SparkCharge, the creator of a mobile off-grid EV charger, has closed a $15.5-million Series A-1 funding round led by Monte’s Fam and a $15-million venture loan facility provided by Horizon Technology Finance. SparkCharge will use the funding to expand its mobile EV charging services throughout the US, Mexico and Canada. It will continue to work… Read more…

Oakland Airport (OAK) in California has introduced the first electric shuttle buses to its parking shuttle fleet. Five electric buses, sourced from Chinese automaker BYD‘s RIDE division, will serve passenger and employee parking lots at the airport. The buses will help OAK meet California’s electrification regulations and represent a step towards the eventual electrification of… Read more…

Japan-based Yokogawa Test & Measurement has introduced its SL2000 High-Speed Data Acquisition Unit, a ScopeCorder series product with a wide range of data logging functionalities for evaluation and test applications, including high-speed sampling and analysis for automotive. The SL2000 is a modular platform that combines the functions of a mixed signal oscilloscope and a data… Read more…

Belgian multinational materials company Syensqo signed long-term contracts worth 150 million euros during the first quarter of the year for the supply of its battery-grade Solef Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) to automotive original equipment manufacturers and battery makers. Solef PVDF, a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, provides superior separator-electrode adhesion and binder performance, delivering durable, high-performance and safe batteries… Read more…

Germany-based FUCHS Lubricants has released its RENOLIT CX SWG 0-1 grease specifically engineered for automotive gears, including electric power steering systems. The product is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium-free, motivated in part by increasing scrutiny on PFAS and lithium hydroxide, which are now under regulatory pressure from global bodies such as ECHA, REACH… Read more…

German commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus, a subsidiary of Volkswagen’s TRATON, has made its new MAN Charge&Go charging service available to all customers, regardless of brand. The service is designed to make it easier to find truck-compatible charging points throughout Europe and enables simple payment using a charging card. MAN has developed an… Read more…

Finnish measurement instruments supplier Vaisala has introduced its new DMP1 Dew Point and Temperature Probe to monitor environmental conditions in manufacturing rooms and spaces. The DMP1 provides precise measurements in demanding dry processing conditions, such as those found in lithium-ion battery production, where humidity control is critical to the performance of manufactured batteries. The compact… Read more…

SAE International has published a new standard, SAE J3400/2—Connectors and Inlets for the North American Charging System (NACS) for Electric Vehicles. Developed by SAE’s Hybrid-EV Committee, the new standard defines the physical architectural and mechanical specifications of the EV connector and inlet. SAE J3400/2 standardizes the physical architecture of EV connectors and inlets using 2D… Read more…

Komatsu, a century-old global manufacturer of heavy equipment, has unveiled its partner Dimaag’s Mobile Megawatt Charging System, a mobile power supply designed to be deployed at a point of use and scalable up to 6 MW. Dimaag is a relatively new design and technology company. The Mobile Megawatt Charging System—developed by Tesla co-founder Ian Wright,… Read more…

South Korean battery and trading company SK On, part of South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate SK Group, has been selected as the battery supplier for US-based electric vehicle startup Slate, highlighting its expanding presence in the US market. SK On will supply Slate with around 20 GWh of US-manufactured batteries starting in 2026 through 2031, and… Read more…

Netherlands-based semiconductor company Nexperia has received automotive certification for its range of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs suitable for applications like onboard chargers (OBC) and traction inverters, as well as DC-DC converters, heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC). These devices (NSF030120D7A0-Q, NSF040120D7A1-Q, NSF060120D7A0-Q), which deliver RDS(on) values of 30, 40 and 60 mΩ and leading figures-of-merit… Read more…

KPIT Technologies has purchased Caresoft Global’s engineering solutions business. The addition of the former Caresoft Global unit will strengthen KPIT’s commercial vehicle vertical “by combining Caresoft’s deep relationships and domain knowledge in trucks and off-highway segments,” KPIT said. KPIT said that the acquisition will “ramp up value creation through full vehicle cost reduction solutions for… Read more…

KPIT Technologies has purchased Caresoft Global’s engineering solutions business. The addition of the former Caresoft Global unit will strengthen KPIT’s commercial vehicle vertical “by combining Caresoft’s deep relationships and domain knowledge in trucks and off-highway segments,” KPIT said. KPIT said that the acquisition will “ramp up value creation through full vehicle cost reduction solutions for… Read more…

The City of Colwood on Vancouver Island has deployed a RIZON e16M electric truck. The Class 4 medium-duty truck—upfitted with a dump body—will be integrated into Colwood’s municipal public works services. The delivery caps a busy month for RIZON, which also delivered trucks in Vancouver and Quebec. RIZON is Daimler Truck’s ninth and newest brand…. Read more…

Urban EV charging was once thought to be an intractable problem (the Plight of the Drivewayless), but the solution (as demonstrated in Oslo, Amsterdam and London) turns out to be fairly straightforward: lots and lots of curbside Level 2 chargers. That’s not to minimize the magnitude of the projects ahead—companies must work with municipalities to… Read more…

American Textile Maintenance, the parent company of Republic Master Chefs and Medico Professional Linen Service, has committed to purchasing 12 CircularEV Class 5 electric trucks from Evolectric, beginning with an initial delivery of 5 units. The purchase is American Textile’s first electric fleet deployment. It follows an eight-day pilot at the company’s South-Central Los Angeles… Read more…

Taiwan Semiconductor, a global supplier of discrete power electronics devices, LED drivers, analog ICs and ESD protection, has introduced two new series of high-voltage rectifiers manufactured to AEC-Q101 standards and offered in automotive- and commercial-grade versions. The fast-recovery HS1Q Series has a 1,200 V, 1 A rating and the 1,600 V standard-recovery SxY Series comes… Read more…

US-based E-Van, the composite body division of Embassy Specialty Vehicles, has introduced its new insulated liner for use in a range of electric vehicle applications. The insulated liner delivers thermal resistance in a slim design, making it well-suited to EVs from delivery vans and work trucks to RVs and buses. Using a rigid vacuum insulation… Read more…

Singaporean lithium-ion battery cell and pack manufacturer Durapower is looking for potential joint venture partners to set up a manufacturing facility in the US, as part of its global expansion plans. In addition to manufacturing, Durapower develops battery technology research, owns and has established international collaborations to support the development of scalable and sustainable batteries…. Read more…

Chinese multinational construction machinery manufacturing company LiuGong has introduced five new electric vehicles. The EVs include the 870HE wheel loader, 924FE and 9018FE excavators, DR50CE rigid mining truck and the 4280DE motor grader, which the company termed “the world’s first 24-tonne electric grader.” The company’s vision is to lead in sustainable solutions by “challenging the status… Read more…