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Hyundai NACS
Credit: Genesis

The Federal Highway Administration announced today that it will seek feedback on how government rules should be updated to account for the new NACS/J3400 charging standard, potentially unlocking $7.5 billion in federal subsidies for the Tesla-developed charging connector.

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the US government has allocated $7.5 billion in subsidies to expand EV charging access. $5 billion of that is through the NEVI program, which is intended to install a nationwide backbone of fast chargers at least every 50 miles along America’s major roads in order to make EV road trips seamless.

But one requirement of that law was that the chargers installed must be accessible by multiple brands of electric car – standard, not proprietary. This requirement is obviously reasonable, but it also seemed targeted at Tesla, a company that had built its own Supercharger network only accessible by Tesla vehicles.

In response to this, Tesla released specifications of its charging connector which it called the “North American Charging Standard.” This was somewhat of an absurd name at the time, given that Tesla was the only company using it.

However, since Tesla is a majority of the US EV market, Tesla’s argument was that most of the cars and most of the DC charging stations in America already used Tesla’s connector, so it should be considered a de facto standard anyway.

For a few months, not many people took this seriously. However, Ford shook up the industry by announcing it would adopt the NACS plug on upcoming vehicles. Soon after, GM made the same move, and now basically everyone else has – including one of the last holdouts Volkswagen, as of today.

But even after momentum was apparent, the White House threw cold water on NACS’ victory, reminding everyone that there are still “minimum standards” within federal charger subsidy rules, and it would have to examine how NACS fulfills those standards, to ensure that the charging network stay accessible and interoperable. A standard isn’t a standard just because one company says it is – it has to be treated like a standard with independent control and verification.

As of today, any DC chargers installed with federal money can have NACS connectors, but must also include CCS connectors.

This led SAE, the professional engineering organization that develops industry standards, to take up the flag of creating a real, independent standard that is no longer in the hands of Tesla, and Tesla obliged by allowing SAE to have control over the process of standardization.

The government will examine how to take advantage of the new SAE NACS/J3400 standard

And today, now that SAE has officially published its report on the J3400 charging standard (J3400 is SAE’s name for NACS), the government has simultaneously announced that it wants to re-examine its minimum standards in light of the new certification.

We covered how the new SAE/NACS standard will solve (basically) every charging problem in one fell swoop last week (click through to learn more about that, I promise it’s more interesting than an article about competing charging standards seems like it would be).

Today’s press release from the Federal Highway Administration announces that it “will soon publish a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit feedback from stakeholders on updating FHWA’s minimum standards and requirements for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to allow for new technology and continued innovation.”

It also specifically calls out the news of the day, name-dropping Tesla and NACS as the reason for this call to update the government’s minimum standards:

With the implementation of J3400 TM, a new standard for charging EVs published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), any supplier or manufacturer will now be able to use and deploy the Tesla-developed North America Charging Standard (NACS) connector, which a majority of automakers have announced they will adopt on vehicles beginning in 2025 with adaptors available for current owners as soon as next spring.

In addition to that, the Biden Administration and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (which worked with SAE to develop the J3400 standard) put out a press release today applauding the new standard, celebrating how quickly the process was finished, and pointing to its potential future inclusion in the FHWA’s requirements.

Electrek’s Take

Firstly, I’d like to make note of the issue that many Tesla fans had for a while about the White House not properly acknowledging Tesla. I always thought this was silly, more of a reflection of the massive chip on the shoulder of the egomaniac who is the titular head of the company in question than of actual reality.

When the Biden administration said “hold up, not so fast” early in the NACS process, it made many think that Biden was once again slighting Tesla, but today’s news I think shows that that was never the case. The government simply wanted it to be a proper standard, and now it is (and that process went really fast), and on the same day that it became a proper standard, the government announced that it’s ready to treat it like one. That all seems fair to me.

While we don’t yet know what the minimum standards will change to, it seems clear that this is an effort to update them to coalesce around NACS. Which is great news, because charging will only get better when everyone just rips the band-aid off and goes with one charging standard – and a more robust one than J1772 at that.

But this leads to the question: will the government fully embrace NACS, thus potentially leaving some of the installed base of CCS-enabled cars out of luck in the longer term? Or will it hamstring deployment to some extent, requiring CCS (which is effectively now a dead standard) and therefore not full taking advantage of the NACS standard’s myriad solutions to charging problems?

But as I stated in that last article, this decision point is also a little ironic, considering NACS’ existence seems to have been spurred on by NEVI in the first place. When the government offered billions of dollars to companies that installed chargers with the requirement that those chargers be useable with multiple vehicles, that’s what got Tesla to finally offer a “standard.”

At the time, it wasn’t really a standard because only Tesla was using it, and it was somewhat of a last-ditch effort to save the Tesla connector. Then, when Ford decided to use NACS, that’s what started all the other dominos falling.

Now, NACS is dominant, but it only happened because of NEVI in the first place – and NEVI now has the difficult decision over whether to embrace the (positive) situation it caused, even if it will give some of the installed base an effective “use-by” date as a shift to NACS will inevitably mean fewer CCS/J1772 chargers over time.

We wish that all of this would have been figured out long ago so we could be done with it by now, but it looks like the solution to all our charging problems is finally nearly at hand.

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Tenways AGO T mid-drive e-bike at $2,399 low, DJI Power 2000 station hits new $999 low, EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale, tools, more

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July 15, 2025

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Tenways AGO T mid-drive e-bike at ,399 low, DJI Power 2000 station hits new 9 low, EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale, tools, more

Today’s Green Deals are headlined by the low price on Tenways’ AGO T Premium Mid-Drive Urban e-bike that comes with a free front carrier ($50 value) for $2,399, among other models seeing discounts during this sale. We also spotted DJI’s recently released Power 2000 Portable Power Station hitting a new $999 low, as well as EcoFlow’s latest four 48-hour flash sale offers that include two power stations, a WAVE 3 bundle, and a DELTA Pro 3 expansion battery at up to 53% off starting from $1,199. From there, we have Greenworks’ 40V 20-inch Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer kit at its $114 low alongside the Worx Aerocart 8-in-1 Yard Cart down at $169.50. Plus, there’s all the hangover Prime Day savings in our Prime Day Green Deals hub at the bottom of the page, as well as yesterday’s EcoFlow phase 3 Prime Day Sale, 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.

Tenways AGO T mid-drive e-bike with a 62-mile range and $50 in free gear at $2,399 low in latest sale

Tenways has launched a new Summer Sale that is taking up to $600 off its e-bike lineup while also offering an additional $300 savings when buying two models together. Among the offers this time, we’re seeing the lowest price to date continuing on the AGO T Premium Mid-Drive Urban e-bike for $2,399 shipped while also getting a free front carrier valued at $50. Normally, this higher-end model would cost you $2,699 at full price, which we saw brought down to the $2,399 low for the first time during the brand’s July 4th Sale. Now you’re getting another chance at that $300 markdown here while the savings last, dropping the costs back to the best price we have tracked. As always, there is an extra $150 savings available for medical providers, first responders, military personnel, and teachers with verification through ID.me on any of the e-bikes’ landing pages.

Aside from Tenways’ new CARGO ONE e-bike that recently released, the AGO T Urban e-bike is the highest-end of the brand’s models, cruising into view with a Bafang M420 mid-drive motor coupled with a 504Wh battery to provide up to 62 miles of pedal-assisted travel at up to 20 MPH top speeds. It shouldn’t be surprising that this premium model also comes with a superior torque sensor to support its PAS capabilities, with the settings controlled via the TFT LCD color display screen.

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There’s plenty of high-quality features you’ll be getting here too, like a hydraulic front lockout fork, the hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tires with fenders over each, a Gates CDX carbon belt drive, an Enviolo stepless shifting hub, an integrated rear cargo rack, integrated front and rear lighting, a suspension seat post, and more. There are even connectivity options through its companion app, the standout of which is the ability to cast directions from your phone onto the bike’s display for more seamless navigation.

If you want to check out the full lineup of e-bike deals that we’re seeing in this current sale, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

DJI Power 2000 Portable power station

Score DJI’s latest Power 2000 2,048Wh LiFePO4 station with $900 savings at a new $999 low

By way of its official Amazon storefront, DJI is giving folks a lower-than-ever price on its new Power 2000 Portable Power Station at $999 shipped, after using the promo code DJIPOWER2000 at checkout. This model was just released at the top of the month, with it waiting no time before dropping from its original $1,899 price tag to $1,299, which held out all of last week until falling to $1,099, with the promo code taking things even further. You’re looking at a combined 47% markdown that gives you $900 off its tag, landing it at a new all-time low price. You can also alternatively pick up its Power 1000 predecessor at $549 shipped right now, after redeeming the on-page coupon.

If you want to learn more about this all-new backup power solution, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

EcoFlow DELTA Pro power station

EcoFlow flash sale takes up to 53% off two power station offers, a WAVE 3 bundle, and an extra battery starting from $1,199

As part of its ongoing Phase 3 Prime Day Sale, EcoFlow has launched the next 48-hour flash sale through July 16, with four units getting up to 53% discounts to some of the best prices we have tracked. Among the two power station deals, you’ll find the brand’s DELTA Pro Portable Power Station with a free protective bag at $1,749 shipped, with the extra savings unfortunately not applicable here. Priced at $3,699 in full, we regularly see it down between $1,799 and $1,999, especially at Amazon, where it’s currently sitting $50 higher in price. While we have seen it go as low as $1,694 in the past, you’re still looking at a larger-than-normal 53% markdown off the going rate, giving you $1,950 in savings and landing it $55 above the all-time low. Head below for more on this unit and the others we’re seeing included in this flash sale.

If you want to learn more about this power station or the other units included in this flash sale, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

Greenworks 40V 20-inch Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer

Cover hedge jobs with this Greenworks 40V 20-inch pole trimmer at $114 low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 40V 20-inch Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer for $113.99 shipped. Coming down from its usual $170 pricing, where the brand’s direct website currently has it listed, we only saw discounts in 2025 dropping costs to $140 until this past week, when Prime Day brought it lower than ever to the rate that is continuing into this week. You’re looking at a $56 markdown to the best price we have tracked and giving you the chance to save big while Prime Day benefits linger.

To learn more about this lawn care solution’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

Worx Aerocart 8-in-1 yard cart

Tackle yard work with 8-in-1 versatility using Worx’s transforming Aerocart at $169.50

Amazon is offering the Worx Aerocart 8-in-1 Yard Cart at $169.50 shipped, which comes in $0.50 under the current Best Buy Deals of the Day pricing. Usually going for $200 to $230 at full price, we’ve mainly seen it in 2025 keeping near $173, with it more recently keeping down between $169 and $170 at the lowest. While it’s fallen lower in the past, those rates haven’t reappeared this year at all, with today’s deal being a solid $60.50 markdown at the second-best price of the year – just $0.50 above the annual low.

If you want to learn more about this handy yard cart, be sure to check out our original coverage 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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Range Rover’s first EV looks the part, but with a few surprises

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July 15, 2025

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Range Rover's first EV looks the part, but with a few surprises

Range-Rover-first-EV

Range Rover’s first electric SUV will finally arrive later this year. Ahead of its official launch, early reviews show the upcoming EV stays true to the Range Rover heritage, but there are a few things you should know.

Range Rover will launch its first EV later this year

Since launching its first vehicle 55 years ago, the Range Rover brand has become an iconic symbol of off-road capabilities, elegant design, and luxurious interiors.

With its first all-electric SUV due out later this year, Range Rover promises it will “refine and craft the epitome” of the luxury brand.

Although Range Rover is currently putting the electric SUV through “the most intensive testing” any of its vehicles has endured, Autocar got their hands on a prototype for an early review.

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The Range Rover Electric may look like the iconic SUV we’ve grown to love, but with an electric powertrain, it offers even more.

“A Range Rover more calm and assured, almost regardless of circumstance, than any in its 55-year lineage. Electrification yields a lot, but sacrifices little,” Matt Sanders, Autocar’s chief car tester, said after driving the prototype.

Range-Rover-first-EV
Range Rover Electric testing in Sweden (Source: JLR)

Based on the MLA platform, the electric SUV features JLR’s new in-house powertrain. The dual-motor setup packs a combined 542 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque.

The EV draws power from a massive 118 kWh battery, which is expected to deliver around 300 miles of real-world range. Sanders said he had about 160 miles of range remaining at half charge during the review.

Range-Rover-first-EV
Range Rover Electric SUV prototype testing (Source: JLR)

However, even JLR’s engineers admit that due to the SUV’s (not so) aerodynamic profile, 300 miles may be optimistic during longer-range highway driving. The engineers highlighted that the vehicle’s 800V architecture offers some of the fastest DC charging speeds on the market.

The electric SUV can also tow over 7,700 lbs (2.5 tons). Although this is less than the current Range Rover’s 3.5-ton towing capacity, it’s still on par with other luxury SUVs, such as the Mercedes G-Class.

Range-Rover-first-EV
Range Rover Electric prototype (Source: JLR)

To add more power, more motors, and bigger batteries would be required, according to Simon Fairbrother, Range Rover’s Chief Program Engineer.

Inside, the cabin is nearly identical to that of the current Range Rover SUV, featuring a plethora of digital screens and physical buttons in front of the driver. If anything, the only thing that could be changed is that the “Range Rover Electric deserves bigger heating and ventilation controls than other derivatives,” Sanders wrote.

Range-Rover-first-EV
Range Rover Electric prototype testing (Source: JLR)

JLR’s new in-house thermal management system (ThermAssist) is about 40% more efficient than the system of the Jaguar I-Pace, its first all-electric vehicle.

Range Rover’s first E will be offered in standard and long wheelbase variants. The extended wheelbase model will be about the same size as the outgoing Range Rover SUV, but it’s expected to still include enough second-row space to take it into “Bentley or Rolls-Royce territory for sheer lounging space.”

Range-Rover-first-logo-EV
JLR reveals new Range Rover logo (Source: JLR)

Since Autocar only drove the vehicle at speeds under 20 mph, we’ll have to wait to hear more about on- and off-road performance.

Sanders did mention that “the Range Rover Electric can simply ease itself up, down, over and around everything before it inspires incredible confidence in its capabilities” while driving through forest racks.

We will learn the prices closer to launch, but JLR is reportedly aiming for a price around the same as the V8 Autobiography, at just under £150,000 ($200,000).

Range Rover’s first EV has already secured over 61,000 clients on the waitlist ahead of its upcoming debut. JLR also revealed the luxury brand’s first logo, which we could see debut on the new electric SUV.

Source: Autocar

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Circle stock drops after House blocks key procedural vote on stablecoin legislation

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July 15, 2025

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Circle stock drops after House blocks key procedural vote on stablecoin legislation

Circle Internet Group Initial Public Offering at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, U.S., June 5, 2025.

NYSE

Circle shares slid on Tuesday after the U.S. House of Representatives failed to clear a key procedural hurdle that would have teed up votes on long-awaited crypto-related bills.

The move dealt a major setback to the digital asset industry, which had framed this week as a turning point for regulatory clarity in Washington, D.C.

Circle, the stablecoin issuer that’s soared in value since its public market debut last month, fell about 5% after the vote. Crypto exchange Coinbase and bitcoin miner MARA Holdings both slipped about 2%.

Even after Tuesday’s drop, Circle shares are still up more than sixfold from their IPO price. The company is the issuer of USDC, the second-largest dollar-pegged stablecoin, with about 24% of the global market. Circle didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The legislation, including the GENIUS Act, would mark the first time the U.S. sets federal rules for stablecoins, a $260 billion corner of the crypto market that underpins most digital asset trading. The bill establishes full-reserve requirements, mandates monthly audits, and creates a path for private companies to issue regulated digital dollars under the blessing of the U.S. government.

The GENIUS Act passed the Senate last month, a milestone for both the crypto industry and for President Donald Trump, who has pushed to align his administration with digital asset innovation. It also marked a win for the industry, which spent more than $245 million in the 2024 cycle to help elect what’s now seen as the most pro-crypto Congress in U.S. history.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the market for U.S. stablecoins could grow eightfold to more than $2 trillion in the coming years if this bill is enacted. White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks had predicted it could unlock “trillions” of dollars in demand for U.S. Treasury notes virtually overnight.

The vote came just hours after Fairshake, the crypto industry’s most powerful PAC, disclosed $141 million in cash on hand as it fights for regulatory victories and backs pro-crypto candidates heading into the 2026 midterms. The committee didn’t provide a comment for this story.

House leadership is tentatively planning a second vote as early as Tuesday evening, though it’s unclear whether the rule or bill text will be modified to satisfy holdouts.

WATCH: Stablecoin showdown moves to the House after Senate clears crypto’s landmark bill

Stablecoin showdown moves to the House after Senate clears crypto’s landmark bill

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