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Outdoor exploration just got a lot more nimble and high-tech with the new BLUETTI Handsfree Backpack Series – Handsfree 1 and Handsfree 2. This all-in-one backpack power station redefines what it means to stay powered on the go.

BLUETTI has a special limited-time early bird offer, but it disappears on November 15, so don’t wait!

Whether you’re a hiker, photographer, backpacker, drone operator, journalist, remote filmmaker, or digital nomad, we’ve all been there – struggling with power banks, tangled cables, and extra bags just to keep our devices running during outdoor adventures. BLUETTI’s new Handsfree Series changes the game.

Imagine a sleek, all-in-one backpack that not only stores your essentials but also keeps your devices fully charged, effortlessly. No more juggling gear – just hands-free power so you can focus on what matters most: the adventure.

BLUETTI Handsfree Backpack Series: Storage and power in one pack

The BLUETTI Handsfree Series offers two models: Handsfree 1 and Handsfree 2. Each one is more than just a versatile backpack – they’re complete energy solutions with a detachable portable power station and a foldable solar panel.

BluePack backpacks are built for ultimate organization and convenience. With dedicated compartments, MOLLE straps, versatile hooks, and mounts, your camera, drone, and personal items all have their perfect place. Plus, the ultra-thin power station keeps your gear charged and ready –no matter where your adventure takes you.

Charge your devices on the go

BLUETTI’s Handsfree Series truly lives up to its name. Equipped with five output ports including an AC outlet, 2 Type-C (100W) ports, and two USB-A ports, it can charge multiple devices at once, keeping everything powered up. Plus, with app control, you can monitor all your devices in real-time without having to take off the backpack.

Even better, the side-access charging port design means you don’t have to remove the backpack to plug in your devices. That way, you can charge your gadgets with minimal fuss, even if you’re trekking through a forest or up a mountain.

Ultra-thin and comfortable: Power without the bulk

You might expect powerful tech like this to be bulky, but the Handsfree Series shatters those expectations. Its ultra-thin power station is the width of a smartphone – three times slimmer than traditional portable power stations – seamlessly fitting into the backpack without adding extra weight or bulk.

Designed by BLUETTI’s outdoor gear specialists, the ErgoBLUE ergonomic support system evenly distributes the load, reducing strain and making it comfortable to carry for hours. The backpack features breathable mesh materials and supports up to 66 pounds (30 kg) of gear, making it perfect for long hikes, motorcycle rides, or bike-packing adventures.

Unlimited charging: Turbocharged and solar-powered

The Handsfree backpack power station charges quickly and efficiently, whether you’re using mains power, solar, a battery, or your vehicle. Thanks to Turbocharging technology, it reaches 80% charge in just 45 minutes and fully charges in under 1.5 hours.

For true off-the-grid adventurers, the Handsfree Series can be paired with additional portable solar panels to boost battery life by up to 30%. With fragmented solar charging technology, the power stations automatically pause when clouds roll in and resume when the sun returns, maximizing energy efficiency every step of the way. Want to livestream from the wilderness? Now you can.

Safety first: Reliable and durable power

Powering your adventure is great, but staying safe is crucial. The Handsfree Series features automotive-grade lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery cells, offering over 4,000 charging cycles and a lifespan of 10 years. These battery cells are built to perform in extreme temperatures, ranging from -20°C to 40°C.

BLUETTI has also integrated its BLUETOPUS AI-BMS (Battery Management System), which prevents overcharging, overvoltage, and other hazards, keeping your power station and devices safe. Plus, the entire system is water resistant (IP65 rating), meaning it will stay safe and dry even in harsh weather conditions.

Price and availability

The highly anticipated BLUETTI Handsfree Series is available at a special early-bird price, but DON’T WAIT! These prices end on November 15:

About BLUETTI

BLUETTI has been committed to promoting sustainability and providing clean energy solutions since its inception. By offering eco-friendly energy storage solutions for both indoor and outdoor use, BLUETTI aims to provide exceptional experiences for our homes while also contributing to a sustainable future for our planet. This commitment to sustainable energy has helped BLUETTI expand its reach to over 100 countries and gain the trust of millions of customers worldwide.

Follow BLUETTI on Twitter/X here and on Facebook here.

All photos: BLUETTI

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Meet Bodo – the 35 mph electric golf cart that thinks it’s a G-Wagen

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Meet Bodo – the 35 mph electric golf cart that thinks it's a G-Wagen

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.

If you love the look of the $230,000 Mercedes-Benz G580 off-roader, but think the 579 hp, 6,800 lb. electric 4×4 is probably overkill for occasional trips to the golf course and country club, this G-Wagen-inspired golf cart might be just what you’re looking for.

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.

MECUM AUCTIONS

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.

SOURCE | LOTS MORE PHOTOS: Mecum Auctions.


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It’s back: Hyundai IONIQ 5 qualifies for $7,500 tax credit – again!

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It's back: Hyundai IONIQ 5 qualifies for ,500 tax credit – again!

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 got a raft of upgrades and sporty, rally-focused XRT trim level for 2025 – but the biggest upgrade for the Made in America Hyundai might be this: the 5 has regained eligibility for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit!

Despite being assembled at Hyundai’s Georgia meta plant for the last four month, the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was nowhere to be found on the EPA’s list of rebate-eligible vehicles. But that was then – with a fresh updated to the list coming online May 1st, Hyundai’s new-age electric hot hatch is back in the rebate game.

It’s worth noting that lease customers had been able to access the incentive under some circumstances, but this latest update to the EPA list makes it possible for cash and payment buyers to take advantage of the full Federal incentive, too – as long as they earn less than $300,000 as a married couple filing jointly, less than $225,000 as a head of household, or less than $150,000 as an individual.

With the $7,500 federal tax credit in the equation, you can get a new 2025 IONIQ 5 for somewhere in between $36,575 and $49,475, well under the $80,000 Federal MSRP cap.

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Victory lap

As if to celebrate, Hyundai announced that it was taking on the celebrate One Lap of America road rayy and race event in a factory collaboration with the track-focused enthusiasts at Grassroots Motorsports this week with One Lap veterans Andy Hollis and Tom Suddard campaigning a stock, 601 hp 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N in the Alternative Fuels class.

“After winning our class in a gutted, caged race car last year, we wanted to compete in the best-of-all worlds this year: A vehicle that’s incredibly fast, incredibly comfortable on a road trip, and incredibly capable on a racetrack,” explains Suddard. “Electrification means it’s finally possible to have huge power without huge compromises in a street car, and the IONIQ 5 N promises to pair that huge power with the durability and capability to survive a week of racing.”

One Lap is widely regarded as one of the toughest street-legal motorsports events in the world, pitting amateur and professional drivers alike compete in stock and heavily modified vehicles of every description, battling it out in a series of scored challenges, including timed events at road courses, drag strips, skid pads, and autocross courses.

In between tracks, competitors safely travel thousands of miles around the country, proving the mettle and durability of the vehicles and the teams that drive them. This year, 86 teams from all over the country will compete in 17 scored events over the course of eight days at tracks like Virginia International Raceway and NCM Motorsports Park.

The Tire Rack One Lap of America is currently underway – you can track the Hyundai’s progress here, then let us know what you think of this new tax development in the comments.

SOURCES | IMAGES: Hyundai, One Lap of America; FuelEconomy.gov.


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E-quipment highlight: Kenworth T880E vocational electric semi truck

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E-quipment highlight: Kenworth T880E vocational electric semi truck

With the launch of the first-ever Class 8 vocational EV in the North American market, PACCAR Kenworth is raising the battery-electric bar and underscoring just how far the market has come since the Tesla Semi made its debut nearly a decade ago.

When Tesla pulled the wraps off its all electric Semi truck all the way back in November of 2017, the rest of the industry was hardly thinking about BEVs. Nearly a decade later, the world is still waiting for the Semi to begin regular production, and PACCAR is launching its second generation of HDEVs with the debut of this, the all-new Kenworth T880E vocational truck.

“The Kenworth T880E marks a groundbreaking milestone in Kenworth’s history as we bring to market the first Class 8 battery-electric solution built for vocational applications,” explains Kevin Haygood, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “The T880E is engineered to meet the evolving needs of operators and vocational fleets while still providing the durability, reliability and customization our customers expect.”

The new electric K-whopper is motivated by PACCAR’s in-house ePowertrain platform, capable of putting up to 605 hp and 1,850 lb-ft of peak torque to work, while delivering the same levels of drivability and dependability fleets expect from a Kenworth – but power and torque are only part of the T880E’s work-ready résumé.

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Open to work

Kenworth T880E; via PACCAR.

In addition to a stout, Class 8 electric chassis fitted with heavy-duty Kenworth brakes and axles, the T880E’s central drive eMotor allows for significant wheelbase flexibility so fleet buyers can spec out exactly the machine they need to get the job done. The T880E was also designed to enable lift axle installations from trusted Kenworth upfitters for a vocational-friendly BEV integration.

Additionally, the T880E features a wide selection of factory-installed options that include both high- and low-voltage ePTO (electric Power Take Off) ports, mechanical ePTOs, and the same wide array of body configurations as the ICE version.

Speaking of the ICE version, the electric T880E also can also be had in the same set-back front axle and set-forward front axle configurations with the same multi-piece hood construction. Inside the cab, the latest in driver-focused technology includes the Kenworth SmartWheel and a new 15″ DriverConnect digital touchscreen. Dash and vocational features like RAM Mounts and factory-installed PTO switches are available. The T880E is also offered with Kenworth ADAS packages for customers interested in DigitalVision Mirrors, Bendix Fusion, and Lane Keeping Assist.

It’s so big, you guys

Kenworth T880E; photo by the author.

The T880E was on static display at last week’s ACT Expo in Anaheim, California. Check with your local Kenworth dealer for availability.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Kenworth.


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