EV, Battery & Charging News Toyota, BMW MINI, Rolls, Rivian, Amazon, CALSTART, Kia, Leidos, UL, Gravity, NACS, GreenPower & Samsung.

In electric vehicle battery and charging news are Toyota,BMW MINI, Rolls, Rivian, Amazon, CALSTART, Kia, Leidos, UL, Gravity, NACS, GreenPower & Samsng.

In this Article

Toyota Adopts NACS

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) announced it has reached an agreement with Tesla, Inc. to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) on its battery electric vehicles (BEVs) beginning in 2025. In line with Toyota’s vehicle electrification strategy that offers a plethora of options for electrified powertrains, Toyota and Lexus customers will have convenient access to more than12,000 Tesla Superchargers across North America.

Toyota will incorporate the NACS ports into certain Toyota and Lexus BEVs starting in 2025, including the allnew, three-row, battery-electric Toyota SUV that will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK). Additionally, customers owning or leasing applicable

Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with the Combined Charging System (CCS) will be offered access to an adapter to enable NACS charging starting in 2025.

NACS for BMW MINI & Rolls

In a continued effort to provide the best possible electric vehicle charging experience for its customers, BMW of North America and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA announced today that drivers of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Combined Charging System (CCS) battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the U.S. and Canada will gain access to designated Tesla Supercharger stations in early 2025.

“With six fully electric BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce models now available in the U.S. market, and more to come, it is our top priority to ensure that our drivers have easy access to reliable, fast charging,” said Sebastian Mackensen, President & CEO, BMW of North America. “This agreement is the latest in our longstanding and continued effort to expand charging options for our customers as we continue on the road to electrification.”

The companies will work together in the coming months to create a seamless customer experience enabling BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce drivers to find and access available Superchargers on their vehicle’s display, and make payments through their respective vehicle’s brand app.

As part of the arrangement, the BMW Group will also adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its battery electric vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, starting in 2025.

This agreement is independent of BMW NA’s recently announced commitment, with six other automakers, to create a joint venture company that will build a new, high-powered electric vehicle charging network in North America. The new joint venture will build at least 30,000 new chargers in metropolitan areas and along major highways, which will be accessible to drivers of all battery electric vehicles from any automaker using CCS or NACS charging standards. The joint venture is expected to be established this year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Rivian Delivers for Amazon

Amazon revealed during “Delivery the Future,” 10,000 Rivian-made all-electric van are delivering packages in United States

CALSTART Infrastructer for I-95

CALSTART, a mission-oriented industry nonprofit organization, announced the launch of a groundbreaking project to guide investment in commercial medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure along I-95, one of the nation’s most heavily traveled freight routes. The East Coast Commercial ZEV Corridor project will incorporate input from fleet operators, the charging and fueling industry, utilities and communities to determine the most equitable and efficient path forward to support MHD ZEV deployment.

Funded by a $1.2M grant from the Department of Energy, the two-year initiative will define the locations, contributors, and processes that will result in an unprecedented, advanced technology, zero-emission freight corridor up and down the Eastern seaboard. The CALSTART-led ZEV Corridor project will transform the I-95 thoroughfare from New Jersey to Georgia into a model of MHD ZEV efficiency, significantly improving the health and well-being of both drivers and the communities in and around the routes, as well as powering improvements and expansion across the industries that produce MHD ZEVs and their supporting infrastructure.

Commercialization of Graphite Recycling

Ascend Elements, a U.S.-based manufacturer of sustainable battery materials, and Orbia’s Fluorinated Solutions business, Koura, one of the world’s largest producers of fluoroproducts and technologies, today agreed to explore joint commercialization of the patented Hydro-to-Anode® graphite recycling technology and discuss plans to build an advanced graphite recycling facility in the United States. Unveiled in February 2022, the Hydro-to-Anode® technology produces 99.9% pure graphite from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing scrap. Commercialization of the innovative technology will provide a new source of battery-grade anode materials for North America’s fast-growing electric vehicle battery industry.

CharIn & ACM

To support rapid vehicle electrification, the Charging Interface Initiative Inc. (CharIN Inc.) and the American Center for Mobility (ACM) have entered into a MOU to cooperate on strategic priorities related to electric vehicle (EV) charging. The growth in EV production and adoption, along with the expanding number of charging stations from a variety of manufacturers, brings significant challenges, particularly around ensuring all platforms work seamlessly to provide drivers with a convenient charging experience. Together, CharIN and ACM will help accelerate the development and testing of robust industry standards with the ultimate goal of making EV charging better and more attractive than a gas station experience.

CharIN Inc. is a registered association with members across the entire EV charging value chain and open to all interested parties, including leading companies from the automotive sector, charging industry, and other associated industries. CharIN is focused on expanding the global EV network by coordinating companies in the value chain to support and promote open EV industry standards including, SAE J3400, ISO 15118/ DIN SPEC 70121, SAE J1772 and IEC 62196, which are the building blocks of CCS, MCS & NACS and other relevant international standards. CharIN is defining a conformance testing and certification system for all manufacturers implementing those standards.

“CharIN is accelerating the evolution of EV charging standards to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding consumer base,” says Erika Myers, Executive Director at CharIN North America. “Partnering with ACM will merge CharIN’s knowledge and membership with ACM’s open testing and validation facilities to address interoperability issues. Our goal is to establish this industry-led testing facility to support the needs of current and future EV equipment and achieve the perfect customer charging experience.”

The American Center for Mobility is a global development center for safe, sustainable, and secure mobility technologies. Perhaps best known for its advanced proving ground for connected and automated vehicles, ACM recently announced plans to move forward on its first phase of an EV Charging and Interoperability test bed as a place where OEMs, CPOs, and EVSE’s can access a market representation of chargers and to collaborate to bring seamless charging experiences to consumers.

More Funding from CALSTART

The Communities in Charge Project, implemented by CALSTART, has announced dates for its second round of funding since its launch earlier this year. The project is funded by the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program, and is supported in partnership with GRID Alternatives and Tetra Tech.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on November 7, 2023, and continuing through 5 p.m. Pacific Time on December 22, 2023, applicants can apply for their share of up to $38 million in incentives. Applicants will be able to submit their application documents through an online Incentive Processing Center during the application period. Once the funding lane closes, the project team will review applications and notify awarded recipients.

Incentives are open to a wide variety of project sites like schools, health care centers, local businesses, and communities. Projects able to show a high degree of readiness and those located within disadvantaged or low-income communities will be prioritized for incentives.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to view the supporting documents on the Resources section of the Communities in Charge website to learn more about the application process. A virtual workshop will be held on October 19, 2023, to give important updates about the incentives opportunity.

“We are thrilled to open the funding opportunity once again to communities across California. We hope that the increase in funding will attract a new wave of applicants,” said Geoff Cook, Clean Fuels and Infrastructure, Deputy Director, CALSTART.

Kia EV 6 Rated & Priced

Now entering its third model year, the all-electric 2024 EV6 maintains its position as integral to Kia’s “Plan S” strategy. The 2024 model year introduces the 77.4-kWh battery to the EV6 Light, and with it, two new trim designations in rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (e-AWD). For 2024, the EV6 GT is now rated at an EPA-estimated 218 miles of all-electric range (AER)¹, an improvement of 12 miles over the 2023 EV6 GT. Across all EV6 models, newly standard are charge port lighting and charge door marking to facilitate access.

The 2024 EV6 is expected to go on sale in Fall 2023.

Pricing² – MSRP (excludes $1,325 destination fee)

EV6 Light RWD		$42,600
EV6 Light Long Range RWD		$45,950
EV6 Light e-AWD		$49,850
EV6 Wind RWD		$48,700
EV6 Wind e-AWD		$52,600
EV6 GT-Line RWD		$52,900
EV6 GT-Line e-AWD		$57,600
EV6 GT		$61,600

Motor / Output

EV6 Light RWD	58.0 kWh, 167 hp
EV6 Light Long Range RWD, EV6 Wind RWD, EV6 GT-Line RWD	77.4 kWh, 225 hp
EV6 Light e-AWD, EV6 Wind e-AWD, EV6 GT-Line e-AWD	77.4 kWh, 320 hp
EV6 GT	77.4 kWh, 576 hp

Range – EPA estimated¹

EV6 Light RWD	232 miles
EV6 Light Long Range RWD, EV6 Wind RWD, EV6 GT-Line RWD	310 miles
EV6 Light e-AWD, EV6 Wind e-AWD	282 miles
EV6 GT-Line e-AWD	252 miles
EV6 GT	218 miles

Highlighted Drive Assist Systems³:

Blind Spot Collision Assistance (BCA)
- Std: All Trims
Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert⁴
- Std: All Trims
Forward Collision Avoidance Assist – Car & Pedestrian and Junction Turning
- Std: All Trims
Highway Driving Assist (HDA)⁵
- Std: All Trims
High Beam Assist (HBA)⁶
- Std: All Trims
Lane Following Assist (LFA)
- Std: All Trims
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Std: All Trims
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
- Std: All Trims
Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)
- Std: All Trims
Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control Curve (NSCC-C)⁷
- Std: All Trims
Parking Distance Warning – Reverse (PDW-R) w/off switch
- Std: All Trims
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
- Std: All Trims
Rear Occupant Alert – Door Logic Type (ROA)⁸
- Std: All Trims
Safe Exit Assist (SEW)
- Std: All Trims

Leidos DIU for Air Force

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE^® 500 science and technology leader, was recently awarded a new Other Transaction prototype contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to provide a multi-base Electric Vehicle Charging-as-a-Service (EVCaaS) deployment for the Department of the Air Force.

“We look forward to supporting the Air Force’s journey to a clean energy future,” said Bill Johnson, Senior Vice President and Operations Manager at Leidos. “With this award, Leidos will leverage our expertise decarbonizing complex systems to deliver quick and resilient solutions, with minimal impact expected to the critical missions of the Air Force.”

With more than 49,000 non-tactical vehicles in its fleet, the Air Force will be able to transition its fleet to zero-emissions using EVCaaS.

Through this contract, Leidos will design and implement a modern, resilient, scalable and secure power infrastructure solution. This will provide the necessary resources for the Air Force’s fleet of non-tactical vehicles to be charged and ready for use at multiple installations across the continental United States.

“Leidos’ innovative solution sets a new precedent for how federal organizations can leverage third party finance and commercial best practices to rapidly electrify their mission,” said Tristan Bannon, Leidos’ Executive Director for Renewable Energy and Climate Technologies. “Further, by integrating energy storage, this project should enhance the Air Force’s non-grid-dependent installation energy resilience and serve as a learning model across the Department of Defense.”

The solution will use Leidos’ engineering and system integration expertise to integrate the best commercially available technology. Leidos selected ChargePoint, a leading provider of solutions for charging EVs, to support delivering these capabilities.

Leidos will also pilot an innovative above-ground EV balance of systems capability supplied by Shoals, a leading provider for eMobility solutions. This approach minimizes construction costs and schedule delays through secure and hardened above-ground raceways and power stations. The solution meets the unique efficiency and resiliency needs of each installation location. It also leverages analytics and engineering to mitigate the impact on local installation grids.

New Electric Motor Controller fro ECM PCB Stator Tech

US Electric motor design and software company ECM PCB Stator Tech unveiled a fully integrated and customizable electric motor controller that facilitates premium system efficiencies.

ECM’s 5kW, Unum Potentia controller was developed to maximize the benefits of the Boston-based startup’s PrintStator Motor CAD platform and PCB Stator innovation.

As a unit, the controller delivers a measured efficiency of 98 percent. When combined with a PrintStator designed PCB Stator machine, ECM’s new controller enables IE5 ultra-efficiency performance in electric motor systems.

“The unit efficiency of this ECM controller is what’s driving greater overall system efficiency. With a near 100 percent efficient controller—vs. one in the 80s or low 90s—you’re drawing less system energy to compensate for an inefficient controller,” said ECM CEO Brian Casey.

In addition to premium efficiency, the new motor controller further advances the form factor and design optimization capabilities of ECM’s PrintStator Motor CAD.

As a software platform, PrintStator powers the custom design, manufacture, and integration of PCB Stator electric motors to precise performance and form factor requirements.

ECM’s new motor controller is customizable via PrintStator and fully integrated, both structurally and thermally, to the resulting motor housing. This provides the most compact footprint possible. Pairing the controller to ECM’s PrintStator CAD platform enables full motor system optimization. ECM’s software is capable of outputting motor tuning parameters and translating those into a code file that uploads to the controller. This makes ECM’s motor system design capabilities truly plug and play.

The controller schematic is equipped to run motors from 3kW up to 8kW based on components changes; however, the board itself and its footprint stay the same.

Additional specifications of ECM’s Unum Potentia motor controller include the following:

Operates on a 220 & 480 3 phase AC supply
Offers sensorless control capable of running motors down to ~50rpm
FETs are capable of switching upwards of 100kHz

ECM’s new motor controller will be available to ECM’s PrintStator SaaS clients—and partners that work with ECM to create optimized PCB Stator electric motor systems—for roughly 1/10^th the cost of controllers that support similar electric motor kW ranges.

“With this controller, ECM customers will now have the ability to pursue fully integrated design on our PrintStator platform. Not only can you customize and optimize your PCB Stator motor, you can now design a drive-controller perfectly tuned to your full electric system,” said ECM CEO Brian Casey.

UL Cert for Gravity

UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, announced that the 500 kilowatt (kW) electric vehicle (EV) chargers and power cabinets from Gravity are the first 500 kW systems to achieve UL certification to UL 2202, the Standard for Safety for Direct Current (DC) Charging Equipment for Electric Vehicles. Gravity, an EV infrastructure firm, is installing 24 of these UL Certified charging systems at its new facility in Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

ChargePoint Supports NACS

ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of networked solutions for charging electric vehicles (EVs), is now rolling out NACS connector support for its AC and DC charging solutions, with much of the lineup to be delivered over the coming month. Cable conversion kits for existing DC fast chargers will be delivered to customers in November, offering Tesla drivers a public fast charging alternative for the first time.

GreenPower Delivers 16 School Buses

GreenPower delivered a record 16 purpose-built school buses in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 which ended September 30, 2023. Of that total, 13 were BEAST school buses and three were the award-winning Nano BEAST school buses.///

-SME, the nonprofit committed to accelerating new manufacturing technology adoption and building North America’s talent, has expanded its capabilities to serve the quickly-evolving talent needs in the electrification market today with new training and an Electric Vehicle (EV) Fundamentals certification. This expansion builds upon SME’s long history serving the automotive industry’s talent needs, as well as accelerating technology advancements such as additive manufacturing, automation, and SMART manufacturing.

Samsung Intros AutoSSD

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. held its annual Memory Tech Day, showcasing industry-first innovations ons — including the cloud, edge devices and automotive vehicles.and new memory products to accelerate technological advancements across future applicati

With advancements in autonomous driving solutions, market demand is also rising for high-bandwidth, high-capacity DRAM and Shared SSDs, which share data with multiple System on Chips (SoCs). Samsung presented its Detachable AutoSSD that allows data access from a single SSD to multiple SoCs through virtual storage.

The Detachable AutoSSD supports sequential read speed of up to 6,500 megabytes-per-second (MBps) with 4TB of capacity. As it comes in a detachable form factor, the SSD makes upgrades and adjustments easier for vehicle users and manufacturers. Samsung also displayed automotive memory solutions such as high-bandwidth GDDR7 and LPDDR5X with a more compact package size.