NYC is giving free e-bikes to delivery workers with shoddy or illegal electric bikes
New York City’s Department of Transportation has a novel idea for helping get the most common uncertified e-bikes off the city’s streets: let their riders swap them for a safer UL-compliant electric bike for free.
The program targets delivery workers on e-bikes, who are the backbone of the city’s critical food and parcel delivery services. Millions of people rely on such workers for timely deliveries, yet the low wages and brutal conditions of the job have forced many riders to seek out low-cost electric bicycles to perform the work—exactly the kind of e-bikes that are least likely to have received safety certifications.
The NYC DOT has already begun accepting applications for the new E-Bike Trade-In Program, which is open to delivery workers with non-compliant electric bicycles as well as the often-seen electric scooters/mopeds that don’t really qualify as e-bikes, despite their ubiquitous use in the industry.
Interestingly, the program even accepts gasoline-powered mopeds that are not able to be legally registered with the DMV, including those that lack VINs.
In exchange for trading in a non-certified vehicle, the delivery worker will receive a new UL-certified electric bike with a spare UL-certified battery.
There are a few requirements for eligibility. The worker has to have earned at least US $1,500 by working in the food delivery industry last year in 2024, live in one of the five New York City boroughs, be at least 18 years old, and own/use one of the eligible devices for trade-in.
The program is free to participate in with no additional cost for the delivery workers. However, the supply of free electric bicycles is described as “limited.”
Free e-bikes are not awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If the eligible applicant pool ends up exceeding the number of free electric bikes available, the NYC DOT will use a lottery system to choose program participants.
Those wishing to apply can submit their applications anytime before the application window closes on March 10, 2025.
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Environment
Tesla says not taking Cybertruck trade-ins after owner tried to return his due to ‘anti-nazi harassment’
Tesla reportedly told a Cybertruck owner that it is currently not taking Cybertruck trade-ins after an owner tried to return his truck due to what he described as “anti-nazi harassment.”
We recently reported that vandals have targeted Tesla locations with anti-nazi and fascist graffiti following Elon Musk’s meddling in politics.
But Tesla owners are also facing a similar situation.
We have recently seen examples of Tesla owners being targeted by similar efforts with people spray painting anti-fascism messages on the vehicles or simply throwing the middle finger at Tesla owners.
Cybertruck owners seem to be getting the brunt of it, probably because it is the most recognizable Tesla vehicle and the latest offered by the company. So, people assume that the owner bought it while knowing of Elon Musk’s latest antics.
Kumait Jaroje, a cosmetic physician based in central Massachusetts, is one of those Cybertruck owners stuck in this situation.
He reported to social media and to local news that he and his family are being harassed because of his gold-wrapped Cybertruck:
“Now, they’re not just waving at me, they’re not just giving me the middle finger. Somebody tried to cut me off while I’m driving with my kids and three guys came out of the car and just pointed the middle finger and started screaming at me.”
More recently, he says that someone placed an anti-nazi sticker on his truck:
After his wife said that she didn’t feel safe driving the truck, Jaroje tried to trade it in to Tesla, but he said that Tesla told him they are not accepting Cybertruck trade-ins:
He confirmed with the text message that Tesla is not accepting Cybertruck trade-ins at this moment.
We previously reported that Tesla is currently overwhelmed with Cybertruck inventory as the truck is having demand issues.
Electrek’s Take
Free speech, right? Not really. You can give the middle finger to all the Cybertruck owners if you want to. It’s a bit childish, but it’s your right. However, your rights end where others begin, and you have no right to put stickers on other people’s property.
Also, cutting people off in traffic is plain dangerous for all road users regardless of what you think of a stupid truck. Interestingly, I had the same thing happen to me when I reviewed the Cybertruck last year, but it was because people where trying to take pictures of the truck.
I understand the hate for Tesla right now. Elon Musk has complete control over the company despite owning only 13%, and he used his wealth from the company to elect Trump and get himself a very strange position within the government where he holds incredible amounts of power with little to no oversight. It’s a scary situation that looks like the beginning of a straight-up oligarchy in the US.
Some Tesla owners are OK with that, some disagree that this is happening, some ignore it, some hate it. You don’t know in which category every Tesla owner finds themselves, and changing a vehicle is a big deal for most people. You can’t expect everyone who disagrees with the situation to be able to change the car.
You can boycott Tesla, but harassing Tesla owners is not OK in my opinion.
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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sept. 4, 2024.
Dean Kassim | Afp | Getty Images
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is headed to Washington, D.C., for meetings with President Donald Trump and members of his administration, including Elon Musk, to discuss topics such as efforts to avoid a trade war and artificial intelligence policy, CNBC has confirmed.
In his meetings with President Trump on Thursday, Modi will address the country’s growing trade deficit and present a menu of trade concessions including some tied to agriculture and medical devices, according to sources familiar with the upcoming talks who asked not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak on the matter.
Modi and his team will also signal India’s intent to buy more liquified natural gas from the U.S., a deal that will likely involve Cheniere Energy. India already buys one-fifth of its LNG from the U.S. and is one of the world’s biggest importers.
A senior official in Modi’s government told CNBC that India is ready to procure more U.S. defense equipment from Stryker, and to find other ways to partner with Washington on military drills in the Indian Ocean, where China remains a lingering threat.
While in Washington, Modi will spend time with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee to run the Commerce Department.
Modi will also have a one-on-one meeting with Musk, who is overseeing the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, with a focus on slashing federal programs and regulations. Modi’s discussion with the world’s richest person is expected to center on AI policy, Starlink’s expansion into India and Tesla’s ability to open up a plant in the country, the government official said.
A White House spokesperson did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
On technology, Modi and his team will also reinforce their interest in buying high-performance graphics processing units, or GPUs, from the U.S. and in avoiding any forthcoming export controls from the Trump administration. In a recent trip to Mumbai, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang expressed interest in partnering with India’s Reliance Industries to further the country’s AI efforts.
It will not be the first meeting between the Indian leader and Musk.
Just before Modi’s state visit to Washington in 2023, Musk met with Modi in New York to discuss slashing electric vehicle import duties in India and other ways Tesla’s expansion into India could become a reality.
Tesla has not publicly shared a plan to build a factory in India, and has instead continued to focus on China. But India has become a big growth market for U.S. tech.
Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Google and Amazon have pledged billions of dollars of investment in India’s growth and to capitalize on the country’s emerging middle class.
According to analysts’ estimates, Apple now manufactures 10% to 15% of its iPhones in India, and CEO Tim Cook has suggested that the company is looking to potentially move more production there. Apple also opened a few retail stores in India in 2023.
For Modi, the trip represents an opportunity for a much-needed boost to his company’s private sector. The MSCI India exchange-traded fund has fallen 5% this year and more than 15% since late September. Meanwhile, Chinese stocks have been rallying as emerging market investors bet on the country’s AI advancements, particularly following recent reports about the power and efficiency of DeepSeek’s model. The iShares MSCI China ETF is up 11% in 2025.
![Jeep's new Recon EV made a surprise Super Bowl cameo [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/Jeep-Recon-EV-Super-Bowl.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Jeep’s Wrangler-inspired electric SUV made a surprise appearance during the big game on Sunday. Jeep previewed the Recon EV during a Super Bowl ad, in which it took a shot at Ford. In the commercial, you can see Jeep’s new electric SUV looks ready to challenge the Ford Bronco.
Jeep Recon EV previewed during the Super Bowl
The Recon is the second Jeep electric SUV set to launch in the US. Jeep introduced it in 2022 as part of its plans to become “the leading electrified SUV brand” in North America and Europe.
Built from the ground up with its 4×4 off-road system, Jeep promises the Recon will be its first true off-road electric SUV.
Jeep says the Recon is “inspired by the legendary Wrangler” with optional features like removable doors and windows. Although it’s still built for extreme adventures, the Recon is nearly silent, making that open-air drive even more enjoyable.
Stellantis took the big game as an opportunity, recruiting Harrison Ford to take a shot at its cross-town rival. The Super Bowl ad featured several different Jeep Wrangler 4xe models while the new Recon EV made a surprise appearance.
The Recon looked sleek while off-roading with Jeep’s iconic Punk’n Orange exterior color, a blacked-out roof, and doors removed.
Jeep will launch the Recon EV later this year. With its official debut just around the corner, several models have been spotted in public testing in recent months.
Most recently, the electric SUV was spotted in Michigan with barely any camouflage. The closer it gets to production, the more it looks like a Ford Bronco.
Based on the same STLA Large platform as Jeep’s first electric SUV, the Wagoneer S, the Recon is expected to have a driving range of over 300 miles.
Jeep has yet to reveal prices, but the Recon is expected to start at around $60,000, or slightly less than the Wagoneer S.
What do you think of Jeep’s new electric SUV, the Recon? Would you buy it for around $60,000? Drop us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.
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