Month: May 2025

Inside Siemens Depot360: smarter EV charging support for fleets

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Inside Siemens Depot360: smarter EV charging support for fleets
Inside Siemens Depot360: smarter EV charging support for fleets

At the 2025 ACT Expo, Charged spoke with Alan White, Head of Emerging Transportation Platforms at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, about the company’s Depot360 Charging-as-a-Service platform—an AI-driven solution designed to support commercial fleet operators through the complexities of electrification. Developed to unify siloed systems like telematics, routing, charging, and energy pricing, Depot360 provides a centralized software and service layer that helps anticipate and resolve operational inefficiencies before they impact performance.

Rather than asking customers to learn new software, Siemens focuses on enabling operators to do what they know best—managing vehicles—while the backend technology handles charging schedules, energy costs, and system diagnostics. Depot360 supports fleet managers by turning complex data into actionable insights without requiring them to become software experts.

Depot360 also addresses scalability, making it relevant for small and large fleets alike. In North America, the majority of commercial fleets consist of five or fewer vehicles. To serve this broad market, Siemens works with distributors familiar with smaller operators, offering solutions that are appropriately sized and cost-effective. For larger fleets, such as municipal transit or last-mile delivery, Depot360 provides managed services and 99% uptime SLAs, helping reduce the risks associated with independent charger ownership or unintegrated software.

A core feature of Depot360 is its ability to manage energy costs. Siemens leverages real-time and day-ahead energy price signals to schedule charging in a way that reduces energy spend. Customers have seen cost reductions in the 20% to 40% range, depending on usage patterns. 

The platform’s support infrastructure is another key advantage. Depot360 includes a 24/7 network operations center (NOC) staffed by specialists who monitor systems, address issues remotely, and coordinate local service providers for on-site support when needed. In some cases, this means identifying and resolving charging problems at off-hours—reducing downtime and preventing disruptions to fleet schedules. Predictive maintenance, powered by causal data analysis, further strengthens reliability by identifying patterns that indicate potential failures before they occur.

Siemens is also addressing the growing need for at-home charging reimbursement. Many fleet drivers take vehicles home, and Depot360 now integrates utility tariffs and telematics to provide accurate and timely reimbursement. This complements depot and workplace charging management, allowing Siemens to offer a full-spectrum solution.

Learn more at: https://www.siemens.com/global/en/products/energy/emobility/depot360.html

Tesla Denies CEO Replacement Rumors After Report Sparks Controversy

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A Wall Street Journal report published on May 1, 2025, shook the EV world with a major claim: Tesla’s board was allegedly exploring options to replace CEO Elon Musk.

According to the article, unnamed sources suggested that some board members were concerned about Musk’s growing focus on politics, particularly his ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Tesla’s recent business challenges—including sliding sales and stock volatility.

The reaction was immediate.

Tesla’s board chair, Robyn Denholm, issued a strong public statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling the report “absolutely false” and expressing full confidence in Musk’s leadership. Elon Musk himself followed up, labeling the article a “deliberately false article” and accusing the Journal of publishing without including Tesla’s denial.

“The WSJ deliberately did not include our full on-the-record denial before publishing,” Musk wrote. “Typical hit piece.”

Despite the swift rebuttal, the story raised eyebrows and reignited long-standing debates around Musk’s ability to juggle multiple high-profile ventures—Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, X (formerly Twitter), and more.

The timing is also notable. Tesla has been under pressure in 2025 following increased EV competition, price cuts, and a cooling demand in some regions. Investors have questioned whether Musk’s attention is spread too thin, and whether it might be time for a new phase of leadership.

Still, for now, Tesla insists Elon Musk is not going anywhere.

Whether the Journal’s report had merit or not, the incident is another reminder of the intense spotlight Musk—and Tesla—continue to operate under. In the fast-moving EV world, headlines like this can ripple fast. But for now, Musk’s grip on Tesla appears as strong as ever.

 

American Battery Solutions signs deal to power TICO’s in-house fleet of terminal trucks

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American Battery Solutions signs deal to power TICO’s in-house fleet of terminal trucks
American Battery Solutions signs deal to power TICO’s in-house fleet of terminal trucks

American Battery Solutions has announced a $132-million contract to provide terminal tractor manufacturer TICO with its Proliance Intelligent Battery Series 700-volt lithium-ion batteries to power TICO’s in-house fleet of Pro-Spotter Electric terminal trucks.

TICO, which manufactures the Pro-Spotter Electric terminal trucks, also uses some 2,000 of them in its port equipment rental pools.

The use of ABS’s high-voltage, off-the-shelf Proliant battery packs will give TICO’s vehicles a scalable range of onboard energy levels, including 104, 208 and 312 kWh options.

“By integrating the ABS Proliance T700-100 battery packs with multiple energy capacity solutions, TICO can offer flexibility and reliability to meet a range of operational needs,“ said Subhash Dhar, CEO of ABS.

Terminal trucks, which are also referred to as terminal tractors, as well as by several more colorful names, including yard trucks, yard dogs, yard mules and, in the United Kingdom, terminal lorries, are semi-tractor vehicles designed to move semi-trailers within a warehouse facility, cargo yard or intermodal facility.

TICO, which stands for Terminal Investment Corporation, commenced operations in 1946, first starting in bus transportation and terminal businesses in the 1950s and 1960s to port-related labor transportation in the 1960s and 1970s, at which point the current model of port equipment rental pools and trailer truck manufacturing took hold.

Source: American Battery Solutions

NOVONIX finalizes Chattanooga land deal for second synthetic graphite facility

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NOVONIX finalizes Chattanooga land deal for second synthetic graphite facility
NOVONIX finalizes Chattanooga land deal for second synthetic graphite facility

Battery materials and technology company NOVONIX has executed a definitive agreement to purchase a 182-acre parcel of land for $5 million in the Enterprise South Industrial Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee for its second facility to produce synthetic graphite.

The new facility is expected to reach an initial annual production capacity of 31,500 tonnes. Alongside NOVONIX’s Riverside facility, which is scaling up to 20,000 tonnes, it will bring the company’s total production capacity of over 50,000 tonnes in Chattanooga.

The agreement follows recent unanimous approvals from the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and the Chattanooga Industrial Development Board, completing the necessary local government endorsements for the acquisition.

NOVONIX is expected to receive approximately $54 million in total net tax and other benefits from the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County over a 15-year period, contingent upon meeting specific conditions outlined in the agreement.

The company does not intend to close on the purchase of the Enterprise South land until the conditions for a $754-million loan from the Loan Programs Office of the US Department of Energy are met.

“Finalizing the agreement for Enterprise South, marks a significant step in our expansion strategy,” Robert Long, Interim CEO and CFO of NOVONIX, stated. “Our collaboration with the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and the Chattanooga Industrial Development Board has been instrumental in reaching this point.”​

Source: NOVONIX

WEX launches WEX EV Depot, its new EV charging and payment feature

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WEX launches WEX EV Depot, its new EV charging and payment feature
WEX launches WEX EV Depot, its new EV charging and payment feature

Payment-processing and fleet-management company WEX, headquartered in Portland, Maine, has introduced WEX EV Depot, a new by-subscription feature of its charging platform designed to simplify charging at private facilities when using the WEX Fleet Card.

With the platform’s existing En Route public charging and At-Home capabilities, WEX now offers streamlined EV charging payments at depot, public and at-home charging locations. 

For fleet operators, WEX EV Depot is included in a reporting system that allows management of both EV chargers from any source and fuel transactions on a WEX fleet credit line. Also included is the WEX EV Depot Mapping tool that allows fleets to direct drivers to preferred depots or private charging locations, whether or not the chargers are connected to the internet.

For drivers, a WEX-issued RFID tag allows easy EV charging payments at private chargers in addition to the WEX public network of nearly 150,000 stations. And the WEX DriverDash smartphone payment app allows for charger activation for cross-vendor public and private chargers.

“With WEX EV Depot, we are helping customers navigate the complexity of infrastructure rollout and giving them tools to operate efficiently at scale with a 360-degree solution,” said Carlos Carriedo, COO, Americas Payments & Mobility at WEX.

Source: WEX

Kenworth launches two new battery-electric trucks

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Kenworth launches two new battery-electric trucks
Kenworth launches two new battery-electric trucks

Kenworth introduced two new battery-electric trucks at the recent ACT Expo. The T880E, a Class 8 vocational electric truck for the North American truck market. The Next Generation T680E is designed for short and regional haul, LTL and drayage operations. Both are now available for order from Kenworth dealers in the US and Canada, and customer deliveries are scheduled to begin later this year.

The T880E Class 8 vocational electric truck

The all-new T880E is driven by the ePowertrain platform, which was developed in-house by Kenworth parent company PACCAR. The fully integrated powertrain system delivers between 365-470 hp continuous power and up to 605 hp peak with 1,850 lb-ft of torque.

The T880E offers four battery-string options, along with wheelbase and vehicle configurations to fit a variety of customer needs. The largest battery configuration offers 625 kWh of energy, boasts 250+ miles of range, and is offered in gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) up to 82,000 lbs. The T880E uses a CCS1 DC charge port, and supports a 350 kW peak charging rate.

Joe Adams, Kenworth’s Chief Engineer, explains that the central drive eMotor allows for wheelbase flexibility and lift axle installations, and makes for a vocational-friendly BEV integration. The T880E will feature factory-installed options for high- and low-voltage ePTO ports, which can be used to power equipment, a mechanical ePTO, or body configurations in conjunction with aftermarket upfitters.

The T880E is offered in both set-back front axle and set-forward front axle configurations with the same multi-piece hood construction as the legacy diesel T880. Inside the cab, driver-focused technology includes the Kenworth SmartWheel and a new 15-inch DriverConnect digital touchscreen. Driver assistance features include DigitalVision Mirrors, Bendix Fusion and Lane Keeping Assist.

“The Kenworth T880E marks a groundbreaking milestone in Kenworth’s history as we bring to market the first Class 8 battery-electric solution built for vocational applications,” said Kevin Haygood, Assistant General Manager for Sales and Marketing. “The T880E is engineered to meet the evolving needs of operators and vocational fleets while still providing the durability, reliability and customization our customers expect.”

The Next Generation T680E electric truck for short-haul and drayage

The Next Generation T680E is designed for short- and regional-haul, LTL, and drayage operations. It is available as either a tractor or straight truck in a 6×4 axle configuration.

The T680E’s ePowertrain system delivers between 365 and 470 hp continuous power and up to 605 hp peak, with 1,850 lb-ft of torque. According to Joe Adams, the central drive eMotor and updated vehicle architecture allows for increased battery capacity, charging speeds, wheelbase flexibility, and drivability.

The T680E offers three battery-string configurations, allowing for customizable range, horsepower ratings and vehicle weight to fit customer requirements. The largest battery configuration features a 500 kWh battery pack that delivers 200+ miles of range, and is offered in GVWRs up to 82,000 lb. The T680E also supports CCS1 DC fast charging at up to 350 kWh.

“This move to a fully integrated and ground-up PACCAR design means we were able to design for enhanced serviceability, providing easier access to the Master Service Disconnects for improved safety and increased uptime and allowing the use of the DAVIE service tool for troubleshooting and diagnostics,” Adams said.

Like the T880E, the T680E features an upgraded digital interface that provides drivers with BEV-specific insights into range, regenerative braking, and performance, and the same choice of Kenworth ADAS packages.

Source: Kenworth

Sandvik sells 22 battery-electric mining machines to South32

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Sandvik sells 22 battery-electric mining machines to South32
Sandvik sells 22 battery-electric mining machines to South32

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has announced an order from South32 for its greenfield Hermosa critical minerals project in Arizona that is the largest ever placed for the company’s battery-electric vehicles.

South32 is a mining and metals company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.

The order includes six Sandvik DS412iE bolters, five Sandvik DD422iE development drills, four Sandvik DL422iE longhole drills, four Toro LH518iB loaders and three Toro TH665iB trucks. The 22 EVs are part of a 42-unit underground equipment fleet South 32 has ordered. Several of the conventional units ordered may ultimately be manufactured and delivered as EVs, Sandvik said.

A bolter such as the Sandvik DS412iE is used to install roof support bolts in underground mines, while a development drill such as the Sandvik DD422iE is a mining vehicle that is used to drill holes in the surface of a coalbed so that explosives can be inserted and detonated. Longhole drills such as the Sandvik DL422iE models are used for production drilling, in which the typical hole depth varies between 10 m and 40 m.

Loaders such as the Toro LH518iB can serve a variety of purposes, including transporting oversize material away from a loading area, touching up dumps, cleaning up around shovels and tandem loading alongside shovels. Finally, the Toro TH665iB is a purpose-built dump truck optimized for underground environments.

Deliveries to South32 are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 and continue through 2030.

“Lower fuel expenses and maintenance costs coupled with longer equipment lifespan will enable a more efficient, economical and sustainable mining operation at Hermosa,” said Mats Eriksson, President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

Hermosa, which is South32’s flagship project in the United States, is an historic mining district located in the Patagonia Mountains of southern Arizona. The mining company anticipates the project will allow the company to become a globally significant producer of critical minerals. It is currently the only advanced US mine development project that could produce two federally designated critical minerals essential for powering a clean energy future, namely manganese and zinc.

Source: Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions

Witness the Tesla Model Y rear light bar create a Tesla ‘T’ in the dark

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The new Tesla Model Y, aka Juniper, has won the hearts and minds of automotive enthusiasts, critics, designers, and engineers across the globe.

As we all know, Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk is a fan of the arcade game era’s easter eggs, so one should expect them from a Tesla vehicle. Although in recent years, the frequency of these hidden easter eggs has declined, after all, it’s still Musk’s Tesla.

The new Tesla Model Y has a unique rear-end design. The first one for a mainstream production car to have an entire rear light strip that glows the road behind it, especially during dark hours.

But as we spoke of Tesla Easter Eggs earlier, a hidden feature of this rear puddle light was discovered by a Tesla owner.

Above: Tesla Model Y Juniper’s rear light creating a Tesla ‘T’ logo as a red shadow on the ground.

The above video by a Chinese Tesla Model Y owner surfaced on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, showing the easter egg hidden in its rear red puddle light bar.

As the vehicle moves forward, the reflection of the Tesla Model Y‘s rear light strip turns into a glowing Tesla “T” symbol. The dark environment makes it much clearer as the car moves forward.

The Tesla ‘T’ created on the ground looks like it has been applied a blur filter in a photo editing software, but it also looks cool and interesting.

What’s much more interesting is that Tesla’s Chief Designer, Franz von Holzhausen and VP of Engineering Lars Moravy appeared on multiple online automotive shows like Jay Leno’s Garage and with Sandy Munro, but never revealed this easter egg.

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Featured image credit: Aaron Li (@boolusilan) via X (Twitter).

Note: This article was published earlier on Tesla Oracle. Author: Iqtidar Ali.