Rental agency Sixt to buy 100,000 BYD EVs for European market


After a decade of talking about renting EVs, major car rental companies (including Hertz) are now starting to place serious orders. This is excellent news, because offering EVs to rental car customers could have a multiplier effect—who’d want to go back to their gas-burner after driving electric for a week? The latest rental giant to… Read more »

Aptera chooses Maxeon to supply solar cells, begins producing panels


Aptera is different. While other EV-makers aspire to become “the next Tesla” by building high-performance vehicles that look just like the ICE vehicles drivers are used to, Aptera is focusing on building the most efficient and greenest vehicles possible. Critics may say that consumers won’t buy an unusual three-wheeled aerodynamic vehicle (Aptera might dispute that—it… Read more »

Turnkey charging provider Loop Global secures $60 million in funding


Charging infrastructure provider Loop Global has completed a $40-million Series A funding round co-led by Fifth Wall Climate and Agility Ventures, and secured $20 million in senior secured credit from Keystone National Group. Loop will use the funds to expand its US operations and to expand beyond the 15+ countries it already supports. Loop Global… Read more »

Orion Energy Systems expands into EV charging with acquisition of Voltrek


Orion Energy Systems, a provider of LED lighting, controls and electrical services, is moving into the EV charging market through the acquisition of Voltrek. Voltrek will continue to operate with its existing employees as an independent brand. Voltrek provides turnkey EV charging solutions, from planning and installation to maintenance and management services. It works as… Read more »

Amazon to invest a billion euros to electrify its fleet in Europe


Amazon is moving full speed ahead to electrify its European vehicle fleet. The delivery diva will invest a billion euros ($975 million) over the next five years in electric vans, trucks and low-emission package hubs in Europe. Amazon said the plan is to expand its electric van fleet in Europe from the current 3,000 vehicles… Read more »

Phillips 66 installs FreeWire’s battery-integrated charger at a Houston gas station


For better or for worse, oil companies are moving into the EV charging industry in a comprehensive way. The latest gas retailer to add public charging to its offerings is Phillips 66, which recently installed DC fast chargers from FreeWire at a gas station near its headquarters in Houston. FreeWire’s Boost Charger incorporates battery storage,… Read more »

By popular demand, EPA will increase Clean School Bus funding to nearly $1 billion


The EPA Clean School Bus program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allocated $5 billion over a five-year period to fund the replacement of older school buses with new zero- and low-emission buses. In May, the EPA made the first tranche of $500 million available, but demand from school districts has been so strong that… Read more »

Verkor will use V-TRACE to ensure the traceability and sustainability of its battery supply chain


It’s becoming increasingly important for battery suppliers and automakers to be able to document where their raw materials come from. Traceability, which has long been important in industries such as aerospace and food processing, is not just about deflecting bad PR—under the new Inflation Reduction Act, automakers will have to document the sources of their… Read more »

Formula E sets new viewership records in Season 8


When it made its debut 8 years ago, Formula E introduced an entirely new sport—electric racing. Since then, the racing series has gone from strength to strength, steadily expanding both the capabilities of its cars and the fan appeal of its races, while serving as an invaluable test bed for new EV technology and demonstrating… Read more »

EVBox’s new Livo home charging station


Charger manufacturer EVBox has introduced a new residential charging station. The EVBox Livo features intelligent charging features designed to optimize charging times and take advantage of potential savings. The EVBox Livo is available in several variants, with power output of 7.4 kW, 11 kW or 22 kW; and with fixed-cable, socket and socket-with-shutter options. The… Read more »