Solar E-Clipse 2.0 review: A lightweight 60 mph street-legal motorcycle for under 6k
At the moment, not too many companies can deliver a Street-legal dual-sport motorcycle at entry-level prices. So when Solar Scooter, a UK-based company, asked us to review their 60 mph fully street-legal electric motorcycle, I had to see what this bike was about.
If you live far away from any OHOV trails or lenient municipalities and still want that flickable handling of a super lightweight electric trail bike, then a dual sport is the way to go. I imagine many riders out there would choose something like the 80 HP motocross Stark Varg if it had a street-legal supermoto version. Unfortunately, even if that bike became street legal it would likely still come with a hefty 10k+ price tag that instantly prices out a lot of riders just getting into the game. So while it’s still a bit early to be expecting something like a street-legal zero dual sport at a 5-6k dollar price point for this review I was curious to see just how well the handling and quality of the Eclipse 2.0 feels for a price of $5,995
Before we dive in here are some of the specs
- Price: $5,995
- Motor: 6kw rated with 10 kw of peak power
- Battery: 72v 45Ah LG Battery
- Controller: 400Amp sinewave Controller
- Charger: 10a charger
- Frame: Full Hand Woven Carbon Fibre Frame and Swing Arm
- Range: 50-70 Miles
- Suspension: Taiwan inverted front works with 203mm travel with Adjustable Preload, Rebound, Air Pressure and 7050 aluminum rear shock.
- Curb weight: 138 lbs
Power
With 6kw of rated power and 10kw of peak power, I was able to get up to speed quickly, at least as quickly as I’d need for the purpose of commuting on avenues, service roads, or winding backroads. For those interested in taking this bike to an appropriate place to safely practice maneuvers like wheelies, 10kw of peak power combined with its 138-pound curb weight is a sweet balance of power and weight.
As for what class of bike the Eclipse 2.0 falls under, the weight alone would make for some sketchy prolonged highway riding despite riding fully street-legal. Now even if the bike had a higher top speed like their upcoming race edition with a top speed of 70mph, I still think it wouldn’t be appropriate on typical U.S highways and that’s okay. At 138 pounds eclipse 2.0 can be a lot of fun to maneuver at lower speeds the same way a typical Supermoto or any other lower-powered yet well-handling motorcycle can be. It could also make the learning process a lot easier for new riders.
Street-legal options changing the game for electric trail bikes
Let’s face it a lot of the younger riders that are starting with Surrons or Talaria as their first bike are not riding only in off-road areas like the bikes were intended for. Most likely they don’t have a motorcycle endorsement or proper driver education training to know the rules of the road. While that’s likely not the biggest concern for those living in rural towns, being street-legal is a great direction to go in for urban areas with traffic. This way new riders coming in can get some of those same characteristics of a Surron in terms of handling yet still be riding in a way that won’t risk a ticket and more importantly be mindful of the rules of the road opening up more possibilities for use as a commuter.
For obtaining plates, the process involves emailing Solar Scooters, and they’ll send over a Manufacturer’s certificate of origin or MCO as well as a title then, depending on the state you live in you can either register it as a moped or a motorcycle, just like any other ICE motorcycle. Also for recording, we chose not to install plate holder and tail lights, although they did supply it along with other compliant necessary parts like side reflectors. In addition, we were glad to see that Solar Motors is properly registered with the NHTSA.
Battery and range:
Aside from going street legal one of the pros of this bike as opposed to something like an ultra light bee is the 72v 45 ah battery that comes stock rather than having to spend thousands on a quality battery upgrade. Combined with the 6kw of rated power from the motor this bike gives a range of 50-70 miles.
Handling and riding:
For comfort, I think Solar Scooter could have added a slightly more padded seat. The design looks great with its sleek carbon patterned fabric that matches the full carbon frame. Although functionality-wise wise it would have been great to get some more comfort but then again with the dual sport-like design it’s not exactly expected to get as much but-to-seat time as a cruiser so let’s look into how it stacks up as a dual sport.
Fully carbon fiber frame and swing arm
With that fully carbon frame you do get a pretty light curb weight that comes in at about 49 pounds lighter than an ultra bee all while also having a slightly higher top speed. Of course, having a fully carbon frame does raise some questions. For example, the clearance to the bottom of the frame is notably short so if there’s any strong impact to the bottom for example a large rock or curb hitting it then that’s going to mean some bad news for the way carbon reacts compared to the more favorable way a metal frame or better yet a reinforced skid plate would react. But then again for urban riding, this might not be at all a concern the way it would be for someone looking to hit Colorado mountain passes on the weekend.
19-inch wheels
On a similar note, the bike comes with large 19-inch wheels for both the front and back which gives you a decent seat height of 32 inches. Now to be clear those 19-inch wheels are for those who opt for off-road wheels rather than the 16-inch Supermoto wheels they offer. For offroading, the off-road tires that come with the bike have street-oriented knobs rather than the more off-road aggressive knobbies that typically come from offroad geared dual sport but if you’re mostly looking to use this on streets it’s not the worst as aggressive knobbies will typically wear out faster anyways.
Suspension
For suspension, the front inverted forks give 203mm of travel which is a ton of fun for riding through conditions like moderately rutted fire roads but I wouldn’t necessarily want to do any big jumps with it as it’s not in the ballpark of the higher end suspension setups like what you would expect to find on a Stark Varg or Zero but then again those charge a hefty premium for those parts.
As for the quality, the components are on par with what you would expect for this category. While there’s no Ohlins level suspension there are also no parts that feel like they cheaped out on. The one area I would have liked to see some improvement on is the throttle input which seems to have a very slight delay, something that’s likely not noticeable at all but definitely would help with wheelies if it didn’t have the delay.
Electrek’s take:
For a price tag of $6000, having a 72v 45 ah battery, with that same kind of lightweight trail bike handling as an ultra-light bee all while having plates makes the Eclipse 2.0 a decent value. While it’s still a big chunk of money, having to upgrade to a comparable battery for a light Bee might end up setting you back a few more dollars than the Eclipse when it’s all said and done.
On the other hand, while the Eclipse has plenty of speed to offer for city and nonhighway use if you’re looking to mod your bike I would keep in mind that unlike brands like the Surron Solar Scooter doesn’t have the same after-market support.
For fun supermoto style city riding I think this is a lot of fun and comes right out of the gate with the basics I would want but if I was looking for a more off-road aggressive electric motorcycle the combination of low clearance and carbon frame just might hold me back from going full send on certain types of trails or jumps but then again as the saying goes any bike can be an offroad bike if you’re brave enough.
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A judge has officially approved a settlement in a case brought by Tesla shareholders against board members who will now have to return stock, cash, and give up on stock options worth a total of nearly $1 billion.
Let me start this article with a quote from Tesla CEO Elon Musk:
Tesla will never settle a case where we’re in the right, and never contest a case where we’re in the wrong.
Today, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick approved a settlement agreement between Tesla and all its board members from 2017 to 2020 and the Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit on behalf of Tesla shareholders over what the shareholders believed to be excessive compensation.
The agreement was first reported in July 2023, but it is only now being officially approved and we learn a few more details.
Shareholders believed that members of Tesla’s board were compensating themselves excessively with hundreds of millions of dollars between 2017 and 2020 when the average compensation of a board member of a S&P500 company is just north of $300,000.
Under the settlement, the board members agree to return to Tesla $277 million in cash, $459 million in stock options and to forgo $184 million worth of stock options awarded for 2021-2023.
That adds up to nearly $1 billion.
The board members include Kimbal Musk, Elon’s brother, Brad Buss, Ira Ehrenpreis, Antonio Gracias, Stephen Jurvetson, all close friends of Elon Musk and people who have financial dealings with Musk outside of Tesla, Linda Johnson Rice, Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, Hiromichi Mizuno and Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corp and also a close friend of Musk.
As part of the settlement, Tesla or the board does not admit to any wrongdoing.
Musk didn’t take compensation as part of the board, but he is embroiled in a similar case over his own $55 billion CEO compensation package, which was rescinded by the same judge after she found that it wasn’t negotiated or presented to shareholders in good faith.
The board members who received this “excessive compensation” also happened to be the one who “negotiated” Musk’s CEO compensation package.
The case is heading to the Delaware Supreme Court, as reported earlier today.
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Environment
Nissan’s Ariya electric SUV takes on the extreme weather in its new test chamber [Video]
![Nissan's Ariya electric SUV takes on the extreme weather in its new test chamber [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/07/Nissan-first-Tesla-NACS-Japan.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Despite how cold it may feel outside, Nissan’s electric SUV has likely been through colder. Nissan is proving its Ariya SUV can handle the extreme weather at its unique new test chamber at its tech center near Detroit. With temperatures ranging from -40 to 176 °F, the Ariya is being pushed to see what it’s made of.
Nissan launched the Ariya, its first electric SUV, in the US in late 2022. Over 13,400 Ariya models were sold in the US in its first sales year, with another nearly 20,000 handed over in 2024.
A few weeks ago, Nissan introduced the 2025 Ariya, starting at just $39,770. It has two battery options, 66 or 91 kWh, good for 216 and 289 miles range. That’s for the FWD models.
You can opt for Nissan’s e-4ORCE AWD dual-motor system for “thrilling acceleration” with up to 389 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. However, with the added power, you sacrifice some range. The AWD Ariya gets up to 272 miles range.
With many parts of the country seeing frigid temperatures, Nissan says its “Ariya is very well equipped” to combat freezing weather.
The electric SUV was already the first vehicle (EV or gas-powered) to drive from the North to the South Pole in 2023. Now, it’s being put through the paces at Nissan’s tech center outside of Detroit.
It’s currently around 23 °F in Detroit, with a low of 11 °F, but Nissan says it’s even colder in its unique new test chamber. The chamber is located at the Nissan Technical Center North America campus, just outside Detroit.
Nissan Ariya handles cold weather tests in new chamber
“Our chambers are capable of temperatures ranging from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 176 degrees Fahrenheit,” Jeff Tessmer, senior manager of Zero Emission Vehicles at Nissan’s tech center, explained.
Nissan tests the Ariya in a test chamber with “far more extreme” temperatures than the typical driver will see. Tessmer said, “We want to test the worst-case scenario so that our customers will still get the same performance in a wide variety of weather conditions.”
One of the biggest goals is to prove the electric SUV’s battery can maintain charge levels even in extreme weather.
Nissan puts it through “cold soak” tests to ensure performance. During a 24-hour cold soak, the Ariya was parked in -4 °F weather with a 17% battery charge. It also wasn’t plugged in or using its battery heater. After the team returned the next day, the electric SUV still had a 17% charge and started up immediately.
The Ariya is equipped with a battery heater that drivers can turn on ahead of time to ensure optimal performance. On hot days, it includes a liquid-cooled system to regulate battery temperatures.
Drivers can also use the MYNISSAN app to pre-warm the cabin, check the interior temperature, and schedule charging times. Ansu Jammeh, an engineer on Nissan’s Zero Emissions Engineering team, said the best time to use the heating feature is “when the vehicle is plugged in so that it uses power from the grid instead of the vehicle.”
| 2025 Nissan Ariya trim | Battery (kWh) |
Starting Prices* (MSRP) | Range (miles) |
| Engage FWD | 66 | $39,770 | 216 |
| Engage e-4ORCE | 66 | $43,770 | 205 |
| Evolve + FWD | 91 | $44,370 | 289 |
| Engage + e-4ORCE | 91 | $45,370 | 272 |
| Evolve + e-4ORCE | 91 | $48,370 | 272 |
| Platinum + e-4ORCE | 91 | $54,370 | 267 |
Nissan added a new wireless charging pad across all 2025 Ariya models. The inside features Nissan’s Advanced Drive-Assist setup with dual 12.3″ infotainment and driver display screens formed in a “wave-like” shape.
Other standard features of the 2025 model include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a Head-up display, and a Virtual Personal Assistant. It also includes Nissan’s ProPilot Assist for assisted driving.
Are you ready to check out Nissan’s electric SUV for yourself? We can help you get started. You can use our link to find Nissan Ariya models at the best price in your area today.
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Florida’s Rice Creek Solar Energy Center is now online, delivering nearly 75 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity to 12 cities across the state. The solar farm is part of the Florida Municipal Solar Project, one of the largest municipal solar initiatives in the US.
Located in Putnam County, near Palatka, the Rice Creek site is covered with 213,000 solar panels that generate enough power for around 14,000 homes. This marks the third solar site in the Florida Municipal Solar Project, with more on the way.
Twelve utilities are tapping into the clean energy from Rice Creek, including Beaches Energy Services (Jacksonville Beach), Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Homestead, Keys Energy Services in Key West, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Lake Worth Beach, Mount Dora, New Smyrna Beach Utilities, Newberry, Ocala, Town of Havana, and Winter Park. This is the first solar power project for Havana, New Smyrna Beach, and Newberry.
Jacob Williams, the general manager of the Florida Municipal Power Agency, explained, “By working together, our members and their communities benefit from additional solar-powered energy that’s both cost-effective and carbon-free.”
The FMPA, based in Orlando, coordinates the project, while the 12 municipal utilities – who are also FMPA’s member-owners – purchase the power. Miami-based Origis Energy is the builder, owner, and operator of Rice Creek. According to Origis Energy’s Josh Teigiser, “We are honored to support this FMPA work. Long-term agreements for solar generation, including for Rice Creek Solar, provide a stable rate base contributing to lower and more predictable customers’ bills.”
Construction is already underway on a fourth Florida solar farm, Whistling Duck Solar, in Levy County. The Florida Municipal Solar Project is expected to grow to seven sites in the next few years and will generate a total of around 525 MW of clean energy.
Read more: Ohio’s largest solar farm just came online
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to 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. They have 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 you share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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