Toyota recycles old electric vehicle batteries to power Mazda’s production line. As electric mobility becomes widespread, the issue of what happens to end-of-life batteries becomes crucial. Faced with this challenge, Toyota has developed an innovative solution: the Sweep Energy Storage System.

The Sweep System: A Second Life for Batteries

This ingenious system collects all high-voltage batteries, regardless of their chemistry and wear, to integrate them into a factory energy storage system. A full-scale test has just been launched at the Mazda production site in Hiroshima.

How Does Sweep Technology Work?

The Sweep Energy Storage System recovers batteries from electrified vehicles (hybrid or 100% electric) and connects them to the electrical grid. The energy management logic developed by Toyota monitors and redirects the energy flow in fractions of a second, prioritizing healthy batteries and bypassing less efficient ones.

An Economic and Ecological Innovation

The system also reuses the inverters from electrified cars, eliminating the need for additional power conditioners and thus reducing costs.

The Hiroshima Site: An Ideal Testing Ground

The Mazda campus in Hiroshima has relative energy autonomy, with its own thermal and solar power plants. This makes it a perfect location to install the Sweep equipment and demonstrate its benefits for Japanese automakers.

Towards Optimized Renewable Energy Management

Toyota and Mazda’s systems were connected via their respective energy management systems. In the future, this storage system will be used to regulate the supply and demand of renewable energy, which fluctuates according to weather and time of day, thus contributing to carbon neutrality.

Promising Results as Early as 2022

Toyota and the Japanese energy company JERA launched the first Sweep system in 2022, connecting it to the Chubu electrical grid. This unit achieved a peak power of 485 kW and stored 1,260 kWh, enough to power more than 1,200 households for one hour. Its flexibility in accepting batteries of varying quality and chemistry makes it a practical and scalable solution for recycling.

One of the most iconic custom cars of the 1950s, equipped with the famous glowing Goodyear tires, is currently being offered for sale by Mecum Auctions. This automotive gem, known as the Golden Sahara II, embodies the boldness and innovation of a bygone era.

A History Born from an Accident

The adventure begins with a 1953 Lincoln Capri owned by legendary customizer George Barris. After a collision with a hay truck, the car, rather than being sent to the scrapyard, became Barris’s most ambitious project. Jim Street agreed to fund its transformation, giving birth to the first Golden Sahara.

The Genesis of an Icon

The first version stood out with its wraparound windshield, a unique half-bubble top, and paint embedded with 24-carat gold flakes and fish scales for a sparkling effect. The interior, ultra-luxurious for 1954, included white mink carpeting, a television, a telephone, and a cocktail refrigerator.

The Advent of the Golden Sahara II

Jim Street invested an additional $75,000 to create version II. Beyond aesthetic enhancements (quadruple headlights, new bumpers), the car incorporated a groundbreaking innovation: a remote-control driving system. In 1956, it could be driven from outside via antennas receiving “start,” “stop,” “accelerate,” and “brake” commands.

The Star: The Glowing Goodyear Tires

Neothane Technology

The most striking feature of the Golden Sahara II remains its glowing Goodyear Neothane tires. Made from a translucent polyurethane compound, these tubeless and cordless tires could be dyed in a multitude of colors.

A Revolutionary Glow

The major innovation lay in their ability to let light pass through. Eighteen bulbs, installed in the center of each rim, produced an electroluminescent glow on the ground and in the wheel wells, creating a hypnotic spectacle.

A Star’s Life and a Meticulous Restoration

After a Hollywood career in the 1960s, the car suddenly disappeared before being repurchased by Larry Klairmont. A complete restoration was entrusted to Speakeasy Customs, which collaborated with Goodyear to faithfully recreate the legendary glowing tires, now equipped with programmable LEDs.

An Unreserved Auction

Despite an accident during its transport to the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the Golden Sahara II has been perfectly restored. It will be sold with no reserve price on Saturday, September 20, thus concluding 72 years of an exceptional automotive history.

Get a $620 generator for only $299 at Walmart right now. A gasoline generator can prove to be a valuable asset for a long off-road trip, a multi-day off-grid camping experience, or simply to have as a backup solution in case of a power outage at home. Walmart is currently reducing the price of this 2500-watt unit by more than half – it’s one of the lowest prices ever seen for a generator offering such power.

Key Features of the PowerSmart 2500W Generator

Sale price: $299.99 (instead of $619.00). Here is the full detail of the technical specifications:

Engine and Performance

4-stroke OHV engine. Power: 900W rated and 2500W surge power. Gasoline runtime: 7.5 hours at 25% load, 5.5 hours at 50% load, 3.5 hours at 100% load.

Connectivity and Portability

2 AC outlets, 2 USB ports, 1 DC port. Product dimensions (L x W x H): 20.5 x 12.8 x 20 inches. Net weight: 39.7 lb (18 kg). Noise level: 69 dB at 23 feet (7 meters).

Parallel Functionality

Parallel capability: double your output power to 5000W by connecting two generators. Fast delivery: items usually arrive in 2 to 5 days.

Reviews and Alternatives

I personally haven’t tested PowerSmart equipment, but online reviews seem quite positive. At this price, it’s worth trying, even if this generator ends up being your simple backup solution. If this model doesn’t quite meet your needs, here are other power solutions on sale at Walmart:

Efurden 4000-Watt Portable Generator (good reviews, Walmart bestseller) for $300 (instead of $600). PowerSmart 4400 watt generator for $350 (instead of $500). Pulsar 4000 watt inverter (very quiet with a carbon monoxide sensor) for $500 (instead of $600). EF EcoFlow Portable Power Stations starting from $490 (instead of $900). Sportsman 4000 watt gasoline portable generator for $300 (instead of $520).

There are so many models on promotion, both traditional gasoline generators and electric batteries, that it’s impossible to list them all. You might find an even better deal by exploring related products from the links above.

Summer may be coming to an end, but projects wait for no one. To bring them to life, The Home Depot is offering exceptional discounts this week on a wide selection of complete Husky large tool sets, delivered in sturdy multi-drawer storage cases. The perfect opportunity for DIY enthusiasts and amateur mechanics to equip or re-equip themselves.

Offers Not to Be Missed

Among the standout promotions of these Labor Day sales, discover these complete kits that will allow you to have all the essential tools in one purchase.

Husky 270-Piece Set for $119 (Save $80)

This incredible offer represents a solid and ultra-complete entry-level option at a very attractive price. Perfect for starting a tool collection.

Other Alternatives on Sale

If the composition of the first kit doesn’t perfectly match your needs, The Home Depot also offers other sets with similar piece counts but different tool combinations to suit all types of projects.

290-Piece Husky Tool Kit for $175 (Save $74)

293-Piece Husky Tool Kit for $229 (Save $58)

316-Piece Husky Tool Kit for $229 (Save $38)

Take advantage of Labor Day sales to invest in professional-quality equipment at an affordable price. These promotions at The Home Depot are the perfect opportunity to acquire a complete mechanical tool set that will last over time.

If you use Ryobi tools, now is the perfect time to take advantage of this exceptional offer on a two-battery pack plus charger at The Home Depot. It’s rare to find new lithium-ion tool batteries at such a low price.

An Unbeatable Labor Day Offer

As part of the Labor Day promotion, the ONE+ 18V Lithium-Ion Starter Kit, including a 4.0 Ah battery, a 2.0 Ah battery, and a charger, is only $79. A pack that would normally cost over $200. The offer is so attractive that it’s limited in quantity: The Home Depot will sell no more than three per customer.

Expand Your Workshop with a Tool Combo

To power your new batteries, The Home Depot also offers a four-tool combo at a shocking price. The ONE+ 18V Cordless 4-Tool Combo Kit, which also includes two batteries and a charger, is $199, compared to over $400 normally. This kit includes a drill driver, a drill, an LED light, and a circular saw. Perfect for DIY and ambitious projects.

When your car carpets start to age, vacuuming alone is no longer enough to tackle stubborn stains. If you transport children or pets, the solution lies elsewhere: you need to switch to an extractor. This week, Amazon is offering an attractive discount on a highly portable model from Bissell, one of the leading brands in this field. An offer not to be missed.

A promotional offer to grab

This kit includes everything needed for deep cleaning and is currently on sale for €99.99, a 29% discount during Amazon’s May 1st promotion. If a simple vacuum and cloth are no longer effective, this is the perfect opportunity to try a professional carpet cleaner.

Other Bissell models on promotion

If you’re looking for other alternatives, Bissell also offers discounts on several models you might want to check out. Here are some highlights:

• “Little Green Mini” Cordless Deep Cleaner for Carpets and Upholstery: €114.99 (28% off)
• “Little Green Pet Pro” Portable Deep Cleaner for Carpets and Upholstery: €129.99 (19% off)
• “Little Green HydroSteam” Portable Multi-Surface Cleaner: €189.99 (17% off)

Here is our first look at what could well be the last Mercedes EQS SUV. As Mercedes-Benz begins its transition to new multi-energy platforms, the dedicated EQ range is preparing to bow out. This process has already started with the new compact CLA, which shares its body between its combustion and electric versions, and the same fate awaits every model in the brand.

A limited update for a doomed model

While awaiting the launch of a new flagship SUV, the EQS retains a place in the brand’s showrooms. Our spies captured this restyled EQS SUV during tests on European roads, sporting camouflage on its front and rear bumpers. Despite the disguise, the brand’s new three-point light signature is perfectly recognizable, identical to that seen on the new C-Class.

An uncertain future for the American market

This is a limited update, certainly, but given that Mercedes has already confirmed the outright discontinuation of the EQ range, any sign of life is promising. Considering the current economic climate, it’s possible that the restyled EQS SUV may never be marketed in the United States, where deliveries to dealerships could be suspended indefinitely as early as September.

Governments spend billions to encourage careful driving, but few achieve results as compelling as Tmap. This South Korean navigation app rewards safe driving in a playful and effective way. As a market leader, Tmap assigns a driving score to its users based on their behavior. It claims to have prevented 31,366 road accidents over three years and already has 19 million participating drivers.

An Ingenious Rewards Program

Introduced in 2016, Tmap’s “Driving Score” program works simply: the driver’s smartphone analyzes acceleration, braking, cornering, and speed. The smoother and safer the driving, the higher the score. This score can even help users get discounts on their car insurance. Out of the 19 million users, over 10 million have already received some form of credit or discount on their policy.

A Unique Alignment of Interests

“It’s one of the few score-based competitions in Korea where everyone benefits from improved results,” explains Chun Ji-yeon, a senior researcher at the Korean Insurance Research Institute. “Safer driving reduces the risk of accidents, insurers save on claims, and drivers save money. It’s a rare alignment of interests.”

Gamification for Safety

The idea is that by accumulating high scores, drivers climb rankings and are rewarded in real time. Integrated into an already widely used app, this feature requires little effort from users to participate and reap the benefits. “When I got a perfect score of 100 last month, I posted it online like a medal,” shares Lee Ji-yeon, a Tmap user.

Tangible Results on Road Safety

Road safety in South Korea is objectively improving. The number of road accidents dropped from 223,552 in 2014 to 198,296 in 2023, and the mortality rate per 100,000 people fell from 9.4 to 5.0. While technology and enforcement remain key drivers, the private model adds a new dimension: it rewards good behavior, something government programs struggle to do on a large scale. Since its launch, the concept has been adopted by other apps and by the car rental company Socar, proving that enthusiasm for safety can spread where public campaigns sometimes fail.

Gran Turismo 7’s Next Update Has a Pointlessly Genius Minivan. While the Chevrolet Corvette CX concepts were expected for the August 2025 update of Gran Turismo 7, a major surprise accompanies them: the Renault Avantime. Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the series, confirmed via a teaser on Twitter a four-car update, and this minivan with its atypical design immediately captivated the community.

The Renault Avantime: A Cult and Little-Known Icon

Unlike the continuous stream of recently added compact crossovers, the Avantime is a true automotive eccentricity. This stylish two-door minivan, featuring imaginative engineering, managed to build a cult reputation despite a short commercial career. Its construction incorporated aluminum, its roof was fully glazed, and its two large doors benefited from clever hinges for easier access. Its minimalist dashboard recalled that of a concept car.

A Short but Fascinating History

Produced between 2001 and 2004, Renault sold just over 8,000 units of the Avantime. Its very existence is a testament to boldness, especially since a persistent rumor suggests it was imported to the United States under the Infiniti brand, thanks to the Renault-Nissan alliance.

The Top Gear Legend and Its Gran Turismo Legacy

The Avantime owes part of its notoriety to a famous episode of Top Gear. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May made it their project: modifying it to make it lap a circuit faster than a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. A “Gran Turismo” challenge in real life, perfectly in line with the spirit of the series, which had even included the model in Gran Turismo 4.

Powered by a 3-liter V6 producing 207 horsepower and paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, it delivered respectable performance for its time (0 to 100 km/h in about 9 seconds). In GT7, players will be able to acquire two units: one to keep it original, the other to attempt to replicate, perhaps more successfully, the aborted Top Gear project. The update is scheduled for the morning of Thursday, August 28th.

The 2025 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo isn’t the fastest version in the lineup, but it might just be the most desirable. After a week of testing, it proves to be an exceptional compromise between elegance, sportiness, and practicality, all wrapped in cutting-edge technology.

A Unique Electric Wagon

Far from conventional SUVs, the Cross Turismo offers a low and sporty driving position, typical of Porsches, even with its 1.8 cm raised ground clearance. Its rear hatch conceals a spacious and smart trunk (15.75 cubic feet), equipped with straps and clever storage to secure loads.

Performance and Driving Dynamics

Under the hood, the 4S version boasts 509 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque, briefly pushing to 590 horsepower in overboost mode. Despite its 2.5 tons, weight management is remarkable. Equipped with the Active Ride air suspension and the Performance package (torque vectoring, four-wheel steering), the electric wagon is both comfortable and surprisingly agile in corners.

Range and Charging

With its 105 kWh battery (97 kWh net), the official range is 272 miles (438 km). In real-world conditions, expect around 220 miles (354 km). Fast DC charging (320 kW) allows going from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.

Verdict

Starting at $125,200 (and often much more with options), the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo isn’t affordable. But it offers a unique driving experience, combining the comfort of a grand tourer with the agility of a sports car, all in an ultra-elegant and practical wagon format. It’s an unbeatable proposition for those seeking the ultimate family EV.