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BYD’s new all-terrain circuit is the first of its kind in China, and it’s pretty wild. It’s more than a test track. The complex is essentially a playground for electric vehicles with indoor sand dunes, ice fields, off-road mountains, and high-speed racetracks. It even has a pool.

BYD builds China’s first all-terrain circuit for EVs

After officially opening its new all-terrain circuit in Zhengzhou on Thursday, BYD said it’s “breaking the barriers of traditional racing tracks with subversive innovation.”

The site features eight unique zones: An indoor sand dune, a low-friction ring, a kick-plate, a wading pool, a dynamic paddock, a race track, an off-road mountain park, and a camping area.

BYD said it’s the first of its kind in China, specifically dedicated to its new energy vehicles (NEVs). After it stopped producing fully gas-powered vehicles in 2022, the company has focused on all-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles.

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The indoor sand dune is not just massive, it’s record-breaking big. It was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s highest and largest for car testing, featuring a 29.6-meter vertical drop and a 28-degree slope.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-Sand-Dune
The indoor sand dune at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

And then there’s the 70-meter-long wade pool, exclusively built for the Yangwang U8. If you haven’t seen it yet, the U8 can actually float on water. It features an emergency flotation feature that enables it to float on water for about 30 mins.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-Wade-Pool
The Yangwang U8 in the wade pool at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

The kick-plate is a circuit that allows drivers to test vehicles in emergency situations, such as loss of control on icy or wet road conditions.

BYD built the low-friction circle, China’s first 44-meter-diameter circular track, to test drifting with “a constant friction coefficient between that of ice and snow. It consists of 30,000 smoothed basalt bricks with 3 mm of water covering the surface. BYD is using it to showcase its DiSus Intelligent Body Control System and, of course, to give everyone the chance to drift.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-circular-track
The circular track at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

When you’re done drifting, you can head over to the 1,758-meter race track. You can take off on the 550-meter acceleration section or try your luck on nine extreme corners.

The 15,300-square-meter dynamic paddock features over 12 different immersive scenarios to showcase BYD’s full range of smart technology, including moose testing and automated parking.

BYD-all-terrain-EV-circuit
An off-road mountain at the BYD all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

With 27 off-road scenarios, BYD said drivers of all levels, beginner to advanced, can have the opportunity to drive on various rugged terrains.

This is the first of several circuits BYD plans to open. New locations in Hefei and Shaoxing are set to open soon. The Shoaxing off-road area will be massive, spanning 2,000 acres with an altitude of 500 meters.

According to BYD, “By making cutting-edge technologies, professional facilities, and extreme scenarios tangible and accessible, the circuits aim to break down barriers, serving both as a showcase for NEV innovations and a bridge to popularize NEV culture.”

What do you think of the new complex? Perhaps the US, Europe, and other global markets need a few of these so drivers can experience the advantages of electric vehicles.

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Lease an electric G-Wagon? Mercedes is dangling $9,500 in incentives

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Lease an electric G-Wagon? Mercedes is dangling ,500 in incentives

If you’ve been eyeing the all-electric G-Wagon, Mercedes-Benz just sweetened the deal – but only for a limited time.

According to a dealer bulletin, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology – AKA the electric G-Wagon – now comes with $9,500 in lease cash, up from last month’s $7,500. That’s a 27% jump in savings. The move comes just weeks before the $7,500 EV lease tax credit loophole closes on September 30.

Like most EVs leased in the US, the G-Class has been able to qualify for the credit even though it’s excluded from purchase incentives. That benefit is about to disappear, which likely explains why Mercedes is boosting the offers now.

The electric G-Wagon doesn’t come cheap. With a base price of $162,650, the $9,500 incentive amounts to only a 5.8% discount. The SUV also carries a steep advertised lease: $1,869 per month for 36 months with $14,613 due at signing. Factor it all in, and you’re really paying about $2,275 a month for 10,000 miles a year. Current Mercedes deals run through September 2.

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For context, the 2025 G 580’s lease money factor now sits at 0.00180, which works out to around 4.3% APR – lower than the standard rates previously on offer.

Performance-wise, the electric G-Wagon earns an EPA rating of 62 MPGe and an electric range of 239 miles. Not groundbreaking numbers, but for buyers who want the iconic G-Wagon experience with zero tailpipe emissions, this is it.

With federal lease credits ending soon, Mercedes appears to be betting that drivers looking for a last chance at big EV savings will jump now rather than later.

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology in stock. –trusted affiliate

Thanks to CarsDirect for digging up this dealer offer.

Read more: From $129 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in August


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Used Honda Prologue EVs are selling faster than expected

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Used Honda Prologue EVs are selling faster than expected

The Honda Prologue is a surprise hit. It was the second-best-selling electric SUV behind the Tesla Model Y in the second half of 2024. Now, used models are in high demand.

Honda Prologue leads used EV sales growth in July

After it delivered the first customer models last March, the Honda Prologue quickly became one of the most popular EVs in the US.

Throughout the second half of the year, Honda sold an average of over 5,000 Prologues every month. In November, it was the third best-selling EV, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.

Honda’s electric SUV continues to be a top seller this year. Last month, it outsold the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Hyundai IONIQ 5. Since delivering the first Prologue model last March, Honda has now sold 52,500 units in the US.

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According to Cox Automotive’s latest EV Market Monitor report, used Honda Prologue EVs are selling faster than expected.

Used EV sales rose sharply in July to 36,670, up 23.2% from June and 40% compared to last year. Honda had the biggest increase in used EV sales, more than doubling (+103%) month-over-month. Hyundai (+61.3%) and Rivian (60.5%) ranked second and third.

Honda-Prologue-used-EVs
Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)

Tesla led used EV sales last month, selling 15,903 vehicles, up 18% year-over-year. GM’s Chevy (3,499 units, +28.6%), Ford (1,967 units, +25.7%), Mercedes-Benz (1,724 units, -12.3%), and Nissan (1,659 units, +19.9%) rounded out the top five.

Although its market share slipped to 43.4% from 45.2%, Tesla remained the leader by a wide margin. Other luxury brands, including BMW and Audi, reported higher used EV sales in July, with increases of 43.87% and 38%, respectively.

Honda-Prologue-used-EVs
2025 Honda Prologue at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Honda)

According to the report, used EV listing prices reached $35,263 last month, a 1.9% decrease from June. With a price gap of just $1,266, a record low, used electric vehicle prices are closing in on ICE vehicles.

New EV sales also picked up in July. With over 130,000 EVs sold, up 26% from June, the electric vehicle market share reached 9.1%, the second-highest to date.

Honda-Prologue-used-EVs
2025 Honda Prologue Elite interior (Source: Honda)

Ahead of the $7,500 federal tax credit deadline, set to expire at the end of September, 11 brands posted their best EV sales of the year. The top five included Tesla, Chevy, Hyundai, Ford, and Honda. Volkswagen surged to sixth after electric vehicle sales surged 454% last month.

The Honda Prologue starts at $47,400, but with the credit, you can snag one for under $40,000 right now. Honda is also offering monthly leases as low as $159 in California and other ZEV states. In other regions, it’s still listed for as low as $229 per month.

2025 Honda Prologue trim Starting Price* Starting Price After
Tax Credit
*
EPA Range
(miles)
EX (FWD) $47,400 $39,900 308
EX (AWD) $50,400 $42,900 294
Touring (FWD) $51.700 $44,200 308
Touring (AWD) $54,700 $47,200 294
Elite (AWD) $57,900 $50,400 283
2025 Honda Prologue prices and range by trim (*Does not include $1,450 D&H fee)

Even Honda’s luxury brand, Acura, is selling more electric vehicles than expected. Through the first half of the year, the Acura ZDX outsold the Cadillac Lyriq, and it’s based on the same GM Ultium platform.

Sales are expected to continue picking up ahead of the deadline. As Cox Automotive highlighted, “July’s performance sets a strong precedent, and as policy support winds down, the market’s ability to respond to real-time demand and brand-level dynamics will be critical in shaping the next phase of growth.”

Ready to take advantage of the savings while they are still here? We’re here to help. You can use our link to find deals on the Honda Prologue in your area (trusted affiliate link).

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Refuse revolution: Republic deploys Mack LR Electric garbage trucks in Chicago

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Refuse revolution: Republic deploys Mack LR Electric garbage trucks in Chicago

The waste management experts at Republic Services are committed to cleaning up the Chicagoland area — and now, that includes the air Chicagoans breathe, thanks to the deployment of new Mack LR Electric garbage trucks in the heart of America’s Second City.

Republic Services executives and partners from local utility ComEd gathered yesterday, 14AUG, to celebrate the deployment of Chicago’s first electric refuse fleet, featuring two new Mack LR Electric garbage trucks paid for, in part, by ComEd’s commercial EV rebate program.

The Mack LR Electric is purpose-built for refuse applications, delivering zero local emissions while maintaining the durability and performance Mack trucks are known for,” reads the official Mack press release. “The electric powertrain provides quieter operation for early morning routes and helps fleet operators meet sustainability goals while supporting cleaner air quality in urban communities. With its low cab-forward design and tight turning radius, the LR Electric maintains the maneuverability essential for residential and commercial waste collection routes.”

The big Class 8 Mack Trucks are powered by a pair of electric motors putting 400 combined kW (about 536 hp) through a 2-speed Mack Powershift transmission that offers a whopping 4,051 lb-ft of peak torque output. That’s over 40% more power than the first generation Mack LR Electric released in 2019, and this iteration can charge the 376 kWh Samsung-sourced batteries fully in under two hours at 150 kW.

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Real money, real results


ComEd and Republic Svcs. executives pose with “big check,” via ComEd.

While Washington continues to threaten America’s economic security and position as a global technology leader by toying with the idea of killing the $7,500 Federal EV tax creditthe ENERGY STAR program, and other energy efficiency incentives, the private energy sector is stepping up with massive investments in battery storage, charging infrastructure, and commercial EV rebates – and Chicago is leading that charge (pun very much intended), with EV adoption outpacing the rest of the nation by 4:1 in Q1.

“ComEd is proud to support Republic Services in advancing zero emissions transportation for Chicago’s neighborhoods,” explains Melissa Washington, our senior vice president of customer operations and strategic initiatives. “As more customers take advantage of our EV rebate programs, we are helping empower customers to realize the air quality and energy savings benefits of EVs, and moving our communities closer to their goals for a more sustainable future.”

The new HD electric vehicles will be powered up nightly by equally new 150 kW DC fast charging stations from BP pulse, which are installed at Republic’s vehicle yard in the Little Village neighborhood. Part of the ComEd rebate money awarded to the company helped fund the make-ready infrastructure portion (effectively from the transformer to the stub) of that project, as well as at least one Ford F-150 Lightning pickup.

And, if these trucks look familiar, it might be because Republic Services also handles refuse collection for the City of Madison, Wisconsin, and added two Class 8 electric trucks to their garbage fleet last year in the form of a pair of similar Mack Electric LR HDEVs.

Electrek’s Take


Look, you know me. There is absolutely ZERO chance that I’ll be able to remain objective about anything that’s putting down more than four thousand lb-ft of torque. Make that thing quieter, cleaner, and generally better for me and my community, and there’s even less of a chance of me saying anything critical about it.

Here’s hoping more cities go electric rather sooner than later.

SOURCES | IMAGESMack Trucks, Republic Services, via LinkedIn.


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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.

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