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Audi Q6 e-tron quattro hero

Today, Audi is unveiling the Q6 e-tron, a next-gen electric vehicle based on the new PPE platform co-developed by Audi and Porsche.

It is going to compete in the highly popular midsize SUV segment, and when it comes to specs and design, I think the German brand has a winner. But pricing is not available yet.

Disclosure: Audi paid for my flights to and from Munich, and my hotel stay so that I could get a “sneak preview” of the Q6 e-tron. The company had no say in our reporting, nor did it ask to.

Last week, Audi brought a bunch of auto journalists and myself to Munich to get briefed on the PPE platform, a new EV platform co-developed by Audi in Porsche, and get a first look at the German brand’s first vehicle built on it: the Q6 etron.

Electrek already checked out the Porsche Macan EV, the other PPE-based vehicle coming to market this year, but we are excited to see Audi’s own take on it.

While several legacy automakers are pulling back on their electrification plans, I made sure to poke around last week and gauge the German company’s own level of commitment to its electrification effort. I was pleased to hear that Audi is still committed to stopping launching new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2027 and going all-electric by 2033.

The launch of the Q6 e-tron makes this much more realistic as it not only comes based on a next-gen EV platform bringing a lot of improvements compared to Audi’s other EV platforms, but it also completes its SUV EV lineup with the Q4 e-tron and Q8 e-tron.

Audi Q6 e-tron’s new PPE platform tech

My main complaint about Audi’s electric vehicles was their efficiency. There were a few reasons for that. The automaker was, and still is to a lesser degree, fairly conservative with a big buffer on its battery packs.

Of course, Audi also makes premium SUVs packed with features, which makes it quite a challenge to achieve a high level of efficiency.

But with the PPE, Audi is benefiting from a much more efficient electric powertrain that helps make the Q6 e-tron much more efficient than previous generations.

At the battery level, PPE includes improvements at every stage, from the cells to the pack:

Audi is now using much more energy-dense CATL NMC cells in a prismatic form factor. It also increased the size of its modules with 15 cells per module and 12 modules per pack.

At the pack level, Audi’s PPE pack is more efficient in design with a new thermal management system.

For the Q6, the battery pack has a total capacity of 100 kWh and a useful capacity of 94.9 kWh:

The European market will get a version with the two middle modules removed for a total capacity of 83 kWh, but like with its other electric SUVs, Audi doesn’t believe that it’s worth bringing vehicles with shorter ranges to market in the US.

At the drive unit level, Audi has also made some major improvements with the PPE platform both on the power and torque density and with efficiency:

This was achieved through a bunch of improvements to advanced cooling and lubrification systems, amongst other things.

With the Q6, Audi is using an asynchronous motor on the front axel and a permanent magnet motor on the rear.

Audi has also improved battery preconditioning,w which now has an even greater impact on charge time:

The automaker already had a great charging curve, but it now says that the new battery pre-conditioning can shave off 18 minutes of charging in cold temperatures.

Speaking of cold temperatures, the Q6 is equipped with a new heat pump integrated with the powertrain thermal management system:

Heat pumps are a great way to minimize the impact of climate control on range. They are generally seen as particularly useful in colder climates, but Audi has shared some interesting data about their impact.

The automaker claims that the new heat pump in the Q6 e-tron can increase the range by 30 km (~19 miles) between -10°C to 20°C (14°F to 68°F):

Beyond all these efficiency and performance improvements, the PPE also brings scalability and cost improvements.

Audi Q6 e-tron Design

The Q6 is a midsize SUV coming to complete the electrification of Audi’s SUV lineup. It sits between the smaller Q4 and bigger Q8, while being the electric counterpart to the popular Q5.

The brand is doing something where the even numbers are electric and odd numbers ICE.

The Audi Q6 e‑tron has a length of 4,771 millimeters (15.6 ft), a width of 1,993 millimeters (6.5 ft) and a height of 1,648 millimeters (5.4 ft) – making it just a smidge bigger than the popular Tesla Model Y.

The vehicle has an extremely long wheelbase with short overhands and a high front-end – giving it an aggressive-looking stance despite some mostly soft lines on the sides.

It has a well-executed fake grille.

From the back, you can see the more classic Audi look:

You have 10 different wheel design options for the Q6 from 19″ to 21″.

The back also features the new second-generation digital Audi OLED lights. There are some really cool things Audi can do with those, but unfortunately, some of the functionalities, specifically everything with motion, won’t be available in the US due to regulations.

You will still be able to configure some static ‘light signatures’, which is pretty cool.

The front trunk or frunk is nothing huge, but it’s big enough to hold a small piece of luggage or your mobile charger.

It holds 64 liters (2.2 cu ft) of storage space.

The trunk is much more spacious at 526 liters (18.5 cu ft) of storage space with the backseat up. If you fold them down, the storage space increases to up to 1,529 liters (53.9 cu ft).

Moving to the interior, you will find a variety of interesting materials. I was particularly impressed by the version that I saw at the sneak preview, which had some cool cloth and mesh materials, but we were unfortunately told that some wouldn’t make it to the North American version of the car.

Nonetheless, the interior is solid with a large back seat that can comfortably seat people much taller than 6 ft.

You have a center console that folds in the middle and two USB C plugs underneath the rear climate controls.

But the cockpit is where the fun is at. The star of the show is a new curve display that actually consists of two screens: an instrument cluster in front of the driver and a touchscreen at the center of the dash:

There’s also an optional passenger display that has a privacy mode limiting the field of view so that the content is not visible to the driver. It enables the passenger to safely play videos on the screen while the car is moving.

As if that’s not enough, there’s also an optional heads-up display for the driver. It’s one of the best I’ve seen so far. It’s bright and covers a very large area that interacts with its environment, like integrating navigation.

Now, all of these screens are powered by new software built on the Android Automotive operating system. It’s smoother, allows easier and more in-depth software updates, and allows better and faster integration of third-party apps.

This should be a big step up in user experience inside the vehicle.

Audi Q6 e-tron Specs

During the sneak preview, we mainly saw the European versions of the Q6 and their specs, but Audi America has released some official specs and estimates.

For example, the North American market is actually getting more powerful motors on the Q6 e-tron.

Here’s what Audi is releasing so far in terms of specs for the US market:


Q6 e-tron quattro		 SQ6 e-tron
Horsepower 315 kW (422 hp) nominal- 340 kW (456 hp) launch control 360 kW (483 hp) nominal – 380 kW (510 hp) launch control
0-60 mph Acceleration Est. 5.0 secs. with launch control Est. 4.2 secs. with launch control
Top Speed 210 km/h (130 mph) 230 km/h (143 mph)
Range The standard Q6 60 e-tron quattro achieves over 300 miles of range on the EPA test cycle based on preliminary manufacturer estimates. To be announced later this year.
Charging DC Fast Charging: 270 kW HPC @ 800 volts, capable of 10-80% SOC in 21 mins.AC Charging: 9.6kW (240V/40A) DC Fast Charging: 270 kW HPC @ 800 volts, capable of 10-80% SOC in 21 mins.AC Charging: 9.6kW (240V/40A)
Lighting Due to U.S. regulations, certain lighting functionalities are not available. More information will follow later this year. Due to U.S. regulations, certain lighting functionalities are not available. More information will follow later this year.

When it comes to the range, Audi is only confirming “over 300 miles) on the EPA test cycle, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets much more than that as it is getting 625 km (388 miles) on the WLTP standard.

Audi has always had a strong charging curve in its electric vehicles, and the Q6 e-tron with the PPE platform is no exception.

It’s capable of charging at 270 kW on a 800-volt system and 135 kW on bank charging on 400-volt.

But the really impressive thing is how the powertrain is able to keep the high charge rate at a high state of charge. Here’s the full charge curve:

The Q6 e-tron also has a strong 220 kW regenerative braking, and to our enjoyment, Audi is bringing a true one-pedal driving experience to the Q6 e-tron. You can choose between 4 different levels of regen braking with the top one allowing for one-pedal driving and a complete stop.

The electric SUV also comes with adaptive cruise control powered by a front camera, radar, and ultrasonic radars.

Exact pricing and availability have not been released just yet, but it is coming to Europe in the next few months and in North America toward the end of the year.

As for pricing, Audi has limited its communication to “between the Q4 and Q8,” which starts at $50,995 and $73,700, respectively.

No NACS for the Audi Q6 e-tron

This is a real bummer, but it’s not too bad, considering it might be the only real objective downside to this new entry from the German brand. Everything else is either great or subjective.

You also can’t really blame Audi, as it is more of a timing issue than anything. The automaker has announced plans to adopt NACS in North America, but the Q6 is coming a bit too soon for integration, which will come to new vehicles coming in 2025.

Owners are going to have to use an adapter to access the Supercharger network.

On the bright side, the Q6 e-tron has a great charging curve and also two charge ports. The DC-capable driver-side charge port is well located for the Supercharger network, and the passenger charge port is great for street charging.

Electrek’s Take

If you can’t tell yet, I really like this SUV. I only drove it for a few minutes, and it was a nice fully-loaded SQ6 with air suspension, so my driving impressions aren’t worth that much, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Audi is selling about 75,000 Q5 SUVs a year in the US now, and it expects the Q6 to take over that market as it transitions entirely to EVs over the next 10 years.

That’s a big and scary transition for a legacy automaker, but I think the Q6 e-tron should give them confidence going into it. Based on everything I’ve seen so far, it is highly competitive on the higher end of this segment. Emphasis on higher end. This is very much a premium and highly customizable vehicle.

The PPE platform looks like a solid base on which Audi built an interesting design packed with high-tech features, from the lighting to the HUD to the Android-based OS.

Obviously, Model Y comparisons are going to come since it’s now the world’s best-selling vehicle, and it also competes in the midsize SUV segment. During its own sneak preview in Germany last week, Audi itself identified the Model Y as a competitor.

That said, I don’t expect it to compete price-wise, especially in the US, since Audi doesn’t have access to the tax credit as it doesn’t have a US factory. If it does compete with the Model Y, it will mainly shave some demand off the top from customers looking for a more premium experience.

The Q6 e-tron will likely start at closer to ~$60,000, and you will be able to add options probably close to $80,000.

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This tiny EV that’s selling for under $12,000 in Europe is coming to the US

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December 9, 2025

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This tiny EV that's selling for under ,000 in Europe is coming to the US

Tiny-EV-US-Fiat

Is this the tiny “kei” car everyone is talking about? Not exactly. Jeep maker Stellantis announced plans to bring the tiny Fiat Topolino EV, which sells for under $12,000 in Europe, to the US.

Fiat plans to launch the tiny Topolino EV in the US

Less than a week after President Trump called Japan’s kei cars “really cute” during a White House meeting with Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, Ford’s Jim Farley, GM’s Mary Barra, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk in attendance, we might actually get one in the US.

At Miami Art Week, Fiat CEO Olivier Francois announced that the company is planning to launch the ultra-compact Topolino EV in the US.

After a few appearances in the US, including at last month’s LA Auto Show, Francois said the tiny electric car is “creating tremendous excitement among consumers.”

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So much so that the company is actually planning to make it available for US buyers. “I’m happy to share that we’ll be bringing the Fiat Topolino to the US,” Francois said.

Although the company didn’t reveal any other information beyond “more details to come next year,” we have a good idea of what to expect.

Tiny-EV-US-Fiat
The new Fiat Topolino (Source: Stellantis)

The Topolino, which translates to “little mouse” in Italian, is currently sold in Europe and South America. In Europe, it starts at 9,890 euros, or roughly $11,500.

At just 2,530 mm (99.6″) long, the Topolino is classified as an electric “quadricycle,” rather than a standard car. In some EU countries, like Germany, it can be driven by 15-year-olds.

Powered by a 5.4 kWh battery pack and an 8 hp electric motor, the tiny EV delivers up to 75 km (46 miles) of WLTP range. It can also be fully charged in four hours using a 240V outlet. We will find out more details soon, including prices and US specs.

Can Fiat’s tiny EV win over US buyers? With America’s love for bigger trucks and SUVs, it might be a tough sell. Fiat sold just 1,528 vehicles in the US last year, down from nearly 44,000 in 2012, its first full sales year.


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EcoFlow Christmas Sale offers up to 68% power station savings + flash sale, Aventon e-bikes up to $500 off, Anker security lows, more

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December 9, 2025

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EcoFlow Christmas Sale offers up to 68% power station savings + flash sale, Aventon e-bikes up to 0 off, Anker security lows, more


Leading the pack of today’s Green Deals is EcoFlow’s newly launched Christmas Holiday Sale with up to 68% initial discounts, extra savings, FREE gifts, and two segments of giveaways. Among the bunch, we’re seeing the DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station bundled with two 220W solar panels and getting a FREE Power Hat for its second-ever $1,139 low + there is separate coverage of the event’s first 48-hour flash sale with returning low prices there, too. We also have Aventon’s entire e-bike lineup getting up to $500 discounts – plus, getting orders in by December 10 ensures they’ll be delivered by Christmas – all starting from $999. There’s also a collection of Anker eufy smart security devices – including solar cameras – back at lows starting from $50, and much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals collected together at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Lectric Christmas e-bike sale with a December 15 shipping deadline for the holiday, 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.

promotional banner for EcoFlow Christmas Holiday Sale

EcoFlow has transitioned from its Cyber Week deals into its newly launched Christmas Holiday Sale with up to 68% discounts, extra savings, FREE gifts, and even two rounds of giveaways that you can be eligible for by giving your email and joining its mailing list. We’re seeing plenty of Black Friday deals returning during this sale, like the DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station with two 220W solar panels at $1,139.05 shipped, after using the code 25EFXMAFF at checkout for an additional 5% off, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $160. This bundle carries a large $3,197 MSRP directly from the brand, but at other marketplaces, like Amazon, you’ll often find it only climbing as high as $2,099 these days. We saw this same rate (along with the extra savings) appear during the previous Cyber Week sale event after cutting it from its $1,214 Black Friday pricing, and now its coming back around again, giving you $960 off the going rate ($2,058 off the MSRP) and landing it back at the best price we have tracked – plus, you’ll get a FREE Power Hat ($99 value). Be sure to head below for the rest of EcoFlow’s Christmas Holiday Sale’s lineup.

We’re seeing a much larger spread of bonus savings/gifts during EcoFlow’s Christmas Holiday Sale, starting with the 5% bonus savings you can get on most offers by using the code 25EFXMAFF at checkout. From there, you’ll have four tiers of FREE gifts (aside from free gifts attached to select units): orders of $300 to $499 get a free RIVER series bag, orders from $500 to $2,499 get a free Power Hat, orders of $2,500 to $3,499 get a free refurbished RIVER 2 Max power station, and orders above $3,500 get two free 160W portable solar panels. There are also the two giveaways that you can join on the sale’s main landing page here, with two winners getting select power stations and six getting gift cards – to be drawn/announced on December 18 and 28, 2025.

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One of EcoFlow’s more popular backup power solutions with a well-rounded build, the DELTA 2 Max power station comes housing LiFePO4 battery cells with a starting 2,048Wh capacity, which you can bolster up to 6,144Wh with extra batteries added on. There are 15 versatile output ports to deliver up to 2,400W of steady juice to devices and appliances, while also having the surging power rise as high as 3,400W.

This bundle gives you four ways to recharge the station, starting with the 440W of solar input that puts you closer to its 1,000W maximum – of which, only 800W is needed to fully recharge in 2.3 hours, so expect about double that time with this package. An AC outlet can get it back to 80% in up to 68 minutes, or you can use AC and solar together for faster rates. As it comes, you can use your car’s auxiliary port as you drive, or with the purchase of the brand’s 800W alternator charger, you can recharge in 2.6 hours of driving.

***Note: The prices below have not had the bonus savings factored in, and not all of the offers will be eligible to stack the discount on their initial price cuts, like the DELTA 3 1000 Air, for example. Be sure to still use the code 25EFXMAFF at checkout to ensure you’re getting the best deals!

EcoFlow’s top Christmas Holiday Sale picks:

EcoFlow’s 3-6kWh home backup deals:

EcoFlow’s 1-2kWh essential backup deals:

EcoFlow’s newest arrival deals:

EcoFlow solar panel deals:

EcoFlow’s other accessory deals:

As I mentioned, EcoFlow is having a separate RAPID power bank seasonal promotion that is taking up to 50% off the latest series – including the new 25W MagSafe models – all starting from $55. We also have three exclusive sales from Wellbots that give you much more savings at all new low prices, starting with the DELTA 3 Ultra power station at $879. There’s also the DELTA Pro Ultra station that gets a FREE 400W solar panel at $3,329, as well as up to $13,289 savings across 20 different DELTA Pro Ultra X gear and bundles that start from $174.

man and woman sitting on bench next to lake with Aventon e-bikes

Until December 10, score up to $500 savings on all of Aventon’s e-bikes and get it ahead of Christmas – deals start from $999

Aventon still has its ongoing extended Black Friday Sale offering up to $500 discounts across its e-bike lineup, with a deadline to receive your new ride ahead of Christmas set for December 10. We’re seeing all the newest models join the savings train here, with things starting lowest on the Soltera 2.5 Lightweight Commuter e-bike at $999 shipped. Normally going for $1,199 at full price, we first saw this low rate pop up back in late August, and its back around during this holiday shopping season giving you $200 savings at the best tracked price.

If you want to learn more about this model, or browse the entire lineup of e-bike deals and get your order in before the December 10 shipping deadline, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

Anker eufy solar security camera mounted to wall outside in rain

Several Anker eufy solar cameras, smart locks, more are seeing up to 50% savings back to lows from $50

Through Anker’s official eufy Amazon storefront, we’re seeing the brand offer several of its smart home security devices back at Black Friday rates or the next-best prices. One such model heading back to its best pricing is the popular Anker eufy SoloCam S220 Wireless Solar Security Camera starting at $49.99 shipped, while its 4-camera bundle is back at $179.99 shipped. These two bundles usually fetch full $100 or $280 prices, with the deals here having first been spotted during Amazon’s full Black Friday sale event. You’re getting 50% and 36% markdowns for the second time here while the deals last, cutting $50 and $100 off the going rates to land them back at their all-time lowest prices.

If you want to browse the entire lineup of Anker eufy smart security devices benefitting from discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man powering home office with EcoFlow DELTA 3 Pro power station

EcoFlow’s first 48-hour Christmas Holiday flash sale returns the DELTA Pro 3 power station to $2,099 low, more

As part of its newly launched Christmas Holiday Sale, EcoFlow has also launched the first of this event’s 48-hour flash sales taking up to 65% off four offers, with the sole power station unit in the bunch being the DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station with a FREE folding wagon cart at $2,099 shipped. While this unit has a $3,699 MSRP, you’ll find it more often starting around $2,699, particularly at Amazon, where it is priced without the wagon cart $200 higher. Discounts over the year have only seen it come down this low in price once before, during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale event, with things otherwise keeping above $2,299. You’re getting another chance at the all-time lowest price here, complete with $600 off the going rate and $1,600 off the MSRP. Head below to check out the full lineup of flash deals while they last through December 10.

You can learn more about this power station, or the other bundles at up to 65% off, be sure to check out our original coverage of these flash deals here.

Segway e-bike and electric scooters with family in garage and driveway

Best Winter 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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XCharge NA just launched New England’s fastest charging site

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December 9, 2025

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XCharge NA just launched New England's fastest charging site

XCharge NA New England

Photo: XCharge NA

XCharge NA and Cellerate Power have brought online what they say is New England’s fastest EV charging site in Vermont, right at the base of Stratton Mountain Resort.

The site opened to the public in late October 2025 and offers 400-kilowatt ultra-fast charging to a part of the state that previously topped out at much slower speeds.

The site is powered by XCharge NA’s C7 Ultra-Fast Chargers, which can deliver up to 400 kW — about two to three times faster than most other fast chargers in the region. Cellerate Power says the nearest alternative fast-charging option is about 30 minutes away and limited to 150 kW for CCS-equipped vehicles only.

By contrast, the Winhall site supports both NACS and CCS connectors, meaning it can serve virtually all EV models.

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Cellerate Power, a Vermont-based company focused on expanding equitable access to infrastructure, says the project aims to make EV travel more practical in a state where cold winters and mountainous terrain can amplify range anxiety.

The C7 chargers also feature large 21.5-inch screens, which XCharge NA and Cellerate Power claim can enhance the charging experience while promoting local economic development.

Aatish Patel, cofounder and president of XCharge NA, says the Vermont deployment marks the first North American installation of its C7 Ultra-Fast Chargers. “It will expand access to fast charging in regions where it was previously unavailable and offer drivers a more efficient, reliable charging experience.”

The charging station is located at 40 VT Route 30 in Winhall, Vermont, 05340, at the base of the Stratton Mountain Ski Resort access road, making it a convenient stop for locals and travelers heading to and from southern Vermont’s ski and recreation areas.

Read more: XCharge NA is now leasing DC fast chargers to small businesses

If you’re looking to replace your old HVAC equipment, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable HVAC installer near you that offers competitive pricing on heat pumps, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to get a heat pump. They have pre-vetted heat pump installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions. Plus, it’s free to use!

Your personalized heat pump 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. – *ad


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