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Fast charging speeds things up, but usually at the cost of battery life. So when a team at Georgia Tech discovered that cranking up the charge rate actually made zinc-ion batteries stronger, it turned battery science on its head.

Led by Hailong Chen, an associate professor in Georgia Tech’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, the team found that fast charging didn’t cause the usual degradation seen in lithium-ion batteries. Instead, it improved the performance of zinc-ion batteries. That surprise finding, recently published in Nature Communications, could shake up how we think about powering everything from homes to hospitals to the grid.

Why zinc and not lithium?

Zinc-ion batteries have been on scientists’ radar for a while. Zinc is cheaper, safer, and more abundant than lithium, but one major flaw has held zinc-ion batteries back: dendrites.

These needle-like metal spikes form during charging and can short-circuit a battery, which is the kind of failure you don’t want in an energy storage system.

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But Chen’s team found the opposite of what you’d expect. “We found that using faster charging actually suppressed dendrite formation instead of accelerating it,” Chen explained.

Instead of sharp, splintered growths, the zinc stacked into smooth, dense layers like stacked books. That clean structure not only prevents dangerous short circuits but also makes the battery last longer.

“It goes against the conventional thinking that fast charging shortens battery life,” said Chen. “What we found expands people’s understanding of fast charging that could rewrite how we think about battery design and where they can be used.”

Still work to do

The zinc anode – one end of the battery – is now in great shape thanks to this discovery. But the other half, the cathode, still needs improvement to match the performance and longevity of the anode.

Chen’s team is working on it, and they’re also experimenting with zinc blends to make the whole battery more robust.

Zinc’s future battery potential

To make this discovery, Chen’s group built a custom tool that let them watch how zinc behaves in real time under different charging speeds across a huge range of samples at once.

That kind of side-by-side view is rare in battery research. Usually, scientists test one variable at a time, which slows down progress. But this approach let them fast-track insights and see patterns that would normally be missed.

“We weren’t just seeing whether the battery worked or not,” Chen said. “We were watching the structure of the material evolve as it charged.” And that real-time observation helped them understand why fast charging prevents dendrites in zinc-ion batteries – something no one had ever mapped out in the lab before.

What this could mean for the grid

This isn’t about juicing up your phone in five minutes; Chen’s team is thinking bigger.

“You can imagine these zinc-ion batteries being used to store solar energy in homes, or for grid stabilization,” Chen said. “Anywhere you need reliable, affordable backup power.”

With lithium prices fluctuating and supply chains under pressure, alternatives like zinc are becoming more attractive. If everything goes as planned, Chen says zinc-ion batteries could be ready for commercial use within five years.

Read more: Could zinc-air batteries revolutionize the EV industry?


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Tesla offers used car leases with $0 down as it desperately tries move cars

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Tesla offers used car leases with alt=

Tesla has started offering leases of certified pre-owned cars, which is relatively rare in the industry, with $0 down as it desperately tries to move vehicles before the end of the quarter.

With the federal tax credit for electric vehicles set to expire at the end of the quarter, automakers in the US are all trying to optimize EV sales, as demand is being pulled forward.

This also applies to used EVs, as the $4,000 federal incentive for used electric vehicles will also expire on September 30th.

Now, leasing used vehicles is much less common than leasing new cars, but some automakers, or mainly dealers, do offer it.

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Tesla is getting into this business for the first time.

In California and Texas, Tesla is now offering leases on certified pre-owned (aka used) Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

These are reasonably priced and can be as low as $215 per month with $0 down for a 24-month lease and 10,000 miles per year.

Tesla also offers a 12-month lease and up to 15,000 miles annually. While there’s no down payment needed, there’s an “Acquisition Fee” of $695.

That, and the first month, is all you need to get in a used Tesla for the next year or two.

This is undoubtedly the cheapest way to get into a Tesla vehicle right now.

Tesla is trying to sell as many vehicles as possible in the US this quarter, as demand for EVs has been pulled forward due to the end of the tax credit. This is expected to result in a record quarter in the US, but it also going to create a few difficult ones in the future.

With demand being pulled forward and future buyers feeling like they missed out on EV discounts, the US EV market is expected to experience a significant slowdown over the next 12 to 18 months.

Tesla sales are down about 13% globally so far this year. While this quarter is expected to be better, many analysts still anticipate Tesla’s year-over-year performance to be down.

This year alone, Tesla added more than 50,000 electric vehicles to its inventory.

Used cars have also been piling up.

Tesla owners rushed to sell their vehicles as Tesla’s brand perception dived following its CEO’s involvement in politics.

We previously reported that the average used Tesla sale price has recently dipped below the overall average used car sale price in the US.

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E-quipment highlight: HG E3000 3 tonne electric site dumper

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E-quipment highlight: HG E3000 3 tonne electric site dumper

Danish equipment makers HG build job site dumpers that help move sand, rocks, debris, construction waste, and building supplies across rugged, uneven urban job sites. And with the introduction of their newest E3000 model, they’re helping move more than three tons of that stuff without emissions and — just as crucially — without noise.

HG announced the E3000 electric site dumper just this week, adding the new 3 tonne capacity to its growing lineup of 1 and 2 tonne dumpers (that’s over 6,600 lbs., in “landed on the Moon” units). With a 180° swivel tip on the bucket as standard equipment and an optional high tip version available at launch, it should be able to handle just about anything a hard working construction crew can throw at it.

“With the HG E3000, we once again prove that electric dumpers are not only better for people and the environment. They are also more efficient, cheaper to operate, and can run more than a full working day on a single charge,” explains Nikolaj Birkerod, CEO of HG, told Power Progress. “With 3 tonne dumpers, we are proving, as we already have with 2 tonne dumpers, that we can deliver on both performance and reliability while enabling customers to save 15% per operating hour compared to a diesel dumper.”

Exact specs haven’t been released, but HG claims the E3000’s 29 kWh is good for 12 full hours of continuous, loaded operation, and that it can be fully recharged on a “standard” 220 charger (L2) in about four hours. If you’re curious about what has been released, I’ve got all that for you right here:

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The only all-electric dumper on the market that gives you 12 working hours while carrying 3 tonnes payload.

Our latest addition to accelerate 100% machinery:

  • 3-ton payload for high-capacity material handling
  • 12-hour working – a full day’s work without recharging
  • Optional high tip for quick and flexible unloading into containers and trucks
  • 180° swivel tip as standard for precise placement of loads
  • Fast charging: 0–100% in approx. 4 hours with the integrated charger
  • Lithium 29 kWh battery with automatic heating for all-season use
  • One-pedal drive for smooth and intuitive operation

The E3000 is built for contractors and rental companies who demand maximum productivity without compromising on environmental responsibility.

With a carrying capacity of 3 tonnes and an industry-leading 12 hours of effective runtime on a single charge, it’s proof that heavy-duty work and zero emissions can go hand in hand.

At the heart of the E3000 is HG’s patented articulated drivetrain with four independent in-wheel motors. This unique design delivers the most energy-efficient power transfer in the industry, using significantly less power than conventional electric system. This translates directly into lower operating costs and more hours on site between charges.

HG MACHINES

No word yet on pricing or whether or not the new dumper will eventually be sold outside the European market, but we do know that HG plans to deliver the first examples of its new machine to customers by early 2026.

Electrek’s Take


Meet the world's most energy-efficient 3-tonnes dumper
The only all-electric dumper on the market that gives you 12 working hours while carrying 3 tonnes payload.
E3000 w/ high-tip bucket; via HG.

While there are a lot of people outside the urban construction space who may scoff at environmental concerns, the quest for improved efficiency and cost reduction among commercial fleet managers knows no political ideology. Add in more restrictive noise regulations and the side benefits of improved job site safety and fewer sick days, and electric equipment is a no-brainer.

Simply put: If it’s better or cheaper, fleets will buy it. If it’s better and cheaper, they’ll buy two — and battery powered equipment is proving to be consistently better, in a broader scope of use cases, than diesel.

SOURCES | IMAGES: HG Machines, Power Progress.


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You can lease a Volkswagen ID.4 for nearly half the cost of a Jetta

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You can lease a Volkswagen ID.4 for nearly half the cost of a Jetta

For just $129 per month, the Volkswagen ID.4 might be the best EV lease deal right now. At that, it’s almost half the cost of a new Jetta.

Volkswagen ID.4 is cheaper to lease than a Jetta

After the 2025 model year went on sale, the ID.4 raced out to become the third-best-selling EV in the US in January.

With ultra-low lease prices starting at just $129 per month, it’s no wonder Volkswagen’s electric SUV is flying off the lots.

For a $45,000 SUV, any lease under $200 a month is a steal nowadays. It’s even cheaper than leasing a new Jetta S, despite costing nearly twice as much.

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The deal is for a 24-month lease with a $2,499 due at signing, resulting in an effective monthly cost of $233. To put that into perspective, the 2025 VW Jetta S is listed for lease at $269 for 36 months. With $3,999 due at signing, the effective rate is $380, making the ID.4 a significantly better deal.

Volkswagen-ID.4-lease-Jetta
Volkswagen ID.4 (Source: Volkswagen)

Volkswagen’s deals vary by region. The $129 offer is available in California and a few other West Coast states. In others, it’s listed at $329 for 24 months with $4,499 due at signing.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is available in five different trims: Pro, AWD Pro, Pro S, AWD Pro S, and AWD Pro S Plus. The base 2025 ID.4 PRO RWD starts at $45,095 with up to 291 miles of driving range.

Volkswagen-ID.4-lease-Jetta
Volkswagen ID.4 interior (Source: Volkswagen)

Although the ID.4 lease offer is tempting, Hyundai may still have it beat with the 2025 IONIQ 5 available to lease from $179 per month nationwide.

Volkswagen’s offer ends on September 30, when the federal EV tax credit is set to expire. After that, much of the savings will disappear unless the company steps in with its own incentives.

Ready to snag the savings while they are still available? You can use our link to find and view offers on the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 in your area (via a trusted affiliate link).

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