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Jo Borrás

volvojo1

I’ve been in and around the auto industry since the ’90s, and have written for a number of well-known outlets like CleanTechnica, the Truth About Cars, Popular Mechanics, and more. You can catch me at Electrek Daily Quick Charge, The Heavy Equipment Podcast with Mike Switzer, or chasing my kids around Oak Park, IL.

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Home solar in rural America: how much battery do you need to run a well pump?

How big a battery and solar system does a rural home need just to run a well pump?

There’s no shortage of advice on how to size a home solar system, but most of it assumes a suburban house with city water and a long list of optional loads. Rural homes play by different rules, and when your water comes from a well, keeping the lights on is optional — but keeping the well’s pump running isn’t.

Here’s what it really takes, in solar and battery terms, to keep your home’s water flowing even when its electrons aren’t.

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All the EVs you can buy with 0% financing in January 2026 [update]

Tesla Model Y Standard 0% Financing

Lease deals get all the hype, but a lot of people would still rather buy their vehicles. If that sounds like you, you’re in luck, because there’s a whole bunch of great EVs you can buy with 0% financing this month – including the new “affordable” Tesla Model Y Standard!

UPDATE 17JAN2026: Stellantis’ plug-in pony car is back on the menu!

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Last call: check out these EVs before they’re gone for good in 2026 [update]

RIP: These EVs Won't Make It to 2026

A lot of mainstream auto media coverage right now is pushing the idea that some EVs are “dying.” What we’re really seeing is a wave of end-of-cycle, first-generation vehicles making way for their next-gen replacements. Historically, that’s when buyers get the best deals – so if that’s what you’re after, these are the EVs you should be looking at right now.

UPDATE 11JAN2026: added a PHEV people-mover and a plug-in SUV.

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Bladder buster: Buick Electra E7 goes nearly 1,000 miles between stops

Buick Electra E7 unveiled: a plug-in hybrid SUV with 1,600 km combined range

As long as range anxiety is still a thing, you could make the case that manufacturers posting huge range numbers between stops is only making it worse, convincing hesitant, late-adopters that range is the only stat that matters. That said, with 1600 km (~995 miles) of combined range, the new Buick Electra E7 is an impressive, bladder-busting ride.

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While the Feds sell out, Oregon steps up with its own EV incentive plan

Oregon launches rebate program to help businesses pay for electric fleet vehicles

The Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit tax credit under Section 45W of the IRS tax code may be gone, but it’s not forgotten! A number of states and utilities are stepping up with their own programs – and Oregon is the latest, offering rebates of up to $120,000 per vehicle for fleets looking to electrify their operations.

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