Enjoy autumn gatherings around EAST OAK’s 21-inch smokeless wood-burning fire pit at new $146 low
Amazon is offering the EAST OAK 21-inch Smokeless Fire Pit for $146.16 shipped. Normally going for $270 most days, it remained above $219 for the first five months of 2024, until June saw the first drop further to $197, repeating again in July and being beaten out by August’s former $153 low. We just spotted this model now benefitting from a 46% markdown that lands it at a new all-time low price, saving you $124.
Outdoor gatherings around a firepit are one of the best things about autumn, and with EAST OAK’s large 21-inch smokeless wood-burning fire pit, you’ll be able to complement your fall plans at home or beyond. It weighs in at just 19.4 pounds giving it more portability and has been given a trapezoidal design with a dual-bottom inlet that takes advantage of the Venturi effect “to increase air intake by up to 30 percent, producing a more vigorous flame and more warmth for your outdoor gatherings.” Its “circle-turned-square” shape is an ideal gathering spot for four or more people, providing a uniform 360 degrees of warmth that reaches surprisingly far – plus, there’s an included removable ash tray and fire poker too to make cleaning up after its usage far easier and hassle-free.
If you want to check out all the décor that EAST OAK is currently offering at a discounted rate, including more smokeless fire pit sizes, be sure to browse through its official Amazon storefront here.
Electric Bike Company is taking up to $500 off a collection of e-bike bundles that come fully decked out with various accessories like cargo racks, storage baskets, pannier bags, and more – plus, two bonus promotional options that give you further add-on gear at a significantly reduced rate or free, which we discuss below. While all of the offered bundles are down at affordable rates, considering the company’s high-quality builds, the lowest price among them is on the Model J – Desert Rover for $1,899 shipped. Normally priced at $2,199, we’ve only seen this same rate once before in April, with other rarely occurring discounts we’ve seen only taking $100 off at most. It comes in here today at a repeated $300 markdown that returns costs back to the second-lowest price we have tracked.
As I mentioned above, Electric Bike Company is offering an additional promotion that takes $200 off its Upgraded Tech Package at $199 (selected in the bike customizer), giving you upgraded lighting systems, braking systems, a portable repair kit, an Air Tag bell, an anti-theft alarm system, and an LCD color display – you can learn about the specifics here. The secondary offer provides a fee anti-theft alarm alongside an upgraded 3.5A super charger along with your e-bike purchase by using the code FALL2024 at checkout.
Electric Bike Company’s Desert Rover e-bike is an expanded upon version of the standard Model J, arriving with a golden-tan, metallic Venice Beach moped design that sports a classic banana seat (which can be fully customized in color and all). It’s been given a 500W motor (peaking at 750W), a 14Ah battery, and five levels of pedal assistance to enhance your ride, with it able to hit 20 to 28 MPH top speeds and travel up to 60 miles on a single charge. On top of its usual features, it also has plenty of additional add-on gear, including a rear-mountable cargo rack, a front-mountable rack, a Basil MIK crate, a Basil trunk bag, 3-inch puncture-resistant tires, integrated front and rear safety lights, hand stitched vegan leather grips around BMX handlebars, and an LCD color display with a USB charging port. As part of the package, you’ll also receive a color-matched helmet as well.
The greatest feature about any of the e-bikes under this brand though, is the customizable options, accessed by hitting the “customize more” button on the individual e-bike’s pages. Most of the parts have two to three options for customization – even the paint job – with plenty more accessories you can add-on as well, allowing you to truly build a ride that fits your preferences and expresses your individuality.
Lectric XPeak Off-Road e-bikes get rare price cut with $227 in bonus gear at $1,299 low
Running right alongside the final hours of its Tailgating Flash sale, Lectric has given folks another rare price cut on its XPeak Off-Road e-bikes through the rest of the month at $1,299 shipped, as well as offering $227 in free gear too. Normally priced at $1,399 since releasing earlier this year, we’ve only seen one other price cut on this model that occurred for a single day back during Labor Day sales. Usually, discounts from this brand are on the included bundle packages, but we’re instead getting a mix today of bundle savings and the $100 markdown that drops costs to the return of the pre-tariff all-time low.
The XPeak e-bike’s streamlined frames house the removable 48V battery that powers the 750W rear hub-motor (with a 1,310W peak) and five levels of pedal assistance that can boost the rider’s own efforts up to top speeds of 28 MPH (depending on your state’s laws). For the price, there’s some great features here too, with 4-inch puncture-resistant fat tires, hydraulic mineral oil brakes, a 7-gear Shimano derailleur, a thru-axle wheel attachment system for tool-free installations, a hidden cable routing system, an IP65 water-and-dust-resistant LCD display, and even removable pedals that are a lot more convenient than one might first think.
There are also several mounting points along the frame that allow for additional add-on accessories, including the $227 in free additional gear you’ll be getting along with your purchase including a rear cargo rack, fenders for both your wheels, and an 850 lux Elite headlight.
Bluetti Power Week Sale takes up to 47% off home and on-the-go backup solutions starting from $299
Bluetti has launched a short-term Power Week Sale through September 28 that is taking up to 47% off a small selection of power stations and bundles for your home backup and travel needs. A notable inclusion in this sale is Bluetti’s AC300 Portable Power Station which comes bundled along with a B300K expansion battery and two 200W solar panels for $2,498 shipped. Normally this package would cost you $3,497 in full, but you’re looking at a solid $999 price cut here that lands it $99 above the all-time lowest price we have tracked. Plus, along with your purchase, you’ll also be receiving a free trolley that is valued at $299 for a total of $1,298 in savings.
Power outages will be far less of a concern for you with this backup bundle from Bluetti, which delivers a 2,764.8Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can add more batteries to in order to expand further up to 11kWh. There are 16 ports on this unit to tackle all your devices and appliances, with seven AC ports (including a 120V TT-30 port), four USB-A ports, two DC ports, a single USB-C port, and two 15W wireless charging pads. It dishes out power up to 3,000W that surges up to 6,000W, and comes with four different ways to recharge the main unit – plugged into a standard wall outlet, hooked up to a maximum 2,400W solar input, connected to a car port, and even dual-charging capabilities when using both AC and solar together.
There are also extra savings awaiting you when you join Bluetti’s membership program, which is free to sign up and allows you to exchange earned points for redeemable rewards. You can learn more about it here.
Anker’s 53L EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Electric Cooler 50 down at $699 for the rest of the day
Coming to us from its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Anker EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Cooler 50 at $699 shipped through the rest of the day. Normally this model keeps near its $949 price tag, but we’ve been seeing an increased frequency in discounts as 2024 has progressed, often dropping costs between $699 and $799, while March saw the furthest drop to the $600 low. This one-day only discount comes with a solid $250 markdown that lands it back at the third-lowest price we have tracked overall.
Anker’s EverFrost cooler series makes ice runs a thing of the past thanks to its battery-powered system, with this 53L model sporting what its two smaller counterparts lack: dual-zone refrigeration and freezing capabilities. It comes with an internal battery that provides a 299Wh capacity which keeps your stowed food and beverages cold and crisp for up to 27 hours on a single charge. A nice feature that Anker has included here is the 100W solar input maximum that lets you benefit from solar charging (as well as three additional recharging options) to further extend its battery life.
You can even utilize its two USB-A ports or one USB-C port to recharge your devices while its taking care of your perishables. It also comes designed for portability too, with an EasyTow handle and two 6-inch wheels to provide support when walking to your destination while also including an extendable table, a built-in bottle opener, and remote control of its settings via the Anker app.
Summer e-bike deals!
Xtracycle Stoker Off-Road Cargo e-bike with $590 in free gear: $3,999 (Reg. $4,499)
Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with $177 in free gear: $999 (Reg. $1,176)
Lectric XP Lite 2.0 e-bikes with $49 in free gear: $799 (Reg. $848)
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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2024 Drive Electric Week EV parade in Wenatchee, WA. Photo: Julie Banken
Drive Electric Month kicks off this week with nearly 200 online and in-person events celebrating electric vehicles over the course of the next month. Events will be held for the next several weekends all across the US, plus a few in Canada and one in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Drive Electric Month is an annual event organized by Plug In America, the Electric Vehicle Association, EVHybridNoire, Drive Electric USA, and the Sierra Club. This is the event’s 15th year. It started in the US as National Drive Electric Week, but for the last few years, some events have been hosted in other countries as well, and now the event has expanded to cover most of the month of September, with a few events in October as well.
These events are an opportunity for prospective EV buyers to talk directly with EV owners about the experience of owning an electric car, and EV owners to network with each other and share tips. The dealership experience is not ideal for many EV shoppers, so unfiltered conversations with EV owners can be a great way to learn.
Each event is organized by local EV advocates, and they range in size from small parking lot meetups and local EV parades to large festivals with lots of booths from nearby car dealers and green businesses. Many events have live music, family-friendly activities, food trucks and the like.
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A map showing 2025’s events
Drive Electric Month has a map and list of events happening over the course of the month. Most events are in-person, but there are some webinar-style online events that you can attend to hear about various topics related to electric vehicles if you can’t get to any local evels. You can also search for events near you.
Be sure to click through to each individual event’s page to see what your local events will look like, what types of EVs might be in attendance, and register your interest.
Here’s a sample of some of the events happening over the course of the month:
Oregon Electric Vehicle Association (OEVA) Test Drive & Information Expo in Portland, Oregon on September 13, 10am-4pm: Along with the standard test drives and car displays, this event will have a number of gas to electric conversions and antique EVs on display. It’s happening at the Daimler Truck North America headquarters, and some of the space will be used for seminars and presentations.
Drive Electric Month Oahu in Aiea, Hawaii on September 13, 10am-2pm: The largest Hawaiian event is just outside of Honolulu, but there are events on four Hawaiian islands this year, with the others in Lihue on Kauai on Sep13, Hilo on the Big Island on Sep27, and Kahului on Maui on Oct11.
DIY conversions are one of the more fun things to see at these events. Image from OEVA/Plug In America
Mesa EV Ride & Drive in Mesa, Arizona on September 20, 8am-12pm: A veteran group of organizers is bringing the EV experience to Mesa Community College on Saturday, Sept. 20. People can test drive a variety of models, talk to real owners and learn how and where to charge.
Jimmy Buffett Son of a Sailor Festival in Mobile, Alabama on September 20, 2pm-7pm: There will be EV displays at this festival which celebrates Jimmy Buffett and Gulf Coast culture. The free festival features live music, local restaurants, parrot-head costume contests and EV drivers who can answer all your questions about driving electric.
Electric Avenue at the Downtown Car Show in Grand Junction, Colorado on September 20, 9am-3pm: At the 23rd annual downtown car show, EVs will have their own block. Spectators will visit with drivers and can participate in a friendly competition for great prizes.
Knoxville’s event is one of the largest, with 75 cars registered so far. Image from Tennessee Clean Fuels
Knoxville Drive Electric Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee on September 27, 10am-3pm: This event bills itself as the largest NDEM event in the Southeast. Along with EV displays and ride-and-drive, the live music stage will be powered by a Ford F-150 Lightning using its vehicle-to-load capabilities.
Plug In America Ride and Drive at Space Coast Pride Parade & Festival in Melbourne, Florida on September 27, 12pm-4pm: Plug In America itself is hosting a ride-and-drive at the Space Coast Pride Parade & Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27. The public can test drive EVs from different manufacturers, engage with local EV owners and ask questions of the organization’s EV experts.
ELECTRATON DEM’25 in Guadalajara on October 4 from 9am-5pm: This is once again the sole event in Mexico, hosted at Oscar Casillas Karting Track, where there will also be a 4th annual race of student-built electric karts alongside the EV exhibition and test drives. (Here are some photos from last year’s event, including the student kart races and a Cybertruck on track).
Not all the events are large or hosted in big cities. There are also smaller events happening in town centers, church parking lots, and so on, often with just a handful of EV owners who are typically happy to stand around and have a frank discussion with members of the public about what it’s like to own an EV, or to network with other local EV owners.
Many of these events are happening in conjunction with Sun Day, a global day of action calling for a sun-powered planet on September 21 this year. These events will focus on how solar has become a drastically cheaper form of energy, and highlight ways that everyone can benefit from more solar and by electrifying whatever uses energy in our lives – whether that be vehicles, appliances, etc.
On that front, one notable Drive Electric/Sun Day event will be in Whittier, CA on Sep. 20th (not the 21st) from 11am-3pm, with test drives, an electrified home tour, and an eco scavenger hunt. It’s being organized by one of the original founders of National Drive Electric Week, so expect to see some EV oldtimers at this one.
If you’d like to attend any of these events, either to show your vehicle, to volunteer to help run the event, or just to show up and look around, you can check out the list of events, then go to each event’s page to find more information. Remember to click the “RSVP” or “Volunteer” links near the top to register your interest (or register at the links mentioned in the event description).
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Tesla has discontinued the cheapest version of the Cybertruck just a few months after launching it.
No one wanted the gutted electric truck.
There’s no hiding it. The Cybertruck is a commercial flop.
Tesla claimed to have over 1 million reservations for the vehicle. It planned for a production capacity of up to 250,000 units per year, and CEO Elon Musk even said that he believes it could increase to 500,000 units per year.
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Meanwhile, Tesla is currently selling the Cybertruck at a rate of roughly 20,000 units per year.
The primary reason for the significantly lower-than-anticipated sales is that Tesla launched the Cybertruck at a higher price and with worse specifications than initially announced.
Instead of starting at $80,000, like the Cybertruck AWD, the Cybertruck RWD started at $70,000.
However, it was an even worse deal because Tesla had essentially stripped the vehicle of its most valuable features, including active air suspension, a motorized tonneau cover, and even the power outlets in the bed, in addition to removing a motor.
Less than 5 months after launching the new vehicle, Tesla has discontinued the Cybertruck RWD.
The automaker updated the Cybertruck’s online configurator to remove the option:
Tesla hasn’t replaced the variant with a new one. It just stopped taking orders.
Electrek’s Take
I don’t know of anyone who ordered this. It was such a bad deal. There’s already only a small pool of potential Cybertruck buyers, but none of them want to lose all those essential features for $10,000.
Where does the Cybertruck go from there? Does Tesla keep the vehicle program at just ~20,000 units per year?
I think they may try to do an upgrade next year to bring it closer to what they originally promised and see if there’s more demand as a result.
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks to members of the media as he arrives at a lodge for the Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference on July 8, 2025 in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Oracle‘s historic stock surge this week marked the latest chapter in the story of a single private company that’s dominated the tech landscape for almost three years: OpenAI.
In Oracle’s blowout earnings report, OpenAI was a key catalyst due to a massive amount of money the artificial intelligence startup expects to spend on cloud computing technology in the coming years.
It’s becoming a familiar theme.
A week earlier, Broadcom shares popped almost 10% after the chipmaker and software vendor said it forged a $10 billion deal to build custom processors for a customer that analysts said was OpenAI.
Among tech’s megacaps, Microsoft has the closest link to OpenAI, having invested more than $13 billion in the company and serving as its key cloud partner for six years. Nvidia’s march to becoming the world’s most valuable company is intimately tied to OpenAI, as its graphics processing units (GPUs) sit at the heart of large language model development and are essential for running big AI workloads.
Those four companies alone — Oracle, Broadcom, Microsoft and Nvidia — have seen their combined market caps swell by over $4.5 trillion since OpenAI burst into public view with the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. And those gains are a big reason why the Nasdaq and S&P 500 have sustained sharp rallies, with both benchmarks closing at a record on Friday.
OpenAI’s outsized influence has some market experts understandably concerned. It remains a cash-burning startup that’s governed by a nonprofit parent.
The company’s $500 billion valuation is supported by a small number of investors betting that OpenAI will prevail in the face of hefty competition from the likes of Meta and Google as well as other highly-valued newcomers like Anthropic and any number of players out of China.
“While we love ChatGPT, OpenAI is still a not for profit limited in its ability to raise capital,” said Gil Luria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson, in an interview with CNBC.
Luria, who recommends holding Oracle shares, dug into the company’s numbers as the stock was in the midst of a 36% jump on Wednesday, its biggest gain since 1992.
In its quarterly earnings report late Tuesday, Oracle said it signed four multibillion-dollar contracts with three different customers during the period. One of those was with OpenAI, which said previously that it agreed to develop 4.5 gigawatts of U.S. data center capacity with Oracle.
Investors knew, based on a filing with the SEC in June, that Oracle signed a $30 billion cloud contract with an unnamed company that’s set to begin in two years. CNBC confirmed a Wall Street Journal report from Wednesday that OpenAI has agreed to spend $300 billion in computing power over about five years, starting in 2027.
In the two trading days after its historic pop, Oracle’s stock retreated, dropping more than 6% on Thursday and another 5% on Friday, as other investors began sharing Luria’s concerns.
The new revelations about OpenAI’s massive cloud commitment provided a clearer sense of Oracle’s expanding backlog.Oracle said its performance obligations, a measure of contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized, surged 359% from a year earlier to to $455 billion.
Luria said the concentration of Oracle’s backlog with a single customer “significantly reduces” enthusiasm, particularly if “more than 90% came from OpenAI.”
Oracle didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Altman’s open wallet
OpenAI has made big commitments to several other cloud providers, including CoreWeave and Google, and reportedly plans to put $19 billion toward Stargate, a project President Donald Trump announced in January to bolster AI infrastructure investments in the U.S. Stargate is a joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank, which is separately leading a planned $40 billion investment in OpenAI.
Luria said the takeaway is that “Sam Altman has the gumption to sign very large checks without needing to worry about whether those can ever be cashed.”
OpenAI declined to comment.
While OpenAI will be losing money for the foreseeable future, the company is expecting revenue growth to continue at a breakneck pace. After hitting $10 billion in annual recurring revenue in June, OpenAI is on pace for that number to reach $125 billion by 2029, CNBC confirmed.
And on Thursday, OpenAI got a step closer to formalizing its transition to a for-profit entity. The company said its nonprofit parent will continue to have oversight over the business and will own an equity stake of more than $100 billion as the commercial entity becomes a public benefit corporation.
OpenAI needs the restructuring to take place by year-end in order to secure the entirety of the $40 billion from its latest financing round.
For Oracle, the massive increase in OpenAI spending has landed the company within shouting distance of the trillion-dollar club, which currently includes eight tech peers. Oracle’s market cap climbed to about $930 billion on Wednesday before retreating to $830 billion to close the week.
Byron Deeter, a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, told CNBC’s “Money Movers” that he’s still skeptical of Oracle’s prospects in AI. The company has spent years trying to play catchup in cloud infrastructure, where it trails Amazon, Microsoft and Google.
Deeter said Oracle remains a “B-level hyperscaler” without meaningful positions in AI software or chips.
“Two days ago, we all thought Oracle was essentially nowhere in AI,” Deeter said, following the earnings report. “They announce this mega-deal, people think they’re the next great hyperscaler – and I don’t buy that part.”