Electrek

Octopus Energy is taking a swing at one of the most irritating parts of public EV charging: needing a phone full of apps just to plug in.

On this second consecutive self-steering episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at how Tesla increased its national self-driving Robotaxi fleet by half with the stroke of a pen, and see how the company’s autonomous deployments compare to the rest of the world’s.

Tesla has told employees it is preparing a public launch of the Cybercab in Austin as soon as this month, according to a report from The Information.

It would be the first Tesla vehicle ever built without a steering wheel or pedals — and the least exciting vehicle the company has ever made, because it is virtually worthless without an autonomous driving system Tesla still hasn’t delivered at scale.

With a tri-motor setup delivering over 1,500 horsepower, the Denza Z can hit 0 to 62 mph in under 2 seconds. It’s also cheaper than a Porsche 911 Turbo S.

Starting at $35,000, the 2027 Hyundai IONIQ 5 will remain among the most affordable EVs in the US.

Aventon is leading our Monday Green Deals this week as it has kicked off a Labor Day Sale on its smart e-bikes, including first-ever savings on the newest REC models, as well as the second-ever 2026 discount on the Soltera 2.5 Lightweight Commuter e-bike at its $999 low. Right behind that, we have Autel’s MaxiCharger AC Lite Home 40A Smart Level 2 EV Charger with an AI voice assistant down at $376, the popular Greenworks 3,000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer at $350, the recently released Navee Cyber X Pro Electric Dirt Bike for kids at a new $400 low, and more waiting down below. Don’t forget about the hangover deals from last week that are down at the bottom of the page, rounded up in our latest Electrified Weekly edition of deals.

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.

Nevada’s Transportation Authority granted Tesla a permit to run driverless vehicles in Las Vegas last month and capped the fleet at 10 cars. Tesla’s application had asked for 5,000.

The permit also confines Tesla to an approved stretch of the Strip, bans pickups at Harry Reid International Airport, and limits the vehicles to 45 mph.

For the last few years, it has felt like the electric bike industry has been engaged in a constant arms race.

Every new launch seems to promise more speed, more power, bigger batteries, and increasingly motorcycle-like styling. And every time a new model pushes the envelope, the comments inevitably fill with some people asking the same question: “Why not just make it faster?”

I think that’s the wrong question.

Kia’s popular electric SUV is now on sale in the US. The range-topping EV3 GT delivers 288 horsepower from a dual-motor AWD setup with exclusive sporty design elements inside and out, starting from $45,890.

The world’s largest EV battery maker says all 20 of its operating battery plants are now carbon neutral – but most of its batteries’ emissions still occur outside its factories.

BYD’s low-cost Seagull EV, sold as the Dolphin Surf in Europe and Dolphin Mini in other overseas markets, is due for an upgrade. Here’s a sneak peek.

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving v14.3.6 tried to take a highway exit that my car had already passed, at 110 km/h (68 mph), and it would have taken us straight into the ditch.

I was ready to take control, and I did, but it was scary. My girlfriend, sitting in the passenger seat, screamed in fear.

Hyundai opened orders for the IONIQ 3, its new entry-level electric hatch, starting at about $30,000.

Between increasingly extreme weather, rising electricity demands, and the rapid expansion of data centers, energy independence is starting to look less like a talking point for doomsday preppers and more like sound planning. That shift in thinking is driving more homeowners than ever towards solar-plus-battery energy solutions like the industry-leading Tesla Powerwall – but Powerwall isn’t the only game in town, anymore.

GM’s Latin American expansion continues with news that Chevrolet is offering EV buyers free charging at network at dealerships throughout Peru, where sales of plug-powered vehicles are growing rapidly.

The new, retro-inspired Freelander 8 is Jaguar Land Rover’s latest global entry into the West’s red-hot luxury SUV market, and the off-roader is off to a strong start with over 10,000 orders flooding in in just 48 hours.

Global equipment brand LiuGong says its 924FE 30-ton electric excavator isn’t an alternative to diesel. Instead, it’s better in every way – and the company’s North American customers are about to see for themselves.

Ferrari’s first electric car sold for $40 million at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction Saturday night. The pre-sale estimate was $1.1 million.

That’s more than 36 times the estimate, and roughly 62 times what the Luce costs on Ferrari’s own price list. Every dollar goes to charity.

Zijin Longking rolled into a media ceremony in Longyan City, Fujian Province this week with the all-electric ZL230E electric mining truck – a 350-ton GVW haul truck that sits in a class of its own as the single largest-tonnage battery electric mining truck in China.

On today’s self-steering episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at Waymo’s westward expansion into 18 new California counties – a move the company believes will power it to more than one MILLION paid rides by the end of the year.

Tesla has switched on vehicle-to-load for the Model Y Premium in the US and Puerto Rico, letting owners pull 2.4 kW out of the car’s battery at 120 volts and 20 amps.

You need an $80 accessory to do it, and not every Model Y Premium can. Tesla says the adapter can be added during configuration or bought from the Tesla Shop.

Sean Duffy, whose transportation expertise comes from being a contestant on the reality TV show Road Rules, is going back to his roots and filming a reality TV show while on the job.

But, as is fitting for the corrupt cabal he’s a member of, he’s made sure to let companies he’s supposed to regulate pay for his family’s vacation. And he’s doing this right as he works his hardest to ensure that your roadtrips are less attainable, with higher energy prices across the country as the direct and intended result of his policies.

(Original article 5/13, Update 8/15: The show will release in the next week or two, after being stuck for months in editing to address many ethics complaints)

The ability to tap into the energy locked inside your car’s battery to power tools, lights, campground gear, and essential home appliances during an outage has quickly become one of the most desirable EV features.

The problem? Many electric vehicles already on the road – including millions of Teslas (Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y)! – were never sold with native vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. The new D2 power adapter from WETOX changes all that, using the car’s native charge port and turning more EVs into portable power stations.

First seen in the Toyo Tires booth in 2024, Bisi Ezerioha’s converted Roller resurfaced this week at Exotics on Broadway – and the slick, silent running SilvEV Ghost electric restomod has never looked better with a freshened interior and a fresh coat of wax.