Connect with us

Published

2 months ago

on

Toyota-EV-stance

(The following is an op-ed sent to us by Adam Lee, Chairman of Lee Auto Malls, in advance of Toyota’s June 10 annual shareholder meeting)

Toyota can do better

Like many Mainers, I grew up hiking, camping and playing in the Maine woods. Since my son was 4 years old we have hiked and camped up north.  I don’t take it for granted that these woods will always be here or that the water and air will remain clean without all of us protecting it.

I have testified throughout the country for stronger emissions standards, chaired Maine’s energy efficiency board, and even won environmental awards. It hasn’t always made me the most popular car dealer in the room, but that’s how my dad raised me.  He always taught me to stand up for what’s right.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

That is why for years I championed Toyota vehicles. In 2001, when Ford, GM, and Chrysler were building larger and larger SUVs, Toyota introduced the Prius, which got 50 miles per gallon. At the time, we were the third smallest Toyota dealer in the state. However, I was so excited about the Prius that I brought it to every clean car fair in Maine, and in time we became the state’s largest hybrid dealer.

However, hybrids alone are no longer enough to address the growing climate crisis. That’s why for the last twelve years I have driven an electric vehicle. 

While other automakers have continued to evolve, Toyota has fallen to the back of the pack. In 2024, just 1.2% of the vehicles that Toyota sold in the U.S. were fully electric, far below the national average of 9.1%. EV sales have been growing steadily every year in the U.S., and experts expect that growth to continue.

Toyota has intentionally taken a different approach, becoming the leader in plug-in hybrids.  This is great, and we sell hundreds of them.  However, I was shocked to learn that while they develop the best hybrids in the world, they are also supporting climate deniers.  

Over the last three electoral cycles, Toyota became the top auto industry financier of climate deniers, financing 207 of their congressional campaigns. In this last election, Toyota widened the gap with other automakers, donating to more than four times as many climate deniers as Ford and nearly twice as many as GM. After not donating to the Biden inauguration, it donated $1 million to the inauguration of President Trump, who calls climate change a “hoax” and is working to dismantle environmental regulations. 

Toyota has been more aggressive than its peers in lobbying against climate action. It was ranked the third worst in the world–after only Chevron and Exxon–for its anti-climate lobbying, and for the last few years has ranked last amongst automakers. Just days after the election, Toyota wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed entitled “Trump Can Get EVs Back on Track,” calling on the new administration to dismantle policies that encourage automakers to make cleaner vehicles. 

It also just publicly endorsed a dangerous bill from former car dealer Bernie Moreno. Moreno, who credits Toyota with organizing the coalition of car dealers that supported his Senate run, is trying to eviscerate environmental, climate, and fuel efficiency standards. That would cost drivers tens of billions of dollars and could kill tens of thousands of Americans every year. With weak standards, average fuel efficiency for cars and SUVs actually decreased between 1983 and 2000. In the year 2000, nearly 150,000 Americans died from air pollution. Then we started strengthening environmental, climate, and fuel efficiency standards. 

Thanks in large part to the very standards that Toyota and Senator Moreno want to eliminate, by 2021 those deaths had been more than halved. From 40 years in the car business, I have learned that absent good policy, automakers will not make dramatic improvements in safety or fuel efficiency. Why would we try to reverse the progress we have made?

Don’t get me wrong: I love Toyota and the cars they produce. They are well-made, reliable, affordable cars and trucks.  And they are a great company to work with.  

But even with those we love, we must tell them when they’re falling short. I want Toyota to get back to being the green car company I have been so proud to support. Stop supporting climate deniers, give me more E.V.’s to sell. Toyota can do better.

–Adam Lee, Chairman, Lee Auto Malls, Maine’s largest car dealership chain

Electrek’s Take

While we don’t often run submissions sent to us in full, this one had an interesting angle given that auto dealers have long been one of the roadblocks slowing down fleet electrification, especially in the US.

While it’s true that dealers can often provide a worse EV shopping experience than direct purchases from EV-focused brands, that’s not true of all of them. Some of them get it, and Adam Lee seems to be one of them.

He’s written before encouraging EVs, and has testified in front of several states encouraging higher fuel economy and emissions standards.

So we’d love to see more dealers like this, who understand more about the market and the world they live in, and recognize that you can’t sell cars on a dead planet. Instead of the typical nonsense we’ve heard about from the dealer lobby.

We continued the conversation briefly through email, and Lee brought up some points which we’ve pointed out many times before – that if the US wants to stay competitive globally, it needs to recognize the transition that is happening in the auto industry.

Lee said that other dealers and the car industry as a whole are “all shortsighted” in their resistance to EVs, which is something you may have heard before from yours truly. He mentioned that China is “wisely” focusing on EVs, and that “China will do what Japan and South Korea did, quietly and quickly come to dominate the industry.”

Which is a relevant warning to the company who was the main protagonist in that initial takeover.

Toyota helped push Japan to the top of the list of global auto exporting companies in the 1970s, where it remained in one of the top two spots for the last 5 decades, due to its better processes and technology and its embrace of car styles that better fit a global market that was worried about limited gasoline supply.

That dominance held until last year, where China is now on the top of that list… due to its better processes and technology and its embrace of car styles that better fit a global market that is worried about limited gasoline supply.

The resistance to change could harm not just Toyota, but Japan as a whole. The country is behind on electrification, and car exports are a huge part of its economy. One report says Japan could lose 14% GDP and millions of jobs by stalling on EVs.

And given Toyota’s annual shareholder meeting is coming up on June 10, this is the right time for shareholders to demand that Toyota protect their investment for the long term and take EVs more seriously. The company is not headed in the right direction right now, and needs change. Its investors, its dealers, its customers, its countrymen, and indeed everyone on the planet should be concerned about this.

Charge your electric vehicle at home using rooftop solar panels. Find a reliable and competitively priced solar installer near you on EnergySage, for free. They have pre-vetted installers competing for your business, ensuring high-quality solutions and 20-30% savings. It’s free, with no sales calls until you choose an installer. Compare personalized solar quotes online and receive guidance from unbiased Energy Advisers. Get started here. – ad*

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Environment

Aventon Abound SR smart cargo e-bike gets first discount to $1,799, Jackery Explorer 300 at $169, Rachio sprinkler controller, more

Published

3 hours ago

on

August 13, 2025

By

Aventon Abound SR smart cargo e-bike gets first discount to ,799, Jackery Explorer 300 at 9, Rachio sprinkler controller, more

Headlining our hump day Green Deals is Aventon’s final summer sale that is taking up to $500 in increased savings off e-bikes, including new models, with the Abound SR Smart Cargo e-bike getting its first-ever discount to $1,799. We also spotted Jackery’s Explorer 300 Portable Power Station falling to $169, as well as Rachio’s 3rd gen 8-zone Smart Sprinkler Controller also dropping back to $169. From there, we have additional savings a budget-friendly e-scooter, a new low on a pro-grade cultivator, dual one-day-only pressure washer/attachment deals, and more waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s exclusive new low price on Anker’s SOLIX F2600 power station bundle, or the brand’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh station dropping to $80, and much 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.

Aventon’s final summer sale gives the new Abound SR smart cargo e-bike its first discount to $1,799, more from $1,199

Aventon has launched its final summer sale through September 3 with up to $500 being taken off its e-bike lineup, including increased savings on legacy models, and two of its newest smart models seeing price cuts. Alongside the second-ever discount on the new Pace 4 Step-Through e-bike, we’re seeing the first cash savings on Aventon’s Abound SR Cargo e-bike to $1,799 shipped. This smart commuting solution has been fetching $1,899 since hitting the market at the end of 2024, with discounts having been placed on its predecessor model (currently down at $1,599). This is the first time we’ve spotted any savings being attached to this model, setting the bar for future discounts. Head below to learn more about it or to check out the full lineup of deals during this sale.

The new Aventon Abound SR e-bike takes all that we love about its predecessor and steps up the game with smarter features. To start, there is a 750W rear hub motor (1,188W peak) paired with a 733Wh battery (which you can conveniently unlock and remove without keys via the LCD screen) that provides you with up to a 60-mile travel range at up to 20 MPH speeds (that can be adjusted to 25 MPH). There are three riding modes available here, with the added Ride Tune customization letting you alter their performances to suit your preferences.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

There are some great structural features like the Tektro hydraulic disc brake system, the 8-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, and the rear cargo rack with an increased 143-pound payload, but what really makes this cargo hauler truly special is the large array of new features we’ve only seen on the latest releases. First, there’s the Sensor Switch tech, allowing you to choose between a cadence sensor and a torque sensor as you ride, as well as other in-ride functions like cruise control, a boost mode to increase power for steep hills, and even a hold mode when you’re on said inclines and don’t want the bike rolling backwards. Of course, there’s also the security measures in the form of a startup password, an integrated kickstand lock, and in-app geofencing settings, which cuts the power and sends you alerts should it ever leave your designated areas.

If you want to check out the full lineup of e-bike deals, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

jackery's explorer 300 power station sitting on picnic table charging drone and camera

Jackery’s Explorer 300 power station is a compact companion keeping your personal devices running for $169

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Jackery is offering its compact Explorer 300 Portable Power Station for $169 shipped, beating out its pricing directly from the brand’s website by $70. While it carries a $279 MSRP from the brand, it keeps down at a $259 full price tag here at Amazon, with discounts having kept the costs even lower between $199 and $169 over 2025, with a one-time appearing $159 low back during Prime Day. Aside from that short-term discount, you’re otherwise looking at another shot at the best price we have tracked, which gives you an easy-to-manage compact backup power solution with $90 in savings ($110 off the MSRP). Head below for more on this model and its bundle options.

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

rachio 8-zone smart sprinkler controller with phones displaying app-based controls

Streamline your water system with smart controls through Rachio’s 8-zone sprinkler controller at $169

Amazon is now offering the Rachio 3rd Gen 8-zone Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Controller at $169 shipped. While it may carry a $230 MSRP, we’ve been seeing it keep down to $200 at full price here at Amazon. Aside from the short-term Prime Day discounts, which first took the price down to $165 before falling to $160, this is the best rate we’ve seen since mid-March. While it’s gone as low as $143 in the past, you’re still looking at a solid $31 off the going rate ($61 off the MSRP) that lands it among the best prices we’ve tracked in 2025.

If you want to learn more about this 8-zone device, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man aerating garden soil with greenworks pro 80V 10-inch cordless cultivator

Take advantage of up to 50% off this pro-grade 80V Greenworks cordless cultivator at a new $175 low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks Pro 80V 10-inch Cordless Cultivator at $174.99 shipped, which beats out its tool-only option that is sitting $75 higher in price. While this package carries a $400 MSRP, which is where it’s currently priced on the brand’s direct website, it is now 50% off the price we have been tracking on Amazon since the spring and is now at the lowest price we have tracked all-time.

If you want to learn more about this pro-tier model, be sure to check out our original coverage of this 50% deal here.

man riding gotrax apex xl electric scooter through walkway

Get a budget-friendly commute to your college or work on Gotrax’s APEX XL e-scooter at its $235 low

Amazon is offering the Gotrax APEX XL Electric Scooter at $234.90 shipped. While it carries a $349 price tag, we’ve been seeing it keep more at $320 at Amazon lately, with discounts having mostly kept the costs above $243, with one previous fall to this same rate at the end of July. That low price is coming back around here, with the 27% markdown cutting $85 off the going rate for the best price we have tracked – and just in time to cover any last-minute back-to-school commuting needs.

If you want to learn more about this e-scooter’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man clearing driveway with greenworks 1900 PSI electric pressure washer

Greenworks’ framed 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer hits $120 with the 12-inch cleaner attachment at $25 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering back-to-back discounts on Greenworks’ 1,900 PSI Electric Pressure Washer for $119.99 shipped, while also offering the add-on 12-inch Surface Cleaner Attachment at $24.99 shipped (more on this below the fold). This pressure washer normally goes for $200 at full price, with it currently out of stock at Amazon and only down to $150 directly from the brand’s website. While we have seen it go as low as $118 before in a one-time discount back in April, you’re otherwise looking at the best price we have tracked, giving you a reliable means to tackle outdoor cleaning with $80 savings.

If you want to learn more about this model or the attachment, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only 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.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Kia’s first electric van ‘unboxed’ and ready to take on the world

Published

3 hours ago

on

August 13, 2025

By

Kia's first electric van 'unboxed' and ready to take on the world

Kia's-first-electric-van-unboxed

The PV5, Kia’s first electric van, was “unboxed” after arriving in parts of Europe this week. After opening pre-orders in new markets, the PV5 is ready to take on the world.

Kia’s first electric van unboxed in Europe

It’s not just a futuristic-looking electric people mover, but the PV5 is the first van from Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business.

Kia opened pre-orders for the PV5 in the UK earlier this year, starting at £32,995 ($44,000). Now, it has officially arrived in a few more European markets.

The PV5 went on sale with pre-orders opening in Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, and other global markets. In Germany, the PV5 Passenger is priced from €38,290 ($45,000) or €249 per month. In France, it starts at €39,550 ($46,300).

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Kia Sweden posted a video on social media of the PV5 arriving on a car carrier with the caption “Unboxed, washed, and ready to face the world!”

Kia’s electric van is available in Passenger (for everyday use) and Cargo (for businesses) with various seating options.

The PV5, Kia’s first electric van, arrives in Sweden (Source: Kia Sweden)

The PV5 Passenger is offered with two battery packs: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh, rated with WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. Although it has the same battery pack options, the Cargo variant is rated with ranges of 181 miles and 247 miles.

During its PV5 Tech Day last month, Kia announced plans to launch seven PV5 body types, including a Light Camper, an Open Bed (similar to a pickup), and a premium “Prime” version.

Kia's-first-electric-van-unboxed
Kia PV5 tech day (Source: Kia)

After launching the PV5 in its home market, Kia will begin delivering the vehicle in Europe and other global markets over the next few months.

For those in the US, Kia has yet to say if it will launch the PV5 in the States. It was spotted testing in the US again last month, but it would face hurdles due to Trump’s tariffs on imported vehicles from South Korea.

Kia builds all PBVs at its Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea. The plant can produce up to 150,000 units a year. In its first full sales year, Kia aims to sell around 3,000 to 4,000 PV5s. Kia will expand its electric van lineup with the larger PV7 in 2027 and PV9 in 2029.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Nissan cuts Ariya EV prices by over $8,000 with a new entry-level model

Published

6 hours ago

on

August 13, 2025

By

Nissan cuts Ariya EV prices by over ,000 with a new entry-level model

Nissan-cuts-Ariya-prices

The Nissan Ariya just got a lot cheaper. Nissan lowered Ariya prices by over $8,000, thanks to a new base model and federal grants.

Nissan slashes Ariya prices with new base model

Nissan claims “this is just the beginning” with its new lineup of electric vehicles, including the next-gen LEAF, set to launch soon.

Although the Ariya was one of 19 vehicles eligible for the UK’s new electric car grant, Nissan is making it even more affordable.

Since it was priced above the £37,000 ($50,000) threshold, the Ariya was only eligible for the partial £1,500 ($2,000) grant.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Nissan wasted no time introducing a new Ariya Shiro entry-level model on Wednesday so that it will qualify. Starting at £33,500 ($45,500) with the grant, the latest variant is over £6,000 ($8,100) cheaper than the old base model, which started at £39,645 ($53,800).

The new Ariya model is equipped with the smaller 63 kWh battery, which is good for a WLTP range of 251 miles (400 km).

Nissan-cuts-Ariya-prices
Nissan Ariya (Source: Nissan UK)

Even the longer-range Ariya falls under the threshold after Nissan reduced prices. Starting at £35,500 ($48,200), including the grant, the larger 87 kWh battery provides up to 329 miles of range. Only two Ariya models don’t qualify for the Electric Car Grant: the e-4ORCE AWD and Nismo variants.

Nissan’s UK marketing director, Fiona Mackay, said, “And this is just the beginning,” with several highly anticipated EVs about to roll out.

Nissan-cuts-Ariya-prices
Nissan Ariya (Source: Nissan UK)

After introducing the electric Micra earlier this month, Nissan will launch the new LEAF later this year, followed by the electric Juke in 2026. All will be built at its Sunderland, UK, plant.

The Micra EV is also eligible for the grant, bringing prices down to just £21,495 ($29,200). Nissan’s UK head of sales told Autocar that the next-gen LEAF is in a “strong position” to receive the higher £3,750 ($5,000) grant.

Nissan-new-LEAF-EV
2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan

For those in the US, Nissan is also offering big savings opportunities ahead of the $7,500 EV tax credit deadline, which expires at the end of September.

In California, the 2025 Nissan Ariya ENGAGE FWD is listed for lease starting at just $179 per month. Offers vary by region, but in several other states, it’s available from $329 per month.

Ready to test it out for yourself? We can help you get started. You can use our link to find deals on the Nissan Ariya in your area (trusted affiliate link).

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending