Octopus Drops “Tempo” Under EDF Pressure: China’s Solar and the E-Bike in Review

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Octopus Drops “Tempo” Under EDF Pressure: China’s Solar and the E-Bike in Review.

On October 21, Octopus Energy France announced the renaming of OctoTempo to OctoSaisons. The trigger was EDF’s claim to the name “Tempo.” According to Frandroid, nothing changes for existing customers: only the name is being changed, while the tariff itself remains the same.

The reports from the week under review therefore point to more than just a naming dispute. They illuminate how electricity prices, Chinese solar production, e-bike technology, used electric vehicles, and the security of European energy infrastructure are being handled.

OctoSaisons Replaces OctoTempo – The Electricity Price Remains Dynamic

EDF’s name claim does not change the offer

Octopus Energy France responded to EDF’s demand that it stop using the term “Tempo” by adopting the new name OctoSaisons. Frandroid stresses explicitly that there was no change to how the offer operates.

Under OctoSaisons, the price per kilowatt-hour still depends on the color of the day and the period of consumption. Compared with EDF’s Tempo option, Octopus offers fewer blue days, but more white days and up to 16 hours at a low price per day. The source does not cite a fixed euro amount.

Céline Stein, PDG of Octopus Energy France, summarized the move as follows: “A name can be changed; a conviction cannot.” For subscribers, the practical consequence is limited: no action is required. According to the report, those already using OctoTempo will remain on the same offer even after the renaming.

China’s Solar Exports Fall by 9.6 Percent

184.66 GW Instead of 204.26 GW

China’s solar panel exports declined by 9.6% between January and September 2026. They fell from 204.26 GW the previous year to 184.66 GW. These figures come from a Shanghai Metals Market report published on October 21.

Europe remains the most important sales market for Chinese modules, however. Orders there are declining. Frandroid cites higher module prices, uncertain project profitability, and power grids that struggle to integrate additional facilities as the reasons.

On the Chinese side, Beijing is changing the conditions for exports. Since April 1, manufacturers have no longer received a 9% refund of value-added tax on exports. The measure is intended to curb the price war that has weakened the Chinese industry to date.

Alutech ePelmo X1P Does Without a Chain Drive

1,500 W Peak Output and 150 Nm Torque

On September 23, the German manufacturer Alutech unveiled the ePelmo X1P. According to reports, the electric mountain bike is the first announced e-MTB to feature Gobao’s continuously variable motor-gearbox. Delivery is planned for spring 2027.

The motor and gearbox are housed together in the area around the bottom bracket. This eliminates the cassette and chain drive. According to the provider, this lowers the center of gravity, delivers power without interruption, and continuously adjusts the ratio to maintain the pedaling cadence.

The technical specifications are ambitious: 1,500 W peak output and 150 Nm torque. According to Frandroid, this gives the bike the same torque as the Owuru Ride, which in turn has 500 W more power.

Used Electric Cars: Enthusiasm at Half the Price

Renault Zoé From 2016, Kia EV6 From 2022

On October 21, Frandroid asked about experiences with buying used electric vehicles. One reader captured their dismissive attitude succinctly: “Buy a used electric car? Not for me! These vehicles are outdated! Unless I find them for less than 50%.”

The concern is therefore concrete: the battery and built-in technology could already be outdated after only a few years. Other readers nevertheless took the step. One driver switched from a Renault Zoé from 2016, bought in 2019, to a Kia EV6 from 2022, purchased in 2025, and did not regret the change.

According to the summary, there is therefore an appetite for used electric vehicles. It is, however, directly tied to price. The sources cite neither an average discount nor concrete dealer prices for the two vehicles.

More Than 8,500 Energy Facilities Are Accessible From the Internet

35 Countries, 2,766 Systems in Spain

An investigation presented by Modat and the Dutch National Security Center NCSC-NL on October 6 shows that more than 8,500 systems for solar and wind farms in 35 European countries are accessible from the internet, even though they should not be publicly accessible.

Spain has 2,766 exposed solar systems. In Germany, there are 884 systems in total, including 212 wind facilities, making Germany the European leader in affected wind facilities.

On October 13, the Federal Office for Information Security published recommendations for operators of smaller facilities. The warning came shortly after the takeover of cooling systems in hundreds of French supermarkets during the night from October 11 to 12.

The security flaw is therefore not abstract: it affects controllable facilities in 35 countries, including numerous solar and wind farms as well as the cooling systems of French retail chains. The present review does not state what operators specifically need to change.

You can find all the reports in the complete Frandroid weekly overview. Frandroid also brings together accounts of experiences buying used electric vehicles and the full analyses of the e-bike and the publicly accessible energy facilities.