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Toyota thinks it’s a good idea to put a fake manual transmission in an EV

Lexus UX300e electric SUV


Love it or hate it, Toyota seems to be moving forward with its plan to add a manual transmission simulation to its electric cars, complete with engine revving noise and lots of jerky feels. A new patent application shows a system with up to 14 pseudo gears to enhance the zero-emissions driving experience and maybe convert some manual-loving drivers over to the EV side.

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Honda pulls plug on all-electric E minicar in Europe after just 3 years – what went wrong?

Honda Europe

Honda has confirmed it is nixing sales of its E minicar in Europe after steering well short of its already modest sales targets during its first three years on the market. Honda appears to have missed the mark on this initial entry into EVs but looks to learn from the experience as it looks toward a more electrified future.

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Ride1Up CF Racer1 unveiled as high-end gravel/road e-bike without the expensive price

If you’ve got a fat enough wallet, there are some seriously high-end electric bikes floating around out there from top-shelf e-bike companies. But what if your taste for finer things doesn’t quite match up with your real-world budget? Now Ride1Up is unveiling the answer in its new CF Racer1 carbon fiber electric road bike and gravel bike.

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Hyundai and Kia boast another breakthrough, unveiling new tire with retractable ‘snow chains’

Hyundai snow tire

Weeks after introducing a potentially game-changing “Uni-wheel” drive system for EVs, Hyundai and Kia are showing off another next-generation technology to keep EV drivers safer during inclement weather. Today, Kia and Hyundai introduced a new snow chain-integrated tire that utilizes shape memory alloy modules inside the wheel. See how this incredible new tech works in the video below.

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Greenworks launches electric tool holiday sale alongside tons of e-bike discounts and other Green Deals

Greenworks is helping you gift one of its popular electric tools for less, offering deep discounts across its lineup of electric mowers, snowblowers, chain saws, and other gear that’ll arrive before Christmas. The savings come joined by an assortment of e-bikes and all of the other best Green Deals.

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.

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Mazda plans to make ‘7 or 8’ EV models by 2030 – does that include the Miata?


Slow-moving Mazda, which currently sells one compliance electric car, the MX-30 (and in limited quantities), says it will finally wake from its long slumber and crank out a few more EVs, seven or eight models in fact, and sell them internationally by 2030. Here’s hoping that the promised electric Miata is part of the lineup.

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This major smartphone OEM wants Mercedes and Audi to use its software

Huawei, a major smartphone OEM, telecom supplier, and (formerly) silicon designer, is engaging German carmakers Mercedes and Audi over a potential stake in its vehicle software business. Huawei currently supplies vehicle software to several Chinese domestic OEMs, including Seres Group, Changan Automobile, and Arcfox, as well its own joint ventures, Luxeed (co-owned by Chery) and Avatr (co-owned by CATL).

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Everything my wife learned from her first 100 miles e-biking to work

rayvolt exxite XS electric bike ride commute

My wife has always been bike-curious. As the partner of a mobility journalist and prolific electric bike reviewer, it would be hard for her to avoid them if she tried. But most of her brief experiences with e-bikes comes from joining me on riding trips or the occasional rented e-bike on vacation. She’s the proverbial barefoot kid to my proverbial cobbler.

After beginning a new job this year though, she decided that she wanted to start riding an e-bike to work. Now over 100 miles (160 km) in, I pestered her with a bunch of questions to figure out what a relative newcomer to bike commuting has learned from the experience, both the good and the bad.

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