On the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss our first drives in Tesla FSD v12.5, a new Tesla prototype, 2025 Chevy Blazer EV and Audi Q6, and more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):

First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) inaugurated its new $1.1 billion fully vertically integrated thin-film solar factory in Lawrence County, Alabama. 

The factory adds 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of fully vertically integrated nameplate solar manufacturing capacity to the US, and it’s expected to create over 800 jobs. The project was first announced in November 2022 following the passing of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.

First Solar’s unique selling point is that it’s a fully vertically integrated manufacturer of thin-film PV solar panels. This means they can turn a sheet of glass into a functional solar panel in about four hours, relying heavily on US-sourced materials like glass and steel, the latter of which is being sourced within a 25-mile radius of the new factory.

“This represents a great day for First Solar and for Lawrence County because this production facility is destined to become a major player in the US renewable energy market,” said Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL).

The Lawrence County factory, along with First Solar’s three operating factories in Ohio, brings the company’s domestic nameplate manufacturing capacity to almost 11 GW and its global capacity to over 21 GW, once fully online.

First Solar is also constructing a $1.1 billion, 3.5 GW factory in Louisiana, which is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2025. The company expects to have over 14 GW of annual nameplate capacity in the US and 25 GW globally by the end of 2026.

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Closing out this week’s Green Deals, we have three major e-bike sales alongside low prices on popular power station models. At the forefront is Velotric’s latest sale which has the updated 2024 Discover 1 Plus Commuter e-bike down at $1,199 with $102 in free gear, among the other models. Next, we have EcoFlow’s next scheduled flash sale which is offering the new RIVER 3 Portable Power Station with a backpack at a return low alongside a DELTA 2 bundle, as well. We have the latest sales from Juiced Bikes and Rad Power Bikes – the former offering 10% off sitewide, while the latter has switched around models and added some of its new lineup to the savings. Lastly, Goal Zero’s Yeti 1000X Portable Power Station has fallen to a new $500 low. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s exclusive discounts on the VMAX R40 Pro and R55 Pro Full-Suspension Electric Scooters, and much 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.

Velotric 2024 Discover 1 Plus commuter e-bike at $1,199 and get $102 in free gear

Velotric has launched a new sale in celebration of fishing season with up to $702 in savings on four of the brand’s popular e-bikes, with the 2024 Discover 1 Plus e-bike at the forefront for $1,199 shipped, with $102 in free gear too. Normally priced at $1,599, this model is usually included in sales events like today, with it more often falling to $1,299 in 2024, though we did see it drop to the $1,099 low back in March. You’re looking at a solid $400 markdown that combines with the additional rear rack and left mirror (valued at $102) for a combined $502 in savings at the second-lowest price we have tracked. You can even bump the savings up by another $200 when buying two models together, with the discount being applied automatically in your cart.

Velotric’s updated 2024 Discover 1 Plus e-bike arrives as an affordable and capable commuter solution with a 692Wh battery that powers the 500W motor (900W peak) for up to 65 miles of travel. There are five levels of pedal assistance to support the rider, or you can also use the throttle on its own for a reduced range of up to 58 miles. It reaches a standard speed of 20 MPH, but you can unlock its capabilities further up to 28 MPH (an increase from the previous build’s 25 MPH).

While Velotric’s Discover 1 Plus e-bike doesn’t sport the higher power ratings, upgraded parts, and Apple Find My integration as the new Discover 2, it does still come with a nice collection of features at such a low price. There is the SHIMANO 7-speed derailleur, an integrated 60 lux LED headlight, a taillight with braking functionality, double hydraulic disc brakes, larger 26-inch puncture-resistant tires, an increased IPX7 waterproof rating, fenders above both tires, and a 3.5-inch LCD display. There’s a USB-A port on the display to charge your phone as you ride, and it even has a walk assist mode for when you are forced to stop your ride to get it up extreme inclines.

More Velotric fishing season e-bike deals:

• Velotric Fold 1: $1,149 (Reg. $1,399)
  • 28 MPH for up to 55 miles
  • comes with rear basket and left mirror ($123 value)
  • Get extra $200 off when buying two
• Nomad 1 Plus: $1,399 (Reg. $1,799)
  • 28 MPH for up to 55 miles
  • comes with rear rack and left mirror ($102 value)
• Summit 1 Hybrid: $1,999
  • comes with adventure pack ($207 value)
  • fenders, rear rack, water bottle and cage, left mirror

EcoFlow flash sale offers new RIVER 3 power station with backpack alongside DELTA 2 bundle, starts from $169 low

EcoFlow’s next 24-hour flash sale is here and is now offering two different backup power deals at a significantly reduced price. One is a bundle direct from the brand’s site while the other, the new RIVER 3 Portable Power Station is coming to us via its official Amazon storefront at $169 shipped – plus, you get a free backpack valued at $79. This is the second official time we have seen this model drop down from its $259 price tag, with the first occurring right along with its official release on September 10 to the same rate, albeit without the gifted bag. To claim this deal, be sure to add both the power station and the backpack to your cart, where the discount will be automatically applied.

The next in EcoFlow’s line of compact backup solutions, the RIVER 3 delivers a 245Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity alongside X-GaNPower technology for increased 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.” It comes with six output options to cover charging needs: two AC ports, two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a car port. After draining it to empty, the battery can quickly be recharged in just a single hour plugged into a wall outlet, or hook up a 110W solar panel to refuel in up to 2.6 hours.

There are tons of protections and safety measures built into its design here too, like the X-Guard tech that combines an advanced algorithm with a cloud-based battery monitoring system for 40+ safeguards against various currents, voltages, temperatures, and circuit risks. The most prominent addition though is the X-Boost tech that lets it run larger 600W heating appliances while only using 300W of power, which is a big changeup for folks who prefer these smaller units. The whole thing also arrives waterproof, fireproof, and drop-resistant for better case scenarios when the unexpected unfortunately happens.

The other deal in this flash sale is on the tried and true DELTA 2 Portable Power Station that comes bundled with a smart extra battery and a free waterproof bag for $899, down from $1,798. You’ll get a 2,048Wh capacity with this combo, which you can expand with more extra batteries up to 3,000Wh. It can be recharged via solar charging or get an 80% battery in about 50 minutes through a standard wall outlet. It dishes a reliable output of 1,800W of power to cover a wider array of devices and appliances, with 15 ports to choose from: six ACs, four USB-As, two USB-Cs, and three DCs.

EcoFlow’s Prime Big Deal Days sale will be running through October 13 giving folks up to 50% off its lineup of power stations, bundles, and accessories – with deals on the brand’s new DELTA 3 Portable Power Station too, which are worth checking out.

Juiced launches additional sitewide 10% off discount with e-bikes starting from $1,349

Juiced has launched another sitewide 10% off sale that will combine with existing discounts to give you quality commuter solutions at even more affordable rates after using the promo code BIKES at checkout. While a notable model is the brand’s latest JetCurrent Pro Foldable e-bike back at its second-lowest price, one of the best deals you can score is on the CrossCurrent X Commuter e-bikes that start from $1,709.10 shipped for the Step-Through model, while its Step-Over counterpart is down at $1,799.10 shipped – but make sure to use that promo code to get those lower rates! These aren’t the lowest prices we’ve seen, as we’ve seen both models go as low as $1,399 back in the pre-tariff market, but today you’re looking at the second-best prices we have tracked in 2024, with a Step-Through model purchase saving you $290 and a Step-Over model purchase saving you $400 in total.

The CrossCurrent X Commuter Step-Through e-bike arrives with a 750W Bafang rear-gear hub motor (peaks at 1,300W) and a 52V 15.6Ah battery that tops out at 28 MPH speeds for up to 65+ miles of travel on a single charge. Its pedal assistance comes supported by an advanced torque and cadence combination of sensors to better eliminate lag time between your pedaling and the system cutting on that you often experience with sole cadence sensors. It pulls up with a nice collection of additional features too, with hydraulic disc brakes, Schwalbe Marathon Plus puncture-resistant tires, a thumb throttle for pure electric riding, an Altus 9-speed cassette, 1,050-lumen headlight with rear LED lighting, included fenders for both wheels as well as a rear rack, and a backlit LCD display.

The Step-Over CrossCurrent X model shares most of the same design traits as its above counterpart, though there is one major difference that take things a bit further (literally). It comes equipped with a larger 52V 19.2Ah battery that increases its travel distance on a single charge up to 80+ miles.

Juiced Sitewide sale discounts (use code BIKES at checkout):

• RipRacer Fun-Sized Fat-Tire e-bike: $1,349 (Reg. $1,499)
  • 28 MPH for up to 55+ miles
• Scrambler X2 Retro-Style Pit e-bike: $1,592 (Reg. $1,899)
  • 28 MPH for up to 55+ miles
• Scorpion X2 Moped-Style e-bike: $1,619 (Reg. $1,899)
  • 28 MPH for up to 55+ miles
• RipCurrent S Fat-Tire e-bike: $1,709 (Reg. $2,399)
  • 28 MPH for up to 70+ miles
• HyperScrambler 2 Dual-Battery e-bike: $1,799 (Reg. $3,499)
  • 30+ MPH for up to 60+ miles
• HyperScorpion Moped-Style e-bike: $2,069 (Reg. $2,499)
  • 30+ MPH for up to 70+ miles
• JetCurrent Pro Foldable e-bike: $2,069 (Reg. $2,799)
  • 30+ MPH for up to 70+ miles
• RipCurrent S Step-Through Fat-Tire e-bike: $2,159 (Reg. $2,399)
  • 28 MPH for up to 70+ miles

RadWagon Cargo e-bikes and the brand’s new folding model are now up to $309 off, deals start from $1,299

Rad Power has shuffled its offerings of discounted e-bikes and bundle deals while extending others – all through October 2. The biggest discount and lowest price among the bunch remains on the RadRover 6 Plus ST e-bike at $1,299, but I want to shift my focus this time around to one of my hands-down favorite models from the brand: the RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike at $1,599 shipped that also comes with a free cargo bag. It normally sits at a $1,799 price tag these days, with occasional inclusions in these sales often bringing costs down to $1,599. We’ve only seen the price on this model fall lower twice before, once to $1,399 over summer 2023 and the other time being its very first pre-order discount to $1,299 years ago (which has never been seen again since). You’re getting the opportunity to land it here today at its 2024 low and its third-lowest price overall, with a combined $309 in savings when you factor in the free cargo bag valued at $109 (make sure to add both to your cart for the automatic discount).

The RadWagon 4 is one of the most frequent models I’ve seen riding around the streets of NYC, particularly for parents who are using its 350-pound payload capacity to haul their kids to and from daily appointments – especially in highly congested areas where subway stops are sparse and parking a car would be a nightmare. The durable frame houses a 750W motor and a 672Wh battery that maxes out at 20 MPH speeds with up to 45+ miles of travel distance on one full charge, supported by five levels of pedal assistance (and a half-twist throttle for pure electric action for up to 25+ miles).

It’s been stocked with a nice array of features too, like the custom 22-inch by 3-inch tires that each get a fender overtop, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, an integrated taillight that activates for braking, a 200-lumen headlight, as well as the integrated rear cargo rack that boasts versatility for objects and passengers alike. It also has a water-resistant wiring harness that protects it from the weather, and a backlit LCD display that comes complete with a USB port to charge your phone as you cruise onward.

More Rad Power e-bike discounts:

Rad Power e-bike bundles:

• RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike: $1,899
• RadWagon 5 Cargo e-bike: $2,399

Save $400 on Goal Zero’s 983Wh Yeti 1000X portable power station at new $500 low

Coming to us through its official Amazon storefront, Goal Zero is offering its Yeti 1000X Portable Power Station for $499.86 shipped. This model has been recently going for $900 to $1,000 since it fell from its original $1,300 MSRP back at the start of the year. We’ve only seen a small handful of discounts bring costs lower, with notable price cuts to $720 in March, $675 in May, and its former $630 low in August. Today, you can score it for your backup power needs at a combined $400 markdown that lands it at the lowest price we have tracked to date.

Goal Zero’s Yeti 1000X is a perfect on-the-go and/or emergency companion to keep your devices and appliances running while still retaining a manageable transport size. You’ll be getting a 983Wh capacity here with two pure sine 1,500W AC inverters that surge up to 3,500W when needed, as well as five other output ports to cover all your bases: two USB-As, one USB-C, and one car port. It can fully recharge in up to nine hours when plugged into a standard wall outlet, with the brand’s Yeti X 600W Power Supply cutting that recharge time down to just two hours when connected. You can also take advantage of up to 600W of solar input to recharge via sunlight in two to four hours, with the minimum 100W of needed input taking a longer 12 to 24 hours, depending on conditions.

Summer e-bike deals!

• Xtracycle Stoker Off-Road Cargo e-bike with $590 in free gear: $3,999 (Reg. $4,499)
• Juiced JetCurrent Pro Foldable e-bike: $2,299 (Reg. $2,799)
• Lectric ONE Long-Range e-bike with $220 in free gear : $2,299 (Reg. $2,454)
• Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike with $439 in free gear: $1,999 (Reg. $1,999)
• Blix Sol X Comfort e-bike with free carrying bag (new model): $1,799 (Reg. $1,899)
• Blix Vika X Folding e-bike with free carrying bag (new model): $1,699 (Reg. $1,799)
• Velotric Nomad 1 Plus e-bike with $102 in free gear: $1,399 (Reg. $1,799)
• Lectric XPeak Off-Road e-bike with $227 in free gear: $1,299 (Reg. $2,126)
• Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,599)
• Lectric XPress 750 High-Step e-bike with $306 in free gear (new model): $1,299 (Reg. $1,605)
• Velotric 2024 Discover 1 Plus Commuter e-bike with $102 in free gear: $1,199 (Reg. $1,599)
• Lectric XP 3.0 Long-Range e-bikes with $306 in free gear: $1,199 (Reg. $1,505)
• Velotric Velotric Fold 1 e-bike with $123 in free gear: $1,149 (Reg. $1,399)
• Aventon Soltera.2 Commuter e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,199)
• Lectric XP 3.0 e-bikes with $129 in free gear: $999 (Reg. $1,128)
• 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.