Blogger Geely Auto has launched what it calls the industry’s first AI-scenario based power domain system, the Xingrui AI Cloud Power 2.0, which powers the company’s upgraded EM AI Super Hybrid […]
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EV technology company Bedeo has announced a partnership with Monarch Defender, a Land Rover restoration specialist, to offer electric conversions of classic Defenders to US customers starting later this year. […]
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Škoda Motorsport has revealed an updated version of its all-electric racing concept, the Enyaq RS Race, incorporating sustainable biocomposite materials that replace traditional carbon fiber components. The concept car weighs […]
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Truck manufacturer Scania has announced that the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) will be commercially available for its electric trucks beginning in early 2026.
MCS is an international standard that supports DC charging at a maximum current of 3,000 amps. Scania says its first iteration of MCS, featuring liquid-cooled connectors, will deliver up to 1,000 amps, which will enable charging at up to 750 kW—roughly double the speed of today’s CCS2 standard.
“Our new charging technology not only ensures operational efficiency and reliability over long distances but also supports our goal of making sustainable transport a practical reality,” says Daniel Schulze, Head of Scania eTruck Solutions.” With MCS-enabled trucks now available and a robust charging infrastructure across Europe, we are laying the foundation for a more efficient and environmentally friendly future in heavy-duty transport.”
“MCS technology allows both public and private charging infrastructure to meet the demands of high-capacity charging, ensuring that operators can recharge quickly and economically,” says Petra Sundström, Managing Director of TRATON Charging Solutions, the dedicated e-mobility service provider within the TRATON Group, which includes Scania. “This is essential for keeping operations efficient and competitive, while supporting broader sustainability goals within the transport sector.”
As truck OEMs and charging providers begin to roll out MCS solutions, efforts are underway to build out MCS charging corridors along key transport routes in Europe.
“Scania is working with partners in the Milence initiative to establish 1,700 high-performance charging points across Europe by 2027,” said Jorge Soria Galvarro, Senior Technical Adviser for Charging Infrastructure at Scania. “This infrastructure complements the existing mandate from the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation. Predictable and reliable charging allows drivers to take legally mandated rest periods without risking delays, an essential factor in making electric trucks a competitive alternative to diesel.”
Source: Scania
German chemical manufacturer WACKER Chemie has introduced a new thermally conductive gap filler for applications in vehicle power electronics.
Commercially available as SEMICOSIL 9649 TC, the silicone product can withstand high thermal stresses. It ensures that electronic components have a lasting bond with a vehicle’s active and passive cooling systems, efficiently dissipating the heat generated when a vehicle is in operation.
SEMICOSIL 9649 TC was specifically developed for power electronics applications in electric and hybrid vehicles. The silicone-based compound consists of a 2K system that cures at room temperature through an addition reaction to form an adaptable and repairable elastomer. It is an electrically insulating product with a thermal conductivity of approximately 4 W/mK.
In testing, SEMICOSIL 9649 TC consistently withstood temperatures of up to 150° C without any significant change in its thermal conductivity or other material properties. The product can also deal with thermal shocks that involve rapid temperature changes ranging from -40° C to 150° C, ensuring that bonds between power electronics components and cooling systems remain intact.
SEMICOSIL 9649 TC is a non-sag material before cure. Its viscosity decreases with increased shearing, for example during mixing and metering. Its shear-thinning property is adjusted so that the compound can be fed by machine and applied as a bead so that processors can achieve a high metering rate and high dosing accuracy.
A dispenser is used to apply the gap filler to the heat sink and then the power electronics circuit board is applied. During compression, a continuous film forms that conforms to the surfaces of the two joining parts, evening out surface irregularities and tolerances. The film hardens between the joining parts to form a thermally conductive layer, which, thanks to its soft and flexible consistency, also absorbs vibrations and impacts. The product meets all relevant automotive industry quality standards and specifications.
WACKER has also introduced a new product to insulate busbars in high-voltage EV batteries. The ELASTOSIL R 531/60 is extrudable, which makes sheathing busbars particularly cost-effective. The silicone rubber also improves EV safety. In the event of a fire the product ceramifies, enveloping the busbar in a stable ceramic layer that provides electrical insulation and prevents an undesirable short circuit.
Source: WACKER Chemie
Mining giant Rio Tinto has been confirmed as the preferred partner for the Salares Altoandinos lithium project in the Atacama region of Chile by Empresa Nacional de Minería (ENAMI), a state-owned Chilean mining company.
Under the terms of the proposal, Rio Tinto would acquire an initial 51% stake in the project, while ENAMI would hold the remaining 49%.
Rio Tinto is advancing its lithium business as it aims to become established in the supply of energy transition commodities. The company has built a strategic pipeline of Tier 1 lithium assets and options, including those from its recent acquisition of Arcadium Lithium.
Rio Tinto’s expanding Latin American pipeline complements its projects in Canada and Serbia. This includes Altoandinos and Maricunga in Chile as well as Rincon, Olaroz, Fenix, Sal de Vida and Cauchari in Argentina.
“In Chile, the enormous potential of the Atacama region will enable it to develop, subject to studies, a world class copper and lithium district, which could benefit from synergies through its partnerships to unlock the potential of the region. The vision in Argentina is to develop its existing operations into super-hubs at significant scale and competitiveness,” the company stated.
Source: Rio Tinto
Electric aviation firm H55, a technological spin-off from the Solar Impulse project, has concluded the Arizona segment of its Across USA Tour.
Arizona was the third of eight states on the national tour and demonstrated the Bristell B23 Energic aircraft’s performance in high-temperature, high-traffic environments.
Over five days, H55 conducted demo flights, static displays and engagements with flight schools in the state.
On May 22, 2013, Solar Impulse—among the world’s first electric solar-powered aircraft—departed Phoenix Sky Harbor as part of its pioneering Across America mission. Three years later, the second Solar Impulse aircraft returned to the city during its around-the-world flight. A decade on, H55’s electric Bristell B23 Energic is flying from the same state with a commercial product.
“Crossing our 104th landing here—the city where I earned my instrument and commercial pilot certifications, and the same city where Solar Impulse landed twice—is symbolic. It reflects the progress we’ve made, from early possibilities to practical, everyday electric aviation,” said Kristen Jurn, H55’s North American Sales Manager.
Source: H55
American Resources, through its holding in ReElement Technologies, which is developing rare earth element (REE) and critical mineral refining capacity, has agreed to enter a joint venture (JV) with Exigo Battery Solutions to use ReElement’s rare earth oxide refining technologies within the US and India to produce purified rare earth oxides.
Exigo will initially source, process and supply rare earth concentrates to ReElement’s facility in Marion, Indiana to be refined to magnet-grade 99.5%+ neodymium-praseodymium, neodymium, dysprosium and terbium oxides. The goal will be to then expand by deploying ReElement’s technology to India to refine REEs.
The goal of the JV is to produce at least 2,000 metric tons per year from recycled feedstock such as EV motors, hard disk drives, wind turbines, MRI machines and other permanent magnet-containing materials.
ReElement uses its technology for the separation and purification phase of rare earth and critical battery and defense material processing and refining that maximizes the surface area interface by using columns and resins, rather than the toxic acids and solvents typically used in hydrometallurgical processes.
“We believe collaboration and coordination are the key to developing a cost-competitive supply chain in the rare earth industry. The partnership is built to enable the combined JV to be able to compete head-to-head on cost, purity and scalability with the current supply chain. Utilizing ReElement’s technology to refine end-of-life magnets to separated, purified heavy and light rare earth oxides is a relatively straightforward process and something we have been doing in Indiana for over three years,” said Mark Jensen, Chairman of ReElement Technologies.
Source: ReElement Technologies
24M Technologies has announced the development of a new battery electrolyte called Eternalyte that enables faster charging and improved performance in cold temperatures. The company says the technology addresses key […]
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Tesla is planning to launch its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas—but is it really ready? While Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, says they’re “super paranoid” about safety, many experts believe the company is rushing to impress, instead of focusing on real progress.
Since 2016, Musk has promised that Teslas would drive themselves across the U.S. without any help from a driver. He predicted a fully self-driving trip from Los Angeles to New York by 2017. It’s now 2025—and that still hasn’t happened. Every year, Musk claims full self-driving is just around the corner. But so far, it hasn’t become reality.
Musk says June is the target for Tesla’s robotaxi launch in Austin. But here’s the catch: these cars will only work in certain parts of the city. They’ll avoid tricky intersections, stick to safe routes, and rely on human operators who can take control remotely if needed.
This approach is very different from what Musk once promised—cars that could drive anywhere, anytime, without any help. In fact, Musk used to say that if you need to limit where the car drives (using something called “geofencing”), that means it’s not true self-driving.
Other companies, like Waymo, are way ahead. Waymo already offers over 200,000 paid rides each week in multiple cities, including Austin. Tesla’s plan looks like an attempt to catch up—and fast.
Tesla says it’s focused on safety, but details are scarce. Unlike Waymo, which spent a year testing in Austin (six months with safety drivers, six months without), Tesla only tested with safety drivers for a few months before starting driverless tests.
People in Austin have only spotted two driverless Teslas on the road so far. And even those had employees in the passenger seat with a kill switch—ready to stop the car if needed.
We also don’t know how often these cars need human help. Tesla doesn’t share this data, and they’re even fighting in court to keep crash records private. What we do know is that crowdsourced data suggests Tesla’s system may need human intervention about every 444 miles—far from the “solved problem” Musk claims.