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Public transport operator Go-Ahead Group is rolling out BetterFleet’s EV fleet charge management and operations platform across its national electric bus fleet in the UK. Go-Ahead will implement BetterFleet’s SaaS platform for over 1,000 EVs in operation at 20 bus depots, and has contracted to expand to more than 1,500 units at 30 depots by the end of 2025.

“Managing one of the world’s largest fleets of electric buses requires consolidation and standardization of multiple data sources, clear operational information and insights along with automation,” says Go-Ahead. “With the BetterFleet platform, Go-Ahead Group depot operators are provided with mission-critical information to simplify their duties and help ensure that vehicles are ready for dispatch, while intelligent load deferral helps avoid costly infrastructure upgrades and allows more vehicles to be charged within existing grid capacity.”

BetterFleet’s software system provides visibility into numerous different brands of legacy charging systems under a single interface, and its IoT Hub provides virtual upgrades to extend chargers’ lifespan and avoid unnecessary replacements.

“By using BetterFleet, we have live data to track and manage our zero-emission fleet through its in-depot charge status and on-road state of charge, as well as manage our energy consumption more effectively and minimize our impact on the grid,” said Matt Carney, CEO of Go-Ahead Bus.

“Our platform’s real-time monitoring, automated scheduling and predictive analytics enable Go-Ahead to manage charging more efficiently, helping reduce costs and ensure that electric buses are ready to meet service,” said Daniel Hilson, CEO of BetterFleet.

Source: BetterFleet

Swiss electrical measurement technology specialist LEM (Life Energy Motion) has launched a new series of DC meters.

The DCES600 and DCES1500 meters address a range of DC current-sensing requirements. They are designed to achieve Class B accuracy at charger level at currents of up to 1,500 A and operating temperatures from -40° to +85° C, without derating. Their high accuracy is maintained across the entire current range, the company says, ensuring precise measurements throughout the full charging cycle.

The new meters comply with international metrology certifications and calibration standards, ensuring accuracy and traceability for kWh billing and regulatory compliance in EV charging applications.

Designers can access the DCES meters over an RS485 communication interface that provides cybersecurity features. LEM also offers a comprehensive set of application programming interfaces (APIs) to enable software integration.

An optional remote display unit, the RDU, gives OEMs and systems integrators flexibility in the design of the user interface. The RDU can be mounted on a front panel, DIN rail or base plate, has a slim form factor, and doesn’t need additional connections other than its link to the DCES meters.

Both DCES meters have a robust mechanical design, with a glass-fiber reinforced case, which offers insulation resistance at up to 1,000 VDC for the DCES600, and up to 1,500 VDC for the DCES1500.

The DCES meters offer real-time reporting of voltage, current, temperature and energy. These values can be used for both direct energy measurement, for example for billing purposes, and as part of a system management strategy for ensuring that end equipment is kept within safe operating limits through remote system diagnostics.

The DCES600 is designed for public and commercial fast charging stations. The DCES1500 is purpose-built for megawatt-class charging to support heavy-duty EVs such as trucks and buses. Both meters can be integrated into fleet charging depots.

The DCES family is suitable for integration into OEM charging platforms and custom solutions for control and monitoring of any DC applications, such as battery storage.

LEM is now in the certification process, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The DCES meters will then be compliant with European regulations such as MID 2014/32/EU, the EU’s Directive on measuring instruments, and with the German Eichrecht calibration law. Samples are available now to enable developers to start work on charger integration and certification.

Source: Life Energy Motion

Hitachi Construction Machinery Nederland has expanded its electric construction machine lineup to include a total of five models during the past month, by adding two specialized excavators.

The new ZE225 crawler excavator and the new 15.5-tonne ZE150W wheeled excavator are being added to the growing lineup of electric Hitachi models, which already included the ZX55U-6EB mini-excavator, the ZX85-6EB eight-tonne excavator and the ZX135-7EB 14-tonne machine.

“We recognize the challenges in the sector to meet the requirements for an emission-free construction site and embrace this as an opportunity to work together on innovative solutions for our customers,” said Evert van den Broek, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist at the company.

Source: Hitachi Construction Machinery Nederlands

Allotrope Energy has developed a new class of supercapacitors featuring Lignavolt, a nano-porous carbon material derived from pulp industry byproducts. The devices demonstrate 14–15 Wh/kg energy density—twice that of typical supercapacitors—enabling higher energy recovery and power output in hybrid-electric vehicle systems.

The company claims that the supercapacitors are well-suited to regenerative braking applications, allowing for the full recovery of braking energy using compact, lightweight packs. Third-party tests confirm energy density levels that significantly exceed conventional devices, supporting system designs that reduce internal combustion engine size and fuel consumption.

“A Lignavolt-based supercapacitor could recover all of the braking energy instantly using a pack the size of a shoebox weighing only a few kilos,” said Dr. Peter Wilson, Founder of Allotrope Energy. “A 1 kg unit could provide 75 bhp—50 times more than an equivalent lithium-ion battery.”

The devices also offer long cycle life, intrinsic thermal stability and contain no rare earth materials. Their simple architecture eliminates the need for active thermal management. Evaluation cells are currently being tested by industry partners for integration in hybrid vehicle applications.

Source: Allotrope Energy