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Starting off today’s Green Deals is Vvolt’s Holiday sale that is giving hopeful e-bike riders up to $1,100 in savings on three of its e-bikes with free extra batteries too, with the biggest savings on the Centauri SE Commuter e-bike with the doubled mileage that takes things down to the $2,599 low. We’ve also got an updated holiday sale from EcoFlow that has switched into the second phase of its Christmas savings with an added 5% sitewide discount that drops the brand’s DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station to a new $617 low, among others. The backup power savings don’t stop there, as we also have Jackery’s Explorer 700 Plus Portable Power Station hitting a new $299 low, as well as Goal Zero’s Venture 9,600mAh and 19,200mAh solar-charging power banks at their lowest rates starting from $52. Bringing up the rear is a one-day only first-time discount on Greenworks’ 80V 20-inch Snow Blower and 12-inch Snow Shovel Winter Combo Kit at $522. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Anker SOLIX Christmas sale, 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.

Vvolt Holiday sale takes up to $1,100 off e-bikes with free extra batteries and bonus discounts starting from $1,799

Vvolt is offering some solid holiday sale savings on three of its e-bikes through December 31, all of which are getting free extra battery packages for double the mileage. The sole price cut along with the extra batteries goes to the Centauri SE Commuter e-bike that has fallen to $2,599 shipped. Normally this quality model would run you $3,299, though we’ve been seeing it return to this same low rate during sales since September. On top of the $700 in cash savings, which already makes it an affordable deal, but you’re also getting a free extra battery on top of that (valued at $400) for a combined $1,100 in savings – the most we’ve seen on this model so far.

The Vvolt Centauri SE e-bike sports a sleek, streamlined frame that houses a 350W custom-tuned Ananda mid-drive motor (peaking at 650W) and a removable 490Wh battery. It has no throttle for electric-only rides but does feature pedal assistance that provides support with both a torque and cadence sensor up to its 28 MPH max speed for up to 60 miles on a single charge (120 miles thanks to the extra battery). Rather than any chain drives, this model has been given a Gates CDX Carbon Belt Drive for extended lifespans, quieter operations, and throwing out any need for grease.

Depending on which of its size options you choose, the bike as a whole only weighs 52 pounds, making it quite a manageable model for less physically endowed and/or older riders – even urban commuters who may need to carry it up and down stairs. There’s an integrated front and rear lighting system here, bolstered by reflective graphics to provide 360 degrees of visibility to those around you when you’re riding through the darker hours of the day. Other notable features include Kenda Kwest anti-puncture tires, Tektro 720 hydraulic disc brakes, an Enviolo internal rear hub transmission, and a full-color display.

Vvolt Holiday sale e-bike accessory deals:

EcoFlow Christmas sale phase 2

EcoFlow decks the halls with up to 60% savings on power stations, bundles, more from $45 in updated Christmas sale

EcoFlow has switched to its second phase of its Christmas sale that will run through December 27 and is taking up to 55% off its power banks, power stations, solar generator bundles, home backup bundles, and accessories – with a bonus 5% sitewide discount when using the promo code 24EFXMASAFF at checkout. One notable standout undercutting its Black Friday pricing even further than before is the DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station which is down at $649 $616.55 shippedafter using the promo code 24EFXMASAFF for 5% off. Normally running you $799 at full price, we’ve seen a few varying discounts since this newer model was released back in September, with October’s Prime Day event taking the price down to the $649 low while the recent Black Friday sale only saw it go to $699. Those prices are being beaten out in this updated sale, saving you $182 and marking a new all-time low price. There are even a few bundle options here, with the power station coming with a 220W solar panel for $949 $902, down from $1,448, or two 220W panels and a protective bag at $1,299 $1,234, down from $2,166, or you can grab it with a 800W alternator charger for $999 $949, down from $1,398.

To check out the full lineup of offers during EcoFlow’s second phase of Christmas sales, be sure to read through our original coverage here.

Vvolt holiday e-bike sale

Keep devices and appliances running with Jackery’s Explorer 700 Plus power station at new $299 low

Jackery may not be having any more Christmas savings in the form of a sale (though only time will tell), but coming at us through its official Amazon storefront, we are seeing some solid price cuts on a collection of power stations and bundle packages, like the Explorer 700 Plus Portable Power Station for $299 shippedafter clipping the on-page $200 off coupon. Already down off its full $599 price tag which came down from its original $799 MSRP earlier in the year, the lowest price we’ve seen it drop to in 2024 was $449 back in September, with it keeping to its recent going rate in the time since. Today, you can score it with a $300 markdown ($500 off its original MSRP) which gives you the absolutely best new rate that we have tracked to date.

Jackery’s Explorer 700 Plus tackles campsite needs and even emergency appliance backup with a 681Wh battery capacity and a 1,000W output that can surge up to 2,000W for higher-power appliances – either in your home or being taken with you on trips, for parties, and more. There are 8 port options to connect with here, with the unit’s battery taking 1.7 hours to charge when connected to a wall outlet, or you can get a full battery in 2.5 hours with 400W of solar input. Aside from the usual smart controls, it comes with plenty of safeguards to protect its own systems, with the battery being ok to charge and be left alone – dropping only 10% of its charge in a year’s time.

Other notable Amazon Jackery power station deals:

Vvolt holiday e-bike sale

Goal Zero’s Venture 9,600mAh and 19,200mAh solar-charging power banks return to lowest prices from $52

The official Goal Zero Amazon storefront is offering return low prices on its two solar-charging power banks, with the Venture 35 9,600mAh model down at $51.89 shipped. Normally found at its $70 price tag, it’s kept above $55 for most of 2024, with Black Friday bringing costs slightly lower to $52. That same rate is returning here today with the full 26% in savings taking $18 off the usual cost and landing it back at the lowest price we have tracked. You’ll also find the Venture 75 19,200mAh Solar-Charging Power Bank at its lowest price of $89.89 shipped.

In such a technologically-centered world, it’s always a smart idea to carry a reliable means to keep your devices juiced up and ready to go throughout your daily life, and Goal Zero’s Venture 35 power bank does just that with its 9,600mAh battery capacity (19,200mAh for the Venture 75). Not only does it carry an IP67 waterproof, dustproof, and weatherproof rating, but it even comes with a built-in 50-lumen flashlight for bonus functionality. You can refill the battery via a wall outlet just like any other power bank model, but where this one differs is the added solar-charging capabilities that can refill the battery with a compatible solar panel. There is a bundle option for the Venture 35 with a 10W foldable solar panel that you can take advantage of for $112, down from $150.

Greenworks 80V 20-inch snow blower and 12-inch snow shovel combo

Save $678 on Greenworks’ 80V 20-inch snow blower and 12-inch snow shovel combo at $522 low (Today only)

As part of its 25 Days of Deals, Best Buy is offering the first chance at cash savings on the Greenworks 80V 20-inch Snow Blower and 12-inch Snow Shovel Winter Combo Kit for $521.99 shipped. This new combo kit is a new first coming from Best Buy and would normally run you $1,200 at full price, but today’s cash savings (lasting only for today) cut $678 off the price tag and set a new low price going forward. You won’t find this package direct from Greenworks or Amazon, making it a rare find to equip you with everything you’ll need to clear out this winter’s snowfall – especially when considering that the snow blower alone is currently sitting at $499 from Amazon.

Winter is here and there are already plenty of places dealing with snow piling up around homes. This combo kit from Greenworks is the perfect package to get you through your seasonal duties, with two 4.0Ah batteries and a rapid charger powering both – giving you enough juice to clear a 4-car driveway on a single 30 to 40-minute charge. The snow blower clears a 20-inch path with a depth of 10 inches, with a 180-degree rotating chute that tosses snow up to 20 feet out of the way. It features an auger-assist system to handle heavy snow and ice, with LED headlights for visibility at darker hours.

The snow shovel clears a 12-inch wide path with a depth of six inches, discharging the snow up to 25 feet away despite its lightweight design. It provides a 45-minute runtime with the included batteries, reached in just 30 minutes of charging. It even has a lock-out button to protect you from accidental starts if your fingers start to grow cold and numb while tackling the job.

Best ongoing holiday e-bike 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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California wins the first round against Trump as Tesla faces down a union coup

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California wins the first round against Trump as Tesla faces down a union coup

On today’s episode of Quick Charge, the Trump administration has lost its first battle against state’s rights in California while Tesla faces down (what it’s calling) a union coup in Germany. Meanwhile, SoCal Edison puts 280 Chevy Silverado EV pickups to work on California’s roads and Colorado is putting up a bunch of new DC fast chargers.

We’ve also got a possible Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi merger shaping up in Japan, some dumb thieves in China, 130 new hybrid bucket trucks getting to work in the northeast, and a massive, twin-rotor wind turbine that is finally online.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news!

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

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Check out this custom Lucid Air cleverly designed so 7-foot Shaq can fit

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Check out this custom Lucid Air cleverly designed so 7-foot Shaq can fit

Lucid’s luxury EV just got the Shaq treatment. A Lucid Air was converted into a slick two-door model so that Shaq could fit inside. Check out the custom electric car below.

Standing at 7 feet 1 inch tall, Shaq is much taller than most of us. It’s not easy to find a car you can fit in at that height. Well, not comfortably, at least.

You might remember the Buick LaCrosse ad from 2012, where it looked like the vehicle was actually built around Shaq because he appeared so big.

The big man has moved on from the NBA and is now a DJ known as DJ Diesel. To fit the persona, Shaq needed more than your average vehicle, so he turned to the Lucid Air. However, the electric luxury sedan wouldn’t cut it as a four-door model, so Shaq converted the Lucid Air into a two-door coupe.

Shaq shared the new vehicle on his Instagram Monday with the caption, “When you’re 7″1″, you’ve got to do things your own way.”

Custom Lucid Air EV for Shaq (Source: West Coast Customs)

The conversion was done by West Coast Customs, known for its custom designs for celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Justin Bieber. The company even created a custom Range Rover “Stormer” for a member of the Dubai royal family.

Most recently, you may have heard about Mark Zuckerberg’s Porsche Cayenne turned mini-van. That was also a West Coast Customs design.

Lucid-Air-Shaq
Lucid Air Sapphire (Source: Lucid Motors)

Although sales have been slower than Lucid planned, demand is starting to pick up. The EV maker delivered over 7,100 vehicles through the first six months of 2024, more than the roughly 6,000 delivered in total last year.

Maybe getting the Shaq treatment will help get the word out. Lucid just launched its second EV, the Gravity SUV, as it looks to expand the brand.

What do you think of Shaq’s custom Lucid Air? Would you buy a two-door Lucid coupe? Drop us a comment below and let us know.

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Tesla accuses union of coup at Giga Berlin as tensions rise

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Tesla accuses union of coup at Giga Berlin as tensions rise

Tensions are rising at Tesla Gigafactory Berlin as the automaker accuses a local union of a coup against the head of its workers’ council.

Tesla operates the only auto plant in Germany without a collective bargaining agreement with a union and it’s not sitting well with IG Metall, the most powerful union in the country.

Plants in Germany have workers’ councils, which can, but in Tesla’s case isn’t, control by a broader union.

Earlier this year, a majority of Tesla Gigafactory Berlin workers voted against union representatives of IG Metall in their new work council, but the union has still made significant progress. The powerful union managed to get 16 seats on the worker council, more than any other group.

IG Metall has been claiming that Tesla is using anti-union tactics and alleges issues with safety, pay, and work-life balance to justify unionizing.

Tesla has denied those accusations and claims that its employees are happy without a union.

However, Tesla admits that the situation is not without issues.

This summer, the company held a factory-wide meeting where the union issue was discussed, and the meeting turned bizarre when plant manager Andre Thierig threatened to take away employee cutlery after he noted that the plant had to order 65,000 coffee cups because they kept disappearing.

After the meeting, IG Metall union secretary Jannes Bojert threatened the potential use of a strike to force Tesla to the table for a collective bargaining argument.

Michaela Schmitz, the pro-management leader of Tesla Giga Berlin’s Worker’s Council, claims that IG Metall is the one creating a difficult environment at the plant.

IG Metall is now ramping things up by filing in court a request to remove Schmitz from her role at the council over claims of violation of German labour laws meant to prevent companies from impeding unionization efforts.

Tesla described the move as “desperate” and an attempted coup to take control of the workers’ council.

The automaker claimed:

Our independence and the resulting good working conditions and secure jobs at our plant are a constant source of annoyance for the union.

Tesla has been embroiled in several fights against unions around the world – more famously against IF Metall in Sweden and UAW in the US.

Electrek’s Take

With Tesla greatly reducing its employee stock compensation over the last few years, they are not benefiting as much from the recent stock price increase, while CEO Elon Musk is becoming the richest man of all times.

Considering stock options were Musk’s go-to arguments against unions, things might become more difficult for Tesla on that front.

Then, we need to take into account that Tesla’s sales are significantly down in Europe this year. It could put Tesla’s Berlin factory at risk of layoffs.

There were also significant layoffs and cuts in the US this year while UAW had a great victory against the big three in Michigan.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see unions make gains against Tesla in 2025.

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