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Today’s Green Deals are shining a spotlight back to MOD Bikes’ Black Friday sale to highlight the City+ 3 Folding e-bike and the City+ Step-Thru 3 Folding e-bike which are both down at new $1,799 lows, among the low prices across the other models. We also spotted Segway’s Cube series of portable power stations hitting new lows starting from $600, while Rachio’s smart hose timer and sprinkler controller packages start from $78. Bringing up the rear is a collection of electric tools from multiple brands that are benefitting from up to 70% off discounts during Walmart’s Black Friday sale – all starting from $68. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Black Friday sale changeups from EcoFlow, Segway, and 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.

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.

City+ 3 Folding e-bike

MOD’s City+ 3 folding e-bikes give you all-around support on your commutes and joyrides at $1,799 low

Looking back in on MOD’s ongoing Black Friday sale that will continue through December 1, you’ll find the brand’s City+ 3 Folding e-bike down amongst the lowest prices across the lineup for $1,799 shipped, with the City+ Step-Thru Folding e-bike also matching in price for $1,799 shipped. As was the case with all the models under MOD’s flag, these e-bikes’ price tags began the sale by getting a permanent price cut to new $1,999 MSRPs (with the other models seeing up to $1,100 in price cuts), on top of the additional $200 sales discount while the savings last. Before this sale, we only ever saw them fall to $1,999 at the lowest, with that rate now taking over as the starting price and this sale’s markdown giving you a new all-time low going forward.

MOD’s City+ 3 High-Step and Step-Thru folding e-bikes arrive on the scene sporting the brand’s folding frame design, which is perfect for folks in need of some space-saving functionality for their commuting solution. The 750W geared hub motor works with the removable Samsung Li-ion 48V 15Ah/720Wh battery to deliver you where you need to be at top speeds of 28 MPH for up to 50 miles on a single charge with five levels of PAS supported by a superior torque sensor. On top of these, your riding experience will be further bolstered by features like the 300-lumen LED headlight, the integrated LED taillight with brake lighting, hydraulic brakes, multi-terrain Kenda K-Shield tires, a Shimano ALTUS 7-speed derailleur, full cover anti-vibration fenders, a multi-purpose Snap-On rear rack with a 65-pound payload, faux leather grips/saddle, and a S3 Smart Color Display with a USB port to charge your devices as you ride.

More of MOD’s Black Friday deals:

Featured deal: Mokwheel Bikes is offering up to $900 in savings across its e-bike lineup this Black Friday, with free gear coming along with select purchases too. You can buy any two ebikes and get a FREE accessory or FREE Gift Package ($499.99~$699). The biggest of these deals comes in on the brand’s latest models, the Obsidian and Obsidian ST Power Station e-bikes at $2,099, down from $2,999, with a choice between three different gifts, all worth $599. Coming with either the standard high-step or step-thru fames, what makes these newer models stand out is their built-in power station capabilities when you choose to receive the 1,000W inverter as your free gift, providing on-the-go juice for your devices using the bike’s 940W battery (on top of solar charging functionality too)

City+ 3 Folding e-bike

Score up to $800 in savings on Segway’s Cube LiFePO4 portable power stations with new lows starting from $600

As part of its Black Friday sale, Amazon is offering the Segway Cube 2000 Portable Power Station for $899.99 shipped. Normally sitting at a full $1,700 price tag, we’ve seen only a handful of discounts on this model over 2024, with July’s Prime Day event bringing the biggest of them – dropping costs to the former $999 low. It’s been keeping more towards its full price in the months since, usually only falling to $1,200. Today, thanks to the savings season, we’re now seeing a bigger-than-ever 47% markdown that saves you $800 and carves out a new all-time low price. You won’t find this model at Segway’s Black Friday sale right now either, as its completely out of stock, making this the best opportunity to score it at the lowest rate we have tracked.

Segway’s Cube 2000 provides you with a 2,048Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can expand up to 5,038Wh with the purchase of three BTX-1000 expansion batteries (now 29% off at $498). There are 122 output ports here to charge up your devices and appliances – with a steady output power up to 2,200W and peaking at 4,400W. You can refill the station’s battery in about 1.8 hours when plugged into a wall outlet or you can take advantage of its 800W maximum solar input for solar recharging. You’ll also get the full detail of remote smart controls through the Segway-Ninebot app via a Bluetooth connection.

There’s also the smaller Segway Cube 1000 Portable Power Station that is down at its second-lowest $599.99 shipped rate, normally $1,000 at full price. This model provides you with a 1,024Wh LiFePO4 capacity that you can also expand up to 5,120Wh with four of the previously mentioned expansion batteries. It pumps out the same output power as its larger counterpart through the same 12 port options. Recharging here is a little faster at 1.2 hours via a wall outlet, with the same 800W max solar input available to take advantage of too – complete with smart controls.

More Segway Amazon Black Friday deals:

Rachio smart hose timer

Rachio’s smart hose timer and sprinkler controllers keep a watch over your yard’s water needs starting from $78

While its Black Friday savings event continues, Amazon offers the Rachio Smart Hose Timer with Wi-Fi Hub for $78.39 shipped. Normally running you $100 at full price, this device has largely been up and down in price since summer, with most discounts falling between $99 and $79, while also occasionally dipping lower, like the drop to the $69 low that we last saw during October’s Prime Day event. Today, thanks to the Thanksgiving savings season, you’re looking at a 22% markdown that shaves $22 off the going rate, landing the costs down at the third-lowest price we have tracked – just $9 above October’s low rate. If you already have a Wi-Fi hub and are looking to add more smart hose timers to it, you’ll find them at a discounted rate of $59, down from $70.

This packaged pair of devices from Rachio syncs together to deliver smart home controls over your outdoor water supply coming from your spigots. With the Rachio app on your smartphone, you’ll gain monitoring capabilities over flow rates while also being able to set them to schedules – plus, the devices will send you alerts whenever anything goes awry. The smart hose timer, especially, provides a bonus in its weather-watching feature that uses Wi-Fi to keep track of forecasts to skip scheduled watering before or after expected rain/storms, saving you money while also keeping your lawn from being drowned by accident. You can also pair up to four of these timers to one Wi-Fi hub for maximum coverage.

Rachio Black Friday smart controller deals:

walmart BF sale on Greenworks, Worx, Sun Joe, Snow Joe tools and more

Walmart’s Black Friday sale is well underway and continuing through December 1, with up to 70% discounts on electric tools, lawn care equipment, and snow-clearing solutions – both new and restored models – and with plenty of additional rollback and clearance price cuts running parallel. Coming in alongside similar sales from Amazon, we’re seeing some of the best and lowest prices of the year across a bunch of popular brands, including Greenworks, Worx, Sun Joe, Snow Joe, and more – with these massive savings offering the perfect opportunities to update and upgrade your tool arsenal for all seasons. Head below to check out the selection of these deals while they last – most of which are online only deals, so why wait until November 29, when many will likely be sold out and gone?

Walmart Black Friday Greenworks deals:

Walmart Black Friday Worx deals:

Walmart Black Friday Sun Joe/Snow Joe deals:

  • Restored Snow Joe 24V IONMAX Cordless Snow Shovel Bundle: $79 (Reg. $195)
    • comes with 4.0Ah battery, charger, cover, and ice scraper glove
  • Refurbished 12A 14-inch Lawn Mower: $89 (Reg. $100)
  • 13-Amp Corded Electric Leaf Mulcher & Shredder: $115 (Reg. $159)
  • 24V Cordless 13-inch Snow Shovel with 4.0Ah battery: $124 (Reg. $199)
  • 24V Cordless 15-inch Push Reel Lawn Mower with 4.0Ah battery: $180 (Reg. $249)
  • 48V 18-inch Single-Stage Cordless Snow Blower with two 4.0Ah batteries: $239 (Reg. $399)
  • Restored Snow Joe 24V 24-inch Cordless Dual Stage Self-Propelled Snow Blower: $799 (Reg. $1,299)
    • comes with four 24V 12Ah Batteries
  • And much more…

You can check out all the Black Friday deals Walmart has to offer on tools and equipment on the landing page here (with clearance and rollback deals on the same landing page, down below). 

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.

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5 ways I use my Chinese electric mini-excavator that I didn’t expect

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2 hours ago

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August 23, 2025

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5 ways I use my Chinese electric mini-excavator that I didn’t expect

When I first got my hands on a Chinese electric mini-excavator, I thought it would be a fun little machine for digging a few holes and moving some dirt around. What I didn’t expect was just how useful and versatile it would become – and how often I’d reach for it for jobs that I never initially planned on tackling with a compact electric digger.

As I’ve watched all the fun reporting on new electric excavators, I’ve looked on in envy at what the current state of the art is… if you’ve got a quarter million bucks burning a hole in your hefty pocket. They are amazing machines, but I feel like the kid sitting outside of the sandbox and looking in, never able to play with the toys myself. But as it turns out, as long as you don’t need a massive machine, a mini-electric excavator wound up offering me many of the same benefits.

These battery-powered machines are cleaner, quieter, and cheaper to run than their diesel counterparts, which is great. That’s exactly why I started with NESHER in the first place. But what really surprised me was how many odd jobs around my parents’ acreage my little NX2500 excavator managed to take over. Here are five unexpected ways I’ve been using my Chinese electric mini-excavator.

1. Trench digging for irrigation

This was actually one of the first “off-script” jobs I tackled. My parents needed to run some irrigation lines through their property for a new garden setup, and while I originally planned to help my dad out the old-fashioned way (with a trenching shovel and a lot of sweat), I had my first mini-excavator delivered only a month ahead of time, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

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I figured, “Why not?” and before I knew it, I was carving clean, even trenches in a fraction of the time. What would’ve taken an entire weekend by hand was done in about an hour or two, and with zero back pain. It’s a perfect example of how machines like this can turn exhausting, sweaty work into something you actually enjoy.

That picture was taken only part way through… that trench kept going to more planters further out!

Ever since I hurt my back a few years ago, a part of my rude welcome to how the mid-30s feels quite different from the mid-20s, I’ve been a little more aware of the kind of stress I put on my body. While I’m still quick to grab a shovel when I need one, the thought of hand trenching all day with a shovel versus an hour in the operator’s chair was a no-brainer.

2. Tree planting made way easier

Planting one tree is no big deal. Planting 10? Or 20? That’s starting to become a project. Planting 50? That’s a whole day with a shovel – or just a couple of hours with the mini-excavator.

The machine makes short work of digging perfect-sized holes, whether you’re dropping in fruit trees, palms, or trying to reforest a bare section of land.

Digging a hole and dropping the spoils on the sled

In the beginning, there was some trial and error, but I’ve learned that you can fine-tune your technique to get the hole shape just right, so the trees don’t settle awkwardly or too deeply. It’s still manual labor in a sense, since those joysticks don’t work themselves, but it’s a lot less manual than working the shovel all day!

I also found that I can use a simple yard sled to load the spoils onto, then use the UTV to drag it away to the spoil pile elsewhere on the property. If you don’t have a dump truck or mini-truck around, a yard sled is a cool little way to move heavy things easily by dragging them around.

3. Mulch moving machine

I hadn’t originally planned on using the excavator for this one, but I had a big pile of mulch that needed to get loaded into the back of my mini-truck to bring over to a planting area. Instead of shoveling it by hand or using buckets, I figured I’d see how the excavator would handle scooping and dropping. And it worked beautifully.

Is it a perfect loader bucket? Not really. But it does save a lot of time and effort compared to doing it by hand. For loose materials like mulch, compost, or even sandy soil, it’s a no-brainer.

Wild that all three of these machines are electric! We’re living in the future…

I still generally prefer to go with one of my loaders for bulk material like this, but in a pinch, the excavator can move 4-5x the amount I can per shovelfull, and each pass is a heck of a lot less exhausting on me!

4. Grading around trees for a shipping container pad

Here’s one I definitely didn’t expect to work so well. I had an area near some trees where I wanted to drop a shipping container. The ground was a mess – uneven, root-covered, and just generally not flat enough for the container to sit level.

I figured I’d give the excavator a shot at scraping and grading the area flat, and with a little finesse, it worked surprisingly well. It took some careful passes, and I wouldn’t call it laser-level precision, but it was more than good enough to get the container settled evenly and safely.

I’ve since put a second container next to it and built a roof structure between them, so now I have a 40×10-foot (12×3-meter) covered parking area between two shipping containers. I’d say it worked quite well!

5. Hoisting and lifting logs (and other heavy stuff)

Now this one’s a bit outside the box – and outside the manual. These machines aren’t really designed for lifting heavy objects the way a larger excavator or crane is, but they’re surprisingly capable if you’re smart about it.

I’ve hoisted several hundred pounds with mine, like awkward loads or cut log sections. A lifting strap slung over the bucket makes it easy to mount weird-shaped things, and you just have to be careful about swinging around too quickly.

I added a manual thumb attachment, and that proved to be a real game-changer. I can now pick up logs and branches, spin them around, and drop them into the bed of the mini-truck like a tiny mobile crane. Again, one or two logs are easy enough to toss by hand. But when a tree or two comes down after a storm and there are 20 or 30 logs, my back is going to thank me for not trying to toss each one by hand.

Final thoughts

It’s easy to write off these Chinese electric mini-excavators as toys or underpowered knock-offs. But after putting on real-world use for everything from planting trees to loading mulch and lifting logs, I can say they’ve proven themselves. No, they won’t replace a full-size backhoe or dozer, but they’re not trying to. These things are for the small jobs – the ones that wear you out if you try to do them by hand and don’t justify calling in a pro crew. They’re for the homesteaders, not the contractors.

Add in the fact that they’re electric – so you can run them in a garage or barn without worrying about fumes –and you’ve got a pretty compelling machine for landowners, landscapers, hobby farmers, or anyone who wants a quiet, capable, compact helper.

They aren’t without their downsides. Run times are only between 4-6 hours, and the roughly 1 mph (0.6 km/h) walking speed is excruciatingly slow when you need to travel to the farther flung areas of the property. But at least they’re relatively quiet and vibration-free, not to mention emission-free, for that long traverse!

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Slate poaches key Tesla manufacturing leader to build its electric pickup truck

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15 hours ago

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August 22, 2025

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Slate poaches key Tesla manufacturing leader to build its electric pickup truck

Slate reservation
Source: Slate

Slate Auto, a new EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has poached a key Tesla manufacturing leader to build its electric pickup truck factory in Indiana.

Napoleon Reyes is a US Marine from Indiana who got a degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue after leaving the force.

He then worked a few years at Subaru and Wabash before joining Tesla’s manufacturing team at the Fremont Factory in 2020.

There, he became part of the Model Y production ramp and was quickly promoted to lead the Model Y General Assembly in Fremont in 2022.

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Reyes led Model Y GA, one of the most critical parts of vehicle manufacturing, for more than a year before being promoted again to lead new pilot processes at the factory.

Most recently, he led the launch of the general assembly line for the Model Y refresh.

The new engineering manager announced this week that he is leaving Tesla to join Slate:

A bit late on the post but after nearly 5 years working at Tesla in Fremont, I made the difficult decision to leave the Company and move closer to home with my family. It was an incredible experience being part of multiple line expansions and multiple Model Y program launches. Leading and managing the Model Y Refresh launch for GA in Fremont this year tested me professionally however we ultimately succeeded due to our amazing cross functional team collaboration. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with such great people, and I will forever be proud and thankful for everything we accomplished together.

I will be taking on a new role as Senior Manager, Plant Vehicle Engineering at Slate Auto in Warsaw, In.

Slate emerged from stealth mode earlier this year to unveil a new type of electric pickup truck featuring modular customization and an affordable price.

The company raised over $700 million through two rounds of investments from several different investors, including Jeff Bezos. It is currently raising more, which basically guarantees that it will be able to reach production.

The startup acquired a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana. It is currently converting to manufacture its electric pickup with a team from legacy automakers and also several former engineers and leaders from Tesla.

Rich Schmidt, an early Tesla manufacturing director, is the head of manufacturing.

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Genesis GV90 coach door system revealed in new patent

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16 hours ago

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August 22, 2025

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Genesis GV90 coach door system revealed in new patent

Genesis-GV90-coach-door-patent

Genesis is preparing to shake things up with its most luxurious SUV yet, the GV90. Thanks to a new patent filing, we are getting a detailed look at how its Rolls-Royce-style coach doors will work.

New patent reveals Genesis GV90 coach door system

When Genesis first unveiled the full-size SUV at the NY Auto Show last March, it wasn’t the stunning design or advanced tech that caught everyone’s attention. It was the coach doors.

Although we were worried it wouldn’t make it to the production model, like many concepts, the Genesis GV90 will be offered with coach doors.

The ultra-luxe electric SUV was first caught with coach doors earlier this year on a car carrier in South Korea. Just last month, the GV90 was spotted in California with a hinge at the rear to open the coach doors.

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After several new patents were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for new door latching devices, we are getting a sneak peek at how they are expected to work.

Genesis-GV90-coach-door-patent
Genesis-GV90-coach-door-patent

The patents, titled “Cinching Device For Door Latches in Vehicle,” and “Door Latch Device for Vehicles,” give a pretty detailed explanation of how the Genesis GV90’s coach doors will operate. The “Door Latch Device” uses a door striker on the lower side of the door, which is opened or closed by a hinge unit.

Unlike traditional doors, which use the B-pillar for support, the device is attached directly to the door itself, allowing for hinge-like movement.

Genesis-GV90-coach-door-patent
Genesis-GV90-coach-door-patent

The cinching device works in a similar way. It’s also attached to the door and part of the vehicle. However, unlike most of its kind, Genesis found a way to use a single cinching device to control multiple units. Again, the device is used for B-pillarless doors that swing open.

Genesis already said that B-pillarless coach doors are now feasible in production vehicles. The patent reveals a glimpse into how the luxury automaker could make it a reality.

Genesis-GV90-coach-doors
Genesis Neolun ultra-luxury electric SUV concept (Source: Genesis)

Although the Genesis GV90 is expected to be offered with coach doors, they will likely not be standard. Other variants, with traditional door handles, have also been spotted testing in the US and South Korea.

Genesis is expected to launch the GV90 in mid-2026. It will be built at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant in South Korea. The flagship Genesis SUV is scheduled to debut on Hyundai’s new eM platform, which the company said will “provide 50% improvement in driving range.” It will also be loaded with the latest technology, software, connectivity, and Level 3 or higher autonomous driving capabilities.

Source: USPTO

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