Connect with us

Published

on

Closing out this week’s Green Deals, we have a surprise flash sale through the weekend from Velotric on its Go 1 Utility e-bike that is now at a new $999 low, among the ongoing holiday sale offers on its other e-bikes. For short-distance commuters, we spotted the newer Gotrax GXL V2 Electric Scooter hitting a new $244 low alongside various other EVs from the brand at discounted rates. We then have Rad Power’s final phase of Christmas deals through the rest of the year, with the RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike remaining at $1,299 while all of the brand’s newest models are getting free gear promotions. Lastly, we have a one-day only sale on the Greenworks 80V 20-inch Cordless Snow Blower kit for $300 until tonight. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s NIU e-scooter Christmas sale offers, the collection of Rexing EV charger adapters, 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.

Velotric offers $700 price cut on its jack-of-all-trades Go 1 Utility e-bike at new $999 low through the weekend

Velotric is having a holiday flash sale that is running alongside its ongoing December holiday sale through December 22, giving you increased savings on its Go 1 Utility e-bike at $999 shipped. This model usually cruises into view with a $1,699 price tag after falling from its original $1,799 MSRP earlier in the year, with most sales usually taking things to $1,299 (including for Black Friday/Cyber Monday), though we did spy it once at $1,249 at the end of summer. Today, you’re looking at a bigger markdown than ever before, as $700 is struck from the costs to give you a new all-time low.

Velotric’s Go 1 e-bike is a well-rounded, jack-of-all-trades model that is built keeping versatile utility in mind, making it a great option for folks who want more than just a commuter – especially at this new low price. It provides a 55-mile travel range on a single charge of its 692Wh battery and sports a 440-pound total payload capacity, carrying larger/heavier riders or plenty of cargo. The 500W hub motor (900W peak) tops out normally at 20 MPH speeds, but you can unlock higher speeds up to 25 MPH.

Riders will be supported by five levels of pedal assistance alongside some solid features to heighten the riding experience, headlined by the Apple Find My inclusion that comes alongside the smartphone app integration. There’s also the hydraulic suspension (with lock-out), hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tires, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, the integrated LED headlight, a rear rack with an integrated taillight that delivers brake lighting, a removable thumb throttle, and a 3.5-inch LCD display that sports a USB port to charge your devices on the go.

To check out the full lineup of Velotric’s current Holiday e-bike deals, head to our original coverage here.

Gotrax GXL V2 electric scooter

Gotrax’s GXL V2 electric scooter helps with short-distance commutes at new $244 low

Amazon is offering the Gotrax GXL V2 Electric Scooter for $244 shipped. Normally going for $350 since hitting the market back in September, we’ve only seen one previous discount back during Black Friday and Cyber Monday that took costs down to $280. That rate is beaten out here today as it’s getting 30% slashed off its usual going rate, saving you $106 and marking a new all-time low. You’ll also find it matching in price directly from Gotrax.

The Gotrax GXL V2 electric scooter makes a great short-distance commuter for college students on a budget or even as a first-time ride for teens or kids – plus, at the time of writing this, it can make it to you ahead of Christmas. Coming equipped with a 250W motor (peaking at 400W), this budget-friendly model can hit top speeds of 15.5 MPH with its 187.2Wh battery providing a humble 9 miles of travel on a single charge – plenty of juice to cruise around campus or allow your kids mobility around the neighborhood. It comes stocked with 8.5-inch pneumatic air-filled tires to help absorb road shocks as you ride, with the whole thing only weighing in at 26 pounds. Of course, as is the case with most e-scooters, it can fold to conserve space when not in use.

Other Gotrax Amazon e-scooter discounts:

Gotrax Amazon e-bike discounts:

Velotric Go 1 e-bike

Rad Power’s final phase of Christmas savings keeps RadExpand 5 e-bike at $1,299 while adding new models

Rad Power has switched into the final phase of its Christmas sales through January 2 with up to $300 discounts on two e-bikes along with some additional free gear promotions for its newest lineup of models. Leading the group with the biggest savings for the rest of the year is the RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike which has remained at $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 Christmas sale final phase e-bike discounts:

  • 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

Rad Power Christmas sale final phase new e-bike deals:

  • RadKick 7-Speed Lightweight e-bike: $1,399
    • 20 MPH for up to 35+ miles
    • Comes with free accessory under $200
  • RadKick Belt Drive Lightweight e-bike: $1,599
    • 20 MPH for up to 35+ miles
    • Comes with free accessory under $200
  • RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike: $1,899
    • 20 MPH for up to 65+ miles
    • Comes with free accessory under $200
  • Radster Road Commuter e-bike: $2,199
    • 28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
    • Plus free accessory under $200
  • Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike: $2,199
    • 28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
    • Plus free accessory under $200
  • RadWagon 5 Cargo e-bike: $2,399
    • 28 MPH for up to 60+ miles
    • Plus free accessory under $200
Greenworks 80V 20-inch snow blower

For today only add Greenworks’ 80V 20-inch cordless electric snow blower to your winter arsenal at $300

As part of its 25 Days of Deals, Best Buy is offering folks in snow-falling areas an affordable chance to score the Greenworks 80V 20-inch Cordless Snow Blower with a 4.0Ah Battery for $299.99 shipped. Normally sitting at $450 most of the time, this particular package with the 4.0Ah battery hasn’t seen much by way of discounts, with the biggest of them dropping costs to this same rate last month in a similar one-day sale. You can add it to your winter arsenal today with a 33% markdown that strikes $150 off the tag, returning it to the second-lowest rate we have seen – just $1 above the all-time low from 2023.

At the moment you’d be hard pressed to find this same combo elsewhere at such a low rate, as Greenworks is offering the snow blower alone at $400, with prices increasing for either a 2.0Ah or 5.0Ah battery, while Amazon only has it with a 2.0Ah battery for $375 or the upgraded 22-inch model for $560.

If you scoop up this snow-blowing package from Greenworks today, you’ll have everything you need to clear out a 4-car driveway on a single 40-minute charge (the battery comes with a rapid charger FYI). It clears a 20-inch wide path with a depth of up to 10 inches and sports a 180-degree rotating chute that throws the conquered snow up to 20 feet out of your pathways. Don’t worry about heavier snow or ice, as its auger-assist system combats it quite well, as long as you don’t let it get packed down too tightly. Its also been crowned with LED headlights for better visibility in darker hours, alongside a foldable design for easier times storing and transporting it.

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.

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

Continue Reading

Environment

Nobody wants a Cybertruck – including Tesla! Plus: Nissan news, pricey solar

Published

on

By

Nobody wants a Cybertruck – including Tesla! Plus: Nissan news, pricey solar

On today’s downright giddy episode of Quick Charge, at least one Cybertruck owner is sick of people making fun of his ride – but Tesla won’t let him trade it in. Plus, the Associated Press reports that Tesla is suing its own customers, and Nissan is adding AI to its EVs to its record time.

Bloggers and journalists might be in trouble if they keep writing about Tesla’s shortcomings – especially in China, where the company has allegedly been using its pull with the government to put pressure on journalists to keep their spin on the company positive. We’ve also got some new pics of the upcoming 2026 Nissan LEAF and a story about the rising cost of solar under Trump’s second administration.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

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

Continue Reading

Environment

17 clean energy projects will be built on former Appalachian coal mines

Published

on

By

17 clean energy projects will be built on former Appalachian coal mines

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Cumberland Forest Limited Partnership are turning former Appalachian coal mines into clean energy hubs. They just announced new agreements with Sun Tribe Development and ENGIE to build 14 solar farms and three battery storage systems across 360 acres in Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

This marks the second round of clean energy projects launched under TNC’s Cumberland Forest Project.

These projects aren’t just about clean energy – they’re about proving that clean energy can be developed on former Appalachian coal mines in a way that benefits the environment and local communities. The solar and storage hubs are expected to bring in more local tax revenue, create short-term construction jobs, and establish a community fund to support additional local initiatives.

Brad Kreps, TNC Clinch Valley director, said, “Developing projects on former coal mines – and in a way that engages with people in the local area so that communities can benefit – takes ingenuity, skill, and determination. Ultimately, we selected Sun Tribe and ENGIE, two experienced developers that have a great interest in bringing this vision to life.”

Once online, these projects will generate around 49 megawatts (MW) of solar energy and 320 MW of battery storage – enough to power 6,638 Appalachian homes annually.

Sun Tribe’s projects will be in Virginia and Tennessee. It’s planning one 5 MW solar project and three utility-scale battery storage systems ranging from 80 MW to 150 MW. These storage projects will improve grid reliability and help cut costs for utility customers by reducing the need for future grid upgrades.

“Locating solar and battery storage on former mine lands makes perfect sense to us,” said Danny Van Clief, CEO of Sun Tribe Development. “These sites and the communities they rest within have powered our country for more than a century – all we have to do is reimagine them for today’s energy technology.”

ENGIE, meanwhile, is developing 13 community-scale solar projects across Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky that will take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act incentives to help keep costs down. They’ll range in size from 1 MW to 6 MW, bringing clean energy access to more local communities.

“ENGIE is thrilled to collaborate on the development of these projects with The Nature Conservancy,” says Kristen Fornes, ENGIE head of distributed solar and storage. “These initiatives not only contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but also generate employment opportunities, rejuvenate local communities, and enhance access to clean energy in areas where it is most needed.”

This latest announcement builds on previous first-round work by TNC, Sun Tribe, and Dominion Energy to bring renewable energy to Appalachia. Since 2021, Sun Tribe and Dominion Energy have been working on plans to generate 140 MW of renewable energy across eight sites in the Cumberland Forest. The first project, Wildcats Solar, is a 10 MW array planned for Wise County, Virginia. Expected to start construction by 2026, it’s projected to generate $800,000 in tax revenue for the community over its lifetime. Additional projects from the first round are set to be online by 2029.

Read more: Renewables provided 90% of new US capacity in 2024 – FERC


If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. 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. 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 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*

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

Continue Reading

Environment

US State Department has budget line for ‘Armored Teslas’ worth $400 million

Published

on

By

US State Department has budget line for 'Armored Teslas' worth 0 million

The US State Department’s procurement forecast for the 2025 budget includes an item called “Armored Teslas” worth $400 million.

But worry not; it was approved under the Biden Administration, so Elon Musk’s DOGE will undoubtedly eliminate this waste. Right?

Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are currently examining a large amount of US government spending.

It’s unclear if he got to the US State Department’s procurement forecast because there are a few interesting lines that would give auditors second thoughts.

The most interesting one is “Armored Tesla (Production Units)”, which is worth $400 million. Strangely, the item is listed under the NAICS code “311999 – All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing.”

The program has a target for delivery in Q4 through the next 5 years.

There are several other similar and strange budgeted items that are linked to the wrong categories:

You have “ARMORED SEDAN” under “Soft Drink Manufacturing,” “ARMORED BMW X5/X7” under “Bottled Water Manufacturing,” and finally, ARMORED EV (NOT SEDAN) under “Ice Manufacturing.”

However, all these other armored vehicle-related items are budgeted at a fraction of the $400 million for Tesla vehicles ($50 million, $40 million, and $40 million, respectively).

The State Department procurement forecast website mentions that the list was last updated in December – before Trump entered office.

Electrek has contacted the State Department for a comment, and we will update you if we get an answer.

Tesla has claimed that its Cybertruck is “armored” and “bulletproof”, but its armored capacity is quite limited. It can likely deflect low-velocity bullets if they hit the doors, but that’s about it.

Other companies have been planning to modify the Cybertruck with higher levels of armor, like the partnership between Unplugged Performance and Archimedes Defense – pictured above.

Electrek’s Take

I am not against armored electric vehicles. If you need armored vehicles, you might as well make them electric.

However, this is certainly weird. Why does the State Department need $530 million worth of armored vehicles? And why is it listed under a bunch of unrelated categories that don’t make sense?

Sounds like a job for DOGE? However, Elon will need to recuse himself from that one, I guess.

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

Continue Reading

Trending