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Inside Silver Peak, America's only active lithium mine

SILVER PEAK, NV — On the edge of Western Nevada, hours from a major city and miles down private dirt roads, lies the United States’ only lithium-producing plant.

The nearest town is Tonopah – population 2,179 – where a prospector discovered silver at the turn of the twentieth century. The town’s mining roots are still on display, but the action has shifted to the country’s largest lithium brine operation 45 minutes away.

Silver Peak has been producing lithium since the 1960s. Specialty chemicals company Albemarle acquired the site in 2015 from Foot Mineral Company, and has owned it ever since.

Silver Peak has gained newfound attention in recent years as the energy and transportation sectors race to wean themselves off climate-warming fossil fuels. Lithium’s unique properties make it the common denominator across battery technologies. Forecasts for just how much will be needed in the decades to come varies. Under the International Energy Agency’s most ambitious climate scenario, lithium supply will have to grow 40-fold by 2040 from today’s levels.

The U.S. used to be a leader in lithium production, but it’s since ceded that position to foreign nations, including China. Now the Biden Administration has said that bringing battery supply chains back to U.S. shores is a matter of national importance, and the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act – the largest climate package in U.S. history – underscores this new push towards domestic production of vital materials.

Part of the trouble with bringing new supply online, however, is the sheer amount of land required. The scale of Silver Peak is hard to grasp from picturs. It spans 13,000 acres, and seems to appear out of nowhere, tucked between mountain ranges in the Nevada desert.

Evaporation ponds at Albemarle’s lithium operation in Silver Peak, NV.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

The sun bears down and it hardly rains – ideal conditions for this type of lithium extraction, which depends on solar evaporation. There’s also salt, a byproduct of production, everywhere.

The huge site is not bustling with activity, which makes it seem even larger than it is. The sun provides much of the labor, and less than 80 people total work at the facility. But it’s sites like these – vast, sweeping operations – that will power the future.

“The U.S. is at the start of really expanding and developing its supply chain domestically for this critical mineral lithium, as well as the broader supply chain for electric vehicles and electrification,” said Karen Narwold, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Albemarle.

“From Albemarle’s perspective, we think the United States can bring the full supply chain here.”

From hundreds of feet underground…to your car

Lithium can be produced from brine, hard rock or clay, and each method requires its own set of conditions and extraction processes. Silver Peak produces lithium from brine tapped from the Clayton Valley basin.

Salty brine that contains lithium is pumped from between 300 and 2,000 feet underground to the surface. Then, over the course of 18 to 24 months, solar evaporation concentrates the lithium.

This is one of the first of 23 ponds that lithium-rich brine travels through over the course of 24 months at Albemarle’s Silver Peak site. Brine is pumped from as much as 2,000 feet underground to the surface.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

The brine flows through a series of 23 ponds at the site as it becomes more concentrated, taking on an increasingly vivid turquoise color. The ponds range in size, and the largest is bigger than 700 football fields. As more brine is evaporated, the ponds get smaller and smaller.

About halfway through the process, lime is pumped through the brine, which separates out magnesium that’s found alongside the lithium. Once the brine has moved through all 23 ponds, the remaining lithium is chemically processed into a white powder form known as lithium carbonate.

What happens next depends on the lithium’s end use. Lithium isn’t only used in batteries, but is also found in pharmaceuticals and glass, among other things. Some of the carbonate from Silver Peak is sent to Albemarle’s processing facility in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. There it can be further refined into lithium hydroxide, which is used for electric vehicle batteries. Albemarle counts major automakers, including Tesla, as customers.

Lithium prices skyrocket

Lithium has garnered significant attention in recent months due to a sharp price spike, surging more than 700% since January 2021, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. In some places, including the Chinese spot market, prices are up even more.

In a boom-and-bust cycle of sorts that mirrors other commodity markets, prices rose over the course of 2017 and into 2018 before cratering halfway through the year and falling throughout 2019. At that point the market was oversupplied, which led to a lack of investment in new production. The effects of that slowdown are still being felt. Today, supply is racing to catch up with demand, and some are warning that it simply won’t.

According to forecasts from Benchmark, 600,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent will be mined this year — that’s 10,000 tons less than needed. By the end of the decade, the firm envisions annual supply reaching 2.15 million tons of LCE, which will lag demand by a whopping 150,000 tons.

One of the intermediate-stage ponds at Albemarle’s lithium facility. As the brine becomes more concentrated with lithium the pools take on more of a turquoise color.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

The surge in lithium demand comes from countries and companies doubling down on climate goals in the past few years. That includes automakers, which are announcing ambitious all-electric fleets.

Lithium isn’t the only mineral in these batteries — they also require cobalt, graphite and nickel. Each has its own limitations, and scientists are experimenting with different battery chemistries.

But while it’s possible to swap out some materials, at this point there’s no viable alternative to lithium.

Although lithium is not a scarce resource, getting a new mine up and running can take about seven years. These projects are capital intensive and require many permits, all of which means the industry is slow moving.

Lithium Americas has been trying for more than a decade to get production going at its Thacker Pass clay mine in Nevada, against opposition from environmentalists and Native American tribes. Piedmont Lithium is in the process of developing a spodumene mine in North Carolina, which it hopes will begin producing by 2026.

Albemarle is working on its own North Carolina mine at Kings Mountain. It’s a brownfield mine – meaning it was previously producing – which the company hopes will help it speed past the hurdles that delay new projects. Albemarle also has processing facilities in the state.

Extractive industries are resource-intensive by their very nature and can be highly disruptive to local ecosystems. But it’s hard to see how the world can move away from fossil fuels without new lithium production. An electric vehicle requires more than six times as many mineral inputs relative to internal combustion vehicles, according to the IEA. Under the Paris-based agency’s most ambitious climate scenario, it forecasts 230 million electric cars, buses, vans and heavy trucks on the road by 2030.

This is the last of the 23 evaporation ponds at Albemarle’s Silver Peak lithium site. From here, the lithium is sent for on-site processing where it’s turned into lithium carbonate.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

Still, some believe these forecasts are far too ambitious, and the world should instead focus on existing resources rather than developing new sites.

Recycling could also become an option – Albemarle is one of the companies working on this – but the market hasn’t yet reached critical mass. Technologies are also being developed to make operations more efficient so that mines yield as much as possible.

Albemarle sets its sights on expansion

Silver Peak is Albemarle’s largest U.S. lithium production site at present, but it constitutes only a small portion of the company’s overall lithium production. Silver Peak produces about 5,000 metric tons per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), while Albemarle’s Chile operation – in the Salar de Atacama region – has the capacity to produce 85,000 metric tons per year. The operation there uses the same brine production process that was first developed in Nevada.

The company also co-owns two mines in Australia, and operates a number of processing facilities, including in China.

Albemarle is also increasing its footprint at Silver Peak. In Jan. 2021 the company announced plans to double capacity to 10,000 metric tons a year, which the company said is enough to power around 160,000 electric vehicles.

Bags of lithium carbonate at Albemarle’s Silver Peak facility. Some of it is sent to the company’s processing plant in North Carolina, where it can be turned into lithium hydroxide, which is used for EV batteries.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

Albemarle’s Narwold said the expansion, initially slated for completion in 2025, is ahead of schedule. The company spent the last year and a half constructing 22 new brine-pumping wells, completing the first stage of the expansion.

By the end of this year Albemarle will be pumping at 20,000 acre feet annually, which is equivalent to roughly 18.5 million gallons of water per day. That represents the full extent of Albemarle’s water rights, which is also the entirety of the rights available in the Clayton Valley.

Albemarle is not just a lithium company: it also has bromine and chemicals divisions. But the lithium segment has grown in importance following the price spike and Albemarle’s expansion plans. Lithium now accounts for about two thirds of the company’s revenue, according to Meredith Bandy, vice president of investor relations and sustainability at Albemarle. That’s up from a few years ago, when each division was about one third of overall revenue.

“We’ve been investing in the lithium market for the last couple of years, and that’s starting to pay off in terms of volumetric growth as well as price performance,” she said.

Traditionally Albemarle had long-term, fixed contracts with customers. But this year the company restructured some of those contracts in an effort to capture upside from rising prices. It seems to be paying off.

One of the bright blue ponds at Albemarle’s lithium plant in Silver Peak, Nevada.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

During the second quarter, Albemarle said net sales from its lithium division jumped 178% year over year. The company raised its full-year guidance three times between May and August, when Albemarle posted second-quarter results. The company will report third-quarter earnings on November 2.

For the full year, Albemarle now expects adjusted EBITDA for its lithium division to grow between 500% and 550% on a year-over-year basis. That’s up from prior expectations of a 300% jump.

“There’s a tremendous amount of demand. The industry really is having to work hard – Albemarle is having to work hard – to keep up with that demand,” said Bandy.

Investors have rewarded the company’s performance. The stock climbed to an all-time high on September 14, during a rocky period in the broader market. Shares have since fallen 18%, but the stock is still up about 8% for the year, with a company valuation around $30 billion.

By comparison the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are down 25% and 33%, respectively, for 2022.

Climate bill: a game changer?

While the vast majority of battery production takes place outside the U.S. — China is a key player, currently refining 56.5% of global lithium, according to Benchmark — the Biden Administration is trying to change that.

In February, the White House announced funding for domestic production of materials and minerals critical to the energy transition. Then, in March, Biden invoked the Defense Production Act for these materials.

Albemarle’s Silver Peak lithium plant spans 13,000 acres.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

“To promote the national defense, the United States must secure a reliable and sustainable supply of such strategic and critical materials,” a March statement from the White House read, citing lithium as among the “critical materials.”

But the most meaningful initiative, by far, is the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act. The bill, which is the largest climate funding package in U.S. history, focuses on incentives and credits aimed at accelerating the U.S.’ shift towards renewable energy while also jumpstarting domestic manufacturing.

The bill includes measures that will help battery companies on both the supply and demand side. Over time, a greater portion of an electric vehicle’s battery materials must be sourced from the U.S. or one of its free-trade allies in order for consumers to qualify for the tax rebates. Producers can also take advantage of the manufacturing tax credits.

Narwold called the Inflation Reduction Act a “great step forward.”

“It really does give the impetus to start focusing domestically on building that supply chain. No reason why the United States can’t be a significant contributor to that supply chain with the right support, both from the government – state and federal – as well as from the industry,” she said.

Bags of lithium carbonate. This is the end product after the lithium-rich brine has spent about 24 months travelling through evaporation ponds at Albemarle’s Silver Peak plant.

Pippa Stevens | CNBC

– CNBC’s Katie Brigham contributed reporting.

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Lawsuit blames Cybertruck door handles for death of three teens after Tesla crash

Published

17 hours ago

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October 3, 2025

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Lawsuit blames Cybertruck door handles for death of three teens after Tesla crash

cybertruck piedmont crash
Photo: California Highway Patrol

Two Bay Area families are suing Tesla over the death of their 19-year-old daughter and 20-year-old son after a crash which left them and one other teenager dead, trapped inside the vehicle due to what the lawsuit alleges is poor door handle design.

The lawsuit traces back to a 2024 crash on Thanksgiving Eve in Piedmont, California, where a Cybertruck carrying four college students crashed into a tree and a wall, causing a fire. As a result of the crash, the Cybertruck’s electronic door handles no longer worked, and the passengers were trapped inside.

A surveillance video released by the California Highway Patrol showed the Cybertruck’s final moments, rounding a curve at high speed and seeming to lose control of the rear of the vehicle as it crested a hill, with a large flash seen in the video after the Cybertruck leaves the frame.

A friend in another vehicle that had been following the Cybertruck stopped and managed to break the front passenger window after “ten to fifteen hits” with a fallen tree branch and pull one passenger out of the vehicle, but the other three passengers died inside of asphyxia from smoke inhalation and had burns on their body.

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Tesla vehicles typically do receive high scores for passenger safety in crash tests, and Tesla has touted its “armor glass” as being hard to break (despite a famously failed demo at the Cybertruck’s introduction). And it appears that the occupants did not die from the crash impact itself, but rather from being trapped inside and the resulting smoke and burns.

Krystal Tsukahara, 19
Jack Nelson, 20
Soren Dixon, 19
Photos: City of Piedmont

The three college students who died were 19 year old Krysta Tsukarahara and Soren Dixon, and 20 year old Jack Nelson. Dixon had been driving the vehicle, and post-crash investigations discovered that all three had been under the influence at the time of the crash. All were high school friends home from college for Thanksgiving and had spent the night out together on what is known to be one of the worst drunk driving nights of the year.

After the crash, Tsukahara’s family filed a lawsuit against the estate of Dixon, the driver of the car. The car belonged to Dixon’s relative.

The Tsukaharas have now amended their case to include Tesla as a defendant after post-crash investigations suggested the car’s design contributed to the deaths, blaming door handles that are difficult to operate and doors and windows that are hard for rescuers to access for their child’s death. Nelson’s family filed a separate lawsuit, with the same allegation.

Tesla’s door handles in focus

Tesla vehicles have electronic door handles, with outer door handles that are flush against the vehicle. This enhances the sleek look of the exterior, and also leads to small aerodynamic gains.

However, it also leads to confusing operation, as each car the company has released so far has had a different door handle in a different place on the vehicle with a different method of operation than the last.

This also means that the outer door handles can be hard to operate in an emergency situation. In the crash described above, the rescuer had to bash at the Cybertruck’s window “ten to fifteen” times, after having failed to punch it out with his fist. An externally operable door handle would have perhaps resulted in a different outcome.

Further, the interior door release can be confusing in an emergency situation. Normally one just presses the interior door release button, which operates electronically. However, when there’s a problem with the vehicle, that system can become disconnected and require a manual release.

Every Tesla has a manual release, but it’s often hidden in a place that passengers may not know to look, or may have difficulty finding in an emergency scenario, especially for rear seat passengers.

On the Cybertruck, the front manual door release is relatively easy to access, just in front of the window switches. Indeed, sometimes passengers will accidentally pull this lever rather than the electronic door release (which is not recommended, as it can damage the window trim). In the event of this crash, at least one passenger was described as “barely conscious,” and thus operation of the door handle may not have been an option.

Front manual door release
Rear manual door release, step 1
Rear manual door release, step 2
Cybertruck’s manual door releases. From Tesla’s Cybertruck owners manual

But the rear release is much harder to find. To access it, one must remove a rubber mat from the map pocket, revealing a mechanical release cable with a loop on the end, then pull it forward.

Tsukahara’s parents say that she “was alive after the crash. She called out for help. And she couldn’t get out.” It is conceivable that simpler door handles may have resulted in a different outcome, though three of the vehicle’s doors were obstructed by the wall and tree that it had crashed into. The right rear door, the seat occupied by Nelson, was unobstructed, according to the Nelsons’ lawsuit.

Tesla’s other cars have similarly hidden mechanical door releases in the rear, under carpet under the seat in the Model S, under the map pocket in the Model 3 and Model Y, or behind the speaker grille in the Model X.

These designs have resulted in criticism, and have been the focus of government agencies recently. Tesla is currently being investigated by the NHTSA over its door handle design, and Tesla has confirmed that it is finally redesigning its handles.

Elsewhere in the world, Chinese auto regulators are mulling a ban on retractable door handles, as many sleek new EVs have taken on the trend that Tesla started with its flush door handles.

There have been several lawsuits against Tesla for deaths in its vehicles, often associated with the company’s Autopilot or Full Self-Driving systems. The company typically chooses to settle these lawsuits out of court, despite CEO Elon Musk stating “we will never surrender/settle an unjust case against us, even if we will probably lose,” though it did refuse to settle a recent case and ended up with a $243 million judgment against it, in the first Tesla ADAS case that reached trial.

While this crash had nothing to do with the company’s driver assist systems, it will be interesting to see how Tesla responds to this lawsuit.

The two cases are Nelson v Tesla Inc. and Tsukahara v Dixon, both filed in the California Superior Court in Alameda County. Tsukahara’s case has been set for trial in February 2027.

Electrek’s Take

When I was in high school, a very similar accident happened. A large SUV was speeding around a curve, lost control, and rolled. The teenagers inside were under the influence, though the driver wasn’t in this case. It was national news, and significantly affected our community.

Many other communities have felt the same. It’s a common story. And yet, we still keep building these giant, lumbering land yachts, thinking that it enhances safety when it does not.

But that’s somewhat of an aside here. If the Cybertruck were more nimble or less “impenetrable,” maybe the crash results would have been different. But the focus on door handles is one simple, clear change that would have saved lives in this instance.

Tesla has always had weird door handles, and the door handles have always ended up causing some sort of problem. Whether it be overly complicated latches which make repair costly as in the Model S, overly complicated door which delay release like the Model X, oddly-placed manual door releases that can cause abnormal wear on the Model 3 and Y, or even the svelte door handles on my original Roadster which are currently giving me a weird problem I can’t even explain here, this is a pattern.

And the pattern doesn’t just apply to door handles, but to much of how Tesla works as a company, with the “move fast and break things” approach common in technology. While Tesla has been innovative, those innovations sometimes have come with less consideration for safety than they perhaps should have.

Now, with these Cybertruck deaths, maybe we can finally get a little reason and have Tesla be more normal with its door handles, at least.

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

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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Rad Power offers $200 discount and up to $210 in FREE bundled gear on e-bikes from $1,399, Exclusive Anker S340 solar cam low, more

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18 hours ago

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October 3, 2025

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Rad Power offers 0 discount and up to 0 in FREE bundled gear on e-bikes from ,399, Exclusive Anker S340 solar cam low, more

It’s another EV-heavy day of Green Deals, headlined by Rad Power’s newly launched Haul-o-ween Sale that is taking $200 off one e-bike, while offering up to $210 in FREE bundled gear with several other new and legacy models, like the Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike and the Radster Road Commuter e-bike getting a $199 free cargo kit for $1,999, while other deals start from $1,399. We also secured up to $280 in exclusive savings on nine Anker eufy security devices, like the SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera at a new $110 low. We also have new low prices on Heybike’s Hero Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bikes starting from $2,099, an Autel 40A level 2 smart EV charger discount, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s exclusive new Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 (HomePower 3000) low price, 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.

Tested: Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 portable power station brings ample support in a smaller and lighter unit

Anker is hands-down one of the most well-known tech accessory brands with an extensive lineup of consumer electronics, and its SOLIX sub-brand has making waves in the  portable backup power solution space. Its C1000 power station made big waves when it first hit the market in 2023, quickly becoming a popular charging solution for camping and other outdoor activities, in particular. Now, two years later, the Anker has introduced its SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station, which I was lucky enough to snag and test out, and which I believe will outshine its predecessor in the long run. Head below to get my hands-on impressions of this all-new solar generator.

To get our full hands-on impression of this new portable backup power solution, be sure to check out our review here.

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man and woman riding Rad Power Radster Trail e-bikes through forest

Rad Power’s Haul-o-ween Sale offers up to $210 in FREE cargo or starter gear with new and legacy e-bikes starting from $1,399

Rad Power Bikes has launched its Haul-o-ween Sale, with a $200 discount on its RadRover 6 Plus e-bike, as well as several other models (new and legacy) getting up to $210 in FREE bundle kits and accessories. Amongst the models seeing bundles attached, you’ll find the Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike getting a free $199 cargo kit at $1,999 shipped, with its Radster Road Commuter e-bike sibling getting the same kit for $1,999 shipped too. Just be sure to add the e-bikes and the cargo kits (all from the same landing pages) to your cart for the discount to automatically be applied. Originally going for $2,199 at full price since their release in March, we saw the brand officially drop prices to these rates mid-August, with the deals here giving you the continued lowest tracked prices alongside the free gear. Head below to learn more and browse the full lineup of deals while the sale lasts.

The stylish new Radster Trail and Radster Road e-bikes are very similar in their overall designs, with slight differences based on where you plan to spend most of your time riding – down streets or through trails and other off-road areas. They both come boasting 100Nm torque-producing 750W rear hub motors with 720Wh Safe Shield semi-integrated batteries powering them. This combination provides you with up to 65+ miles of pedal-assisted travel (supported by a torque sensor) at up to 20/28 MPH top speeds, depending on state-specific laws. Among the other shared features, you’ll be gaining hydraulic disc brakes, hydraulic suspension forks, auto-on headlights, brake-activated taillights, turn signaling functionality, rear cargo racks, a color display with a Type-C port, and more.

There are also the shared smart features here, which include passcode locking, an included security fob, and more. Where these models differ, as you may already be able to guess, is mainly in their tires. The Trail model bringing along 27.5-inch by 3-inch Kenda Havoc puncture-resistant tires for your off-roading fun, while the Road model has been equipped with 29-inch by 2.2-inch Kenda Kwik puncture-resistant tires, as well as some differing fender/handlebar designs too.

Rad Power Bikes Haul-o-ween discounts:

Rad Power Bikes Haul-o-ween bundle/accessory deals:

  • RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike: $1,499 (No price cut)
    • 20 MPH for up to 55+ miles
    • gets FREE $210 starter kit (added on landing page)
  • RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,799 (No price cut)
  • RadRunner Plus Cargo Utility e-bike: $1,799 (No price cut)
    • 20 MPH for up to 55+ miles
    • gets FREE $210 starter kit (added on landing page)
  • Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike: $1,999 (No price cut)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
    • comes with FREE $199 cargo kit (added on landing page)
  • Radster Road Commuter e-bike: $1,999 (No price cut)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 65+ miles
    • comes with FREE $199 cargo kit (added on landing page)
  • RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike: $2,299 (No price cut)
    • 20/28 MPH for up to 60+ miles
    • gets FREE $210 starter kit (added on landing page)
  • RadWagon 5 Cargo e-bike: $2,399 (No price cut)
Anker eufy SoloCam S340 solar security camera with solar panel attached to house

Upgrade your security with up to $280 in exclusive savings on Anker eufy cameras and smart locks at new lows from $70

We’ve secured quite the lineup of exclusive deals for our readers from Wellbots on Anker eufy security devices, with most at new low prices, like the SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera at $109.99 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5EUF90 at checkout. Normally, this model runs for $200 at full price, which we’ve seen drop as low as $123 this year, while last year saw things fall lower to $120 during Cyber Monday sales. While these exclusive savings last, you’ll be getting $90 taken off the tag, landing it at a new all-time low price. Head below to learn more about this device and the others benefiting from exclusive discounts.

If you want to learn more about this camera, as well as browse the full lineup of deals, be sure to check out our original coverage of all the exclusive security savings here.

man on Heybike Hero e-bike atop mountainous terrain

Heybike’s premium Hero carbon fiber mid-drive and rear hub all-terrain e-bikes at new lows from $2,099

As part of its ongoing Prime Fall e-bike Sale, which has given us new low prices on the ALPHA all-terrain and Hauler cargo e-bikes, Heybike has also dropped the price lower-than-ever on its Hero Carbon-Fiber All-Terrain e-bikes too. You can find the 1,000W rear hub model down at $2,099 shipped, while its upgraded 750W mid-drive model is sitting at $2,299 shipped. These are some of the brand’s higher-end EVs, which normally go for $2,599 and $3,099 at full price, and which have mostly received $100 to $300 discounts over the year, save for select events, like its anniversary sale, where we saw things go lower to $2,199 and $2,499. Now the savings are bigger and better than ever, as the $500 and $800 markdowns here land the costs at new all-time low prices.

If you want to learn more about these two e-bikes, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man charging vehicle with Autel EV charger

Bring home Autel’s 40A MaxiCharger AC Lite level 2 EV charging station with an AI voice assistant for $379

Through its official Amazon storefront, Autel is dropping costs on its MaxiCharger AC Lite Home 40A Smart AI Level 2 EV Charger to $379 shipped in both colorway options. This is an at-home charging solution that normally runs for $470 at full price, with regular discounts to $399 over the year, and only one-time falls to $376 and the $352 low, which appeared back during Memorial Day sales. You can pick it up here at only $3 more than July’s Prime Day rate, saving you $91 off the going rate for the third-lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this EV charging station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here, while its 50A counterpart can be found at $455 here.

Review: Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike is a rugged off-roader with plenty of suspension and hidden punch

When it comes to e-bikes, most people’s immediate thought is a commuter model designed to get you through streets to your various destinations, but with Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike, the fun is extended (and primarily focused) to off-road adventures, and boy, does this baby have some go in it. It’s been over two years since we reviewed the Revv1 FS counterpart, which we came away quite impressed with its SUPER73-like design. Now we’re heading off the beaten path with this newer off-road variant, which boasts improved specs that outshine its predecessors in the series.

To get our full hands-on impression of this e-bike, be sure to check out our review here.

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jackery Early Prime Day Power Station Sale

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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Nissan LEAF hit with a big recall, more than 19,000 vehicles affected

Published

18 hours ago

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October 3, 2025

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Nissan LEAF hit with a big recall, more than 19,000 vehicles affected

Nissan-LEAF-Recall-19,000

It’s a good thing the new 2026 LEAF should be here any day. The recall affects over 19,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles, model years 2021-2022, because the battery may overheat during fast charging. Here’s the fix.

Nissan LEAF recall impacts 19,000+ vehicles

Nissan’s OG, the LEAF, has been hit with yet another recall. In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on October 2, Nissan announced a recall of 19,077 LEAF models from 2021 to 2022.

The recall only affects models that are equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. Nissan said the battery may overheat during fast charging.

After an investigation, Nissan found that LEAF models built between November 3, 2020, and May 23, 2022, at its Smyrna Assembly plant, may have an issue with excessive lithium deposits within the battery cells. If that happens, the increased electrical resistance can cause the battery to overheat or catch fire during Level 3 charging.

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Nissan is preparing a software update to fix the issue. Once it’s ready, Nissan said owners of affected vehicles will be notified with an “Invitation to Repair Owner” letter, which will include further instructions.

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2025 Nissan LEAF (Source Nissan)

The letters are expected to be mailed out, starting on October 24, 2025. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Until it’s ready, Nissan is urging owners not to use Level 3 quick charging.

For those with LEAF models that are no longer under warranty, Nissan will include instructions in the owner notification letters concerning reimbursement.

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2025 Nissan LEAF (Source Nissan)

Owners can contact Nissan’s customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan’s recall number is R25C8. You can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.

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2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan

The outgoing LEAF has had several major recalls now, but the third-generation model, set to hit dealerships any day now, promises to fix some of its biggest issues.

Nissan claims the 2026 LEAF has “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US” at just $29,990. It also has a fresh, new crossover SUV-like design, over 300 miles of driving range, and an NACS port (finally) to access Tesla Superchargers.

While Nissan focuses on the new LEAF, its electric SUV, the Ariya, will not be offered in the US for the 2026 model year.


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