Electrek

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.

Xiaomi has revealed the SkyNomad N90, the first model in its new SkyNomad series and the company’s first extended-range electric vehicle. CEO Lei Jun posted the first official exterior images today, and a new regulatory filing confirmed the full specs.

The N90 is a full-size, three-row SUV with a claimed combined range of more than 1,500 km (932 miles), aimed squarely at Li Auto and Huawei-backed Aito in China’s fast-growing EREV market.

Closing out this week’s Green Deals is the newly launched Lectric 250th Anniversary Sale with up to $464 increased savings from its July 4th deals on three e-bikes – the XP4 750, Xpress2, and Xpeak2 – all starting from $1,299. We also have a weekend flash sale from EcoFlow with offers like the 716Wh RIVER 2 Pro 700 Portable Power Station bundled with a waterproof and dustproof bag at a new $369 low, among others. You can also score EGO’s 3,200 PSI Electric Pressure Washer with 2x batteries at a new $679 low, as well as Anker’s eufy SoloCam E42 4-Cam Kit with Homebase 3 at $470 (plus tons of other security device deals), or we also have some exclusive alternator charger deals from Bluetti, a camping-ready telescopic light, some outdoor wall light upgrades, and more. As always, you can find the latest hangover deals down at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s full lineup of EcoFlow Outdoor Season Sale deals, the Velotric Discover 2 commuter e-bike at $1,799, 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.

Ahead of the updated 2027 model, sales of Volkswagen’s electric minibus bounced back, rising 120%. Meanwhile, the ID.4 is on a brief hiatus as it undergoes a major refresh.

Toyota’s luxury marque is bringing back its iconic sports car as an EV. The all-electric Lexus LFA made a public appearance at the Goodwood FOS, but will it ever reach production?

Australia just posted its biggest month ever for electric car sales, and for the first time seven different EVs each cleared 1,000 units in a single month.

Every one of them is either Chinese-owned or Chinese-built — and that includes the Tesla Model Y that topped the chart, which rolls off the line in Shanghai.

BYD Energy Storage has landed a contract to supply 11.275 GWh of battery storage for Masdar’s Round the Clock (RTC) project in Abu Dhabi — one of the single largest energy storage procurements ever signed.

The RTC project pairs a 5.2 GW solar array with a 19 GWh battery system, making it the world’s largest combined solar-plus-storage plant. BYD’s award covers the majority of that storage.

Yamaha has officially entered India’s increasingly competitive premium electric scooter market with the launch of the new Aerox-E, an electric version of its popular sporty maxi-scooter. Rather than chasing outright affordability, Yamaha is targeting riders looking for performance-focused urban transportation with premium features.

That has resulted in a more premium scooter, but also one of the highest scooter price tags in the country.

Global EV sales topped 2 million in June, but the headline numbers hide a widening split between the world’s biggest markets.

Hyundai’s biggest sales promo of the year, the Getaway Summer Sales Event, kicked off this month with competitive offers on its most popular vehicles, including EVs.

SolarEdge is rolling out its next-generation home solar and battery storage platform across the US, with orders for SolarEdge Nexis now open.

China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has put the world’s largest solar PV-plus-concentrated-solar hybrid into commercial trial operation in the Gobi Desert — and its headline trick is delivering power after sunset without a single lithium battery.

The 1-gigawatt Hami project in Xinjiang stores the sun’s energy as heat in molten salt, letting it keep generating for up to eight hours after dark.

The Trump administration’s rollback of clean energy policies has now cost the US nearly 470,000 jobs and $68 billion in private investment, according to a new report released today.

The Dolphin G DM-i is BYD’s first car specifically designed for Europe. With up to 65 miles of pure electric range and 646 miles combined, BYD said the plug-in hatch will redefine the segment as an affordable, efficient alternative. It’s now available to order, starting at about $32,000.

Toyota is delaying production of its first three-row electric SUV, the 2027 Highlander BEV, as it extends the current gas and hybrid models.

We’ve stuffed today’s Green Deals with plenty of summer savings, starting with EcoFlow’s Outdoor Season Sale and up to 57% power station discounts from $259, like the 3,072Wh DELTA 3 Ultra Portable Power Station down at $1,299. As part of Velotric’s World Cup Sale deals, you can find the Discover 2 Step-Thru Comfort Commuter e-bike with Apple Find My, SensorSwap tech, and a 75-mile range down at its second-lowest $1,799 pricing. We also spotted the affordable yet advanced Worx 40V 17-inch 2-in-1 Cordless Electric Intellicut Lawn Mower with 2x batteries at $230, as well as Schumacher’s NACS to J1772 EV charging adapter at a new $47.50 low, and much more waiting for you below. As always, you can also find the latest hangover deals down at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Lectric XP4 750 e-bike cargo bundle flash sale that ends tonight, Navee’s Summer EV Sale, 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.

MG’s semi-solid-state batteries will not be exclusive to EVs, with plans to launch three new plug-in hybrid SUVs equipped with the new battery tech. First up will be the MG ZS PHEV, set to go on sale in 2027.

New Jersey lawmakers are advancing a bill that would require driverless commercial vehicles to carry cameras plus two additional sensor types — a mandate Tesla’s camera-only Robotaxi can’t meet.

The proposed law, S1677, would effectively lock Tesla out of the most densely populated US state unless it adds the radar and lidar hardware that Elon Musk has spent years insisting his cars don’t need.

BYD took the covers off its new drop-top electric sports car at the Goodwood FOS. The Denza Z packs over 1,500 hp and can recharge in as little as 5 minutes, but it’s not cheap.

Trek is making a bigger push into the fast-growing fat tire e-bike segment with the launch of the new Borrego+, a Class 2 electric bike that blends adventure-ready capability with commuter-friendly practicality. The company is also offering a faster Borrego+ S variant for riders in markets where Class 3 e-bikes are permitted.