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We’ve got another jam-packed day of Green Deals for you here, kicking off with Aventon’s Soltera.2 Commuter e-bike dropping down to $999, while other models have been given free extra battery offers. Next, EcoFlow’s newly released RIVER 3 Portable Power Station just got its first discount to $169. Then, we have a rare price drop on Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector to a new $575 low alongside a one-day discount on Rexing’s J1772 Extension EV Charging Cable to $110 for the rest of the day. Anker’s popular PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station has also dropped back down to $100 ahead of fall travel plans, with Bluetti’s larger campsite-supporting AC180 Portable Power Station receiving a 50% markdown to a new $499 low also. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals that are still alive and well, like yesterday’s free extra battery offer on Lectric’s XPeak Off-Road e-bikes that provides a 110-mile travel range along with more free gear too.

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.

Urban Commuting is made easy with Aventon’s lightweight Soltera.2 e-bike at $999

Aventon currently has several free extra battery offers on e-bike models that are sitting at their usual MSRPs, while the brand’s Soltera.2 Commuter e-bike stands alone with a price cut to $999 shipped, but sadly no extra battery. Recently fetching $1,199 in our post-tariff market, we saw it fall as low as $799 back during Memorial Day sales, which happened to be the last we saw it fall under $999 (again, because of the tariffs). Today you’re getting the best rate we’ve seen since the company had to tack on the additional $200 to its price tag, which provides a rare chance to add a quality e-bike at a lower-than-average rate to your commute (especially for first-time buyers/riders). You can learn all about this model below or in our hands-on review.

Aventon’s Soltera.2 e-bike cruises into view at a top speed of 20 MPH, and comes built with the brand’s usual levels of durability, reliability, and affordability in mind – plus, the whole thing only weighs 46 pounds and boasts a 300-pound payload. The ergonomic frame houses a 9.6Ah battery that powers the 350W brushless rear-hub motor, with the whole system supported by four different levels of pedal assistance – Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo – that allow it to travel up to 46 miles on a single charge. It’s even been updated from past models with a torque sensor (which we love to see), giving it a much smoother ride. There’s also a throttle for pure electric action, though keep in mind this will shorten the travel distance.

It comes with a few key add-on upgrades for a more enhanced experience, while still keeping itself lightweight and easier to handle in urban settings, like the backlit LCD display that has a hidden USB port to charge your smart phone as you ride (especially if using it as a GPS). There’s also front and rear integrated lights with turn signal functionality here, as well as a 7-speed Shimano derailleur and 700c x 38c Kenda tires.

As one of our regular favorites around here at 9to5Toys, I recommend checking out the other models that are getting the free extra battery offers here (which double travel ranges up to 120 miles, depending on the model).

EcoFlow RIVER 3 portable power station

EcoFlow’s new RIVER 3 Portable LiFePO4 Power Station gets first discount to $169

Running alongside the fourth phase of its ongoing Disaster Campaign, EcoFlow’s official Amazon storefront is offering the first post-launch discount on its new RIVER 3 Portable Power Station to $169 shipped, after clipping the on-page $70 off coupon. Normally sitting at $259 since first releasing back at the end of July, you’re looking at the first chance to save on this new personal portable backup power solution that comes in with a solid $90 taken off its price tag, setting its new all-time low rate going forward.

EcoFlow’s new RIVER 3 arrives in compact style with a 245Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity and X-GaNPower technology that increases 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.” There are six output ports on this model to handle your devices, with two AC ports, two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and on car port. After being emptied, the battery can be brought back to full in just one hour when plugged into a standard wall outlet or in 2.6 hours with a 110W solar panel connected.

It’s been given X-Boost tech that allows it to run larger 600W heating appliances with just 300W of power, giving you reliable camping support on those autumn camping trips ahead. It sports built-in X-Guard tech too, which combines an advanced algorithm alongside cloud-based battery monitoring to provide 40+ safety measures, including protections against various currents, voltages, temperatures, and circuit risks. The whole unit boasts waterproof and fireproof safeguards too, as well as coming drop-resistant – plus, the battery has a IP54 rating to minimize potential water damage in unexpected circumstances.

Head over to EcoFlow’s main sales page here to check out the larger units and bundles that are currently up to $2,817 off through September 22.

Aventon Soltera.2 e-bike

Tesla’s level 2 Universal Wall Connector EV charging station gets rare price cut to new $575 low

You can find a rare price cut on Amazon for Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector that is now at $575 shipped. Originally priced at $620, we saw it permanently fall from its MSRP to $580 back in May, which beat out last year’s Black Friday and Christmas sales prices that only saw short-lived discounts to $595. While today’s price is only a slight shaving of $5 off the recent rate, it’s still a rare sight and chance to take advantage of – especially with Tesla products – and lands costs down at a new all-time low price.

With this official EV charger, you’ll add a customizable output of up to 48A charging speeds to your home, which you can alter while installing it indoors or outdoors to complete your EV setup. There is a cheaper, standard model that sits at $450 most days, though it only supports Tesla vehicles and doesn’t provide the universal compatibility via the J1772 adapter that this more advanced version does. When set to its maximum amperage, you’ll be benefitting from upward of 44 miles of travel for every hour that your EV is plugged in. The charger even keeps itself updated with the latest firmware for sustained efficiency as long as it is connected to a local Wi-Fi network or through the Tesla app.

Aventon Soltera.2 e-bike

Rexing’s J1772 Extension EV Charging Cable gives you 17 additional feet of length at $110 for the rest of the day

Looking through its Deals of the Day, you’ll notice Best Buy has marked down the Rexing J1772 Extension EV Charging Cable to $109.99 shipped. We usually see its price tag unmoved at $200 most of the time, with only two previous discounts in 2024 showing up in the form of these one-day sales – one to the second-lowest $110 rate in May and an earlier drop to the $100 low in January. This handy extension cord goes right along with your existing EV charging setup to provide an increased reach of 17 feet. It arrives compatible with level 1 and level 2 chargers that feature a J1772 connector, supporting up to 40A charging speeds. Outdoor use is no concern here either as it’s been given a high-strength ABS plastic design that boasts an IP66 waterproof rating to tackle the job at hand no matter the adversity from nature. Head below for more.

While you’re home setup may be taken care of now with the extended reach, have you considered grabbing a portable EV charger for those sudden needs while away from home? Well, Amazon currently has the VEVOR 40A Level 2 Portable EV Charger with a NEMA 14-50 plug marked down to $160 from $200. Compatible with vehicles and plug-in hybrids that comply with the J1772 standard, you’ll just need the appropriate outlet to get started here. It provides remote monitoring and controls that you can access via your personal device, including scheduling charge times any hour of the day for up to 12 hours at a time.

Aventon Soltera.2 e-bike

Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station returns to $100

Heading over to its official Amazon storefront, Anker is offering its popular PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station for $99.99 shipped. Starting at $170 at the top of the year, it settled at its recent $150 list price after the brand switched its design from a standard battery to a LiFePO4 one. We’ve been seeing consistent discounts dropping costs every one to two months, with May seeing the greatest of these cut the price down to the $95 low, followed by its second-lowest price at the beginning of August. Today, you’ll be benefitting from a substantial 33% markdown that gives you a solid $50 taken off the tag and the third-lowest price we have found, only $5 above the all-time low from four months ago.

Looking for a reliable and portable companion to take with you on your next venture out of the house? Well, the PowerCore Reserve arrives ready to support your personal devices with a 60,000mAh/192Wh LiFePO4 capacity in a compact 4.59-inch by 4.59-inch by 8.17-inch form factor that weighs in at just five pounds. It provides two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports and ensures enough juice for an iPhone 14 to be recharged over 10 times or a MacBook Air to get 2.9 recharges.

It also boasts solar charging functionality here, with its battery returning to full in about four hours when connected to a 60W solar input. A notable standout feature on this model is the built-in retractable light that can illuminate your campsites and outdoor hangouts or even assist during emergencies, as it has two different brightness levels and a button that triggers S.O.S to flash out into the darkness. While it’s already been given a durable design that can withstand much of the outside world, you can add an additional level of protection in the form of the custom co2CREA Hard Case for $28.

Aventon Soltera.2 e-bike

Save 50% on Bluetti’s AC180 Portable Power Station at new $499 low

Coming to us through its official Amazon storefront, Bluetti is offering its AC180 Portable Power Station for $499 shipped. Normally you’ll find this unit priced at $999 on Amazon and at higher $1,249 rates elsewhere, with consistent discounts every one to two months that have been dropping costs between $649 and the former $549 low. Today, you’re looking at an even greater 50% markdown that takes $500 off the price tag and lands it at a new all-time low price – just in time to be included in your fall travel/camping plans.

The AC180 power station takes care of device charging and portable appliance power needs while you’re away from home (or just outside it even). It provides a 1,152Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity, 1,800W of output power, and 11 output ports for versatility and multi-tasking – with four ACs, four USB-As, one USB-C, one DC, and even a wireless charging pad for your smaller, more personal devices. You’ll have the usual array of smart controls that are expected out of most power station brands, which you can access via the BLUETTI app on your tablet or smartphone. Recharging times come significantly reduced with this unit too, as you can get to 80% battery in as little as 45 minutes when your plug it into a wall outlet, or in 2.8 to 3.3 hours when connected to a 500W solar input.

You can expand the AC180’s capacity to 1,958Wh when you bundle the power station alongside an B80 extra battery for $1,099, down from $1,798. There’s also two discounted solar generator bundle options here too, with the power station coming with either a 200W solar panel for $799, or get it with a 350W solar panel for $999.

Summer e-bike deals!

Aventon Soltera.2 e-bike

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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Shares of Paccar – Peterbilt and Kenworth owner – soar after Trump’s heavy truck tariffs

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September 26, 2025

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Shares of Paccar - Peterbilt and Kenworth owner - soar after Trump's heavy truck tariffs

A Peterbilt 579 truck equipped with Aurora’s self-driving system is seen at the company’s terminal in Palmer, south of Dallas, Texas, September 23, 2021.

Tina Bellon | Reuters

Shares of Paccar jumped Friday after President Donald Trump announced that he will impose a 25% tariff on imported heavy trucks beginning Oct. 1.

Paccar was last up more than 6% premarket.

Trump said in a social media post Thursday that “large Truck Company Manufacturers, such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack Trucks, and others, will be protected from the onslaught of outside interruptions.”

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PCAR 5-day chart

Paccar is the owner of Peterbilt and Kenworth. It manufactures more than 90% of its U.S. trucks domestically but they cost $8,000 to $10,000 more than competitors in Mexico, Bank of America told clients in a Friday note.

Trump’s announcement “likely addresses this issue and places PCAR in the driver seat,” BofA analyst Michael Feniger said.

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Environment

Oil giant BP quietly steps out of the takeover spotlight

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14 hours ago

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September 25, 2025

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Oil giant BP quietly steps out of the takeover spotlight

British oil and gasoline company BP (British Petroleum) signage is being pictured in Warsaw, Poland, on July 29, 2024.

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Five months ago, British energy major BP was firmly in the spotlight as a prime takeover candidate. Now, not so much.

Shares of the London-listed oil giant have climbed more than 32% since early April, outperforming many of its U.S. and European rivals.

The improving sentiment can be attributed to a range of factors, including BP’s fundamental strategic reset, a leadership shake-up, progress on its cost-cutting program and a string of recent oil discoveries.

It marks a stark contrast to earlier in the year, when BP found itself to be the subject of intense takeover speculation, with British rival Shell, UAE oil giant ADNOC and U.S. majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron all among the names touted as possible suitors.

BP CEO Murray Auchincloss insisted the company was focused on growth when asked about any approaches, saying last month: “That’s what is going to drive the share price up for shareholders.”

Shell, for its part, swiftly denied reports in late June that early-stage talks were taking place to acquire BP. The company said at the time that it had “no intention” of making a blockbuster offer for its embattled rival.

Allen Good, equity analyst at Morningstar, said he was unsure of the merit of the takeover speculation from the outset, even while the company was in turmoil and trading at a steep discount to its peers.

“Shares have since done better,” Good told CNBC. “And I think probably the most recent catalyst was the selection of the new chair, who is coming from CRH and has previous experience with meaningful turnarounds and being successful.”

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Shares of BP since April 11.

Following a green strategy U-turn earlier in the year, BP announced in July the appointment of Albert Manifold as its new chairman. The former boss of building materials producer CRH has since joined the firm’s board and will formally become chair from Oct. 1.

A BP spokesperson was not immediately available to comment when contacted by CNBC.

Oil discoveries and Elliott’s arrival

BP’s share price gain has coincided with some notable rating and price target upgrades. Berenberg, for instance, recently upgraded BP to buy from hold and raised its price target to £5.00 ($6.73), from £3.85, citing the firm’s significantly stronger second-quarter results.

In early August, BP reported underlying replacement cost profit, used as a proxy for net profit, of $2.35 billion for the three months through June — comfortably beating analyst expectations of $1.81 billion, according to an LSEG-compiled consensus.

Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” shortly after these results, BP’s Auchincloss highlighted the growth potential of the company’s recent oil and gas discoveries, adding that he was “very optimistic” about the discovery in the Bumerangue block in Brazil’s Santos Basin, just over 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) from Rio de Janeiro.

The discovery marked the firm’s 10th since the start of the year and is regarded as a potentially significant boost as BP continues to double down on hydrocarbons.

We’re focused on growing cash flows, BP CEO says, amid takeover rumors

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said BP’s resilience in the face of skepticism “is interesting and can be a telling sign,” particularly as the share price rise comes despite what he described as “relentlessly negative commentary” on both the company and the oil price.

“Elliott’s arrival on the share register remains a factor, too, as the activist presses for disposals, improved cash flow, deleveraging and improved cash returns to shareholders, a clarion call to which BP appears to be listening,” Mould told CNBC by email.

Activist investor Elliott went public with a stake of more than 5% in BP in late April, bolstering expectations that its involvement could pressure the company to shift back toward its core oil and gas businesses.

A fuel pump is seen connected to a car at a gas station in Krakow, Poland on June 19, 2025.

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Given Shell’s reported interest in a takeover appears to have cooled, Mould said BP’s best defense to any potential suitors would be a higher share price and an improved valuation.

“Valuation, or the price paid, is the ultimate arbiter of investment return and the more they have to stump up, the less likely predators are to appear, as higher valuations limit upside potential and increase downside risks should anything unexpected go wrong,” Mould said.

Debt burden

Looking ahead, energy analysts singled out BP’s relatively high debt burden as a potential cause for concern, however.

BP’s net debt came in at $26.04 billion at the end of the second quarter, down from nearly $27 billion in the first three months of the year.

“If you get a situation where oil prices start falling, then they are certainly the most exposed in the peer group,” Morningstar’s Good said. “So, that would be something that could derail this momentum.”

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French startup promises more EVs, fewer mines by pulling metals from DAISIES

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14 hours ago

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September 25, 2025

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French startup promises more EVs, fewer mines by pulling metals from DAISIES

Instead of conflict mining, this startup extracts nickel from daisies: 'Especially helpful for electric vehicles'

Government researchers in the US and abroad believe we could help decarbonize and electrify the transportation sector with hardy, fast-growing plants that collect the metals needed to manufacture electric vehicle batteries in their roots, then harvest those metals later with a process that’s cleaner and cheaper than traditional mineral mining.

Nickel is just one example of a critical element in the production of modern EV batteries, but mining it is messy, expensive, and destructive. It used to be, anyway – a new French biotech startup says it has a better idea: extracting nickel from daisies.

Getting nickel and other useful metals from plants is made possible through a process called phytomining. But, as you’ve probably guessed, everyday plants don’t collect enough of these metals to make the extraction commercially viable. That’s where a French biotech startup called “Genomines” comes in.

Genomine’s relies on biologically engineered plants it calls “hyperaccumulators.” These plants naturally pull metals and minerals out from the soil they’re planted in through their roots, and store it in their stems and leaves, where Genomine can harvest it later.

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“It’s important because we need a lot of metal, especially for the energy transition in batteries in electric vehicles,” Fabien Koutchekian, co-founder and CEO of Genomines, told Fast Company. “Not only in batteries, but [nickel is] widely used in stainless steel as part of infrastructure. The problem is that with current traditional mining methods, we will not be able to produce enough.”

Genomines predicts that hitting the 2040 goals set out by the Paris Agreement to transition all the world’s cars to electric vehicles will require six (6) times today’s global metal output and a significant number of new, potentially destructive mining operations.

That’s bad.

More farms, fewer mines

Bioengineered daisies extract twice as much nickel as before; via Genomines.

Not only are mining operations generally destructive, they often accompany (if not cause) a number of human rights issues as they get to work. “Indigenous Peoples and rural communities are paying a heavy price for the world’s scramble for energy transition minerals,” explains Veronica Cabe, Chair of Amnesty International, Philippines. “Not only did these communities undergo seriously flawed consultation processes – blighted by misrepresentations and a lack of information – they are now being forced to endure the negative impacts of these mining operations on their health, livelihoods and access to clean water.”

Genomines thinks its high-performance custom daisies could avoid this sort of environmental and cultural harm. They’ve convinced investors of that, too, to the tune of more than $45 million from a group that includes Hyundai and Jaguar and Land Rover parent company Tata.

“Our mission is to harness plant biotechnology to extract resources essential for clean energy technology via scalable processes that preserve biodiversity, soil health and human well-being,” explains Koutchekian. “Our vision is to create an entirely new industry of plant-based metals. Genomines unlocks a scalable new resource base – we can fundamentally rebalance global mineral supply chains for decades to come.”

Genomines says its methods are not only scalable, but offer a number of additional benefits over conventional mineral mining:

  • Transformation of non-productive land into economic assets, operating in areas that are too low-grade to mine traditionally, but too metal rich to farm
  • Quickly deployable farms, operationalizing an asset in 1-2 years versus 12-17 years for traditional nickel mines
  • Cleaner more traceable extraction, while maintaining 40-50% lower equipment and operational costs as a result of biomass farming
  • Scalable modularly, deploying smaller, capital-efficient assets at profitable rates, rather than relying on the large, capex-intensive mines of traditional industry
  • Superior sustainability, the hyperaccumulator plants capture carbon as they grow, making the entire process not just carbon neutral, but potentially carbon negative

“Genomines’ technology leverages underutilized assets by extracting nickel from low-concentration soils that don’t compete with traditional agriculture. Coupled with a structural cost advantage, Genomines is well equipped to fundamentally change the way we extract critical metals, and do it in a significantly more sustainable manner,” says Alex Hoffmann, General Partner at VC firm Forbion and Genomines investor. “We are excited to be part of the journey and support the team to achieve its ambitious targets.”

Genomines estimates that about 30 to 40 million hectares of land across the globe contain enough nickel for their phytomining processes to prove enough nickel for the world’s EV needs, at 7-14 times the amount currently being mined. While it’s got a long way to go, the company currently employs 23 full time staff that are making real progress at their South African site, with many more soon to come.

That’s good.

SOURCES: Genomines; via Business Insider, Good Good Good, SingularityHub.

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