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Starting off this week’s best deals at the lead is the GOTRAX CTI Step-Over e-bike at $699. It is joined by a collection of Anker power stations that are seeing discounts up to 42% off, with the biggest deal in the bunch being the Anker SOLIX C1000 with a 200W Solar Panel for $899. Greenworks is also offering another multi-day sale, this time taking 20% off a selection of electric pressure washers, with one model in particular seeing a combined 40% discount. Plus, all of today’s other best new Green Deals.

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.

GOTRAX CTI Step Over e-bike now $699

Through the end of the day, Best Buy is offering the GOTRAX CTI Step-Over e-bike for $699 shipped. Down from a $999 price tag, it saw a few discounts over 2023, often falling between its MSRP and the $699 low. Today’s deal comes in as a 30% markdown, giving you $300 in savings and returning costs to the all-time low. It even currently beats GOTRAX’s website where it is listed at a higher discounted rate of $799.

The original CTI e-bike comes equipped with a 350W rear-hub motor alongside a 36V removable battery that propels the bike up to 20 MPH for up to 40.5 miles on a single charge. You’ll have the choice between 5 levels of pedal assistance speed settings or the throttle to skip pedaling entirely, as well as a 7-gear shifter for adjusting the basic pedaling resistance levels like a more standard bike. It also features 27.5-inch pneumatic tires, an IPX4 waterproof rating, and a digital display that provides real-time speed, battery levels, pedal assist settings, and travelled distance.

Anker SOLIX C1000 with 200W Solar Panel now $899

The official Anker Amazon storefront is offering its SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station with a 200W solar panel for $899 shipped. Down from a $1,548 price tag, this particular bundle package only saw three discounts in 2023 since the power station’s release back in September, with each of them coming in once a month to bring costs down to the lowest price we have tracked. This trend followed into the new year, with a similar discount occurring in the first weeks of last month and today’s deal coming in to repeat things as a 42% markdown off the going rate. You’ll be getting $649 off your total order, returning the price to the all-time low.

Featuring a compact design that is “15% smaller than the industry average,” this power station offers you a 1,056Wh capacity and a max power output of 2,400W, which also comes surge-protected. It can be fully charged via a wall outlet in up to 58 minutes and can recharge in up to 1.8 hours with a 600W solar input. Through the Anker app, you’ll be able to get real-time status updates, view your battery level, and set AC charging speeds. It also boasts 11 different ports: one carport, two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and six AC outlets.

More Anker power stations seeing discounts:

Anker power station bundles seeing discounts:

Anker accessories seeing discounts:

Greenworks Electric Pressure Washers up to 40% off

Greenworks has launched a ten-day sale promotion, taking 20% off a selection of electric pressure washers by using the promo code GWDOTW at checkout. You’ll find some of the lowest prices on these tools – some of which have gone untouched by major discounts for many months with others having been stuck at their MSRP for most of 2023. The biggest deal of the bunch is on the 40V 800 PSI Cold Water Bucket Pressure Washer for $167.99 shipped, after using the promo code. Already 26% down from its $280 price tag, it saw a few trickling discounts at the start of 2023 that dropped costs to $238 at the lowest, as well as one big discount over the summer that brought it to a further $210 low. Today’s deal comes in as a combined 40% markdown off the going rate, giving you $112 in savings and landing as a new all-time low.

This pressure washer offers 800 PSI and a 1.0 GPM flow rate for your more routine cleaning efforts for your boat, ATV, RV, and more. With a simple drop of the washer’s hose into a fresh water source of your choosing or by connecting the hose directly to a standard garden hose, you’ll be good to go. It has three different nozzles to tackle the job at hand: 25 degrees, 40-degrees, and a soap applicator that hooks onto the wand. It includes a charger and a 4.0Ah battery that also doubles as a small power bank through its USB port that can charge up your personal devices like phones and tablets.

More Greenworks pressure washers on sale:

Winter e-bike deals!

VOLTORB’s 32A Level 2 Portable EV charger

Other 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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China and India still rely heavily on coal, climate targets remain ‘very difficult’ to achieve

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May 14, 2024

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China and India still rely heavily on coal, climate targets remain 'very difficult' to achieve

The Huaneng Huaiyin power station in Huaian, China, on Nov. 12, 2023.

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

China and India have not reduced coal generation for electricity, according to a new study, making it harder for Asia’s largest carbon emitters to reach their climate targets.  

While both Asian countries have ambitious plans to cut emissions, heavy reliance on coal — the dirtiest fossil fuel — continues to be the most reliable and affordable way of meet rising electricity demand. 

Global electricity generation from coal has been consistently rising for the last two decades, nearly doubling from 5,809 terawatt-hours in 2000 to 10,434 TWh in 2023, a new study by energy think tank Ember found. The highest increases came from China (+319 TWh) and India (+100 TWh), the study showed.

According to the IEA, coal remains the biggest energy source for electricity generation, supplying more than one-third of global electricity. It will continue to play a crucial role in industries such as iron and steel until new technologies are available.

“It will be very difficult to meet targets without a rapid face down in coal. It’ll certainly be out of reach,” said Francis Johnson, senior research fellow and climate lead at the Stockholm Environment Institute’s Asia Center.

“We’re not phasing out coal fast enough,” he warned.

China

Asia’s largest economy has two big climate goals: to strive for peak carbon emissions in 2030, and reach carbon neutrality in 2060. Still, reliance on coal has shown no signs of waning.  

Electricity demand in the East Asian nation has increased by sevenfold since the beginning of the decade, while coal demand has climbed by more than five times over the same period, Ember’s research showed. 

China, the world’s largest coal producer, emitted 5,491 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from electricity generation in 2023. That’s at least three times more than the U.S. (1,570 MtCO2) and India (1,470 MtCO2), data from the study showed.

Just because you cut coal emissions, it doesn’t mean you get away with emissions in the other sectors

Francis Johnson

senior research fellow and climate lead at the Stockholm Environment Institute

However, the country has made notable progress in renewable energy development, leading to a slowdown in the rate of emission increase from an average of 9% annually between 2001 and 2015, to 4.4% annually between 2016 and 2023, the energy think tank said.

“China is very close to peak emissions and the clean energy transition is going extraordinarily fast,” Dave Jones, global insights program director at Ember, told CNBC.

“Even with very high levels of electricity demand growth, it looks like the levels of renewables growth would be enough,” Jones said.

Excavators transfer coal at the coal terminal in China’s eastern Jiangsu province on January 22, 2024.

Str | Afp | Getty Images

Clean electricity contributed to 35% of China’s total electricity generation, the Ember report showed. Hydropower —  its second-largest energy source — made up 13% of that mix, while wind and solar combined reached new highs of 16% in 2023.

“Had wind and solar generation not increased since 2015, and demand had instead been met by coal, emissions would have been 20% higher in 2023,” the report highlighted, adding that those two sources can now generate enough electricity to power Japan. 

But Stockholm Environment Institute’s Johnson warned China still needs to be less dependent on other forms of fossil fuels.

“Phasing down coal is absolutely necessary, but it’s not sufficient. Just because you cut coal emissions, it doesn’t mean you get away with emissions in the other sectors,” he noted.

India

When India became the world’s most populous country last year, power demand grew by 5.4% compared to 2022. This was more than double the global increase.  

The country’s leaders have been optimistic about its path to net zero, making bold claims that 50% of its power generation will come from non-fossil fuel forms of energy by 2030. 

Emissions from the power sector are expected to peak around 2030, while total energy-related emissions will reach their highest around 2034, Climate Action Tracker estimated. 

Tuticorin Thermal Power Station in Tuticorin, India, on March 21, 2024.

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

But the Ember study showed that added pressure from droughts pushed the country to generate 78% of its electricity from fossil fuels, where coal made up 75% of that mix.

Like China, India has also made significant strides in other forms of renewable energy.

'Huge growth' in India's power demand in the next decade: Tata Power CEO

In 2023, India overtook Japan to become the world’s third largest solar power generator, according to Ember. 

Ember found that India’s solar power generation totaled 113 terawatt-hours (TWh) last year, representing a 145% increase since 2019. This ranks behind China (584 TWh) and the U.S. (238 TWh). 

“When it comes to the pathway to carbon neutrality for China and India, you would expect the emissions to rise when demand grows. But at some point, the GDP growth needs to decouple with emissions where we need it to first peak, then fall,” Ember’s Asia Programme Director Aditya Lolla told CNBC.

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Scout Motors will unveil two flagship EVs this summer, here’s what we know so far

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10 hours ago

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May 13, 2024

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Scout Motors will unveil two flagship EVs this summer, here's what we know so far

Scout Motors EV

Revived truck brand Scout Motors has set the timetable for the debut of its first-ever EVs. This summer, the public will catch a glimpse of an all-electric pickup and an SUV the Volkswagen sub-brand has been developing since its recent inception. Here’s what we know.

The current iteration of Scout Motors is derived from the beloved nameplate of off-road vehicles built by International Harvester in the ’60s and ’70s. While only about 530,000 Scout trucks were built during its 20-year production run, the early Jeep competitor still holds a small but passionate fanbase.

In 2022, Volkswagen Group shared plans to capitalize off that heritage and revive the namesake for the modern, EV age while still delivering customers the rugged, off-road performance its remaining predecessors are still celebrated for. With the help of contract manufacturer Magna International, Scout Motors has two initial EV models in development

We know the two flagship models will be built in the US, specifically in South Carolina, but so far, we’ve only seen broad renderings of them. The young EV brand is currently working through design and development in Novi, Michigan, while a new Innovation Center is being built nearby.

Meanwhile, construction of Scout Motors’ production facility in The Palmetto State is underway. Before those builds begin however, we still need to see what Scout Motors’ first two EVs look like and know we know when to expect that milestone.

We’ll get a look at Scout Motors’ first EV in late summer

Per an update to the Scout Motors website, an EV reveal is being planned for late summer 2024. Exactly when or where this anticipated event will occur remains TBD. Still, we hope to get the invite as we were there for the groundbreaking ceremony in South Carolina this past February.

That’s about all we’ve learned about new information surrounding Scout Motors’ first two EVs, but previous conversations with executives, including CEO Scott Keogh, have hinted at what to expect during the summer reveal.

In talks with Electrek, Keogh expressed the advantage Scout Motors has as a clean slate design approach that, unlike most young EV brands, has an existing heritage backed by the purchasing and production expertise of parent Volkswagen Group.

That said, Scout intends to do its own thing regarding EV development and design. Scout’s Chief Production Officer, Dr. Jan Spies, told us that the platform technology Scout’s first two trucks will sit atop is “not a twin, daughter, or brother” to any of the platforms currently used in the larger VW Group.

Spies elaborated, saying Scout Motors’ bespoke EV platform gives it an advantage in terms of development speed and offers a beautiful opportunity to deliver a unique car for its environment. Keogh assured us the two bespoke EVs are both “badass” and “robust,” designed to tackle the elements and stay true to the legacy of trucks that inspired them.

VW-US-EVs
(Source: Scout Motors)

We expect Scout to sacrifice a bit of range in exchange for such off-road performance, but we won’t know where those numbers land until the official reveal. In February, Scout Motors’ CEO said the final designs of both trucks were super close, with the actual engineering of the EVs to quickly follow.

While the young automaker has confirmed it will unveil both models in late summer, we have already been warned that EV production will require some cadence while the South Carolina plant continues to scale. Which model will be built first has yet to be determined… or at least made public. Maybe we will find out in a couple of months. We will report back then!

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Tesla now spends ad money to influence shareholders approval of Elon Musk’s $55B payday

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11 hours ago

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May 13, 2024

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Tesla now spends ad money to influence shareholders approval of Elon Musk's B payday

Screenshot

Tesla has now disclosed that it is spending money to promote its shareholders vote to approve of Elon Musk’s $55 billion compensation package.

Back in 2018, Tesla shareholders approved one of the biggest compensation plans of all-time: a $55 billion fully stock-based CEO compensation plan for Elon Musk.

In January, a judge sided with lawyers representing a Tesla shareholder alleging that Tesla’s board misrepresented the compensation package when presenting it to shareholders.

It’s a complicated issue, but in short, the judge found that Tesla’s board and Musk didn’t play by the rules of a public company when it presented the plan to shareholders.

The judge found that Tesla had governance issues when coming up with the compensation plan and those issues were not communicated to shareholders before voting on the plan.

Instead, Tesla claimed that the plan was negotiated by “independent board members” when it was found that some board directors had personal financial dealings with Musk outside of Tesla, amongst other things.

The Delaware court found that this invalidated the vote, and therefore, Tesla had to rescind the compensation plan.

Last month, Tesla told shareholders that it will ask them to vote on moving Tesla’s state of incorporation to Texas and then revote for Musk’s compensation plan without changing anything.

Since then, Tesla has been working hard to get shareholders to vote for those two items. It started a website to promote it, sent countless communications to shareholders about it, and now, the company’s board is going a step further.

In a new filing with the SEC, Tesla confirmed that it is now buying ad spaces to encourage shareholders to vote for these items:

Tesla has to file with the SEC all the “communications” it has with shareholders regarding the vote and this time, the communications are listed as “sponsored” on Google – meaning that Tesla bought Google ads for it.

The automaker even spent money on Elon Musk’s pockets by buying ads on X with the post listed as “promoted”.

Tesla shareholders have until June 13th to vote their shares.

Electrek’s Take

Tesla’s board is clearly getting nervous about the vote.

It’s pretty funny that Tesla’s board, which got Elon’s compensation package invalidated after a judge found governance issues, is now approving spending Tesla’s money on an Elon-owned platform to try to influence a vote that would send even more money into Elon’s pockets.

That’s where we are now.

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