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Pioneer E-Bloc for Rove
Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPSI) (“Pioneer Power” or the “Company”), a leader in the design, manufacture, service, and integration of electrical power systems, distributed energy resources, power generation equipment and mobile electric vehicle (“EV”) charging solutions, announced that it will provide an E-Bloc system and other related custom control and protection equipment to Rove, a full-service charging center operator in Southern California on a mission to make charging EVs fast, safe, and reliable.
Pioneer Power’s innovative E-Bloc will help Rove develop one of its first full-service EV charging centers, which will include 40 direct-current ultra-fast chargers (“DCFC”), capable of reaching speeds up to 350 kW – making a full charge possible in as little as 15 minutes. Rove plans to utilize renewable energy, integrating onsite solar panels and battery storage, supported by E-Bloc, to supplement the use of electricity from the grid during peak times and support more sustainable energy use. Rove’s centers will include onsite amenities like a fresh market, lounge, free Wi-Fi, and car wash. Future Rove centers will be located in Santa Ana, Corona, and Torrance, with plans to open 20 by 2026.
“Rove is a true innovator, creating a state-of-the-art, re-imagined EV charging experience that utilizes renewable energy and creates a compelling consumer experience,” commented Nathan Mazurek, Pioneer Power’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that Rove’s customer-centric centers will make EV charging not just safe, quick, and reliable but also convenient. We are proud to support this important initiative and believe that our highly flexible E-Bloc solution will help Rove to harness solar and other renewable energy sources and optimize environmental benefits. Rove has an aggressive growth strategy, and we hope to grow with them on this important journey.”
Rove CEO Nathan McDonnell added, “We are setting the standard for better public charging for all EVs. With dedicated, clean, and convenient amenities, we hope our full-service centers become a destination for chargers in the region. The flexibility of Pioneer Power’s E-Bloc helps make this possible.”
Nikola Battery Safety Recall
The safety of customers, dealers and team members are Nikola’s top priority. Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via the HYLA brand, today provides the preliminary results of its battery pack investigations and as a precautionary measure, announces a voluntary recall of approximately 209 Class 8 Tre battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Nikola is currently in the process of filing this voluntary recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is placing a temporary hold on new BEV sales until a resolution is in place.
These actions do not affect the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) currently in production as the truck’s battery pack has a different design.
Following an August 10 presentation of preliminary findings from Exponent, a reputable third-party investigator, a coolant leak inside a single battery pack was found to be the probable cause of the truck fire at the company’s headquarters in Phoenix, Ariz. on June 23, 2023. The findings were further corroborated by a minor thermal incident that impacted one pack on an engineering validation truck parked at the company’s Coolidge, Ariz. plant on Aug. 10. No one was injured in either incident.
Internal investigations from Nikola’s safety and engineering teams indicate a single supplier component within the battery pack as the likely source of the coolant leak and efforts are underway to provide a field remedy in the coming weeks.
Tre BEV trucks may remain in operation, but for optimal performance and safety, the Nikola team encourages all customers and dealers to immediately take the following actions:
- Place the Main Battery Disconnect (MBD) switch into the “ON” position at all times to enable real-time vehicle monitoring and safety systems operation
- Consider parking trucks outside to allow for over-the-air updates and better connectivity with Fleet Command, Nikola’s truck monitoring system
The company’s software systems are being used in real-time to monitor trucks in the field closely and continually assess risks. Thus far, only two (2) battery packs have experienced a thermal event, out of more than 3,100 packs on trucks produced to date (less than 0.07%).
Additional information, updates and required customer actions will be announced in the coming weeks.
ICL Breaks Ground at St. Louis Plant
ICL (NYSE: ICL) (TASE: ICL), a leading global specialty minerals company, celebrated the groundbreaking of its battery materials manufacturing plant in St. Louis, which is expected to be the first large-scale lithium iron phosphate (LFP) facility in the U.S. The $400 million facility is planned to be operational by 2025 and will help meet growing demand from the energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) and clean-energy industries for U.S.-produced-and-sourced essential battery materials. ICL’s investment in the plant was augmented by a $197 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is providing historic funding that will bring down energy costs for electric vehicles, create good jobs and keep the U.S. on the cutting edge,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm at the groundbreaking event. “The momentous groundbreaking of ICL’s battery materials manufacturing facility in St. Louis is part of a manufacturing renaissance to build our country’s supply chain for these clean energy products.”
“ICL is excited to be building the first North American, commercial-scale plant for this critical component required by the energy-storage, mobility and infrastructure end-markets, and we’re proud to make this investment in St. Louis and to create more than 150 high-paying union and professional positions in our hometown,” said Phil Brown, president of the company’s Phosphate Division and managing director of North America for ICL. “We’re excited about the demand we are already seeing for this capacity and are looking forward to moving into this new business. Additionally, as we rapidly move ahead, we are looking forward to partnering with some of the premier participants in this exciting new industry.”
The 140,000-square-foot facility is expected to produce 30,000 metric tons of LFP and will serve as the foundation for the company’s global battery materials business. The new plant will be located on ICL’s existing Carondelet campus in St. Louis, which is recognized by the Justice40 Initiative as a disadvantaged community.
“We’re proud to have ICL Group in Missouri and even prouder to b
TerraWatt Breaks Ground in Inglewood
TeraWatt Infrastructure, a company powering electrified fleets with the most reliable network of charging solutions, hosted a groundbreaking event in Inglewood, California on August 8, 2023, revealing a new charging site for light duty fleets in the LA area. The site is owned, operated and maintained by TeraWatt, providing a full-stack charging solution including software and O&M services.
The multi-tenant Inglewood site is slated to be operational in early 2024 and will feature 26 DC Fast Chargers, as well as a driver amenities building. It is conveniently located three miles from the high-traffic LAX area, and will provide a high level of charging reliability as the push for zero-emission vehicles continues to gain momentum.
EV Connect Service Platform
To support the growing number of companies entering and expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging businesses, EV Connect, a leading EV charging business platform, announced the launch of the EV Connect Service Platform. The Service Platform enables companies to build, scale, and manage EV charging operations with versatile monetization options and a comprehensive suite of software and support services that equip organizations with the tools to succeed in an increasingly competitive EV charging industry. Service providers can unlock the entire EV charging value chain – they can now control every aspect, including branding, maintenance, operations, and revenue.
Whether just getting started or ready to scale an existing business, the EV Service Platform offers a comprehensive set of charging services and charger management tools. This toolset allows companies to deploy EV charging business models and rapidly extend their offerings beyond basic charging station installation services by unlocking lucrative new revenue streams with advanced management tools and real-time insights. Service Platform users can take advantage of sophisticated pricing models, manage equipment maintenance, offer premium phone support, and control customer renewals to deliver even more value to their customers.
“At IPOWER Alliance, we’re dedicated to simplifying and enhancing our clients’ daily operations, and this commitment revolves around introducing intelligent solutions and a constant drive for excellence,” said Diane Dandeneau, president of IPOWER Alliance. “IPOWER is thrilled to collaborate with EV Connect and leverage their innovative Service Platform to provide unparalleled support to our dealership and commercial customers. By combining tried-and-true practices with deep analytical insights, we can better guide our customers through the EV industry while streamlining the entire process.”
Backed by more than 14 years of experience building and operating leading EV charging networks, the EV Connect Service Platform provides access to the vast pool of industry knowledge and partnerships for companies in the business of EV charging. EV Connect also has long-standing relationships with utilities and more than 20 leading manufacturers of EV charging equipment (EVSE), with hundreds of charging station models certified and qualified for utility, state, and federal incentive programs. The array of industry knowledge, partnerships, and tools now easily accessible through the Service Platform can start or accelerate all charging business models for providers who want to move up the value chain or for experienced charging service and network providers.
“Operating a successful branded charging network requires great management software and experienced partners,” said Seth Cutler, COO at EV Connect. “By providing access to our industry expertise and toolsets, we empower EV Connect customers with invaluable knowledge to confidently navigate the complexities and challenges of the industry. Through collaboration, information sharing, and cutting-edge solutions, we at EV Connect firmly believe we can collectively accelerate the growth and adoption of electric mobility globally.”
EV Connect is the conduit to accelerating EV charging business growth with technology and tools that drive innovation to fuel new business models in e-mobility. To learn more about how EV Connect is helping businesses of all sizes unlock the power of EV charging business models, please register for the EV Connect webinar on August 9th, 2023, at 9 am PT.
EV Charging Station Study Gaps
Methodology
The study used data from the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Census Bureau to compare EV charging port density to gas station pump density in U.S. states. State-by-state comparisons were found by positioning the number of EV charging opportunities and gas stations against roadway miles, vehicle registrations, and square miles. A density metric was created to highlight states with better EV charging density than gas station density, based on vehicle usage and charging/fueling accessibility, with assumptions for gas pump numbers from Enel X.
Electric Vehicle Usage vs. Charging Density
- Nevada: 49% more EVs per vehicle registration than the national average but has 19% fewer EV ports per road mile.
- Oregon: 56% more EVs per vehicle registration but 14% fewer EV ports per road mile.
- Rhode Island: 26% fewer EVs per vehicle registration with a whopping 205% more EV ports per road mile.
- Maine: 47% fewer EVs per vehicle registration and 5% more per road mile.
Gas Vehicle Usage vs. Fueling Density
- Nevada: 2% more gas vehicles per vehicle registration than the national average but has 37% fewer gas pumps per road mile.
- Louisiana: 2% less gas vehicles per vehicle registration than the national average and 43% more gas pumps per road mile.
U.S. States with More EV Charging Opportunities Than Gas Stations
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- California
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Colorado, Oregon
- Utah
- Washington
To explore state-by-state breakdowns of charging vs. fueling density, please visit the complete study.
EPRI Leads EVs2Scale2030
Industry and U.S. government goals continue to drive the volume of electric vehicles (EVs) on the nation’s roads—from cars to heavy-duty trucks. EPRI is leading a new, three-year initiative—EVs2Scale2030™ —that will collaborate with more than 500 stakeholders including Amazon, the U.S. Department of Energy, and leading electric companies to ready the electric grid in support of the accelerated development of EV charging infrastructure.
EVs2Scale2030™ includes electric companies, fleet operators, auto and truck manufacturers, and charging providers, in coordination with federal agencies and national labs, the Edison Electric Institute, the American Public Power Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and the Alliance for Transportation Electrification.
Amazon is the first logistics provider to join the initiative. Founding electric company members include: Austin Energy, CenterPoint Energy, Con Edison, FirstEnergy, Great River Energy, National Grid, New York Power Authority, Omaha Public Power District, Pacific Gas & Electric, Portland General Electric, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Salt River Project, Seattle City Light, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, and Xcel Energy. Additional data collaborators include Daimler Truck North America, PACCAR, Volvo Group North America, and World Resources Institute.
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Segway-Ninebot, a global leader in autonomous mobility solutions, drafted the world’s first international standard for e-Transporters. The standard, IEC 63281-1 “E-Transporters – Part 1: Terminology and Classification,” was published by the IEC/TC125 e-Transporters Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The standard provides a unified definition and classification system for e-Transporters, encompassing microbility products and delivery robots. Its release demonstrates Segway-Ninebot’s deep expertise and insight into the e-Transporters industry as the driving force behind establishing this critical standard.
For the first time, this standard defines the basic terminology of e-Transporters on an international level, which is further divided into two categories of products: “Personal e-Transporters”, such as electric self-balancing vehicles, electric kickscooters and other micromobility products; and “Cargo e-Transporters”, such as delivery robots, logistics distribution vehicles, and other delivery products. This new international standard for electric transporters is an important element of the company’s technological innovation. The standard considers the diverse technology and forms of electric transport products in a novel way.
EVgo New Offer from Audible
EVgo Inc. (NASDAQ: EVGO), one of the nation’s largest public fast charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs), announced the launch of a new collaboration with Audible, the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling. The companies are offering a joint promotion for a 2-month free trial of Audible Premium Plus to EVgo customers and users of PlugShare, the world’s leading EV community and a part of the EVgo Inc. family. With this limited-time offer, customers receive Audible Premium Plus, a premium subscription plan offering unlimited access to thousands of select audiobooks and podcasts in the Audible catalog.*
From Audible original content, audiobooks and podcasts to sleep tracks and meditation programs, Audible Premium Plus offers one credit per month which can be used towards any title in the Audible library including best sellers and new releases—yours to keep, in addition to the all-you-can stream unlimited listening catalog. Drivers who sign up for the free trial via EVgo will also enjoy access to a curated EVgo content list, including the company’s recommended sustainability titles and resources.
“At EVgo, we believe an all-electric future is more than just a change in how our cars are fueled – it’s an opportunity to redefine the entire driving experience,” said Tanvi Chaturvedi, Chief Revenue Officer at EVgo. “We’re thrilled to partner with Audible and offer drivers the best-available audio storytelling entertainment while they charge their cars. We look forward to continuing to expand our partnership with Amazon and finding additional ways to deliver more value for the rapidly growing number of EVgo and PlugShare users on the road.”
EVgo and Amazon share a commitment to innovative customer-centric technology solutions to deliver additional value as part of the charging experience. The Audible collaboration follows a partnership announced at CES 2023 between EVgo and Amazon, to bring an Alexa-enabled EV charging experience to drivers.
The free trial offer with Audible Premium Plus joins a slew of features and exclusive perks available to new and existing EVgo customers, including EVgo Rewards™, EVgo Reservations, Autocharge+ and more. With EVgo’s nationwide network including around 900 fast charging stations spanning 60 metropolitan areas today, nearly 140 million people in the U.S. live within 10 miles of an EVgo charger.
For more information about this offer, please visit www.audible.com/evgo.
*The offer is limited to new customers who are not current Audible members or who have not previously participated in an Audible free trial in the last 12 months. Offer expires May 31, 2024.
ChargePoint Invests in Monitoring
-ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of solutions for charging electric vehicles (EVs), announced a significant investment in the application of technology from the networking and information security worlds, which aims to deliver charging station reliability of nearly 100%, once fully implemented. This technology will be combined with natural language processing, enhanced driver communications and a class-leading training certification to ensure ChargePoint stays ahead of the EV adoption curve as a global leader in the charging space.
The Network Operations Center (NOC) will implement 24/7 proactive station monitoring, predictive analytics and leverage applied machine learning to more rapidly detect station downtime, in turn improving charger uptime and ensuring faster incident response. The NOC has been designed for rapid scale alongside the ChargePoint network which already surpassed 243,000 active charging ports plus roaming partners. Additionally, ChargePoint will introduce a comprehensive training program to certify electrical contractors that install EV charging infrastructure — a first in the EV charging industry. A summary of the new reliability initiatives can be found below.
While uptime is a key measure of charging reliability, the EV charging industry has not yet adopted a standard measurement for uptime. ChargePoint generally measures station uptime as the portion of time each individual charging port can dispense energy, as a driver pulling in for a charge would expect, not averaged across a bank of charging stations at a single address. Today, ChargePoint delivers approximately 96% uptime on average across its entire public network in North America and Europe, and for ChargePoint Assure customers, ChargePoint provides a 98% annual station uptime guarantee.
Volvo Trucks Recall
NHTSA recalled Volvo and Mack electric trucks for possible problems buss bar is an electrical junction used for collecting electric power from the incoming feeders and distributing it to the outgoing feeders. Over-torquing of the rivet nut can lead to shearing that results in debris in the battery pack. That could lead to a short inside the battery pack, increasing the risk of a fire in Akasol Gen 3 battery cells.
Ricardo, a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, has supported Winnebago to develop and launch North America’s first all-electric, zero-emission RV, called the Winnebago eRV2.
US Government Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics measuring the outdoor recreation economy for the nation show that RVing is the second-largest conventional activity for the nation. The outdoor recreation industry in North America has seen significant growth, and this has also been accompanied by greater demand for sustainable products which will enable consumers to enjoy the great outdoors with less environmental impact.
Winnebago Chose Ricardo for Prototype
Winnebago chose Ricardo due to its proven track record in diverse product development cycles, launch management and expertise in electric vehicle integration. The team had responsibility for managing the programme delivery of the project through from clean sheet design to vehicle launch, in a specific one-year timeframe. This included project management support in engineering, manufacturing, quality, procurement and supply chain management.
Additionally, and drawing on the team’s expertise in automotive electrical system development, Ricardo supported Winnebago with the integration of an advanced 48v electrical system, including electrical engineering architecture and wire harness.