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Chile’s president, Gabriel Boric, wants to create a plan to require state involvement in and control of any lithium contracts going forward, in the country with the world’s largest lithium supply.

Boric says that the plan will protect biodiversity and indigenous rights, and will help to distribute the gains from Chile’s mineral wealth more broadly among Chileans.

Chile is home to the world’s largest lithium reserves in its vast northern Atacama desert. The desert is known for its salt flats, large flat areas where water has evaporated and left concentrated solids on the land. Lithium can then be extracted from brine pools on these salt flats.

The desert also reaches into neighboring Bolivia and Argentina, and the area has been referred to as the “lithium triangle.” It is thought to hold roughly half of the world’s lithium reserves, though the resource is still reasonably common elsewhere.

Currently, the world’s largest lithium exporting country is Australia, with Chile in second place. But other countries including China, Argentina, Brazil, and even the US have significant lithium reserves and production capacity, and everyone is aiming to increase production in the coming years.

And some other countries have exerted control over their EV battery resources, with Mexico recently nationalizing its lithium deposits and Indonesia banning exports of nickel in hope of keeping that industry domestic.

Lithium prices have been volatile in recent years, with the resource shooting up about 400% in price in late 2021 due to supply chain challenges and extremely high electric car demand which supply was not able to keep up with.

But most expected prices to drop precipitously this year, and since the beginning of the year, they have. Prices are still high compared to historical averages but are dropping quickly and getting close to those averages.

And, despite being in the name of lithium-ion batteries, each electric car only needs about 20 lbs of lithium. At recent prices, this means there is a few hundred dollars worth of lithium in each EV battery.

Boric’s plan would affect the world’s largest two lithium suppliers, Albemarle and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM), both of which operate in Chile. Albemarle is a multinational which was formed in 1992 as a spin-off of Ethyl Corporation, the company responsible for putting lead in gasoline. SQM was originally founded as a Chilean state-owned company in 1968 but is now owned by Chilean billionaire Julio Ponce Lerou, son-in-law of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

The companies dipped 21% and 10% in the stock market today after Boric’s plan was announced.

Chile would not instantly take control of these companies’ operations, but rather the plan would go into effect upon renewal of the companies’ contracts. Currently, SQM’s contract will expire in 2030, and Albemarle’s in 2043. Boric hoped that companies would be open to earlier participation by the state.

But so far, this plan has only been announced by Boric and will have to go through Chile’s National Congress first. He plans to present it to Congress later this year, though the body has blocked many of his proposals in the past.

Chilean politics is going through a lot of change right now. The country saw sustained protests starting in 2019 demanding a new constitution to replace the current one which was implemented under dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1980.

Then in 2021, Boric, a socialist who at 37 is one of the world’s youngest state leaders, won a wide victory over far-right opponent Jose Antonio Kast, who had previously served under Pinochet and whose grandfather had been in the Nazi army. So, the choice was stark.

With this mandate, Boric proposed a new constitution with many progressive reforms. One of those proposed reforms (article 27) would have been to nationalize mining operations, but it was rejected before the constitution went to a vote. Instead, it included a provision that miners must put aside resources to repair damage from mining activities.

The proposed constitution was supported by most Chileans at first, particularly young Chileans and those on the political left. But as the referendum for its approval came closer, polls turned against it and the proposed Constitution failed by a wide margin. The country is now drafting a second proposal, as most Chileans still want to replace the constitution of Pinochet.

But this would not be Chile’s first brush with the nationalization of the extractive industry. In the late 60s and early 70s, Chile pushed to nationalize several industries, particularly the extraction of copper (and even created an early “internet” to manage it).

Chilean president Salvador Allende, a socialist, won in 1970 with the promise of nationalizing copper outright without compensation to the various companies, largely US-based, currently operating in the sphere. The copper industry was nationalized soon after his election with modest compensation to these companies, which drew the ire of the U.S.

Then, in 1973, a U.S.-backed coup led to the deposal and death of democratically-elected Allende and his replacement with the new dictator Pinochet.

Boric’s announcement stops short of Allende’s, in that it does not aim to immediately nationalize the industry without compensation. It also stops short of the proposal in article 27, as that would have given the state exclusive mining rights across many resources, whereas Boric’s current proposal seeks to enforce public-private partnerships in lithium specifically.

But the Chilean state still owns the nation’s copper extraction industry via Codelco, which supplies 11% of the world’s copper. Boric would have this company take a role in finding the best way to manage any public-private partnerships for lithium extraction.

The US currently has a free trade agreement with Chile, in force since 2004. This is relevant for new battery critical mineral guidelines from the US, requiring that battery minerals be sourced from the US or free trade countries in order to qualify for tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act.

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Hiboy launches TITAN & TITAN Pro e-scooters with up to $699 savings, Anker SOLIX F3000 station at new $1,399 low, more

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October 10, 2025

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Hiboy launches TITAN & TITAN Pro e-scooters with up to 9 savings, Anker SOLIX F3000 station at new ,399 low, more


We’re closing out this week’s Green Deals with some more major savings, headlined by Hiboy’s new TITAN Electric Scooter and TITAN Pro Electric Scooter, which are launching with up to $699 in savings starting from $1,001. Right behind them is Anker’s SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station (and bundles) that is getting its $1,399 Prime Day low extended, as well as Mammotion’s YUKA Mini 500H and 700H robot lawn mowers starting from a $649 low. We also have EcoFlow’s latest 48-hour flash sale, a handy device from Goal Zero, and many other ongoing Prime Day sales waiting for you below – with all the continuing event’s savings collected into our Post-Prime Day Green Deals hub here.

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.

Hiboy launches new TITAN and TITAN Pro e-scooters with an up to 80-mile range, now starting from $1,001 (Up to $699 off)

As part of Hiboy’s ongoing Better Than Prime Day Sale, the brand has launched two new e-scooters that bring some serious power to commutes and joyrides, complete with bonus savings. You can now hop on Hiboy’s TITAN Electric Scooter at $1,001 shipped, after using the code HST9 at checkout for an additional 9% off, while Hiboy’s TITAN Pro Electric Scooter is down at $1,350 shipped, after using the code HSTP10 at check out for an additional 10% off. These two new models will carry full $1,700 and $2,000 price tags once the initial launch savings end, making this deal all the more enticing. While things last, you’re looking at $699 and $650 markdowns that save you some serious cash on some seriously powerful rides, while also setting the bar for future discounts down the road. You’ll find both these deals coming several hundred dollars under the TITAN and TITAN Pro Amazon pricing.

With these two new releases, Hiboy is showing folks just how fast and wild their e-scooters can get, with many often falling into the more budget-friendly realm. Things start with Hiboy’s TITAN electric scooter that arrives in futuristic industrial style, equipped with a 750W (1,000W peaking) motor and 48V 18Ah battery that provides up to 46 miles of travel at up to 25 MPH top speeds. Among its many features, you’ll find a dual suspension system, dual hydraulic brakes, 10-inch gel-filled tubeless tires, a wider-than-normal deck, zero-start capabilities and a half-twist throttle, a loud horn, dual headlights, a brake-activated taillight, ambient side lighting, a 3.5-inch LED color display, and more.

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On the other end of the series is the TITAN Pro e-scooter that brings more power and speed along for the ride. This supped-up model has been given dual 750W motors (each peaking at 1,000W) and a 48V 36Ah battery that not only ramps its possible top speeds up to 31 MPH, but also extends travel times up to 80 miles on a single charge. It brings along much of the same features as its base TITAN counterpart, with the main difference being the additional multi-function control buttons that allow you to switch between single and dual motor usage.

Hiboy’s Better Than Prime Sale will continue through October 12, giving you plenty of time to make decisions if you’re split between varying models – with prices starting from $320.

refrigerator open behind anker solix f3000 portable power station

Anker’s extended Prime Day savings offer latest SOLIX F3000 station and bundles at new lows starting from $1,399

As part of Anker’s extended SOLIX Prime Day Sale, which is continuing through the rest of the week, you can still score the brand’s latest F3000 Portable Power Station (and bundles) at their best prices starting from $1,399 shipped for the station with a FREE protective cover (valued at $99), beating out Amazon’s post-Prime pricing by $100. It carries a $2,599 MSRP since releasing back in June, which we saw drop down to this rate for the first time on Tuesday, when Prime Day officially began. It’s now continuing through the rest of the week, giving you more time to jump on the $1,200 price cut and score it at the best price we have tracked. Head below for the full lineup of ongoing bundle deals too.

If you want to learn more about this new power station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man and daughter plant tree while Mammotion YUKA mini robotic lawn mower mows grass around them

Mammotion’s YUKA Mini 500H and 700H robotic lawn mowers get $350 price cuts starting from a $649 low

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Mammotion is offering continued Prime Day savings on its YUKA Mini 500H Robotic Lawn Mower at $649 shipped, as well as its YUKA Mini 700H Robotic Lawn Mower at $849 shipped. These two models usually fetch $999 and $1,199 at full price, with this being the second-ever price cut to the YUKA Mini 500H’s all-time low with $350 cut from its tag, while the YUKA Mini 700H is getting the same sized price cut to its second-lowest rate – landing $100 above the one-time low that lasted only three days in September.

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

ecoflow 800W alternator charger connected to power station in SUV with smart controls on phone

EcoFlow 48-hour flash sale drops 800W alternator charger to new $289 low, more from $104

As part of its extended Prime Day Sale, EcoFlow is offering a 48-hour flash sale on a power station, a generator, an alternator charger, and a DELTA Pro Ultra expansion battery bundle. The backup power solution amongst the bunch is the TRAIL 200 DC station, which you can score starting from $104 by checking out yesterday’s coverage. From there, it’s a matter of what kind of support or expansion you want to jump on, with the brand’s 800W Alternator Charger sitting at a lower-than-ever $289 shipped, for example, which also matches at Amazon right now. While it carries a $599 MSRP, we more often see it priced between $348 and $499, with some sales taking things lower. It was priced at $305 for the initial Prime Day savings, but is now falling even further to mark a new all-time low price and give you $210 off the going rate. Head below for the full lineup of flash deals.

If you want to learn more about this on-the-go charging solution, as well as the other offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of these 48-hour flash deals here.

man using goal zero torch light to see under hood of car

Goal Zero’s 500 Lumen Torch Light that doubles as a solar-charging 5,200mAh power bank hits $38

Amazon is offering the Goal Zero 500 Lumen Torch Light at $37.89 shipped. Usually fetching $50 outside of discounts, this device dropped to $40 back April, with discounts since returning the costs to this same rate over the rest of the year – including for both July and this month’s Prime Day events. The savings seem to be sticking around after the event ended last night, giving you extra time to pick it up with $12 shaved from the tag at the best price of the year.

If you want to learn more about this handy solar-charging gadget, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

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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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The Trump administration just killed the US’s largest solar project

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October 10, 2025

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The Trump administration just killed the US's largest solar project

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Photo: BLM

The Trump administration has canceled the Esmeralda 7 solar project in Nevada — a sweeping, multi-developer clean energy plan that would have been the largest solar installation in North America.

The Esmeralda 7 project, composed of seven connected solar farms proposed by NextEra Energy Resources, Leeward Renewable Energy, Arevia Power, and Invenergy, was designed to sit across around 185 square miles of public land, an area nearly the size of Las Vegas. The plan promised to deliver about 5,350 MW of electricity, enough to power nearly 2 million homes – that’s three times the Hoover Dam’s generating capacity.

The Biden administration had permitted the developers’ joint proposals, and the Trump administration had advanced the project’s draft environmental impact statement. However, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hadn’t issued a final environmental impact statement or record of decision.

Yesterday, the BLM’s website marked the project as canceled. That’s part of a broader shift within the Trump administration away from utility-scale renewable energy development on federal land — even as global clean energy buildout accelerates.

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According to Politico, “The Interior Department in a statement Friday afternoon said that the solar developers and BLM had ‘agreed to change their approach for the Esmeralda 7 Solar Project in Nevada. Instead of pursuing a programmatic level environmental analysis, the applicants will now have the option to submit individual project proposals to the BLM to more effectively analyze potential impacts.’”

The BLM had spent years reviewing Esmeralda 7’s potential impacts on wildlife and public lands, so clean energy advocates say the decision to scrap the project is more political than procedural. “The Trump administration’s reported cancellation of Nevada’s largest solar and storage project will restrict America’s ability to produce homegrown clean energy,” the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said in a statement. “This action hurts America’s economy, its energy security, and the jobs of thousands of hardworking Americans.”

Electrek’s Take

Anyone shocked by this move hasn’t been paying attention, but that doesn’t make it any less destructive. Killing the Esmeralda 7 project isn’t just a setback for Nevada — it’s a blow to US energy independence, and making the developers jump through the same hoops all over again is a stall tactic. Utility-scale solar, like Esmeralda 7, is the backbone of the transition away from fossil fuels and toward true domestic energy dominance.

The US still spends billions each year importing oil, even as solar power remains the cheapest source of new electricity in history. Every canceled project like this one delays when the US can power itself with affordable clean energy, which means higher prices, higher emissions, and fewer jobs in the long run. And don’t expect this one to be a one-off cancellation of renewables on federal lands, seeing how Trump is encouraging the buildout of fossil fuel projects on those same lands.

Read more: Ørsted to axe 2,000 jobs after US wind setbacks caused by Trump

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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Podcast: Ferrari Elettrica, Tesla’s stripped-down Model 3/Y, new Bolt EV, and more

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3 hours ago

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October 10, 2025

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Podcast: Ferrari Elettrica, Tesla's stripped-down Model 3/Y, new Bolt EV, and more

electrek podcast

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Ferrari unveiling the specs for the Elettrica, Tesla’s stripped-down Model 3 and Model Y, new Bolt EV, and more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

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We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:


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