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After receiving approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Monday, Guardian Agriculture has become the first commercially authorized eVTOL to operate across the US. Guardian’s electric autonomous drones will be used to spray crops, paving the way for sustainable farming in the US.

Founded in 2017, Guardian Agriculture believed advances in electric vehicles, AI, and flight dynamics could serve a more significant purpose.

Led by a group of former Apple, BAE, Tesla, and Uber executives, the company found its first opportunity in guarding farm fields with less waste and harmful emissions, hence the name Guardian Agriculture.

Guardian had its second prototype running through field trials to test reliability, spray patterns, and precision on a number of different crops in different locations by 2019. And by the end of 2020, the team had received its first SAC-EC (special airworthiness certificate) through the FAA.

Monday, the company achieved another major milestone in receiving approval from the FAA to operate nationwide, making it the first commercially authorized eVTOL in the US.

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Guardian SC1 eVTOL (Source: Guardian Agriculture)

Electric drone sets the stage for sustainable farming

Although drones for farming are not a new idea, Guardian is the first in the US to gain FAA approval to operate a commercial electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) system.

The authorization paves the way for sustainable farming with an autonomous electric drone for crop dusting and spraying.

Many commercial farmers are already moving away from gas-powered aircraft to protect their crops. However, until now, many systems were too small and couldn’t provide full coverage.

Guardian eVTOL crop spraying demo

Guardian says it is now the only US company with a viable solution. Its eVTOL delivers the same coverage as traditional aerial crop dusting and ground spraying equipment with digital accuracy at the same or lower costs.

Guardian Agriculture CEO and past BattleBots champion, Adam Bercu, says they designed the electric drone to meet the needs of commercial agriculture, explaining:

eVTOL powered crop protection is better for crops, better for the environment, and better for growers’ bottom line.

With a 9.1 kWh battery capacity, and four six-foot propellers powered by a 40hp drivetrain, the Guardian SC1 eVTOL can efficiently cover 40 acres per hour of full-field crop protection for growers.

Furthermore, with fully autonomous capabilities, a supercharger ground station, and software to store data, the electric drone is designed to hit its target, wherever that may be, precisely.

Guardian expects to be the first eVTOL manufacturer operating at scale after the authorization, as GuardianCOO Jeff Sparks explains:

This is just the start. The real-world experience we’ll accumulate allows us to demonstrate our system’s safety and reliability, which we can leverage across other use cases and products outside of agriculture.

The company says it already has over $100 million in customer orders for its electric drone. Systems start at $119,000, with deliveries beginning later this year.

Guardian plans to begin operations in the next few months for its customers just north of San Jose, California.

Electrek’s Take

Although crop dusters may only account for a fraction of total aircraft emissions, traditional gas-powered models can still emit emissions while traveling over crops.

In addition, small gas-powered aircraft are also the largest emitter of lead in the US, as other major emission sources, such as vehicles, have already addressed the issue.

These types of aircraft are the perfect candidate to go electric, and Guardian Agriculture is leading the way toward sustainability in farming with its autonomous electric drone.

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New Chevy Bolt undercuts “affordable” Tesla by $10K, wins on features

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New Chevy Bolt undercuts

On today’s extreme episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the most affordable new EV in America packing 255 miles of range, sub-30 minute charging, V2H support, and more – all that for a price about $10,000 LESS than that new “affordable” Tesla.

We’ve also got specs for the all-new, all-electric Ferrari Elettrica and a world’s first, hydrogen-powered autonomous farm tractor from Kubota.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.


If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. 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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Momentum unveils upgraded Vida E+ e-bike with throttle and bigger motor

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Momentum unveils upgraded Vida E+ e-bike with throttle and bigger motor

Momentum, the lifestyle-focused urban bike brand under Giant Group, has just launched the latest version of its popular Vida E+ electric bike – and this one’s all about making e-biking smoother, safer, and more accessible to riders of all experience levels.

The updated Vida E+ features a new 500W SyncDrive Move S motor offering 60Nm of torque and pedal assist up to 28 mph, designed to provide natural-feeling power whether you’re cruising to work or just exploring around town. The system uses a combination of sensors to analyze torque, speed, and cadence, automatically adjusting power output to match your pedaling effort.

According to Momentum, the motor engages with as little as 4Nm of pedal pressure and just 10° of crank movement, giving riders what they describe as an ultra-smooth and effortless start every time.

A new optional throttle adds another layer of convenience, letting riders cruise at speeds up to 20 mph without pedaling, which should be perfect for hills, traffic-heavy starts, or when you just want to relax and take it easy on the way home. The bike’s EnergyPak 700 battery provides up to a claimed 55 miles (88 km) of range on pedal assist or 43 miles (69 km) on throttle-only riding.

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The Vida E+ also leans hard into comfort and safety. It sports a low-step aluminum frame for easy on-and-off, an 80 mm suspension fork, and wide 26×2.4-inch tires for stability and plushness. Four-piston hydraulic disc brakes ensure solid stopping power, while a new automatic motor cutoff feature stops assistance as soon as the brakes engage. The bike is UL 2849 certified, meaning it meets top-tier safety standards for batteries and electronics, which is a growing priority in the e-bike world as more cities and states consider requiring safety certification as a prerequisite.

With support for up to 300 pounds (136 kg) total load and optional racks front and rear, the Vida E+ is also built for everyday utility. And on the tech side, momentum’s RideControl app lets riders fine-tune speed and assistance, lock or unlock the bike electronically, and monitor battery health.

The new Momentum Vida E+ is available now through Giant Group’s nationwide dealer network with an MSRP of US$2,480.

Returning from a recall on its previous bike, Giant Group will now have an opportunity to see how the new version of the Momentum Vida E+ will fare.

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VW just nuked its EV lease deals – while rivals sweeten theirs

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VW just nuked its EV lease deals – while rivals sweeten theirs

VW’s US EV lease deals just went from hero to zero. Federal tax credits are now dead, the automaker has wiped out up to $12,000 in lease incentives on the ID.4, and ended $10,500 in discounts on the ID. Buzz. The move bucks the trend as other brands continue to sweeten their EV lease offers.

As of September 30, 2025, Volkswagen offered up to $12,350 in lease cash on the ID.4, depending on configuration. That included a $7,500 federal lease tax credit for lessees as Bonus Customer Cash, plus $3,500 to $4,850 in Dealer Lease Cash. It made the ID.4 one of the top EV lease deals around.

On October 1, those incentives vanished. While the ID.4 still has a 0% APR equivalent lease rate, drivers lost more than $12,000 in savings overnight. The ID. Buzz took a similar hit. Last month, the 2025 ID. Buzz offered $10,500 off MSRP between the $7,500 tax credit and $3,000 Dealer Lease Cash. Now, almost all lease cash is gone. VW Credit is offering just $750 in Dealer Lease Cash, and weirdly, not on models with two-tone paint. According to CarsDirect’s lease calculator, the lowest-priced ID. Buzz trim now carries an effective monthly cost topping $1,000 — a considerable jump.

For comparison, the ID. Buzz Pro S was previously advertised at $589 a month for 36 months with $5,999 due at signing, or an effective monthly cost of $756.

The ID.4 lease once cost just $233 a month, making it one of the cheapest EVs to lease. According to updated estimates, that figure is now north of $800 – that’s hair-raising.

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Meanwhile, VW’s rivals are going in the opposite direction. Ford extended its Mustang Mach-E lease deals through early January. Subaru’s updated 2026 Solterra still qualifies for the $7,500 lease credit, and Jeep replaced the expiring EV lease credit with equivalent bonus cash.

If you really want a Volkswagen, though, there’s some good news: financing deals haven’t changed. The 2025 ID.4 continues to offer 0% APR for 72 months, and buyers of the ID. Buzz can still get up to $3,250 in Bonus Customer Cash through November 3, a perk unavailable to lessees.

It kinda seems like VW doesn’t want to lease their EVs anymore…?? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Read more: From $189 a month: 5 of the best EV lease deals in October


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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