Month: April 2025

EVident Battery raises $3.2 million for EV battery pack inspection technology

by
EVident Battery raises .2 million for EV battery pack inspection technology
EVident Battery raises .2 million for EV battery pack inspection technology

Battery inspection technology firm EVident Battery has closed a $3.2-million seed funding round to accelerate the development of its products.

The round was led by Ibex Investors, and included Nationwide Ventures, Automotive Ventures, Avesta Fund and angels in the EV space.

EVident Battery has developed non-destructive EV battery pack inspection systems that execute in less than two minutes. Non-cell failures have previously been undetectable without destructive teardown, according to the company.

EVident Battery has launched a pilot product, marking a step toward commercialization, enabling the company to validate performance, refine its AI models and scale deployment.

Jeff Peters, Partner and Head of Mobility VC at Ibex Investors, is joining EVident’s Board of Directors. “Most attention from automakers and startups is focused on cell-related battery state of health. However, an EV is much more than a collection of cells,” said he. “EVident has created a unique diagnostic for the structural integrity of the entire battery pack. We are excited about the opportunity this technology unlocks in manufacturing quality control, ongoing monitoring, the second-hand EV market, and ultimately end-of-life disposition.”

“This funding allows us to accelerate our roadmap, bringing to market battery inspection technology that is not only high-performing but also environmentally conscious,” said Jinqiang Ning, CEO of EVident Battery. “Our goals are to standardize EV battery service and inspection and to build a centralized EV battery database for full transparency.”

Source: EVident Battery

Walmart to own and operate EV charging stations at thousands of locations by 2030

by
Walmart to own and operate EV charging stations at thousands of locations by 2030
Walmart to own and operate EV charging stations at thousands of locations by 2030

As anyone who makes long drives in an EV will tell you, we need more public DC fast charging. Well, help is on the way. Back in 2023, Walmart announced plans to install chargers at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations by 2030.

Now the company has opened up three locations on a pilot basis—two in Texas and one in Arkansas—and revealed some more details of its plans in an interview with State Of Charge’s Tom Moloughney.

Walmart’s move into EV charging is big news. The company operates more than 5,200 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the US, in rural, suburban and urban areas—‘tis said that 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart or a Sam’s.

Doesn’t Walmart already offer EV charging at a lot of its stores? Yes—there are hundreds of DC fast charging stations, operated by the likes of Electrify America and EVgo, at Walmart stores (in 2023, the company said there were 1,300 chargers at more than 280 US facilities).

Walmart says the new company-owned and operated chargers will be in addition to the third-party chargers already in service. As far as we know, no numbers have been offered yet, but Mr. Moloughney speculates that “we are talking about the total installation of a five-digit number of charging stalls by 2030.”

Walmart plans to install 400 kW chargers with both CCS1 and NACS (aka SAE J3400) connectors: half-and-half for now, but shifting towards NACS in the future. (There are no plans to deploy legacy CHAdeMO chargers.)

Tom Moloughney visited one of the first sites, in McKinney, Texas, where Walmart deployed 400 kW Alpitronic HYC400 chargers, each with one NACS and one CCS1 port. Walmart says it will also acquire chargers from ABB.

Charging is enabled by the Walmart app. Tom scanned the QR code on the charger, selected the connector type, plugged in and charged at over 300 kW with no problems. Walmart plans to offer a pay-by-credit card option in the future, at least in the states that mandate it.

As Tom noted, there are several reasons to expect that Walmart’s charging network will be a good one. The company has years of experience with third-party charging, and obviously believes in the potential. The stores are very convenient charging locations, with enormous parking lots and plenty of stuff to buy while you wait. Walmart prides itself on low prices, and hopefully that philosophy will include EV charging (Tom paid $0.42 per kWh, slightly lower than competitors in the area).

Another hopeful sign: the project is led by Adam Happel, a charging industry veteran who previously worked at EVgo and Rivian.

Sources: Walmart, State of Charge

Citroën’s new C5 Aircross electric offers 680 km range and rapid charging

by

Citroën has revealed its second-generation C5 Aircross, completing a comprehensive two-year renewal of its model lineup. Built on the Stellantis STLA-Medium platform, the redesigned SUV will launch in European markets […]

The post Citroën’s new C5 Aircross electric offers 680 km range and rapid charging appeared first on Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International.

Ford’s New Battery Breakthrough Could Make EVs More Affordable and Go Farther

by

Ford is working on something big that could change electric vehicles as we know them: a new battery chemistry called Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR).
If successful, it could mean EVs that cost less, drive farther, and last longer — three things EV buyers are always hoping for.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Is LMR Battery Chemistry?

Right now, most EVs use lithium-ion batteries.
Ford’s new approach, LMR, adds more manganese to the mix.
Why manganese?
It’s cheaper and more widely available than materials like nickel or cobalt — two ingredients that make today’s EV batteries expensive and sometimes hard to source.

By using more manganese, Ford says LMR batteries could offer:

  • Lower costs — making EVs more affordable.

  • Longer driving range — because the batteries could hold more energy.

  • Better durability — meaning fewer worries about battery health over time.

Ford is betting big on this technology, aiming to have LMR batteries ready by the end of the decade.

Why It Matters

Today, the high cost of batteries is one of the biggest reasons EVs can be pricey.
If Ford’s LMR batteries work as planned, they could help push EV prices down, making them more competitive with gas cars — and getting more people to make the switch to electric.

And it’s not just about cost.
Better battery durability could also mean less battery replacement over the life of a vehicle, saving owners even more money.

Ford’s move is part of a bigger trend: automakers are looking for smarter, cheaper, and more sustainable ways to power the EV future.

What’s Next?

Ford hasn’t announced exactly which vehicles will get LMR batteries yet.
But experts believe the first models with this technology could show up in the next few years, helping Ford stay competitive in the rapidly changing EV market.

For now, it’s an exciting glimpse at where the EV world is heading:

  • More affordable.

  • More capable.

  • More accessible.

And that’s a future we’re all here for.

 

Schaltbau launches new megawatt charging contactor portfolio

by
Schaltbau launches new megawatt charging contactor portfolio
Schaltbau launches new megawatt charging contactor portfolio

Schaltbau, a provider of a wide range of DC power solutions, has expanded its Eddicy lineup with a series of compact, high-performance contactors designed to meet the requirements of stationary and mobile megawatt charging.

“Megawatt charging represents a milestone in commercial e-mobility. By reducing charging time to the length of a driver’s break, it significantly maximizes both flexibility and efficiency off green transportation,” said Helmut Pusch, CEO of Schaltbau Group.

The new C305 and C805 contactors support the current Megawatt Charging Standard (MCS) level 2 of 1,500 A, and the C330 and C830 contactors are 3,000 A bidirectional contactors designed to enable MCS level 3 high-power DC charging. All four products feature a compact, open-isolation concept designed to prevent rupture even under the heaviest failure conditions and heavy short-circuit currents, preventing damage to surrounding components. The contactors can withstand a current of up to 15,000 A for five milliseconds without the contacts welding. The series features separate contact systems for switching and current carrying.

Silver alloy contact pills deliver a contact resistance as low as 35 µOhm. An integrated economizer ensures optimal pull-in performance during switch-on and minimizes energy consumption in holding mode. According to the company, the new contactor series reduces power losses in the system, delivering up to 25% of energy cost savings.

“Power losses grow quadratically with current, so minimizing contact resistance in high-current applications is crucial for maintaining an efficient energy transfer,” explains Pusch. “That’s why our new Eddicy contactors are ideal for high-current applications like fast charging, as well as other energy and e-mobility applications such as battery storage systems and test benches.”

Source: Schaltbau

Harbinger unveils plug-in hybrid medium-duty truck, names Panasonic as official battery cell supplier

by
Harbinger unveils plug-in hybrid medium-duty truck, names Panasonic as official battery cell supplier
Harbinger unveils plug-in hybrid medium-duty truck, names Panasonic as official battery cell supplier

EV manufacturer Harbinger has unveiled a plug-in series hybrid vehicle for medium-duty fleets. The new model features a gas-powered range extender that charges the battery.

Harbinger’s hybrid chassis is currently being used by RV manufacturer Thor Industries, which operates companies including Airstream, Jayco, Tiffin and Thor Motor Coach. The new PHEV is currently available for customer pre-orders, and the company plans to begin deliveries to commercial customers in 2026.

“Medium-duty vehicles serve an incredibly diverse range of applications,” said Harbinger co-founder and CEO John Harris. “There are some fleets whose needs simply can’t be met with a purely electric vehicle. Our hybrid is designed for use cases and routes that go beyond what an all-electric system typically supports. The series hybrid delivers the benefits of an electric drivetrain, along with the added confidence of a range extender when needed.”

The plug-in hybrid platform features a 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine, a close-coupled 800 V generator, a 50-gallon fuel tank, and a choice of a 140 kWh or 175 kWh battery system. Harbinger’s electric powertrain delivers up to 1,140 lb-ft of torque and 440 horsepower. The platform’s 800-volt electrical architecture allows rapid charging at DC fast charger locations.

Harbinger’s platform, also known as a stripped chassis, was developed for medium-duty vehicles such as delivery vans, box trucks, RVs, and emergency and disaster response vehicles. Once assembled, the chassis is delivered to dealers or customers who work with a third party to upfit the chassis with a commercial or specialty body, as is standard in the medium-duty vehicle industry.

Harbinger designs, engineers and assembles the chassis and its components in-house at its manufacturing facility in Garden Grove, California.

Harbinger recently named Panasonic Energy as its official battery cell supplier, and is integrating Panasonic’s lithium-ion battery cells as standard in its proprietary EV chassis. Initially, Panasonic will supply Harbinger with battery cells manufactured in Japan. In the near future, the two companies plan to localize cell sourcing by utilizing Panasonic’s new facility in De Soto, Kansas.

Harbinger will display its wares at the upcoming Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Anaheim, California.

Source: Harbinger