Hyundai not only gave the long-distance electric car a facelift, it also made some technical changes. The new Kia EV6 goes further thanks to a larger battery and remains a master of fast charging. Read our driving report to find out how the car manufacturer achieved this and which changes are really impressive.
Netherlands-headquartered automaker Stellantis and US battery technology firm Zeta Energy have signed a joint development agreement to develop lithium-sulfur EV batteries that have energy density comparable to that of lithium-ion technology.
The collaboration includes pre-production development and planning for future production. Stellantis aims to use the batteries in its vehicles by 2030.
Lithium-sulfur battery technology has the potential to create a lighter battery pack with the same usable energy as lithium-ion batteries, enabling greater driving range, improved handling and enhanced performance. The technology can potentially improve fast charging speeds by up to 50%. Sulfur, being widely available and cost-effective, reduces production expenses and supply-chain risk. Lithium-sulfur batteries are expected to cost less than half the price per kWh of current lithium-ion batteries.
Zeta’s lithium-sulfur battery design uses waste materials, methane and unrefined sulfur, a byproduct from various industries, and does not require cobalt, graphite, manganese or nickel. The technology is intended to be manufacturable within existing gigafactories and would leverage a short, entirely domestic supply chain in Europe or North America.
“The combination of Zeta Energy’s lithium-sulfur battery technology with Stellantis’s expertise in innovation, global manufacturing and distribution can improve the performance and cost profile of electric vehicles while increasing the supply chain resiliency for batteries and EVs,” said Tom Pilette, CEO of Zeta Energy.
Source: Stellantis
A BMW team had allegedly been working on a purely electric super sports car. A clay model was ready to go, but the Board of Management shelved the project due to doubts about its profitability and technical feasibility.
Hyundai Mobis has developed a new battery cell cooling material to prevent battery overheating during ultra-fast charging of electric vehicles.
In Jakarta, the city-owned bus operator PT Transportasi Jakarta (TransJakarta) has introduced 200 new electric buses, bringing its total number of electric vehicles to 300.
ChargePoint and General Motors are joining forces to install up to 500 ultra-fast charging ports with up to 500 kW at strategic locations in the USA by the end of 2025. Under the GM Energy brand, many suitable locations will be equipped with ChargePoint’s Omni-Port system.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $50 million to be invested over the next five years to establish the Low-cost Earth-abundant Na-ion Storage (LENS) consortium led by DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory to develop high-energy, long-lasting sodium-ion batteries.
The consortium includes six national laboratories and eight universities, which aim to develop sodium-ion batteries that will offer a more sustainable and lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion technology. They will seek to foster an industrial ecosystem for sodium-ion batteries in the US to diversify the supply of electric vehicle batteries and relieve supply chain concerns.
Dominant battery chemistries today include lithium, cobalt and nickel. Sodium, as an abundant element, can reduce risk by providing a wider variety of cost-effective options, Argonne noted. However, sodium-ion batteries store less energy per unit weight and volume, which results in a lower driving range—a barrier to competing with lithium-ion batteries.
“The challenge ahead is improving sodium-ion energy density so that it first matches and then exceeds that of phosphate-based lithium-ion batteries while minimizing and eliminating the use of all critical elements,” said Venkat Srinivasan, Director of the LENS consortium and the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science (ACCESS). “Importantly, any improvements must not compromise other performance metrics such as cycle life and safety.”
The researchers from the consortium’s national laboratories and universities will work to discover and develop high-energy electrode materials, improve electrolytes, and design, integrate and benchmark battery cells.
An advisory board comprising well-established and emerging companies will provide industry perspectives and aim to nurture a US ecosystem for sodium-ion batteries.
DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory are among the consortium’s participants.
Source: Argonne National Laboratory
US-based home energy technology provider ConnectDER has secured $35 million in Series D funding to accelerate its market expansion and development of its meter socket adapters for EV charging and solar power systems.
The financing round was led by new investors Decarbonization Partners, which is a partnership between BlackRock and Temasek, and MassMutual Ventures. Existing investors Avista Development, Clean Energy Ventures, Energy Innovation Capital, Evergy Ventures, LG Technology Ventures, and Zoma Capital also participated.
The investment comes as ConnectDER prepares to launch IslandDER, its next-generation meter socket adapter, which is designed to integrate with utility grids and enable islanding of solar, battery storage, EVs and other distributed energy resources, providing whole-home backup and resiliency.
Read our 2022 Interview: CEO of ConnectDER on its meter collar EV charging tech
ConnectDER has 25,000 adapters in operation and approved for use in many states, and expects to take its sales nationwide in the next few years.
“With this latest Series D funding we’re poised to not only expand our existing markets but also our offerings by bringing a solution for energy storage systems to the market,” said Ivo Steklac, CEO of ConnectDER. “Our upcoming IslandDER allows homes to disconnect and reconnect from the grid, enabling customers to harness stored energy from solar plus battery systems or EVs providing innovative backup power and resilience to market at a competitive cost point.”
Source: ConnectDER
More fast chargers, fewer worries for EV drivers
ChargePoint and General Motors (GM) have teamed up to make electric vehicle (EV) charging faster and easier for drivers across the U.S. By the end of 2025, the partnership plans to roll out hundreds of ultra-fast charging stations at key locations nationwide. The goal? Help EV enthusiasts spend less time waiting and more time driving.
These new charging stations are set to deliver class-leading charging speeds thanks to ChargePoint’s cutting-edge technology. With support for both CCS and NACS charging ports, drivers can charge their vehicles seamlessly—no adapters or extra hassle required. This is all thanks to ChargePoint’s Omni Port system, which makes charging more accessible, no matter the connector type.
And if you’re wondering about speed, these chargers won’t disappoint. ChargePoint’s Express Plus platform delivers charging speeds of up to 500kW, meaning a quick top-up could get you back on the road in minutes.
General Motors has been a leader in pushing for a smoother EV ownership experience. As Wade Sheffer, GM Energy’s vice president, put it, this partnership is about giving drivers better charging options and breaking down barriers to EV adoption.
GM Energy’s branding will feature prominently at these stations, combining ChargePoint’s reliable hardware and software with GM’s dedication to enhancing the EV lifestyle. The partnership also includes an incentive program to encourage third-party operators to invest in EV infrastructure, helping to grow the network even faster.
The companies are aiming to make the new charging stations publicly available by the end of 2025, focusing on strategic locations to maximize convenience for EV drivers.
For current EV drivers and those thinking about making the switch, this is great news. With faster charging and fewer hurdles, taking your EV on a long trip—or just running errands around town—will soon be more convenient than ever.
Stay tuned for more updates as ChargePoint and GM gear up to deliver this next step in EV charging evolution.
EV consultant firm P3 has published a report documenting the experiences of leading German logistics companies with electric trucks. P3 has identified the most important factors influencing electrification to provide know-how for the entire industry.