I went back to China to tour more e-bike factories and visit companies. Here’s what I saw
More Videos
Published
10 months agoon
By
admin

Last month I was fortunate enough to take a trip to China and visit seven different micromobility companies, each of which invited me to tour their factory, test out their new products, or attend their major events. The trip is something of a sequel to the first Chinese factory tour trip I took last year (with the documentary of that trip racking up millions of views on YouTube).
In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing detailed articles and videos about each of the following visits. But in the meantime, consider this as a preview of what’s to come.
Bafang factory tour
Bafang is perhaps the best known Chinese electric bicycle component manufacturer. The company is widely regarded for its motors, which have been its flagship products for over a decade. Everyone in the e-bike industry knows that if you want a solid motor (and don’t want to pay for a German motor), you go to Bafang.
But as it turns out, Bafang makes pretty much everything else on an e-bike too, now even including the batteries.
Long-time followers of my articles and videos might remember that I actually took a tour of Bafang’s factory all the way back in 2019. The company has since expanded to a much larger factory and the production processes have also improved. That was a particularly fascinating element of my visit, having the chance to see just how much has changed in the last five years.
For example, automation has helped replace many of the jobs previously done by hand in the manufacturing and assembly lines for components like motors and controllers. However, the working environment has improved considerably for certain tasks like fine soldering that are still done by highly trained hands. The older fume hoods that once hung over workstations in order to filter out soldering exhaust have now been moved into the work surfaces, meaning that instead of soldering fumes rising up past the nose of the worker on the way to vents, the gases are now sucked downwards and out to the filters. What was once a solution to protect everyone except for the immediate worker is now a solution to protect everyone.


The battery factory was another interesting part of the visit, as batteries are one of the newest components added to Bafang’s quickly expanding lineup.
The process is highly automized. First, individual battery cells are sorted by machines into the most similar resistances, then grouped into modules that are ultrasonically welded together. Human hands return to the equation with the assembly of the battery modules into the cases, and then the batteries are sent for inspection at the end of the assembly line.
Before the batteries can be packaged for shipment though, every single pack is put through a charge and discharge cycle to test for anomalies. Massive racks run down the hallways with hundreds of batteries at a time undergoing testing.

Other new innovations that Bafang has begun integrating into its product lines are its own internally geared hubs with automatic transmissions as well as hub motors with built-in transmissions. One problem that has plagued the e-bike industry is the use of existing transmission components that were not intended for high-power motors but rather human leg power. With Bafang developing its own bicycle transmissions that are designed to work with higher continuous power found in electric bikes, reliability should see a significant improvement.
There’s a lot more where that came from though, so make sure you stay tuned for my full report from the factory, coming soon!
NIU Factory Tour
I’ve ridden a NIU electric moped since 2020 and have long been a fan of the brand, which is known as a leading electric smart scooter brand. The company’s designs have often been imitated, but there’s no substitute for the real thing, especially as NIU has rapidly expanded its wide range of offerings.
My tour started in the factory showroom, which underscores just how wide that product line truly is. We’re used to seeing the company’s export products, but there’s an even more diverse lineup of domestic electric two-wheelers designed for the Chinese market.
From there, we moved to the factory floor where scooters are assembled. Flying conveyor systems with hanging component shelves are pre-loaded with all the parts necessary for building these scooters, allowing line workers to pluck off the necessary components as they float by at each stage of the assembly process.
The scooters go together surprisingly quickly as they move down the line, with test riders waiting for them to roll off the final ramp. After the scooters are inspected and test-ridden, they’re eventually moved into a massive storage warehouse and loaded onto trucks for shipping all over the country and export to international dealers.
In another part of the factory I saw the standing electric scooters undergoing similar processes, with an assembly line conveying the scooters along as workers assembling them ahead of extensive rider inspections and test rides.


I also had the chance to test ride several of NIU’s electric vehicles, from the standing electric kickscooters to their higher speed mopeds and full-size electric motorcycles, to even the company’s Sur Ron-competitor electric dirt bike.
That bike, the street-legal NIU XQi3, was impressively powerful, and I had to be careful to keep the front wheel down when rolling off the line.
I’ll still always be partial to the company’s mopeds though, or “seated electric scooters” depending on how true to the term moped you’d like to be. As much fun as electric motorcycles and dirt bikes can be, there’s something so utilitarian about a seated electric scooter that makes it the perfect car replacement for me.

EUNORAU Headquarters Tour
I’ve been riding EUNORAU electric bikes for years and years, but this was my first chance to finally meet the team behind the bikes. I visited their headquarters near Hangzhou and took a tour through many of the company’s past, present and future e-bikes, including models still in the works.
From there, I visited their operations center where the company has a large warehouse stocked with just about everything you could ever need to service and support e-bikes. In addition to EUNORAU’s Las Vegas service center, the company is ready to ship out parts from its headquarters when necessary.
I even got a look behind the curtain at the company’s new BKRE service, which is more important than ever with the increasing number of e-bike company closures. Basically, BKRE stocks many of the parts used in common electric bikes from companies that have folded. That means owners of those e-bikes will have somewhere to turn in the future if they need support. Trying to find a random controller or display can be nearly impossible without knowing the actual factories those parts come from. With its deep network of connections in the e-bike manufacturing industry, EUNORAU can find replacement parts for nearly any electric bike made in China.
They stock many of those parts already on several rows of shelves in their warehouse. For parts they don’t already have on hand, owners can contact BKRE and with any luck, the right part can be found in a few days and sent out anywhere in the world.

Last but not least, I wasn’t about to leave without the chance to ride a bunch of EUNORAU’s electric bikes.
I had everything from the new version of the company’s fat tire electric trike to triple-battery electric bikes to four-wheeled electric quad bikes at my disposal.
I zipped around the area of the city they were located in on several of the company’s e-bikes, testing out the new components and improvements that have come from listening to the feedback of thousands of customers.
There’s a lot more to come though, so be on the lookout for my deep dive article and video on the experience!
Yadea Retail Dealer Show
This was absolutely wild! The last time I was in China, I visited one of Yadea’s massive factories. Yadea is the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer. They make everything from light electric scooters for recreation and commuting to heavy-duty electric trikes for commercial use. But their main products are seated electric scooters, of which they produce millions.
This time, Yadea invited me to attend the company’s Retail Dealer Show. There were over 4,000 dealers there, mostly from China but also from all around the world. The show was absolutely massive!

In addition to the huge attendance, Yadea had examples of many of the various models of electric vehicles they produce. I saw some familiar models but also experienced dozens of models I’d never seen before.
From Sur Ron-style electric dirt bikes to Vespa-style vintage-looking electric seated scooters, Yadea had it all there. I even checked out the company’s new sodium-ion batteries and fast charging technology, which could be a huge game changer for longer-lasting, safer batteries.
The sheer variety seen at the show was mind-blowing. I’ve covered electric vehicle companies for years, attended dozens of trade shows, and test-ridden literally hundreds of vehicles. But I’ve never seen a single manufacturer with such a breadth of vehicles as this.
Dahon Headquarters Visit
Dahon wasn’t the first to invent a folding bicycle, but the company was one of the earliest to popularize them with commercialized models. The company’s first folding bikes, released in 1984, are still highly sought after, and surviving examples carry high prices on the resale market. More recently, Dahon has expanded its wide line of folding bicycles to include many different types of folding electric bikes.
I toured Dahon’s showroom to see many of the soon-to-be-released models that will land in dealerships later this Spring. Talking to the team, I learned more about what makes Dahon’s folding e-bikes so special, including a focus on frame rigidity that helps reduce that telltale flexy feeling on many folding bikes in the market.

After checking out the new lineup of Dahon folding e-bikes in the showroom, I headed outside to experience them firsthand. From ultra-lightweight e-bikes to a new electric gravel e-bike and even a heavy-duty electric tricycle for carrying cargo and kids, the Dahon models were a blast to ride.
Finishing up the visit, the team took me on an evening group ride that they enjoy several times a month as a chance for the group to spend time riding together on the nice bicycle trails around Shenzhen.
Zhenmin golf cart factory tour
Zhenmin gave me access to their entire factory to see how electric golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles are produced. The company builds a wide range of models and starts from the ground up, welding frames and fabricating bodies right there in the factory.
The process is largely manual, with workers hand-forming and welding the various components.
Many of the company’s models are exported to India, while others are sold in various countries in Asia and South America.
The warehouse for completed golf carts waiting to ship out was massive, with hundreds if not thousands of units waiting in various packaging stages for their journeys.


As with many of my other visits, I was happy to take the opportunity for some test rides. I started with a lifted electric golf cart built for a US-based company (though I had to cover the brand’s logos). I can’t tell you which one, but I’ll be excited to see them bring this beast of a golf cart to market. It’s incredibly powerful, to the point that I almost threw myself out the side of it on a sharp turn.
I also tried smaller and less beast-like machines, including those designed for elderly riders. They were fun in their own way, and there’s something nice about not having centrifugal forces fighting over your limbs. There’s definitely still a place in the market for modest neighborhood electric vehicles!
Heybike Alpha test ride
Also in Shenzhen, I had the opportunity to visit Heybike’s new headquarters. The company recently moved into a new Shenzhen office, and their team is obviously quite happy about all the extra space. There wasn’t too much to see inside yet, so instead we spent most of the visit testing out the company’s new Heybike Alpha electric bike.
It was just unveiled at CES and is the brand’s first mid-drive electric bike. The powerful motor proved to be incredibly torquey, helping me climb up both dirt and concrete hills with ease. I could even climb stairs on the bike!

The fat tires make quick work of both on-road and off-road surfaces, and mid-drive motor with included torque sensor is a joy to use. However, you definitely need to be careful with it because the extreme torque of the motor requires some care when shifting to go easy on that drivetrain.
We don’t know the final price of the Heybike Alpha at the time of writing, but it is expected to be one of the most affordable mid-drive electric adventure bikes on the market, helping to continue Heybike’s strategy of value pricing on the company’s existing line of diverse styles of electric bikes.
I’ve already shared my test riding video on that bike, so make sure you check it out here!
Stay tuned for more!
Make sure you check back over the next month or so as I release a dedicated article and video on each of these visits.
The trip was an eye-opening experience, and I hope to give you all that same feeling of going behind the curtain to see what goes into these vehicles that we so commonly use each day!
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
You may like
Environment
Here’s a curated list of Black Friday E-bike deals that are actually worth it
Published
7 hours agoon
November 28, 2025By
admin


It’s Black Friday and that means there are even better deals than usual on some of the highest value electric bikes in the US e-bike market. If you’re on the hunt for a deal on a good e-bike that will get you where you need to go or have you out there enjoying a recreational ride, all without breaking the bank, then I think I’ve got you covered here.
Sure, there are tons of “best e-bike deals” lists already floating around out there. Most of them are simply lazy publications or AI-concoctions, usually finding any two-wheeler with an affiliate link and then throwing dozens or even hundreds of links at you.
And yes, unfortunately, our own deals team takes that spray and pray approach, too… but rest assured that I’m not involved in that. As the internet’s longest-running e-bike reviewer, here’s my carefully compiled list of some of the best value e-bike deals out there today (and for several days to come), all of which are bikes I actually ride myself and would put my friends and family on.
This isn’t some spammy list… It’s my real, honest-to-goodness recommendations.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
The following are in no particular order other than how they popped out of my head after scouring my favorite e-bike company’s sites for current deals. Also, this is far from an exhaustive list, so let me know in the comments section at the bottom of the article if you found some great deals. I’ll try to update the list over the next few days as more interesting opportunities for high-value e-bike finds pop up.

Lectric eBikes
It’s hard to go wrong here if you’re looking for bang-for-your-buck. Lectric eBikes offers some of the best value anywhere, with surprisingly good performance e-bikes at shockingly good prices. Plus (and critically), they actually stand behind their e-bikes, which is not something you can say for the slightly cheaper Amazon-specials.
As part of Lectric’s current deals, they’re largely discounting their bundles as opposed to simply dropping the base price on just a lonesome bike. While I’d love a straight up “shave some off the top” deal, Lectric’s year-round prices are already so fair that it makes sense that they can’t cut base prices too much farther. Even so, their huge bundles bring some impressive value to the table.
The Lectric XP4 is the go-to high-value electric folder on the market right now, and they are offering savings of over $300 on their 500W version of the bike and over $500 off their 750W version of the bike. The two packages start at an incredibly reasonable $999 and $1,299, respectively, and bundle in things like suspension seat posts, upgraded headlights, locks, phone holders, and more.

I’d also recommend checking out their XP Lite2 if you want an even lighter and more compact e-bike (and don’t mind giving up the suspension fork and multiple gear ratios).
My third favorite option is the Lectric XPedition2, which is an amazing value for a heavy-hauling cargo e-bike that starts at just $1,399.
And while I don’t ride it as much myself (yet), the XP Trike2 starts at just $1,499 and is great for riders who need that extra help with balance or just prefer a three-wheeled ride!
It should also be noted that Lectric invests more in philanthropy than any other e-bike company, and it’s something I highly respect. Last year, I bought an e-bike from them just to give it away to someone in need since Lectric was donating $250 to charity for every bike sold. I like to support good companies, and they’re good people.
Priority Bicycles
Priority Bicycles is my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants a higher-quality e-bike than a typical direct-to-consumer model. While I love a good budget bike as much as the next guy, no one expects a $1,000 e-bike to last forever. Entry-level e-bikes definitely start showing their age with everyday riding. But a Priority bike? These are built to last for years and years and years, thanks to the higher tolerances, upper shelf components, and better quality manufacturing.
The New York City-based bicycle company got its start with pedal bikes before expanding into electric bikes, so they know how to make a ‘real’ bicycle instead of just a powerful two-wheeled commuter machine. These are bike-first people.
My favorite model is the Priority Current Plus, which has a 750W mid-drive motor, Gates carbon belt drive, powerful hydraulic disc brakes, and a large 720 Wh battery. It also comes with two options for internally geared hubs: either a 5-speed Shimano Nexus or a slick Enviolo continuously variable transmission (CVT).
It’s normally a $3,299 e-bike, but it’s reduced to just $2,749 for the rest of the month (you won’t see the discount until it’s actually in your cart).

That over $500 savings is huge, and Priority has deals that are almost as good on the company’s more moderately priced models, too. The Priority Glide e-bike is marked down to just $1,499 and the Priority E-Coast is marked down to just $1,699! (And I found that if I put more than one bike in the cart, the discounts are even higher!)
These are much higher quality bikes than you’d get from other companies at these prices, so they’re definitely worth a look if you like the idea of a low-maintenance, high-end belt-drive electric bike.
Ride1Up
Ride1Up has long been a solid option for high value in the commuter space, and has spent the last few years expanding beyond merely road roles and into most of the key e-bike categories.
The company’s Vorsa model is an incredible all-around e-bike that can handle just about anything, from commuting to nature trails to cargo hauling and more. Just about the only thing it can’t do is fold (though they’ve got the Portola for that).

Ride1Up currently has a $225 off sale on the Vorsa if you add in a free touring package (suspension seat post, foam saddle, and mirrors), bringing it down to $1,595 for everything.
Again, this is more of a bundled deal than a straight discount (similar to how Lectric runs most of their sales), but it still means you’re getting a better price and more value, which is the goal.
If you’re looking for a more dedicated mountain bike and want the advantages of a mid-drive from Brose, the Ride1Up TrailRush is a BEAUTIFUL example of bringing electric mountain bikes to the masses with quality parts at a reasonable price. It’s $100 off at $1,995. That’s even better than the launch price, and will get you on a bike that feels right at home on technical off-road trails.
Despite the price, this is absolutely not an entry-level electric mountain bike. This is the real deal, just at a great, direct-to-consumer price! Check out my video testing it below.
And lastly, that Portola I mentioned earlier as Ride1Up’s folding e-bike, it’s marked down to just $995. That’s an incredible deal for a slick-looking, excellent-performing 28 mph folding e-bike that offers 750W of power and hydraulic disc brakes wrapped inside of 20×3″ tires, all held in a classy hydro-formed frame.
JackRabbit
JackRabbit doesn’t actually electric bicycles, but these feel more like a typical throttle e-bike than they do an electric scooter, which is probably the better technically-correct classification.
Instead of pedals, they have foot pegs. That means you can’t pedal them, but you get a simpler, lighter, more stripped-down ride that feels like a bike, at least for the vast majority of US e-bike riders that use throttle more than they do pedal assist.



The company is running free shipping on all of their models through December 2nd and offering 25% off of all accessories, but their main sale is on the OG2 Pro, an e-bike I just finished reviewing, and which is marked down by $150. It’s still not exactly low cost, now at just $1,499, but that’s the best price I’ve ever seen it at, and I doubt we’ll see a sale like this again for a long time… likely 12 months!
The OG2 Pro is perhaps one of JackRabbit’s best models, in my opinion. It still features their smallest frame to keep it nice and compact, but boasts big power from a 500W motor and long range from the RangeBuster battery. This is basically a mini motorbike that feels like an e-bike yet only weighs 30 pounds. When I want something small and lightweight, the JackRabbit OG2 Pro is THE bike I go to.
Aventon
Aventon has long been another staple of the value-priced electric bicycle market in the US. They’ve invested heavily in a wide dealership footprint and so in addition to an online e-bike company, they’re also found in hundreds of local bicycle shops.
While they’ve got a model for just about every type of riding, their new Aventure M is definitely one of my favorites from their lineup. It’s a fat tire off-road e-bike so it’s great for trails or where there simply aren’t any trails, but it’s also got a mid-drive motor that gives you the best balance and responsiveness, not to mention great hill climbing power and startup torque.
It’s $100 off from its normal $2,899 price, marking it down to $2,799, so it’s not a huge deal, but it’s an awesome bike if you can afford a higher-end fat tire bike.

It feels like a fat tire-inspired upgrade over the Aventon Ramblas, in many ways, which is a full-featured electric mountain bike marked down from $2,899 to just $2,499. This is definitely another to look into if you’ve got the cash for something nicer like this.
On the budget-friendly end, the brand’s Soltera 2.5 is priced at just $999, marked down by $200, and is an excellent modest-power commuter if you’re on the hunt for something lightweight and easy to ride.
Velotric
One of my favorite parts about Velotric is how heavily they’ve invested in a few key features that I rarely see yet: hardcore waterproofing and location tracking.
Velotric has some of the most waterproof e-bikes out there (and their batteries can be submerged in up to 3 feet deep of water), and they include Apple FindMy tracking in most of their models.
One of my favorite models is the Velotric Fold 1 Plus, which is currently marked down to $1,399, and comes with a free suspension seat post upgrade and free pannier bag.
Between the location tracking, UL-certified batteries that can be drowned in water, and the wide color range including fun options like bright yellow and bright blue, this is definitely one to consider.

What other deals are waiting out there? Let me know in the comments if you found something good and I’d love to check it out!
Stay safe out there, everyone. Happy trails, and may your battery always be charged!
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Environment
‘Time to act now’: The push to develop Europe’s blockbuster rare earths discoveries
Published
13 hours agoon
November 28, 2025By
admin
In this aerial view, the Kiruna Kyrka church is transported by road to a new location on August 20, 2025 in Kiruna, Sweden. The church, weighing 672,4 tons, is being transported as a whole to a new location 3 km away to avoid damages caused by LKAB´s iron ore mine.
Bernd Lauter | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Two Nordic mining companies at the heart of Europe’s push to achieve resource security are taking novel — albeit very different — approaches. One is pursuing the concept of an “invisible mine,” while the other is taking on one of the world’s most radical relocation projects.
It forms part of a strategic shift for the European Union. Under its forthcoming “RESourceEU” initiative, the 27-nation bloc intends to step up its efforts to secure access to domestic sources of critical raw materials in both the short- and long-term.
The plan, which intends to boost investment in strategic projects, is designed to help break China’s long-held mineral dominance.
Alf Reistad, CEO of mining firm Rare Earths Norway, told CNBC that there’s been a clear shift in terms of how both domestic and EU policymakers are thinking about mineral supply chains.
“What we see now is really a sense of urgency. Everybody is speaking about the need for actions,” Reistad told CNBC by video call. “It is really the time to act now. We have always said that we are too early until we are too late.”
In June last year, Rare Earths Norway announced the discovery of Europe’s largest known rare earths deposit, reflecting what was seen as a watershed moment in the region’s pursuit of strategic autonomy.
It’s estimated that the firm’s Fen Carbonatite Complex, situated in the small industrial town of Ulefoss in southern Norway, contains 8.8 million metric tons of total rare earth oxides (TREOs).
It’s not a given that this is a business case. It looks like it is for us at the moment, but it’s not something that you’d say, ‘oh it’s a no brainer, just run for it.’
Niklas Johansson
Spokesperson at LKAB
Notably, roughly 1.5 million tons of these TREOs are thought to contain highly prized magnet-related rare earths, such as neodymium and praseodymium. These are critical components for a range of modern technologies, from electric vehicles and wind turbines to robotics and defense applications.
Rare Earths Norway said it is currently in close cooperation with the local municipality and national authorities over a zoning plan and hopes to present a prefeasibility study by the end of the year.
Ultimately, however, it faces a long road ahead to deliver on its rare earths potential. The company is targeting the delivery of rare earths to market by the first half of the 2030s.
The Enhanced Games?
To help reach these targets, Rare Earths Norway has been lobbying for domestic and EU policymakers to consider fast-track permitting and price guarantees, saying such measures will be pivotal to its success.
Reistad compared the firm’s push to deliver on its resource potential to participating in the Enhanced Games, a controversial event that allows athletes to take banned performance enhancing drugs under medical supervision.
“If you look now at what you see with China and the U.S., they are competing in a kind of Enhanced Games, and it’s not possible for us to compete at all if we have no security,” Reistad said.
“You see that the actions that have been made by [U.S. President Donald] Trump. He has been fast and bold. So, if there is no level playing field then it will not be possible to come true with this project,” he added.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her speech during a debate on the new 2028-2034 Multi-annual Financial Framework at the European Parliament in Brussels on November 12, 2025.
Nicolas Tucat | Afp | Getty Images
A spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, told CNBC that the bloc has a “clear vision” to ensure the secure and sustainable access to raw materials. By 2030, the bloc wants to extract 10%, process 40% and recycle 25% of what it consumes each year.
The EU is also aiming to limit reliance on any single external supplier to 65%.
An ‘invisible mine’
To develop its discovery, Rare Earths Norway is planning to extract rare earths from its Fen site using an “invisible mine” concept to avoid surface disruption and environmental impact.
This concept involves drilling a long, narrow tunnel diagonally beneath the village of Ulefoss and backfilling extracted voids with waste materials.
“It’s important that people on top of the deposit are safe,” Reistad said, who compared the concept to that of a “Kinder Egg.”
“So, if you have seen in the project by LKAB in Kiruna, they have to move the town. We need to prevent that, and its approximately 300 properties on top of the deposit and a lot of people living there,” he added.
Reistad said the company has had “very good” dialogue with the people living on top of the rare earths deposit. Early community surveys have reportedly shown strong local support for the project, alongside some concerns about stability and waste management.
An Arctic city on the move
Swedish state-owned mining firm LKAB, which operates far above the Arctic Circle in the city of Kiruna, is taking a completely different approach to Europe’s growing appetite for raw materials.
The company announced in January 2023 what was then considered to be Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earths, describing the discovery as “good news” for Sweden, Europe and the climate.
Rain falls as a general view taken on August 21, 2025 shows the LKAB iron ore mine and a sign bearing the company’s logo in Kiruna, northern Sweden.
Jonathan Nackstrand | Afp | Getty Images
The discovery of the so-called Per Geijer deposit sits in close proximity to the world’s largest underground iron ore mine. Indeed, it is LKAB’s plans to expand its iron ore mine that has prompted the move of thousands of city residents to a brand-new city center.
The extensive urban relocation project received international attention in August, when workers successfully moved a 113-year-old wooden church five kilometers (3 miles) down the road over the course of two days.
Later that same month, LKAB announced that 6,000 more people and approximately 2,700 homes would be affected by the relocation. The transformation is estimated to come at a cost of 22.5 billion Swedish kronor ($2.4 billion).
Niklas Johansson, senior vice president of public affairs and external relations at LKAB, said the relocation is not related to the rare earths discovery, but rather the firm’s sprawling iron ore mine.
A worker is pictured in the underground tunnels of the LKAB iron ore mine in Kiruna, northern Sweden, on August 21, 2025.
Jonathan Nackstrand | Afp | Getty Images
Like Rare Earths Norway, LKAB’s Johansson said the company is currently in discussion with European lawmakers to ensure that it will be economically viable to develop its resources.
“We’ve already got the material up to the ground. That’s all been paid for by the iron ore. Still, it’s not a given that this is a business case. It looks like it is for us at the moment, but it’s not something that you’d say, ‘oh it’s a no brainer, just run for it,'” Johansson told CNBC by telephone.
“I also tell them that if it looks like this for us, who has most of the infrastructure and everything in place, how do you think it will look for others in Europe?”
Mineral sovereignty
Anthony Heron, deputy editor of the Arctic Institute think tank, said the projects overseen by Rare Earths Norway and LKAB are “strategically significant” because they represent some of the most credible paths to reduce Europe’s near total dependence on imported rare earths, especially from China.
“Estimates suggest the Norwegian Fen deposit could cover a sizeable share of future EU demand for rare earth minerals, and the exploration of Arctic deposits has been framed by analysts as pillars of Europe’s emerging ‘mineral sovereignty’ agenda,” Heron told CNBC by email.
“That aligns the Arctic squarely with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, which has set targets for a minimum share of extraction to take place within Europe,” he added.
Environment
Rad Power expands e-bike Black Friday Sale with more savings + lows from $999, Anker smart security devices 50% off, GE appliance, more
Published
24 hours agoon
November 27, 2025By
admin


Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! To celebrate the day, we’ve got another jam-packed edition of Green Deals, with plenty more that you can browse in our official Black Friday Green Deals hub here, encompassing all the sales/deals we’ve collected over the last few weeks that are still alive and well. Headlining today’s features is Rad Power’s expanded Black Friday Sale, which is seeing increased prices to new lows, like the RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike at $1,399, among others. From there, we also have a large collection of Anker eufy solar cams, and other smart security devices starting from $50, as well as GE’s Profile Smart Electric Ventless Heat Pump Washer/Dryer Combo at $2,000, the next EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale, Aiper’s robot pool cleaners, smart composters, hydroponic gardens, and so much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals that are collected together at the bottom of the page (and also in our Green Deals hub), like yesterday’s first post-launch price cuts on the Heybike Mars 3.0 and Ranger 3.0 Pro e-bikes, the Tesla universal EV charger retaining a $50 discount, 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.
Rad Power expands Black Friday e-bike lineup and increases savings to new lows starting from $999
Rad Power Bikes has expanded its Black Friday Sale with additional offers while retaining the previous lineup of new lows and more. Among the bunch, we’re seeing the biggest price cut yet on the RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike at $1,399 shipped. Coming down from the full $1,899 price tag that it has spent much of 2025 keeping to, we’ve mostly seen a mix of free bundle offers (without price cuts) and occasional discounts as low as $1,699. Now, for Black Friday, this newer model is getting a larger-than-ever $500 markdown to a new all-time low price. Head below to learn more about it and the expanded/increased Rad Power Black Friday savings.
The Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus comes as the latest iteration of the brand’s space-saving, folding series, able to condense down to 29 inches high by 25 inches wide by 41 inches long to fit inside closets, car trunks, on RVs, and more. The 750W rear hub motor is paired with a 720Wh battery to carry you for up to 60+ miles with its five PAS levels activated at up to 20 MPH top speeds (supported by a torque sensor). Among its updated features, you’ll be getting a hydraulic suspension fork alongside hydraulic disc brakes for smoother rides and greater stopping power. There’s also the puncture-resistant tires, fenders to go over top of them, a rear cargo rack for added versatility, an LED headlight, a brake-activated taillight, a Shimano 7-speed derailleur, a color display with a USB-C port, and more.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
With the brand going through financial turmoil, now’s your chance to cash in on some of Rad Power’s deep clearance-meets-Black Friday savings.
Rad Power’s full Black Friday Sale lineup:
- RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru e-bike (new low): $999 (Reg. $1,599)
- 20 MPH for up to 45+ miles
- RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike (new low): $1,349 (Reg. $1,499)
- 20 MPH for up to 55+ miles
- RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike (new low): $1,399 (Reg. $1,899)
- 20 MPH for up to 60+ miles
- RadRunner Plus Cargo Utility e-bike (new low): $1,649 (Reg. $1,799)
- 20 MPH for up to 55+ miles
- Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike (new low): $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
- 20/28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
- Radster Road Commuter e-bike (new low): $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
- 20/28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
- RadWagon 5 Cargo e-bike: $2,199 (Reg. $2,399)
- 20/28 MPH for up to 60+ miles
- RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike (new low): $2,199 (Reg. $2,299)
- 20/28 MPH for up to 60+ miles w/ most advanced smart features

Anker’s eufy solar security cameras, smart locks, more get up to 50% Black Friday savings to new lows starting from $50
With Amazon’s Black Friday Week Sale in full momentum, Anker’s official eufy storefront is offering up to 50% discounts across its lineup of smart security devices, and the best rate yet on the SoloCam S220 Wireless Solar Security Camera that starts from $49.99 shipped, while its 4-camera package is a great get for multi-point coverage at $179.99 shipped. Normally going for $100 without any discounts, we’ve seen the cost get taken down as low as $60 previously in the year, with this holiday deal bringing even more savings to the mix by cutting the price in half. You’ll save $50 off the going rate for a 50% markdown on the single-cam package, while the 4-camera kit is seeing a 36% cut of $100 – dropping both options to new all-time lows.
If you want to learn more about this model, or check out the full lineup of deals on other cameras, video doorbells, smart locks, and more – be sure to check out our original coverage of these Black Friday deals here.

GE’s 2-in-1 Profile smart ventless electric washer/dryer combo with heat pump at $2,000 (Reg. $2,700)
As part of its Black Friday Appliance Sale, Best Buy is offering the GE Profile 4.8 Cubic-Foot Smart Combo Electric Washer & Dryer with Ventless Heat Pump at $1,999.99 shipped. While it carries a $2,999 MSRP direct from the brand, at Best Buy we normally see it starting lower at $2,700, with the discounts we’ve spotted over the year regularly dropping the rate between $2,200 and $2,000, with things having gone as low as $1,750 once this year back during July’s Prime Day event. You’re still looking at a solid $700 markdown off the going rate (and $999 off the MSRP) to land at the third-lowest price we have tracked. There are also alternate options in Samsung’s massive Black Friday Appliance Sale here to weigh your options.
If you want to learn more about this specific model, be sure to check out our original coverage of these savings here.







Best Fall EV deals!
- Velotric Nomad 2X e-bike (camo) with DELTA 3 Plus station: $3,048 (Reg. $3,298)
- Velotric Nomad 2X e-bike (sage or fig) with DELTA 3 Plus station: $2,948 (Reg. $3,298)
- Velotric Nomad 2X Multi-Terrain Full Suspension e-bike w/ $96 bundle: $2,299 (Reg. $2,399)
- Heybike Hero 750W Mid-Drive Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bike: $2,299 (Reg. $3,099)
- Rad Power Radster Road Commuter e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
- Rad Power Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 35Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $893 bundle: $1,999 (Reg. $2,761)
- Ride1Up TrailRush German Mid-Drive e-bike (first discount): $1,995 (Reg. $2,095)
- Heybike Hero 1,000W Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bike: $1,899 (Reg. $2,599)
- Tenways Wayfarer e-bike with $277 bundle (launch deal): $1,899 (Reg. $2,199)
- Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike (gray or white) with DELTA 2 station: $1,898 (Reg. $2,198)
- Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike (mango or blue) with DELTA 2 station: $1,828 (Reg. $2,198)
- Velotric Summit 1 Versatile Multi-Terrain e-bike with $160 bundle: $1,799 (Reg. $1,999)
- Aventon Aventure 3 Smart All-Terrain e-bike (first discount): $1,799 (Reg. $1,999)
- Aventon Aventure 3 Smart Step-Through All-Terrain e-bike (first discount): $1,799 (Reg. $1,999)
- Lectric XP Trike2 750 Long-Range eTrike with $558 bundle: $1,799 (Reg. $2,357)
- Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike (lowest price): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $744 bundle: $1,799 (Reg. $2,543)
- Aventon Level 3 Step-Over Smart Commuter e-bike (first discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
- Aventon Level 3 Step-Through Smart Commuter e-bike (first discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,899)
- Lectric XPeak 2.0 Long-Range Off-Road e-bike with $583 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,282)
- Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike with extra battery: $1,599 (Reg. $1,799)
- Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,999)
- Ride1Up VORSA Modular Multi-Use e-bike: $1,595 (Reg. $1,695)
- Rad Power RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike with extra battery: $1,499 (No pirce cut)
- Lectric XPeak 2.0 Standard Off-Road e-bike with $434 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,933)
- Lectric XP Trike2 with $257 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,756)
- Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
- Aventon Aventure 2 All-Terrain e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,999)
- Lectric XPedition 2.0 13Ah Cargo e-bike with $346 bundle: $1,399 (Reg. $1,745)
- Aventon Level 2 Commuter e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
- Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru Fat Tire e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,599)
- Heybike ALPHA All-Terrain e-bike with $266 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,699)
- Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes with $439 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,703)
- Lectric XP4 750 LR Folding Utility e-bikes with up to $514 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,813)
- Heybike Hauler Dual-Battery Cargo e-bike (new low): $1,299 (Reg. $1,899)
- Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,799)
- Heybike Mars 2.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike with extra battery: $1,199 (Reg. $1,848)
- Lectric XP Lite 2.0 JW Black LR e-bike with $449 bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,548)
- Heybike Hauler Dual-Battery Cargo e-bike with $89+ bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,413)
- Lectric XP4 Standard Folding Utility e-bikes with $326 bundle: $999 (Reg. $1,325)
- Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with $449 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,448)
- Heybike Mars 2.0 Folding Fat-Tire e-bike with Black Friday gift: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
- Heybike Ranger S Folding Fat-Tire e-bike with Black Friday gift: $999 (Reg. $1,499)

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.
Trending
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment3 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024


