Rheinmetall announces first order for e-truck gearboxes


Rheinmetall’s Castings business unit recently booked a new order from “a well-known truck manufacturer” for gearboxes specifically designed for use in e-trucks.  The five-year production run will begin in the first quarter of 2026. However, Rheinmetall and the manufacturer have agreed to a total project lifetime of more than 15 years. The gearboxes will be… Read more »

Nordic EV fast charging provider Recharge deploys Driivz software platform


Scandinavian charge point operator Recharge has implemented the Driivz software platform for its charging network in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The Driivz solution for Recharge includes integrated software modules for EV charge point operations, including real-time operator dashboards, self-healing algorithms for proactive issue resolution and asset management, and EV billing operations that support multiple currencies,… Read more »

WEVC reveals new commercial EV platform


Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC), a manufacturer of low-to-medium-volume EVs, both under its own brand and for third parties, has revealed a new chassis-cab product that it says will “provide the foundation for next-generation electric light commercial vehicles.” The eCV1 uses the company’s PACES (Passenger And Commercial EV Skateboard) architecture, which has been developed to… Read more »

WEVC reveals new commercial EV platform


Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC), a manufacturer of low-to-medium-volume EVs, both under its own brand and for third parties, has revealed a new chassis-cab product that it says will “provide the foundation for next-generation electric light commercial vehicles.” The eCV1 uses the company’s PACES (Passenger And Commercial EV Skateboard) architecture, which has been developed to… Read more »

LG Chem invests $75 million in Piedmont Lithium


Battery manufacturer LG Chem will make a $75-million equity investment in Piedmont Lithium. This will result in LG Chem holding approximately 5.7% of Piedmont common shares. LG will also commit to the offtake of 200,000 metric tons of spodumene concentrate (SC6) from Piedmont’s jointly-owned North American Lithium over a four-year term. Piedmont has agreed to… Read more »

Evonik invests in graphene specialist SuperC


Specialty chemical provider Evonik has invested in Chinese graphene specialist SuperC.  SuperC has developed a process to produce few-layer graphene (FLG) and pastes for electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. According to the company, the addition of graphene increases the electrical and thermal conductivity of the batteries for faster charging and better overall performance. The batteries also… Read more »

PG&E provides charging infrastructure for electric ferry


California ferry operator Angel Island plans to convert a vessel that ferries visitors to Angel Island State park to electric drive. The repowered ferry is to begin operation in 2024. PG&E‘s EV Fleet Program will support the installation of charging infrastructure via construction support and financial incentives. The utility plans to bolster electricity transmission to… Read more »

Mercedes-Benz announces plans for its new eSprinter electric van


Mercedes-Benz has announced that production of the electric version of its popular Sprinter van will start in the second half of 2023, in both North America and Europe. The new eSprinter is set to launch in the US and Canada in the second half of 2023, and the market launch in Europe will follow towards… Read more »

GM and Lithium Americas to develop lithium production through $650-million investment


General Motors and Lithium Americas plan to jointly invest in the development of the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, which the companies call “the largest known source of lithium in the US.” GM plans to use lithium carbonate from Thacker Pass in its proprietary Ultium battery cells.  As part of the deal, GM will make… Read more »

Liminal raises $17.5 million to scale EV battery production inspection systems


Liminal, a provider of battery manufacturing data and analytics, has announced a $17.5-million Series A2 funding round to scale its EchoStat inspection systems into factory-integrated solutions for global battery manufacturers, in partnership with climate tech fund ArcTern Ventures and other investors including battery cell manufacturer Northvolt. “Our products help battery manufacturers hit their aggressive production… Read more »