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Workers have reportedly snuck with police in the middle of the night in the forest around Gigafactory Berlin to cut trees for Tesla’s expansion.

Tesla has been trying to expand its Gigafactory Berlin, but it has been facing some opposition.

Earlier this year, the local residents of Grünheide, the municipality where Tesla Gigafactory Berlin is located, have voted against the expansion of the plant, which requires more than 100 hectares of forest to be cleared.

Local officials have given their approval nonetheless.

Activists have occupied the forest to try to stop the expansion from happening. They call themselves ‘Stop Tesla’ and set up camp in the forest, a classic “treehugger” strategy.

However, the worst has been an actual attack on the grid that resulted in Tesla having to shut down the factory temporarily in March.

Since then, the main concerns have been ‘Stop Tesla’ and World War II bombs being found at the site and needing removal.

According to a local report from rbb24, Tesla has now managed to make some progress. They needed to cut some trees down for a construction road in preparation for the railway (translated from Gerrman):

Trees were felled around the Tesla protest camp in Grünheide early Tuesday morning. A three-kilometer-long construction road is to be built for this purpose. The police secured the felling.

About three thousand trees were taken down.

‘Stop Tesla’ says that they came in the middle of the night under police protection:

According to members of the “Stop Tesla” initiative, the work started at around 2 a.m. In the middle of the night, railway employees in safety vests and police officers appeared. A spokeswoman for the initiative said: “They started fencing off the assembly area, setting up floodlights and construction machinery and clearing the first trees.

The group believes that the start in the middle of the night was “provocation” as the police presence and the heavy machinery moving around the camp in the middle of the night was scary.

However, the railway company Deutsche Bahn denied the allegation – saying that they needed to move in the middle of the night to have to site ready for workers the next day.

Tesla is looking to expand the plant to support the production of future vehicles at Gigafactory Berlin, which currently only produces Model Y.

CEO Elon Musk recently said that Tesla could build its Tesla Semi electric truck for European markets at the plant.

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Google to invest £5 billion in UK AI as Trump heads for state visit

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Google to invest £5 billion in UK AI as Trump heads for state visit

General view of the Google headquarters in King’s Cross as the tech giant faces a 5 billion pound lawsuit in the UK for allegedly abusing its online search dominance.

Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Google owner Alphabet on Tuesday announced a £5 billion ($6.8 billion) investment in the U.K.’s artificial intelligence development, just as the country prepares for U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit this week.

The U.S. president is scheduled to arrive in Britain on Tuesday evening, before the pomp and pageantry gets underway on Wednesday. His visit is expected to coincide with a flurry of business deals.

Google’s two-year investment will represent a welcome boost for Britain’s embattled Labour government.

As part of the pledge, the U.S. tech giant announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art data center in Waltham Cross, approximately 12 miles (19 kilometers) north of central London.

Google said the new facility will help meet the growing demand for the company’s AI-powered services like Google Cloud, Workspace, Search and Maps.

The £5 billion investment is projected to create 8,250 jobs annually at U.K. businesses, Google said.

U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves described Google’s announcement as “a powerful vote of confidence in the UK economy and the strength of our partnership with the US.”

Google’s U.K. investment includes funding for London-based DeepMind, a company run by Nobel Prize winner Demis Hassabis which is working to build the next generation of AI systems.

“With today’s announcement, Google is deepening our roots in the UK and helping support Great Britain’s potential with AI to add £400 billion to the economy by 2030 while also enhancing critical social services,” Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, said in a statement.

Google on Tuesday also said it had signed a deal for British oil giant Shell to manage the tech giant’s U.K. renewable energy supply. Google said the alliance will help contribute to grid stability and the country’s energy transition.

“Shell’s diverse portfolio of renewable power supply, access to batteries and electricity trading and optimisation expertise enables us to meet the evolving needs of world-leading companies like Google and support the growth of data centres,” Shell Executive Vice President David Wells said.

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Enel and Mars ink a milestone Texas solar agreement

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Enel and Mars ink a milestone Texas solar agreement

Enel North America and food and snacks giant Mars have signed a massive clean energy deal that will power up Mars’s operations with Texas solar.

The two companies completed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the full output – all 851 megawatts (MW) – of three Texas solar farms. Together, those plants are expected to deliver 1.8 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, the equivalent of enough electricity to power 150,000 homes. That makes this Enel’s largest corporate PPA worldwide.

Michele Di Murro, CEO of Enel North America, said the deal “shows how renewables are among the fastest and most affordable solutions to meet the nation’s energy needs. Through these agreements, we’re adding clean capacity to the Texas grid while supporting a leading manufacturer’s sustainability goals.”

For Mars, the move goes beyond just greening its own factories. Kevin Rabinovitch, global VP of sustainability at Mars, explained that this PPA “lets us bring demand for all the electricity used in our value chain to the clean energy market in a highly efficient manner. The more demand we create together, the faster we can build the future we all want.”

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All three solar farms will use sheep grazing to manage vegetation, a dual-use practice Enel has scaled through the largest solar grazing agreement in the US.


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Finance a new EV for less: EV deals with 0% interest this September

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Finance a new EV for less: EV deals with 0% interest this September

Lease deals get all the headlines, but 75% of new car buyers still finance their cars, indicating that they want to own their vehicles once the payments are done. If that sounds like you, and you’ve been holding out for relief from sky-high payments, a wave of new EVs are now available with 0% financing — making it one of the best months yet to buy a new EV.

Every month, Electrek readers looking for great deals on a new EV flock to our lease deal posts. Recently, however, the comments have been asking another crucial question: what about EV deals for the people who want to buy, instead of leas?

You asked, we listened. This roundup is for that 75% of new car buyers who choose to finance their cars instead of lease — so here’s a list of all the 0% financing deals on EVs you can get in September, 2025.

As I put this list together, I realized there were plenty of ways for me to present this information. In the end, I decided to present these deals in alphabetical order, by brand name (make). And, as for which deals are new this month? You’re just gonna have to check the list. Enjoy!

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Acura ZDX


Acura-ZDX-EVs-donated
2024 Acura ZDX; via Acura.

New for the 2024 model year, the Acura ZDX uses GM Ultium battery and drive technology, but the styling, interior, and infotainment are all Honda, delivering GM-level parts support with Honda-level fit, finish, and quality. Add in standard Apple CarPlay support, 0% financing for up to 72 months, and $7,500 customer cash through September 30th, and the ZDX becomes easily one of the best sporty crossover values on the market.

Chevy Equinox EV


Chevy-Equinox-EV-Ford
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV; via GM.

With an impressive combination of affordability, practicality, and advanced features, the Chevy Equinox is a standout EV. And with an EPA-estimated range of up to 319 miles and a starting price under $35,000, it’s no wonder they’re flying off dealer lots.

For well-qualified buyers, Chevrolet is offering 0% APR financing for up to 60 months through GM Financial through September 30th. That offer can be paired with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit (which you can claim at the dealer), along with up to $1,250 in additional discounts for Costco members, depending on membership level.

Dodge Charger


Electric Dodge Charger; via Stellantis.

Dodge is hoping that at least a few muscle car enthusiasts with some extra cash will find their way to a Dodge store and ask for the meanest, loudest, tire-shreddingest muscle car on the dealer’s lot without caring too much about what’s under the hood.

For them, Dodge has the new electric Charger with up to 670 battery-backed horsepower. And if you still owed money on the Hemi you just totaled, Dodge will help get the deal done on its latest retro-tastic ride with a $7,750 retail cash allowance or 0% financing for up to 72 months — and that’s before any dealer discounts.

Ford F-150 Lightning


2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Is Cheaper To Lease Than Its ICE-Powered F-150 Sibling
F-150 Lightning pickup; by Ford.

America’s best-selling electric truck offers V2x technology, a nationwide dealer network, a universe of aftermarket accessories, and a look that blends into the crowd. This month, this proven pickup adds 0% interest financing for up to 72 months. Ford Pro customer can get access to advanced telematics and, in some cases, even get help sourcing additional grants and rebates, too.

GMC Hummer EV


2024 GMC Hummer EV
2024 GMC Hummer EV

The biggest of GM’s Ultium-based EVs are seriously impressive machines, with shockingly quick accelerationplus on-road handling that seems to defy the laws of physics once you understand that these are, essentially, medium-duty trucks. This month, GMC is doing its best to move out its existing inventory with 0% financing for well-qualified buyers plus $1,250 in discounts for select Costco members. So, if you’re a fan of heavy metal you’ll definitely want to stop by your local GMC dealer and give the Hummer EV a test drive.

GMC Sierra EV


2025 GMC SIERRA EV DENALI
GMC Sierra EV Denali; via GMC.

In addition to offering a solid Powerwall alternative, these big Ultium-based EVs from GM’s “three letter bandit” commercial brand are just as impressive as their Hummer stablemates, but one-up the Hummers with heavy-duty towing prowess and the added capability of bidirectional charging baked in. And, like the Hummer, GMC is doing its best to move out its existing inventory of Denali and AT4 model Sierra EVs with 0% financing for well-qualified buyers plus $1,250 in discounts for select Costco members.

Honda Prologue


Honda Prologue EV prices
2025 Honda Prologue Elite in Snowfall Pearl, via Honda.

Like the Acura ZDX at the top of this list, the Honda Prologue was blends the excellent GM Ultium EV platform with Honda sensibilities and Apple CarPlay to create a winning combination. It’s no surprise that it’s one of the top-selling electric crossovers — and to move out as many as possible before the $7,500 federal tax credit goes away, Honda is offering 0% APR for up to 60 plus up to an additional $2,000 in Honda Loyalty or Conquest cash.

Hyundai IONIQ 6


hyundai-Samsung-SK-LG-EV-alliance
Hyundai IONIQ 6; via Hyundai.

The last of the streamliners, the IONIQ 6 has influences from Ferry Porsche and Raymond Loewy without looking like a copy of either. In addition to being a future classic, it’s efficient, comfortable, quick, offers up to 361 miles of rangecan charge just about anywhere, and (now through the end of the month), can be financed with 0% interest for up to 48 months or $7,500 in customer bonus cash on all trims.

If you’re flexible on color, Hyundai dealers with “aged inventory” will give you an extra $1,000, for $8,500 total incentive dollars on your IONIQ 6.

Jeep Wagoneer S


Jeep's-electric-SUV-dirty
Jeep Wagoneer S; via Stellantis.

The Jeep Wagoneer S is a slick, capable, street-oriented EV that’s been inexplicably saddled with a sloping roof and spoiler that eats away at the electric SUV’s ultimate utility (that’s the “U” part), but if you can get past that minor caveat, this first-ever battery-powered Jeep is ready to deliver. With $7,750 retail cash allowance or 0% financing for up to 72 months before dealer discounts through September 30th, the Wagoneer S might just be the best EV deal going.

Kia Niro EV


2025-Kia-Niro-EV-prices
2025 Kia Niro EV; via Kia.

Kia is doing a phenomenal job moving its supercar-baiting EV6 and ultra-capable EV9 family trucksters, but the under-mentioned and underrated little Niro EV seems like it could use a little help. To that end, Kia is offering 0% interest financing or up to $7,500 customer cash on select examples of the little urban runabout now through September 30th.

Nissan Ariya


Nissan Ariya EV Deals
Nissan Ariya; via Nissan.

I’ve already said that the Nissan Ariya didn’t get a fair shake. If you click that link, you’ll read about a car that offers solid driving dynamics, innovative interior design, and all the practicality that makes five-passenger crossovers the must-haves they’ve become for most families. With up to 289 miles of EPA-rated range, Tesla Supercharger access, and 0% interest from Nissan for up to 72 months or up to $10,000 Customer Cash (that’s not a typo) undecided EV buyers could do a lot worse than to give the Ariya a chance to win them over.

Polestar 3


Polestar's-electric-SUV-cheaper
Polestar 3; via Polestar.

Sleek, Scandinavian, and seriously quick, the Polestar 3 is the lovechild of Swedish brand Volvo and Chinese brand Geely’s billions. As such, it delivers both Scandinavian style and high-tech substance with dual-motor power, a minimalistic, luxurious cabin, and Android Auto baked right in. The Polestar 3 was designed to turn heads while keeping daily driving effortless, and through the month of September, it’s sure to turn even more heads with 0% financing for up to 72 months through Polestar Financial Services and a $10,000 Clean Vehicle Incentive in some markets.

Put it all together, and the Polestar 3 stands out as one of the most compelling premium EV SUV deals of the month.

Subaru Solterra


Subaru Solterra EV; via Subaru.

The first-ever electric Subaru had a rocky start (no pun intended), but this off-road-ready sibling of the Toyota bZ4X seems like a solid mid-size electric crossover with some outdoorsy vibes and left-leaning granola style that offers more than enough utility to carry your mountain bikes to the trail or your inflatables out to the pond. Add in 227 miles of range, some big discounts, and 0% financing for up to 72 months, and this should be a great month for electric Subaru fans to drive home in a new Solterra.

Volkswagen ID.4


Volkswagen-ID.4-lease
VW ID.4; via Volkswagen.

One of the most popular legacy EVs both in the US and Europe, the ID.4 offers Volkswagen build quality and zippy around-town handling. Everyone I know who has one loves it, and VW dealers are getting aggressive with discounts, making this fast-charging, 291 mile EPA-rated range, 5-star safety rated EV a value proposition that’s tough to beat.

This month, get a Volkswagen ID.4 with 0% financing for up to 72 months or up to $5,000 customer cash. You’ll need to do some math to see which offer works best for you.

Disclaimer: the vehicle models and financing deals above were sourced from CarsDirectCarEdge, and (where mentioned) the OEM websites – and were current as of 15SEP2025. These deals may not be available in every market, with every discount, or for every buyer (the standard lines of “with approved credit” fine print should be considered implied). Check with your local dealer(s) for more information.


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Your personalized solar 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.

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