A first that we’ve seen across the major backup power contenders on the market, Bluetti’s Handsfree 1 and Handsfree 2 backpack power stations are just as the name describes – ultra-slim power stations that have been tailored for either the 42L or 60L backpacks that come along with them, offering plenty more space for your camping/hiking/outdoor photography essentials. The two units offer either a 268.8Wh or 512Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity and can dish power output up to 300W (surging to 450W) or 700W (surging to 1,200W), with both providing one AC port, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports to connect your devices and small appliances.
Recharging these units is conveniently fast too, with both able to reach an 80% battery in 45 minutes, while the Handsfree 1 takes 1.5 hours and the Handsfree 2 takes 1.3 hours to reach a full charge. Of course, alongside being able to charge from your car, they also sport solar charging capabilities with a 200W and 350W solar input maximum (both recharge in 3 hours with the solar generator bundle options’ 120W panels). The bag itself comes splash-resistant against rain, with a flap that opens on the side for instant access to the station’s output ports, while also boasting multiple layers with various compartments to store equipment for drones, photography, or your regular office gear to take out into the world – plus, its flexible outer design allows you to hang tents, sleeping bags, solar panels, and more too. The shoulder straps have also bee stocked with buckles for your GoPro or other similiar cameras so everything stays within reach for whenever you need it.
Save $700 on Vanpowers’ 35-pound City Vanture e-bike that tackles commutes up to 50 miles at $1,049
Vanpowers is currently taking up to $700 off four of its reliable e-bike models, with urban riders seeing the biggest savings opportunity in the brand’s City Vanture Urban e-bike for $1,049 shipped. More recently fetching $1,749 in our post-tariff market, the lowest price we’ve seen to date was back during last year’s winter holiday sales, when costs fell to $840. In 2024, we’ve seen a few falls to $999, with discounts more regularly dropping the price to $1,049 or higher since summer’s end. Today, you’re looking at the third-lowest price we have tracked, which still provides a reliable commuting solution within a highly-affordable price pool.
The City Vanture e-bike arrives stocked with a 350W rear hub motor, a 252Wh battery, and five levels of pedal assistance to support the rider as it reaches top speeds of 25 MPH for up to 50 miles on a single charge. It comes with a sleek, aluminum alloy frame weighing in at just 34 pounds, which compliments and accentuates its minimalist design, and features a seamlessly integrated battery into the main bar, both hiding and protecting it from sight and/or harm. You’ll also find that it comes with 28-inch Kenda tires, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, a Gates CDN belt drive to pedal the bike without assistance, and an integrated LCD display with an IP66 waterproof rating.
More Vanpowers e-bike deals:
Get 11 feet of total reach with Greenworks’ 40V 8-inch cordless electric polesaw at new $87 low
We’re now tracking the best price yet on the Greenworks 40V 8-Inch Cordless Electric Polesaw for $86.53 shipped coming to us from Amazon. Normally priced at $180, we’ve seen a handful of discounts cut down on costs every two or so months, often keeping the price above $144, with one discount in April having gone lower to $135. Not only is today’s deal saving you $93 thanks to the unexpected 52% markdown, but it also beats out all the previous pricing that has come before it – including the former $115 low from April 2022, which we haven’t seen any prices get significantly close to since summer 2023. Don’t miss out on this new all-time low price while it lasts, giving you the opportunity to upgrade your tool arsenal at the best rate we have tracked.
Sporting a 40V brushless motor that comes powered by the included 2.0Ah battery, with this 40V 8-inch polesaw from Greenworks you’ll be able to perform up to 50 cuts per charge for regular tree-trimming needs (especially in those colder months if your trees run the risk of snow pileup and thus breaking in the process). This model gives you an adjustable 8-inch bar and chain that keeps itself lubricated for an extended lifespan thanks to the built-in auto-oiler. The extendable aluminum 3-piece shaft also provides up to an additional nine feet so you can have 11 feet of total reach (including the saw) and hit those higher branches that need tending to.
For today only you can save up to $130 on the Worx Nitro 40V LEAFJET cordless blower starting from $190
Amazon is offering the Worx Nitro 40V LEAFJET Cordless Electric Blower for $189.99 shipped. Normally priced at $250, regular discounts have been seen over 2024, with the biggest of them cutting the price tag to $153 so far, though we’ve seen it go as low as $140 in past years. There’s also a a great bundle opportunity through Best Buy’s Deals of the Day, offering this same Worx LEAFJET blower for $199.99 shipped. What makes this one-day only deal so great though, is the additional bundled savings you’ll get when also purchasing the Worx 20V Power Share PRO 4.0Ah battery alongside it, which starts with a $30 discount to $70 when buying it alone, but then falls even further to $20 when both items are added to your cart – meaning all-in-all, you’re getting three batteries and the tool while saving a total of $130.
If you already have Worx equipment in your arsenal, adding three more of the brand’s interchangeable batteries to the rotation is definitely not something to overlook as that’s one of the highlights of investing in brands with such an ecosystem. The Nitro LEAFJET itself is also a powerful upgrade to secure, arriving with the brand’s brushless motor 2.0 tech that provides a 620 CFM (165 MPH air flow) when you have it set in volume mode for faster clearings of larger areas. There’s a 3-speed control on this model, with an added turbo mode to bump up the power for tougher and more stubborn jobs (ever get embarrassed by wet debris not just blowing away? Exactly). It’s an easy model to operate with one hand at just 6.4 pounds too, allowing most people of varying sizes and ages to clear out their yards without concern.
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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Logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty Images
U.S. crude oil futures fell more than 4% on Sunday, after OPEC+ agreed to surge production for a second month.
U.S. crude was down $2.49, or 4.27%, to $55.80 a barrel shortly after trading opened. Global benchmark Brent fell $2.39, or 3.9%, to $58.90 per barrel. Oil prices have fallen more than 20% this year.
The eight producers in the group, led by Saudi Arabia, agreed on Saturday to increase output by another 411,000 barrels per day in June. The decision comes a month after OPEC+ surprised the market by agreeing to surge production in May by the same amount.
The June production hike is nearly triple the 140,000 bpd that Goldman Sachs had originally forecast. OPEC+ is bringing more than 800,000 bpd of additional supply to the market over the course of two months.
Oil prices in April posted the biggest monthly loss since 2021, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have raised fears of a recession that will slow demand at the same time that OPEC+ is quickly increasing supply.
Oilfield service firms such as Baker Hughes and SLB are expecting investment in exploration and production to decline this year due to the weak price environment.
“The prospects of an oversupplied oil market, rising tariffs, uncertainty in Mexico and activity weakness in Saudi Arabia are collectively constraining international upstream spending levels,” Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said on the company’s first-quarter earnings call on April 25.
Oil majors Chevron and Exxon reported first-quarter earnings last week that fell compared to the same period in 2024 due to lower oil prices.
Goldman is forecasting that U.S. crude and Brent prices will average $59 and $63 per barrel, respectively, this year.
In a bid to keep up with the rapid growth of EVs, Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT is currently seeking public feedback on a plan called “Chicago Moves Electric Framework.” The city’s first such plan, it outlines initiatives that include a curbside charging pilot through the city’s utility, ComEd, and expanded charging access in key areas throughout the city.
Unlike other such plans, however, the new plan aims to focus on bringing electric vehicle charging to EIEC and low income communities, too.
“Through this framework, we are setting clear goals and identifying solutions that reflect the voices of our residents, communities, and regional partners,” said CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney. “By prioritizing equity and public input, we’re creating a roadmap for electric transportation that serves every neighborhood and helps drive down emissions across Chicago.”
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Neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Chicago experience a disproportionate amount of air pollution and diesel emissions, largely due to vehicle emissions according to CDOT. Despite that, most of Chicago’s public charging stations are clustered in higher-income areas while just 7.8% are in environmental justice neighborhoods that face higher environmental burdens.
“Too often, communities facing the greatest economic and transportation barriers also experience the most air pollution,” explains Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “By prioritizing investments in historically underserved areas and making clean transportation options more affordable and accessible, we can improve both mobility and public health.”
The Framework identifies other near-term policy objectives, as well – such as streamlining the EV charger installation process for businesses and residents and implementing “Low-Emission Zones” in areas disproportionately impacted by air pollution by limiting, or even restricting, access to conventional medium- and heavy-duty vehicles during peak hours.
The Chicago Moves Electric Framework includes the installation of Level 2 and DC fast charging stations in public locations such as libraries and Chicago’s Midway Airport, “supporting not only personal EVs but also electric taxis, ride-hail and commercial fleets.”
Chicago has a goal of installing 2,500 public passenger EV charging stations and electrifying the city’s entire municipal vehicle fleet by 2035.
Electrek’s Take
ComEd press conference at Chicago Drives Electric, 2024; by the author.
Bodo G-Wagon electric golf cart; via Mecum Auctions.
With a fully-enclosed, G-Wagen-inspired body and an 80 mile electric range, the Bodo G-Wagon golf cart is the NEV you need when you decide it’s time to get serous one-upping the rest of the Palm Beach country clubbers.
The shiny black 2024 Bodo G-Wagon sold at Mecum Auctions last month for $31,900, which seems like it might not be a lot of money to the sort of person who decides to take a flyer on a goofy, limited-use EV that ships with real, metal doors, power windows, heating and air conditioning, fully digital instrument cluster and infotainment, and a “posh,” caramel leather interior.
It even has windshield wipers, power steering, and a rear-seat entertainment system that’s built into the front headrests!
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It’s really nice in there
Under the hood, the Bodo packs a 15 kW (20 hp) electric motor drawing power from a 10 kWh li-ion battery that won’t deliver a scorching 0-60 mph time (it only goes 35), but will deliver you and your buddies from one end of any golf course in North America and back several times over, thanks to the G-Wagon’s 80 mile range.
The official Mecum Auctions listing goes into a bit more detail, and I’ve included it here, in case it gets deleted after a while and you’re just finding this for the first time in 2027:
Be the envy of any country club or golf community showing up with this 2024 Bodo G-Wagon Golf Cart. Perhaps more appropriately known as an E-Wagon, this baby G-Wagon is powered by a 15kW motor with a 10kWh lithium battery. Boasting an 80-mile range and a 35 MPH top speed, the Bodo is an enclosed, luxury golf cart that pampers occupants with heating and air conditioning, rear-seat entertainment, power windows, power locks and a posh, caramel-colored interior. With the Bodo fitted with power steering and 4-wheel power disc brakes with brake boost, drivers will think they’re in a full-size G-Wagon, thanks to the multiscreen entertainment cluster, the rearview camera, windshield wipers, turn signals, running lights and so much more.
Finished in black with the right amount of brightwork, the overall vibe is one of jaw-dropping, smile-inducing fun. While the Bodo would be an excellent choice for any golf community, it should also prove to be hugely popular around a race track or car condo community as well, or maybe even a neighborhood with its own airplane runways. Over the past decade in particular, the demand for unique, luxury golf carts has been on the rise, and understandably so. The number of luxury communities with specific interests in sports, aero and auto has also been on the rise, with people buying homes in these exclusive locations to better engage with like-minded people. All too often a golf cart is the perfect way to get around these gated neighborhoods, and this one is enclosed, comes with the amenities of a full-size car and is infinitely more stylish.
You can check out a few more photos of the 2024 Bodo G-Wagon golf cart that sold at Mecum, below – and if you want one for yourself, you’re in luck! I found this brand-new 2025 “G600 E-Wagon” (in white) for $23,900 at Gulf Carts in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Head on down to the comments and let us know if you buy it.
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