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Today’s Green Deals are headlined by Anker’s SOLIX weekend flash sale that is taking up to 55% off a selection of power station units through March 9, with the expandable and versatile F3800 Portable Power Station getting a notable drop to $2,599, among others. Next, we have Lectric’s latest closeout sales on the XPedition 1.0 Cargo and XPeak 1.0 Off-Road e-bikes that are coming with up to $455 in free gear and getting price cuts to new lows starting from $1,099. We also have some EGO Power+ tool discounts, led by the 56V two-tool combo kit that includes a 15-Inch Cordless POWERLOAD String Trimmer and a 615 CFM Leaf Blower at $230. Lastly, there’s Hoverfly’s X3 and X5 Electric Scooters that are hitting new low prices starting from $340. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Velotric Spring Sale savings, 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.

Anker SOLIX weekend flash sale drops expandable F3800 3,840Wh LiFePO4 power station to $2,599

Anker SOLIX has launched a limited weekend flash sale through March 9 that is taking up to 55% off a selection of power stations while also running alongside the early-bird benefits for its soon-to-be-released F3800 Plus Power Station, which you can learn about here. Due to this, we’re seeing the standard SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station dropping much lower than we usually see it direct from Anker, currently down to $2,599 shipped. This unit would normally cost you $3,999 at full price, with sales usually only dropping costs down to around $2,999. Outside of the two times we secured exclusive $2,099 lows from Wellbots, we’ve only ever seen it drop lower to $2,399 back during Cyber Monday. You’re looking at the second-lowest price we have tracked from Anker, and the third-lowest overall, which saves you a solid $1,400 on a unit that can cover campsites, road/RV trips, and home backup.

This is currently Anker’s most versatile power station model that also sports the largest battery, which even expands upwards. The SOLIX F3800 provides you with a LiFePO4 capacity of 3,840Wh that can be upped to as much as 26.9kWh with the addition of expansion batteries. It delivers juice to your devices and appliances at up to 9,000W when surging (6,000W normally) through its 15+ output options – which include dedicated hook-ups for your RV, EV, and even your home’s circuit breaker (though this last option requires a Home Backup Kit for sectional support or the newer Home Power Panel for whole-home coverage, as well as connections with your roof panels). Alongside the typical AC input for charging, you can also connect up to a 2,400W solar input, which refills 80% of the battery in 1.5 hours.

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Anker SOLIX weekend flash sale F3800 bundles:

Other Anker SOLIX weekend flash sale deals:

Be sure to also check out all the ongoing power deals that are running alongside Anker’s SOLIX weekend flash sale, which you can browse in full on the landing page here. At Amazon, you can currently find Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station back at $90 right now, or you can grab the upgraded SOLIX C200 60,000mAh Power Bank Station at its $100 low.

lectric XPedition 1.0 cargo e-bike

Lectric clears out XPedition 1.0 and XPeak 1.0 e-bikes with free gear and price cuts starting from new $1,099 lows

Lectric is offering two different closeout sales on its XPedition 1.0 and XPeak 1.0 e-bikes, complete with price cuts and bundle packages. The newest of these clearance savings are on the XPedition 1.0 Cargo e-bikes, with the single-battery model down at $1,099 shipped and coming with $336 in free gear, while the dual-battery model is down at $1,399 shipped and coming with $455 in free gear. Originally priced at $1,399 and $1,699, respectively, this is some significant savings which we haven’t seen before – especially with these models hitting new all-time low prices.

Lectric’s Xpedition 1.0 Cargo e-bikes may not be the new 2.0 models with their upgraded features and expanded capabilities, but they still offer solid cargo hauling support – especially with this price cut we’re seeing. They sport a 750W rear hub motor (peaking at 1,310W) that provides up to 20 MPH speeds when only using the throttle and up to 28 MPH top speeds when utilizing the five levels of PAS (as long as your state laws allow it). The standard single battery model boasts an impressive travel range up to 75 miles, or you can increase the range up to 150 miles by purchasing the dual-battery model.

Aside from the add-on gear you get from the bundled items, this e-bike comes pre-stocked with custom puncture-resistant tires, hydraulic mineral oil brakes paired with 180mm rotors, a headlamp, taillights, fenders over both wheels, and a backlit LCD display. Something to note here is that the e-bike is rated for a total 450-pound payload (with max rider weight being 330 pounds), meaning someone like me who’s 135 pounds can have another person (or multiple kids even) up to 315 pounds ride along too.

Lectric XPeak 1.0 off-road e-bike

We’re also seeing a changeup on the XPeak 1.0 Off-Road Step-Thru e-bike, starting with a price cut to the new $1,099 low and coming with $227 in free gear. Though it’s no longer accompanied by the free extra battery that its earlier closeout deal offered, you’re still getting a solid ride that can carry you up to 55 miles on one charge thanks to the semi-integrated 14Ah battery. You’ll be cruising at the same speeds as the above models, with its top 28 MPH speeds available when using the five PAS levels (depending on your local laws).

Like the above cargo models, there are some reliable features here you wouldn’t expect for their original price, with 4-inch puncture-resistant fat tires, hydraulic mineral oil brakes, a 7-gear Shimano derailleur, removable pedals, a thru axle wheel attachment system for tool-free installations, kickstand, a hidden cable routing system, an IP65 water-and-dust-resistant LCD display, and several mounting points for any additional add-on accessories you may want to install down the line.

Now if you instead want the latest and greatest of these two models, you’ll find the 2.0 versions of these e-bikes getting some solid savings during Lectric’s Spring Sale, with the XPedition 2.0 26Ah Dual-Battery model getting a fully-loaded $762 bundle package at $1,799 – the biggest we’ve seen on it to date, among others.

EGO Power+ string trimmer and leaf blower combo

Prep for spring with EGO’s 56V 15-inch cordless POWERLOAD string trimmer & 615 CFM blower combo at $230

Amazon is now offering the EGO Power+ 56V 15-Inch Cordless POWERLOAD String Trimmer & 615 CFM Blower Combo Kit for $229.99 shipped. This bundle normally goes for $329 at full price, with recent discounts since the summer only taking costs down to $249, though we did spy it dropping lower to $229 back in May and June (which hasn’t appeared again since). Today’s deal comes in with a 30% markdown, slashing $99 off the tag and landing it down at the second-lowest price we have tracked – only $1 above the all-time low from last summer.

With spring quickly approaching, this EGO bundle is a solid choice to prepare for your lawn’s upcoming trimming and debris-clearing needs, complete with a 2.5Ah ARC battery and charger to keep it all running should this be your first investment into this brand. The 15-inch string trimmer can provide up to 45 minutes of runtime with the battery and features POWERLOAD tech, giving you easier line feeding with the simple press of a button, as well as a telescopic shaft. The leaf blower, on the other hand, delivers 75 minutes of runtime, with a variable speed control dial for 200 to 480 CFM that boosts to 615 after activating the turbo mode.

Other notable EGO Power+ deals:

If you’re also looking to upgrade to a new mower, we spotted a few solid options from EGO that are going right now, like the 56V 21-inch Cordless Self-Propelled model that comes with two 6.0Ah batteries for a 100-minute runtime still sitting at its new $700 low. There’s also the 42-inch and 52-inch Z6 ZTR Electric Riding Mowers are currently $1,000 off and start from $4,999.

Hoverfly X3 Electric Scooter

Get up to 18 or 25 miles of travel at 20 MPH top speeds on Hoverfly’s X3 and X5 e-scooters at new lows from $340

Amazon is now offering the Hoverfly X3 Electric Scooter for $339.60 shipped. This newer commuting model hit the market in November carrying a $450 price tag, which it’s coming down from thanks to the 25% markdown today. We saw it fall to $366 during Black Friday, dropping lower to $360 during Christmas sales before keeping above $400 at the start of the new year. We saw it fall previously to $340, which is getting etched out by $0.39 here at a new all-time low price. You’ll also find it matching in price direct from Hoverfly’s website.

A solid means to get through life’s commutes around town while keeping on a budget, Hoverfly’s X3 e-scooter houses a 7.8Ah battery that provides you with 18 miles of travel on one full charge. There are two speed modes here to utilize – the first of them letting you reach 15.5 MPH while the other bumps thing to the maximum 20 MPH top speed. The 500W motor, along with providing some substantial speeds over other budget models, also tackles up to 15% inclines – there’s even a walk assist mode for when you’re caught off guard by a dead battery or inclines get to be too steep. Your ride is also smoothed out thanks to the dual suspension and honeycomb solid tires, with it also featuring a headlight, a tailight, and a built-in digital code lock for when it’s not in use.

If you want to score a little more range, the upgraded X5 Electric Scooter is also hitting a new all-time low price of $386.99 shipped. Still boasting the same features and a 500W motor, the difference here is that this model comes with a larger 12Ah battery that provides an extended 25 miles of travel on one charge.

Best New Year 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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Environment

How Florida quietly surpassed California in solar growth

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August 2, 2025

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How Florida quietly surpassed California in solar growth

Solar energy is booming across the U.S. and, for the first time, Florida is catching up to industry powerhouses Texas and California.

Despite removing climate change from its official state policy in 2024, Florida added more utility-scale solar than California last year, with over 3 gigawatts of new capacity coming online. 

“This is not a fluke,” said Sylvia Leyva Martinez, senior analyst at Wood Mackenzie. “Florida is now shaping national solar growth.”

The surge is being driven by utilities, not rooftop panels. Florida Power & Light alone built over 70% of the state’s new solar last year. A state rule lets developers skip lengthy siting reviews for projects under 75 megawatts, which speeds up construction and cuts costs.

“There’s no silver bullet,” said Syd Kitson, founder of Babcock Ranch, a town designed to be powered almost entirely by solar. “But one thing Florida got right is acceptance. Here, people want solar. And we’re proving it works.”

Babcock Ranch runs on its own microgrid and stayed online during Hurricane Ian in 2022, while much of southwest Florida went dark.

“We didn’t lose power, internet, or water,” said Don Bishop, a homeowner there. “That changes how you think about energy.”

The economics are doing the rest. With industrial demand rising and natural gas prices climbing, solar is increasingly the cheapest option, even without subsidies.

“Utilities aren’t building solar because it’s green,” Martinez said. “They’re doing it because it’s cheaper.”

But new challenges are emerging.

In July, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill, which accelerates the rollback of solar and wind tax credits. Homeowners lose the federal investment credit after 2025. Developers face tighter deadlines and stricter sourcing rules.

“It won’t kill the market,” said Zoë Gaston, an analyst who follows the solar industry at Wood Mackenzie. “But it makes the math harder.”

Analysts now expect a 42% drop in rooftop solar installs in Florida over the next five years. And while utility-scale growth continues, grid constraints are becoming an issue. Utilities are pouring money into storage, smart infrastructure, and grid upgrades to keep up.

Babcock Ranch is piloting new microgrid systems to add resilience. The hope is that other communities can take the playbook and adapt it, storm-proofing neighborhoods one block at a time.

“We’ve been testing this for years,” Kitson said. “Now it’s about scale. It’s about showing others they can do it too.”

The bigger question is whether Florida can keep this momentum going without policy support, and while still leaning heavily on natural gas.

“Florida has the solar resources,” said Mark Jacobson, a professor at Stanford’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “What’s missing is political consistency.”

Watch the video to see how Florida became a solar leader and what could slow it down.

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Environment

The Tesla Diner has been open for 12 days and it’s going kinda rough so far

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8 hours ago

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August 2, 2025

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The Tesla Diner has been open for 12 days and it's going kinda rough so far

Tesla opened its retro-futuristic “Tesla Diner” last Monday, July 21st. It’s a cool concept and the realization of a plan that was first talked about in 2018… but in the 12 days since it opened, it hasn’t been all roses so far.

The diner has been through a few twists and turns since it was first proposed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk on a conference call in 2018. At first, the plan was to build it alongside a Supercharger location in Santa Monica, but the restaurant portion didn’t get off the ground and Tesla just build a Supercharger location there instead.

Then Tesla moved the project to Hollywood… on Santa Monica Blvd. So, kind of still Santa Monica, right? It took the place of an old Shakey’s Pizza, and has been under construction for quite some time.

The plans were to offer a diner with a Supercharger, carhop service, large drive-in movie screens and a retro-futuristic aesthetic around it all. It opened on July 21st, at 4:20pm (420 being a reference to Musk’s reported drug addictions), delivering all that, along with a merchandise shop and one of Tesla’s Optimus robots serving popcorn.

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Pretty much immediately, the Diner had quite a festive atmosphere. The line to get food has reportedly consistently been an hour or more long since it was opened, which speaks to the site’s popularity – but perhaps also a failure to provide the kind of rapid service that a fast casual diner with car service might seek to offer.

Given that the site is also a Supercharger, one would expect to have a premium on fast service, so that cars don’t end up parked in spots for too long which could otherwise be used for fast charging (Tesla charges idle fees for EVs which charge for too long and clog up chargers, but we’ve heard conflicting information over whether these idle fees apply to people waiting for food at the Diner)

One remedy for these long lines, though, is Tesla’s in-car computer, which cleverly allows drivers to order food from inside their car ahead of time while navigating to the site. Tesla then knows when the driver will show up, based on in-car navigation, and theoretically can have the order ready by then – but perhaps that will become more relevant once lines die down.

In theory, it definitely does seem like a “Supercharger done right.” We’ve covered several instances of these, charging plazas that aren’t just a place to charge, but which offer other amenities that drivers might want while charging – like ROVE’s Santa Ana “full service” charger with grocery store, lounge and car wash; or Rivian’s “Outpost” locations. And we definitely want to see more of this, giving people things to do while they’re charging, which can lead to electric roadtrips feeling even better than gas ones.

But so far the Diner hasn’t been without its problems, and we’ve heard a number of them in the past 12 days.

Some of the problems Tesla Diner has seen since opening

Both during construction and now that the site is open, many of the site’s neighbors aren’t particularly happy, according to a 404 media article including several interviews. An apartment block directly beside the site has seen significant turnover and vacancies as renters were fed up with years of construction, operating 14 hours a day, and loud generators that also emitted polluting exhaust.

Residents in the article were afraid to use their full names, lest they be exposed to abuse by Tesla fans as a result – something that we at Electrek can attest to, having received similar responses after writing truthful articles about the company.

Some renters have had their windows blocked by the 40-foot-tall movie screen, and while the screen doesn’t produce sound itself (that’s piped through vehicle speakers), it does have fans on the back of it which make a constant whir – thus blocking their view and adding noise pollution.

And since the diner is open 24/7, there’s no reprieve from the hustle and bustle, which has also caused traffic backups along the small nearby streets and has forced the apartment building to reinforce its entry door.

Much of this could be blamed on the planning commission, perhaps, for allowing the project to go on as-is – assuming Tesla was upfront about the site’s uses. And some of the chaos will calm down once the novelty of the site goes down, and some noise is to be expected for those living in a relatively busy part of the LA area in the first place. One resident did say they liked the hustle and bustle, but according to the article, this resident seems to be in the minority.

Beyond the planning issues and busy nature of the site, there have been several operational issues so far.

On the very first day, Tesla’s popcorn-scooping Optimus robot failed. Tesla has touted its expertise with “real-world AI,” using its Optimus robots as an example, showing the robot’s dexterity and ability to do factory tasks. But the problem is, in most public displays of the robot so far, it has been teleoperated – that is, remote controlled by a human. Reportedly, Diner employees confirmed that the popcorn-bot was teleoperated, despite doing quite a simple and repetitive task.

The robot also has multiple tenders – videos show Diner employees handing popcorn containers to it, as it can’t separate the containers itself, and having to refill the popcorn machine and clean up any dropped popcorn. Combine those employees and the reported teleoperator for the robot, and this feels like we’re seeing a decrease in labor efficiency here, rather than an increase.

One widely-shared report showed perishable items stacked outside – but given that it was just a single photo, it seems likely that these items were mid-delivery.

More concerningly, TMZ reported that a woman was struck on the head by an awning/umbrella, and her husband claimed that she appeared confused and briefly lost consciousness afterwards. The LA Fire Department responded and the woman left the scene without an ambulance.

And of course, as is the case with anything Tesla these days, the Diner has attracted controversy. In Los Angeles – a city which is currently being occupied by nazi-like goons who are demanding that residents show their papers lest they be kidnapped and potentially shipped to a death camp – the man who last year became the largest individual global funder of the fascist regime that is now causing these illegal disappearances is not very popular. And you don’t have to go far back to remember when Musk himself said that his current actions are “not good for America or the world.”

Tesla locations in the LA area (and around the globe) have been subject to routine “Tesla Takedown” protests for months, starting after Musk did two clear nazi salutes and had spent his first few weeks in an advisory role in which he recommended that the US government haphazardly and illegally cut thousands of important jobs, increasing government chaos and ballooning the US deficit.

The protests also note Musk’s recommendation to cut USAid, an incredibly effective and relatively inexpensive international soft power program for the US, cuts of which are projected to cause millions of deaths globally (USAID is credited with saving 91 million lives from 2001-2021).

On the Diner’s first day, a lone protester showed up, a harbinger of things to come. Then, on it’s first weekend, the protest became much more significant – with protesters erecting two “wacky waving inflatable arm men” designed to look like Musk and repeatedly mimic his nazi salutes.

Another protest is scheduled for later today, starting at 4PM, and Tesla Takedown plans to protest from 4-7pm every Saturday and Sunday until further notice.

Finally, one video called the whole thing, and particularly the long line for dining, a “disaster.” It pointed out the difficulty a new Ioniq 6 owner was having with operating his Tesla app to grab a Supercharge (Tesla’s network is now open to Hyundai EVs). This did not appear to be a site-specific problem, rather an issue with the Tesla app as best we can tell, but the frustration of all the traffic chaos must not have made attempts to find a solution any easier.

While Tesla does have a spotlight on everything it does, this seems like a significant collection of difficulties and unforced errors for less than two weeks of operation (hmm, where have we seen something similar before…). Let’s see if they’re able to iron out the kinks.

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. 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.

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Environment

This 50% recycled glass solar panel performs like brand new

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20 hours ago

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August 2, 2025

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This 50% recycled glass solar panel performs like brand new

recycled glass solar panel
Photo: SOLARCYCLE

Solar panel recycler SOLARCYCLE and Arizona State University just proved that solar panels made with recycled glass work just as well as new ones.

In a new collaboration with Arizona State’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, the solar recycling company created a prototype solar panel – what they call a “mini module”– using 50% recycled glass pulled from end-of-life solar panels. The mini module matched the performance of panels made entirely with new materials.

The research was led by Dr. Zachary Holman, Arizona State’s vice dean for research and innovation, and his team. Researcher Kate Fisher built and tested two sets of panels: one using only new glass, and the other using a 50/50 mix of new and recycled glass cullet. The recycled material came from panels processed using SOLARCYCLE’s technology.

Using industry-standard power conversion efficiency tests, the results were clear: There was no statistically significant difference in how the two types of panels performed.

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“This is exactly the kind of result we hope for when industry and academia collaborate,” said Holman. “Together, we proved that you don’t have to sacrifice performance to build solar panels more sustainably.”

This isn’t just a one-off science experiment. SOLARCYCLE says the recycled-glass panel is part of a bigger plan to make solar manufacturing more circular – and less wasteful. The company plans to build a solar glass factory in Cedartown, Georgia, next to its existing recycling factory. It’ll be the first in the world to use recycled cullet like this at commercial scale.

“By proving we can manufacture new solar panels using recycled materials that produce at peak performance levels, we’re taking a major step toward making the solar industry more sustainable, scalable, and self-reliant,” said SOLARCYCLE’s CTO and co-founder, Pablo Dias.

Read more: SOLARCYCLE’s new plant will recycle 25% of all US end-of-life solar panels in 2030

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. 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.

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