The State of California is moving to ban the sale of Tesla cars amid claims that the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, have misled buyers about the self-driving capabilities of their cars. We’ve also got market-leading news out of Vietnam and a pricey, pricey lesson for one VW ID.Buzz buyer on today’s lesson-learning episode of Quick Charge!

We also ask what this might mean for the recent Uber/Lucid autonomous taxi tie-up and go through a full rundown of the fastest depreciating EVs on the market (and yes, there are four Tesla models in the top 10 … because the Cybertruck was too new to qualify).

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Volkswagen is advertising ID.4 leases starting at just $99 a month. It’s hard to find any car lease these days for under $100 a month, but for $45,000 electric SUV, it’s almost unheard of.

Volkswagen offers ID.4 leases as low as $99 a month

The Volkswagen ID.4 was the third top-selling EV in the US in January after the 2025 model year went back on sale.

Volkswagen’s electric SUV starts at $45,095 with an EPA-estimated driving range of 291 miles. It’s available in five different trims: Pro, AWD Pro, Pro S, AWD Pro S, and AWD Pro S Plus.

The base 2025 VW ID.4 Pro RWD is equipped with 282 hp from a single rear electric motor. Inside, it features a 12.9″ infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and Volkswagen’s new ID.Cockpit digital instrument display.

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Upgrading to the AWD version will gain a tow hitch and an additional 53 hp, for a combined maximum of 335 hp. The added power comes at the cost of some range, with an EPA-estimated range of 263 miles.

Volkswagen was already offering 2025 ID.4 leases as low as $129 a month, but some dealers are listing it for even less this month.

A California dealership, Volkswagen of Garden Grove, has the 2025 ID.4 Pro RWD listed for lease at just $99 per month. The offer is for 24 months with $2,995 down. According to the dealer, the offer includes a $5,000 cash back bonus, good on a new ID.4 purchase or lease.

We thought the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was a good deal with leases starting at just $179 per month, but for $99, now that’s a steal.

Looking for deals on the Volkswagen ID.4 near you? You can use our link to find and view offers on the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 in your area (via a trusted affiliate link)

Materials science giant Corning is betting on US solar, buying Chinese-owned JA Solar’s 2 GW factory in Arizona as clean energy tax credit rules tighten.

JA Solar’s Phoenix-based solar panel factory will now operate under American Panel Solutions, a new subsidiary that Corning owns. A company spokesperson confirmed the acquisition to PV Tech.

“Corning is excited to leverage our advanced manufacturing expertise and expand our solar capabilities in Phoenix with American Panel Solutions,” said AB Ghosh, VP and general manager of solar at Corning, who also serves as chairman and CEO at Hemlock Semiconductor.

In 2023, China’s JA Solar, the world’s fourth-largest solar panel maker by capacity, announced it would open its first factory in the US. The Beijing-headquartered company invested $60 million and leased space in Phoenix to manufacture photovoltaic products. It was a big win for the Biden administration, which created a domestic clean energy manufacturing growth boom.

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However, thanks to the big bill that the Republican-majority Congress recently passed, new rules around “foreign entities of concern” (FEOCs) will make things trickier for solar companies that want to tap into federal tax breaks. If more than 60% of a project’s materials come from China, it will lose access to key tax incentives like the production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC). The thresholds for how much FEOC-linked content is allowed will decrease by 5% yearly until it reaches an allowed 40% FEOC-made by 2030.

Wood Mackenzie research analyst Elissa Pierce pointed out that ultimately, this new rule threatens to create more problems for the US solar industry than it solves:

The solar industry’s supply chain shuffle reveals a fundamental paradox.

Despite billions in tariffs and years of diversification efforts, Chinese companies still control manufacturing through regional subsidiaries.

When Malaysian glass suppliers and Vietnamese frame manufacturers are Chinese-owned operations, we’re not achieving energy security. We’re simply paying higher prices for the same supply chain risk.

These new market distortions could ultimately harm renewable energy deployment while potentially precluding domestic manufacturers from receiving the 45X tax credits due to the FEOC restrictions.

JA Solar is the second Chinese solar company to sell its US factory since the US presidential election. Changzhou-headquartered Trina Solar sold its Texas solar panel factory to T1 Energy (previously FREYR Energy) in December. The acquisition was announced on November 6, the same day Kamala Harris conceded the US election to Donald Trump – just a week after Trina opened the factory. 

Read more: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens [update]

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.