see it as an on-page offer).

Jackery’s early Easter sale backup deals for critical loads:

Jackery’s early Easter sale backup deals for individual appliances:

Jackery’s early Easter sale deals for outdoor adventure:

Jackery’s early Easter sale accessory deals:

You can browse the entire lineup of Jackery’s Early Easter Sale on the main landing page here.

Tenways AGO X e-bike

Tenways drops the AGO X all-terrain e-bike to new $1,899 low (Reg. $2,499) in spring savings

Tenways has launched its Spring Sale with up to $600 being taken off its e-bike lineup. Alongside the brand’s popular CGO600 Pro (both the chain-drive and belt-drive models), which is down at $1,499 once again, we spotted the more advanced AGO X e-bike scoring the biggest price cut to $1,899 shipped and coming with $307 in free gear. This sale is bringing the costs down off the e-bike’s usual $2,499 price tag, with the discounts we’ve been seeing over the last year only going as low as $1,999. While this sale continues you’ll be able to take advantage of a $600 markdown that brings the price down lower than we’ve seen before, landing it at a new all-time low price. Not only are you getting free mudguards and a rear cargo rack for free ($307 value), but you can also add on a front carrier for just $1 (normally $79). As usual, medical providers, military personnel, first responders, and teachers can also score an additional $150 in savings through verification.

Boasted as an all-terrain “e-bike SUV” for errands and commutes alike, Tenways’ AGO X cruises into view via the Bafang M410 250W mid-drive motor and 504Wh battery. While it’s not as lightweight as its counterparts, it only weighs in at 64 pounds, which still makes it more manageable for urban environments than many other competitors on the market. Like its sibling e-bikes, this one also does away with any throttle, but with the five PAS levels that come supported by an integrated torque sensor, you’ll be getting up to 62 miles of travel on a single charge, with it reaching top speeds of 20 MPH.

The streamlined design of its frame not only gives it a slick look, with its cable system all neatly contained out of sight, but also comes with a nice variety of features. Your riding experience is enhanced for smoother and more comfortable rides with the SR SUNTOUR Lockout Fork, Selle Royal Saddle, and riser handlebars while safety is guaranteed thanks to the hydraulic disc brakes, 29-inch puncture-resistant tires, and integrated front and rear lighting. That’s not all, you’ll also have a Shimano 10-speed derailleur and a TFT LCD color display that can pair with your smartphone to provide navigation and more.

Tenways’ other Spring Sale e-bike deals:

  • CGO600 Pro Belt-Drive e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
    • 20 MPH for up to 53 miles
    • comes with $118 in free gear
  • CGO600 Pro 8-speed e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
    • 20 MPH for up to 53 miles
    • comes with $118 in free gear
  • CGO800S Premium Step-Thru Commuter e-bike: $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
    • 20 MPH for up to 53 miles
    • Turn-signaling and color display
    • comes with $227 in free gear + $1 front carrier offer
  • AGO T Step-Thru Premium e-bike: $2,699 (No initial price cut)
    • 20 MPH for up to 62 miles
    • Enviolo stepless shifting hub
    • comes with $178 in free gear
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Portable Power Station

EcoFlow flash sale returns RIVER 3 245Wh LiFePO4 power station to $159 low + a massive home backup bundle

As part of both its Easter Sale and Mega Sale, EcoFlow has launched the second round of flash offers running through the rest of the day. The first of these discounts is on the RIVER 3 Portable Power Station for $159 shipped. It’s being brought down from its usual $239 price tag for today only, which we’ve been frequently seeing more recently, especially in the form of Amazon Lightning deals. You can grab one today at the returning all-time low price thanks to the 33% markdown that cuts $80 off the going rate, with the matching option to grab it from Amazon too.

A compact option for personal device and appliance backup while out camping, EcoFlow’s RIVER 3 sports a 245Wh LiFePO4 capacity with X-GaNPower tech to bolster its energy efficiency by “delivering double runtime for appliances under 100W while reducing the size and controlling the volume to less than 30 dB at a distance of 1.5 ft.” This, paired with the additional X-Boost tech, allows for its 300W of power output to surge up to 600W to cover appliances like heaters and the like – with six port options available to connect to (two ACs, two USB-As, one USB-C, and one car port).

The battery can be recharged back to full in just one hour via a wall outlet while also having the option to connect up to 110W of solar input to recharge in 2.6 hours. The unit has waterproof and fireproof safeguards, as well as an IP54 protection rating and a drop-resistant design to minimalize potential damage while out in the wilds.

The second of these flash offers is a much larger home backup bundle of two DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Stations with a 50A hub to connect them and a Smart Home Panel 2 – all for $6,179 shipped. Each of these power stations gives you a 4,096Wh LiFePO4 capacity (8,192Wh together) that can output power through its 14 ports at 4,000W (surging to 6,000W). Of course, this setup can be further expanded to a maximum 48,000Wh capacity with additional gear that also expands its power output up to 12,000W. The power station boasts the largest amount of ways to recharge too, with seven solo-source options and 18 combination options. With the Smart Home Panel 2, you’ll have the plug-and-play option to cover up to 12 circuits at home when outages occur, with it also allowing you to connect to any rigid roof panels for everyday solar charging too.

Be sure to also check out the differing lineups for EcoFlow’s ongoing Easter Sale and Mega Sale that are taking up to 65% off power stations through April 14, complete with free gear, massive EcoCredit rewards, and bonus savings.

Best New Year 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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Tesla Insurance stops penalizing forward colision warnings after getting sued for ‘fake’ alerts

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April 7, 2025

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Tesla Insurance stops penalizing forward colision warnings after getting sued for 'fake' alerts

Tesla Insurance app

Tesla Insurance has stopped penalizing drivers for having forward collision warnings after getting sued for what drivers described as fake crash alerts

Like many modern vehicles, Teslas have forward collision warnings that alert drivers to a perceived risk of a collision.

These alerts can be lifesavers, but they also tend to give you false positives.

Normally, it wouldn’t be a problem—better safe than sorry—but in Tesla’s case, it can be a costly problem for drivers.

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Tesla offers its own car insurance in some US states. The automaker utilizes its capacity to collect real-time driving data from its vehicles to create what it calls a “Safety Score. ” This score is based on how and when drivers drive, and the company increases or decreases their monthly premium accordingly.

The move was to counter the fact that many third-party insurers were charging costly premiums on Tesla vehicles.

There has been some controversy about the factors that would influence the score, like acceleration, driving at night, and the aforementioned collision warnings. 

Many drivers have reported that their vehicles are giving collision warnings for no reason, leading to significant increases in their insurance premiums.

The issue has even led to an ongoing class action lawsuit filed in 2023 to address the problem.

Two years later, Tesla quietly removed forward collision warnings as a factor in its insurance ‘safety score’.

It was removed as part of its Safety Score Beta version 2.2 update, which, interestingly, only listed this change:

Excessive Speeding is now measured as a proportion of driving time in excess of 85 mph or speeding in relation to the vehicle in front of you.

But forward collision warnings are gone when looking at the list of factors affecting your safety score.

Electrek’s Take

While I don’t have Tesla Insurance and I don’t want any, I can tell you that my Tesla vehicles have had way more “fake” collision warnings than real ones.

I don’t mind them since I prefer to be safe rather than possibly annoyed by a useless warning.

With that said, fake warnings can’t affect your premiums. That’s just ridiculous. I’m sure that the removal from the safety score bodes well for the lawsuit.

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Volvo on Demand “trucks as a service” offering scores its first customer

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2 hours ago

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April 7, 2025

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Volvo on Demand

R&M Trucking Takes Delivery of First Volvo VNR Electric Truck as First Volvo on Demand Customer

The air and ocean freight forward specialists at R&M Trucking have become the first US customer for the new Volvo on Demand “trucks as a service” offering by deploying a new Volvo VNR Electric semi truck to carry out local and regional freight and logistics deliveries from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Everything else is a subscription model these days, so why not semi trucks? And if we’re going to subscribe to a big Class 8 hauler, why not make it electric?

Those seem to be the questions being answered by the new Volvo on Demand truck-as-a-service (TAAS?) initiative from Volvo Financial Services (VFS). In practice, the TAAS model is designed to make it easier for fleets to electrify their big trucks by reducing the up front investment and capital outlay required to order these trucks compared to the less expensive diesel offerings. Volvo on Demand does that by reducing the down payment delta between ICE and BEV, offering qualified customers flexible, short term subscription options in 12 month increments.

Fleet buyers aren’t not financing the truck, in other words. They’re leasing renting subscribing to it. That’s good for the fleets since they avoid a big down payment, and good for dealers who would, otherwise, have to carry the much more expensive trucks on their floor plans.

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“Volvo on Demand is designed to remove barriers to adopting battery-electric trucks by offering a flexible, all-inclusive service model,” said Logan Andrew, eMobility territory finance manager East, Volvo Financial Services. “This deployment helps R&M Trucking integrate electric trucks into its fleet in a way that makes business sense—minimizing upfront capital investment while providing predictable operational costs.”

R&M Trucking will 6×4 Volvo VNR Electric trucks with the six-battery configuration, offering a range of up to 275 miles and the ability to charge to to 80% capacity in under 90 minutes. The company is also installing EV chargers at its warehouse to support overnight charging.

Electrek’s Take

Volvo VNR Electric drayage trucks; via Amazon.

Even if you want to electrify 100% of your fleet tomorrow, the up front costs of acquiring a fleet that costs anywhere from 50-300% more than the fleet you have can present a considerable cash flow obstacle. Anything that manufacturers or other stakeholders can do to reduce that up front burden – with rebates, for example – will undoubtedly be welcome.

SOURCE | PHOTOS: Volvo Trucks.

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