Preorder Rad’s new RadRunner Max cargo utility e-bike with Apple Find My and radar to get a free extra battery at $2,299
Back on April 30, Rad Power Bikes launched their three newly refreshed RadRunner series of e-bikes – some for purchase, one for preorder. Now, the popular e-mobility brand is stepping up its pre-sale on the new RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike that gives it a free extra battery ($499 value) when preordering it at $2,299 shipped. This bundle is quite the rare treat for a new model, with it notably being given to the smartest and most advanced of its new lineup, whereas all we’ve seen on the other new e-bikes has been occasional free accessory additions. You can carry the battery with you to switch out when you need more juice, or you can grab the brand’s new RadRunner Range Extender (sold separately) to equip both batteries simultaneously, doubling your travel distance without ever needing to swap anything out. This promotion will only last until the e-bike begins shipping, which is slated sometime around May 7.
Reimagined from the brand’s RadRunner 3 Plus, the new Rad Power RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike is an upgraded hauler that comes with the most advanced features we’ve seen from under the brand’s flag. It arrives with a 750W rear hub motor alongside a 672Wh semi-integrated battery, which provides you with up to 60+ miles of travel when its five PAS levels are activated, supported by a torque sensor, hitting top speeds up to 28 MPH. Like all the other models from Rad, this one also comes with a throttle for electric cruising, though you’ll have a significantly reduced travel time of 19+ miles relying solely on that.
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There’s a ton of great features that we’re seeing on the RadRunner Max e-bike, like the Apple Find My capabilities that let you track it down on iPhone, iPad, Macs, and Apple Watch. It also comes with full Bluetooth locking controls via your phone, letting you unlock and lock it for added security. There’s plenty more to love here, like the IPX6 weather-resistant construction, hydraulic brakes, multi-surface puncture-resistant tires with fenders over each, a rear cargo rack with a 120-pound payload (420 pounds for the whole bike), an 8-speed derailleur, Exsho suspension, a front LED headlight with auto-on and high/low beams, a rear HALO+ light with turn signals and a radar, and a color display. Yes, you read that right, the display and rear light pair together to provide an on-screen heads-up when a vehicle or other rider approaches from behind within 100 meters of you (approx. 328 feet).
Be sure to check out our launch coverage of the RadRunner e-bikes that launched only a few days ago for a look at the shared features on the RadRunner Max e-bike and its two counterparts, and be sure to make your decisions quickly on the above promotion as it’ll likely be gone in a week’s time. You can check out the $300 discounts that Rad Power is offering in its latest sale, which includes the RadExpand 5 and RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bikes – plus, there’s the ongoing final stretch of low prices on the previous RadRunner series.
Bluetti’s latest sale drops AC200L 2,048Wh LiFePO4 solar generator bundle with 200W panel to $1,299
With Earth Day having passed, Bluetti has now launched a smaller Power on the Go Sale that is continuing some of the previous sale’s offers for your outdoor backup power needs, albeit without the extra 5% savings code. Among what we’re seeing, one of the highlight bundles is the AC200L Portable Power Station and a 200W solar panel for $1,299 shipped. This solar combo package normally runs for $1,899 at full price, which is where it’s currently listed at through Amazon. While we have seen it go as low as $1,197 in the past, you’re still looking at a solid $600 markdown here that drops costs down among its lowest rates and gives you the means to keep essentials running alongside solar recharging.
Heading out in the RV soon? Or maybe you want to extend the camping past just a weekend? Well, Bluetti’s AC200L power station is a well-equipped backup power solution with a 2,048Wh LiFePO4 capacity that you can even expand to 4,096Wh with a B230 expansion battery, 6,348Wh with two B210 batteries, or even 8,192Wh with two B300 batteries. It delivers a steady stream of up to 2,400W of power, surging as high as 3,600W, and coming with 11 port options for your devices: four ACs, two USB-As, two USB-Cs, one car port, one RV port, and even a NEMA TT-30 port.
You can regain 80% of the power station’s battery in 45 minutes by plugging it into a wall outlet, as well as connect up to 1,200W of solar input to recharge via the sun’s rays, which can return it to full in 1.7 to 2.2 hours at its max, so the bundle here will take longer on its own. Of course, it also comes with the usual smart controls you’d expect via a tablet or smartphone through the BLUETTI app.
Bluetti’s deals for staying powered up under the stars:
This Worx Nitro 40V 16-inch cordless electric mower adapts cutting speeds to grass thickness at $250 low
Amazon is offering the Worx Nitro 40V 16-inch Cordless Lawn Mower for $249.99 shipped. This newer model hit the market back at the tail-end of summer 2024, carrying a $350 price tag, with discounts until recently only having brought the costs down to $280. We first saw it fall to this $250 low during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale in March, with the deal returning here today to give you $100 off the going rate at the best price we have tracked.
One of the more recent releases from Worx, this 40V Nitro mower can tackle up to 1/4 acres of land with the two included 20V 4.0Ah batteries, which can be used to power over 140 of the brand’s other tools in the PowerShare ecosystem that you may already have. The 16-inch deck houses a brushless motor 2.0, and has been built with the brand’s Intellicut sensors that can dial up or down its output based on the thickness of the grass you’re moving through.
Weighing in at only 34 pounds, it’s far more maneuverable than gas mowers (not to mention quieter), coming with a 6-position cutting height range of 1.5 to 3.5 inches and 2-in-1 functionality for bagging or mulching. You’ll also be getting a dual-port charger to ensure you can recharge both batteries together and not wait around for each individually.
EcoFlow undercuts its own pricing at Amazon on the RIVER 2 Pro 768Wh LiFePO4 power station at $359
Through its official Amazon storefront, EcoFlow is undercutting the price from its own direct Spring-to-Summer sale on the RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station for $359 shipped. Normally, this model carries a $599 MSRP, and it is now $240 less than that at Amazon to land at the second-lowest price we have tracked. Or you can score it directly from ECOFLOW with a free carrying bag for $20 more – just be sure to use the sitewide savings code to score the maximum discount there!
The largest of EcoFlow’s RIVER 2 series of power stations, the RIVER 2 Pro is a compact backup power unit supporting your devices and appliances with a 768Wh LiFePO4 capacity. It sports 11 port options – four ACs, three USB-As, one 100W input/output USB-C port, one cigarette lighter DC port, and two 5521 DCs – and delivers up to 1,600W of power output thanks to the X-Boost tech present here. Last minute travel plans are far less of a hassle, as it can recharge in just 70 minutes with a wall outlet, alongside USB-C and car port options too. You can connect up to a maximum of 220W solar input, putting it back at full via the sun’s rays in 3.5 to 4.5 hours.
If you’re looking to save a bit more, you’ll also find the brand’s RIVER 2 Max down at $319 shipped right now, which beats out the direct full price we’re seeing from EcoFlow’s site. This model offers a smaller 512Wh LiFePO4 capacity, pumping out steady power at up to 500W while surging to 1,000W for larger needs. It carries nine output ports – four ACs, three USB-As, one USB-C, and one DC – with a wall outlet recharging it to full in an hour, as well as options for a max 220W solar input and car charging.
If you’re looking for something larger that can sustain much more – including your home – be sure to check out EcoFlow’s Spring-to-Summer Sale with its up to 52% discounts and bonus sitewide savings while it lasts through May 7. There’s also our separate coverage of the discounts on the brand’s new WAVE 3 AC/Heater and GLACIER electric coolers that start from $807.
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.
In a significant move that marks a departure from its traditional e-bike offerings, Trek has introduced the FX+ 1, its first-ever electric bike equipped with a throttle. This launch responds to growing consumer demand for more versatile and accessible e-biking options, particularly in the North American market.
The FX+ 1 is a hybrid e-bike designed for urban commuting, recreational riding, and light off-road adventures. At its core is a 500W Hyena rear hub motor delivering 60 Nm of torque, providing enough power for various terrain riding, though it might not be able to hang with the wide range of 750W e-bikes cruising US streets. The motor is paired with a UL-certified 540 Wh battery integrated into the downtube, offering a range of up to 50 miles on a single charge.
The top speed can be user-adjusted to either 20 mph or 28 mph (32 km/h or 45 km/h), providing performance that matches the maximum limit for Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes in the US, respectively.
Riders can choose between two versions: the standard FX+ 1, a Class 2 e-bike with pedal assist and throttle support up to 20mph, and the FX+ 1S, a Class 3 variant that extends pedal-assisted speeds up to 28mph while maintaining the same throttle limit.
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The FX+ 1 boasts a lightweight aluminum frame available in both mid-step and high-step configurations, accommodating riders from 5’1” to 6’6”. It rolls on 27.5-inch wheels fitted with 50mm Bontrager GR0 gravel tires, balancing efficiency on pavement with comfort on rougher paths.
The bike includes with integrated front and rear lights, with brake light and turn signal functions as well. Trek even says that once the battery is depleted to 0%, there’s still enough juice left in it to run the bike’s lights for another three hours.
The bike also features an 8-speed Shimano ESSA drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors, and mounts for racks and fenders, improving its utility for daily commutes and errands.
Charging is streamlined through Trek’s new EasyMag magnetic charger, which fully charges the battery in approximately 5.5 hours. The system includes a wall-mountable unit with easy-to-see LED indicators, simplifying the charging process.
Historically, Trek has focused on pedal-assist e-bikes, emphasizing a natural riding experience shying away from throttles that allow riders to power the bike’s motor without any pedaling input. The introduction of a throttle-equipped model signifies a strategic pivot to meet the preferences of many North American e-bike consumers who have long shown a buying preference for e-bikes with throttles..
Taylor Cook, marketing manager for Trek Canada, explained the rationale: “There are a lot of bikes out there calling themselves e-bikes that aren’t really made to be pedaled. This isn’t that. It’s still a Trek bike, built to be ridden, just with an extra bit of help when you need it.”
By entering the throttle e-bike segment, Trek positions itself head-to-head against newer brands that have capitalized on this market niche. The FX+ 1’s combination of reputable build quality, thoughtful design, and relative affordability (for a Trek) at $1,999 makes it a compelling option for a broad range of riders.
Electrek’s Take
The FX+ 1 is certainly an interesting expansion of Trek’s e-bike portfolio, and I think fans will be happy to see the company blending traditional cycling performance with modern electric bike throttles. Its introduction shows that the company is well aware of how many US riders prefer to have a throttle on their e-bike, and has made moves to meet that need.
The fact that Trek’s sister company Electra began including throttles two years ago was likely a great way for Trek to get its feet wet in the throttle game. The company no doubt saw the increase of riders that were flocking to Electra’s throttle-equipped electric bikes and wanted to get a piece of that pie as well.
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That network of dependable high-speed chargers, paired with solid app integration that makes it easy for Tesla drivers to find available chargers just about anywhere in the US, gave the brand a leg up – but no more. By opening up the Supercharger network to brands like Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and others, Tesla has given away its biggest competitive advantage.
Add in charging and route-planning apps like Chargeway, that make navigating the transition from CCS to NACS easier than ever with its intuitive colors and numbers and easy on/off switch for vehicles equipped with NACS adapters, and it feels like the time is right to start suggesting alternatives to the old EV industry stalwarts. As such, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Here, then, are my picks for the best Tesla S3XY (and Cybertruck) alternatives you can buy.
Less Model S, more Lucid Air
Lucid Air sedans; via Lucid.
Developed by OG Tesla Model S engineers with tunes from Annie Get Your Gun playing continuously in their heads, the Lucid Air promises to be the car Tesla should and could have built, if only Elon had listened to the engineers.
With panel fit, material finish, and overall build quality that’s at least as good as anything else in the automotive space, the Lucid Air is a compelling alternative to the Model S at every price level – and I, for one, would take a “too f@#king fast” Lucid Air Sapphire over an “as seen on TV” Model S Plaid any day of the week. And, with Supercharger access reportedly coming later this quarter, Air buyers will have every advantage the Supercharger Network can provide.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Less Model 3, more Hyundai IONIQ 6
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited; via Hyundai.
Hyundai has been absolutely killing it these days, with EVs driving record sales and new models earning rave reviews from the automotive press. Even in that company the IONIQ 6 stands out, with up to 338 miles of EPA-rated range and lickety-quick 350 kW charging available to make road tripping easy – especially now that the aerodynamically efficient IONIQ 6 has Supercharger access through a NACS adapter (the 2026 “facelift” models get a NACS port as standard).
Once upon a time, Mrs. Jo Borrás and I were shopping three-row SUVs and found ourselves genuinely drawn to the then-new Model X. Back then it was the only three-row EV on the market, but it wasn’t Elon’s antics or access to charging, or even the Model X’s premium pricing that squirreled the deal. It was the stupid doors.
We went with the similarly new Volvo XC90 T8 in denim blue, and followed up the big PHEV with a second, three years later, in Osmium Gray. When it’s time to replace this one, you can just about bet your house that the new 510 hp EX90 with 310 miles of all-electric range will be near the top of the shopping list.
The sporty EV6 GT made its global debut by drag racing some of the fastest ICE-powered cars of the day, including a Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG GT, a Porsche, even a turbocharged Ferrari – and it beat the pants off ’em. Combine supercar-baiting speed with an accessible price tag, NACS accessibility, $10,000 in customer cash on remaining 2024 models ($3,000 on 2025s) and just a hint of Lancia Stratos in the styling, the EV6 is tough to beat.
If you disagree with that statement and feel like driving a new Tesla Cybertruck is the key to happiness, I’m not sure an equally ostentatious GMC Hummer EV or more subtle Rivian R1T will help you scratch that particular itch – but maybe therapy might!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
COMMENTER FAVORITES
Not getting the USAF joke.
Projecting obsessions onto the author.
Feeling butthurt about the Pit Vipers and tribal tats.
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Komatsu-Dimag mobile charger at work; rendering via ChatGPT.
There’s no question that electric construction equipment is safer, more precise, and generally better than the diesel equipment it’s replacing, but getting power to that equipment remains a logistical challenge that hasn’t been solved for. With this new mobile Megawatt charging station, however, Komatsu think they’ve found a solution — with up to 6 MW of power!
Developed by Tesla co-founder Ian Wright, Dimaag, and Japanese equipment giant Komatsu, the groundbreaking Mobile Megawatt Charging System (MWCS) promises to bring electricity where it’s needed, anywhere on the job site, then quickly dispense enough energy to get the electric machines under its care back up and running.
And, with Megawatt power delivery on tap, the new Komatsu-Dimaag MWCS can power up equipment assets between shift changes — if it even takes that long!
Komatsu Dimaag mobile charger
Mobile Megawatt charger; via Dimaag.
The MWCS boasts a compact, high-efficiency DC-DC converter and a long-life, high-discharge-rate Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on board that can be connected to a DC fast charger itself, or get “trickle charged” between shifts. Both the battery and its control systems make use of an advanced thermal management solution that Komatsu and Dimaag say optimizes both safety and battery life during high-power delivery.
To make sure the MWCS can get all that power where it needs to, wherever it needs to, the machine is equipped with with stout, construction-grade AT tires, 4-wheel drive, and 4-wheel steering to navigate tight surroundings and rough terrains that other solutions wouldn’t be able to get to. And, while it isn’t mentioned in the press release, there’s a common sense idea here that you could, in a pinch, use the MWCS to tow less capable vehicles out of the mud and snow, if needed.
For their part, it seems like the people at Dimaag are pretty happy with the results. “Dimaag is excited to collaborate with Komatsu, introducing our advanced ESS and DC-DC architecture to revolutionize electrification in construction,” stated Ian Wright, VP Engineering at Dimaag. “Off-road vehicle electrification demands practical solutions that not only meet but exceed the performance of equivalent large diesel engine vehicles, while also providing substantial Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) savings. Dimaag’s electrification and high-power megawatt charging systems are designed to achieve this.”
The prototype MWCS shown, above, features a 295 kWh battery pack and an MCS connector delivering up to 1,500 amps and 1,000 volts of power. Komatsu envisions a scenario wherein the mobile charger makes its rounds on the job site charging up equipment and heading back to grid power (if available) to charge itself.
Conceptually similar to the mobile power platform being developed by American firm Dannar, this new mobile Megawatt charging unit has some heavy-hitting names behind it that make it impossible to ignore. Combine that with Komatsu’s ever-increasing push towards full electrification (the two machines shown, above, are all-new in the last 60 days, with more to come) and it really feels like the MWCS is going to be A Real Thing™️somewhat sooner than later.
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