Connect with us

Published

on

Last summer I had the chance to test out the European designed and manufactured electric scooter Äike T at its world debut launch. As one of the first-ever test riders, I didn’t quite know what to expect. But after checking it out and doing my first few parking lot donuts, I knew this would be something special. Now nearly a year later, the Äike T is finally coming to the US via a new subscription service known as Tempo.

The Äike T is one of the first partners of Tempo, a new electric mobility subscription platform led by the founder of e-scooter pioneer Scoot, Michael Keating.

The subscription service is first launching in San Francisco, but the team behind the 20 mph (32 km/h) Äike T electric scooter expect to expand further around the US in the coming year.

As part of the exclusive partnership with Tempo, Äike customers can subscribe to the company’s award-winning Äike T scooter on a month-to-month or annual basis.

Äike T electric scooter

When I first covered the scooter, I called it one of the best designed options on the market. And nearly a year later I still stand by that description. The Äike T is a groundbreaking electric scooter in a number of ways.

First, it is entirely developed and produced in Europe, bucking the industry trend of relying on Chinese off-the-shelf parts and assembly for nearly all other electric scooters. It is one of the only electric scooters in the world designed and built in-house, and it shows.

It was also built by the team behind Comodule, the connectivity platform that powers countless electric mobility products from e-bikes like SUPER73s to high-end CAKE electric motorcycles. That gives the Äike T industry-leading connectivity for features like GPS tracking for anti-theft as well as telemetrics that communicate between riders’ phones and their scooters.

The scooter can be locked remotely by the rider and even disabled remotely, removing any resale value in a stolen scooter (and hopefully eventually making the scooters unattractive to thieves once word gets out that they can’t be used or resold).

Riders can also control features like the regenerative braking intensity, which is used to recharge the battery and add more support to the sealed drum brakes.

Unlike disc brakes that fade when wet, the drum brakes could theoretically work just as well even submerged under water. And thanks to the waterproof design of the scooter, wet riding is entirely possible (though still not all that advisable… friction being what it is and all).

The scooter is one of only a handful on the market to include a removable battery, making it possible to swap out batteries to double a rider’s range or simply charge the battery inside while leaving the scooter locked outside or in a garage.

The 583 Wh battery is rated for around 25 miles (40 km) per charge. While that range isn’t groundbreaking by itself, the removable battery is still a rarity in this industry.

And speaking of charging, the Äike T is also the only electric vehicle in the world that can charge from a USB-C laptop charger, making it easy to top up the battery on the go even if riders didn’t bring their charger from home. Nearly any USB-C laptop charger will work, though the higher power 100W models will make the charging process quicker.

Äike CEO Kristjan Maruste explained that the US launch will hopefully help push the local e-scooter market forward:

As we kick off our North American launch in San Francisco, we think consumers will be shocked how different, and how fun, the Äike T e-scooter is compared to the mass-produced e-scooters currently flooding the U.S. market. With its sleek award winning design, user-friendly features, removable battery, and high customizability, having the Äike T now available on Tempo is an important stepping stone to converting the U.S. to high-quality electric scooters.

My first test ride on the Äike T electric scooter, last year in Tallinn, Estonia.

In terms of construction, the Äike T is built like a tank. Don’t let the elegant-looking single side-supported wheels fool you; the Äike T is rated for riders weighing up to 150 kg (330 lb.). I could stack five cases of beer on the spacious deck, sit on those to ride it, and still be under the weight limit.

That would probably work pretty well, too. The deck is designed to be wide enough to accomodate a rider with feet side-by-side, though I’m not sure why anyone would want to ride that way. Perhaps it’s because I’m used to riding electric skateboards, but having a forward and rearward point of contact on a deck just seems more stable to me so I can shift my weight while braking or accelerating. But if you like to ride your scooter like a bathroom scale, you can do it on the Äike T.

The scooter is also designed to handle potholes and rough road conditions that could shake other scooters to bits. The 11-inch wheels with automotive-style tubeless pneumatic tires and rims help to upgrade that durability and longevity. The hub motor is rated at 350W nominal, though puts out 1,000W of peak power. The top speed in the US is limited to 20 mph (32 km/h). While at the launch, I asked Maruste what the true top speed was if the scooter was unlocked. With a sly smile he replied, “Much faster.”

I don’t expect that riders will be given that option to unlock the speed, but it shows that the scooter is built to handle much more than its likely use case, meaning riders won’t have to worry about longevity. But of course that’s one of the advantages to subscription services anyway, that riders don’t have to worry about as many of the hassles of conventional ownership. They also get the chance to use higher-quality machines than they might not otherwise be able to afford to buy outright. Subscription prices for the Äike T start at US $75 per month in the US, compared to the scooter’s purchase price in Europe of between €1,400 to €2,000 (US $1,500 to $2,150), depending on the model.

Keating further expanded on the subscription model:

At Tempo, we believe we can all have freedom of movement while protecting our communities and our planet. By offering electric bikes and scooters on a subscription basis, we are opening up electric mobility to millions of new riders. To show the world how great this can be, we are launching our service with the world’s best performing, best designed, and most technologically advanced scooter: the Äike T.

Electrek’s Take

The Äike T is by far one of the nicest electric scooters I’ve ever tested, and seeing the engineering that went into its design makes it that much more beautiful, inside and out. To see it finally come stateside is an exciting day! They’re also just a really fun company that takes a huge amount of pride in their work. They even put their own employees in the marketing images. That’s the CEO in the old-timey bathing suit at the top of this article, and the head of growth in the next two pictures.

But as nice as the scooter is, the subscription model is a really cool addition to this story since most electric scooter riders aren’t chomping at the bit to lay down nearly two g’s for a scooter.

Other premium electric scooter models like Unagi have found major success with a subscription model, and it certainly makes sense in cities like San Francisco, New York, and other major metropolitan areas where so many trips can easily be completed by a scooter, yet many younger workers are living on tighter budgets stretched even thinner due to high rents and a soaring cost of living.

Here’s to hoping that we’ll see Äike expand even further around the US soon!

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Jackery HomePower 3000 + bundle at new lows from $1,499, Heybike Horizon full suspension folding e-bike $1,399, EcoFlow, more

Published

on

By

Jackery HomePower 3000 + bundle at new lows from ,499, Heybike Horizon full suspension folding e-bike ,399, EcoFlow, more

Closing out this week’s Green Deals is Jackery’s weekend flash sale on its latest HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station alongside a 400W solar bundle that are hitting new low prices starting from $1,499. Right behind it is a spotlight on the $600 discount hitting Heybike’s Horizon Full Suspension Folding e-bike bundle at $1,399, as well as EcoFlow’s current member-only deals on four bundle offers, lead by the DELTA 2 Max 440W solar bundle with a protective bag at a new $1,282 low. We also have new low pricing on Schumacher’s hardwired EV charging station, a Greenworks 15-inch trimmer bundle, and more waiting for you below. Plus, there are all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s collection of Rad Power extra battery e-bike bundles from its latest sale, the first-ever discount on ALLPOWERS’ new SOLAX P100 mini power station, and more – and that’s on top of the ongoing Labor Day deals still available in our curated holiday 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.

Jackery weekend flash sale offers up to $1,200 savings on HomePower 3000 station and bundle at new lows starting from $1,499

Jackery’s Disaster Preparedness Sale running through September 16 is seeing up to 50% discounts across its power station lineup, complete with automatic 5% and 7% extra savings on orders over $1,300, as well as some free gifts accompanying the largest Explorer 5000 Plus series units. A standout, though, is the flash offer lasting only through the weekend on Jackery’s latest HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station at $1,499 shipped, which comes in a little under Amazon by $4. Since its release back in May, we’ve seen it brought down from its full $2,499 price tag to land between $1,899 and $1,699 during sales, with Amazon seeing it drop to $1,599 for the first time today (while the on-page coupon there takes things lower) and the brand’s direct site taking things under $1,500 for the first time while these flash savings last, giving you $1,000 in savings at the best new price we have tracked. The bundle on Jackery’s HomePower 3000 station and two 200W solar panels is also at a new low of $1,799 shipped, landing $100 under the previous low and $5 under Amazon’s current pricing.

For those who may not be aware, the Jackery HomePower 3000 station is the next generation of the brand’s popular Explorer 3000, with the immediate upgrade here being the switch to LiFePO4 batteries – in this case a 3,072Wh capacity worth – which also comes with a battery management system and protected by ChargeShield 2.0 tech. It provides 12 output ports (including a TT-30R port for your RV living) to connect to devices and appliances, supplying them with a steady stream of up to 3,600W and surging up to 7,200W when needed.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Jackery’s HomePower 3000 station boasts five primary means to get its battery recharged, like a standard AC outlet that can have it back to full in around 2.2 hours, alongside the 1,000W max solar input (which you can start working towards with the 400W solar bundle) that will take up to 11 hours, depending on weather conditions. There’s also the options to connect a gas generator, plug it into your car’s auxiliary port, or take advantage of its dual AC/DC charging for a 1.7-hour timeframe.

You can browse the entirety of Jackery’s September Disaster Preparedness Sale on the landing page here, including the HomePower 3000 station flash offers.

man riding Heybike Horizon Full Suspension folding e-bike down coastal street

Enjoy smooth commutes and space-saving functionality on Heybike’s Horizon full suspension folding e-bike at $1,399

As part of Heybike’s ongoing End of Summer Sale, which is offering up to $649 savings on its e-bike lineup alongside the usual free gear bundles, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the brand’s Horizon Full Suspension Folding e-bike that is down at $1,399 shipped while the event lasts and comes with a free front and rear cargo basket bundle. This model usually fetches $1,999 outside of sales, which we’ve mostly seen brought down to $1,499 over 2025, with more recent drops to $1,399 and a one-time fall further to the $1,299 low that appeared during the brand’s anniversary sale back at the end of May. Aside from that one-time low, you’re otherwise looking at the best price we have tracked, which saves you $600 on one of the brand’s more premium space-saving commuting solutions.

If you want to learn more about this particular e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here, with Heybike’s full End of Summer Sale lineup available to browse here.

EcoFlow's DELTA 2 Max power station in front of solar panels in yard while man mows nearby
Photo: BLUETTI

EcoFlow’s short-term member-only deals drop DELTA 2 Max 440W solar bundle with free bag to new $1,282 low, more

Running parallel to its extended Labor Day Sale, EcoFlow is also having a Home Backup Sale through September 14 with up to 62% discounts, 5% and 7% bonus savings, and more. Among the lineup, we’re seeing shorter-term member-only pricing on four units lasting through September 7, with a standout being EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station coming with two 220W solar panels and a waterproof protective bag for $1,281.55 shippedafter using the code 25EFDCAFF at checkout for an additional 5% off your order. This particular bundle would cost you $3,276 were it at full price, with the bag missing from this bundle at Amazon, where it’s currently priced for $1,299, and has only gone as low as $1,234 in the past. Considering the bag costs $79, this combined 61% markdown for the next few days not only saves you a total $1,994, but gives you the best new price we have tracked. Head below for more on this and the other short-term member-only deals.

If you want to learn more about this power station bundle, or check out the other three offers seeing up to $2,419 in savings, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

app-based controls next to Schumacher's 50A EV charging station

Hardwire Schumacher’s 50A Level 2 EV wall charger indoors or outdoors while at a new $350 low

Amazon is offering the Schumacher 50A Hardwired Level 2 EV Wall Charger at $349.99 shipped. Since July we’ve seen it keeping at $450 at full price, which is also when we last saw a discount, with Prime Day having taken the cost down to $399, and was only ever beaten out by a $390 rate from October 2024 Prime Day. The deal we’re seeing here takes things lower than ever as the 22% markdown is cutting $100 off the going rate and landing it at a new all-time low price. Keep in mind that this is a hardwired station, with the more flexible variant also currently seeing a discount to $414 right now, down from $500.

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

greenworks string trimmer cutting through weeds along property line

Clear up to 1.5 miles of weeds with this Greenworks 48V (2x24V) 15-inch string trimmer and two batteries at a new $91 low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 48V (2 x 24V) 15-inch Cordless String Trimmer with two 2.0Ah batteries and dual-port charger for $91.19 shipped, which matches the pricing directly from the brand’s website. While it carries a $160 MSRP, we more often see it priced around $120 at Amazon, with discounts over the years having only gone as low as $96, which we last saw for an extended period in April through May. Today’s deal beats out all that have come before, though, with the 43% markdown here cutting $69 off the MSRP tag for a new all-time low.

If you want to learn more about this tool’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

NexLawn's Master X Series Concept robot lawn mower with arm holding ball in grass field
man approaching Lectric ONE e-bike on pavement
two men riding Lectric's XP4 e-bikes

Best Summer 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.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Check out the new Mercedes-Benz GLC EV interior and its giant 39″ infotainment screen

Published

on

By

Check out the new Mercedes-Benz GLC EV interior and its giant 39

The top-selling Mercedes model is going electric. With just two days until its official debut, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a first look at the interior of the new GLC. With a massive 39″ touchscreen, the brand’s largest to date, Mercedes promises the new GLC will take luxury driving to a new level.

Mercedes-Benz unveils the interior of the new GLC EV

“We’re not just introducing a new model – we’re electrifying our top seller,” Mercedes-Benz Group CEO, Ola Källenius, said after offering an exclusive look at the new electric GLC in July.

Mercedes promises the new model “sets new standards” as its first vehicle to showcase the luxury brand’s updated design and advanced new tech.

Ahead of its debut on September 7, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the interior of the new electric GLC for the first time.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

At the center is the new MBUX HYPERSCREEN. The 39.1″ floating touchscreen spans the entire dashboard. With over 1,000 LEDs and matrix backlight technology, Mercedes said the touchscreen boasts “exceptional clarity and vivid color.”

It also features intelligent zone dimming, which enables you to set two different brightness levels for separate displays. Mercedes said it has already filed a patent for the “groundbreaking” new feature. The only issue is that it won’t come standard.

Mercedes-Benz-GLC-EV-interior
The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC EV (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Mercedes said the MBUX HYPERSCREEN will be optionally available. Lower-priced trim options are expected to receive a smaller screen.

Thanks to an extended wheelbase, the new GLC EV offers more interior space than the current model. With all the seats folded, the electric SUV offers 61.4 cubic feet of space, compared to the gas-powered model, which features up to 56.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Like the interior, the exterior of the GLC EV will showcase the new Mercedes-Benz design. Källenius said the new model will debut with “a new face of the brand as the first in a family of upcoming vehicles,” which will include a revamped grille.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLC will be based on an 800V architecture, offering charging speeds of up to 320 kW. According to Källenius, the electric SUV can regain around 260 km (161 miles) in about 10 minutes.

Mercedes-GLC-EV-face
The new Mercedes GLC EV will showcase a new face (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

We will learn more info on September 7, when the new GLC makes its official debut. However, according to Car and Driver, which tested a prototype model, the new GLC is expected to provide a WLTP range of just over 400 miles from a 94.5 kWh battery. On the EPA scale, it will likely be closer to slightly over 300 miles of range.

Given that the current GLC 350e 4MATIC PHEV starts at $59,900 in the US, you can expect the all-electric version to be priced slightly higher at around $65,000.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Hyundai’s new EV plant was just raided by ICE, ‘hundreds’ taken into custody

Published

on

By

Hyundai's new EV plant was just raided by ICE, 'hundreds' taken into custody

The massive new Hyundai EV plant outside of Savannah, Georgia, was raided by ICE on Thursday. Federal agents took hundreds of people into custody at the site, including executives from LG Energy Solution, Hyundai’s battery partner and co-owner of the plant.

Why was the Hyundai EV plant raided by ICE?

After celebrating the grand opening of its new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia earlier this year, the Korean automaker said it’s “building the future of mobility with America, in America.”

On Thursday, a construction site for a new battery plant was raided by US immigration authorities. According to local reports, up to 475 people were arrested as part of an investigation into undocumented individuals. LG stated in a press release that Hyundai employees were among the hundreds taken into custody.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday (via Yonhap News), claiming that the individuals were treated unfairly.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

“The economic activities of our companies investing in the US and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated,” South Korean ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said.

Hyundai-EV-plant-raid
Hyundai IONIQ 9 models, which are built at HMGMA EV plant in Georgia (Source: Hyundai)

The ministry’s spokesperson added that “We conveyed our concern and regret through the US Embassy in Seoul today.” Korea sent officials to Washington and to the Hyundai plant to establish an on-site task force to deal with the matter.

The site spans nearly 3,000 acres total and includes an assembly facility, two battery plants, a weld shop, and several others for training, logistics, and more.

Hyundai-EV-plant-raided-ICE
The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (Source: Hyundai)

As the largest economic project in Georgia, the plant, including Hyundai’s suppliers, is expected to create nearly 40,000 jobs while drawing $12.6 billion into the state.

Hyundai currently builds the new 2025 IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9, its first three-row electric SUV, at the Georgia facility.

Hyundai-IONIQ-5-breakout-EV
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)

The ICE raid came just days after US President Trump hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House. It’s part of the administration’s aggressive crackdown on immigration. Lee has committed to investing another $150 billion in the US, including a new EV battery plant, as it seeks to ease trade tensions.

LG Energy Solution and the South Korean government are working to secure the release of employees and others in custody. Check back soon, as this is an ongoing story. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.

Source: The New York Times, Yonhap News

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending