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ICON invited us up to its office in Chatsworth, CA, to have a chat with its founder, Jonathan Ward, and to take a quick spin in its bonkers new Bronco EV restomod.

Jonathan Ward is stuck in the past.

His office is littered with cars, newspaper clippings, toys, and furniture that are all half a century old, at a minimum.

He lives an analog existence, and has built a name for himself in an analog business. Ward runs ICON, a company focused on restoring old vehicles to absolute perfect condition, or making hand-built modernized versions of the classics. Ward has made quite a name for himself, and is considered by many to be the best in the business of restomods.

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Some of Wards “Derelict” series – the patina belies a modern powertrain underneath

But time does not stand still for any man.

The automotive industry is changing, more than it has in a century. And even the grognards need to adapt.

This is not to say that Ward is an entirely begrudging participant in the transition – his “GAS GUZZLER – NO ACCESS” mock carpool lane sticker notwithstanding. He merely says that he wants to ensure the transition happens in what he considers the right way – he wants to carry over the analog processes that he appreciates from the past and apply them alongside the technology we have right now.

Ward has toyed with electrification before, with a few one-off projects – a 1974 VW Thing, a 1966 Fiat Giardiniera and a 1949 Mercury Coupe.

But he never thought the technology was quite ready to make a scaled-up project – at least until now.

So, Ward has created the ICON EV Bronco, and it’s something else.

Broncos have been a popular platform for restomods both electric and otherwise, with multiple other companies doing their take on the same era of the Ford classic. ICON itself has a gas-powered Bronco restomod, which it calls the ICON BR.

The ICON EV Bronco builds on the ICON BR chassis. But it replaces the powerplant and software with an electric drivetrain with 500hp and 440lb-ft of torque – much more than the 100-200hp from the straight-six or V8 options in the first-generation Ford Bronco the ICON EV Bronco is based on, and also more than the 426hp of the gas-powered version of the restomod.

ICON says it spent about 5,000 hours of development on the EV Bronco over the course of 18 months, in partnership with Marc Davis and Moment Motors in Austin, Texas. Moment is another shop focusing on vintage restomods, but with more of a focus on electrification than ICON has had in the past.

Ward brought Davis on for his electrification expertise in particular – while Ward was happy to talk with us about CNCed billet aluminum, powder coated chassis and locking front differentials, he paused and called in the cavalry when we started asking questions about fast charging (it should manage around a 100kW peak charge rate, Davis told us, or about an hour to fill the 105kWh pack from 20-80% on DC – otherwise, it has a 6.6kW level 2 charger).

The 105kWh battery pack should be good for somewhere around 180-200 miles of range. It’s not the most efficient vehicle, but it’s not trying to be.

  • Drivetrain and Performance Specs
  • 440+ lb-ft of torque
  • 500+ hp
  • Full-time All Wheel Drive for on and off road performance
  • Currie axles with rear LSD and ARB locking front differentials
  • Advanced Ringer Adjustable Suspension
  • Brembo Brakes
  • Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes to control performance and power usage
  • Battery Pack and Charging Specs
  • Industry standard 400V architecture
  • 105kWh capacity for 175-200 miles of range
  • IP67* Waterproof Standard tested battery enclosures
  • Full thermal management to keep the pack in the optimal temperature range at
  • all times
  • On board 6.6kW Level 2 charger for easy at-home overnight charging
  • Level 3 CCS Fast charging via all the leading charging networks
  • VCU and System Control Specs
  • Completely integrated Battery Management, Power Management, and Vehicle
  • Management for complete control of the entire EV drivetrain
  • OTA remote diagnostics and updates
  • Traditional ICON gauges transformed to show essential EV stats at a glance
  • Head Unit with complete system monitoring and control available in the center
  • console along with CarPlay and Android Auto Compatibility
  • Ancillary System Specs
  • Fully electro-hydraulic power steering
  • Electric power brakes and parking brakes
  • Electric heat and Air Conditioning
  • Traditional ICON gauges now reflect basic EV stats at a glance, then the center
  • console mounted Audio head unit provides even more EV system stats and
  • controls along with a reverse Camera. Apple Carplay and Android compatible.
  • Dimensions (estimated)
  • LENGTH ……………….14’9” (177”)
  • WIDTH …………..…….6’3” (75”)
  • WHEELBASE………7.59 3/8” (91 3/8”)
  • HEIGHT ………………. 6’6” (79”)
  • TRACK WIDTH FRONT……5’9”” (69”)
  • TRACK WIDTH REAR……..5’7”” (67”)
  • Curb Weight………..5420 lbs.

We took the Bronco EV for a short drive around the streets of Chatsworth – not necessarily the best spot to get a feel for performance or to find many stretches of unoccupied pavement, but it’ll have to do.

The car is, obviously, full of ancient character (and I’m not just referring to Ward himself). The switches, the seats, the shifter, all have their retro flavor, though many have been updated behind the scenes (e.g. the window levers are electronic, but look manual).

The one thing that betrays the car’s modern underpinnings is the screen between the seats, which allows control of vehicle functions and even includes CarPlay and Android Auto

There are a few other modern touches as well, like my favorite, an electric step that automatically pops out when you open the door. Given how high the stepover is to get into this truck, the step will be appreciated by many.

I do think the drive software on this pre-production vehicle could use some more refinement. While the ICON EV Bronco does offer different drive modes thanks to drive software provided by Ampere EV, the instant 440 lb-ft of torque available to us is honestly too much for such a tall vehicle (79″) with such a short wheelbase (91 3/8″).

As a result, torque just has to be limited on the low end, even despite its all-time all-wheel drive. It would be too squirrelly without. It can get from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, but there will likely be a good amount of drama on the way there.

The various drive modes do provide vastly different drive feel. Ward himself likes to drive in Eco mode, which he says is uncharacteristic for him, but that the car just too much without something to moderate all that power. I preferred the responsiveness of Sport mode, since I’m a stickler for rapid throttle response, but it was still very easy to spin the tires on this topheavy vehicle even during the simplest of maneuvers. So, maybe Ward is right on this one.

But, amazingly enough, this exercise in analog thinking also includes something that even many modern cars (and certainly most restomods) don’t: over-the-air software updates. So, even though we drove a development version, there’s even the possibility that post-release vehicles could be tweaked over time.

It even has off-throttle regenerative braking, something rare in the EV restomod scene.

Compounding the squirreliness of the accelerator, the steering system in the EV Bronco carries over much of the character of the original (though it has been upgraded with electro-hydraulic power steering) – which is to say, a big steering wheel with a lot of “play.”

We didn’t get a chance to try the Bronco EV off-road, but it felt like its driving dynamics would be most at home in the dirt, where it can use all that torque for rock climbing instead of racing.

For those purposes, the Bronco is packed with all the equipment you’d need, with off-road components carried over from the ICON BR chassis – Reiger Suspension, Brembo brakes, Currie axles, ARB locking front/ limited slip rear differentials, and multi-link suspension. And the ample ground clearance and approach angles you’d expect out of a box on stilts.

All that said, this is not a vehicle for a casual buyer – which you might have guessed from the $449k pricetag. It is obviously lacking much of what you might want in a regular vehicle on the road these days, and a lot of the things that you would expect out of an EV.

But if you’re looking for classic charm mixed with new technology underneath, and you happen to have recently found a bitcoin drive you lost in 2011, you know who to call.

Ward plans to make ten examples of the EV Bronco, each customized to their respective buyers’ tastes such that no two are alike. The buyers will be able to choose from the same design packages ICON offers for the gas-powered BR (New School, Old School, and Derelict) and body styles (soft top, hard top, roadster), with additional customizations for color, seating position, and so on.

And he wants to scale up from here. Heading into the future, Ward hopes to offer an electric powertrain as an option on all of his builds sometime in the next 3-5 years.

With what we’ve seen out of this one (and his past derelict builds in particular), we’re certainly excited to see what crazy projects he comes up with next.

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Segway’s new Xafari Red e-bike at $2,000 low (Save $400), Exclusive refurbished Anker SOLIX F3800 station $1,763 ($916 off), EcoFlow, more

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July 28, 2025

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Segway's new Xafari Red e-bike at ,000 low (Save 0), Exclusive refurbished Anker SOLIX F3800 station ,763 (6 off), EcoFlow, more

We are kickstarting this week’s Green Deals with the Segway Xafari e-bike in its new red colorway at a $2,000 low for an unforeseen time. Coming in right behind it is an exclusive $916 in savings on refurbished Anker SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Stations for $1,763 each, as well as EcoFlow’s latest flash sale that is taking up to 56% off two units and also offering an EcoCredits purchase promotion, like the DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station bundled with a 500W alternator charger at a $999 low. We also have more power station savings from Jackery, Worx’s adaptable Intellicut mower kit, and more waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings from last week at the bottom of the page, rounded up into our Electrified Weekly coverage.

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.

Segway returns its Xafari e-bike with an 88-mile range and Apple Find My in a new red colorway to its $2,000 low (Save $400)

While we have already seen a few periods of price cuts on Segway’s new Xafari e-bike, you can now score it in an all-new red colorway for the first time at $1,999.99 shipped. This model opened for preorder with a $2,400 price tag and didn’t see its first discount until the top of June when it fell to $2,200. Two weeks ago the brand’s Prime Day sale dropped things further to the $2,000 low, with it not only returning here today but also coming as the official introduction to this new red colorway. While the savings last you can keep $400 in your pocket, with it back at the best rate we have tracked to date.

Segway designed the Xafari e-bike as an all-terrain ride for folks at every skill level carrying the tagline “for everyone, yet far from ordinary.” Now sporting this stunning cherry red colorway, it arrives with a 936Wh battery powering the 750W rear hub motor to hit 20 MPH top speeds for up to 88 miles of pedal-assisted travel (with 12 levels that come supported by a torque sensor). What’s more, this model reaches that kind of range on just six hours of charging. One of the biggest standout features here, though, is the inclusion of the brand’s Intelligent Ride System that brings high-end smart features to your experience, including Airlock wireless proximity security, an alarm system, Apple Find My, GPS, adaptive pedal assistance, and more.

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There’s also been plenty of forays into more comfortable elements with the Segway Xafari Red e-bike, like the ergonomic positioning providing less fatigue on your back as you go along, as well as adjustable compression damping, all-terrain Kenda tires, a lock-out fork, and 80mm front/70mm rear suspensions. That’s not all, as there’s the rear cargo rack to carry packages, bags, and the like, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, front/rear lighting that obviously activates upon braking too – plus, a sophisticated HQ for controls via the integrated multi-color smart TFT display that has a 20W USB A/C port to charge your phone, among plenty more.

family holds hands walking towards RV with Anker SOLIX F3800 power station being pulled behind

Save and get more with an exclusive $916 discount on a refurbished Anker SOLIX F3800 power station at $1,763

We’ve secured a great exclusive deal from Wellbots on a refurbished Anker SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station for $1,763.10 shipped, after using the exclusive code 10ANK9TO5 at checkout. This is a renewed unit that already starts off dropping from $2,679 to $1,959, with the exclusive code cutting an additional $196 off the tag to come in much lower than the best pricing we’ve spotted on a brand-new unit ($336 lower). Today’s pricing is only beaten out by the exclusive $1,699 pricing we scored back in May, with the deal here being the second-best we have tracked, giving you $916 off its going rate.

If you want to learn more about this renewed unit, be sure to check out our original coverage of this exclusive deal here.

EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max power station on counter next to toaster oven

EcoFlow flash sale takes 56% off DELTA 2 Max bundle with 500W alternator charger at $999 low

As part of its ongoing July Monthly Madness Sale that is running through the end of the month, EcoFlow has launched the next of its 24-hour flash sales with two power station units getting up to 56% taken off their tags alongside a bonus 500 EcoCredits offer for $1. Among the two power stations, things start with the DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station that comes bundled with a 500W alternator charger at $999 shipped. This bundle would normally run you $2,288 at full price, and it’s quite the rare deal as we usually see this station with the 800W charger getting discounts, which is currently sitting at a $1,049 low at Amazon. With the two chargers often varying by a $50 price difference, the 56% markdown during this short-term sale is appropriately priced, with $1,289 in savings cut from the tag to land it at the best price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this particular bundle or the other flash sale offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of these 24-hour deals here.

Jackery explorer 1000 v2 power station on desk next to connected computer and refrigerator

Jackery’s Explorer 1000 v2 LiFePO4 station gives you protected 1,070Wh backup power at $469

Through its official Amazon storefront, Jackery is offering its Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station at $469 shipped. This station would normally run you $799 were it at full price, which we saw dropping as low as $449 in Lightning sales until Prime Day when it hit the $399 low. If you missed out on those lower rates, you’re still looking at a solid 41% markdown here today, cutting $330 off the tag at the third-best price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this power station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man pushing Worx 40V 17-inch cordless Intellicut lawn mower next to walkway

Get an adaptable cut with Worx’s 40V 17-inch cordless Intellicut mower that comes with two 4.0Ah batteries at $270

Amazon is now offering the Worx 40V 17-inch Cordless Intellicut Lawn Mower with two 4.0Ah batteries at $269.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $30 off coupon. This is an older but still reliable mowing solution that won’t weigh as heavily on budgets usually fetches $330 at full price, which we’ve mostly seen dropping down every few months to this same rate. We’ve seen it go a tad lower in the past to $266 and the $260 in April and May, while Prime Day saw it drop to $240 for four days, with today’s deal otherwise being the best price we have tracked, with $60 cut from the tag.

If you want to learn more about this adaptable lawn care solution, be sure to check out our original coverage of this 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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This country quietly became an electric haven with EVs now having 76% market shares

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2 hours ago

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July 28, 2025

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This country quietly became an electric haven with EVs now having 76% market shares

BYD-cutting-EV-production

While most headlines focus on EV adoption in the US, Europe, and China, Nepal is quietly outpacing almost every country on Earth when it comes to electrifying its roads.

In the last year alone, 76% of new passenger vehicles and 50% of light commercial vehicles sold in Nepal were electric compared to a 20% global average.

How did we all miss Nepal’s electrification story?

TL;DR: The New York Times has released a fascinating new report that tells the little-known story of Nepal’s electrification. The country’s aggressive EV shift is the result of a perfect storm: abundant hydropower, smart import tax policy, growing infrastructure, and a wave of affordable EVs from China.

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Cars powered by rivers, not oil

Nepal’s power grid is fed by rivers flowing from the Himalayas, making electricity clean and locally sourced. A 2015 fuel crisis with India prompted a national pivot to hydropower, helping to end the rolling blackouts that plagued the country for years. Now, electricity is abundant—and it makes more economic sense to use it for transport than to keep importing petroleum.

There are many countries in somewhat similar situations, but most of them have not embraced electric transport as much as Nepal.

To accelerate the transition, the government slashed import taxes for EVs to as low as 40% (vs. 180% for ICE vehicles). The result? A Hyundai electric SUV now costs less than its gas-powered counterpart.

Charging infrastructure is growing fast too: 62 public stations installed by the government, with hundreds more by businesses and homes. At current electricity rates, charging an EV costs roughly 15x less than refueling a gas car.

China dominates EV surge as dealers pivot

Chinese automakers like BYD are rapidly taking over the market. Originally a solar equipment distributor, Yamuna Shrestha became Nepal’s exclusive BYD dealer and now operates 18 dealerships. She expects to sell 4,000 vehicles in 2025.

“Consumers are getting Tesla-tier vehicles at half the price,” said one local Suzuki dealer, noting that Indian brands can’t keep up on cost or features. Dozens of Chinese brands are now competing in Nepal’s EV market, pushing the transition faster.

The electric transition created a lot of opportunities in the country’s relatively small automotive.

EVs work for everyday drivers in Nepal

EVs are already paying off for everyday Nepalese. Jit Bahadur Shahi, a retired police officer, purchased an electric minibus for approximately $33,000. Just 10 round trips a month between Kathmandu and his hometown cover the loan payments. He expects to own it outright in four years.

Still, challenges remain: charging infrastructure isn’t everywhere, but the government is investing in expansions to make sure the infrastructure grows with the rapidly growing EV fleet.

Political instability could slow things down.

While a success story, especially for a developing country, Nepal could find it difficult to reach near 100% EV sales in Norway amid some political instability.

Despite the momentum, policy backsliding could derail progress. Nepal has had three prime ministers in five years. This year, tariffs are creeping back up. Meanwhile, there’s no national plan yet for battery recycling or vehicle safety standards.

“If incentives disappear, the market could shift back to gas,” warned Rajan Babu Shrestha, Nepal’s Tata Motors distributor.

Public transit is the next step

While private EV adoption is booming, most of Nepal’s population relies on buses and motorbikes, which remain mostly fossil-fueled.

State-backed bus operator Sajha Yatayat runs 41 electric buses and plans to expand. China recently offered to donate 100 more, helping to build a clean transit backbone. However, experts say that at least 800 electric buses are needed to truly shift mobility in the Kathmandu Valley.

Scooters and two-wheelers also need to go electric, but adoption there lags behind neighboring India.

“We are trying to reduce fossil fuel vehicles in my town,” said Lalitpur mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan in the NYT story. “This is very difficult, but we must do something.”

Electrek’s Take

Nepal’s EV story is unique, but there are also many similarities with other markets, making it potentially replicable. By tapping into its clean energy, embracing Chinese EV supply, and creating the right incentives, the country has leapfrogged most markets in EV adoption.

Again, I understand that it is a fairly small market, but it’s still impressive that a few Chinese automakers can change the entire auto market of a country in less than 5 years.

From no EVs to almost only EVs in about 5 years.

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This EV just launched in China for under $5,000

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2 hours ago

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July 28, 2025

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This EV just launched in China for under ,000

EV-China-$5,000

There’s one vehicle in the US that you can currently buy for under $20,000, and it’s about to go extinct. In China, another EV just landed for under $5,000.

Meet the Bestune Pony EV, a $5,000 EV for China

Chinese electric vehicles are “far superior” to those in the US, according to Ford’s CEO Jim Farley. Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, warned just last week that China is “on a different planet” when it comes to EV tech, software, and innovation.

With another EV launching for under $5,000, China is proving again how far the industry has come over the past few years.

Bestune launched the new Pony EV, priced from just 34,900 yuan, or just about $4,900. The company was known as Besturn, but FAW rebranded the series as an affordable, mainstream brand in 2018.

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The new Pony, not to be confused with Honda’s iconic Pony, is an updated version of the mini electric car, which launched in China last May. Since launching, FAW has sold over 100,000 models.

EV-China-,000
EV-China-,000

The 2026 Bestune Pony keeps its boxy, kei car-like design. Added LED lights and funky two-tone color schemes give it a playful, fun look.

At just 3,000 mm long and 1,500 mm wide, the new Pony EV is even smaller than BYD’s smallest (and best-selling) electric car, the Seagull, at 3,780 mm long and 1,715 mm wide.

EV-China-$5,000
2026 Pony EV interior (Source: FAW)

Inside, the electric car features a relatively minimalist setup with a digital cluster, basic air conditioning, and radio/Bluetooth, as well as parking sensors. Higher trims offer upgrades like a 10.1″ smart infotainment and Deepseek intelligent assist.

Powered by a 42 hp rear motor and 18.11 kWh LFP battery, the Pony EV provides a CLTC range of up to 222 km.

EV-China-$5,000
FAW launches the 2026 Bestune Pony EV (Source: FAW)

It’s available in five trims with prices ranging from 34,900 yuan ($4,900) to 45,900 yuan ($6,300). All five feature a driving range of up to 222 km CLTC.

Would you buy the Pony EV for under $5,000 in the US? It doesn’t only come in pink. You can get it in blue, green, yellow, and more. Let us know what you think of it in the comments.

Meanwhile, in the US, the last new vehicle on the market for under $20,000 is the Mitsubishi Mirage. In June, its average transaction price was about $18,500.

Source: CarNewsChina, FAW

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