The Auto Xone

JackRabbit , the maker of pint-sized electric microbikes, is back with a new product designed to quickly recharge their batteries from pure, uncut photons mainlined into an e-bike directly from the sun. In true independent charging form, the Solar Charging Kit from JackRabbit keeps riders rolling even when there’s not a convenient AC outlet in sight. Unveiled this week, the Solar Charging Kit consists of a single folding solar panel and a tiny voltage converter that is configured to output 42.0V, which is the exact voltage required by JackRabbit’s little e-bike batteries. There’s also an added USB-A and a USB-C charging port for powering other devices in addition to charging JackRabbit batteries. “This Solar Charging Kit plugs directly into your bike,” explained the company, “letting you recharge without needing an outlet, but with a speed comparable to the charger that comes with the OG/OG2 (42V, 2A).” That would mean the panel outputs around 80W of solar power, which the compan...

By Zachary Visconti Posted on January 20, 2025 President Donald Trump was sworn into office on Monday, and an incoming White House official has said that he plans to sign an executive order ending the so-called “electric vehicle (EV) mandate” on day one, though he’ll hold off on proposed tariff plans on related imports. During a media briefing, a White House official said that Trump plans to sign the order on Monday, though he won’t sign anything related to previously reported tariff increases on EV battery material imports from China, Canada, Mexico, or other countries just yet, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press . While there is no such “EV mandate,” as mentioned, he’s widely considered to be referring to plans to end the federal $7,500 tax credit on EV purchases enacted by former President Joe Biden, as well as to put an end to emissions goals set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Trump also said during his inaugural a...

By Zachary Visconti Posted on January 19, 2025 Tesla’s sales in the U.S. last year totaled more than three times as many as the next two electric vehicle (EV) makers combined, as shown in the latest automotive sales figures. Fourth-quarter and full-year data from Cox Automotive last week showed that Tesla sold 633,762 units in the U.S. in 2024, marking the company’s first year-over-year sales decline, but more than tripling the number of EVs from the next two companies combined. General Motors (GM) and Ford landed in second and third place on the charts, with 112,897 and 97,865 EVs sold, respectively, while Hyundai, Kia, Rivian, and Honda took up the next few spots. Crucially for the growing sector, Q4 EV sales increased 15.2 percent from the same quarter in the previous year, reaching a record total of 1.3 million for the full year. While Tesla’s sales dropped 1.1 percent last year from 2023, a detail that has been widely reported, the company still man...

Range Rover Electric SUV winter testing (Source: JLR) Whether you’re a seasoned EV driver in cold climates or this is your first winter driving an electric vehicle, there’s always more to learn about how to get the best range and performance from your EV when the temperatures drop. Electrek asked two experts for smart winter EV driving advice. This is what Richard Reina, product training director at CARiD.com , and Casey Donahue, CEO of Optiwatt , a residential managed charging platform in North America, had to say. Park in a garage if possible . “It’s always best practice in the winter to park your EV in a garage. Even an unheated garage provides some protection from the cold. A temperature difference of even a few degrees means that the battery of your EV can hold its charge longer. EV batteries lose some range with every degree drop in temperature.” – Richard Reina Schedule departure.  “Scheduling departure gives you the time needed to precondition your vehicle and ...

By Joey Klender Posted on January 17, 2025 Former Tesla executive Mike Tully is suing the company for an issue with a telework policy he says the company agreed to, then changed their minds. He says it caused an agonizing medical condition to reappear and nearly caused his marriage to fall apart. Tully filed the suit last month in a California court and claimed Tesla offered him a work-from-home position. He then claims Tesla instead pulled the job offer from him and offered him a separate position, which would require him and his family to relocate . He is calling it a “bait-and-switch” after “being promised and assured” he would not have to move for the role. Tully was with Bank of America for sixteen years before he accepted a job at Tesla’s Fremont corporate offices. The job with Bank of America was in Irvine, California, roughly 400 miles south of Fremont, where his new position would be. The complaint, according to  The Independent , said that...

Photo: Convergent Energy The US Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $1.2 billion in financing to replace Puerto Rico’s fossil fuel plants with solar and battery storage through 2032. The DOE’s Loan Programs Office announced two conditional commitments and one loan closing to power producers in Puerto Rico. Each supports a project contracted with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. The announcements include: The closing of a $584.5 million loan guarantee to subsidiaries of Convergent Energy to finance a 100 MW solar farm with a 55 MW (55 MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) in the municipality of Coamo and BESS installations in the municipalities of Caguas (25MW/100MWh), Peñuelas (100MW/400MWh), and Ponce (up to 100MW/400MWh) A conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $133.6 million to a subsidiary of Infinigen for a 32.1 MW solar farm with an integrated 14.45 MW (4.76 MWh) BESS, and a co-located standalone 50 MW (200 MWh) BESS expansion in the muni...