Asahi Kasei has developed a new pre-lithiation technology for lithium-ion batteries with silicon-based anodes. In internal tests, the Japanese company claims to have increased the energy density of an NMC cell by 10 per cent using the new technology. Tests with potential customers are now set to follow. Read more…

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ is now available for order from dealerships and online. Equipped with three axial-flow motors, the all-electric CLA is available as a sedan and a Shooting Brake, delivers 500 kW, and costs roughly 80,000 euros in Germany. Read more…

SUN Mobility has launched its battery-swapping system in Africa. Initially, 35 stations are operating in Kenya for electric two- and three-wheelers from more than ten manufacturers. The company plans to expand the network to other African markets in collaboration with Vivo Energy. Read more…

South Korean charging infrastructure provider Chaevi is set to install 131 fast chargers at 29 motorway service areas. Most of the new charging points will be equipped with NACS connectors, allowing Tesla drivers in particular to charge without a CCS1 adapter. Read more…

Nissan and Honda have just signed a new development agreement that aims to acelerate development cycles for smart cars. Evidently, despite having scrapped their merger plans early last year, the two Japanese automakers remain open to close collaboration. Read more…

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems is launching a new range of electrically powered transport refrigeration units in Europe. The TEU series was developed specifically for electric trucks and is designed to take up less space and weight thanks to its modular construction. Read more…

In the US state of Oregon, the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program has reopened for eligible vehicles bought or leased through to 4 November 2026. According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, this round of funding is expected to run out by then and will therefore suspend the program again by the 5 November. Read more…

An aluminium battery housing solution for commercial electric vehicles has been developed by Novelis and Maxion Structural Components. The product was developed from stamped, rolled aluminium using a new alloy specially created for the batteries of heavy duty vehicles such as buses and trucks. The new technology is both lighter and more is able to provide more energy density that previous materials.  Read more…

Electric bus and light commercial vehicle manufacturer Switch Mobility has secured a new order for 650 nine-metre electric buses in India. The company will supply the electric public transport vehicles under the Ministry of Heavy Industries’ PM E-Drive scheme. Read more…

FAW-Volkswagen has launched pre-sales of the ID. Aura T6 in China, where it is being marketed as a locally manufactured, family-friendly smart car. The five-seater mid-range SUV is available in four variants, with pre-sale prices ranging from the equivalent of 17,400 to 21,800 euros. Read more…

State governments from Canada, the USA and Mexico along the North American West Coast have launched an initiative to collaborate on an intra-continental truck charging and hydrogen refuelling (ZEV – zero-emission vehicle) corridor. Megawatt chargers and hydrogen filling stations are planned across the 2,222-km route spanning three countries to form the British Columbia to Baja California ZEV Corridor (BC2BC). Read more…

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a 30-year lease with Yusen Terminals, securing the longtime Port of Los Angeles marine terminal operator through 2056. This has paved the way for Yusen Terminals to make a $200 million investment in zero-emission cargo-handling Equipment. Read more…

How open is the charging ecosystem really – and what does it take for smart charging, Plug&Charge, and bidirectional charging to finally scale? Ahead of icnc26, Hubject CEO Christian Hahn discusses standards, charging silos, the V2G business case, and the unique charging requirements for electric trucks. Read more…

Volvo Buses has announced the delivery of 38 BZR Low Entry electric buses in Cape Town, marking the introduction of the first electric buses with locally manufactured bodies in South Africa. The bodies are produced on-site by the Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre in Johannesburg. Read more…

Munich Electrification presents an innovative battery disconnect device for high-voltage systems in commercial vehicles at the IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany. Unlike the currently used mechanical or pyrotechnic fuses, the Munich-based company’s solution is based on a chip circuit. Read more…

Chinese manufacturer Skyworth Auto will showcase five next-generation electric commercial vehicles at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover. The highlight of the presentation will be the world premiere of the heavy-duty electric truck Skyworth Z9, which can operate autonomously at Level 4. Read more…

Volkswagen’s planned electric small car for 2027, with a base price of around €20,000, will be called ID. Up and not ID.1 – according to a Spanish media report. The publication writes that VW has already finalised the model’s name as ID. Up. Read more…

The occupational safety authority in CATL’s battery plant in Debrecen, Hungary, has temporarily suspended work in three areas when nine employees were found to have experienced elevated nickel exposure. The incident affects CATL amid the already delayed ramp-up of its cell production. Read more…

Lepas has confirmed full UK specifications for the new L6 EV, the Chery brand’s first all-electric SUV. The L6 EV offers up to 279 miles of range. Order books are due to open early in the fourth quarter of 2026. UK customers can choose between two trim levels. Read more…

Recycling EV batteries is currently not economically viable in Europe even thought it is technically well advanced. A study conducted as part of the EU project called Safeloop estimates the current loss at around 1.90 euros per kilogram of battery pack. Researchers estimate this could be rectified with different approaches – particularly in business models and more efficient processes. Read more…