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Voltify plans to build a series of energy microgrids to power its locomotive batteries, as shown in this computer-generated image.

Voltify

Daphna Langer has a bold ambition: To decarbonize the rail industry in less than a decade.

How? By convincing U.S. freight railroad companies to switch from diesel power to rechargeable batteries — part of a business model Langer estimates could make her company, Voltify, as much as $10 billion a year.

The rail industry needs to reduce its emissions by 5% a year by 2030 to reach net-zero goals, according to a 2023 report by the International Energy Agency. In addition, switching to battery electricity would save U.S. rail freight companies $94 billion over 20 years, according to a 2021 study published in the journal Nature Energy.

Voltify’s VoltCars — essentially sodium-ion batteries on wheels — are designed to connect to existing freight locomotives.

Convincing the $80-billion U.S. rail industry to switch from a traditional and long-relied on fossil fuel to renewable energy might seem a tough task, but there are several reasons Langer said she is confident in Voltify’s goal.

After a stint advising multiple early-stage companies in the climate industry, Langer noticed two things that limited their growth. “Most of them rely on subsidies of governments, and [the] second [factor] is that they rely on manufacturing and scaling that just doesn’t exist today,” she said.

In a bid to overcome those hurdles, Langer held meetings with hundreds of people in the energy and materials industries, seeking opportunities. When she first met her co-founder Alon Kessel, it was a “ding ding” moment, she said.

A computer-generated image illustrating Voltify’s VoltCar batteries attached to a locomotive.

Voltify

Kessel knew the renewable energy market well, having co-founded Doral, a firm that owns and operates dozens of solar energy farms in the U.S. and Europe. He calculated that the six largest freight railroad companies in the U.S. — including Union Pacific and CSX — were collectively spending more than $11 billion a year on diesel, a figure verified by CNBC. Union Pacific, for example, spent almost $2.5 billion on fuel in 2024, per its annual report.

Langer and Kessel saw an opportunity. What if they could convince the large companies — known as Class 1 railroads — to convert their locomotives from diesel to battery power?

“Converting six companies is not that hard. And having that ability to create such an impact with just six companies, it’s huge,” Langer said. There is almost 140,000 miles of freight railroad track in the U.S., with the majority of the locomotives powered by diesel as there is little overhead electrification.

Langer and Kessel founded Voltify in 2023 and set about meeting the railroad companies. But they found initial resistance. “There’s a lot of skepticism, because this is such a traditional industry, and uptime and and reliability are key,” Langer said. “We’ve been figuring out what would be able to … fit into their schedule, to fit into their operations without harming their efficiency.”

The companies’ biggest concern was the amount of time it might take to charge the batteries, and that there would always be the power supply to do so. “The rail companies, who have been very blunt about it, [said] ‘Listen, we don’t really care about the energy source. We just need to make sure that it’s always up. There’s always energy,'” Langer said.

So Voltify spent about a year working on an algorithm that could forecast the energy demands of trains “in every route,” Langer said, and the company is also building its first solar-powered energy microgrid that Langer said is on track to be finished by the end of the year. “Our calculations show that a network of these microgrids could eventually power all trains in North America,” Langer told CNBC in an email. Voltify estimates that to do so would require 1,400 microgrids.

Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery locomotive was developed in 2019.

Wabtec

Voltify is in “very active” talks with three of North America’s largest railroad companies, Langer said, adding that it is set to run a demonstration project with a smaller railroad company later this year. Voltify is also starting a pilot with a Class 1 railroad company in early 2026, and Langer said it is “expected” that this will become a commercial deployment after several months.

Voltify isn’t the first company to come up with the idea of powering freight trains with batteries. In 2019, freight rail firm Wabtec developed a battery-electric locomotive called the FLXdrive, with the first trains set to operate in Australia after being ordered by miner BHP Group. The company also tested its battery-electric locomotive with GE, and said in an email to CNBC that it plans to test and operate FLXdrive trains in North and South American markets.

The technology can reduce diesel consumption and emissions by 30%, according to Tim Bader, Wabtec’s director of external and engineering communications, in an email to CNBC. “This benefit is critical since fuel is one of the major operating costs for a railroad,” he said.

But as the technology is emerging, there are challenges such as charging time and battery capacity, plus a “challenging” business case given the infrastructure investments required. “Like any emerging technology, these challenges will diminish as the industry continues to research and improve battery-power solutions,” Bader said.

A computer-generated image of a passenger train on New York City’s MTA Metro North network, which is set to be powered by Siemens Mobility Charger B+AC battery.

Siemens Mobility

There’s also “substantial” market potential for battery-powered passenger trains, according to Tobias Bauer, the acting CEO for Siemens Mobility North America, in an email to CNBC. “Battery-powered trains represent a new and exciting platform for the rail market, particularly as operators seek alternatives for non-electrified routes,” Bauer said.

Siemens Mobility has sold more than 400 diesel-electric Charger locomotives in North America, and in June launched its battery-electric train, the Charger B+AC, selling 13 to the New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Metro-North Railroad.

The new locomotive draws electricity from overhead catenary wires and transfers to battery power when needed, according to an online release. While the locomotives’ range is currently up to 100 miles, Bauer said that is expected to grow as the battery technology advances.

In February, Siemens Mobility received an order from Swiss freight operator WRS Widmer Rail Services for two of its Vectron lithium-ion battery locomotives, which can be used for shunting without the need for overhead power lines. Asked about the potential for battery-powered freight trains, Bauer said: “A full transition to battery-powered freight would depend on route specifics and charging infrastructure, but the potential is there.”

— CNBC’s Michael Wayland contributed to this report.

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Rad’s new Radster e-bikes get official price cuts, Exclusive $250 off EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus bundle, Rare EGO Nexus station bundle $899, more

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August 14, 2025

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Rad's new Radster e-bikes get official price cuts, Exclusive 0 off EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus bundle, Rare EGO Nexus station bundle 9, more

We’ve got big news from one of our favorite e-bike brands headlining today’s Green Deals, as Rad Power Bikes officially cuts the price on its new Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike and the Radster Road Commuter e-bike to $1,999 each. We also have an exclusive $250 discount on EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station bundled with a protective waterproof bag at $549, as well as a rare chance to snag EGO’s Nexus Portable Power Station with two 7.5Ah batteries at $899. More EV and lawncare solution deals are waiting for you below – plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s increased savings from Aventon’s final summer sale, which includes deals on two of its newest smart e-bikes, and 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.

Rad Power officially drops prices on Radster Trail and Road e-bikes back to all-time lows w/ hundreds in savings

Rad Power Bikes heard fans’ calls for lower prices on its new Radster series of e-bikes and the brand is now delivering the third-ever savings on these models via a long-term price cut running through the rest of the year. For the next five months, you can pick up the Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike at $1,999 shipped, as well as the sibling Radster Road Commuter e-bike at $1,999 shipped. These new models were carrying $2,199 price tags since hitting the market in March, with only two previous discounts on the books in June and July when they fell to these same rates. Now, the low prices are becoming their full rates for the foreseeable future, with no clues as to whether they’ll be brought lower in the months ahead.

The new (and very handsome) Radster Trail and Radster Road e-bikes share general designs with key differences based on where you plan to ride. They have both been given 100Nm torque-producing 750W rear hub motors alongside 720Wh Safe Shield semi-integrated batteries, which can carry you for up to 65+ miles with the five PAS levels activated (and supported by a torque sensor) at up to 28 MPH speeds. More shared features include hydraulic suspension forks, hydraulic disc brakes, auto-on headlights, taillights with brake and turn signal lighting, rear cargo racks, 8-speed Shimano derailleurs, and a color display with a USB-C port.

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Now to get into where these models vary in their designs, aside from the colorways, which might be fairly obvious using the context clues in their names. To start, the Trail variant tackles off-road adventures on a pair of 27.5-inch by 3-inch Kenda Havoc puncture-resistant tires, while the Road model is tailored for street riding on its 29-inch by 2.2-inch Kenda Kwik puncture-resistant tires. There are other fender and handlebar differences too, however, they do both sport the same array of smart features, including passcode locking, an included security fob, and more.

Rad Power Bikes has also got its RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike back at its $1,699 low through August 20, as well as the ongoing $999 low on the predecessor RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike.

man and woman having picnic next to table with ecoflow delta 3 plus portable power station

Bundle EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Plus power station with a waterproof bag and get $250 in exclusive savings to $549

We’ve got another exclusive deal for our readers from Wellbots, this time on EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station that comes with a waterproof protective bag at $549 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5DP3PROMO at checkout for an additional $100 off. This power station usually fetches $799 at full price since its release in July 2024, with it only having gone as low as $616 at Amazon or directly from the brand’s sales, while two past exclusive deals from February saw the price drop further to $552 and a $541 low. Today’s deal sits only $8 higher from the latter, giving you a sizeable $250 markdown to the second-lowest price we have tracked.

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

man cooking with burner powered by EGO Power+ Nexus portable power station

Rare chance to grab EGO’s Nexus portable power station with two 7.5Ah batteries at $899

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ Nexus Portable Power Station along with two 7.5Ah batteries at $899 shipped. This powered-up combo package would fetch $1,099 at full price usually, with discounts over 2025 having mostly taken the price to $999, though we did see one previous fall to this same rate for one day at the top of the month. Black Friday did see it go lower to a one-time $838, with this otherwise being the best price we have tracked with $200 taken off the tag. You could also save a bit more going with the lone power station at $659, which is sadly at its full price for the moment.

If you want to learn more about this versatile device’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this rare deal here.

two GoTrax A7 electric scooters parked near table with palm trees and tent in background

Commute and/or haul cargo up to 28 miles with GoTrax’s A7 electric scooter at a new $614 low

Amazon is offering the best price yet on the new GoTrax A7 Electric Scooter at $614.32 shipped. This newer model has been on Amazon only a couple of months with a full $700 price tag, though we did see it fall long-term in July to $630, which held the lowest rate until today. Now you can pick up this seated commuter with ample storage with $86 cut from the tag, landing it down at a new all-time low price.

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

man triming weeds around flower bed with greenworks pro 60V 16-inch cordless string trimmer

Cover up to one mile with Greenworks’ pro-grade attachment-capable 60V cordless string trimmer at a new $165 low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks Pro 60V 16-inch Attachment-Capable Cordless String Trimmer with a 4.0Ah battery at $164.99 shipped. This versatile lawn care solution would normally run you $300 at full price, which is where the brand’s direct website currently has it listed at. Discounts this year started with repeated falls to $240, then saw it fall to $200 during last month’s Prime Day event. After cascading down since the start of August, you’re now looking at a 45% markdown that saves you $135 off the going rate at the best new price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this versatile lawn care solution, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man cleaning driveway with greenworks 1900 PSI electric pressure washer

Save 50% on this portable Greenworks 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer combo kit at $110

Best Buy is offering the Greenworks 1900 PSI Compact Portable Electric Pressure Washer Combo Kit for $109.99 shipped, which beats out the pricing directly from the brand’s website by $11 and is out of stock at Amazon. Normally you’d have to spend $220 for this package at full price, which we’ve seen discounts take lower to $100 and $95 in the past. You’re looking at a $110 markdown here while the savings last though, giving you the third-lowest price we have tracked. You could also save $20 by losing the surface cleaner attachment on the brand’s 1,800 PSI variant that is equally compact with a carrying handle.

If you want to learn more about this portable outdoor cleaner, 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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The Chevy Equinox EV is flying off the lot after registrations surged 722% in June

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August 14, 2025

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The Chevy Equinox EV is flying off the lot after registrations surged 722% in June

Chevy-Equinox-EV-registrations

America’s most affordable EV with over 315 miles of range, as GM calls it, is quickly winning over buyers. Starting at under $35,000, the Chevy Equinox EV is expected to trail only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 in sales this year.

Chevy Equinox EV registrations climb 722% in June 2025

After introducing the lower-priced LT model late last year, starting at just $34,995, Chevy’s electric SUV has become one of the most popular EVs in the US.

Through the first half of the year, the Equinox EV drove Chevy past Ford to become the second-best-selling EV brand behind Tesla.

According to the most recent data from S&P Global Mobility (via Automotive News), Chevy remained in second in June after EV registrations rose 152% to 9,517 units.

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The Chevy Equinox EV led the growth with registrations surging 722% to 6,239. Registrations of the Silverado EV nearly doubled to 1,035.

Tesla remained the market leader, despite registrations slipping 6% to 57,260 vehicles in June. Although the Model 3 saw higher demand with registrations up 31% to 17,015, the Cybertruck slipped by 53% to 2,184, the data showed.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-registrations
Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

Through the first half of 2025, Tesla’s registrations fell by 7.5% to 271,050. It now accounts for 43.7% of the EV market, down 6.8% from the same period last year.

Chevy’s share of the EV market, on the other hand, more than doubled to 7.7% in the first half of the year. Chevrolet had 47,506 EV registrations in the first half of 2025, up 143% from last year.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-registrations
2025 Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

Ford placed third after EV registrations fell 9.5% to 5,759 in June. In the first half of 2025, Ford’s share of the EV market dropped 0.7% to 6.7%.

Honda (+2.5%), Acura (+1.7%), and Cadillac (+1.1%) gained market share in the first half, while Kia (-2.6%), Hyundai (-0.8%), and Rivian (-0.8%) lost some.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-interior
Chevy Equinox EV interior (Source: GM)

GM is coming off its highest July sales month yet with over 19,000 EVs sold. The Chevy Equinox EV set a record with 8,500 vehicles sold, the best for any electric vehicle in the US, outside of Tesla.

Could sales have been even higher? Earlier this summer, a California-based dealer reached out to Electrek, claiming that it could have sold even more Equinox EVs. However, some buyers were waiting over a month to receive their vehicle.

With the $7,500 EV tax credit set to expire at the end of September, GM is offering a few discounts worth considering on its electric models.

With leases starting as low as $289 per month, the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV is easily one of the best deals you can still snag right now. If you’re ready to test one out for yourself, you can use our link to find Chevy Equinox EVs near you (trusted affiliate link).

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ION ships first commercial solid-state battery cell samples

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5 hours ago

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August 14, 2025

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ION ships first commercial solid-state battery cell samples

ION solid-state battery
ION CEO Jorge Diaz Schneider (L) with CTO Greg Hitz (R) holding a Cornerstone cell Photo: ION Storage Systems

Maryland-based ION Storage Systems shipped its first commercial generation of solid-state batteries, called Cornerstone, to “leading” consumer electronics companies.

These samples of multilayer cells are designed to be used in smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other small but high-performance devices, and they promise to deliver what battery makers have been chasing for decades: long cycle life, no swell, and better safety without bulky compression hardware.

ION says Cornerstone marks a big leap from lab prototypes to real-world products. “Cornerstone powers the most expansive solid-state sampling programs in the industry,” said CEO Jorge Diaz Schneider. The samples are also being tested by EV, aerospace, and defense customers. “Our platform is uniquely positioned for broad, multi-industry adoption.”

What makes this battery different? According to CCO Eric Lind, ION is “the only solid-state battery company currently delivering fully functional cells that don’t require compression for integration and testing” in real-world devices. Customers are now running these cells through qualification testing – a key step before they hit the market in portable gadgets with better energy density, thermal stability, and cycle life.

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This milestone follows significant technical gains earlier this year, when ION boosted cell capacity by 25 times while hitting more than 1,000 charge cycles in a commercially relevant format – again, without compression or volume change.

Read more: This anodeless, compressionless solid-state battery could be the next big thing

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