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Sometimes good things come in small packages. Today that is especially true, as the package isn’t square, its “Squad, World’s First Solar City Car.” Wordplay aside, Squad Mobility is a startup in the Netherlands whose product might actually be the ultimate solution to the first/last-mile transportation issue. In our opinion, if successful, it could change the world.

What they have created is a small, affordable, low-speed car that dwarfs even a Smart car, yet can still seat 2 people and store maybe a grocery bag or two. At all times, this vehicle is charged by the solar panel that it’s roof is composed of, and when that doesn’t cut it and the juice runs low, the battery can just be swapped out. In some ways, we have seen similar strategies from electric scooter manufacturers like Gogoro which can be either purchased by individual consumers or shared by smart mobility networks. However, thus far we have not yet seen a successful implementation of this in a vehicle that has a roof.

There are so many applications for this in cities, towns, and even villages worldwide. For private owners seeking to do some basic grocery shopping, even the 20km of range that the solar panel can generate per day will suffice. For a shared network, giving a car that already gets 100km of range from its battery an additional 20km of range per day without having to burden the electrical grid or worry about the logistics of charging shared cars is actually quite significant. As Robert Hoevers, CEO of Squad Mobility, put it: “cities love solar charging, as this is a sustainable energy source. It decreases the load on the local charging infrastructure and energy demand. Cities are looking for zero emission mobility solutions with a small space footprint. We have achieved both. A per capita energy consumption lower than public transport and a space footprint comparable to a bicycle. And all this, while offering the flexibility of personal transport and the comfort of a car.”

At a starting price of just €5750, this car costs half as much as the cheapest A-segment car and one-fourth the cost of the two cheapest electric vehicles on the market, the Smart or VW e-up! We have seen electric scooters that were sold for this price, so it is very impressive. For those not interested in an outright purchase, lease and subscription options will also be made available for 100 euros per month. Pre-orders are now available on Squad’s website.

With a footprint of just 2 square meters, 3 or even 4 Squad solar cars can fit in just a single parking spot, making implementation in city infrastructure much easier. The vehicle itself will initially be limited to 45 km/h (28 mph) and a more powerful version that can reach 70 km/h (43 mph) will be launched at a later date. However, that isn’t the only improvement Squad Mobility has in store for its product. The vehicle will already be equipped with smart sensors and cameras that can monitor everything from cabin cleanliness to how a car is parked. Fleet operators will even be able to remotely control the car in case it is improperly parked or blocking an exit. They hope that once self-driving technology will be more commonplace, they will be able to add that to their product as well. In the words of the creators, “In the longer term, we envision the use of autonomous technology to control the fleet in the city — for example, to move vehicles back to places with high demand or more sunshine for charging.”

While autonomy might still be a ways off, production should start in the last quarter of 2022 in the EU, especially since in March they finished up an investment agreement with Bloomit Ventures. Once made, the product will likely sell like hot cakes, as this is a product category that does not yet exist, yet offers functionality that is very much in demand and does so for unbelievably low prices. Years ago when electric cars were not all that great, as an insult they have sometimes been called glorified golf carts. It is ironic that this product in some ways has taken that insult and turned it into a price advantage. This might not be a serious electric car alternative for consumers, instead it may be the best solution to city mobility and how most people will choose to travel the first/last leg of regular trips. While we can’t say too much, you can expect an even more serious milestone before the end of this year, so keep an eye out for Squad Mobility.

Note: We also wrote about Squad’s plans in December 2019: Squad Mobility Redefines Affordable With Its $6,300 Solar-Powered Urban Electric Vehicle.

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Tesla launches first full V4 Supercharger station with 500 kW capacity

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September 29, 2025

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Tesla launches first full V4 Supercharger station with 500 kW capacity

Tesla Supercharger V4 peak charge rate

Tesla has finally turned on its first full V4 Supercharger (stalls plus cabinets), capable of 500 kW charging, marking the end of a confusing rollout of the next-generation chargers over the last three years.

The Supercharger network is by far the best large-scale electric vehicle fast-charging network in the world.

It is arguably the best thing Tesla has ever done.

The network leads in terms of scale, usefulness, reliability, and overall ease of use. In Europe and Asia, there’s decent competition, but in North America, there’s no close second.

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However, there’s one aspect of fast-charging networks where Tesla doesn’t lead: charging rate and, therefore, time.

For a decade, other charging networks have achieved and even surpassed a 350 kW peak charge rate.

In fact, in 2016, when Tesla started talking about its next-gen V3 Superchargers, I asked CEO Elon Musk if it would be capable of 350 kW charging, and he suggested that it would be higher than that – calling 350 kW “a children’s toy”:

That comment didn’t age well as Tesla’s V3 Supercharger peaked at 250 kW, and it has been the norm for almost the last 10 years.

In 2023, Tesla started deploying “V4 Superchargers”, but the rollout has been confusing.

For the first time, Tesla claimed that V4 Superchargers finally achieved “children’s toy” capacity of 350 kW, but the automaker didn’t deploy genuine “V4” Superchargers at the time.

Instead, Tesla only deployed V4 charging stalls or posts, but the power actually comes from the charging cabinets, and those remained the same V3 cabinets.

The main change with the new charging posts was the introduction of a new, longer charging cable, which enabled easier accessibility for non-Tesla vehicles, many of which have different charge port locations.

Tesla Supercharger V4 official

Late last year, Tesla finally announced that the first full V4 Superchargers, featuring the new cabinets and up to 500 kW charging, would arrive in 2025.

Earlier this year, the automaker also announced that it managed to boost the capacity of its V4 posts with V3 cabinets to 325 kW.

Tesla’s first real V4 Supercharger is here

Today, Tesla confirmed that its first full V4 Supercharger station (with V4 stalls and power cabinets) has been activated in Redwood City, California:

The automaker shared an image of the first people to charge at the new V4 Supercharger station:

However, you can’t take advantage of the new capacity with a Model 3. Only Tesla’s Cybertruck can use the full capacity of the new V4 Superchargers.

Tesla shared a video of a Cybertruck reaching the max capacity:

The video showed the Cybertruck virtually completely depleted. Therefore, it’s unclear how long it can maintain the peak 500 kW charge rate, but the video suggests that it can charge from 0 to 80% state of charge in 35 minutes, which is a great charge time.

For now, only Tesla vehicles can charge at the new V4 Superchargers, but the automaker aims to make it available to non-Tesla vehicles soon.

Many more non-Tesla models can take advantage of the higher charge than Tesla models, which is limited to the Cybertruck.


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EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max and Ultra stations launch with up to $2,000 savings + FREE gear from $759, Bluetti Early Prime Day Sale, more

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September 29, 2025

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EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max and Ultra stations launch with up to ,000 savings + FREE gear from 9, Bluetti Early Prime Day Sale, more

We’ve got an exciting launch kicking off this week’s Green Deals, with EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 series expanding to include the new DELTA 3 Max and DELTA 3 Ultra power stations with up to $2,000 in early-bird savings and FREE bundled gear starting from $759. Right behind those is Bluetti’s fresh Early Prime Day Sale with up to 63% discounts and some select exclusive savings, which is seeing the latest Apex 300 station dropping to a new $1,394 low, among many other offers. There’s also some savings to be had on an EGO chainsaw package, as well as 60V Greenworks snow blowers, and other ongoing Early Prime Day savings waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals from last week collected at the bottom of the page, rounded together within our latest edition of Electrified Weekly.

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.

EcoFlow launches new DELTA 3 Max and Ultra power stations with up to $2,000 in savings + FREE gear starting from $759

While its Early Prime Day Sale continues through October 6, EcoFlow is launching the parallel early-bird deals on its new DELTA 3 series of power stations, which are not yet available on Amazon. Things start with EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Max Portable Power Station (and bundles) starting from $759.05 shipped for the station with a FREE trolley, after using the code 25EFAFFD3S at checkout for an additional 5% off. This new power solution will carry a $1,499 MSRP once these early launch savings end on October 12, with this being your first chance at cash savings. This is quite the release discount as the 49% markdown we’re seeing during this period cuts $740 off the going rate and sets the bar for future discounts/sales. Head below to learn more about this new unit and check out its bundle savings options.

EcoFlow’s new DELTA 3 Max power station brings a sizeable increase in capacity and output over the DELTA 3 Classic (formerly known as the DELTA 3 Plus), with a doubled 2,048Wh LiFePO4 battery that can be expanded higher than its predecessor up to 10,240Wh using either the DELTA 3, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, or DELTA 2 smart extra batteries. It can provide up to 2,400W of steady power through its nine output ports (four ACs, three USB-Cs, one USB-A, and one car port), surging as high as 3,400W to support hungrier devices/appliances thanks to the X-Boost 3.0 tech installed.

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One thing to note here is that this model does have an upgraded DELTA 3 Max Plus counterpart launching today too, which brings much of the same features, just with an increased output capacity of 3,000W to 6,000W. Coming rated for a minimum of 10 years of continuous power, you’ll have four primary ways to charge the DELTA 3 Max: via a standard AC outlet, with a gas generator, using the car port/ separately sold alternator charger (bundles below), or by connecting up to its max 500W solar input.

***Note: the extra savings have not been factored into any of the prices below, so be sure to use the code 25EFAFFD3S at checkout to score the best possible launch deals!

EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Max launch deals (with FREE trolley):

EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Max Plus launch deals (with FREE 10k power bank):

EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Ultra launch deals (with FREE 220W solar panel):

EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Ultra Plus launch deals (with FREE 220W solar panel):

Of course, if you’re looking for an alternate unit, especially ones with much larger capacities and capabilities, be sure to check out EcoFlow’s full Early Prime Day Sale lineup here, with up to 65% discounts, bonus savings, free gifts, and more – all starting from $169.

Man and woman running through field with Bluetti power station

Bluetti takes up to 63% off power stations and bundles in its Early Prime Day Sale + select exclusive savings – all from $329

Bluetti has officially launched its Early Prime Day Sale running through October 6 with up to 63% discounts, as well as continuing exclusive bonus savings on the brand’s latest release. Those bonus savings drop the new Apex 300 Versatile Power Station to $1,394.10 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5TOYS10F at checkout (which only works for Apex 300 purchases). This new unit would normally run you $2,399 at full price outside of these sales and exclusive pricing for our readers, which we’ve seen go as low as $1,439 in past sales with the exclusive savings since hitting the market in August. Now you can score it lower than ever, as the 42% combined markdown here cuts $1,005 off the tag for the all-time lowest price we have tracked. Head below to learn more about this unit and the many others benefiting from discounts during this event.

If you want to learn more about this station, or browse the full lineup of deals, be sure to check out our original coverage of this Early Prime Day Sale here.

man cutting through log with EGO 56V 16-inch cordless chainsaw

EGO’s 56V 16-inch cordless chainsaw covers storm debris, firewood collection, more at $219 annual low

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ 56V 16-inch Cordless Chainsaw with 2.5Ah battery at $219 shipped. This package would normally run for $279 without any discounts, which we’ve seen drop lowest to $219 in 2025, while going as low as $189 in a one-time discount a year ago. You’re looking at a 22% markdown that has been holding strong through September, with $60 slashed from the price for the third-best rate we have tracked over all, and the best price of 2025.

If you want to learn more about this chainsaw, or the other EGO tools seeing notable discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

man clearing snow in yard with Greenworks Pro 60V 22-inch cordless snow blower

You can prepare for snowfall with these 60V Greenworks snow blower kits starting from $360 (Save up to $188)

As we are stepping into fall, winter is not far off, which means we’re starting to see more frequent discounts on snow-clearing tools at Amazon, like the Greenworks Pro 60V 22-inch Cordless Single-Stage Snow Blower with two 5.0Ah batteries at $562.49 shipped, matching the price direct from the brand’s website. Normally going for $750 at full price, discounts over 2025 have mostly kept things above $630, though there was a one-time fall to $548 back in January, and a drop lower to the $490 low at the end of 2024. This is a 25% markdown that cuts $188 off the going rate for the second-best price of 2025 and the third-lowest rate overall. Head below to learn more about this model and its counterparts that are also seeing discounts.

If you want to learn more about this pro-tier snow-clearing solution, or its cheaper alternative, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

EcoFlow DELTA 3
EcoFlow DELTA 3
EcoFlow DELTA 3

Best Fall 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 is discounting EVs as much as 50% in this brutal overseas market

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September 29, 2025

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BYD is discounting EVs as much as 50% in this brutal overseas market

BYD-discounts-EVs-overseas

BYD is bringing China’s EV price war, which it helped ignite, overseas. After launching steep discounts of up to 50% on its most popular EVs, BYD wants to charge up sales in this key overseas region

BYD is heavily discounting EVs in Japan

It has been over two years since BYD introduced its first vehicle in Japan in early 2023, but the company has yet to experience the explosive sales growth it has seen in other overseas regions.

It isn’t all BYD’s fault. Japan is a notoriously brutal market for foreign automakers. Domestic brands, like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, dominate sales year after year, mostly with low-cost city cars.

Lower-priced vehicles are BYD’s specialty, and one of the main factors driving its impressive growth in China and overseas regions, including Southeast Asia, parts of Europe, and Central and South America. But Japan is a different beast.

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Since entering the market in January 2023, BYD has sold just 5,300 vehicles in Japan through June of this year. The company now offers four EVs in Japan and just opened its 45th sales location.

BYD-discounts-EVs-overseas
BYD Dolphin (left) and Atto 3 (right) at the 2024 Tokyo Spring Festival (Source BYD Japan)

To attract buyers, BYD launched an aggressive campaign offering discounts of up to 50% off EVs, including government subsidies.

“Maybe it’s time for an EV,” the company is promoting. On BYD’s website, the Seal, Atto 3, and Dolphin are all listed as on sale.

BYD-discounts-EVs-overseas
The BYD Atto 3 goes on sale in Japan (Source: BYD Japan)

The Atto 3, one of BYD’s top-selling electric SUVs, starts at just ¥4.18 million ($28,100), down from ¥4.4 million ($29,600) earlier this year.

Although the price cuts were effective in China, they could backfire in Japan. According to Bloomberg Intelligence senior auto analyst Tatsuo Yoshida, the move could hurt resale value and risk upsetting current BYD drivers who paid higher prices for the same vehicle.

BYD-discounts-EVs-Japan
BYD Atto 3 (left) and Dolphin (right) EVs in Japan (Source: BYD)

Meanwhile, it may not all be about market share for BYD. “Winning Japan isn’t the point; leaving a mark is. Earning even a sliver of recognition from the most demanding customers in the world matters for BYD,” Yoshida said.

What BYD really wants, “is to have a track record of doing business in Japan with the world’s most discerning, quality conscious customers,” Bloomberg’s senior auto analyst explained, “even if it’s not economically rational.”

Can BYD make its mark in Japan? It’s planning to launch its first electric kei car, the small city cars that fill Japan’s streets, in the second half of 2026.

BYD’s mini electric car will compete with the Nissan Sakura, Japan’s top-selling EV, and the recently launched Honda N-ONE e, the brand’s first compact electric vehicle. Honda launched the N-ONE e on September 12, starting at just ¥2.7 million ($18,300).

Source: Bloomberg, BYD Japan


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