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Liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage units.

Dan Kitwood | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The biggest influx of liquified natural gas (LNG) supply is coming online and it will transform the global market, bringing about wide and enduring effects, said RBC Capital Markets.

“A wave of new LNG supply —the biggest yet— is set to reshape the global market in the coming years, with broader implications than prior growth given increasing inter-linkages between regional gas markets following the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” analysts from the investment bank wrote in a note. 

The supply injection is likely to thrust the market into an extended period of oversupply by the end of 2026, which will remain until 2030, with prices possibly moving below double-digits, analysts such as RBC’s Anan Dhanani have projected.

Futures for the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) hub, a European benchmark for natural gas transactions, were trading at $12.78 per mmbtu on Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Throughout the year, a growing chorus of analysts have warned that tepid demand growth coupled with looming waves of export capacity could lead to a massively oversupplied market. As a stream of planned infrastructure continues to flood the market, it’s unclear if demand will increase to absorb each wave.

Oversupply and depressed prices underscore the bearish sentiments in the LNG sector, said Rystad Energy senior analyst Masanori Odaka. Suppliers are now increasingly prioritizing LNG used for shipping utilization over arbitrage opportunities, i.e. profit margins.

Commodity arbitrage involves the simultaneous or sequential buying and selling of commodities across different markets to profit from the price difference.

Global LNG trade has doubled in the last decade, growing from around 240 metric ton in 2014 to more than 400 metric ton last year, largely caused by the disruption of Russian pipeline gas to Europe, according to RBC Capital. Some had perceived the geopolitical risk as an opportunity in the market.

The investment bank projected that global liquefaction capacity, the total amount of LNG that can be produced annually, will grow by around 50% by the end of the decade. The U.S. and Qatar will hold onto their position as the world’s biggest suppliers, with a combined market share of almost 50% in 2030, RBC added.

Many private companies and state-owned entities have plans to boost capacity, “not only to backstop European consumption but to also capture an expected growth in consumption rates, particularly in Asia,” RBC’s analysts said.

But demand from the Asia-Pacific region, the biggest importer of LNG, is only expected grow by an average of 5% annually. Around 70% of this growth will stem from China, India and South Korea.

Meanwhile, LNG prices have not seen major fluctuations despite escalating geopolitical tensions. “Surprisingly quiet” was how Meg O’Neill, managing director and CEO of Woodside Energy, described the market.

“For me, maybe that’s a sign that there’s sufficient supply sources around the world to help mitigate any temporary supply disruption coming out of the Middle East. And that’s probably true for both oil and LNG,” O’Neill told CNBC on the sidelines of the annual Singapore International Energy Week conference. 

There are other looming challenges to the LNG sector that could affect global markets. The 2024-25 Northern Hemisphere winter is in sight and existing contracts of Russian gas deliveries to Europe through Ukraine are set to expire at the end of 2024, the International Energy Agency pointed out.

“This could mean an end to all piped gas deliveries to Europe from Russia through Ukraine,” the IEA wrote in a recent note. “This in turn would require higher LNG imports into Europe next year, resulting in a tighter global gas balance.”

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Hydrogen had a wild ride in 2024, but Honda has more to come in 2025

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Hydrogen had a wild ride in 2024, but Honda has more to come in 2025

On today’s high-powered episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda fuel cell manager David Perzynski here to talk about Honda’s forty year history developing hydrogen powertrains, and the role Honda sees for HFCEVs in a battery dominated world.

In the course of the conversation we talk about several hydrogen articles posted in 2024, as well as some Honda projects related to CES. You’ll be able to read more about those, below. Enjoy!

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news!

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

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Check out this awesome looking new four-wheeled electric bike

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Check out this awesome looking new four-wheeled electric bike

Sixthreezero’s wide range of electric bike models includes some fairly out-there models, but the company’s new four-wheeled electric bike really charts a new direction in the industry. Take a look at the new ANYterrain Stabilized 4-wheel Electric Bike.

It’s a mouthful of a name, but the ANYterrain Stabilized 4-wheel Electric Bike hauls more than just a bunch of extra words. The bike is rated to carry up to 350 lb (159 kg), and the 750W motor ensures it has the power to do so. With speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km/h), the quad bike is just as fast as most Class 1 and 2 e-bikes.

But the real game changer here is the design, offering four-wheeled stability that riders can’t get from a conventional three-wheeled trike.

Not only do four wheels provide better stability with a wider footprint, but the steering on the bike uses leaning geometry to take turns more naturally, helping riders feel even more stable.

With 20″ wheels in the rear and 16″ wheels in the front, the quad bike keeps a fairly low center of gravity. All four wheels use 4″ fat tires for better offroad riding and more comfortable shock absorption compared to narrow tires, and the rear wheels even feature a differential to better apply the motor’s power to the ground.

A twist throttle makes it easy to roll on that power, and a D/R switch on the bars lets riders put it in reverse for cases where they need a little help wiggling around in tight spaces. Pedaling backward from a stop can also engage the reverse. At 120 lbs (54 kg), this isn’t the type of bike you can just pick up and move around the garage without a little help so that reverse feature will likely come in handy.

A 48V and 20Ah battery offers 960Wh of capacity, which the company says translates into a range of up to 50 miles (80 km).

The battery is housed under a cargo basket in the rear, though a bench seat can be swapped for the basket, allowing riders to carry a passenger with them.

Electrek’s Take

This certainly won’t be a mass market type of e-bike, but I can see a real use case for neighborhood riding and local errands, especially for folks who don’t feel stable on a bicycle or even a trike.

Despite trikes offering great stability when going straight, some people can feel uncomfortable making turns on a trike, especially at higher speeds, because they can sometimes feel tippy under certain scenarios. This quad bike can still tip if you take a turn sharp enough, but the wider stance combined with the leaning steering means riders will even more stable than on a trike.

And since this will likely be used more by older riders, the reverse is an important feature for letting folks park the bike easily without dismounting and dragging it around.

There could be some legal hurdles in some areas that define “bicycles” as having either two or three wheels, but I’m guessing most cops aren’t jumping at the opportunity to ticket grandma for riding her quad bike on the local rails to trails network.

I love seeing more options like this, and I commend Sixthreezero for providing such interesting options to add to the market.

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Here are the best EV lease deals for under $300 right now [live updates]

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Here are the best EV lease deals for under $300 right now [live updates]

Who said you had to break the bank to drive an electric vehicle? Several EV lease deals are available this December for under $300 or even $200 per month, but the savings may not last long. Here are some of the best EVs to consider leasing right now.

Electric vehicles accounted for nearly 9% of all vehicle sales in the US in the third quarter, its highest level on record.

“The growth is being fueled in part by incentives and discounts,” According to Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of Industry Insights at Cox Automotive. The other part is the influx of more affordable models hitting the market.

In addition to the $7,500 federal tax credit, some discounts on EV models are reaching $10,000 to upwards of $20,000.

The massive incentives slash monthly payment prices, in many cases making them even more affordable than comparable gas-powered cars. According to a new Experian report, leasing accounted for 45% of all new EV transactions in the third quarter. That’s up significantly from 25% last year and just 9.5% in Q3 2022.

December-EV-lease-deals
(Source: Tesla)

Including incentives, the average monthly payment for leasing an EV was $198 less than if you financed a new model.

With Trump’s transition team reportedly planning to “kill off” the $7,500 EV tax credit, the savings could largely disappear. As buyers rush to take advantage of the discounts, EV sales are expected to surge this month.

December-EV-lease-deals
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)

EV lease deals for under $300 a month this December

To close out the year strong and make room for new models, several companies are offering significant discounts on popular electric models, including Kia, Hyundai, Honda, GM, Ford, Stellantis, and more.

According to online automotive research firm CarsDirect, several EV models are even available for lease for under $300 or even $200 per month right now. You can view offers in your area at the bottom.

Lease From Term
(months)
Due at Signing Effective rate per month
(including upfront fees)
2025 Nissan LEAF $129 36 $2,529 $199
2025 Kia Niro EV $149 24 $3,999 $315
2024 Kia EV6 $159 24 $3,849 $319
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 $159 24 $3,999 $326
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 $159 24 $3,999 $326
2024 Nissan Ariya $169 24 $6,219 $428
2024 Fiat 500e $179 42 $2,979 $250
2024 Toyota bZ4X $219 39 $2,999 $296
2024 Honda Prologue $229 36 $1,299 $265
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning $230 36 $6,206 $402
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E $251 36 $5,440 $402
2024 Subaru Solterra $279 36 $279 $287
Tesla Model 3 $299 36 $2,999 $382
Tesla Model Y $299 36 $2,999 $382
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV $299 24 $3,169 $431
Best EV lease deals for under $300 a month in December 2024

The 2025 Kia Niro EV remains one of the most affordable electric cars on the market, with leases starting at as low as $149 for 24 months. With $3,999 due at signing, the effective rate is just $315 per month. That’s even cheaper than the plug-in hybrid model at $414 per month (including $3,499 due at signing).

Kia also offers a $199 per month for 36 months EV lease deal. With $3,999 due at signing, the effective cost is just $310 per month.

December-EV-lease-deals
2024 Kia EV6 (Source: Kia)

The EV6, Kia’s dedicated EV based on the same platform as Hyundai’s IONIQ 5, is listed with lease prices as low as $159 for 24 months. With $3,849 due at signing, the 2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Range RWD trim costs just $319 per month to lease.

Speaking of the IONIQ 5, Hyundai’s electric SUV is also available to lease this month for under $200. Through its “Hyundai Getaway Sales Event,” Hyundai is offering a $159 for 36 months lease offer on the IONIQ 5. Hyundai’s big savings come as the upgraded 2025 model is arriving at dealers.

December-EV-lease-deals
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Source: Hyundai)

You can also snag the 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 for the same $159 per month. With $3,999 due at signing the effective cost is just $326 per month.

Nissan’s Ariya electric SUV is another top choice, with lease prices starting at as low as $99 per month. However, that’s only available in Colorado. In other parts of the country, like New York, the 2024 Nissan Ariya is listed at $169 for 24 months. With $6,219 upfront, the effective rate is $428 per month.

December-EV-lease-deals
2024 Nissan Ariya (Source: Nissan)

Fiat’s compact 500e EV is available to lease for $179 for 42 months this December. With $2,999 due at signing, you can lease the 2024 500e INSPI(RED) trim for just $250 per month.

You can score Fiat’s EV for even cheaper in some areas. For example, one dealership in Colorado is offering a $0 for 27 month lease deal with $0 down, making the 500e essentially free.

Honda’s Prologue was the third best-selling EV in the US last month as sales continue surging this year. In a year end promo, Honda made the electric SUV even more attractive with a 0% APR offer and up to $6,000 off.

Best-EV-lease-deals
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)

Although not under $200, you may want to consider a few other EV lease deals this month. For example, Honda is offering its electric Prologue at just $259 per month for 36 months. With $2,999 due upfront, you can drive off in Honda’s electric SUV for just $342 per month. That’s less than a Honda Civic at $279 per month despite costing nearly twice as much.

At just $299 for 24 months, the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV is also worth a look. With $3,169 due at signing, you can lease the electric Equinox for just $431 per month.

Best-EV-lease-deals
Photo: Courtesy of Tesla Inc.

Tesla is offering three free months of Supercharging and Full Self-Driving in its year end deals. However, you must take delivery by December 31, 2024.

Ford is another company making a strong end of year push with big savings on electric models. Through its new “Power Promise”, all EV buyers get a free Level 2 home charger and Ford will cover the cost of standard installation.

Ready to take advantage of the savings? We can help you find the best EV lease deals in your area. Check out our links below to view offers on popular electric models in your area.

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