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Top 5 wildest electric vehicles

One of my favorite things about the electric vehicle industry is just how much diversity there is in the designs and types of EVs hitting the market. Part of that is due to the way electric drivetrains help break the mold of aging design constraints, but it’s also due to a new wave of forward-thinking engineers boldly pushing products in new and exciting directions.

As Electrek‘s resident tester of all things not-cars, I was fortunate enough to get behind, on top, and inside of some interesting and far-out forms of electric transportation. Here are the top five wildest and most awesome personal electric vehicles I tested in 2022.

Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic

The Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic blew me away. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I was grinning so big during my test ride experience that I thought my mouth would get stuck that way.

And the crazy part is that this isn’t meant to be some thrilling joyride – these are utility vehicles. They’re built for working hard day in and day out, towing trailers, hauling tools, and basically doing whatever utility side-by-sides do on countless farms, ranches, and work sites around the world.

And yet I still felt like I was flying along in an adult go-kart, slinging dirt in every direction when I pulled serious Gs around turns. I know it’s built for work, and it’s great at that. But it’s just so dang fun to drive, too.

The power is unbelievable, and yet the vehicle is still so quiet. That makes it perfect for hunters, nature lovers, and anyone else who wants to trek deep into the woods without disturbing the local fauna.

If you’re in the market for a UTV and want the benefits that electric drive has to offer, the XP Kinetic should be at the top of your list. Good luck getting one though. They sold out nearly instantly when they were unveiled late last year, and who knows when they’ll be able to produce enough of them to supply the current demand.

You’ll definitely want to see it in action in my video below, or check out my full review!

Arcimoto FUV

Why ride around on four wheels when three will do the trick? That’s the idea behind the Arcimoto FUV, which is something of an autocycle meets motorcycle-class regulations, creating a super-fun and high-power electric vehicle that turns heads everywhere it goes.

The tadpole trike design puts two wheels up front and makes it super stable. You’re also in a real bucket seat instead of a motorcycle style saddle, meaning sharp turns still make you feel secure, unlike a three-wheeled motorcycle where you have to lean way over to one side and counterbalance on turns. The Arcimoto FUV is about as car-feeling as you can get on three-wheels.

I had the good fortune of stealing one for a couple days while attending the Micromobility America 2022 conference in San Francisco this fall. There I used it as my main transportation to get around the city. From winding through downtown streets to flying across the bridges at top speed (which is just shy of 80 mph (130 km/h), the FUV was a blast. It basically felt like I was in a street-legal go-kart.

The J-1772 charging means I could pull up to any Level 2 public charger to top up my battery, and the dual seats gave me the option of either carrying a passenger or tossing my bags and other junk in the rear seat. There was also a small locking trunk in back that is big enough for a couple grocery bags or a backpack.

This isn’t the most practical EV I’ve ever seen, but it’s actually got more utility than an electric motorcycle since you can more securely carry passengers and even do some real grocery shopping or other light utility tasks with an FUV. I doubt it would be a good only vehicle for most people, but it would make a great “second car,” even if it’s not really a car.

For funsies, check out my video from my first test ride of an FUV last summer.

Candela C-8

Experiencing Candela’s flying electric boats feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Somehow I’ve been lucky enough to have two of those experiences in my lifetime. Last summer I tested the company’s first model, the Candela C-7. This summer I returned to the beautiful Stockholm archipeligo to take a spin on the company’s newest model, the Candela C-8.

The C-8 is a totally different beast. It still flies on a pair of computer-controlled hydrofoils, dropping the energy usage of the boat to a tiny fraction of that of other fossil fuel-powered boats or even V-hull electric boats. But there are major differences compared to the C-7.

The C-8 is larger, has a totally different motor (that is a work of engineering art), is designed for mass production, has a below-deck cabin for sleeping or that can be outfitted with a marine toilet or shower, and has an awesome rear day bed for lounging out on the water.

I was amazed at how easy it was to control the boat, though the simplicity on the pilot’s side is thanks to a super sophisticated hardware and software interaction between a flight computer and the C-8’s hydrofoils. It was all designed in-house by Candela’s engineers and works like a masterpiece of aviation meets maritime technology.

It’s a fascinating electric boat that you should see for yourself in my video below.

LiveWire S2 Del Mar

I tested a lot of awesome electric motorcycles this year, and it’s hard to pick just one for this list. The Energicas were insanely powerful. I had a blast going off-road on the new Zero DSR/X. Smaller e-motos like the Ryvid Anthem and CSC RX1E were each a hoot in their own way. Even the SONDORS Metacycle pleasantly surprised me. But there was nothing like throwing a leg over one of the most anticipated electric motorcycles of the last few years: the LiveWire S2 Del Mar.

LiveWire is the electric motorcycle brand spun-off by Harley-Davidson. It already has a great bike in the form of the LiveWire One, but that model was developed by H-D. LiveWire’s first independent electric motorcycle will be the S2 Del Mar, which isn’t even shipping yet but I somehow still convinced somebody that I was important enough to get a ride on one.

In fact, as far as I can tell I’m one of two journalists to test-ride the LiveWire S2 Del Mar so far, months ahead of its expected rollout. And since the other guy apparently didn’t know which way a motorcycle throttle twists, I’m still kind of thinking I’m it for any detailed reviews in 2022.

The LiveWire S2 Del Mar is largely known as the more affordable successor to the LiveWire One, coming in at closer to $17K, which isn’t cheap but surely will prove more accessible the $23K LiveWire One. And so I thought that the bike would be more toned down compared to the LiveWire One, but boy was I wrong! The S2 Del Mar is a beast in its own right.

The Del Mar has punchy acceleration that takes it up to 60 mph in just over three seconds flat. I think the official time is 3.1 seconds, but your butt won’t be able to tell the difference.

We don’t yet know the real battery or range specs since we’re still waiting on LiveWire to deliver the final details, but don’t expect the bike to be built for touring. I’m guessing we’ll see a battery capacity of around 10 kWh, meaning it will be plenty for commuter use but won’t be impressive when it comes to highway range. But that’s fine by me, since this bike feels like it’s all about the ride. It’s for cruising across LA, not cruising across the country. It’s a powerful bike that gives you all the sportiness you can fit into the city or suburbs, yet has the speed and power to handle the interstate as well – just not for long tours.

The comfortable seating position gives me legit roadster vibes that still carry trace amounts of H-D DNA, yet in an entirely new beast that will surely prove much more attractive to my generation.

Check out my test ride on the Del Mar below.

Chinese electric mini-truck

I can’t get enough of this little electric mini-truck, partly because it’s awesome, but also partly because it’s mine. It’s all mine! I bought it on Alibaba and imported it from China to the US, where it currently lives on my parents’ ranch.

It’s there because it’s not actually street legal, but it still works great as an off-road vehicle. Around the property it gets used for various chores like hauling yard waste, dragging the trash cans down the private road, filling and dumping top soil when planting trees (did I mention it has a hydraulic dump bed?) and just about everything else.

mini electric pickup truck

It’s not particularly powerful with around 5 kW of peak power, but that’s plenty for the small and lightweight truck that doesn’t need to go that fast anyway. It cost me $2,000 as the base price, though I put a bunch of upgrades in it before it left China that added to the price, bringing it up to about $3,500. But the larger battery, dump bed and air conditioning were all worth it.

Shipping was another $2,200 to get it to the US, but it was still worth it. A golf cart will run you $8,000-$10,000 these days, so this was better and cheaper. Locking doors, electric windows, real seats, glove box, backup camera, infotainment center and other creature comforts underscore what “real vehicle” this thing is. I’ve been using it all year and it has held up great. My parents have put even more miles on it than I have, and so far we haven’t had any issues.

We’ve even done a number of upgrades including knobby tires, a roof-mounted solar panel, and a planned bed liner (still in the works).

It may look silly, but it’s proven to be well worth the investment (and risk) of bringing it over!

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Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind project mid-build

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April 17, 2025

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Trump admin halts billion NY offshore wind project mid-build

Equinor Empire Wind
Photo: Equinor

In its most aggressive attack against offshore wind yet, the Trump administration halted the $5 billion Empire Wind 1, already under construction off New York’s coast.

Norwegian developer Equinor announced yesterday that it received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) ordering Empire Wind 1 to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted this tweet yesterday:

Burgum gave no indication of what insufficiencies there were in the approval process for the fully permitted offshore wind project, despite Trump’s recent declaration of a national energy emergency that speeds up permitting processes.

The commercial lease for the 810-megawatt (MW) Empire Wind 1’s federal offshore wind area was signed in March 2017 during the first Trump administration. It was approved by the Biden administration in November 2023 and began construction in 2024.

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The project is being developed under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Empire Wind 1, which was due to come online in 2027, has the potential to power 500,000 New York homes.

“Halting construction of fully permitted energy projects is the literal opposite of an energy abundance agenda,” said American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet in a statement. “We encourage the administration to quickly address perceived inadequacies in the prior permit approvals so that this project can complete construction and bring much-needed power to the grid.”

As Electrek reported, Equinor secured $3 billion to finance Empire Wind 1 in January. The total amount drawn under the project finance term loan facility as of March 31 was around $1.5 billion. 

As of March 31, Empire Wind has a gross book value of around $2.5 billion, including South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (pictured above), which was expected to become the US’s largest dedicated port facility for offshore wind.

In response to BOEM’s stop work order, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued the following statement:

Every single day, I’m working to make energy more affordable, reliable and abundant in New York and the federal government should be supporting those efforts rather than undermining them. Empire Wind 1 is already employing hundreds of New Yorkers, including 1,000 good-paying union jobs as part of a growing sector that has already spurred significant economic development and private investment throughout the state and beyond.

As Governor, I will not allow this federal overreach to stand. I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy and New York’s economic future.

Equinor says it’s considering appealing BOEM’s order.

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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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Jackery Earth Day Sale takes up to 50% off units with bonus savings, G-Force moto-style ZM e-bike at $800 off, Greenworks, more

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April 17, 2025

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Jackery Earth Day Sale takes up to 50% off units with bonus savings, G-Force moto-style ZM e-bike at 0 off, Greenworks, more

Leading today’s Green Deals is Jackery’s Earth Day Sale that is taking up to 50% off power stations, with many of them being marked down from the brand’s short-term Easter savings, complete with bonus savings. Among the lineup, we spotted the expandable Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station bundled with a 500W solar panel at its $1,614 low. Coming up right behind it is G-Force Bikes’ Spring Sale with up to $800 in e-bike savings, the largest of which is on the moto-styled ZM All-Terrain Fat Tire e-bike that starts at $1,199 for an 80-mile trekking single-battery setup, with a double battery option not much higher. Lastly, we have a one-day-only new low price on the Greenworks 1,900 PSI Steel-Framed Electric Pressure Washer at $118, as well as a bonus cleaner attachment deal. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Earth Day savings on both Bluetti power stations and Lectric’s e-bike bundles, 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.

Invest in sustainable power for on-the-go and home backup at up to 50% off with Jackery’s Earth Day Sale from $90

Jackery has officially launched its Earth Day Sale through April 25 which is lowering many of its previous Easter offers with up to 50% off a collection of power stations, solar generators, and some accessories – and we’re also seeing on-page promo codes for extra savings. One such bundle gives you the brand’s Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station with a 500W solar panel for $1,614.05 shipped, after using the promo code EXTRA5 at checkout for an additional 5% off. It’s already coming down from its usual $2,949 price tag, with the bonus savings dipping that price further, back to the best we’ve seen from some of this year’s previous events. You’re looking at a combined 45% markdown here, putting $1,335 back in your pocket and equipping you with an expandable means for on-the-go and at-home backup power at the lowest price we have tracked. Like most of the deals in this sale, you’ll find this package beating out its Amazon pricing too, where it’s currently sitting $307 higher.

Grabbing this Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus bundle starts you off with a 2,042Wh LiFePO4 capacity that can support up to five extra batteries that increase things to 12,000Wh – plus, there’s the option to continue expansion with two of these setups being linked together to reach 24,000Wh. Power output here provides a steady 3,000W through the 10 ports, surging to 6,000W for larger needs, which becomes its regular output levels within expanded setups. It also has a 1,200W maximum solar input, which recharges the battery to full in two hours with six 200W panels (so around 5+ hours with the bundle here). You can also have the battery recharged via a wall outlet in two hours as well, though this doesn’t account for expandable setups.

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***Note: The extra 5% off discount has not been factored into the prices below – be sure to use the code EXTRA5 at checkout for the maximum savings!

Jackery Earth Day flash offers (through April 18):

Jackery’s Earth Day Sale home backup deals:

Jackery’s Earth Day Sale appliance backup deals:

Jackery’s Earth Day Sale outdoor backup deals:

Jackery’s accessory deals:

You can shop through Jackery’s entire Earth Day Sale on the landing page here.

G-Force ZM All-Terrain e-bike

G-Force Spring Sale drops moto-styled ZM all-terrain e-bike with 80-mile range to $1,199

G-Force Bikes is having a Spring Sale running through the rest of the month that is also being billed as a “last-chance sale” before prices increase due to tariffs, with the brand providing a countdown clock on its site. Among the up to $800 we’re seeing across the brand’s lineup of e-bikes, we spotted the ZM All-Terrain Fat Tire e-bike down at $1,199 shipped. Normally fetching $1,999 direct from the brand, with third-party sites pricing it as high as $2,499, the discounts we have tracked over the last year have mainly been seen dropping costs between $1,299 and $1,499. It’s getting the maximum savings during this sale at $800 off, dropping it to the lowest price we can find while also giving you a pair of HD wide-angle rearview mirrors free of charge, valued at $49.

The G-Force ZM e-bike borrows heavily from motorcycle styling while still retaining a street-legal class 3 status, equipped with a 750W brushless gear hub motor that can peak as high as 1,300W to deliver up to 86Nm of torque power, topping out at 28 MPH speeds. What’s more, for such an affordable price, it also provides some extensive traveling range, with the standard 20Ah single-battery option carrying you 60 to 80 miles with its five PAS levels or you can double that to 120 to 160 for just $200 more with the 40Ah dual-battery setup.

For such a low price, there’s a nice array of quality features that it brings along, like the full suspension, with an adjustable front fork and rear system for smoother riding, along with hydraulic disc brakes for guaranteed stopping power, and 20-inch puncture-resistant tires with fenders over each for those off-road ventures. That’s not all, as you’ll also find it has a 400-pound payload, a 48V LED headlight, an integrated rear light with braking functionality, a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, a wear-resistant padded bench seat with room for a passenger, a half-twist throttle for electric cruising, and a large color LCD with a USB port for charging up devices as you ride, particularly nice if you use your phone as a GPS.

G-Force’s other Spring Sale e-bike deals:

Greenworks 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer

Get rid of muck with this steel-framed Greenworks 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer at new $118 low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the best rate yet on the Greenworks 1,900 PSI Steel-Framed Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer for $117.99 shipped. This model usually goes for $200 in full, with the discounts we’ve seen taking things as low as $120 over the past year. That rate is getting beaten out here by $2 for the rest of the day only, providing you a total of $82 in savings and marking a new all-time low. You won’t find this model currently available at Amazon, nor is it getting any discounts direct from Greenworks either. Below, you’ll also find a secondary one-day-only deal on a cleaning attachment that amplifies its capabilities.

Sporting a durable open steel frame design, the 13A motor on this Greenworks pressure washer provides you with up to 1,900 PSI at a 1.2 GPM flow rate to tackle the muck and grime along driveways, walkways, and the like. You won’t need to wrestle with pull strings, as it starts up with the press of a button, not to mention its electrical functionality, getting rid of the fumes and costs from gas – plus, it even has a waterproof plug at the end of its 35-foot power cord to ensure extra protection. You’ll have on-board storage for the included nozzles, the hose, and the metal spray gun, as well as an integrated soap tank for detergent when you need some extra cleaning power.

A secondary deal lasting the rest of the day that compliments the above or any of the brand’s pressure washers, is the 12-inch Surface Cleaner Attachment for $20.99 shipped, down from $40. It has a quick-connect feature for a faster and more effortless setup, with dual cleaning nozzles on its underside to level up the pressure washer’s cleaning power and coverage area.

Best Spring 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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China cracks down on automated driving features after Tesla’s FSD launch

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5 hours ago

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April 17, 2025

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China cracks down on automated driving features after Tesla's FSD launch

Tesla FSD v12.5

Just after Tesla launched its ‘Full Self-Driving’ package, in China, the country announced that it cracking down on automated driving features with new limitations.

In February, Tesla launched a first version of its “Full Self-Driving” FSD package in China for owners with the latest “Hardware 4.0”, or “HW4”, vehicles.

Most of the features under Tesla’s FSD package have been limited to North America due to Tesla training its system for this market first and due to regulatory limitations in other markets.

Shortly after Tesla launched FSD in China, the American automaker had to pause its rollout due to updated requirements from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

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Now, MIIT has confirmed that it held a meeting with automotive industry stakeholders yesterday, and it has further clarified the rollout of advanced driver assistance (ADAS) features.

CNEV reported on the meeting:

Car companies were asked to refrain from using words like “self-driving,” “autonomous driving,” “smart driving,” “advanced smart driving,” and instead use the term “combined assisted driving” to avoid misleading consumers, according to the minutes of the meeting.

Tesla had already changed the name from ‘Full Self-Driving’ to “Intelligent Assisted Driving” following the launch in China.

Based on a statement from MIIT, the meeting focused on enforcing the previously announced updated requirements that launched right after Tesla introduced FSD in China (translated from Chinese):

The meeting emphasized that automobile manufacturers must deeply understand the requirements of the “Notice”, fully carry out combined driving assistance testing and verification, clarify the system functional boundaries and safety response measures, and must not make exaggerations or false propaganda. They must strictly fulfill their obligation to inform, and truly assume the main responsibility for production consistency and quality safety, and truly improve the safety level of intelligent connected vehicle products.

Regulators want automakers to reduce the frequency of new software updates and instead focus on extended testing before releasing new updates.

The last few months have been quite chaotic for ADAS systems in China. Along with Tesla’s FSD release, several Chinese companies released their systems, including BYD, Xiaomi, and Huawei.

Xiaomi reported a fatal accident in which its ADAS system was active just seconds before the crash, and Tesla owners using FSD racked up thousands of dollars in fines due to FSD making mistakes.

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