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Lease deals get all the hype, but most people still want to own the car after they’re done making all those payments on it. If that sounds like you, and you’ve been waiting for the interest rates on auto loans to drop, you’re in luck: there are a bunch of great plug-in cars you can buy with 0% financing this March … and that includes a zero percent Tesla deal!

UPDATE: some American icons return to the list, and we’ve got more bonus cash offers, too!

I’ve done a couple of these now, so you probably already know that there were plenty of ways for me to present this information. “Best EVs ..?” Too opinion based. “Cheapest EVs ..?” Too much research. In the end, I went with alphabetical order, by make. And, as for which deals are new this month? You’re just gonna have to read the article. Enjoy!

Acura ZDX

2024 Acura ZDX; via Acura.

The 2024 Acura ZDX uses a GM Ultium battery and drive motors, but the styling, interior, and infotainment software are all Honda. That means you’ll get a solidly-built EV with GM levels of parts support and Honda levels of fit, finish, and quality control. All that plus Apple CarPlay and 0% financing for up to 72 months makes the ZDX one the best sporty crossover deals in the business.

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All the electric Chevy EVs (again)

EV batteries Stanford
Silverado EV, Equinox EV, and Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger; via GM.

For the second month in a row, Chevrolet is offering 0% financing for up to 60 months on all three of its Ultium-based EVs – and they’re all winners. The Silverado is an incredibly capable pickup that can be spec’ed up to a 10,500 lb. GVWR, making it eligible for Class 3 incentives up to $30,000 in some markets and capable enough to tow whatever horse, boat, or RV you put behind it.

On the crossover side, both the Chevy Blazer EV and Equinox EV each offer their own takes on the five-passenger family SUV, with the cost of base model Equinox LT FWD models with 319 miles of EPA-rated range dropping to just $27,500 after you apply the $7,500 Federal tax credit (which, for now, is still a thing).

Dodge Charger EV

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2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV; via Stellantis.

As the auto industry transitions to electric, Dodge is hoping that at least a few muscle car enthusiasts with extra cash, will find their way to a Dodge store and ask for the meanest, loudest, tire-shreddingest thing on the lot.

These days, that’s the new electric Charger – and you still owed money on the Hemi you just totaled, Dodge will help get the deal done on its latest retrotastic ride with a $3,000 rebate plus 0% financing for up to 72 months!

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Ford-Mustang-Mach-E-sales-August
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Bronze edition; via Ford.

This month, you can get a killer deal on a new 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E (shown, above). Through March 31st, you can get $2,500 in bonus cash, a free L2 home charger installed, plus 0% financing for up to 72 months. Tesla owners can also get an additional $1,000 in conquest cash, bringing the hood money total to $3,500.

Ford also announced a 0% financing deal plus $4,000 in bonus cash on the F-150 Lightning pickup, while Ford Pro customers buying an F-150 Lightning for their commercial or public fleet can get even better deals on the OG electric trucks.

GMC Hummer and Sierra Denali EV

2025 GMC SIERRA EV DENALI
2024 GMC Sierra Denali EV; via GM.

The biggest Ultium-based EVs from GM’s commercial truck brand are seriously impressive machines, with shockingly quick acceleration and on-road handling that seems to defy the laws of physics once you understand that these are, essentially, medium-duty trucks. This month, GMC is doing its best to move out its existing inventory of 2024s, so if you’re a fan of heavy metal you’ll definitely want to stop by your local GMC dealer and give the Hummer EV and Sierra Denali EV a test drive.

Honda Prologue

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2024 Honda Prologue; via Honda.

Despite the Honda Prologue was one of the top-selling electric crossovers last year by combining GM’s excellent Ultium platform with Honda sensibilities and Apple CarPlay, Honda upgraded the 2025 model with slightly more EPA range. Even so, there’s still some remaining 2024 inventory out there and dealers are ready to deal (that’s what they do, after all). To make room for the 2025 models, Honda is offering 0% APR for up to 72 months on the remaining 2024s.

Hyundai IONIQ 5

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IONIQ 5 record-setting performance; via Hyundai.

Hyundai is still offering 0% financing for 60 months on all versions of the hot-selling 2024 IONIQ 5 crossover, making it hard to overlook in the five-passenger segment. It’s worth noting that Hyundai is also offering the 5 with $7,500 bonus cash in select markets, but that offer can’t be stacked with the 0%, so do some math before deciding which way you want to go.

All the Kia EVs

2024 Kia Niro EV; via Kia.

Kia’s EV6 and EV9 have been grabbing headlines and setting sales records sine the Kia EV6 shocked the world, making its global debut on a drag strip where the car ran against a Lamborghini, a Porsche, and an AMG Mercedes (and won). This month, however, it’s the Kia Niro EV’s turn to shine thanks to 0% financing on the fun, compact urban runabout for up to 60 months.

The Niro’s bigger siblings are getting the 0% treatment, too, for a longer 72 month term.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV; via Mitsubishi.

One of the first three-row plugin cars to hit the market (and a frequent addition to these 0% lists), Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV offers up to 38 miles of electric range from its 20 kWh li-ion battery, making it a great “lily pad” vehicle for suburban families who want to drive electric but still worry about being able to find a charging station when they need one.

Nissan Ariya

2024 Nissan Ariya; via Nissan.

I’ve already said that the Nissan Ariya didn’t get a fair shake. If you click that link, you’ll read about a car that offers solid driving dynamics, innovative interior design, and all the practicality that makes five-passenger crossovers the must-haves they’ve become for most families. With great discounts available at participating dealers, Supercharger access, and 0% interest from Nissan for up to 72 months, Nissan dealers should have no trouble finding homes for their remaining 2024 Ariya crossovers.

Subaru Soltera

Subaru Solterra
2023 Subaru Soltera; via Subaru.

Despite being something of a slow seller, this mechanical twin of the Toyota bZ4X EV seems like a solid mid-size electric crossover with some outdoorsy vibes and granola style that offers more than enough utility to carry your mountain bikes to the trail or your kayaks to the river. The company is hoping to help clear out its remaining 2024 models with big discounts and 0% financing for up to 72 months.

Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3 Highland Refresh
Model 3 Highland; via Tesla.

Say what you will about Elon Musk – and I say plenty over on the Quick Charge podcast – the fact remains that we wouldn’t be here talking about EVs at all if it wasn’t for his marketing brilliance, bravado, and sheer force of will. Beyond that, Tesla simply offers as superior ownership experience through total software integration, unfettered access to the Supercharger network, and the best EV route-planning software this side of Chargeway.

If you can stomach being associated with Elon (or have an inside line on some spare Honda badges), you can get a new Model 3 for 0% interest or 0.99% with $0 down if you apply the $7,500 Federal tax incentive at the point of purchase.

Volkswagen ID.4

Volkswagen-EVs-in-2023
VW ID.4; via Volkswagen.

One of the most popular legacy EVs, the ID.4 offers Volkswagen build quality and (for 2024) a Chat-GPT enabled interface. To keep ID.4 sales rolling, VW dealers are getting aggressive with discounts, making this fast-charging, 291 mile EPA-rated range, 5-star safety rated EV a value proposition that’s tough to beat.

This month, get a Volkswagen ID.4 with 0% financing for up to 72 months plus a $5,000 customer cash bonus to stack with it.

Disclaimer: the vehicle models and financing deals above were sourced from CarsDirectCarEdge, and (where mentioned) the OEM websites – and were current as of 09MAR2025. These deals may not be available in every market, with every discount, or for every buyer (the standard “with approved credit” fine print should be considered implied). Check with your local dealer(s) for more information.

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Popular high-power electric bike brand announces shutdown

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Popular high-power electric bike brand announces shutdown

E-Cells, an e-bike brand in the US known for its all-wheel-drive fat tire e-bikes with extremely high performance, has announced that it is terminating operations and closing its doors.

The announcement was posted to the company’s social media accounts by the brand’s founder David Cleveland.

The closure was due in part to the impact of new tariffs on imported goods, with tariffs on Chinese-produced electric bikes reaching a total of up to 170%.

“Effective immediately, we are announcing the closure of our business,” explained Cleveland. “Due to unforeseen circumstances — including extreme tariff increases and other market challenges — continuing operations is no longer sustainable.”

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He thanked customers for their years of patronage, with E-Cells operating for around six years. “We are grateful for the trust and support we have received from our customers and community over the years.”

e-cells super monarch dual crown

E-Cells was a leader in the extremely high-performance electric bicycle niche. The brand’s models were popular with hunters and outdoorsmen, often sporting massive tires with all-wheel-drive, dual batteries, and dual suspension. Many models featured well over 2,000W of power and speeds topping 30 mph (51 km/h).

Those features resulted in large, robust, and extremely capable e-bikes that could be ridden in off-road and overlanding scenarios. Many E-Cells owners used the powerful electric bikes to pull heavy trailers, especially hunting trailers.

Now the company is reaching out to existing customers who have open orders and plans to handle the distribution of remaining stock internally. “We are no longer accepting new orders. Customers with existing orders will be contacted individually. Remaining inventory will be handled internally and is not available for public sale.”

The closure of E-Cells may be just the beginning of a broader shakeout in the US electric bike industry. Larger e-bike makers are better able to weather the storm of economic uncertainty, but as tariffs rise and economic pressures mount, smaller and mid-sized companies could find it increasingly difficult to stay afloat. The combination of supply chain disruptions, higher import costs, and price-sensitive consumers creates a challenging environment, especially for brands that rely heavily on overseas manufacturing.

Unless there’s a meaningful shift in trade policy or targeted support for the micromobility industry, we could see more e-bike companies scaling back operations or exiting the market entirely. And with fewer players in the space, consumers may face reduced choices, higher prices, and slower innovation – just as e-bikes are gaining mainstream traction as a sustainable transportation solution.

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Toyota issues urgent warning: Falling behind China goes far beyond just EVs

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Toyota issues urgent warning: Falling behind China goes far beyond just EVs

It’s not just electric vehicles. Toyota is warning, “We don’t have much time left,” with China poised to take the lead in another emerging technology following EVs.

Toyota is warning that China’s lead with EVs is just the start

It’s no secret by now that China is, by far, leading the transition to electric. Last year, over 17 million EVs were sold globally. According to Rho Motion, China accounted for 11 million, or over 60%.

Even as new models from leading OEMs like Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia are being introduced, China continues outpacing every other country. Through the first three months of 2025, over 2.4 million electric cars were sold in China, nearly 60% of the 4.1 million sold globally.

And it’s not just electric vehicles. Most batteries that power them also come from China, with companies like CATL and BYD dominating the market.

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Data from SNE Research shows that CATL and BYD alone accounted for over 55% of the global EV battery market in 2024. With overseas sales surging in key markets like Southeast Asia, Europe, and Central and South America, BYD is not only selling more EVs but also the batteries needed to power them.

BYD-smart-driving-EVs
BYD EV and PHEV models with new smart driving tech (Source: BYD)

In March, BYD released its new Super e-platform with ultra-fast charging batteries that can add 250 miles range in just five minutes. The first model based on the platform, the Han L, starts at just 219,800 yuan ($30,000).

And then there’s the smart driving technology. Earlier this year, BYD confirmed that most of its vehicles, including its ultra-low-cost Seagull, will now include its new “Gods Eye” driver-assistance system. Others like Huawei and Momenta are racing ahead with newer, more advanced ADAS systems.

Toyota-China-warnings-EVs
BYD EV models at a dealership in Indonesia (Source: BYD)

Now, Toyota is warning that China is about to take the lead in another emerging industry, following EVs. Misumasa Yamagata, president of Toyota’s hydrogen business, warned that hydrogen vehicles are headed for the same fate as EVs.

According to the Financial Times, Yamagata said, “We don’t have much time left — it’s important to accelerate quickly.”

Toyota-China-EVs-warning
Toyota bZ3X electric SUV for China (Source: Toyota)

Toyota has been developing hydrogen vehicles for over 30 years. However, like electric cars, China is quickly taking market share.

China already accounts for the majority of hydrogen commercial vehicle sales. Toyota’s hydrogen boss explained, “China is the most advanced in the world for hydrogen trucks.” Why? Yamagata states it’s “because the Chinese government ordered turning major logistics routes into hydrogen highways.”

Toyota-new-EVs-2027
From left to right: Toyota’s new C-HR+, bZ4X, and Urban Cruiser electric SUVs (Source: Toyota Europe)

China is rapidly expanding refuelling stations while driving down costs, which are now just a third of Japan’s. Hydrogen fuel cell bus and truck sales in China were higher than in every other market combined, at 7,069.

Electrek’s Take

We are already seeing it happen with electric vehicles. With a flood of new EVs entering China, BYD, XPeng, NIO, and most others are now looking overseas to drive growth.

BYD’s overseas sales hit another record in April, with nearly 80,000 vehicles sold overseas, which is its fifth straight month of growth. In total, BYD sold over 380,000 new energy vehicles (EVs and PHEVs), 195,740 of which were purely electric.

According to S&P Global Mobility, BYD’s sales are expected to double in Europe to around 186,000 in 2025. By 2029, that number could reach around 400,000.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is alienating trade partners with new tariffs on imports while threatening to end federal incentives, which will only put the US further behind.

It’s already becoming evident in global markets like Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, and several others, where Chinese brands are quickly gaining a presence.

The trend is only expected to accelerate with new tech quickly advancing. Will China continue reshaping the global auto and tech market? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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Lectric Ebikes may be launching a new XP 4 this week, and it could change everything

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Lectric Ebikes may be launching a new XP 4 this week, and it could change everything

Lectric Ebikes appears to be preparing for a major new product launch, teasing what looks like the next evolution of its wildly popular folding fat tire electric bike. Based on the clues, it looks like a new Lectric XP 4 could be inbound.

In a social media post released over the weekend, the company shared a minimalist graphic reading “XP4” along with the message “Tune in 5.6.2025 9:30AM PT.” That date – this Tuesday – suggests we’re just hours away from the big reveal of the Lectric XP 4.

If true, this would mark the next generation of the most successful electric bike in the U.S. market. The current model, the Lectric XP 3.0, has become an icon of accessible, budget-friendly electric mobility. Starting at just $999, the XP 3.0 offers a foldable frame, fat tires, a 500W motor, a rear rack, lights, and hydraulic brakes – all packed into a highly shippable design that arrives fully assembled. It’s the kind of package that has helped Lectric claim the title of best-selling e-bike brand in the U.S. for several years in a row.

With the XP 3.0 still going strong, the teaser raises plenty of questions. Will the XP 4.0 be a modest update or a major leap forward? Could we see new features like torque-sensing pedal assist, a location tracking option, or upgraded performance? Or is Lectric preparing a more comfort-oriented variant, maybe even with upgraded suspension or even more accessories included standard?

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The teaser image, which features stylized stripes in grey, blue, and black, may hold some clues. One theory is that the colors represent new trim options or component upgrades. Another possibility is that Lectric is preparing multiple variants of the XP 4.0 – perhaps targeting commuters, adventurers, and off-road riders with purpose-built versions. We took the liberty of a bit of rampant speculation late last year, so perhaps that’s now worth a revisit.

At the same time though, Lectric’s penchant for launching new models at unbelievably affordable prices has never run up against such strong pricing headwinds as those posed by uncertainty in the current US-global trade war fueled by rapidly changing tariffs for imported goods.

lectric xp 3.0 hydraulic
Previous versions of the Lectric XP e-bike line have seen sky-high sales

Whatever the case, Lectric’s knack for surprising the industry with high-value, customer-focused e-bikes means expectations will be high. The brand has built a loyal following by delivering reliable performance at a price point that few can match, and any major update to the XP lineup is likely to ripple across the market.

As a young and energetic e-bike company, Lectric is also known for throwing impressive parties around the launch of new models. It looks like I may need to hop on a red-eye to Phoenix so I can see for myself – and so I can bring you all along, of course.

Be sure to tune in Tuesday at 9:30AM PT to see what Lectric has in store – and you can bet we’ll have all the details and first impressions as soon as they drop.

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