This tiny electric dump truck is ready to dump a big load, for cheap!
When it comes to all of the category-defying EVs out there that earn the infamous title of Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle the Week, the utility vehicles might just be my favorite. The ability to simultaneously be super weird and also get work done is an endearing quality, and it’s one that this week’s feature surely embodies. Say “hello!” to the world’s cutest electric dump truck.
It’s hard to say for sure exactly what we’re looking at here.
It appears to be a four-wheeled vehicle with rear wheel drive, a basic ladder frame, and a big ol’ bucket on back connected to a hydraulic ram.
In other words, it’s a super simple dump truck. Though the word “truck” is likely doing some heavy lifting here.
But why butcher the description of this marvelous vehicle when I can let the Alibaba vendor butcher their own description:
“Four wheel dumper truck used for cargo Dump truck is our main product.
It using electric as power source in mining, brickyard, sanitation and cleaning. It has been improved many times with the advantage of large power, long work hours, heavy load and suitable for any road, well received by the customer’s favorite.we have sold our products to United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Peru, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, Mexico, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India and etc.”
Well there you go, folks. It’s their main product, so you know they must be good at it.
There are four versions of the little truck, though the larger versions don’t sound very “little” anymore.
They offer motor power levels of 1 kW, 2 kW, 3 kW and for those that want to go nuts: 7kW.
Weight appears to increase considerably from the 520 kg (1,150 lb) little guy up to that 1,400 kg (3,100 lb) 7,000W beast.
The loading capacity is also quite impressive, with the little guy capable of carrying nearly twice its own weight and the big guy rated for just over twice its own weight. These things are like ants, tiny but mighty!
The tires don’t look particular up to par, at least not if you’re going to be driving through any particularly sandy or rocky work sites. But if your dumping requirements involve a lot of tarmac and smooth surfaces, then I just might have the dump truck for you!
And you have to admit that the thing is pretty cute. Those headlights give it a countenance that is just begging for a little augmentation.
With a paintbrush and a couple minutes, I feel like I could whip up a decent little face to match this thing’s bubbly personality.
But perhaps the best part of this whole ordeal is the price. Somehow they’ve got this listed at $1,950, with discounts for bulk orders bringing the price down to just $1,450.
If you’re wondering how that’s possible, I can tell you from my own experience of ordering weird electric trucks from China that you’ll never get out the door for that price. That’s likely the price without batteries, and a good lithium battery could add 50% to the cost before you even get out of the factory.
Then you’ve got many thousands of dollars in shipping, freight, customs bonds, ISF filings, warehouse fees and more, not to mention paying a customs broker to handle all the import paperwork for you.
In the end, I’d be surprised to see this thing land stateside for under $7-8k, but even that might be a steal compared to what a “real” dump truck costs. For the price of an American-sized ride, you could buy a whole factory of these little dumpers. And by the looks of things, they’re ready to pack several containers full of them for you.
Just remember that the face paint isn’t included.
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Electricity demand is surging in Texas, and solar, wind, and battery storage are meeting it.
According to new data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), electricity demand across the Texas grid managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) hit record highs in the first nine months of 2025. ERCOT, which supplies power to about 90% of the state, saw demand jump 5% year-over-year to 372 terawatt hours (TWh) – a 23% increase since 2021. No other major US grid has grown faster over the past year.
Solar and wind keep ERCOT’s grid steady
The biggest growth story in Texas power generation is solar. Utility-scale solar plants produced 45 TWh from January through September, up 50% from 2024 and nearly four times what they generated in 2021 (11 TWh). Wind power also continued to climb, producing 87 TWh through September – a 4% increase from last year and 36% more than in 2021.
Together, wind and solar supplied 36% of ERCOT’s total electricity over those nine months. Solar, in particular, has transformed Texas’s daytime energy mix. From June to September, ERCOT solar farms generated an average of 24 gigawatts (GW) between noon and 1 pm – double the midday output from 2023. That growth has pushed down natural gas use at midday from 50% of the mix in 2023 to 37% this year.
Battery storage is filling in the gaps
Batteries charge during the day when wind and solar generation are the highest, and they produce electricity when generation from wind and solar slows down. ERCOT began reporting battery output separately in October 2024 in its hourly grid data, and it’s clear that batteries are now helping to smooth out evening peaks. This past summer, batteries supplied an average of 4 GW of power around 8 pm, right as solar production dropped off.
Natural gas is flatlining
Natural gas is still Texas’s dominant power source, but it isn’t growing like it used to. Between January and September, gas-fired plants generated 158 TWh of electricity, compared to 161 TWh in 2023. Gas comprised 43% of ERCOT’s generation mix during the first nine months of 2025, down from 47% in the first nine months of 2023 and 2024.
More demand growth ahead
The EIA expects Texas electricity demand to keep rising faster than any other grid in the US. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the EIA projects ERCOT’s demand will climb another 14% in the first nine months of 2026, reaching 425 TWh. That means Texas will need even more solar, wind, and battery storage to keep up with its breakneck growth.
Read more: This $900 million solar farm in Texas is going 100% to data centers
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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GM is recalling nearly 23,000 Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models due to a defect where the tire tread could fall off.
GM is recalling more Chevy Equinox EV models
In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GM said it has decided to issue a safety recall for certain Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models from model years 2025 to 2026.
This time, it isn’t necessarily GM’s fault. The vehicles may be equipped with 21″ all-season tires that Continental Tire is recalling.
According to Continental, the tires were produced during the week of October 6, 2024, and may have a defect where the tire tread could partially or fully detach. The records show the defect is due to a nonconforming tread base rubber compound.
Owners of affected vehicles may notice unusual tread wear or bulging, vibration while driving, or tire noises. GM is unaware of any incidents related to the defect, but is issuing the recall out of an abundance of caution.
On September 18, 2025, GM inspected the assembly plant and confirmed there were no suspect tires in stock. The 21″ tires come standard on RS trims and are optional on LT1 and LT2 grades.
Although GM is recalling 22,914 Chevy Equinox EVs and Cadillac Optiqs, it estimates that only about 1% of them have the defect.
The recall includes:
- 2026 Cadillac Optiq: 214
- 2026 Chevy Equinox EV: 1,832
- 2025 Cadillac Optiq: 3,468
- 2025 Chevy Equinox EV: 17,400
GM dealers will check all four tires and replace them if needed, free of charge. Dealers were notified on October 16. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on December 1, 2025.
You can contact Chevrolet’s customer service number at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac’s at 1-800-333-4223. GM’s recall number is N252525030. Owners can also call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.
The Chevy Equinox EV is now the third best-selling EV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s entry-level Optiq SUV is the fifth-most-popular luxury EV. The recall is minor and only affects a small percentage of models, so it’s not expected to have a major impact.
If you want to test one of them for yourself, we can help you get started. Check out our links below to find available Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models near you.
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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 Tesla’s earnings madness, Rivian layoffs, Ford pausing F-150 Lightning, 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:
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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