If the name “Delfast” rings a bell for you, it’s probably for the company’s larger electric bikes that are essentially electric motorcycles with pedals. But now the company has unveiled a smaller electric moped known as the Delfast California that should offer slightly more modest speeds and power ratings.
Unlike the Delfast Top 3.0, which is a favorite among police departments, Ukrainian soldiers, and really anyone who wants a high-power e-bike and doesn’t really care about legal ramifications, the Delfast California is designed to be street legal from the get-go.
In the US, it slots into Class 3 electric bicycle designation. That allows it to have a 750W rated motor and a max speed of 28 mph (45 km/h).
But in the case of the Delfast California, the Ukraine-based company is sticking to its guns by running as closely up to those legal limits as possible.
For example, the mid-drive motor used on the bike may be called a “750W nominal” motor, but it’s actually a high-powered Bafang M620 motor that puts out at least 1,000W of peak power. It also features 160Nm of torque. If you’re not up on your torque conversions, that basically means it could climb a tree if the tires were sticky enough.
The company has paired that powerful motor with a 48V and 20Ah removable li-ion battery that offers 960Wh of capacity.
Checking the spec sheet shows a claimed 100-mile (160 km) range, though that’s perhaps a bit optimistic. Delfast even claims that the 100-mile range comes at a pedal assist speed of 20 mph (32 km/h), but everything I know about pedal assist over more than 10 years in the e-bike industry tells me that you’re going to need a serious a tailwind to see 100 miles of range with that battery at 20 mph, even on pedal assist.
I’m not about to say it’s impossible, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Even if it ekes out a modest 60-70 miles of range on pedal assist, that will still be pretty far for an e-bike or e-moped these days. We just don’t see many models with 960Wh of battery, so Delfast has certainly gone above and beyond in the battery department.
The Delfast California features a U-shaped full-suspension frame, yet somehow manages to bring it in at just 66 pounds (30 kg). That’s made even more impressive considering that the bike carries that heavy motor and battery combo.
The frame is said to fit riders from 5’0″ to 6’3″ (152-190 cm), but the short seat post adjustment makes me wonder how well that works in practice.
The low step-through frame will certainly be a favorite among shorter riders, and the smaller 20″ wheels with tri-spoke mag wheels help keep the bike’s heft in check.
Also adorning the frame are integrated LED lights powered by the main battery, hydraulic disc brakes, and a color LED display.
The bike includes built-in location tracking to recover a stolen e-bike (something I wish my e-bike had last week), plus customizable alarms, remote immobilization, and other neat tricks to head off thieves at the pass.
If you’re wondering about the new e-moped’s name, there’s an interesting story there too. Apparently one of Delfast’s designers was touring the company’s new Los Angeles headquarters at the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Stuck away from home for a period, the designer spent the time working on a new California-inspired electric moped.
As the company explained:
How do you cope when you’re stuck outside of your war-torn country and feel unable to help? Design an e-bike that represents more than yourself. With the help of the California team, and 30 employees working from the heavily bombarded Kyiv, he dreamt up quite possibly the best commuter e-bike ever built.
The Delfast California is a symbol of resistance in Ukraine with the help of the United States. It’s not only the most intelligent, powerful, classically beautiful commuter e-bike ever designed. A percentage of Delfast California revenue will help the Ukrainian resistance.
Delfast will be launching the California with an upcoming Indiegogo campaign. The standard MSRP of $3,999 will apparently be cut in half during the pre-order period on Indiegogo, putting the price at just $1,999. The bike is expected to arrive next June or July and will include a two-year warranty.
We generally don’t cover Indiegogo campaigns from brand-new startups, but in this case, the company has been around for years. We’ve watched Delfast deliver a number of different models of e-bikes, so we know the Ukrainian-based company isn’t some fly-by-night operation.
What do you think of Delfast’s latest electric bike design? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
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For a while it seemed like a bit of a hail mary, as many thought that most of the industry was already committed to the SAE CCS standard for fast charging.
For a time, though, VW was a holdout. It wasn’t until December 2023 – half a year after Ford’s announcement – that VW committed to switching to NACS in 2025 (though really, they were just waiting for SAE’s certification of the standard, which was completed a few days prior).
Well, now we’re here in 2025, and VW says they’re ready to step up.
Today at CES, VW PR director Mark Gillies confirmed to PC Magazine that “we get access to the network in June/July, when we have an official VW adapter.”
Currently, VW isn’t even listed on Tesla’s NACS page, which mentions that Ford, Rivian, GM, Volvo, Polestar, and Nissan vehicles can all charge on Tesla’s charging network. The only manufacturer currently listed as “coming soon” is Mercedes-Benz, and generally manufacturers have spent a few months on that page before gaining access.
So this is a bit of a surprise announcement from VW, but certainly welcome. Then again, we have witnessed miscommunications in this respect before, so maybe Tesla just didn’t want to jump the gun again, like it did with Nissan. (Update: It turns out VW jumped the gun this time, as a previous version of this article quoted VW saying it will get access in March, not June).
VW’s confirmation today doesn’t specify whether its sub-brands, Audi and Porsche, would be on the same timeline. But since the three brands committed to NACS in a joint announcement, it stands to reason that they could be on the same timeline to get access and adapters.
Update: A previous version of this article stated that VW cars will get access in March, and adapters in June. It turns out, both access and adapters will come in June.
Electrek’s Take
Given that VW was one of the last manufacturers to officially adopt NACS, it’s nice to see them keeping to their timeline – and possibly beating some other manufacturers to the punch too.
This could also be a sign that we’ll start seeing more of a flood of manufacturers getting access soon. The transition is supposed to happen “throughout 2025” after all, and, well, that’s where we are. But the casual nature with which VW has confirmed this timeline suggests that perhaps this transition is really about to get on a roll.
So, look forward to having a lot more interesting sights to see at Superchargers, as the menagerie gets more varied throughout the year.
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Chevy Silverado (left), Equinox (middle), and Blazer (right) EVs at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: GM)
US EV sales will continue to grow in the year ahead, accounting for 1 in 4 vehicles sold in 2025, according to Cox Automotive’s 2025 Outlook.
Cox Automotive is kicking off 2025 with a bright outlook for the auto market. After wrapping up 2024 on a high note, the US auto industry seems to be on a solid path forward, despite some uncertainties. In fact, Cox is predicting that it’s going to be the best year for the auto market since before the pandemic, in 2019.
With the exception of Stellantis and Tesla, nearly every automaker posted higher sales year-over-year overall in 2024. General Motors was the top-selling automaker in 2024, while Honda and Mazda delivered strong growth.
The US market posted record EV sales in 2023 and 2024, and this trend is expected to continue in 2025. Cox Automotive predicts that EVs will account for approximately 10% of the market total in the year ahead, up from roughly 7.5% in 2024.
Hybrids and plug-ins will account for about 15% of the market, and sales of ICE vehicles will tumble to 75% of total volume, the lowest level on record.
EV growth will be supported by around 15 additional EV models entering the market, consumers deciding to buy before the Trump administration cuts the $7,500 tax credit, and state-level incentives countering potential federal cuts. The rapid expansion of the EV charging network is also contributing to this growth.
Cox asserts that “consumers are feeling better about the road ahead, as the US election was smoothly settled, interest rates are below their peaks, and the job market has stabilized.”
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With more models hitting the market and massive incentives, electric vehicles are more affordable than ever. However, with Trump’s transition team reportedly planning to end the EV tax credit, the savings may soon disappear. Here are the EVs you can still lease for under $300 a month in January.
2024 was another record year for EV sales in the US. Many automakers, including GM, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Honda, sold significantly more electric cars last year than in 2023.
According to Cox Automotive, electric vehicles are expected to represent 7.5% of all US auto sales in 2024. Although all December and full-year 2024 sales numbers have yet to be released, EV sales hit a record in November. With over 116,000 units sold, electric cars achieved an 8.5% market share.
A big reason behind the growth was new models, like the Honda Prologue, which was the third best-selling EV in the US in November. That’s after deliveries began in just March.
Honda sold over 33,000 Prologues in the US last year, with nearly 7,900 in December alone. With over 114,000 EVs sold, GM outpaced Ford’s roughly 97,900. Meanwhile, Hyundai, Kia, and others reported record EV sales in 2024.
Although a big reason behind the sales surge is due to new options, massive incentives have made EVs even cheaper to lease than gas-powered cars.
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Source: Hyundai)
What EVs are for lease for under $300 in January 2025?
With additional discounts on top of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, some discounts are reaching as high as $10,000 to $20,000 off MSRP. In Q3, EV incentives averaged over 12% of the average transaction price (ATP), nearly double the industry average of 7%.
Despite having a starting MSRP almost double that of a Civic Sedan, you can lease a Honda Prologue for less in many parts of the US.
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)
The 2024 Honda Prologue is listed at just $229 for 36 months in California and other ZEV states. With $1,299 due at signing, the effective monthly payment is $265. That’s for the EX (FWD) trim, which has a range of up to 296 miles.
In other parts of the country, don’t worry — Honda is still offering Prologue leases starting at $249 per month. You can also opt for a 0% APR.
Lease From
Term (months)
Due at Signing
Effective rate per month (including upfront fees)
2025 Kia Niro EV
$149
24
$3,999
$315
2024 Kia EV6
$159
24
$3,849
$319
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5
$189
24
$3,999
$355
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6
$159
24
$3,999
$326
2024 Fiat 500e
$211
42
$211
$216
2024 Toyota bZ4X
$219
39
$2,999
$296
2024 Honda Prologue
$229
36
$1,299
$265
2024 Subaru Solterra
$279
36
$279
$287
Tesla Model 3
$299
36
$2,999
$382
Tesla Model Y
$299
36
$2,999
$382
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV
$299
24
$3,169
$431
Best EV lease deals for under $300 a month in January 2025
Using data from auto intelligence firm CarsDirect, we’ve gathered the top EVs you lease for under $300 a month this January. You can view offers in your area at the bottom.
Several other electric crossovers and SUVs, including the 2024 Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X, and Hyundai IONIQ 5, are available to lease for under $300.
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (left) and IONIQ 6 (right) at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)
The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is listed as low as $189 for 24 months. With $3,999 due at signing, the effective rate is $355. Hyundai is offering big savings to clear inventory with the upgraded 2025 models arriving at US dealerships.
Hyundai’s other dedicated EV, the IONIQ 6, is listed at just $159 for 36 months. With $3,999 due at signing, the monthly effective rate is $326.
2024 Subaru Solterra (Source: Subaru)
Subaru is offering 2024 Solterra leases starting at $279 per month (36 months). With just the first month’s payment due up front ($279), the monthly rate is $296. Although Toyota’s bZ4X is listed for as little as $219 for 39 months, with $2,999 due at signing, it’s slightly more with an effective rate of $296.
Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 can be leased for just $299 per month (36 months). With $2,999 due at signing for an effective rate of $382.
Chevy Equinox EV (Source: GM)
The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV can be leased for as little as $299 for 24 months. With $3,169 due upfront, the monthly rate is $431.
Meanwhile, a November report by Reuters claimed that Trump’s transition team aimed to eliminate the $7,500 federal tax credit. If true, many of these savings could soon disappear.
Are you ready to find your new EV? We’ve got you covered. You can use our links below to find the best deals on popular electric vehicles in your area.
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