Electrek

Elon Musk claimed he “refused” invitations to visit Jeffrey Epstein’s private island after the financier was already convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, but newly released Department of Justice documents prove that was a lie.

The emails show Musk actively trying to plan a visit and asking Epstein about “the wildest party” on his island.

Hyundai’s electric MPV is bigger than the Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Kia Carnival. The Staria EV is Hyundai’s largest EV to date, and it looks even bigger in real life.

Days after completing a $9 million equity raise, solar EV startup Aptera Motors posted its latest progress update video, detailing how it intends to use the fresh funds. While it still has a way to go, Aptera is continuing production of its solar EV validation builds with hopes of delivering SEVs to customers before the end of the year.

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 Tesla’s automotive suicide, Model S/X getting axed in the process, the Cybercab fiasco, and more

Japanese oil giant Idemitsu Kosan broke ground on a large-scale solid electrolyte pilot plant in collaboration with Toyota on Thursday. The electrolytes made at the facility will be used in all-solid-state batteries for EVs developed by Toyota.

Our end-of-the-week Green Deals is being led by the Navee XT5 Pro Electric Scooter that has fallen to a new $1,100 low, while we also have Aventon’s Level 2 Commuter e-bike falling to a new $999 low in a weekend flash sale, as well as Heybike’s Valentine’s Day e-bike Sale taking up to $700 off its lineup and returning several models to their all-time lowest rates, like the Mars 2.0 Folding Fat Tire e-bike at $899. There’s also a 72-hour Anker SOLIX flash sale with options like the C2000 Gen 2 Power Station and alternator charger bundle at $1,148, among others – plus, we have some of the best prices of the last six months on EGO Power+ and Worx lawn care tools/equipment. All these and more are waiting for you below, and don’t forget the hangover deals at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s EcoFlow January Monthly Madness EcoCredit event, as well as Lectric’s Valentine’s Day e-bike Sale with up to $753 savings, 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.

The PV5 is much more than just an electric van. Kia opened orders for an EV pickup truck variant in South Korea this week, starting at 43.45 million won ($30,000). With subsidies, Kia said the actual purchase price can drop to just 29.95 million won ($20,800).

CATL and BYD are already dominating the EV battery market, accounting for over 50% of global sales last year. With new tech rolling out in 2026, China’s battery leaders look to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Tesla is officially expanding into Morocco, marking another step in the automaker’s push into African markets. The company will host a launch event on February 6 in Casablanca, introducing the Model 3 and Model Y to the North African nation.

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a range of stories from new e-bike laws in New Jersey and Amsterdam, Rad Power Bikes getting bought out of bankruptcy, the clever way that e-bike batteries can be used for extra power during storms or even power a food truck, Honda’s new 50 MPH electric scooter, and more.

SpaceX is reportedly considering a merger with either Tesla or xAI, according to Bloomberg. If you’re a Tesla shareholder, you should be very concerned about what this means.

The US DC fast charging industry slowdown never showed up in 2025. In fact, according to Paren’s new “US EV Fast Charging” state of the industry report, fast charging networks set records last year, with infrastructure buildout and charging demand both jumping about 30% year-over-year.

SOLARCYCLE has started recycling solar panels at a massive new facility in Cedartown, Georgia, signaling that solar recycling in the US is finally moving from pilot projects to industrial scale.

Tesla’s nascent robotaxi program is off to a rough start. New NHTSA crash data, combined with Tesla’s new disclosure of robotaxi mileage, reveals Tesla’s autonomous vehicles are crashing at a rate much higher tha human drivers, and that’s with a safety monitor in every car.

SolarEdge has started shipping US-made residential solar inverters to Europe – a milestone as US solar manufacturers look for export upside amid shifting trade rules, tariffs, and fading domestic manufacturing incentives.

The Hyundai Kona is about to look a lot different. Hyundai is scrapping plans for a mid-cycle facelift and will instead introduce an entirely new Kona.

The 2026 C-HR is smaller than the bZ and was expected to be the most affordable EV in Toyota’s lineup, starting at under $35,000, but prices are slightly higher than anticipated.

With a new year comes a new season of solar car racing! The official dates for the 2026 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) and the 2026 Electrek American Solar Challenge (ASC) have been released.

In addition, I’m excited to share that not only will this year’s FSGP track event be hosted at an entirely new racing complex, but event officials tell me a record 46 teams have registered to compete! This includes colleges from the US, Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

BYD already has a strong foothold in Mexico, accounting for around 70% of electric and plug-in hybrid sales. Now, the Chinese EV giant could be looking north, as Canada opens its doors.

Today’s Green Deals are focusing on EcoFlow power stations and Lectric e-bikes, as both brands have just launched major sales events. First up is EcoFlow’s January Monthly Madness Sale with up to 68% discounts, bonus savings codes, 3x EcoCredit rewards, and more – not to mention the increased savings on units like the DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station at a new $1,879 low + a parallel flash sale. We also have Lectric’s Valentine’s Day e-bike sale with up to $753 savings across its lineup that starts from $999, as well as a parallel Valentine’s Day accessory sale, too. All these and more are waiting for you below, and don’t forget the hangover deals at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Heybike Villain Electric Dirt Bike launch deal, the Anker eufy security + SOLIX F3000 bundle lows, 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.

EV newcomer Slate Auto may not have launched its flagship truck to market yet, but it has done an excellent job of keeping the public up to date on the progress of reconfiguring a manufacturing plant in Indiana, as detailed in its latest video, seen below.

The bZ Woodland is longer than Toyota’s first electric SUV, and it comes with all-wheel drive as standard. Is it worth the added price?

Waymo has started providing rides with its autonomous taxi service to San Francisco International airport, starting today for select riders.

Tesla’s Q4 2025 earnings call made one thing painfully clear: the company is no longer interested in being an automaker.

In a single call, Tesla announced it’s killing the Model S and Model X, has no plans for new mass-market models, and is pivoting entirely to “transportation as a service.” The company that revolutionized the auto industry is walking away from it, not because it failed, but because Elon Musk got bored and found new toys.