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As we trend toward more renewables and distributed energy resources (DERs), the design of the electric distribution system itself imposes physical limitations. These system constraints could lead to issues like overloaded power lines and faults that propagate freely.

But what if we could restructure the underlying system to support greater renewable integration and system resilience? To that end, a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)–led project is working on a new type of grid device enabled by silicon carbide (SiC) switches and other medium voltage (MV) power electronics that could segment sections of the grid, providing advanced control for flexibility and resilience for our power systems.

The project team is first designing a megawatt-scale prototype converter that provides native “back-to-back” conversion — AC to AC power — at distribution voltages (i.e., not requiring transformers to step down voltage to levels typically used in electronic power conversion). By using MV SiC-based power modules, the converters could be 1/5th the size and 1/10th the weight of alternate equivalent systems, which are trailer-sized and include heavy transformers. Then the team will connect the power converter into NREL’s MV testbed to validate new grid control approaches that the prototype enables.

The project is named “Grid Application Development, Testbed, and Analysis for MV SiC (GADTAMS)” and is funded by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office.

The NREL-led GADTAMS project is developing and demonstrating smaller and lighter alternatives for direct medium-voltage connections on the grid, which could enable new resilient grid architectures.

“With back-to-back converters between feeders, we can go one step higher in providing resilience across the distribution system,” said Akanksha Singh, a project lead at NREL.

“This technology wasn’t necessary before because we didn’t have so many distributed energy resources on the system, but now we have feeders that are becoming saturated with PV; apart from storage, these feeders don’t have anywhere to inject that excess power,” Singh said. “A new approach to grid interconnection could enable advanced forms of power sharing and provide much-enhanced grid resilience.”

A future grid that features such converters would have the capability to control the flow of power between sections of the grid, shunting excess load or DER-based generation to feeder sections or adjacent circuits as needed, adding new versatility to power distribution. Networked microgrids could protect against the propagation of faults from one microgrid to the next while still allowing controlled power dispatch between the two systems and the macrogrid as well.

During outage recovery, microgrids could be formed that then stabilize neighboring microgrid systems, as envisioned in NREL’s autonomous energy systems research. In general, the two sides of the converter do not need to be synchronized in frequency or even exact voltage level at all — a major shift from the modern power system. But prior to proving any of these applications, NREL and others will first need to build the necessary controls.

“We are developing very novel controls for upcoming grid architectures,” Singh said. “We have local controls on inverters, and we have hierarchical controls that coordinate between grid partitions. With regard to grid support, these controls can do it all: dynamic stability, frequency support, black start, fault ride-through and protection.”

Unlike anything currently available, the NREL testbed provides an environment to validate medium-voltage grid solutions with real power hardware-in-the-loop and real-time grid simulation. For this project, NREL and partners are interested in the full range of use cases for back-to-back SiC converters and have teamed with utility Southern California Edison to inform on utility applications, as well as industry partners General Atomics and Eaton to seek out a commercial path for the technology.

The SiC converter is being built in two halves by project partners Ohio State University and Florida State University. The three-phase converter prototype will be rated for 330 kW and will implement a full thermal and electrical design appropriate for utility use. Traditionally, the same AC-to-AC conversion process requires stepping-down the voltage to low-voltage levels where conventional power electronics can be used, which results in heavy and expensive transformer equipment. The MV SiC option takes advantage of the superior voltage ratings of devices to minimize weight, cost, and size, which makes the technology far more practical and economical for system-wide deployment.

Still, the converter technology is only one aspect of fulfilling flexible interconnections. This framework currently lacks the standardization that exists for so many other recent grid innovations. At NREL, the project team hopes to collect baseline operational data to jumpstart the conversation around how to integrate MV converters in future grids.

“This is a new application that doesn’t exist anywhere yet. We need standards that apply to how the converters can integrate with regular system operation, like starting up, syncing to the grid, etc.,” Singh said. “We are using IEEE Standards 1547 and 2030.8 as a base, interpreting their rules to implement new controls on MV systems. We are trying to merge the two to understand what will apply to this new approach.”

An entirely new grid architecture and operational flexibility could seem far-out for now, but NREL and partners are showing that these options are viable in the near-term and that NREL has the capability to prepare these solutions for real systems. Learn more about how NREL can validate advanced energy systems at scale.

Article courtesy of NREL.

 

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Velotric’s new Fold 1 Plus and Nomad 2X e-bikes bundled with EcoFlow power stations at up to $370 off, Linkind solar lights, and much more

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August 15, 2025

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Velotric's new Fold 1 Plus and Nomad 2X e-bikes bundled with EcoFlow power stations at up to 0 off, Linkind solar lights, and much more

We’re closing out this week’s Green Deals with a more sizeable edition of eight top-notch chances at savings, headlined by the newly launched Velotric Last Call Summer Sale that features a partnership with EcoFlow for some EV and power station bundles, alongside EV-only deals. The main standouts are the new Fold 1 Plus e-bike coming with a DELTA 2 Power Station starting from $1,828, while the new Nomad 2X Full Suspension e-bike gets a DELTA 3 Plus Power Station starting from $2,948. From there, we also have the first discount on Linkind’s new 14-pack of SL5C Smart Outdoor Solar Spotlights that amount to $11 per light, as well as a rare return of the $1,425 low on Greenworks’ 80V Venture 20-inch All-Terrain Utility e-bike. There are more power station sales from EcoFlow, Bluetti, and Jackery, as well as a massive lawn care price cut, and a value-packed electric cooler option waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s official Rad Power Radster e-bike price cuts, the exclusive $250 savings on a DELTA 3 Plus bundle, and more.

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.

Bundle Velotric’s new Fold 1 Plus or Nomad 2X smart e-bikes with EcoFlow power stations at up to $370 off, more

Velotric has launched a Last Call Summer Sale running through September 1 with up to $670 in savings across a selection of its e-bikes, including price cuts on a number of its newest models. Of the offers, though, we spotted two very special first-time bundles that give you either Velotric’s new Fold 1 Plus e-bike with an EcoFlow DELTA 2 Power Station starting from $1,828 shipped or the newer Nomad 2X Full Suspension Fat Tire e-bike with an EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Power Station starting from $2,948 shipped – with prices on select colorways of each e-bike bumping the price up by $70 (Fold 1 Plus Stone Gray/Pearl White) and $100 (Nomad 2X Camo). These bundles would normally cost you $2,198 and $3,298 at full price but during this sale period you’ll get the e-bikes and a means to keep them running off-grid with up to $370 and up to $350 in savings, with there no telling if this partnership between brands will continue once September rolls around.

The new Velotric Fold 1 Plus e-bike brings smarter capabilities to the brand’s folding fleet, starting with a combination of the 750W rear hub motor (peaking at 1,100W) and a 48V 13Ah IPX7-rated battery providing a 12 to 28 MPH speed range (limited to 20 MPH in certain states) for up to 68 miles on a single charge with its PAS activated. Speaking of the PAS, there are three riding modes with five levels of support each for more flexible settings, as well as the system being supported by the brand’s SensorSwap tech, giving you the option to switch between a torque and cadence sensor as you ride. Among the smart features you’ll find Apple Find My integration within the companion app’s controls, with the physical features boasting a hydraulic suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tires, a rear cargo rack with a 120-pound payload, a 3.5-inch full color Bluetooth display, and much more.

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Velotric’s Fold 1 Plus e-bike comes along with one of EcoFlow’s most popular legacy units in the DELTA 2 power station, which starts at a 1,024Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can expand up to 3,072Wh with extra batteries tacked on. It provides a 1,800W steady stream of output power through the 15 connection ports for devices/appliances, surging as high as 2,200W for hungrier needs. The battery takes only 50 minutes to get back to 80% via an AC outlet, or 80 minutes for a full battery. It also has a max 500W solar input to recharge within three to six hours via the sun.

Velotric’s EV + power station bundles:

If you want to browse the other new and legacy e-bike deals aside from the above bundles, be sure to check out our original coverage of this Velotric sale here.

split photo of house with linkind SL5C solar spotlights lighting up yard

First discount takes $66 off Linkind’s new 14-pack of Smart Solar Spotlights at $154

Coming at us via its official Amazon storefront, Linkind is offering the first cash savings on its new 14-pack of SL5C Smart Outdoor Solar Spotlights at $153.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $66 off coupon. This larger-than-ever bundle package just hit Amazon a few days ago carrying a $220 price tag, with this being the first savings that gives you far more lighting to cover larger yards and gardens. You’re getting a 30% markdown with this deal as the bundle is coming right out the gate that amounts to $11 per light, setting the bar for future discounts in the future. You’ll also find the 2-pack, 4-pack, and 8-pack deals on the same landing page starting from $24.

If you want to learn more about these solar spotlights’ capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this first-time discount here.

woman riding Greenworks 80V Venture 20-inch utility e-bike down sidewalk

Greenworks’ 80V Venture utility e-bike utilizes the brand’s batteries for off-road adventure starting from a $1,425 low

Best Buy is offering a returning low price on the Greenworks 80V Venture 20-inch All-Terrain Fat Tire Utility e-bike (EV only) at $1,424.99 shipped, which beats out the current Amazon pricing by $90. While it carries a $2,100 MSRP direct from the brand, we see it stay down at $1,900 at Amazon, with only one previous fall to this same low rate having appeared over the year, with other discounts having kept the costs between $1,600 and $1,700 on average. The second-chance deal here gives you $475 off the going rate (and $675 off the MSRP) for the best price we have tracked – plus, if you don’t already have the appropriate batteries to power it, you can grab the e-bike with a 4.0Ah battery and charger at $1,649.99 shipped, having come down from $2,200.

If you want to learn more about this Greenworks e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

four people sitting under awning with ecoflow delta 2 power station and extra battery

EcoFlow offers up to 59% off three power station bundles and a solar panel starting from $489

As part of its August Home Backup Sale, EcoFlow has launched the last of its flash sales, with this one taking up to 59% off four offers through August 17. While the lowest price is on a 400W solar panel, among the three power station offers, things start with the DELTA 2 Portable Power Station and an extra battery for $899 shipped. While this bundle carries a $1,798 MSRP, we more often see it keeping to $1,289 at full price at Amazon, where it’s currently priced for $50 more with a FREE $130 solar-charging Power Hat (just add both to your cart, where the discount is automatically applied). Discounts over the last year have seen the costs taken as low as $799 once during March, while more frequently bouncing between $849 and $899 rates. Today’s deal gives you a 50% markdown off the MSRP for the third-lowest price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this bundle or the three other offers, be sure to check out our original coverage of this weekend flash sale here.

woman mowing grass with greenworks 40V 21-inch cordless lawn mower while mad weed wacks in background

Save $126 on the Greenworks 40V 21-inch dual-port cordless mower with a 5.0Ah battery at a new $198 low

Walmart is giving folks a great new low price on the Greenworks 40V 21-inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower with 5.0Ah Battery at $198 shipped, which beats out Amazon’s current pricing by $166 and the brand’s direct website by $202. While it sports a $400 MSRP from both of these alternate sites, at Walmart it keeps down at $324 in full, with discounts having taken things as low as $280 back in February. The deal here gives you a massive 51% markdown from its MSRP, saving you up to $202 at the best new price we have tracked.

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

man and woman enjoy coffee at table with appliances run by Bluetti Elite 200 v2 power station

Keep devices and appliances running with Bluetti’s Elite 200 V2 200W solar bundle at $1,199

Popping into Bluetti’s official Amazon storefront, you’ll find the Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station bundled with a 200W solar panel at $1,199 shipped, which is also matching the price we’re seeing directly from the brand’s website. This bundle normally fetches $1,999 outside of sales, with discounts until June regularly dropping the costs to this rate, beaten out by $1,099 low we last saw during last month’s Prime Day event, after which it’s been mostly falling to $1,299. The deal here gives you an $800 markdown at the second-best price we have tracked, while also equipping you with the means to keep significant devices and appliances running by way of the sun.

If you want to learn more about this solar generator bundle, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

jackery explorer 2000 plus power station sitting on beach next to two solar panels

You can bring home Jackery’s expanded 4kWh Explorer 2000 Plus solar bundle with a transfer switch at $2,882

Jackery’s recent sale may have ended yesterday, but the brand’s official Amazon storefront is offering a substantial home backup bundle deal with its Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station that comes with an expansion battery, two 200W solar panels, and a manual transfer switch at $2,882.07 shipped, after clipping the on-page 7% off coupon. This expanded package would normally fetch $5,199 at full price, with the deal here even beating the previous sale rate by $46 – and that’s including the bonus 7% savings you would have gotten during the event. All-in-all, you’re looking at a combined 45% markdown that gives you $2,316.93 in savings at the second-lowest price we have tracked, only beaten out by the one-time $2,599 low we spotted during Prime Day.

If you want to learn more about this home backup bundle, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

two women around Worx 40V 24-quart PowerShare cordless electric cooler in truck bed

Go ice-free outdoors with Worx’s value-packed 40V 24-quart PowerShare cordless electric cooler at $399

Amazon is offering the Worx 40V 24-quart PowerShare Cordless Electric Cooler with two 4.0Ah batteries at $398.99 shipped. You’d normally be pressed to pay $500 for this package at full price, with only three previous discounts popping up over 2025 that took the costs down to this same rate. While we have seen it go as low as $380 for Black Friday in 2024, you’re otherwise looking at the best price for 2025 that saves you $101 off the going rate, not to mention saving you from more costly electric coolers like Anker’s SOLIX EverFrost 2 models that currently start from a discounted $599 price tag right now.

If you want to learn more about this electric cooler, or learn about the non-electric Ninja alternative to save more money, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

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.

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BYD opened China’s first all-terrain circuit and it’s like a massive playground for EVs

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41 mins ago

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August 15, 2025

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BYD opened China's first all-terrain circuit and it's like a massive playground for EVs

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-EVs

BYD’s new all-terrain circuit is the first of its kind in China, and it’s pretty wild. It’s more than a test track. The complex is essentially a playground for electric vehicles with indoor sand dunes, ice fields, off-road mountains, and high-speed racetracks. It even has a pool.

BYD builds China’s first all-terrain circuit for EVs

After officially opening its new all-terrain circuit in Zhengzhou on Thursday, BYD said it’s “breaking the barriers of traditional racing tracks with subversive innovation.”

The site features eight unique zones: An indoor sand dune, a low-friction ring, a kick-plate, a wading pool, a dynamic paddock, a race track, an off-road mountain park, and a camping area.

BYD said it’s the first of its kind in China, specifically dedicated to its new energy vehicles (NEVs). After it stopped producing fully gas-powered vehicles in 2022, the company has focused on all-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles.

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The indoor sand dune is not just massive, it’s record-breaking big. It was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s highest and largest for car testing, featuring a 29.6-meter vertical drop and a 28-degree slope.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-Sand-Dune
The indoor sand dune at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

And then there’s the 70-meter-long wade pool, exclusively built for the Yangwang U8. If you haven’t seen it yet, the U8 can actually float on water. It features an emergency flotation feature that enables it to float on water for about 30 mins.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-Wade-Pool
The Yangwang U8 in the wade pool at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

The kick-plate is a circuit that allows drivers to test vehicles in emergency situations, such as loss of control on icy or wet road conditions.

BYD built the low-friction circle, China’s first 44-meter-diameter circular track, to test drifting with “a constant friction coefficient between that of ice and snow. It consists of 30,000 smoothed basalt bricks with 3 mm of water covering the surface. BYD is using it to showcase its DiSus Intelligent Body Control System and, of course, to give everyone the chance to drift.

BYD-all-terrain-circuit-circular-track
The circular track at BYD’s new all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

When you’re done drifting, you can head over to the 1,758-meter race track. You can take off on the 550-meter acceleration section or try your luck on nine extreme corners.

The 15,300-square-meter dynamic paddock features over 12 different immersive scenarios to showcase BYD’s full range of smart technology, including moose testing and automated parking.

BYD-all-terrain-EV-circuit
An off-road mountain at the BYD all-terrain circuit (Source: BYD)

With 27 off-road scenarios, BYD said drivers of all levels, beginner to advanced, can have the opportunity to drive on various rugged terrains.

This is the first of several circuits BYD plans to open. New locations in Hefei and Shaoxing are set to open soon. The Shoaxing off-road area will be massive, spanning 2,000 acres with an altitude of 500 meters.

According to BYD, “By making cutting-edge technologies, professional facilities, and extreme scenarios tangible and accessible, the circuits aim to break down barriers, serving both as a showcase for NEV innovations and a bridge to popularize NEV culture.”

What do you think of the new complex? Perhaps the US, Europe, and other global markets need a few of these so drivers can experience the advantages of electric vehicles.

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Tesla, Rivian, and others see billions in revenue disappear as US officially end emission credits

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2 hours ago

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August 15, 2025

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Tesla, Rivian, and others see billions in revenue disappear as US officially end emission credits

EV-battery-prices-plummeting
(Source: Tesla)

Tesla, Rivian, and other EV automakers in the US are seeing billions of dollars in revenue disappear as the US is officially ending the emission credit market.

As we previously reported, Trump’s recently passed ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ is expected to have numerous impacts on the EV sector in the US.

The main one is the removal of the federal tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles on September 30th.

Another change is the end of penalty enforcement for automakers with lower average fuel economy – aka those that produce more gas-guzzling vehicles and fewer electric vehicles.

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This change is now already entirely in effect.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially stopped issuing compliance letters to automakers for violating fuel economy standards. This eliminates the market for credits under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard.

Automakers that didn’t comply with CAFE rules had to pay fines or purchase credits from other automakers that had a surplus, primarily those that only sell electric vehicles, such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid.

Those automakers would sell the credits for less than the fines, but now that the Trump administration has officially eliminated the penalties, it has officially killed the market for credits.

Many automakers had deals to purchase the credits, and following the passing of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, it wasn’t clear if those deals would continue or if

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), an EV trade group, filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals to force NHTSA to resume issuing the letters.

In comments attached to the petition, Christopher Nevers, Rivian’s director of public policy, stated that the company is unable to finalize its credit deals due to the NHTSA’s decision to end the issuance of compliance letters, resulting in a loss of $100 million in revenue.

Rivian no longer expects any CAFE credit revenue this year.

A NHTSA spokesperson claimed that it will return to issuing compliance letters after a review of the CAFE standards (via investing.com):

“NHTSA is focusing on fixing CAFE standards to make cars more affordable again. When that process is complete, we will return to issuing compliance letters to manufacturers.”

But there’s significant doubt that this will happen under the Trump administration.

Ironically, the automaker most affected by this change is Tesla, whose CEO donated hundreds of millions to Trump’s campaign.

Over the last four quarters, Tesla reported almost $2.5 billion in revenue from regulatory credits, which accounted for a significant portion of its net income during the period.

Those are global regulatory credit revenues, and the automaker doesn’t disclose what part comes from the US, but it is estimated that as much as half comes from its US sales.

Electrek’s Take

It’s a sad day. This was a direct transfer of money from companies that contribute to deadly pollution to companies that try to reduce that pollution.

It was undeniably a good thing, and we are now already seeing automakers slow down their electric vehicle plans in the US.

Yesterday, I asked Honda executives what they think are the main reasons for the slow adoption of electric vehicles in the US, and their response was emphatic: “policies”.

It’s not just the actual policies, but the uncertainty and constant changes that make it hard to deploy a clear strategy.

In my opinion, EVs are the superior product, and automakers should strive to deliver the best product possible. However, corporations have different objectives, and I understand that these policy changes make it challenging to operate.

The result is that the US will fall further behind in electric vehicles while the world moves forward at full speed.

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