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I was recently in China on yet another trip to tour the factories and showrooms of several leading micromobility companies, and I’ll have more to share with you on that trip soon. But first, while I was getting ready to fly out of the Shanghai airport, I stumbled upon the coolest little motorized carry-on suitcase that functions like a seated electric scooter. I ended up buying it on the spot.

Here’s what happened next when I tried to take it 8,000 km (5,000 miles) home.

This time it’s for real

This is the real deal – I actually bought and tested this thing, which I can prove with my hilarious testing video filmed in three different international airports. I highly recommend it, if you’ve got a couple minutes to burn.

So basically, you should know that this is not part of my long-running Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week series, where I (lovingly) poke fun at some of the odd and awesome EVs found on China’s largest shopping site from the safety on my computer screen. I did happen to feature a motorized suitcase in my last post in the Alibaba series, inspired by the fact that I knew I’d be sharing this review with you all soon. And finally, here we are!

I’ve seen these motorized suitcases floating around the interwebs for some time, but they’ve always been frustratingly expensive. For more than the price of a great e-bike, you can buy one of these motorized suitcase scooters. Since I wasn’t about to drop nearly $900 on a contraption like this, I figured I’d never have the pleasure of experiencing one.

That was until I walked past a shop selling them in the Shanghai airport. I was able to snag it for just 3,000 RMB, or the equivalent of around US $411. It’s still a dumb price, but it’s over half off the going rate in the west.

These sales ladies know a sucker when they see one!

How does a motorized suitcase scooter work?

This thing is actually a decent rolling suitcase to begin with. It has 26L of storage, large rear rolling wheels, and a solid telescoping handle so you can roll it around like a normal trolley bag.

But when you push the expansion toggle switch the rear, the scooter’s frame extends out of the bottom and you can telescope up the handlebars to turn it into a functional scooter. A little pad tucked under the carry handle serves as a diminutive seat, and the right thumb lever on the handlebars is pressed to activate the electric motor in the single front wheel. The left thumb lever is the brake (just electric motor braking, no physical brakes), and you can engage reverse by holding both thumb levers simultaneously.

For something designed to do two things at once, which is normally a recipe for mediocrity at both, it actually surprised me in a good way. The suitcase works fine, even if you lose some of its interior storage that is taken up by the scooter’s frame. You also get the nice feature of the suitcase’s battery functioning like a USB power bank, so that’s another cool feature. And as a scooter, it’s decently comfortable, though a bit cramped.

I will say that the zipper on the bag feels a bit cheap and seems to me like it could be the first thing that will eventually break, rendering the bag useless for carrying anything, but until then it works pretty well at its job.

How good can a motorized suitcase scooter be?

This specific suitcase is the Airwheel SE3S, and the marketing says it can get up to 13 km/h (8 mph). My journey home from China started in Shanghai, where for the first couple kilometers of scooting, I didn’t realize I only had the suitcase in the middle power mode and not its highest setting.

I still had a lot of fun scooting around the airport and I was even going faster than folks walking on the moving walkways, so the middle gear was still plenty fast.

But after arriving at my connection in Abu Dhabi, I downloaded the smartphone app and discovered that I could fully unlock the speed. At that point, I was using every single one of those 300 watts available in the front motor to rocket me up to 13 km/h. In fact, I was going so fast that when I would hit the metal expansion joints in the airport floor, the little 92 Wh battery would bounce up off of its connector and I’d momentarily lose power. I could reach behind me and push the battery back down, then all was good again. And it really only happened in the highest power mode, which is when I’d hit any bumps with the most force.

But keep in mind that that if you hit any bumps at full speed, you might have to deal with momentary power interruptions. Not ideal, but still better than the trolley bag that I’d have to pull instead of this one pulling me!

To be frank, I’m actually amazed that the thing was pulling 300W through that little barrel connector (easier to see in the video).

But it never felt like anything was heating up too much, so I guess they have spec’d some sufficiently capable copper and enough heat dissipation on either side to make it work. Or it’s not really pulling 300W, which would make sense since how much power does one really need to go 13 km/h on a flat airport floor?

I also found other features that were available in the app, such as changing the color of the LED lighting in the scooter and controlling the suitcase remotely from my phone. The latter was pretty funny to test out – imagine pushing a button on your phone and watching your suitcase drive away.

Both seem like novelties, so I didn’t really mess with those features very much in practice.

I could see in the app that by this point I had scooted around 3 km (nearly 2 miles) in the Shanghai and Abu Dhabi airports, which was a weird statistic to have for a suitcase, but I was pretty proud of it.

Can you legally fly with an electric motorized suitcase?

I never once had an issue with the bag, though it did get pulled off to the side for additional screening in Abu Dhabi. The battery had already been removed, but it went it got pulled off into the lane of shame after the X-ray scan anyway.

That when a big UAE dude in military fatigues carried my scootcase over to the inspection counter, took one look at the computer screen with its scan on it, and told me it was good to go. No extra inspection. I popped the battery back in and rode away, as one does in these situations.

With a 92 Wh battery that neatly fits under the 100 Wh limit used by most airlines for lithium-ion batteries in carry-on bags, there’s really nothing else that would disqualify this as a legal carry-on bag in most cases. There are some airlines that have specifically banned hoverboards and other rideables, so you may want to double check, but I had no issue in three international airports.

But the journey wasn’t over yet

The final leg of my journey was a flight from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv, and the Airwheel suitcase performed admirably yet again. It fit just fine in the overhead storage compartment and was ready to rock n’ roll as soon as I was off the plane.

In fact, just because Ben Gurion Airport was my final stop, that didn’t mean I was done scooting. I took the train from the airport to a stop around 2 km (1.2 miles) from my apartment, then tried to ride my suitcase the rest of the way home. I probably could have made it since the battery is rated for around 8 km (5 mi) per charge, but it just felt pretty darn slow. So I put it on a Lime scooter and rode the pair of us most of the rest of the way at a much peppier 25 km/h (15 mph).

Close to home, I switched back to my suitcase so I could ride the last few hundred meters in style. And to finish strong, I was able to ride it right up the handicap accessible ramp into the lobby of my building, into the elevator, back out of the elevator (in reverse, mind you), and right up to my apartment door.

I had successfully ridden the suitcase from a Shanghai airport shop to my living room, albeit with a few planes, a train, and a Lime scooter in between.

What’s the verdict?

At just over US $400, I can barely justify this thing, at least for me. Yes, it actually worked great and was super fun, but I’m not exactly the target market.

For someone who has trouble walking long distances in an airport, this would definitely be a better way to get around.

But at the Amazon price of nearly US $900, it’s hard for me to call this a “buy”. Don’t get me wrong, I had a blast on it and don’t regret it, even if I’m probably going to try to sell it used for close to what I bought it for and recoup my investment in this article and video. But I’m not sure I can tell anyone it’s really worth the Amazon MSRP, for the same reason that I never considered buying one myself until I found it for under half-priced directly from its Chinese source. In fact, now I’m wondering what it would cost on the streets of China if I hadn’t paid the presumed airport markup.

I guess I’ll need to go back to China and find out…

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All-new ALLPOWERS R1500 LITE station $405 (49% off), Gotrax F1 2.0 e-bike new $560 low, EcoFlow 35L GLACIER bundle low, more

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July 16, 2025

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All-new ALLPOWERS R1500 LITE station 5 (49% off), Gotrax F1 2.0 e-bike new 0 low, EcoFlow 35L GLACIER bundle low, more

We’ve got a jam-packed Green Deals with plenty of low prices in our post-Prime Day market, with today’s edition led by the preorder launch deal on ALLPOWERS’ new R1500 LITE Portable Power Station at $405. Right behind it is Gotrax’s F1 2.0 20-inch Folding e-bike with five add-on accessories hitting a new $560 low, as well as EcoFlow’s 35L GLACIER Classic Portable Fridge/Freezer with an add-on battery at a new $859 low. We also have returning low prices on several Heybike models during its current weekend flash sale, like the Mars 2.0 Folding e-bike coming with $198 in free gear at $899. We’re also seeing EGO’s 56V 25-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit back at its $269 low, and have a special one-day-only low price on Birdfy’s Feeder 2 Duo with dual cameras at $330. Plus, there’s all the hangover Prime Day savings in our Prime Day Green Deals hub at the bottom of the page, as well as yesterday’s Tenways e-bike sale, the new low price hitting DJI’s latest Power 2000 station, 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.

ALLPOWERS launches new R1500 LITE 1,056Wh LiFePO4 power station for preorder at $405

ALLPOWERS has launched its latest backup power solution for preorder with a significant discount through July 25. Until shipping begins, you can pick up the R1500 LITE Portable Power Station for $405 shipped, after an additional 10% savings is automatically added in your cart. This all-new unit will carry a full $799 price tag after these pre-sale savings end, with the brand offering a large 49% markdown right out of the gate, giving you $394 in savings and setting the bar for future discounts. On the same landing page, you’ll also find its many bundle options for varying sizes of accompanying solar panels.

ALLPOWERS’ new R1500 LITE station is the latest compact backup power solution from under the brand’s flag, coming with a 1,056Wh LiFePO4 capacity that is rated for over 3,500 life cycles, which would support you for over nine and a half years were you to discharge and recharge it every day. From its 12 output port options, it delivers up to 1,600W of steady juice to your devices, surging as high as 3,200W for hungrier appliances. Following a trend we’re seeing with each new power station that comes out, this one is designed to operate at “whisper-quiet” 35dB, so as not to disturb your sleep should you have it running at night.

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The ALLPOWERS R1500 LITE station provides the usual remote smart controls you’d expect, giving you the ability to monitor its charging process and adjust settings all from your smartphone via the companion app. To recharge the station’s battery, you have four options. First, a standard wall outlet can have it back to full in 1.5 hours or you could connect up to its 650W max solar input to reach a full battery in 1.6 hours. There’s also the option to plug it into your car’s auxiliary port, as well as the ability to utilize both AC and solar for hybrid fast-charging that only takes a single hour.

Gotrax F1 2.0 Folding e-bike

Gotrax’s F1 2.0 20-inch folding e-bike comes with five add-on accessories at a new $560 low

Amazon is now offering the Gotrax F1 2.0 20-inch Folding e-bike at $559.99 shipped. While it carries a $999 MSRP direct from the brand, we see it occasionally keep to $799 in full at Amazon, with discounts so far this year having kept costs down as low as $625. You’re looking at a $239 markdown off the going rate ($439 off its MSRP), giving you a solid budget-friendly commuting option at the best new price we have tracked to date.

If you want to learn more about this e-bike and this deal, you can check out the full breakdown in our original coverage here.

EcoFlow GLACIER Classic 35L Portable Fridge/Freezer bundle

EcoFlow’s 35L GLACIER Classic portable fridge/freezer comes with an add-on battery at its $859 low

EcoFlow’s official Amazon storefront is undercutting its direct pricing on the GLACIER Classic 35L Portable Fridge/Freezer with an add-on battery for $859 shipped at Amazon, while picking it up direct from the brand’s website would cost you an additional $90. This bundle package with the add-on battery usually goes for $1,098 in full, which we’ve been seeing keep down around $949 recently. Prime Day saw it hit the $859 low for the first time before rising back in price over the weekend, until now. You can pick it up here with a $239 markdown, equipping you with an ice-free option for outings at the best price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this electric cooler/freezer, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

Heybike Mars 2.0 folding e-bike

Heybike summer flash sale drops Mars 2.0 fat tire folding e-bike with $198 in free gear back to its $899 low (Save $798 total)

Heybike has launched a Summer Flash Sale through July 20 that is seeing many of its e-bikes return to their lowest prices alongside solid savings on others. The standout is the popular Mars 2.0 Fat Tire Folding e-bike that comes with $198 in free gear at $899 shipped. The sale is bringing costs down from its $1,499 full price tag, which we regularly see drop between $999 and $1,099 during sales, occasionally falling further to the $899 low in flash events like this one. It’s coming back around again with $798 in total savings (including the free large basket and front basket you’ll get) at the best price we have tracked. Head below for more on this model and the others we’re seeing benefit from savings.

If you want to learn more about this e-bike or the other models seeing discounts during this flash sale, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

EGO 56V 25-inch cordless hedge trimmer

EGO’s 56V 25-inch cordless hedge trimmer kit gets larger post-Prime Day savings back to its $269 low

Amazon is offering a post-Prime Day return to the lowest pricing on the EGO Power+ 56V 25-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit for $269 shipped. Normally costing $349 at full price, we saw this same rate appear a month ago and hold out until the end of June, when it rose back up for the first week of July and only fell to $300 for Prime Day. Now, with that event having ended, the costs are coming back down with $80 in total savings to the best price we have tracked.

You can learn more about this electric lawn care solution by checking our original coverage here.

Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo smart bird feeder with camera

Get up close and personal with feathered visitors through Birdfy’s Feeder 2 Duo at $330 low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo with Camera at $329.99 shipped, while matching in price at Amazon. It carries a $430 MSRP direct from the brand, while sitting down lower at $420 at Best Buy. The deal we’re seeing here, which will only last through the rest of the day, gives you a 21% markdown off the going rate (23% off the MSRP), providing you with a $90 price cut ($100 off the MSRP) at the best price we can find. What’s more, this deal is coming in $20 under the direct pricing we’re seeing from the brand’s website, while over at Amazon the price is unmoved from its $

If you want to learn more about this advanced smart feeder system, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

Best Summer EV 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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The new Chevy Bolt EV is coming soon and it’s getting some big upgrades

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3 hours ago

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July 16, 2025

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The new Chevy Bolt EV is coming soon and it's getting some big upgrades

new-Chevy-Bolt-EV

Chevy is bringing back the beloved affordable electric hatch. The new Chevy Bolt EV is expected to arrive later this year, featuring over 300 miles of driving range, faster charging, and more.

When will Chevy launch the new Bolt EV?

Many were sad to hear that GM was ending production of the iconic electric hatch in late 2023, but CEO Mary Barra promised a new Bolt EV was on the way.

Barra claimed the updated model would offer “an even better driving, charging, and ownership experience.” It will be based on GM’s Ultium platform, which powers current Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, and Honda electric vehicles sold in the US.

The platform will offer significantly longer driving range and faster charging speeds than the outgoing Bolt. GM also said it will use LFP batteries to lower costs.

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Although LFP batteries typically offer less range compared to NMC, the new Chevy Bolt EV is expected to arrive with over 300 miles of driving range. Given that the Chevy Silverado EV WT offers up to 492 miles of EPA-estimated range, 300 miles for the Bolt EV shouldn’t be too hard, even with LFP batteries.

new-Chevy-Bolt-EV
2022 Chevy Bolt EUV (Source: GM)

GM’s president, Mark Reuss, confirmed the new model will be a part of a “family of Bolts,” which will include an even more affordable variant.

After announcing plans to invest $4 billion in ramping up US production last month, GM said a new “next-gen affordable EV” was in development. It will be built in Kansas, alongside the new Chevy Bolt EV. Whether this model is part of the family of Bolt’s or not remains unclear.

GM-low-cost-EV-batteries
GM plans to build a “next-gen affordable EV) in Kansas (Source: GM)

With an official debut expected later this year, we’ve seen the new Bolt out for testing. Although it keeps the overall feel of the outgoing Bolt, it appears to have a more crossover-SUV look, similar to the Trax.

According to Edmunds, GM’s Super Cruise hands-free highway tech will be available on the upcoming Bolt EV. In the previous generation, it was only offered on the bigger EUV model.

new-Chevy-Bolt-EV
Chevy Silverado (left), Equinox (middle), and Blazer (right) EVs at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: GM)

With some GM electric vehicles now arriving with a built-in NACS port for Tesla Supercharger access, the new Bolt will likely also feature it.

GM is set to begin production later this year, with the new Chevy Bolt EV expected to be available in mid-2026. Prices and final specs will come closer to launch, but the first model from the Bolt EV family is likely to start at a slightly higher price than the $28,785 MSRP of the outgoing model, given the upgrades.

Chevy-Equinox-EV
2025 Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

Meanwhile, Chevy already has an affordable model that’s helped it become the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. The Chevy Equinox EV, or “America’s most affordable 315+ range EV,” as GM likes to call it, starts at under $35,000. With the $7,500 EV tax credit, the price of the base LT model drops to just $27,495.

With leases starting at just $289 per month, it’s no wonder the electric SUV is selling like hotcakes. GM expects the Chevy Equinox EV to be among the top-three-selling EVs by the end of 2025.

Ready to test one out for yourself? We’ve got you covered. You can use our link to find deals on the Chevy Equinox EV at a dealer near you (trusted affiliate link).

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Rivian has extended its R1 lease deals into September, with savings as high as $15,500

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3 hours ago

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July 16, 2025

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Rivian has extended its R1 lease deals into September, with savings as high as ,500

Rivian lease deals

We’ve already reached peak summertime (crazy), and your back patios aren’t the only thing heating up. Rivian has extended its lease deals, which apply to a range of R1S and R1T configurations. Combined with federal tax credits, you could save upwards of $15,000 on a new Rivian EV.

Today’s latest deals update is an extension (and a welcome one at that) of two separate lease deal programs that Rivian announced earlier this summer. In May, we reported that Rivian had begun a “Nothing But Adventure” lease offer, which covered the $6,500 down payment on the lease of any R1 EV with a dual motor configuration with the Max battery pack and performance upgrade package.

However, that deal was originally set to expire on May 31, 2025. In June, Rivian followed up with a second deal called the “Summer Adventure Offer,” which included $5,000 off the purchase or lease of a new Tri-Motor R1 EV if customers took delivery by June 30.

Below, we have broken down Rivian’s latest offers, which include revamped lease deals that have been extended through the rest of the summer.

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Rivian lease deals
Source: Rivian.com

Rivian lease deals on dual, tri motor R1S and R1T EVs

Rivian sent an email earlier today outlining details of its latest lease offers, which include multiple deals valid through September 1, 2025. That includes the previously mentioned “Nothing But Adventure” offer, which now pertains to any 2025 Tri-Motor R1S or R1T lease.

Similar to the May 2025 deal, Rivian will contribute $6,500 toward the down payment of said lease, as long as you place your order by September 1 and take delivery by September 30. Combined with the $7,500 federal EV lease credit and a $1,500 bonus from Rivian for trading in any vehicle, you can save as much as $15,500. Check out all the terms and conditions here.

Rivian’s “Summer Adventure Offer” expired last month. Still, the American automaker has followed up with a new “Summer Lease Offer” that applies to any 2025 Dual Motor R1 model with the performance upgrade. Combined with the federal credit and Rivian Energy Refresh bonus of $1,500, customers can save up to $14,000 on an R1S or R1T with a Max battery pack, and up to $12,000 with those dual models with the Large pack.

Per Rivian, the summer lease offers between $3,000 and $5,000 will be applied directly to your 2025 Dual Motor order as long as it’s on or before September 1, 2025, and delivery is taken by September 30. To peruse the lease deals, you can connect with a Rivian sales advisor or go to R1 Shop.

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