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We’re kicking off this week’s Green Deals in a higher gear, with Segway’s x260 Electric Dirt Bike taking the lead at $5,525. Anker has launched its early fall Prime Day sale that will be ending right along with the upcoming 2-day event and has the SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station starting from $1,199, with plenty of discounted bundle and extra savings options too. Offering you more choice for your commute, we have the return of Hyper’s Jet Fuel BMX e-bike to its $600 low for a longer-term period, as well as OKAI’s Ranger All-Terrain e-bike down at $1,500. Bringing up the rear today is a one-day low price on the popular Greenworks 80V 730 CFM Cordless Handheld Blower at $170. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals in the links at the bottom of the page, like last week’s ongoing EV sales from Velotric, Rad Power, and Juiced Bikes, and plenty 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.

Save $975 on Segway’s x260 Electric Dirt Bike at $5,525

Courtesy of its ongoing Outlet Event, Best Buy is offering the Segway x260 Electric Dirt Bike for $5,524.99 shipped. Normally keeping to its $6,500 price tag, this particular model has seen very few discounts since first hitting the market in 2019. We’ve seen it fall lower once before, back in 2020 when it dropped to the $4,000 low, but Motocross enthusiasts are getting a chance at some solid savings here today, with $975 cut from its going rate to give you the second-lowest price we can find.

Segway’s x260 Electric Dirt Bike cruises onto the scene sporting a 3kW brushless DC motor that peaks at 5kW in order to tackle up to 45-degree inclines, as well as a removable 60V/32Ah battery to power the whole system. In just four hours of charging you’ll have the juice to travel up to 74.6 miles and hit top speeds up to 46.6 MPH, with acceleration going from zero to 31 MPH in just 4.02 seconds. It provides two different riding modes to balance its riding capabilities, with the sport mode giving more speed while the EP mode offers further range, each at the cost of the other.

The x260 electric dirt bike been outfitted with a bunch of features to support it through its rough and tumble rides, like the 70/100-19 off-road tires, double-shoulder inverted front fork suspension, a multi-link hydraulic spring, an LED headlight, and hydraulic disc brakes with rear regenerative braking to get back some of your lost energy for extended rides. Don’t worry about it getting a little wet during your ride either, as its controller comes with an IP67 waterproof rating while the battery provides IP65 protection.

x260 electric dirt bike

Keep essentials running with Anker’s SOLIX F2000 power station from $1,199 in early fall Prime Day sale

Anker has launched its Early Prime Big Deal Days sale through October 9 which is taking up to $4,134 off its lineup of power stations, solar generator and home backup bundles, as well as accessories too – with extra gifted savings opportunities on orders over $3,000. You’ll find a well-rounded backup solution in the SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station that is down at $1,199 shipped from its usual $1,999 price tag. During most of the sales we’ve seen in 2024, prices on this model often get dropped between $1,299 and $1,399, while we have seen it go lower once before to the $1,099 low back during July’s Prime Day event. You’re looking at the second-lowest price we have tracked here today, giving you a solid $800 in savings.

Avoid getting stuck in the dark wherever you are with this reliable SOLIX F2000 power station that boasts a well-rounded 2,048Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity while delivering up to 2,400W of power output. It’s been given 12 output ports to ensure significant and versatile coverage of your devices and appliances, with four AC ports, three USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, two car ports, and an exclusive RV port for mobile home travelers. It recharges up to 80% of its battery in only 1.4 hours plugged into a wall outlet, while utilizing its maximum 1,000W solar input will get you the same amount in as little as 2.5 hours. You’ll also get extra efficiency built right in as the smart AC ports work with its internal systems to switch into a power-saving mode for energy conservation that extends its lifespan and prevents waste.

There are quite a few discounted bundle options here to expand its capabilities once it arrives at your doorstep, with the unit including a 200W solar panel for $1,399, or you can bump it up to a 400W solar panel for $1,599, as well as getting a doubled 4,096Wh capacity with an expansion battery at $1,999. If you’re planning to use it to keep your home supported through power outages, you can snag the station with a transfer switch and the appropriate cable for $1,599, with an option to add a 200W solar panel to this combo for $200 more, or get the 4,096Wh expansion battery bundle with the transfer switch at $2,399.

Be sure to head to the main landing page here to check out all that Anker is offering during this sale.

Best Buy offers a second chance to score Hyper’s Jet Fuel step-over BMX e-bike at $600 low (Reg. $1,000+)

After offering it two weeks ago as one of its 24-hour Deals of the Day, Best Buy is now offering a longer-term discount on the Hyper Jet Fuel Step-Over e-bike at $599.99 shipped. Down from its $1,000 price tag here, we’ve seen few discounts on this particular model over the year, with most coming direct from Hyper and cutting costs down from its higher $1,198 MSRP there to keep near $900 to $1,000. We saw this model drop to its $600 low just two weeks ago in a 24-hour sale, but it’s returning here today with the same $400 markdown (and without the limited-time constraints) giving you another chance to grab it at the lowest price we have tracked.

Combining the convenience of e-mobility solutions with a 26-inch BMX design, Hyper’s Jet Fuel e-bike brings plenty of power alongside durability for teens and adults alike up to 275 pounds – especially for first-time e-bike riders. The 26-inch aluminum frame sports a 250W rear-hub motor that pairs with the integrated flush-mounted 36V 10.4Ah battery and three levels of pedal assistance to top out at 20 MPH for up to 20 miles on a quick four-hour charge – plus, you can always ride it like any normal bike too. It comes stocked with 26-inch multi-surface fat tires, front and rear disc brakes, a premium BMX padded saddle, and a simple handlebar-mounted controller for effortless setting adjustments.

x260 electric dirt bike

OKAI’s Ranger e-bike carries you through streets and trails for up to 45 miles at $1,500 (Reg. $2,000)

Amazon is offering the OKAI Ranger e-bike at $1,499.99 shipped. Normally fetching $2,000 most of the time, we saw it kick off 2024 by dropping to its $1,020 low for a short-lived period at the tail-end of January before quickly rising back up to its full price. Since then, we’ve mainly seen the price keeping above $1,500 with two particular instances where it was brought back down, first to $1,300 for a one-day Best Buy sale in February and then to $1,400 in April. You’re looking at the fourth-lowest price here today as it receives a solid 25% cut from its tag, saving you $500 on this all-terrain e-mobility solution. It even beats out OKAI’s website right now, where it is discounted at a higher $1,550 rate at the moment.

OKAI’s Ranger e-bike has been given a 750W BAFANG rear-hub motor (peaking at 1,000W) that pairs with the removable 48V battery to reach top speeds of 20 MPH and carry you for up to 45 miles on a single six-hour charge, making it as reliable a commuter option as it is great for joyriding around your town/city. It’s been equipped with several features to support it through urban and off-road adventures, like the 26-inch by 4-inch fat tires with puncture protections, a RST travel hydraulic suspension fork with lockout, Tektro disc brakes, and an integrated full-color LED touchscreen display. You’ll even get the bonus of a NFC card to lock your e-bike when you’re away from it for added security.

x260 electric dirt bike

Clear fall’s debris with the Greenworks 80V 730 CFM Cordless Handheld Blower at $170 low for today only

Coming to us through its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering folks another chance to grab the Greenworks 80V 730 CFM Cordless Handheld Blower at $169.99 shipped through the rest of the day. This powerful blower would normally cost you $250 most days, but we’ve been seeing consistently lower discounts in 2024 than in previous years, with it first hitting its $170 low back during July. Since then it’s only fallen to $180 at the lowest, but you’re getting another chance for today only to add it to your tool arsenal at $80 off its usual rate and the lowest price we have tracked.

This 80V blower from Greenworks arrives boasting “25% more air volume and 20% more speed” than its predecessors while also weighing in “20% lighter than gas blowers” – plus, you won’t have to deal with the fumes and noise on top of it all. With its included 2.5Ah battery you’ll be able to clear out yards for up to 70 minutes on a single charge. It’s been given a brushless motor that has become a standard with the brand, which reaches air speeds of 170 MPH and is easy to control thanks to the variable speed trigger. If you’ve already invested in Greenworks equipment before, you’ll be able to get more out of this model by interchanging batteries – compatible with most of the other tools in the brand’s ecosystem.

Fall e-bike 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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You can get antique plates for a first-gen Prius now — feeling old, yet?

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You can get antique plates for a first-gen Prius now — feeling old, yet?

This fall marks the 25th anniversary of the US launch of the first-gen Toyota Prius — a car that, arguably, has done more to more to shift the market away from fossil fuels than any other single vehicle (more on that in a minute). That means that, in many states, you can now get “antique” or “historic” plates for a modern hybrid.

If that sounds appealing to you, here’s what it might cost to keep that OG Prius on the road for many more years to come.

“When the Prius burst into the US market, it was nothing short of a revolution,” reads the breathless Toyota PR copy. “A true trailblazer in the world of hybrid vehicles, (Prius) set the stage for the electrification movement, captivating environmentally conscious drivers with its innovative spirit.”

I think that’s true. And, as for that claim in the header that the Prius did more to shift the US auto market away from fossil fuels than any other single vehicle, ask yourself this: would there even be a Tesla Roadster (much less an “affordable” Model Y) without the Toyota Prius bringing the conversation about electric cars into the mainstream zeitgeist fully eight years earlier?

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I spent enough time behind the wheel of a seriously quick and capable US Electricar Consulier to tell you this much: no, there wouldn’t.

They’re still out there


2001 Prius, via Toyota.

The inspiration for this article was, predictably enough, a first-generation Prius sighting in my own neighborhood. One of more than 52,000 first-generation Priuses (Prii?) sold in the US, this one was green, with a straight body, glossy paint, and the woman driving it turned out to be the car’s original owner. Her Prius – Toyota’s first gas-electric hybrid – continued to give her great service from its 1.5-liter four-cylinder ICE and high-torque electric motor, and the car’s nickel-metal hydride battery pack seemed serviceable enough, though she couldn’t tell me if it was original (her husband took care of all that).

That, along with the possibility of trolling boomers with an antique-plated Prius, led me to ask myself, “What would it really take to keep one of these on the road?”

Even if your Prius spent its entire life in a garage and has only 60,000 miles on the clock, 25 years is still twenty-five years, and rubber doesn’t care about mileage. That’s not just the rubber in the tires, either. The factory struts, bushings, CV joints, belts – even the engine mounts will surely need to be replaced. Ditto for the door and window seals.

Along with a 12V battery, fresh oil and filter change, and a thorough cleaning, that’s the kind of stuff you should budget for on day one. Here’s a quick estimate on what that would run (parts only, of course, because you work on antiques yourself):

  • tires – Michelin Energy Saver A/S or Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus in 195/65R15, plan on spending about $150/tire
  • shocks and struts – KYB Excel-G, commonly sold in pairs, expect to pay about $200/ea.
  • control arm bushings and sway bar links – MOOG control arm bushings and sway bar end links, $25-50/link
  • engine and transmission mounts – Dorman or Westar makes replacements at roughly $60–120 each, depending on which mount(s) you need
  • CV boots / axle rebuild kits – GSP or SKF kits typically sell $25–75/boot
  • Serpentine / accessory belt – Gates makes an OE-quality replacement belt for about $40

This is the big one


Under the hood; via Toyota.

You’ll notice, by now, that I’ve avoiding one particular bill. The one repair item that makes anyone looking at an older EV or hybrid think twice – the high-voltage battery. And, if you’ve done any kind of research into the cost of replacement batteries for older electric cars, you already know why that is. I haven’t mentioned it, because it’s not that bad.

I found a new high-voltage replacement battery for a Prius from GreenTec on sale for just $2,050 with a 36-month warranty, or $1,399 for a refurbished unit with a 12-month warranty. That’s not only significantly less than the price of a refurbished transmission for a Toyota Corolla of a similar vintage – it’s probably a lot less than people who still think EVs are new technology would have guessed, too.

Battery costs are going down


2024 Tesla Prices
2024 Model S; via Tesla.

The costs of replacing a high-voltage EV battery in older model year cars continues to go down – and that’s true for newer EVs, too. “We’ve seen about $12-18K as an average replacement cost for a Tesla battery,” says KJ Gimbel, founder and CEO of extended EV warranty firm, Xcelerate Auto. “(At that number) we’re confident that we’ll be able to support the vast majority of claims that arise, regardless of the model.”

In other words, if you’re the type of gear head who expresses a midlife crisis by buying a sensible, reliable daily driver, you could do a lot worse than a historic Prius.

That’s my take, anyway – what’s yours? Let us know what you think of the Prius’ 25th American birthday, its role in the EV revolution, and whether or not it’ll ever gain true classic status in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Original content from Electrek.


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What messy middle? Orange EV has logged over 10 MILLION all-electric hours!

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What messy middle? Orange EV has logged over 10 MILLION all-electric hours!

Orange EV may not be a household name like Mack or Kenworth, but this small-ish maker of all-electric heavy duty terminal tractors is making a name for itself where it matters: on the job. And this week, the company’s deployed fleet logged its ten millionth hour of operation!

Despite claims from oil-backed “efficiency” groups and fossil-backed hydrogen propaganda to the contrary, battery-powered heavy-duty EVs are proving themselves more than capable of getting the job done today, with millions upon millions upon millions of over-the-road miles as proof. Now, Orange EV is throwing its own data into the mix, with a deployed fleet of HDEVs that’s logged ten million hours of operation across more than 27 million low-speed, extreme duty miles.

“Ten million hours makes one thing clear: Orange EV has taken electric terminal trucks from possible to proven,” said Kurt Neutgens, President and CTO of Orange EV. “Our 340 customers are operating at an average of 97% uptime, with no compromises, proving you can cut costs, boost performance, and improve health and safety all at once.”

What might be more impressive than the miles covered, though, is how few trucks Orange has deployed to get to that number. The company reports that multiple units have already surpassed 30,000 hours of active service while others still are approaching a full decade of daily use — and all of them are still running on their original Orange-designed LFP battery packs.

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“Diesel yard trucks rarely achieve this level of durability, but Orange EV delivers with every truck,” adds Neutgens, a former Ford engineer. “Every hour of safe, reliable operation raises the bar for what fleets should expect from their equipment.”

Since delivering its first customer truck back in 2015, Orange EV has deployed more than 1,600 trucks across 40 states and four Canadian provinces. Together, these trucks have eliminated approximately 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide and saved fleets over $100 million (US) in fuel and maintenance costs alone. And, in more than 10 million hours of duty, not a single Orange EV yard truck battery has experienced a thermal event.

Electrek’s Take


e-TRIEVER electric terminal truck; via Orange EV.

Over at The Heavy Equipment Podcast, we had a chance to talk to Orange EV founder Kurt Neutgens ahead of last year’s ACT Expo for clean trucking. On the show (available here), Kurt explained how his experience at Ford helped inform his design ideology, and that the Orange EV was designed to be cost competitive with diesel options, even without subsidies.

Give it a listen, then let us know whether you think the big yard dogs’ success will help debunk the “messy middle” myths or not, in the comments.

SOURCE | IMAGESOrange EV.


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Inside the uranium plant at the center of U.S. plans to expand nuclear power

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Inside the uranium plant at the center of U.S. plans to expand nuclear power

Why U.S. companies are reopening uranium mines

EUNICE, NEW MEXICO — Paul Lorskulsint was a shift manager at a brand new uranium enrichment facility deep in the American Southwest when catastrophe struck Japan in 2011.

A massive tsunami and earthquake had caused a severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Thousands of miles away in Eunice, New Mexico, Lorskulsint turned on the television to make sure his team could witness what was happening across the Pacific Ocean.

Lorskulsint knew the disaster in Japan was a watershed moment for the nuclear industry. The plant where he was leading an operations shift had just opened in 2010, after the European uranium enricher Urenco had spent years building the facility in anticipation of growing demand.

Over the ensuing decade, public support for nuclear power diminshed and a dozen reactors closed in the U.S. as the industry struggled to compete against a flood of cheap natural gas and renewable energy. Demand for the low enriched uranium that fuels nuclear plants dwindled.

“The price of what we sold basically went through the floor,” Lorskulsint, who is now the chief nuclear officer at Urenco USA, told CNBC. Urenco’s long-term contracts with utilities insulated the facility during the downturn, he said, but the price drop put further expansion plans on hold.

Paul Lorskulsint, Chief Nuclear Officer, Urenco USA talks about the uranium enrichment process.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Headquartered outside London, Urenco is joinly owned by the British and Dutch goverments and two German utilities. Its New Mexico facility is the only commercial enrichment facility left in the U.S. The last U.S.-owned commercial facility in Paducah, Kentucky, closed in 2013 and its owner the United States Enrichment Corporation went bankrupt during the downturn after Fukushima.

Fourteen years later, the situation has reversed once again. Urenco USA is racing to expand its enrichment capacity. The nuclear industry is gaining momentum as electricity demand in the U.S. is projected to surge from artificial intelligence and the push to expand domestic manufacturing. Doubts persist about whether U.S. power supplies will ramp up quick enough to meet the needs. Increasing uranium enrichment will be a key part of the process, despite the history of past disappointments. 

Also, U.S. enriched uranium supplies are at risk. The U.S. still imported 20% of its enriched uranium from Russia in 2024, a legacy of the now shattered hope for friendship between the two countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War.

The U.S. will completely ban the import Russian uranium by 2028 in repsonse to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leaving a gapping supply deficit just when Washington, the utilities and the tech sector are developing the most ambitious plans in decades to build new reactors.

Nuclear plants like Palisades in Michigan, Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania and Duane Arnold in Iowa are planning to restart operations this decade after closing years ago. The tech sector is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to bring advanced reactors online in the 2030s to help power their computer warehouses that train and run AI applications.

“It is a pivotal moment, the next five to 10 years for the nuclear industry,” Lorskulsint said. “We’re going to have to have to deliver on time, on schedule and continue to maintain that momentum, which is a significant challenge.”

Employees at Urenco USA receive a cylinder of feed material for enrichment process.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Expansion plans

In deeply divided Washington, support for nuclear power is one of the few issues that can still muster some bipartisan support. President Donald Trump wants to quadruple nuclear power by 2050, a significant increase over President Joe Biden’s previous goal to triple it by that date.

The U.S. has only built one new nuclear plant from scratch in the past 30 years, raising doubts about whether such ambitious plans can be realized. But any effort big or small to expand nuclear power in the U.S. will run through Urenco’s facility in New Mexico.

The plant currently has capacity to supply about a third of U.S. demand with $5 billion invested in the facility to date. Urenco is expanding its capacity in New Mexico by 15% through 2027 as utilties replace Russian fuel. It has installed two new centrifuge cascades for enrichment this year. But Urenco’s expansion alone won’t fill the Russian supply gap, Lorskulsint said.

“Our competitors will have to expand in order to make sure that as a whole the industry is still supplied,” he said. “We’re building quickly as we can to make sure that the the industry is not short handed.”

As Russian fuel is banned from the U.S., the Trump administration is pushing for 10 new large reactors to start construction this decade. Alphabet is investing in about 2 gigawatts of new nuclear, Amazon has committed to more than 5 gigawatts, and Meta wants to bring up to 4 gigawatts online.

Urenco USA Facilities in Eunice, New Mexico.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

The industry is worried about the supply gap, Lorskulsint said, but filling it “is not an insurmountable task.”

Urenco USA is a candidate to receive a contract from the Department of Energy to produce more low-enriched uranium, part of U.S. efforts to standup a domestic nuclear supply chain. The contract would allow the New Mexico facility to expand further with the construction of a fourth production building.

Urenco’s competitors are also seeking support from the Energy Department to build out U.S. enrichment capacity. France’s Orano is planning to build a facility in Oak Ridge, Tennesse, with operations potentially starting in the 2030s.

Publicly traded Centrus has a facility in Piketon, Ohio, where it plans to produce low-enriched uranium, but it hasn’t yet started commercial operations. Centrus is the successor company to the United States Enrichment Corporation that went bankrupt in 2013.

Centrus stock has gained more than 400% this year as investors bet on a growing demand for enriched uranium due to U.S. plans to expand nuclear power.

Paul Lorskulsint, Chief Nuclear Officer, Urenco USA talks about the uranium enrichment process next to centrifuge cascade.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Supply chain bottlenecks

But enrichment is just one stage in a long supply chain that will be stretched by growing demand. Uranium delivered to the U.S is often mined in Canada and it is then converted into intermediate state called uranium hexafluoride that is the feedstock for enrichment.

The feedstock is spun in Urenco’s centrifuges to increase the presence of the isotope Uranium-235 to 5%, the level needed for most nuclear plants. The enriched uranium is then shipped to fuel fabricators that manufacture the pellets that go into reactors in power plants.

U.S. nuclear plants are facing cumulative supply gap of 184 million pounds of uranium through 2034, according to the Energy Information Administration.The biggest bottleneck right now for Urenco is the conversion of uranium into the feedstock for enrichment, Lorskulsint said. There are only three facilities in the Western world located in Canada, France and Illinois that convert uranium into feedstock.

“Every portion of the supply chain is going to have to expand, it’s not just about enrichment,” Lorskulsint said. “We need more of everything but conversion right now is the bottleneck.”

The nuclear supply chain may not be the biggest challenge in the end, the executive said. The ageing U.S. electric grid could prove to be the real constraint on building new nuclear due how long it takes to complete upgrades, he said. While this could slow Urenco down, it won’t stop the expansion, he said.

“We came here when the market demanded it,” Lorskulsint said of Urenco’s investment in the U.S. “We were here when the market didn’t demand it. And we are now expanding to make sure that we can still support as much as the market needs from us.”

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