In this first, thrilling Quick Charge episode of the new year we’ve got declining Tesla sales in China and the US, a rare 0% financing deal on a new Model Y, and a brand-new EV sales champion was crowned in 2025.
Expand Expanding CloseAuthor
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.
All the EVs you can buy with 0% financing in January 2026
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!
Expand Expanding CloseConvoy – electric semi brand SANY pairs autonomy with human experience
Instead of betting the farm on fully self-driving trucks from the jump, Chinese equipment and heavy truck brand SANY is putting a seasoned driver in a lead vehicle with as many as four autonomous heavy trucks programmed to follow his lead.
Expand Expanding CloseThe electric minivan Dodge dealers need already exists – just not here
Last week, I argued that Dodge was wasting its time building muscle cars and hiring “badassadors,” and that what the brand needed to change its fortunes was a new electric minivan. That van already exists. Meet the Leapmotor D99.
Expand Expanding CloseSuccess! High-speed wireless charging gets real at Purdue University
For the first time in the US, a battery-electric semi truck has successfully been charged at highway speeds, and without wires thanks to a new, patent-pending system designed by a team of Purdue University engineers with support from Cummins.
Expand Expanding CloseVermeer soft-launches new line of electric tree care equipment
The equipment experts at Vermeer are jumping into the electric landscaping and forestry markets with both feet following the limited launch of three all-new, all-electric equipment options for the US and European markets.
Expand Expanding CloseSandvik bringing battery-swap mining rigs to Eldorado Gold mine
Canadian mining firm Eldorado Gold is taking a big step towards decarbonizing its operations with a fresh order for ten fully electric equipment assets from the experts at Sandvik set to be deployed later this year.
Expand Expanding CloseDodge dealers don’t need a new Charger — they need a new Caravan
If the market failures of the Dodge Charger Daytona and VW ID.Buzz have proved anything at all, it’s that the Baby Boomer era is over, and their kids — GenX and Millenials alike — aren’t willing to pay a premium for a vehicle that looks like something their dad once thought was cool. As GenX becomes the largest and richest new car-buying demographic, manufacturers need to find out what they are nostalgic about.
To that end, I propose the following nostalgia play: the “Goonies Never Say Die” edition 2027 Dodge Caravan BEV.
Expand Expanding Close$29K Dodge Charger — is this 50% off EV deal too good to miss?
We talk all about the whys and hows behind the all-electric Dodge Charger failing to light up the sales boards the way it lit up its rear tires, but with a base price around $60,000 it hardly seemed to matter — now that Dodge dealers are slashing prices by nearly 50%, however, is this retro EV finally worth a look?
Expand Expanding CloseLast call: check out these EVs before they’re gone for good in 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 — and, historically, that’s when buyers get the best deals.
If that’s what you’re after, these are the EVs you should be looking at right now.
Expand Expanding CloseAnd then there was one: Nikola workforce down to a single employee
Nikola’s story of fraud, deception, and political intrigue is almost over – the bankrupt company that promised a revolution in hydrogen- and battery-powered heavy trucking has seen its workforce shrink from 874 to a single remaining employee.
Expand Expanding CloseE-quipment highlight: Zamboni 552AC electric ice surfacer
In the world of professional hockey, the only thing that might be more iconic than the legendary Stanley Cup might be the Zamboni – the mighty ice-smoothing machines that keep the rink fast, flawless, and game-ready. And, thanks to battery power, today’s Zambonis can do the job more quietly, cleanly, and efficiently than ever.
Expand Expanding CloseIt’s time to start recommending some Tesla Powerwall alternatives [update]
For years, Tesla Powerwall has been the go-to recommendation for “normals” looking for a painless, low-effort experience from their first home solar and battery backup solutions. But with a recent recall on more than 10,000 home batteries over fire safety concerns following a year (or more) of CEO Elon Musk’s political antics, more and more people are beginning to look for alternatives to the trailblazing Tesla tech. The good news: there are plenty of other great home solar battery solutions are there!
UPDATE 28DEC2025: a 2026 CES Innovation Award winner makes the list.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung SDI shifts US focus from EVs to BESS solutions
In what appears to be significant strategic pivot, Samsung SDI will begin supplying prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy storage systems under a fresh US contract worth more than 2 trillion won (~$1.35 billion). The move will see the company shift US EV battery production lines to ESS output ahead of 2027.
Expand Expanding CloseToyota Hino-backed semi brand Tern adds 6×2 tandem axle variant
After launching its first-ever battery-electric Class 8 truck at the 2024 ACT Expo, the Toyota Hino-backed Tern brand announced the launch of its second electric semi truck. Meet the new Tern RC8 6×2 80k tractor.
Expand Expanding CloseRenault Group closes out 2025 with a new EV efficiency record
First shown earlier this year as a styling concept, the Renault Filante Record 2025 technology demonstrator has been continually developed to prove that it’s got more than racy looks going for it. The concept drove more than 1,000 km in less than 10 hours, proving that extreme efficiency is possible at highway speeds.
Expand Expanding CloseAll I want for Christmas is this Rolls-Royce Corniche Drophead restomod
’Twas the night before Christmas, and while visions of sugarplums may be dancing in other, lesser heads, mine is hoping for some polished chrome, hand-stitched leather, and effortless, electric torque — because Mariah can have you, all I want for Christmas is this classic Rolls-Royce Corniche restomod (in seasonally-appropriate Sugarplum metallic).
Expand Expanding CloseNew electric VW packs XPeng tech, 800V electronics, and 425 mile range
Volkswagen has released a new ID.UNYX 08 electric crossover for the Chinese market with a sharp look, an ultra-fast charging 800V system architecture, and a starting price that’s bound to steal even more sales from the struggling Tesla brand.
Expand Expanding CloseHome energy upgrades you’ll regret not doing while installing rooftop solar
Adding a rooftop solar array to your home or business can be exciting and expensive. As such, it might be tempting to cut corners to keep costs down — but some upgrades are simply much cheaper to do while your solar system is being installed than they are to add later, and we’ve got some prime examples right here.
Expand Expanding CloseTesla has YouTube clips, CATL has bots on the ground — right now
While Tesla struggles shake off allegations of remote operation for its robots, CATL is putting its new “Moz” humanoid robots to work — the company says it’s got the world’s first large-scale implementation of humanoid robots working at their Zhongzhou battery pack facility in China.
Expand Expanding CloseE-quipment highlight: Komatsu PC365-11 hybrid excavator
Thanks to a clever, fully electric swing system and “boom up” power assist features, the big PC365-11 hybrid excavator from Komatsu promises better performance and serious fuel savings compared to conventional diesel machines.
Expand Expanding CloseFive for Five: Kia PV5 scores 5 star European safety rating
For serious fleet buyers, safety isn’t a “nice-to-have,” it’s an absolute must – and Kia’s new PV5 electric van meets that need with a positively stellar, five-star safety rating on the tough European NCAP safety test.
Expand Expanding CloseBYD now lets owners share home chargers through their app
BYD is taking a page from the Airbnb playbook by launching a home charger sharing system that lets EV owners open up their personal charging equipment to other BYD drivers — and get paid for the convenience.
Expand Expanding CloseMaximizing fleet efficiency and ROI with telematics integration [update]
Even without clean fleet tax credits and cash-on-the-hood incentives, fleet managers are working hard to maximize their ROI on vehicle assets and reduce their total cost of ownership – and they’re increasingly turning to data‑driven telematics solutions to help.
Expand Expanding Close