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We’re closing out the week with a bunch more seasonal savings, with four new exclusive discounts that are giving us the absolute best and lowest prices on Vanpowers’ City Vanture and UrbanGlide e-bikes starting from $629. Right behind it is Bluetti’s official Christmas sale that is taking up to 62% off a solid lineup of power stations and bundles, like the AC300 Portable Power Station and a B300K Expansion Battery returning to its Black Friday pricing of $1,599. From there we have two more e-bike sales, the first being the second phase of Rad Power’s Christmas sales that is taking up to $300 off the selection of e-bikes and also offering free gear up to $200 in value – all starting from $1,299. Right behind is ENGWE’s more budget-friendly e-bike sale with up to $600 discounts and tons of free gear packages, with the popular M20 Dual-Suspension e-bike back at its $899 low, among others. Closing us out is Eve’s Aqua Smart Water Controller that is beating its Black Friday pricing at $103. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s holiday sales from ALLPOWERS, Velotric, Blix, 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.

These four exclusive discounts offer best prices yet on Vanpowers’ commuting e-bikes from $629 (Up to 63% off)

We’ve got four exclusive deals from Wellbots for you that are dropping four Vanpowers e-bikes down to the lowest prices we’ve seen across the board. The biggest discount (and lowest price) out of these models is on the City Vanture Urban e-bike for $629.10 shipped, after using the promo code 9TO5BIKE10 at checkout for an additional 10% off. Normally $1,699 at Wellbots, with a larger $1,749 price tag direct from Vanpowers, we saw this model hit its former low of $840 back in 2023 direct from the manufacturer. That long-awaited low is being beaten out here today with this combined 63% markdown that slashes a massive $1,070 off its price tag and marks a new all-time low price going forward.

Vanpowers’ City Vanture e-bike is equipped with a 350W rear hub motor and powered by a smaller 252Wh battery – with everything supported by five levels of pedal assistance (but there’s no throttle here). This combination of tech provides a 25 MPH top speed and normally 50 miles on a single charge (which can be bumped up to 80 miles when taking advantage of the extra battery discount).

Sporting a sleek, aluminum alloy frame, it weighs in at just 34 pounds, complimenting its minimalist design and making it a more manageable model for folks who live in walk-up apartment buildings and the like. It features a seamlessly integrated battery into the main bar, both hiding and protecting it from sight and/or harm. You’ll also find that it comes with 28-inch Kenda tires, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, a Gates CDN belt drive to pedal the bike without assistance, and an integrated LCD display with an IP66 waterproof rating.

***Note: Don’t forget to use the promo code 9TO5BIKE10 at checkout to score the best possible savings on these e-bikes! The additional savings have been factored in below.

Other exclusive Vanpowers e-bike deals:

Bluetti power station Christmas sale

Save up to 62% on Bluetti power stations, bundles, more starting from $149 with bonus gifts in Christmas sale

Bluetti’s decking the halls with boughs of savings during its newly launched Christmas sale through December 23, taking 57% off power stations, bundles, and accessories at the same time that it’s offering special members-only pricing, giving away gifts, and even offering an additional 5% sitewide discount. One notable offer this season for folks looking for a reliable home backup solution is the AC300 Portable Power Station bundled alongside a B300K Expansion Battery for $1,599 shipped. Normally sitting at a $2,499 price tag here with a higher $2,999 rate coming from Amazon, we mainly saw it keep above $1,999 until Labor Day sales when the price was brought lower to $1,750, with the most recent Black Friday pricing taking costs down to $1,599. This rate is returning here today, giving you $900 in savings and a second chance at the lowest price we have tracked.

As I mentioned before, Bluetti is offering some additional bonuses during this sale, starting with a 5% sitewide discount for added savings when you use the promo code AFF5OFF at checkout. You can also get some gifts from the brand by simply subscribing, while other gifts are being given at certain purchase thresholds: T-shirts along with any purchase over $1,000, sweatshirts with any purchase over $2,000, and a K6 337Wh power bank with a purchase over $3,000.

Power outages will be far less of a concern for you with this backup bundle from Bluetti, which delivers a 2,764.8Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can add more batteries to in order to expand further up to 22,118.4Wh. There are 16 ports on this unit to tackle all your devices and appliances, with seven AC ports (including a 120V TT-30 port), four USB-A ports, two DC ports, a single USB-C port, and two 15W wireless charging pads. It dishes out power up to 3,000W that surges up to 6,000W, and comes with four different ways to recharge the main unit – plugged into a standard wall outlet, hooked up to a maximum 2,400W solar input, connected to a car port, and even dual-charging capabilities when using both AC and solar together.

Bluetti Christmas sale member-only deals:

Bluetti Christmas sale new arrival bundle deals:

Bluetti Christmas sale power station deals:

Bluetti Christmas sale solar generator bundle deals:

Bluetti Christmas sale home backup bundle deals:

Bluetti Christmas sale accessory deals:

Vanpowers e-bike

Rad Power’s second phase of Christmas savings drops RadExpand 5 folding e-bike to $1,299

Rad Power has switched into the second phase of its Christmas sales through December 18 with up to $300 discounts on four e-bikes along with some additional free gear promotions. Leading the group with the biggest savings is the RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike which has dropped to $1,299 shipped. Carrying a full price of $1,599 outside of these sales, we’ve been regularly seeing it drop to $1,299 when getting discounts, with a few others bringing things lower to $1,249, and one sale in October hitting the $1,199 low. You’ll be saving $300 here today at the third-lowest price we have tracked.

The RadExpand 5 is Rad Power’s most popular storage-saving commuter solution that comes with a folding frame to condense its size to a more manageable one to better fit in tighter spaces, closets, car trunks, RVs, and more. It provides you with a 20 MPH top speed with up to 45+ miles of travel courtesy of the pairing between the 750W brushless geared hub motor and a 672Wh battery. There are four low-profile cadence-sensing PAS levels here that help you get the most out of its mileage, or you can use the throttle for all-electric riding at a decreased range.

Among its additional features, you’ll have a 7-speed MicroShift derailleur, a standard LED headlight alongside an integrated taillight that offers brake light functionality, both of which automatically activate when daylight drops low enough. You’ll also get some cargo-hauling support from the integrated rear rack with a 55-pound limit, as well as fenders to go over both wheels, a water-resistant wiring harness, and an LED display.

More Rad Power phase 2 Christmas sale e-bike deals:

  • RadRunner 2 Utility e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,499)
    • 20 MPH for up to 45+ miles
    • Plus free accessory under $200
    • add both to cart for automatic discount
  • RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,799)
    • 20 MPH for up to 45+ miles
    • comes with free Ballard Cargo Bag
    • add both to cart for automatic accessory discount
  • RadRunner Plus Utility e-bike: $1,699 (Reg. $1,799)
    • 20 MPH for up to 45+ miles
    • Plus free accessory under $200
    • add both to cart for automatic discount
ENGWE Christmas sale

ENGWE’s Christmas Holiday sale drops the M20 dual-suspension e-bike to $899 low with free gear

ENGWE’s Christmas Holiday sale is taking up to $600 off its massive lineup of affordable e-bike models with free upgrade gear getting tacked on too. One notable favorite is the M20 Dual-Suspension e-bike that is starting from $899 shipped. Normally going for $1,199 most days, we saw this same low price during the brand’s previous Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. The $200 discount brings costs even more into the affordable range for riders on a tight budget, delivering you a reliable EV at the lowest price we have tracked. Along with your purchase, you’ll also be getting $59 in free accessories.

ENGWE’s M20 e-bike cruises along at up to 28 MPH top speeds thanks to the pairing of its 750W brushless motor with a choice between the standard 13Ah battery that provides a 47-mile travel range or the upgraded 26Ah dual-battery model that bumps things up to 94 to 150 miles for an additional $100 during this sale (depending on the settings you’re riding at). There are five levels of PAS here along with a throttle for pure electric action too. Additional features include a pair of 20-inch fat tires, standard disc brakes, a Shimano 7-speed derailleur, and an LCD display.

At a slightly higher price is the newer M20 2.0 full-suspension model starting at $999 for the single 15.6Ah battery or you can double up with the 31.2Ah battery model for $1,199. This model provides the same top speed with a base 80-mile travel range that doubles up to 162 miles with dual batteries. It also gets some upgrades in the form of off-roading fat tires, hydraulic disc brakes, and more. You’ll also be getting $158 in free gear here, as well.

***Note: many of the following e-bikes have similar choices for single-battery or dual-battery builds, with the prices and specs below being given for the standard single-battery models.

ENGWE Christmas Holiday sale e-bike deals:

ENGWE Christmas Holiday sale e-bike bundle deals:

Eve Aqua smart water controller

Expand outdoor water systems with HomeKit control via Eve’s Aqua smart water controller at $103

Amazon is now offering the Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller at a lower rate than we saw for Black Friday at $103.35 shipped. It has spent most of the year at its full $150 rate, with far fewer price cuts than we got in 2023, keeping mostly above $120. While we have seen it go for less in the past, you’re still looking at a solid $47 in savings here that beats out its Black Friday pricing by $7, giving you the opportunity to expand your outdoor spigots with HomeKit smart controls at a significantly reduced rate.

You won’t have to worry about acquiring an additional bridge or gateway for Eve’s Aqua smart water controller to get the full extent of controls for your sprinkler/irrigation system here, accessed through the companion app or Siri and coming with Thread compatibility. Once you’ve attached it, you can start setting schedules to have your garden automatically watered – with the system also keeping track of your water usage rates and shutting it off when things get to be too high, saving you from babysitting your meter or accidentally flooding your yard. It also comes fully compatible with popular hose systems and multi-channel water distributors like Gardena or Kärcher.

Best ongoing holiday 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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Opinion: it’s time to start recommending some Tesla alternatives

Published

21 hours ago

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May 24, 2025

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Opinion: it's time to start recommending some Tesla alternatives

buy this not that - buy these cars instead of tesla

For years, Tesla has been the go-to EV recommendation for “normals” looking for a painless, low-effort experience from their first electric cars. In light of questionable recalls and its CEO’s recent involvement in controversial politics, however, people are starting to distance themselves from the trailblazing company.

All that begs the question: what should we recommend to EV noobs now?

Despite early quality issues and ongoing service headaches, the groundbreaking S3XY lineup of EVs have always had a secret weapon in the form of the Tesla Supercharger network.

That network of dependable high-speed chargers, paired with solid app integration that makes it easy for Tesla drivers to find available chargers just about anywhere in the US, gave the brand a leg up – but no more. By opening up the Supercharger network to brands like Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and others, Tesla has given away its biggest competitive advantage.

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Add in charging and route-planning apps like Chargeway, that make navigating the transition from CCS to NACS easier than ever with its intuitive colors and numbers and easy on/off switch for vehicles equipped with NACS adapters, and it feels like the time is right to start suggesting alternatives to the old EV industry stalwarts. As such, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Here, then, are my picks for the best Tesla S3XY (and Cybertruck) alternatives you can buy.

Less Model S, more Lucid Air

Lucid-$20K-EV
Lucid Air sedans; via Lucid.

Developed by OG Tesla Model S engineers with tunes from Annie Get Your Gun playing continuously in their heads, the Lucid Air promises to be the car Tesla should and could have built, if only Elon had listened to the engineers.

With panel fit, material finish, and overall build quality that’s at least as good as anything else in the automotive space, the Lucid Air is a compelling alternative to the Model S at every price level – and I, for one, would take a “too f@#king fast” Lucid Air Sapphire over an “as seen on TV” Model S Plaid any day of the week. And, with Supercharger access reportedly coming later this quarter, Air buyers will have every advantage the Supercharger Network can provide.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Less Model 3, more Hyundai IONIQ 6

Hyundai-free-charger-EVs-IONIQ-6
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited; via Hyundai.

Hyundai has been absolutely killing it these days, with EVs driving record sales and new models earning rave reviews from the automotive press. Even in that company the IONIQ 6 stands out, with up to 338 miles of EPA-rated range and lickety-quick 350 kW charging available to make road tripping easy – especially now that the aerodynamically efficient IONIQ 6 has Supercharger access through a NACS adapter (the 2026 “facelift” models get a NACS port as standard).

The company’s sole electric sedan hasn’t seen the same sales success as IONIQ 5, of course – but that has more to do with America’s insatiable lust for crossovers and SUVs than any shortcoming inherent in the IONIQ 6 itself. All the same, Hyundai is helping dealers clear out its remaining 2024 and ’25 models with 0% financing for up to 48 months through June 2nd.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Less Model X, more Volvo EX90

2025 Volvo EX90; via Volvo Cars.

Once upon a time, Mrs. Jo Borrás and I were shopping three-row SUVs and found ourselves genuinely drawn to the then-new Model X. Back then it was the only three-row EV on the market, but it wasn’t Elon’s antics or access to charging, or even the Model X’s premium pricing that squirreled the deal. It was the stupid doors.

We went with the similarly new Volvo XC90 T8 in denim blue, and followed up the big PHEV with a second, three years later, in Osmium Gray. When it’s time to replace this one, you can just about bet your house that the new 510 hp EX90 with 310 miles of all-electric range will be near the top of the shopping list.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Less Model Y, more Kia EV6

Kia-EV6-GT-lease
2024 Kia EV6 GT; via Kia.

If half the fun of driving a Model Y is terrifying your passengers with its straight-line speed, then the Kia EV6 has to be a serious contender for a replacement.

The sporty EV6 GT made its global debut by drag racing some of the fastest ICE-powered cars of the day, including a Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG GT, a Porsche, even a turbocharged Ferrari – and it beat the pants off ’em. Combine supercar-baiting speed with an accessible price tag, NACS accessibility, $10,000 in customer cash on remaining 2024 models ($3,000 on 2025s) and just a hint of Lancia Stratos in the styling, the EV6 is tough to beat.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Less Cybertruck, more therapy

Image created by Chat GPT.

It’s not bulletproof, it’s not easy to upfit, it shouldn’t be used for towing, and it won’t win in a straight fight against a vinyl picket fence. By just about every standard “truck” metric, the Tesla Cybertruck falls short against the competition from Chevrolet, Ford, and Rivian. On a more subjective front, the Cybertruck has become a symbol for a conservative movement that is (depending on your point of view) either making America great again or plunging a once-great democracy into an era of fascist oligarchy and widespread stupidity.

In short, it’s probably best to skip the CT.

If you disagree with that statement and feel like driving a new Tesla Cybertruck is the key to happiness, I’m not sure an equally ostentatious GMC Hummer EV or more subtle Rivian R1T will help you scratch that particular itch – but maybe therapy might!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Original content from Electrek.

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Republicans won’t defeat EVs – but in fighting them, may kill US auto industry

Published

1 day ago

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May 24, 2025

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Republicans won't defeat EVs - but in fighting them, may kill US auto industry

BYD's-largest-car-transport-ship
BYD Shenzhen, the world’s largest car transport ship (Source: BYD)

Republicans launched multiple attacks against EVs, clean air and American jobs this week, at the behest of the oil industry that funds them. These attacks won’t be successful, and EVs will continue to grow regardless, and inevitably take over for outdated gasoline vehicles.

However, these republican attacks on EVs will still have some effect: they will diminish the US auto industry globally, leading to job losses and surrendering one of the jewels in the crown of American industry to China, where there is no similar effort to destroy its own domestic EV industry.

Republican attacks on clean air this week included moves to block funding that has led to a renaissance in US manufacturing and also to illegally block clean air laws. They also moved forward with a procedural step towards increasing US fuel costs by $23B, an effort which the former reality TV contestant posing as the head of the DOT announced in January.

These moves shouldn’t be a big surprise – republicans have opposed clean air and American jobs for many years now, and they’re doing it because they want to maintain the bribes they get from the oil industry.

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But they should inspire worry for Americans, because they will only harm the country’s domestic manufacturing base in the face of a changing auto industry.

Republicans keep trying to kill clean cars

The last time a republican occupied the the White House, we saw similar efforts to try to raise fuel and health costs for Americans, and to block superior EV technology from flourishing. That didn’t work in the end, and EVs continued to grow both during that period and after.

All the while, fossil fuels have maintained their privileged policy position, being allowed to pollute with impunity and costing the US $760 billion per year in externalized costs. Much of that subsidy is accounted for in the cost of pollution from gas cars, which are one of the primary uses of fossil fuels, which means that, in fact, gasoline vehicles receive much more subsidy than EVs do.

And yet, EVs still managed to grow substantially, despite these headwinds. EV sales have continued to grow, both in the US and globally, even as headlines incorrectly say otherwise. The republican party’s attempts to kill them were futile, and will continue to be.

It didn’t work, but it did delay progress

However, anti-EV actions from Mr. Trump and the republican party did manage to delay progress from where it could have been if America actually instituted smart industrial policy earlier.

What if, instead of the bumbling, idiotic nonsense we went through the last time Mr. Trump squatted in the White House, we could have had something more like President Biden’s EV policy, which created hundreds of thousands of jobs and attracted hundreds of billions of dollars of manufacturing investment?

Surely the American auto industry would be ahead of where it is now if those investments had had time to come online. But instead, republicans are currently trying to kill those jobs, which has already led to several manufacturing projects being cancelled this year, depriving Americans of the economic boost they need right now.

Meanwhile, there’s one place that this sort of stumbling isn’t happening: China.

China is taking advantage

China has spent more than a decade focusing on securing material supply, building refining capacity, developing their own battery technology, and encouraging local EV manufacturing startups.

This has paid off recently, as Chinese EVs have been rapidly scaling in production in recent years. It took a lot of the auto industry by surprise how rapidly Chinese companies have scaled, and how rapidly Chinese consumers have adopted them, after having an initially slow start.

But that adoption hasn’t just been local, it’s also global. Last year, China became the largest auto exporter in the world, taking a crown that Japan had held for decades. But the change was even more dramatic than that – as recently as 2020, China was the sixth-largest auto exporter in the world, just behind the US in 5th place.

China’s dramatic turn upward started in 2020, and now it’s in first place. Meanwhile, because of all the faffing about, the US remains exactly where it was in 2020 – still in fifth place. Well, sixth now, since China eclipsed us (and everyone else).

Tariffs won’t fix it

The reaction of the rest of the world’s automaking countries has been to put tariffs on Chinese autos, hoping to forestall the country’s dramatic rise to dominance. (Although, due to Mr. Trump’s idiotic flailing, Europe is already talking about removing these trade barriers with China)

But tariffs have been tried before, and they didn’t work. When Japan had a similarly meteoric rise to global prominence as an auto manufacturer in the 1970s and 80s, largely due to their adoption of new technology, processes, and different car styles which incumbents were ignoring, the US tried to stop it with tariffs.

All this did was make US manufacturers complacent, and Japan still managed to seize and maintain the crown of top auto exporter (occasionally trading places with Germany) from then until now.

Then as now, the true way to compete is to adapt to the changing automotive industry and take EVs seriously, rather than giving the auto industry excuses to be complacent. But instead, republicans aren’t doing that, and in fact are working to ensure the American auto industry doesn’t adapt, by actively killing the incentives that were leading to a boom in domestic manufacturing investment.

US auto industry jeopardized by republicans

Make no mistake about it: destroying EV incentives, and allowing companies to pollute more and innovate less, will not help the US auto industry catch up with a fast moving competitor.

As we at Electrek have said for years, you cannot catch up to a competitor that is both ahead of you and moving faster than you.

This applies to individual companies, which took their sweet time responding to the challenge from electric upstarts like Tesla, and have now lost market share to said upstarts and let a competitor establish itself in a big way (even though Tesla’s CEO is now trying desperately to harm his own company specifically, and the US EV industry as a whole, by being the largest funder of the party working to destroy said industry).

It also applies to nations, which could have spent the last decade doing what the Chinese auto industry has been doing, but instead non-Chinese automakers have been begging their governments for more time, even though it’s not the regulations that threaten them, it’s competition from a new and motivated rival that is moving faster and in a more determined manner towards the future.

The way that we get around this should be clear: take EVs seriously.

But that’s not what republicans are doing, and in doing so, they are signing the death warrant for an important US industry in the long term.

Another thing republicans are trying to kill is the the rooftop solar credit, which means you could have only until the end of this year to install rooftop solar on your home before the cost of doing so goes up by an average of ~$10,000. So if you want to go solar, get started now, because these things take time and the system needs to be active before you file for the credit.

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. – ad*

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Environment

Heavy equipment space race heats up with new Vermeer lunar excavator

Published

1 day ago

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May 24, 2025

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Heavy equipment space race heats up with new Vermeer lunar excavator

Vermeer collaborates on moon excavator prototype

International equipment manufacturer Vermeer has unveiled a full-scale prototype of its Interlune excavator, a machine designed to ingest 100 metric tons of rocks and dirt per hour, extracting valuable helium as it makes its way across the surface … of the Moon.

Helium plays a critical role in the manufacturing of semiconductors, chips, optics, and all the other stuff that makes EVs, autonomy, the Internet, and the rest of twenty-first century life possible. The problem is that, despite being the second-most common element in the universe, helium is pretty rare on Earth – and we are rapidly running out. As such, there are intense economic and political pressures to find new and reliable sources of helium somewhere, anywhere else, and that demand has sparked a new modern space race focused on harvesting helium on the Moon and getting it back home.

To that end, companies like American lunar mining startup Interlune and the Iowa-based equipment experts at Vermeer are partnering on the development of suite of interplanetary equipment assets capable of digging up lunar materials like rocks and sand from up to three meters below the surface, extract helium-3 (a light, stable isotope of helium believed to exist in abundance on the Moon), then package it, contain it, and ship it back to Earth.

“When you’re operating equipment on the Moon, reliability and performance standards are at a new level,” says Rob Meyerson, Interlune CEO. “Vermeer has a legacy of innovation and excellence that started more than 75 years ago, which makes them the ideal partner for Interlune.”

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Enter: Japan

Komatsu lunar excavator; photo by the author.

America isn’t the only spacefaring nation eyeing a helium mine on the Moon. Japan announced similar plans back in 2023, with Japanese construction giant Komatsu announcing plans to develop a fully electric excavator capable of operating on the lunar surface.

The company showed a scaled prototype of the machine at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (above), emphasizing the need to develop new ways to operate equipment assets in the extreme temperatures of extraplanetary environments beyond diesel or even hydrogen combustion.

On the airless surface of the moon, it would be impossible for an internal combustion engine to operate on the moon’s surface because there is no oxygen for combustion. Electrically powered machines seem the obvious solution with solar power generation supplying the electricity. But the answer is not that simple.

Temperature changes on the surface of the moon are extreme. They can soar to 110° C and plummet to -170° C. Developing electric construction machinery to perform in this environment is no easy task, but Komatsu is tackling issues one by one as they appear. Using thermal control and other electrification technologies, we are engineering solutions.

KOMATSU

Despite Komatsu’s apparent head start, however, Vermeer seem to pulled ahead – not just in terms of machine development, but in terms of extraction potential as well.

“The high-rate excavation needed to harvest helium-3 from the Moon in large quantities has never been attempted before, let alone with high efficiency,” said Gary Lai, Interlune co-founder and CTO. “Vermeer’s response to such an ambitious assignment was to move fast. We’ve been very pleased with the results of the test program to date and look forward to the next phase of development.”

Interlune is funded by grants from the US Department of Energy and NASA TechFlights. In 2023, the company received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research award to develop the technology to size and sort lunar regolith (read: dirt). Interlune has raised $18 million in funding so far, and is planning its first mission to the Moon before 2030.

Electrek’s Take

Interlune helium harvester concept; via Interlune.

We’ve got space travel, weird mineral extraction from another planet that’s essential for our technology, and a rapid, unchecked proliferation of AI. All we need now is big worms, a whole bunch of hallucinogenic narcotics, and the will to smash up a bunch of data centers with baseball bats – then we’ll have a pretty decent Dune LARP going. Yee-ha!

SOURCE | IMAGES: Interlune.

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