Electrek

BYD launched the new Denza Z at the Goodwood FOS this weekend. While the electric supercar costs nearly $200,000, it’s still cheaper —and faster — than a Porsche 911 Turbo S.

Hyundai issued a recall affecting a small number of older IONIQ 5, Kia EV9, and Kia EV6 models due to a battery defect that could lead to a fire.

Mercedes-Benz has officially kicked off production of its upcoming all-electric C-Class at its factory in Kecskemét, Hungary, as the automaker expands EV production in Europe ahead of a wave of new electric models.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 168 today, creating a new “MyFirstEV” program that gives first-time electric vehicle buyers a $3,500 instant rebate at the dealership starting later this summer.

The point-of-sale discount is backed by $135.5 million in state funding, matched dollar-for-dollar by participating automakers — and a California-headquarters rule makes Rivian and Lucid the biggest winners, while Tesla qualifies only on its cheapest models.

Kicking off this week’s Green Deals is the $300 savings on ENGWE’s newest L16 Utility e-bike (both single and dual battery models) that starts from $899. Right behind it we have the continuing $1,400 savings on Segway’s Xyber Electric Bike with a FREE extra battery at a $2,900 low, as well as the Navimow i215 LiDAR Robot Lawn Mower or a garage M bundle at their lowest prices starting from $1,399. We also have two Worx 1,870 or 2,090 max PSI compact pressure washer deals, some outdoor lighting, a comprehensive security system, and more waiting for you below. As always on a Monday, you can find last week’s hangover deals down at the bottom of the page, collected into our latest Electrified Weekly roundup edition.

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.

Tesla is building a purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle, a company policy advisor told lawmakers in Washington, DC, on Monday.

But Tesla gave no timeline, no vehicle, and no details, and it’s not clear the “active product” is anything more than the Robovan it unveiled nearly two years ago.

Toyota’s luxury marque is bringing back its iconic supercar, but this time it’s all-electric. The Lexus LFA made its debut at the Goodwood FOS, revealing its low-slung design and fake V-8 roar.

The Qin Max is a “completely different new B-segment fast-charging sedan,” BYD said after previewing the new EV for the first time.

Paper Transport (PTI) announced today that it is evaluating the Tesla Semi Long Range in dedicated operations in the Chicago market, becoming the latest fleet to put Tesla’s electric Class 8 truck to work in daily freight.

The Wisconsin-based carrier, which has logged more than 87 million miles on compressed and renewable natural gas, is adding battery-electric to a sustainability push it has been running for over 15 years.

The IONIQ 3 has received the “highest-ever” levels of customer interest for any Hyundai model (EV or gas), with prices starting under $30,000.

A Bengaluru startup called Vimag Labs just secured its fifth Indian patent for an electric motor that runs without any rare-earth magnets, using software and power electronics to generate its magnetic field instead.

It’s a small, $5-million company taking a swing at a problem that has stumped Tesla, GM, and every major automaker for years: how to build a competitive EV motor that doesn’t depend on China.

Samsung has completed its own version of Tesla’s AI5 self-driving chip and is preparing to start production at its foundry in Taylor, Texas, on the company’s latest 2-nanometer process, according to industry officials.

The move confirms Samsung is building AI5 on 2nm — a node that had been expected to debut with Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chip, not this one.

Germany is preparing to tighten the rules governing shared electric scooters, proposing new legislation that would make rental operators like Lime and Bolt directly liable for damages caused by their vehicles.

The conversion van experts at Vantrack say they’re ready to deliver on the promise of Kia’s own WKNDR concept with a new electric camper van based on the popular Kia PV5 Passenger – but unlike the concept that inspired it, this van is headed for production.

Merceds took the wraps off its new Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with jaw-dropping specs, staggering acceleration, and rising Formula 1 star Kimi Antonelli behind the wheel.

American Truck Simulator’s players can finally get a taste of what it’s like to climb into the cab of a Volvo VNL and VNR Electric semi trucks as the big BEVs become the first-ever electric truck to be featured in the over-the-road driving game.

Swiss electric scooter maker VMAX has launched the new VX2 Lite, a commuter-focused electric scooter that packs premium features like full suspension, a 56-mile (90 km) maximum range, and up to 1,400W of peak motor power into a relatively lightweight package.

Tesla says “Cybercab employee rides at Giga Texas” are “starting soon” — its first stated step toward putting people inside the wheel-less, pedal-less robotaxi.

But the announcement, spread across two Tesla accounts and roughly 2.9 million combined views, is thinner than it sounds. It’s not clear whether Tesla means Cybercabs running a real ride service in Austin or simply driving employees around a factory parking lot.

As communities across the US continue grappling with the rapid rise of electric bikes and scooters, one Oregon sheriff’s office is introducing a new tool designed to help identify trouble spots before someone gets hurt.

Lithium-ion has long dominated home battery storage, but sodium-ion is starting to make its move. Sodium-ion battery startup UNIGRID has shipped the first units of its Na+Casa residential battery, with the first systems now installed in homes across Europe.

Elon Musk told Tesla staff to move to using Grok, the AI model from his own xAI (now folded into SpaceX), according to a memo sent to employees on Friday.

The push comes days after Tesla capped employee spending on third-party AI tools — and it lands even though Musk himself concedes Grok is not as good as its rivals.

BYD’s low-cost Seagull EV, sold as the Dolphin Surf in Europe, is getting another update with a longer body and a more powerful motor.

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 Rivian going back to the stock market market, Xiaomi going big, and a $14,000 tiny EV in the US.

Tesla is still the king, accounting for about 50% of the US EV market, but a handful of brands are finally gaining traction with new models now on sale.