Blink Partners with EVSTAR
Blink Charging Co. (NASDAQ: BLNK) (“Blink” or the “Company”), a leading global manufacturer, owner, operator, and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, has announced a strategic agreement with EVSTAR to introduce extended warranty coverage options for Blink customers. This new, optional extended warranty program aims to boost customer confidence and includes coverage in cases of accidental damage, OEM connection issues, power surges, and more.
EVSTAR, a national renewable energy service and warranty administrator backed by a leading global insurance organization, brings decades of EV technology service warranty and repair expertise to Blink customers.
“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in enhancing the reliability and longevity of our charging solutions,” said Mike Battaglia, Chief Operating Officer at Blink. “With EVSTAR managing claims and scheduling repairs, our customers who purchase this extended warranty can enjoy peace of mind, knowing their investments in EV infrastructure are better protected.”
Blink has been continuously making progress in developing initiatives to increase the availability and reliability of chargers. Customers with this extended warranty may avoid out-of-pocket expenses for eligible claims, even if the charging station requires full replacement, repairs, de-installation, or re-installation within the 5-year warranty term. For eligible claims, this comprehensive extended warranty covers mechanical and electrical failures, normal wear and tear, accidental damage, and power surges, allowing customers to focus on expanding their EV charging networks without the hassle of managing repair logistics.
“We are excited to announce our strategic collaboration with Blink, marking a pivotal moment for both companies and the EV charging industry,” said Andrew Hoehner, CEO of EVSTAR. “Pooling our strengths, we are introducing groundbreaking solutions and redefining EV charger protection and warranty standards to ensure existing and future devices will always be functional. Together, we are eager to harness our expertise and resources to foster mutual growth and deliver unmatched charging experiences and value to customers and stakeholders.”
Autel & Emobi to Accelerate Plug & Charge in NA
Autel, the top provider of EV charging solutions, and Emobi, a leader in EV charging ecosystems, have strengthened their partnership to further accelerate Plug & Charge implementation in North America since their roaming collaboration began in August 2023. This continuous joint effort aims to enhance the EV charging experience by offering electric vehicle owners unmatched practicality, convenience, and simplicity in their charging process.
Simplifying the EV Charging Experience
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The partnership integrates Autel’s wide-range of charging solutions, known for their advanced diagnostics and user-friendly features, with Emobi’s roaming ecosystem. To date, over 110,000 charging ports across North America are integrated into the Emobi hub ecosystem. Autel’s state-of-the-art technology, derived from their decades of experience in the automotive industry ensures a seamless and efficient charging experience for electric vehicle owners.
Seamless Retry Reduces Manual Intervention
Leveraging Emobi’s AI-powered Plug & Charge technology, the collaboration streamlines EV payment and billing, ensuring seamless retry mechanisms and overall a hassle-free experience at the charging station. The combined efforts will enhance user convenience by providing clear information, easy navigation, and consistent service, ultimately improving the usability of EV charging infrastructure.
“Our partnership with Emobi focuses on delivering the most convenient and reliable charging experience possible,” said Dan Larson, Product and Solutions Manager at Autel. “When offered the opportunity to combine our extensive expertise in EV charging hardware and software solutions with Emobi’s game changing technology; it was a no-brainer. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to implementing seamless retry functionality for EV drivers, avoiding the need for manual intervention during a charging session,” he added.
UL Solutions Opens Advanced Battery Lab in Auburn Hills, MI
UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, officially opened its North America Advanced Battery Laboratory in Auburn Hills, Michigan, one of the most extensive electric and hybrid vehicle and industrial battery testing laboratories in the U.S.
The new facility is UL Solutions’ largest laboratory investment in our history and part of our commitment to help battery manufacturers increase the safety and reliability of their energy storage products. It expands the UL Solutions global network of facilities addressing evolving battery technologies. The global trend toward electrification and clean energy is a strategic priority for UL Solutions as it impacts many industries including but not limited to the automotive sector.
“The electrification of everything relies on battery innovation, impacts many industries and elevates the need for safety and performance across the energy transition spectrum,” said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions. “This is where we step in. Our North America Advanced Battery Laboratory demonstrates our commitment to supporting the safer commercialization of new battery innovations that play a vital role in the world’s energy transition.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “Today’s grand opening of UL Solutions’ North America Advanced Battery Laboratory in Michigan is a testament to our growing leadership in the future of mobility and electrification. With this cutting-edge testing facility in Auburn Hills, we can test the technology we will need for electric vehicles close by to the manufacturing plants where the batteries, cars, and trucks themselves are getting built by hardworking Michiganders. Our ecosystem of advanced manufacturing is strong, and we will continue to lead the nation in this space. Together, with partners like UL Solutions, we can build a brighter future for Michigan industry and create and support thousands of good-paying jobs. Let’s keep getting it done.”
The new laboratory is in the Auburn Hills Oakland Technology Park complex near Detroit, the world’s automotive capital. The facility houses state-of-the-art battery test equipment so UL Solutions can deliver safety and performance testing for automotive and industrial original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers.
Experts from UL Solutions staff the North America Advanced Battery Laboratory, performing a wide variety of safety and performance tests. The facility’s portfolio of tests is one of the most extensive in the industry, including thermal fire propagation, electrical, mechanical abuse and environmental testing based on various UL and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, United Nations (UN) goals and initiatives, and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and OEM specifications.
The UL Solutions North America Advanced Battery Laboratory adds to our global network of testing facilities focused on this technology. These include:
- Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Testing Laboratory in Northbrook, Illinois
- EV Charging Test Laboratories in Fremont, California; Northbrook, Illinois; and Frankfurt, Germany
- UL Solutions E-Mobility and Energy Laboratory in Changzhou, China
- EV Battery Laboratory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea
- CHAdeMO EV–Quick Charger Matching Center in Ise, Mie, Japan
- EV and Micromobility Laboratory in Luzhu, Taiwan
- BatterieIngenieure by UL Solutions Battery Testing Laboratory in Aachen, Germany
- CERE by UL Solutions Energy Resource Laboratory in Madrid, Spain.
Argonne Lab Simulates How EVs Use Energy: Autonomie Express
From a city’s rush-hour commute to the operations of a cross-country transport fleet, a new tool from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory can paint a picture of how vehicles are using energy on a large scale.
The tool, called Autonomie Express, is designed to help transport and mobility companies, researchers, city planners and others estimate their vehicles’ energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The tool — free to all users — assesses energy consumption for a wide range of vehicles, both current and future.
“Over the last 20 years, transportation has become more complex with the onset of new technologies, both at the powertrain level and the vehicle level, as well as the intelligence that’s being added to vehicles and roadways,” said Phillip Sharer, manager of Argonne’s model-based systems engineering group. “We have a mix of conventional vehicles, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles of varying sizes on the road today, and we anticipate more in the years to come.”
To account for this new complexity, Autonomie Express is equipped with a vast library of vehicle types, from light-duty passenger cars to heavy-duty trucks. It models their individual powertrains, fuel economy and battery usage.
Autonomie Express even includes models that aren’t yet available to the public — with the help of manufacturer specifications, its library contains new vehicles projected through the year 2050.
“The vehicle simulations in Autonomie Express encompass all modern vehicles that are currently on the road, as well as those that are expected to be on the road in the next two decades,” said Ram Vijayagopal, manager of the vehicle and technology assessment group. “By being able to select from more than 5,000 full vehicle models, transportation engineers can develop realistic simulations of present and future fleets.”
Autonomie Express can make it easier for stakeholders to see the impact of their current practices and vehicle fleets, as well as show how they’re improving. For example, it can estimate how much a transport company can save by switching to electric vehicles, or how much rush-hour traffic contributes to a city’s energy consumption.
The tool is designed to work in conjunction with small- and large-scale traffic flow simulation tools such as Aimsun, PTV Vissim, Eclipse SUMO, or Argonne’s POLARIS to model impact of new technologies such as electrification, connectivity and automation when deployed at scale.
“You can ask, what if 50% of these vehicles were battery electric — what impact would that have on traffic flow?” said Sharer.
The Autonomie Express development team is led by Aymeric Rousseau, director of the vehicle and mobility systems department.
“Express has been designed to be easy to use,” Rousseau said. “Vehicle selection and connection with micro- and meso-simulation tools has been streamlined through a graphical user interface. Pre-defined fleets for multiple scenarios provide ready-to-go solutions for researchers to accurately estimate energy impacts of technologies.”
The team recently announced Autonomie Express’s availability, free of cost with a license. They hope it will incentivize users to embrace more energy-efficient, environmentally responsible transportation options by showing them where to start.
Request a government- or non-government usage license from Argonne National Laboratory.
ChargeTronix: Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Suite
ChargeTronix, a leading global provider of reliable, powerful and intelligent electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, announced the immediate availability of its full suite of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) products with North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors. These chargers are the first NACS chargers available for shipping in the United States.
More than half of consumers cite range anxiety and a lack of charging stations as a major barrier in purchasing an EV. By increasing the availability of fast-charging options, ChargeTronix is directly addressing these concerns among current and future EV users. The DCFC NACS chargers are also compliant with all Tesla models as well as NACS ready vehicles from Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Kia and others in 2025, which will further support the anticipated surge in EV adoption as new vehicles hit the market.
“NACS technology is critical for the future of EV charging and charging standard alignment, which is why we’re excited to be one of the first companies to provide it,” says Xavier Landavazo, CEO of ChargeTronix. “This rollout, which will support a broad spectrum of EVs and drive the future of standardized charging in the USA, is a win-win for manufacturers, Charge Point Operators, and EV drivers.”
The 30kW, 60kW, 120kW, and 180kW DCFC NACS chargers are available in both single and dual configurations, with Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) compliant models offered. ChargeTronix provides a field retro-fit option for all Combined Charging System (CCS) chargers, facilitating easy upgrades to the latest NACS technology.
Vontier Offers Solutions
A new survey by Vontier (NYSE: VNT), a global industrial technology company, reveals a critical truth in the electric vehicle (EV) landscape: safety isn’t just a preference—it’s a driving force to adoption. The study highlights a critical gap in the current EV charging infrastructure and points to potential solutions that could accelerate EV adoption, including charging station design and placement.
An overwhelming nearly 80 percent of EV drivers reported they would go out of their way to use a public charger located in a safe environment. This striking statistic underscores a significant issue with many existing charging stations, which are often poorly lit, lack security cameras, and are situated in isolated areas of parking lots with minimal supervision.
“It’s not just about plugging in anymore—it’s about peace of mind,” said Mark Morelli, President and CEO at Vontier. “Addressing these safety concerns is imperative for the future of EV adoption, and convenience stores are uniquely positioned to address this challenge. They innately provide a safer, more comfortable charging experience while offering the amenities that drivers desire to be more productive during their charging time.”
The survey also found that over half of EV drivers would drive farther for charging stations that offer protection from the elements, such as rain or snow. Additionally, 67 percent would go out of their way for stations near shopping areas, and 63 percent for those close to dining options.
Vontier is at the forefront of deploying EV charging infrastructure at convenience stores, partnering with industry leaders like 7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa, Buc-ee’s, Speedway, Chevron, and Shell. Vontier’s portfolio company EVolve includes global EV charging software leader Driivz with over 85,000 ports under management. Vontier company Gilbarco Veeder-Root also recently launched its turnkey Konect solution that enables convenience stores to integrate charging seamlessly with existing fueling, payment, and service offerings, providing drivers with a convenient, sustainable, and most importantly, safe place to charge.
“It’s interesting that drivers are willing to drive further for their preferred chargers despite ongoing concerns around EV range and charging access,” said Andrew Bennett, President and CEO of EVolve, a Vontier company. “While convenience remains a factor, businesses should never underestimate the power of a superior charging experience. Drivers will more likely stop at your store, and buy more, if done right.”
As states deploy federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program funds to build fast-charging stations, Vontier is committed to partnering with businesses to create charging options that prioritize driver safety and comfort. This approach not only addresses consumer concerns but also has the potential to increase charging station utilization and profitability.
ChargePoint Omni Port Universal Plug
ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of networked charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), announced ChargePoint® Omni Port, an EV connector solution which ensures any EV can charge in any parking space, regardless of its connector type, and without an expensive additional cable. Omni Port eliminates the hassle of carrying an adapter for drivers, negates dedicating parking spaces exclusively to a select connector type and is available at no incremental cost as a standard feature of ChargePoint’s applicable chargers.
“Across hardware and software, ChargePoint is bringing to market innovative solutions that ensure all drivers who need to charge are able to do so,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. “With Omni port, ChargePoint solved the challenges associated with a multiple connector environment, ensuring Tesla and non-Tesla drivers can continue to expect a world-class driver experience. We are giving drivers and site hosts assurance that ChargePoint will continue to meet all their charging needs now and in the future.”
Omni Port is the only publicly available solution to solve North America’s EV connector confusion across AC and DC charging, enabling drivers of all makes of vehicles to charge at the same station by combining the most prevalent connector types into each charging port. Omni Port ensures public charging ports are future-ready, and designed to support vehicles that are already on the road as well as EVs coming to market. Omni Port will be incorporated into select ChargePoint AC and DC charging stations at no additional cost, making them an obvious choice for new charger installations.
Drivers can expect a frictionless charging experience when using Omni Port, simply needing to enter their vehicle’s make and model into the ChargePoint app, tapping to charge, and allowing the charging station to automatically release the correct connector type. For those who do not use the ChargePoint app, a driver simply selects the correct connector on the charger screen. Omni Port eliminates the hassle of carrying adapters while forming a simpler, more convenient charging experience. Omni Port is designed with all makes of vehicles in mind, built into ChargePoint AC and DC charging architecture featuring cable management that reaches a charge port regardless of its location on the vehicle. There is no need to download any dedicated app if you prefer credit card payment, and Omni Port enables full support for vehicles with 800 volt architecture – ensuring max charging speeds for sustained periods of time.
There are more than 5.5 million EVs on North American roads, of which more than half are equipped with J1772 or CCS1 charging ports. These vehicles will continue needing public charger access for years to come. As automakers attempt to align on a single connector type for the future, these 5.5 million drivers need assurance that they will be able to charge when they need to. Omni port gives drivers and station owners peace of mind by combining these most common connector types into a single solution, meeting EV driver needs without having to dedicate parking spaces to specific connector types.
In addition to availability on new chargers, Omni Port will begin shipping by the end of the year, and can be retrofitted onto ChargePoint CP6000 and Express Plus Power Link 2000 models at a nominal cost. ChargePoint’s modular hardware design allows station owners to upgrade instead of replacing their chargers, swapping minimal components, as quickly as possible. Omni Port is yet another proof point of ChargePoint’s commitment to flexible and innovative design for its customers.