Research in ACS Energy Letters shows the potential to improve batteries in aerial EVs that take off and land vertically. The research team developed a new electrolyte to address these challenges and said the “stressed out” batteries could also have second lives in lighter applications. The researchers manufactured a set of lithium-ion battery (LiB) cells… Read more…

The Megawatt Charging System (MCS), a new charging standard for heavy-duty EVs that industry experts call a game-changer for electric trucks, is in the final stages of standardization, and is expected to enter the implementation phase this year. Automakers and EVSE manufacturers are busily putting the new system through its paces. In the latest testing… Read more…

US-based solid-state battery technology developer Factorial Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean battery materials developer LG Chem to develop solid-state battery materials for EVs. The agreement aims to combine LG Chem’s battery material capabilities with Factorial’s next-generation battery material and process innovations to accelerate the development of solid-state batteries. The two… Read more…

BMW Group and Croatia-headquartered electrification technology developer Rimac Technology have announced a long-term partnership to co-develop and co-produce high-voltage battery technology for selected BEVs.  The two companies say their respective strengths will complement each other. BMW Group’s electrification strategy aims to build on its leading position and 15 years of battery and electric drive system… Read more…

Sponsored by Power Innovations International. As EVs continue increasing from a very small portion of the vehicles sold annually to a more mainstream presence on roads around the world, consumers and manufacturers are grappling with plenty of important questions. One set of these questions centers around a general “feeling” – that is, “How much does… Read more…

US-based GreenPower Motor, which manufactures and distributes medium- and heavy-duty EVs, has launched a new utility vehicle designed for commercial fleets. GreenPower’s EV Star Utility Truck is purpose-built and fully customizable to fit a range of uses including agriculture and landscape, construction, heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing. The truck has a range of up… Read more…

Delays in getting electrical service hooked up represent one of the biggest roadblocks to building more EV charging hubs, and several industry insiders have told Charged that a major reason for those delays is a shortage of transformers. Hitachi Energy, one of the world’s largest transformer manufacturers, is increasing production to meet the massive demand… Read more…

Norway-headquartered Vianode, a manufacturer of synthetic graphite for battery anodes, has released the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) of its planned industrial-scale production. A typical EV battery pack contains around 70 kg of graphite, which represents up to 40% of battery cell emissions, based on average present-day production. Vianode says the results represent… Read more…

Battery materials developer Wildcat Discovery Technologies has received its 100th patent, advancing its strategy for US-based cathode materials manufacturing. Wildcat has been developing nickel- and cobalt-free battery materials since 2006. The company plans to build a plant in the US to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) in late 2026, lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) in… Read more…

Contrary to the barrage of unsourced speculation on social media, EV adoption is indeed causing carbon emissions and oil demand to fall, albeit by a small amount so far. However, despite what many EV fans might assume, electric cars are not the main drivers of the reduction. According to BloombergNEF, EVs as a whole displaced… Read more…

Sponsored by Elektro-Automatik. Battery test engineers face a variety of challenges, including: EA’s new EA-BT 20000 Triple Battery Tester was created to address these test roadblocks with a unique design—all in a more powerful test instrument. Read this application note to learn how one piece of equipment can test battery cells, modules, and packs with… Read more…

US-based ETCO, which manufactures electrical terminals and connectors, has launched a new line of heavy-duty locking ring terminals. ETCO’s BT-Series Heavy-Duty Battery Terminals are designed for high-voltage wiring in EV batteries, alternators and starters in automotive, agriculture and construction equipment, process control and trucking applications. The terminals are made from 0.06-inch thick brass or copper… Read more…

NovaCHARGE has expanded its cloud power management capabilities by introducing Virtual Circuit Technology (VCT) to distribute the load from EV chargers. VCT provides multi-level power management for utilities, fleets, multi-dwelling units, and any other location with limited available power to control the use of open standard OCPP-compliant chargers using ChargeUP, its charging platform management system…. Read more…

Volvo Buses has debuted the Volvo 8900 Electric, a low-entry bus designed for city, intercity and commuter operations that builds on the success of the Volvo 8900, its diesel-fueled predecessor.  Using the new Volvo BZR Electric chassis, the Volvo 8900 Electric shares major components and subsystems with other models built on the Volvo Group’s common… Read more…

A team from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology has used a formic acid-hydrogen peroxide system for selective leaching of lithium ions from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries. A paper on their process was published in the Journal of Power Sources. The team achieved optimal leaching conditions by single-factor optimization: formic acid concentration of 0.8… Read more…

Green Watt Power, a division of Powerland Technology, has added 8 new models to its Diamond Series of ruggedized, fully potted AC chargers, which are designed to serve low-voltage EV applications, including material handling, motorcycles, scooters, forklifts, golf carts and RVs. The EVC1000 Diamond Series supports charging of 72 V and 48 V Li-ion batteries… Read more…

After decades of trumpeting “free trade,” and watching industry after industry decamp to China, the US government has apparently decided to draw a red line in front of the auto industry, and protectionism is back in style. US automakers are currently protected from Chinese competition by a 27.5% tariff. But will that be enough to… Read more…

Sponsored by Eaton. Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular and affordable as the demand for clean and sustainable mobility grows. However, EVs have increasingly higher power levels that can have unsafe overcurrent situations. To address these challenges, EVs need reliable and efficient power distribution and protection solutions that can ensure safety, performance, and durability… Read more…

As the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), a new charging standard for heavy-duty EVs, enters the final stages of standardization, automakers and EVSE manufacturers are busily putting the new system through its paces. Commercial implementations of MCS, which industry experts are calling a game-changer for electric trucks, are expected to begin later this year. The latest… Read more…

Nissan, Japan’s third-biggest automaker by volume, plans to begin producing solid-state batteries for EVs at scale by early 2029, and will also use Tesla-style gigacasting machines in order to increase efficiency and drive down costs on its future EV models. Solid-state batteries are expected to deliver faster charging and longer lifespans than current Li-ion designs…. Read more…