Dutch commodity trading company Trafigura has signed a binding offtake agreement with Smackover Lithium for the supply of battery-grade lithium carbonate from the South West Arkansas Project. The agreement covers 8,000 tonnes annually. Read more…

Pulhams, a Gloucestershire-based bus operator and GoAhead subsidiary, is set to deploy 15 new electric buses on public transport routes. The electric fleet expansion follows significant investment into a Pulhams depot. Read more…

DKV Mobility and Rheinmetall have announced a partnership centred around Rheinmetall’s sidewalk charging solution. It can now be integrated into the DKV charging system and is thus available to all DKV Mobility customers in Germany. Read more…

The Battery Labfactory Braunschweig (BLB) research center at TU Braunschweig has commissioned three new systems for the production of future-oriented battery cell technologies. These focus on dry coating, solid-state electrodes, and battery recycling. Read more…

Tesla has quietly started opening its charging network in Malaysia to other EVs. The company now allows customers to charge their non-Tesla EVs with a CCS charging port at Superchargers at four locations in and around Kuala Lumpur. Read more…

Brussels’ public transport company MIVB/STIB has put the first units of a new delivery of electric buses into operation. These are 36 new solo electric buses from Mercedes-Benz. An additional 14 articulated electric buses bearing the star will follow later this year. Read more…

At the world premiere, Porsche unveiled the Cayenne Electric and the top model Cayenne Turbo Electric. Now, the manufacturer is introducing a third powertrain variant with the Cayenne S Electric – featuring an all-wheel drive system with up to 490 kW of power. Read more…

Originally, Volkswagen intended to revive the US brand Scout as early as 2027. However, Scout CEO Scott Keogh has now confirmed that the first deliveries will take longer than expected. In an interview with US media, he stated that the first customers will likely not receive their vehicles until sometime in 2028. Read more…

Geely subsidiary Lotus is set to become the first Chinese electric car brand to enter the Canadian market under the significantly reduced tariff rate of 6.1 percent, according to CEO Feng Qingfeng. The Canadian market is expected to offset Lotus’ business in the Middle East, which has become weakened by the US-Iranian war. Read more…

Finnish technology company Donut Lab has published the results of its third test measuring the properties of its solid-state battery. The test evaluated the Donut battery’s ability to retain its charge even when not in use—and dispels the supercapacitor theory. Read more…

In less than a year, Renault’s new CEO François Provost has reversed many decisions made by his predecessor, Luca de Meo. As a result, his new strategic plan, futuREady, was highly anticipated. The majority of the announced European models will be electric, but hybrids will also continue to play a major role. Read more…

Transit operator Kinetic has secured all four units of Auckland Transport’s Tranche 3 bus services tender, worth 755 million NZD (384.6 million euros). The contract will see the operator invest more than 121 million NZD (€61.6 million) in electric buses and charging infrastructure. Read more…

The European Commission has approved a Spanish aid programme worth €200 million. The sum is part of the national PERTE programme. With this, the government in Madrid aims, among other things, to strengthen and expand the supplier industry for electric vehicles in the country. Read more…

The next generation of the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman is apparently still in development despite rumors of a possible discontinuation. According to statements from Porsche Australia’s CEO, the question regarding the market launch is no longer about ‘if’ but rather about ‘when.’ Read more…

British in-wheel motor specialist Protean Electric has a new owner. Exedy Corporation, a Japanese drivetrain component manufacturer, has acquired Protean Electric from the British Bedeo Group. Read more…

Tesla has inaugurated the first Megacharger charging station for customers of its electric truck, the Semi, in the US. While two other locations are already operational, they primarily serve Tesla’s own fleet. The new charger in Ontario, California, however, appears to be publicly accessible—provided you drive a Tesla Semi. Read more…

Volkswagen’s energy subsidiary Elli has connected its first large-scale battery storage system to the grid. The facility in Salzgitter has an output of around 20 MW and a storage capacity of 40 MWh. With the project, Elli is entering the energy storage and electricity trading markets. Read more…

The Brazilian city of Salvador has launched a one-month operational test of the fully electric e-Volksbus from Volkswagen Truck & Bus. The trial will evaluate performance, range and suitability for daily operations. Read more…

Austria’s Ministry of the Interior considers electric vehicles only conditionally suitable for operational police use. The ministry reached this conclusion after a large-scale test involving 24 electric cars across 20 participating police stations. Read more…

Korian Belgium, a provider of elderly care services, has commissioned Blink Charging to install 200 charging stations across 90 Korian locations throughout Belgium. Blink Charging will install the hardware at its own expense and manage operations. Korian will participate in the system through fixed flat-rate revenues. Read more…