Over six months after detailing plans for a new 20 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery plant in Europe, China’s Gotion High-Tech has shared precisely where it will set up shop overseas – Morocco.
Gotion High-Tech Co., Ltd. is a China-based company that specializes in battery R&D and energy solutions. With backing from notable OEMs like Volkswagen Group (its largest shareholder), Gotion has begun expanding battery production to new territories around the world. This includes Vietnam via a joint venture with VinES, the energy division of VinFast.
In September 2023, Gotion rolled a battery off an assembly line in the university town of Göttingen, Germany – its first product assembled in Europe. Around that same time, Gotion High-Tech announced it had also purchased a 25% stake in the Slovak EV battery startup InoBat – the first investment in a European startup by any Chinese battery maker.
At the time, Gotion said it would provide InoBat with raw materials plus share its R&D, cell production, and battery recycling know-how to help expedite the former’s technology into mass production. Furthermore, the two companies announced a potential joint venture to expand EV battery production in Europe with a new 20 GWh plant to support local automakers.
We just didn’t know where it would be.
Seven months later, the local government has revealed where Gotion High-Tech’s first European battery factory will be erected – Morocco.
Credit: Gotion High-Tech
Gotion shares plans for $1.3 billion plant in Morocco
Per a report by Reuters, the Moroccan government has confirmed that Gotion high-Tech’s new European factory is coming to the region for an estimated price of 12.8 billion Moroccan dirhams ($1.3 billion).
A press release from the country’s prime minister said that Gotion has signed an investment deal with the Moroccan government to erect the battery gigafactory. The gigafactory is expected to operate with an initial battery capacity of 20 GWh.
The prime minister’s office also said that Gotion’s incoming plant in Morocco could also be expanded to a massive 100 GWh annual battery capacity, equating to a total investment of about $6.5 billion.
Due to its proximity to prominent European automotive markets and free trade agreements with the EU and the US, Morocco is quickly becoming a hub for EV technology manufacturing. Gotion is the latest big name to join the fold.
Chinese battery manufacturers like BTR New Material Group, CNGR Advanced Material, Hailiang, and Shinzoom have all announced plans for factory footprints in Morocco, which is already home to production plants for Stellantis and Renault. As a result, the automotive sector was Morocco’s top industrial export ($14 billion) in 2023, up 27% year over year.
Since the news came from the prime minister’s office in Morocco, we still need to get all the details from Gotion High-Tech. So far, the news has yet to mention InoBat and whether it is involved in the EU expansion. We hope to learn more and get a better timeline for when Gotion is targeting to begin rolling EV battery cells off its assembly lines at its new gigafactory.
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Jackery’s early Easter sale offers Explorer 3000 Pro solar generator with a 500W panel at new $1,947 low
Jackery is launching its Early Easter Sale through April 11, offering up to 50% off a collection of power stations for home backup, individual appliance backup, and outdoor adventures – plus, there is a limited-time bonus 5% off discount too. One noticeable price drop for RV roamers is the brand’s Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station bundled with a 500W solar panel for $1,946.55 shipped, after using the code EXTRA5 at checkout for an additional 5% off. Coming down from its $3,449 price tag here, with a higher $3,699 rate elsewhere, this is only the third discount we have seen on this newer bundle after first appearing as a short-term flash offer to $1,999 before returning to that rate for its longer sale at the end of March. It’s going lower than ever here today as the 44% markdown strikes $1,502 off the going rate at a new all-time low. It also beats out the Amazon pricing that is only bringing costs down to $2,299.
A great choice to gear up for camping trips – whether you’re planning to rough it in tents or take out the RV – Jackery’s Explorer 3000 Pro is one of the more versatile options in terms of what it can power. It boasts a 3,024Wh capacity and provides up to 3,000W of average power output, surging to 6,000W for those larger appliance needs. There are 10 port options to connect to for a juice up, one of them even being a RV-dedicated TT30 port, putting it alongside the Explorer 2000 Plus and Explorer 5000 Plus as the best support for RV travels/living (deals on them below). On that note, if you want to possibly invest to build up your system, these two alternate models come as modular setups that can expand upward in capacity and output, unlike the 3000 Pro.
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Plugging the Explorer 3000 Pro into a wall outlet will get you back to a full battery in about 2.4 hours, or you can take advantage of its maximum 1,200W of solar input that takes a little longer at three to four hours when using the sun’s rays (which will be a little over twice that timeframe for the 500W bundle here). There’s also the third option to connect it to your vehicle, which refills the battery in about 35 hours.
***Note: None of the following prices have had the bonus savings factored in, so be sure to use the code EXTRA5 where applicable to score the most savings (you’ll see it as an on-page offer).
Jackery’s early Easter sale backup deals for critical loads:
Explorer 2000 Plus (4,085.6Wh) with two 200W panels and extra battery: $2,599 (Reg. $4,999)
Jackery’s early Easter sale deals for outdoor adventure:
Jackery’s early Easter sale accessory deals:
You can browse the entire lineup of Jackery’s Early Easter Sale on the main landing page here.
Tenways drops the AGO X all-terrain e-bike to new $1,899 low (Reg. $2,499) in spring savings
Tenways has launched its Spring Sale with up to $600 being taken off its e-bike lineup. Alongside the brand’s popular CGO600 Pro (both the chain-drive and belt-drive models), which is down at $1,499 once again, we spotted the more advanced AGO X e-bike scoring the biggest price cut to $1,899 shipped and coming with $307 in free gear. This sale is bringing the costs down off the e-bike’s usual $2,499 price tag, with the discounts we’ve been seeing over the last year only going as low as $1,999. While this sale continues you’ll be able to take advantage of a $600 markdown that brings the price down lower than we’ve seen before, landing it at a new all-time low price. Not only are you getting free mudguards and a rear cargo rack for free ($307 value), but you can also add on a front carrier for just $1 (normally $79). As usual, medical providers, military personnel, first responders, and teachers can also score an additional $150 in savings through verification.
Boasted as an all-terrain “e-bike SUV” for errands and commutes alike, Tenways’ AGO X cruises into view via the Bafang M410 250W mid-drive motor and 504Wh battery. While it’s not as lightweight as its counterparts, it only weighs in at 64 pounds, which still makes it more manageable for urban environments than many other competitors on the market. Like its sibling e-bikes, this one also does away with any throttle, but with the five PAS levels that come supported by an integrated torque sensor, you’ll be getting up to 62 miles of travel on a single charge, with it reaching top speeds of 20 MPH.
The streamlined design of its frame not only gives it a slick look, with its cable system all neatly contained out of sight, but also comes with a nice variety of features. Your riding experience is enhanced for smoother and more comfortable rides with the SR SUNTOUR Lockout Fork, Selle Royal Saddle, and riser handlebars while safety is guaranteed thanks to the hydraulic disc brakes, 29-inch puncture-resistant tires, and integrated front and rear lighting. That’s not all, you’ll also have a Shimano 10-speed derailleur and a TFT LCD color display that can pair with your smartphone to provide navigation and more.
EcoFlow flash sale returns RIVER 3 245Wh LiFePO4 power station to $159 low + a massive home backup bundle
As part of both its Easter Sale and Mega Sale, EcoFlow has launched the second round of flash offers running through the rest of the day. The first of these discounts is on the RIVER 3 Portable Power Station for $159 shipped. It’s being brought down from its usual $239 price tag for today only, which we’ve been frequently seeing more recently, especially in the form of Amazon Lightning deals. You can grab one today at the returning all-time low price thanks to the 33% markdown that cuts $80 off the going rate, with the matching option to grab it from Amazon too.
A compact option for personal device and appliance backup while out camping, EcoFlow’s RIVER 3 sports a 245Wh LiFePO4 capacity with X-GaNPower tech to bolster its energy efficiency by “delivering double runtime for appliances under 100W while reducing the size and controlling the volume to less than 30 dB at a distance of 1.5 ft.” This, paired with the additional X-Boost tech, allows for its 300W of power output to surge up to 600W to cover appliances like heaters and the like – with six port options available to connect to (two ACs, two USB-As, one USB-C, and one car port).
The battery can be recharged back to full in just one hour via a wall outlet while also having the option to connect up to 110W of solar input to recharge in 2.6 hours. The unit has waterproof and fireproof safeguards, as well as an IP54 protection rating and a drop-resistant design to minimalize potential damage while out in the wilds.
The second of these flash offers is a much larger home backup bundle of two DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Stations with a 50A hub to connect them and a Smart Home Panel 2 – all for $6,179 shipped. Each of these power stations gives you a 4,096Wh LiFePO4 capacity (8,192Wh together) that can output power through its 14 ports at 4,000W (surging to 6,000W). Of course, this setup can be further expanded to a maximum 48,000Wh capacity with additional gear that also expands its power output up to 12,000W. The power station boasts the largest amount of ways to recharge too, with seven solo-source options and 18 combination options. With the Smart Home Panel 2, you’ll have the plug-and-play option to cover up to 12 circuits at home when outages occur, with it also allowing you to connect to any rigid roof panels for everyday solar charging too.
Be sure to also check out the differing lineups for EcoFlow’s ongoing Easter Sale and Mega Sale that are taking up to 65% off power stations through April 14, complete with free gear, massive EcoCredit rewards, and bonus savings.
Segway Ninebot F3 eKickScooter (preorder through April 14): $600 (Reg. $850)
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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Tesla Insurance has stopped penalizing drivers for having forward collision warnings after getting sued for what drivers described as fake crash alerts
Like many modern vehicles, Teslas have forward collision warnings that alert drivers to a perceived risk of a collision.
These alerts can be lifesavers, but they also tend to give you false positives.
Normally, it wouldn’t be a problem—better safe than sorry—but in Tesla’s case, it can be a costly problem for drivers.
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Tesla offers its own car insurance in some US states. The automaker utilizes its capacity to collect real-time driving data from its vehicles to create what it calls a “Safety Score. ” This score is based on how and when drivers drive, and the company increases or decreases their monthly premium accordingly.
The move was to counter the fact that many third-party insurers were charging costly premiums on Tesla vehicles.
There has been some controversy about the factors that would influence the score, like acceleration, driving at night, and the aforementioned collision warnings.
Many drivers have reported that their vehicles are giving collision warnings for no reason, leading to significant increases in their insurance premiums.
Two years later, Tesla quietly removed forward collision warnings as a factor in its insurance ‘safety score’.
It was removed as part of its Safety Score Beta version 2.2 update, which, interestingly, only listed this change:
Excessive Speeding is now measured as a proportion of driving time in excess of 85 mph or speeding in relation to the vehicle in front of you.
But forward collision warnings are gone when looking at the list of factors affecting your safety score.
Electrek’s Take
While I don’t have Tesla Insurance and I don’t want any, I can tell you that my Tesla vehicles have had way more “fake” collision warnings than real ones.
I don’t mind them since I prefer to be safe rather than possibly annoyed by a useless warning.
With that said, fake warnings can’t affect your premiums. That’s just ridiculous. I’m sure that the removal from the safety score bodes well for the lawsuit.
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The air and ocean freight forward specialists at R&M Trucking have become the first US customer for the new Volvo on Demand “trucks as a service” offering by deploying a new Volvo VNR Electric semi truck to carry out local and regional freight and logistics deliveries from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Everything else is a subscription model these days, so why not semi trucks? And if we’re going to subscribe to a big Class 8 hauler, why not make it electric?
Fleet buyers aren’t not financing the truck, in other words. They’re leasingrentingsubscribing to it. That’s good for the fleets since they avoid a big down payment, and good for dealers who would, otherwise, have to carry the much more expensive trucks on their floor plans.
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“Volvo on Demand is designed to remove barriers to adopting battery-electric trucks by offering a flexible, all-inclusive service model,” said Logan Andrew, eMobility territory finance manager East, Volvo Financial Services. “This deployment helps R&M Trucking integrate electric trucks into its fleet in a way that makes business sense—minimizing upfront capital investment while providing predictable operational costs.”
Even if you want to electrify 100% of your fleet tomorrow, the up front costs of acquiring a fleet that costs anywhere from 50-300% more than the fleet you have can present a considerable cash flow obstacle. Anything that manufacturers or other stakeholders can do to reduce that up front burden – with rebates, for example – will undoubtedly be welcome.