This half-submerged electric houseboat may be the best tiny home ever
Tiny homes are a fun way to live off-grid with minimal footprint, and houseboats have their own charm. But what happens when you combine them with a semi-submersible design? I guess you end up with the trifecta that we see here today!
It may not look like the typical EVs featured in this Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week column, but since you can outfit this houseboat with an electric outboard motor of your choosing, it certainly qualifies.
Whether or not you want to actually live in a partially-submerged home that you ordered online from a Chinese shopping website is an entirely other matter.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t at least appreciate it for what it is: a really cool design!
Offered by a company called Kinocean, I’m not sure that the houseboat exists in what most people would consider to be a “real” way.
And by that I mean I can only find renderings of it and not any actual photos showing the company has actually built any of these.
Working with computer renderings likely allows them to focus on the design without getting sidetracked by little details like the below deck bedroom leaking and getting flooded.
But hey, on paper it sure looks great! That bedroom allows you to fall asleep to the soothing sights and sounds of the ocean surrounding you on every side, waiting for the perfect opportunity to come rushing in and take you on a one way trip to meet Poseidon.
Upstairs is a living room with even better views out over the whitecaps that are ever present to rock you into a state of relaxation or perpetual sea sickness, depending on your inner ear situation.
There’s also a kitchenette sharing the living room space, allowing residents to prepare a lunch that they can hopefully keep down.
Sliding doors open the main floor into a bit of an outdoor seating area complete with a ladder to drop in for a dip. Never before have you been able to dock your dinghy right onto your living room!
A bathroom in the back appears to include a designer sink, a floating toilet and a surprisingly spacious shower.
Maximum capacity for the houseboat is listed at 8 people, though that occupancy limit is likely more related to weight since there appears to be seating for 9 people (or an even 10 if you count the toilet) plus however many people can fit in that massive party bed downstairs.
With a weight limit of 1,600 lb (725 kg), you may want to keep a bathroom scale on the dock before you bring too many friends aboard. You’ll know the houseboat is overloaded if your couch starts getting soggy.
The price of just US $12,000 seems suspiciously cheap, and may be related to the fact that the vendor seems to have two different semi-submersible vessels listed on the same page.
Either way, the fact that there doesn’t appear to actually be a houseboat like this in existence yet makes me somewhat hesitant to start a bank transfer to the Chinese factory. It’s not like I haven’t bought electric boats sight unsee from China before (I actually have), but this seems like a bit more of a risk than I want to take.
But hey, whatever… floats your boat?
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Costco members looking for a break on car prices can tap into a new Volvo deal this fall. Members can tap into limited-time manufacturer incentives through the Costco Auto Program, a year-round auto-buying service that secures prearranged low pricing. The latest: a Certified by Volvo Limited-Time Special launched this week.
Certified by Volvo vehicles are pre-owned Volvos that must pass a rigorous test with 170+ points, have less than 80,000 miles, and receive a detailed CARFAX Vehicle History Report. They come with roadside assistance, and EVs and plug-in hybrids also include an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
Until October 31, 2025, eligible Costco members can score an exclusive bonus when buying select Certified by Volvo vehicles from model years 2022 through 2025.5. Gold Star and Business Members get $1,000 off, and Executive Members get $1,250 off. The offer applies to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and BEVs. What makes this deal sweet is that the Costco perk stacks with any other manufacturer incentives you qualify for.
Among the vehicles on the eligible list: The Volvo EX30, the EX90, the XC90*, the most requested premium midsize SUV among Costco members last year, and the Volvo C40 EV, which also topped requests in the premium electric compact SUV category.
To cash in on the offer, Costco members must register online for a certificate, then bring it to a Volvo dealership where they present it at the time of purchase. Full details are on the Certified by Volvo Limited-Time Special page.
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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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The GV90 is set to arrive as the most luxurious Genesis vehicle to date. With its debut approaching, Genesis is showcasing the ultra-luxe SUV at its new flagship brand space.
Genesis opens new brand space based on the GV90
Although it’s not yet in production form, Genesis is still showcasing its stunning new full-size electric SUV. The Neolun concept, unveiled last March at the New York Auto Show, will soon arrive as the brand’s new flagship model.
When Genesis launches the GV90, expected in mid-2026, it will become the brand’s largest and most luxurious electric vehicle yet.
According to Genesis, the GV90 is “an ultra-luxe, state-of-the-art SUV” that will take the luxury brand to the next level. We’ve seen camouflaged prototypes out testing a few times, revealing advanced new features and luxury design elements, such as coach doors, adaptive air suspension, and more.
The GV90, or Neolun concept (for now, at least), is the centerpiece of the company’s new “Night in Motion” space, which Genesis opened on Thursday.
Based on the Neolun concept, the new exhibition is “the starting point of the Genesis brand’s spatial philosophy.” It’s designed to showcase the brand’s latest design and the beauty of Korean aesthetics.
Genesis is expected to launch the GV90 in mid-2026, but we could see an official debut before the end of the year.
We will learn prices, range, and other specs soon, but the GV90 is expected to debut on Hyundai’s new eM platform. Hyundai claimed the new platform will “provide 50% improvement in driving range” compared to current EVs. It will also offer advanced Level 3 autonomous driving features.
One thing is sure: The Genesis GV90 won’t be cheap. As its largest and most luxurious SUV, the GV90 is expected to start at around $100,000. Higher trim levels could reach upwards of $120,000 or more.
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Ampion Renewable Energy has introduced a new way to expand community solar access – one that breaks barriers by crossing state lines.
The company just launched Synthetic Community Solar, a tool that lets developers extend the financial benefits of solar projects to subscribers in other states. That’s a big shift from the usual model, where subscribers need to live in the same utility territory as the solar farm. This new approach also helps low-income households save more on energy bills while giving developers a faster route to federal tax incentives.
Here’s how it works: When a solar farm is built in one state, Ampion works with utilities to transfer the financial benefits through solar credits to income-qualified households in another state. For example, a 2.5 MW project in Maine already provides Illinois subscribers with up to 20% savings on their electricity bills.
For developers, the timing is critical. The Inflation Reduction Act gives bonus tax credits, known as Category 4 Investment Tax Credits (ITCs), to projects that deliver at least half of the financial benefits to low-income households. Synthetic Community Solar makes it easier to meet those requirements, which in turn improves project economics and long-term site viability.
This model is especially useful when a project is in an area where recruiting low-income subscribers is expensive or challenging. Instead of letting credits go unused, developers can cross state lines, making the project more financially sustainable while supporting households that need savings the most.
Ampion’s CEO and founder, Nate Owen, said the goal is to solve a geographic barrier that has historically limited community solar growth. By bridging programs across different states, the initiative supports the company’s aim to make renewable energy accessible “everywhere, for everyone.”
With the IRA’s major incentives set to expire, solutions like Synthetic Community Solar could help keep projects viable while spreading the financial benefits of clean energy further.
Read more: Nexamp found a faster way to build solar – it did the utility’s job, too
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.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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