Connect with us

Published

11 months ago

on

It’s the beginning of the Black Friday home stretch, with today’s Green Deals being led by exclusive deals on Anker’s SOLIX C300 90,000mAh Power Stations (and coming along with $49 in free gear) that start at $143. Right behind them are a collection of AeroGarden’s indoor hydroponic systems and multi-pod seed kits at new Black Friday lows, with the Harvest 2.0 model down at $45, among others. We also have Black Friday savings across a huge lineup of Greenworks electric mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, bundles, and more – all at up to 46% off and starting from $29. Lastly, we spotted a new all-time low price on Anker’s popular PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station that has dropped to $80. Plus, all the best hangover Green Deals from last week are in the links at the bottom of the page, including all the major Black Friday sales on EVs, power stations, and more that are collected together in our Electrified Weekly roundup coverage.

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.

Anker SOLIX C300 power station

Featured deal: With more than 130 years in the bicycle business, Huffy is well-known across the market, especially for its large lineup of kid-friendly models. For Black Friday, the brand is providing some exclusive savings on its iconic Electric Green Machine Trike at $419, after using the promo code ELECTREKGM at checkout for 30% off. Ideal for riders aged 8+ and falling under the 180-pound max weight, it gives kids the chance to experience 15 MPH top speeds thanks to its 250W front hub motor alongside the 36V battery. This model will also grow with your child, as its seat provides three different adjustable settings to keep them safe while they tear up the pavement with plenty of spins and drifts.

Anker SOLIX C300 power station

Featured deal: Buzz Bicycles is bringing readers an exclusive promotion this Black Friday to save $400 on its Centris class 2 folding e-bike that drops costs to the best price of the year on top of including a free accessory – all for $799, after using the promo code ELECTREK200 at checkout. Featuring a step-thru and folding frame, you’ll enjoy cruising through the streets at 20 MPH top speeds for up to 40 miles, making it a great entry-level model for new riders as well as veteran riders seeking a more affordable option. There are two colorways here to choose from, and plenty of solid features like the 4-inch fat tires, front suspension, front and rear lighting – and even front and rear cargo racks too. Adding an electric solution to your commuter needs doesn’t have to break the bank with this deal.

Anker SOLIX C300 power station

Exclusive deals on Anker’s SOLIX C300 90,000mAh power stations offer $49 in free gear starting from $143

Wellbots is offering two exclusive deals on the Anker SOLIX C300 DC and AC 90,000mAh Power Stations for Black Friday, with the DC version dropping to $143.10 shipped, after using the promo code 9TO5ANKER10 at checkout, while the AC version is hitting $179.10 shipped, after using the promo code 9TO5ANKER10 at checkout. These two units normally fetch $200 and $250, respectively, with these discounts bringing costs down among the lowest prices we’ve seen – the second-lowest for the DC and a new all-time low for the AC, though the pot is sweetened here thanks to the free carry straps and USB-C cords (valued at $49) that you’ll get alongside your purchase. All-in-all, you’ll be saving $106 and $120 with these deals while they last.

The next generation of Anker’s compact and totable power stations, the SOLIX C300 units give you a solid 90,000mAh/288Wh LiFePO4 capacity to cover your on-the-go device charging needs. You’ll get up to a 300W power output with the Anker SOLIX C300 DC power station, with its recharging hitting 280W through the use of its two bi-directional 140W USB ports at once. This model also comes equipped for campsite illumination thanks to the integrated LED pop-up light. On the flip side, Anker’s SOLIX C300 AC power station tosses out the need for bi-directional charging, hitting the same 280W speeds when plugged into a wall outlet, with the same 300W output rate, and a switched out light bar on its front facing panel instead of the pop-up lighting.

AeroGarden hydroponic systems and seed pod kits

AeroGarden’s 6-plant Harvest 2.0 indoor hydroponic system hits new $45 Black Friday low

As part of its ongoing Black Friday sale, Amazon is offering the AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 Indoor Hydroponic System for $45 shipped. Normally fetching $90 at its usual full price, in 2024 we’ve been seeing it mainly stay above $80, with occasional periods of it falling lower – we spotted it hitting $50 over the summer and more recently dropping to $60 during last month’s Prime Day event. These low prices are getting beaten out here today though, with folks benefitting from the 50% off Black Friday markdown here, saving you $45 and giving you a new all-time low price – plus, it comes ahead of the brand’s inevitable disappearance come 2025.

If you weren’t aware, AeroGarden announced back in October that its doors will shut forever in 2025, so now is the best time to stock up on devices and seed pods – and at such low prices too. Tossing out the need for messy soil, this popular device allows for the growth of six veggies, herbs, or flowers up to 12 inches tall inside the grow deck, supported by its water bowl design. It’s been equipped with a 15W grow light that provides an automatic on/off timer that simulates the natural daily lighting of the sun, germinating them ”up to 5x faster than in soil” – and there’s even a nutrient reminder to add plant food and keep the growth on schedule. Along with the unit itself, you’ll also be receiving a growing starter kit that includes plant food, grow sponges, and lettuce seeds.

More AeroGarden Black Friday hydroponic system deals:

  • Sprout: $30 (Reg. $60)
    • 3-plant system
    • comes with 3-pod Gourmet Herb Seed Kit
  • Harvest Elite: $60 (Reg. $120)
    • 6-plant system
    • comes with Seed Pod Kit
  • Bounty: $115 (Reg. $230)
    • 9-plant system
    • Wi-Fi and Alexa compatability
    • 9-Pod Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit
  • Bounty Elite: $130 (Reg. $260)
    • 9-plant system
    • Wi-Fi and Alexa compatability

AeroGarden Black Friday seed kit deals:

Greenworks Black Friday

With its Black Friday sale in full swing, Amazon is offering up to 46% in major savings across a huge lineup of Greenworks electric lawn care solutions, like the 40V 16-inch Cordless Electric Lawn Mower for $209.99 shipped. This affordable model is coming down from its $299 price tag here, which we’ve mainly seen fall to $250 over 2024, though we did spot it hitting its $199 low back in July. Today, you’re getting the opportunity to score it with a 30% markdown that saves you $89 and lets you upgrade from your gas-guzzler at the second-lowest price we have tracked.

This electric lawn mower arrives sporting the brands brushless motor design all powered by the 4.0Ah battery, giving it a 60-minute runtime on a single charge (with recharging only taking 2 hours). It sports a five-position height adjustment to achieve the perfect adaptable cut between 1-1/4-inch and 3-3/8-inch heights while also featuring an easy-to-do push start button and a foldable frame for easier storage when its not in use. You’ll also have two options for collection while mowing – either mulching or rear bagging – which provides better versatility over single-functionality models.

Best Greenworks Black Friday lawn care deals:

Best Greenworks Black Friday lawn care bundle deals:

Best Greenworks Black Friday pressure washer deals:

Best Greenworks Black Friday snow-clearing deals:

Geenworks Black Friday accessory deals:

Anker SOLIX C300 power station

Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh power bank station hits new $80 low for Black Friday (Save $70)

Riding Amazon’s Black Friday sale wave, Anker’s storefront is offering its PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station for $79.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $10 off coupon. Normally sitting at its $150 price tag, we saw it hit its previous lowest rate during last month’s Prime Day event, lasting for a short time before jumping back to its full price – with a secondary short-lived repeat at the tail-end of October. Thanks to the Black Friday savings train, you’re getting an even better opportunity to score it for your personal device charging needs at a combined 47% markdown, saving you $70 while scoring it at a new all-time low price.

Since it was first released during the summer of 2023, Anker’s PowerCore Reserve has been a popular companion for day-to-day charging needs with its 60,000mAh/192Wh battery on top of the 5 pound weight and compact design that slips right into your bag. It dishes out power through the two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports, with it rated to keep an iPhone 14 recharged over 10 times or a MacBook Air for up to 2.9 times. Aside from its standard wall outlet recharging, you’ll also be able to utilize solar charging here with the addition of a 60W solar panel (sold separately). One of its much-loved features is the built-in retractable light that provides two brightness levels and even an S.O.S. button to flash out though the darkness in times of emergency (which has been passed on to its descendants).

Best Black Friday 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.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Environment

Here it is: the first-ever electric Type D school bus from Thomas Built

Published

3 hours ago

on

October 28, 2025

By

Here it is: the first-ever electric Type D school bus from Thomas Built

Thomas Built Buses introduces Wattson, the company’s first electric Type D school bus

The school bus experts at Thomas Built have just released the first all-electric, square-bodied Type D school bus in the company’s storied history – and they’ve given their new bus a friendly, pun-tastic name. Kids, meet Wattson!

Properly called the Saf-T-Liner eHDX2 Wattson, this latest transit-style Type D bus from North Carolina-based Thomas Built combines a flat front, high seating capacity, and superior driver visibility with clean, quiet, electric power from Cummins Accelera.

“Wattson represents our next step in electrification,” said TJ Reed, president and CEO of Daimler Truck Specialty Vehicles. “(Wattson) reflects our belief that the best electric solutions are the ones that feel familiar, fit within your fleet and are built to last. That’s what we’ve heard from our customers, and that’s what we’re delivering.”

The bus offers 150 miles of estimated range thanks to a huge 246 kWh li-ion battery pack. That battery funnels electrons to the same, ultra-efficient 295 hp 14Xe eAxle with 750 lb-ft of peak tq as the recently-revealed Jouley, offering more than enough “get up and go” to get kids safely across multilane highways and up even the gnarliest rural mountain inclines. And, of course, without the freezing concerns that can stop a diesel fleet cold during extreme temperature drops.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

And, because Wattson is based heavily on Thomas Built’s existing Type D body, schools’ preferred upfitting solutions should bolt right in. “We know electrification can feel like a big step,” continued Reed. “With Wattson, we’re making that step easier by giving districts a familiar Type D solution they already trust – now in electric.”

Wattson is available for order now, with first deliveries scheduled for early 2026. The bus is capable of 120 kW DC fast charging, and is V2G capable.

Electrek’s Take

2026 Saf-T-Liner eHDX2 Wattson; by Thomas Built.

It’s almost universally accepted that school buses are prime candidates for electrification. They tend to operate on short, local routes, in stop-and-go traffic, and in close proximity with some of the most vulnerable populations in the country, in terms of respiratory illness and physical safety (just imagine a kid trying to yell “STOP!” at a bus driver and being heard over the din of noisy kids and a revving diesel). The fact that electric school buses can reduce a district’s operating costs and serve the public as a portable power center in an emergency are just icing on the electric cake.

Here’s hoping all our kids’ schools have a chance to trade in their gross diesel school bus for something like Thomas Built’s Wattson sooner than later.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Thomas Built.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.


Add Electrek as a preferred source on Google
Add Electrek as a preferred source on Google

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Bako Motors builds solar-powered tiny electric cars that sip sunshine

Published

4 hours ago

on

October 28, 2025

By

Bako Motors builds solar-powered tiny electric cars that sip sunshine


Electric vehicles are known for plugging in – but one startup wants them to simply soak up the sun instead. Bako Motors is building compact electric cars and cargo vans with solar panels on the roof, letting them charge directly from sunlight and cut their dependence on wall sockets altogether.

It’s not an entirely novel idea. But unlike flashy startups like Aptera, Bako is approaching it with an actually commercially viable solution. And now the company is joining several other African-based EV makers hoping to help the continent leapfrog its way towards more sustainable transportation.

While most EVs still rely on grid charging – often from a fossil-fuel-heavy mix in Africa – Bako’s small vehicles can harvest free energy straight from the sky. According to founder and CEO Boubaker Siala, the roof-mounted solar cells can provide more than half of a vehicle’s daily energy needs. For its commercial model, the B-Van, that translates to about 50 km (31 mi) of solar-assisted driving per day, or roughly 17,000 km (10,500 mi) per year without ever plugging in.

Of course, drivers do still have the option of plugging into an EV charger to top up the battery more quickly, but soaking up extra sun all day may mean that many owners can get away with infrequent grid-charging stops.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The B-Van can haul up to 400 kg (882 lb) of cargo and offers 100–300 km (62–186 mi) of total range, starting at around US $8,500. Its smaller sibling, the Bee, is a two-seat urban runabout with 70–120 km (44–75 mi) of range and a 44 km/h (27 mph) top speed, priced from US $6,200. A third model, the X-Van, is now on the drawing board with space for two passengers and extra cargo.

More than 40% of Bako’s parts are sourced locally – including the steel for the frame and lithium-iron-phosphate batteries – creating jobs while reducing import costs. A second, larger factory is set to open in 2026, boosting capacity to 8,000 vehicles per year for Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

By combining affordability, local manufacturing, and solar charging, Bako Motors is carving out a niche that fits Africa’s climate and infrastructure realities. In a market where range anxiety and unreliable grids still hold many buyers back, these sun-sipping EVs might just be the independence-promoting solution that drivers need.


Add Electrek as a preferred source on Google
Add Electrek as a preferred source on Google

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Mining execs embrace ‘phenomenal’ rare earths interest from the Middle East

Published

7 hours ago

on

October 28, 2025

By

Mining execs embrace 'phenomenal' rare earths interest from the Middle East

Guests enjoy the Fortune Global Forum 2025 Gala Dinner on October 26, 2025 at Diriyah Gate, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Cedric Ribeiro | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

Mining executives have welcomed a sharp upswing in investor interest from the Middle East, as Gulf states seek to expand their critical mineral ambitions and take on established global players.

Critical minerals refer to a subset of materials considered essential to the energy transition. These resources, which tend to have a high risk of supply chain disruption, include metals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements.

“The interest in rare earths in this part of the world is phenomenal,” Tony Sage, CEO of U.S.-listed rare earths miner Critical Metals, said during a business trip through the Middle East.

“I didn’t expect it because, you know, they can’t mine it. There [are] really no discoveries in this area, but they want to be able to participate somehow in the downstream,” Sage told CNBC by telephone.

His comments come as policymakers and business leaders flock to Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, an event nicknamed as the “Davos in the Desert.”

The annual event, which got underway on Monday, is being held under the theme: “The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth.” It is expected this year’s FII will lean into areas such as artificial intelligence, particularly as the oil-rich kingdom continues with its mission to diversify its economy.

A wheel loader takes ore to a crusher at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, U.S. January 30, 2020.

Steve Marcus | Reuters

Analysts say Gulf states, led by the likes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are increasingly seeking to leverage their financial capital and geographic location to capture critical minerals market share.

A series of targeted acquisitions and international partnerships forms a key part of this regional strategy, according to an analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), with Gulf states seeking to present themselves as alternative partners to Western nations.

Critical Metals, for its part, has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s Obeikan Group to build a large-scale lithium hydroxide processing plant in the kingdom.

A strategic push

Kevin Das, senior technical consultant at New Frontier Minerals, an Australian-based rare earths explorer, linked investor interest in rare earths from the Middle East to exponential growth in the field of AI.

“It’s no surprise that you’re seeing interest, not just in the Western world, but spreading into the Gulf States because I think people are realizing that we’re probably on the cusp of an AI boom,” Das told CNBC by telephone.

“If you start to see the emergence of robotics, every robot is going to need these rare earths. And I think the supply is only going to get tighter,” he added.

Rare earth elements have emerged as a key bargaining chip in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, although global stocks rallied on Monday amid investor hopes of thawing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

U.S. officials have touted the prospect of China delaying strict rare earth export controls as part of a high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping on Thursday.

Rare earths refer to 17 elements on the periodic table whose atomic structure gives them special magnetic properties. These elements are widely used in the automotive, robotics and defense sectors.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a “coffee ceremony” at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Win Mcnamee | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Shaun Bunn, managing director at London-listed Empire Metals, said his company had also received considerable investor interest from the Middle East.

“I think that it is very much part of the kingdom’s strategic push to diversify away from its oil. I mean, they are always going to make the most money out of oil at the moment at least, but they are trying to diversify,” Bunn told CNBC by telephone.

Critical mineral ambitions

Analysts have flagged a number of barriers facing the Gulf states’ push for critical minerals, however, noting that regional players remain marginal producers at present.

“Many of Saudi Arabia’s mining ventures remain in early or even conceptual stages, and the country still depends on foreign partners for expertise, such that it may take years for Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states more generally, to scale up enough to dent Chinese dominance or to fully meet Western demand,” Asna Wajid, research analyst at IISS, said in an analysis published in late July.

“Many in the West, moreover, may be wary of replacing their dependence on China with dependence on the Gulf states, which already exercise considerable strategic leverage due to their oil and gas supplies,” Wajid said.

China is the undisputed leader of the critical minerals supply chain, producing roughly 70% of the world’s supply of rare earths and processing almost 90%, which means it is importing these materials from other countries and processing them.

U.S. officials have previously warned that this dominance poses a strategic challenge amid the pivot to more sustainable energy sources.

Continue Reading

Trending