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No, Porsche’s electric sports cars will not have fake EV shifting. “Why should we make something worse?” Porsche development driver Lars Kern said. After testing Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N, Porsche believes there’s “no reason to simulate what has been in the past.”

Porsche is not impressed with fake EV shifting

Porsche is aware of new tech, like simulating the feeling of an ICE car shifting in new electric sports cars. However, it doesn’t believe the hyped-up feature is worth it.

“The electric engine is better than an ICE,” Kern explained to Australian media (via Drive). “So we figured there’s no reason to simulate what has been in the past,” he said.

Kern’s comments come after Hyundai launched its first electric performance car, the IONIQ 5 N. Equipped with N E-Shift, Hyundai’s sporty EV simulates the feeling of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Hyundai said the N-branded sports EV is its most powerful, fun-to-drive model with several track-ready features.

Porsche wasn’t impressed. “We look into what the competition does, but our perspective on this is always why should we make something worse,” Kern said.

Porsche-fake-EV-shifting
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package (Source: Porsche AG)

New electric models launching

He explained that Porsche looked into the tech, but it never moved past the idea stage. “We drove the Hyundai N and had a look at it, and, obviously, there’s always people who think that’s a good idea and there’s always people I think it’s a bad idea,” Kern told the media.

Hyundai-fake-EV-shifting
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N (Source: Hyundai)

Porsche will begin delivering its second electric model, the Macan EV, later this year. The first electric Macan models rolled off assembly at Porsche’s Leipzig plant in May as it preps for deliveries.

The company also launched the updated 2025 Taycan with more range, faster charging, and even more performance.

Porsche-Macan-EV-US
Porsche Macan EV Turbo (Source: Porsche)

Porsche is expected to reveal an electric 718 by the end of the year, followed by the highly awaited Porsche Cayenne EV, due out in 2026 (see a video of it testing). The company is also prepping to launch a range-topping electric seven-seater to rival ultra-luxury brands.

Electrek’s Take

As an EV driver, I couldn’t agree more with Kern. The smooth, instant acceleration is one of the best features of an electric car.

The technology is superior, so why would you want to replicate something from the past? I understand some drivers like the feeling of being jerked around, but have they tried hitting the accelerator in an electric sports car? It’s not likely.

And then there are other brands like Dodge, simulating fake exhaust sounds with its “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust” tech on its first electric muscle car, the Charger Daytona.

Again, as an EV owner, the silent drive is one of the best parts of going electric. You will notice a world of a difference the first time you drive an electric car.

How do you feel about fake EV shifting and noises? Is it needed? Let us know in the comments below.

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‘Time to act now’: The push to develop Europe’s blockbuster rare earths discoveries

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4 hours ago

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November 28, 2025

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‘Time to act now’: The push to develop Europe’s blockbuster rare earths discoveries

In this aerial view, the Kiruna Kyrka church is transported by road to a new location on August 20, 2025 in Kiruna, Sweden. The church, weighing 672,4 tons, is being transported as a whole to a new location 3 km away to avoid damages caused by LKAB´s iron ore mine.

Bernd Lauter | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Two Nordic mining companies at the heart of Europe’s push to achieve resource security are taking novel — albeit very different — approaches. One is pursuing the concept of an “invisible mine,” while the other is taking on one of the world’s most radical relocation projects.

It forms part of a strategic shift for the European Union. Under its forthcoming “RESourceEU” initiative, the 27-nation bloc intends to step up its efforts to secure access to domestic sources of critical raw materials in both the short- and long-term.

The plan, which intends to boost investment in strategic projects, is designed to help break China’s long-held mineral dominance.

Alf Reistad, CEO of mining firm Rare Earths Norway, told CNBC that there’s been a clear shift in terms of how both domestic and EU policymakers are thinking about mineral supply chains.

“What we see now is really a sense of urgency. Everybody is speaking about the need for actions,” Reistad told CNBC by video call. “It is really the time to act now. We have always said that we are too early until we are too late.”

In June last year, Rare Earths Norway announced the discovery of Europe’s largest known rare earths deposit, reflecting what was seen as a watershed moment in the region’s pursuit of strategic autonomy.

It’s estimated that the firm’s Fen Carbonatite Complex, situated in the small industrial town of Ulefoss in southern Norway, contains 8.8 million metric tons of total rare earth oxides (TREOs).

It’s not a given that this is a business case. It looks like it is for us at the moment, but it’s not something that you’d say, ‘oh it’s a no brainer, just run for it.’

Niklas Johansson

Spokesperson at LKAB

Notably, roughly 1.5 million tons of these TREOs are thought to contain highly prized magnet-related rare earths, such as neodymium and praseodymium. These are critical components for a range of modern technologies, from electric vehicles and wind turbines to robotics and defense applications.

Rare Earths Norway said it is currently in close cooperation with the local municipality and national authorities over a zoning plan and hopes to present a prefeasibility study by the end of the year.

Ultimately, however, it faces a long road ahead to deliver on its rare earths potential. The company is targeting the delivery of rare earths to market by the first half of the 2030s.

The Enhanced Games?

To help reach these targets, Rare Earths Norway has been lobbying for domestic and EU policymakers to consider fast-track permitting and price guarantees, saying such measures will be pivotal to its success.

Reistad compared the firm’s push to deliver on its resource potential to participating in the Enhanced Games, a controversial event that allows athletes to take banned performance enhancing drugs under medical supervision.

“If you look now at what you see with China and the U.S., they are competing in a kind of Enhanced Games, and it’s not possible for us to compete at all if we have no security,” Reistad said.

“You see that the actions that have been made by [U.S. President Donald] Trump. He has been fast and bold. So, if there is no level playing field then it will not be possible to come true with this project,” he added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her speech during a debate on the new 2028-2034 Multi-annual Financial Framework at the European Parliament in Brussels on November 12, 2025.

Nicolas Tucat | Afp | Getty Images

A spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, told CNBC that the bloc has a “clear vision” to ensure the secure and sustainable access to raw materials. By 2030, the bloc wants to extract 10%, process 40% and recycle 25% of what it consumes each year.

The EU is also aiming to limit reliance on any single external supplier to 65%.

An ‘invisible mine’

To develop its discovery, Rare Earths Norway is planning to extract rare earths from its Fen site using an “invisible mine” concept to avoid surface disruption and environmental impact.

This concept involves drilling a long, narrow tunnel diagonally beneath the village of Ulefoss and backfilling extracted voids with waste materials.

“It’s important that people on top of the deposit are safe,” Reistad said, who compared the concept to that of a “Kinder Egg.”

“So, if you have seen in the project by LKAB in Kiruna, they have to move the town. We need to prevent that, and its approximately 300 properties on top of the deposit and a lot of people living there,” he added.

Reistad said the company has had “very good” dialogue with the people living on top of the rare earths deposit. Early community surveys have reportedly shown strong local support for the project, alongside some concerns about stability and waste management.

An Arctic city on the move

Swedish state-owned mining firm LKAB, which operates far above the Arctic Circle in the city of Kiruna, is taking a completely different approach to Europe’s growing appetite for raw materials.

The company announced in January 2023 what was then considered to be Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earths, describing the discovery as “good news” for Sweden, Europe and the climate.

Rain falls as a general view taken on August 21, 2025 shows the LKAB iron ore mine and a sign bearing the company’s logo in Kiruna, northern Sweden.

Jonathan Nackstrand | Afp | Getty Images

The discovery of the so-called Per Geijer deposit sits in close proximity to the world’s largest underground iron ore mine. Indeed, it is LKAB’s plans to expand its iron ore mine that has prompted the move of thousands of city residents to a brand-new city center.

The extensive urban relocation project received international attention in August, when workers successfully moved a 113-year-old wooden church five kilometers (3 miles) down the road over the course of two days.

Later that same month, LKAB announced that 6,000 more people and approximately 2,700 homes would be affected by the relocation. The transformation is estimated to come at a cost of 22.5 billion Swedish kronor ($2.4 billion).

Niklas Johansson, senior vice president of public affairs and external relations at LKAB, said the relocation is not related to the rare earths discovery, but rather the firm’s sprawling iron ore mine.

A worker is pictured in the underground tunnels of the LKAB iron ore mine in Kiruna, northern Sweden, on August 21, 2025.

Jonathan Nackstrand | Afp | Getty Images

Like Rare Earths Norway, LKAB’s Johansson said the company is currently in discussion with European lawmakers to ensure that it will be economically viable to develop its resources.

“We’ve already got the material up to the ground. That’s all been paid for by the iron ore. Still, it’s not a given that this is a business case. It looks like it is for us at the moment, but it’s not something that you’d say, ‘oh it’s a no brainer, just run for it,'” Johansson told CNBC by telephone.

“I also tell them that if it looks like this for us, who has most of the infrastructure and everything in place, how do you think it will look for others in Europe?”

Mineral sovereignty

Anthony Heron, deputy editor of the Arctic Institute think tank, said the projects overseen by Rare Earths Norway and LKAB are “strategically significant” because they represent some of the most credible paths to reduce Europe’s near total dependence on imported rare earths, especially from China.

“Estimates suggest the Norwegian Fen deposit could cover a sizeable share of future EU demand for rare earth minerals, and the exploration of Arctic deposits has been framed by analysts as pillars of Europe’s emerging ‘mineral sovereignty’ agenda,” Heron told CNBC by email.

“That aligns the Arctic squarely with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, which has set targets for a minimum share of extraction to take place within Europe,” he added.

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Rad Power expands e-bike Black Friday Sale with more savings + lows from $999, Anker smart security devices 50% off, GE appliance, more

Published

15 hours ago

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November 27, 2025

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Rad Power expands e-bike Black Friday Sale with more savings + lows from 9, Anker smart security devices 50% off, GE appliance, more


Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! To celebrate the day, we’ve got another jam-packed edition of Green Deals, with plenty more that you can browse in our official Black Friday Green Deals hub here, encompassing all the sales/deals we’ve collected over the last few weeks that are still alive and well. Headlining today’s features is Rad Power’s expanded Black Friday Sale, which is seeing increased prices to new lows, like the RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike at $1,399, among others. From there, we also have a large collection of Anker eufy solar cams, and other smart security devices starting from $50, as well as GE’s Profile Smart Electric Ventless Heat Pump Washer/Dryer Combo at $2,000, the next EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale, Aiper’s robot pool cleaners, smart composters, hydroponic gardens, and so much more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about the hangover deals that are collected together at the bottom of the page (and also in our Green Deals hub), like yesterday’s first post-launch price cuts on the Heybike Mars 3.0 and Ranger 3.0 Pro e-bikes, the Tesla universal EV charger retaining a $50 discount, 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.

Rad Power expands Black Friday e-bike lineup and increases savings to new lows starting from $999

Rad Power Bikes has expanded its Black Friday Sale with additional offers while retaining the previous lineup of new lows and more. Among the bunch, we’re seeing the biggest price cut yet on the RadExpand 5 Plus Folding e-bike at $1,399 shipped. Coming down from the full $1,899 price tag that it has spent much of 2025 keeping to, we’ve mostly seen a mix of free bundle offers (without price cuts) and occasional discounts as low as $1,699. Now, for Black Friday, this newer model is getting a larger-than-ever $500 markdown to a new all-time low price. Head below to learn more about it and the expanded/increased Rad Power Black Friday savings.

The Rad Power RadExpand 5 Plus comes as the latest iteration of the brand’s space-saving, folding series, able to condense down to 29 inches high by 25 inches wide by 41 inches long to fit inside closets, car trunks, on RVs, and more. The 750W rear hub motor is paired with a 720Wh battery to carry you for up to 60+ miles with its five PAS levels activated at up to 20 MPH top speeds (supported by a torque sensor). Among its updated features, you’ll be getting a hydraulic suspension fork alongside hydraulic disc brakes for smoother rides and greater stopping power. There’s also the puncture-resistant tires, fenders to go over top of them, a rear cargo rack for added versatility, an LED headlight, a brake-activated taillight, a Shimano 7-speed derailleur, a color display with a USB-C port, and more.

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With the brand going through financial turmoil, now’s your chance to cash in on some of Rad Power’s deep clearance-meets-Black Friday savings.

Rad Power’s full Black Friday Sale lineup:

anker eufy solar security camera outside in rain

Anker’s eufy solar security cameras, smart locks, more get up to 50% Black Friday savings to new lows starting from $50

With Amazon’s Black Friday Week Sale in full momentum, Anker’s official eufy storefront is offering up to 50% discounts across its lineup of smart security devices, and the best rate yet on the SoloCam S220 Wireless Solar Security Camera that starts from $49.99 shipped, while its 4-camera package is a great get for multi-point coverage at $179.99 shipped. Normally going for $100 without any discounts, we’ve seen the cost get taken down as low as $60 previously in the year, with this holiday deal bringing even more savings to the mix by cutting the price in half. You’ll save $50 off the going rate for a 50% markdown on the single-cam package, while the 4-camera kit is seeing a 36% cut of $100 – dropping both options to new all-time lows.

If you want to learn more about this model, or check out the full lineup of deals on other cameras, video doorbells, smart locks, and more – be sure to check out our original coverage of these Black Friday deals here.

woman doing laundry with GE 2-in-1 washer dryer

GE’s 2-in-1 Profile smart ventless electric washer/dryer combo with heat pump at $2,000 (Reg. $2,700)

As part of its Black Friday Appliance Sale, Best Buy is offering the GE Profile 4.8 Cubic-Foot Smart Combo Electric Washer & Dryer with Ventless Heat Pump at $1,999.99 shipped. While it carries a $2,999 MSRP direct from the brand, at Best Buy we normally see it starting lower at $2,700, with the discounts we’ve spotted over the year regularly dropping the rate between $2,200 and $2,000, with things having gone as low as $1,750 once this year back during July’s Prime Day event. You’re still looking at a solid $700 markdown off the going rate (and $999 off the MSRP) to land at the third-lowest price we have tracked. There are also alternate options in Samsung’s massive Black Friday Appliance Sale here to weigh your options.

If you want to learn more about this specific model, be sure to check out our original coverage of these savings here.

ecoflow delta pro power station outside with extra battery and solar panel
banner for Aiper robot pool cleaner black friday sale
Govee smart electric composter being used to make soil for garden
AeroGarden Harvest Elite 360 indoor hydroponic system

Best Fall 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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Tesla faces class action over Powerwall recall that leaves people with bricked batteries

Published

16 hours ago

on

November 27, 2025

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Tesla faces class action over Powerwall recall that leaves people with bricked batteries

Sunrun residential solar battery storage

Image: Sunrun

Tesla’s poorly handled Powerwall 2 recall is now turning into a potential class action lawsuit over for leaving people with bricked batteries until Tesla replaces them.

We previously reported on Tesla recalling thousands of Powerwall 2 units built between 2020 and 2022 due to a fire risk. We noted several problems with it, as it took months between the recall in Australia and the US, despite the units being identical and affected by the same issue.

We also noted that Tesla has been aware of the problems for years and tried to sneakily replace some units rather than doing a broader recall.

Now, some affected Powerwall owners are also taking issue with how Tesla is handling the recall.

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Tesla’s ability to address issues via over-the-air (OTA) software updates is usually a massive advantage, but not everyone is happy with how Tesla is using its OTA capability in this case.

According to a new class action filing in the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, that “fix” has left owners with expensive wall decorations instead of backup power systems.

The lawsuit, Brown v. Tesla, Inc., was filed yesterday. It alleges that rather than providing swift replacements for the potentially dangerous hardware, Tesla used its software backdoor to effectively shut down customer installations.

From the complaint:

“Rather than immediately providing full refunds or prompt replacement with non-defective units, Tesla has remotely accessed affected Powerwall 2 systems and discharged or limited their battery charge to near-zero levels to reduce the risk of overheating.”

The result, according to the filing, is that many owners have been “deprived of the core functions for which they purchased Powerwall 2, including backup power and energy storage.”

Imagine paying upwards of $8,000 for peace of mind during a grid outage, only to find out Tesla remotely drained your backup battery to 0% because it might otherwise catch fire.

The lawsuit further alleges that the actual physical replacement process is dragging out. The complaint argues that the replacement process “has been slow, burdensome, and incomplete,” leading to “lengthy periods” where consumers have partially or fully disabled units.

The core legal argument here is about merchantability. The plaintiffs argue that a home energy storage system that must be remotely “bricked” to prevent it from burning down a house is clearly “not fit for its ordinary purpose as a safe and reliable residential battery.”

Tesla has not yet commented on the suit or provided a timeline for when all affected customers will receive physical replacements.

Electrek’s Take

Ever since the first recall in Australia came out, I knew this thing would snowball into something much bigger.

In the Australian recall, Tesla noted that it was “considering compensating people” for revenue lost or higher utility bills due to Powerwalls being down for an extended period.

It looks like this class action lawsuit is trying to ensure that Tesla is not just considering it but actually does the right thing and compensates owners.

Tesla has up to 10,000 Powerwalls to replace in the US alone. We understand that this is a tremendously difficult task and it will take some time, but that’s not the fault of the customers and Tesla needs to own up to it.

Leaving customers in limbo with a dead battery on the wall, especially as we head into winter storm season in many parts of the US, is a massive customer service failure. Tesla needs to accelerate the replacement program and prioritize these recall replacements over new sales immediately.


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