NACS Chargers for GM EV Drivers
General Motors opened up access to more than 17,800 Tesla Superchargers for its customers, with the use of a GM approved NACS DC adapter, a move that will help accelerate fast and convenient charging options for current and future EV drivers.
With the addition of the Tesla Supercharger Network, GM customers will have access to more than 231,800 public Level 2 and DC fast chargers in North America – a number which will grow as GM continues to help accelerate the deployment of infrastructure in communities and heavily-traveled corridors through its various charging collaborations. GM approved NACS DC adapters will first be made available to customers in the United States, followed by availability for Canadian customers later this year.
GreenPower School Bus Orders
GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV: GPV) (“GreenPower”), a leading manufacturer and distributor of purpose-built, all-electric, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit space and school bus sector, announced it has received a series of orders for six GreenPower all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission school buses from its Arizona dealer RWC Group. The school buses, funded under the EPA Clean School Bus Program, are for three different school districts in Arizona, and RWC Group is currently working on additional orders of GreenPower all-electric school buses funded by the Program.
Cenntro Class 4 Logistar 450 Now 4 Sale
-Cenntro Inc. (NASDAQ: CENN) (“Cenntro” or “the Company”), a leading electric commercial vehicle company with advanced, market-validated, and purpose-built vehicles, announced its newest Class 4 addition to the Logistar series, the Logistar® 450 (“LS450”) model for sale and distribution in the United States (“US”) and global markets.
Cenntro received a California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) “Executive Order” and a “Certificate of Conformity” from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for the LS450 model. The Certificate of Conformity confirms that the LS450 meets the EPA’s emissions requirements under the Clean Air Act.
Receiving the CARB Executive Order certifies the all-electric LS450 model meets the standard to be classified as a zero-emissions vehicle in California. Cenntro plans to begin production of the LS450 at its Ontario, California, assembly facility for US markets and its assembly facility in China for global markets.
The LS450 model is the latest addition to Cenntro’s product portfolio. The LS450 is equipped with a 128Kwh battery capacity. The improved battery capacity provides a greater range compared to its predecessor model, the “LS400”.
Cenntro plans to debut the LS450 at the California Trucking Show in Ontario, California, on October 5 and 6, 2024. The versatile all-electric, class 4 vehicle has four different configuration options for a variety of applications, a delivery van (“LS450DV”), cargo truck (“LS450CT”), shuttle bus (“LS450BUS”), and refrigerated truck (“LS450RT”).
“Deploying the LS450 in the US and abroad allows Cenntro customers to experience the benefits of electrification of their fleet—both large and small, with a versatile, multi-functional electric commercial vehicle (“ECV”),” said Peter Wang, Chairman and CEO of Cenntro. “Cenntro has received pre-production orders for the LS450 from customers in the US, Spain and Japan. We plan to begin US production of the LS450 models at our facility in Ontario in October 2024.”
CATL New TECTRANS Battery System
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) launched its TECTRANS battery system.
TECTRANS represents a quantum leap in battery technology for commercial vehicles, offering unprecedented energy density, faster charging capabilities, and enhanced durability. This innovative system is poised to transform the electric commercial vehicle landscape, providing fleet operators with extended range, reduced downtime, optimized cost-effectiveness, and improved overall efficiency.
Unmatched Energy Density, Fast Charge and Lifespan: The Future of Electric Trucks and Buses
For heavy-duty trucks, CATL introduces two groundbreaking products: the TECTRANS – T Superfast Charging Edition and the TECTRANS – T Long Life Edition. The Superfast Charging Edition features a remarkable 4C peak charging rate, allowing for a 70% charge in just 15 minutes. This rapid charging capability minimizes vehicle downtime and maximizes operational efficiency for fleet operators.
The TECTRANS – T Long Life Edition sets a new industry benchmark with an exceptional lifespan of up to 15 years or 2.8 million kilometers. This durability is crucial for the demanding nature of commercial operations, particularly in high-frequency, energy-intensive scenarios such as port operations and bulk transportation.
Both truck editions offer impressive driving ranges of up to 500 kilometers, catering to various operational needs from short-haul port deliveries to long-distance transportation.
The CATL TECTRANS – Bus Edition is a cutting-edge battery solution for long-distance passenger transport, featuring an industry-leading energy density of 175Wh/kg, the highest for LFP chemistry used in bus applications. Its compact design offers long-range capabilities and low energy consumption, enhancing vehicle layout flexibility. The advanced thermal management system maintains optimal performance across various climates, reducing internal temperature disparity by 50% and ensuring longevity even in extreme conditions.
In July of this year, CATL launched its light truck solutions in China, expanding the TECTRANS portfolio to cover a wider range of commercial vehicle applications. These solutions offer enhanced energy density and fast-charging capabilities, addressing the unique needs of urban delivery and last-mile logistics.
Akin Li, Executive President of CATL Overseas Business, highlighted the exceptional reliability of CATL batteries in various challenging environments: “Our batteries have proven their reliability and performance in extreme conditions, from operating in temperatures above 45°C in Qatar and Dubai to withstanding -35°C in Arctic countries like Norway and Sweden. The launch of the Tectrans and the product lines demonstrates our unwavering commitment to driving energy transition through continuous innovation.”
Advanced technologies Drive the Electricfication of Commercial Vehicles
The main concerns facing the commercial vehicle industry in its shift towards electrification are recharging time, cost and range. Tectrans is set to create value more commercial fleets by incorporating several cutting-edge technologies that contribute to its superior performance in high energy density, fast charging capabilities, and extended cycle life.
- For buses and coaches, employing high-energy, high-press density cathode design at the micro level significantly improves energy density, while a U-shaped seal and a zero-draft angle structural innovation result in a 22% increase in volumetric energy density compared with the previous generation.
- Also for buses and coaches, the electrolyte features a groundbreaking additive molecular design and precise film-forming capability, resulting in ultra-stable interfaces and significantly improving cell service life.
- For TECTRANS – T superfast charging edition, to tackle the complex temperature difference within the battery pack, an exquisitely crafted flow channel system achieves precise control over various thermal zones, successfully halving the internal temperature disparity.
- The long service life for heavy-duty truck batteries is achieved in various aspects. The surface of anode materials is modified to improve reactivity and further suppress side reactions, thereby facilitating transmission of lithium ions and achieving a lifespan extension of over 20% for the battery. For cathode materials, CATL has integrated high-structural-stability active materials with lithium-rich materials, enhancing not only energy density but cycle stability.
“As the global industry leader, CATL is committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in electric transportation,” said Akin Li, Executive President of CATL Overseas Business. “TECTRANS is the culmination of our extensive R&D efforts and represents a significant step forward in commercial vehicle electrification. We’re excited to showcase this technology at IAA Transportation and demonstrate how it will accelerate the global transition to sustainable transport.”
Sustainable Electrification of Road Transportation
At this year’s IAA Transportation, CATL shows a wide range of cells and packs tailored for different application scenarios, including trucks, buses, ships, and construction machinery.
While providing safe, reliable and cost-effective products and services to customers to support global climate ambition, CATL is also committed to sustainable practices throughout the battery lifecycle. It aspires to reach net zero in battery manufacturing operations by 2025 and across the battery supply chain by 2035. These milestones will help reduce more than 40% of emissions during the lifespan of an electric vehicle. So far CATL has achieved carbon neutrality in nine factories.
The company has established seven major recycling industry hubs globally, with its subsidiary Brunp Recycling achieving a recovery rate of over 99.6% for nickel, cobalt and manganese, and 91% for lithium. With a capacity to process 270,000 tons of used batteries annually, CATL is paving the way for batteries made entirely from recycled materials, significantly reducing the need for new mining operations.
Electra Vehicles Shows its Stuff in 2024/5
Electra Vehicles, the leader in AI-driven solutions for battery design, monitoring, management, and optimization, is excited to announce its participation in two of the most prestigious global technology events—The Battery Show 2024 and CES 2025. Electra will showcase its latest advancements in battery innovation and AI technology, setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency, and sustainability in the industry.
The Battery Show 2024: Accelerating Battery Innovation with EnPower
At The Battery Show 2024, Electra will showcase its EnPower Design and Battery Innovation Suite, a game-changing software platform that accelerates battery development by up to 90%, cuts costs by as much as 30%, and reduces product failures by up to 40%. EnPower empowers companies to design, test, and optimize batteries more efficiently than ever by seamlessly integrating lab data with real-world performance analytics. The suite ensures product reliability across stages—from initial design and testing to full system integration—providing end-to-end confidence in battery innovation.
Key features of EnPower include:
- Digital Twins for Virtual Testing: Reducing physical prototyping costs and accelerating time-to-market.
- AI-Powered Predictive Models: Offering insights into battery lifespan, performance, and reliability.
- Rapid Simulation: Enhancing the design process through in-depth material and cell performance analysis before large-scale production.
- Maximize Innovation Value: Ensure product reliability from Design to Testing to System Integration.
Attendees will experience firsthand how EnPower helps companies overcome some of the biggest challenges in battery development, ensuring robust design, testing, and performance reliability.
CES 2025: Revolutionizing the Future of EVs with AI-Enhanced Battery Management
At CES 2025, Electra will further innovate by showcasing its full suite of AI-powered battery solutions, including an embedded vehicle demo in a leading EV model. This interactive presentation will feature an AI-installed vehicle on the road, demonstrating Electra’s revolutionary technology that tackles range anxiety and optimizes EV battery performance. Building on the success of our showcase at MOVE 2024, this event will highlight the next level of real-world applications and cutting-edge solutions for the future of electric vehicles.
Core innovations to be unveiled at CES include:
- EVE-Ai Adaptive Control: Extending battery health and performance by up to 87%, boosting efficiency and reliability for electric vehicles (EVs).
- EVE-Ai Intelligent Display – Range Expert: Providing real-time battery insights to EV drivers, reducing range anxiety with less than 1% error in forecasted state of charge (SOC) at destination, consequently increasing EV sales by up to 10%.
- Fleet Analytics: Enhancing electric assets’ battery management through predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring, reducing operational costs, and ensuring regulatory compliance with the EU Battery Passport. This can be applied to vehicles, BESS (stationary energy storage), etc.
- EnPower: accelerate battery innovation, cutting development time by up to 90% and costs by up to 30%, by integrating lab and real-world data for rapid design and performance evaluation
Safire Tech Funding
Safire Technology Group, Inc. (“Safire Group”), today announced $8 million in new financing led by Canaan Partners, with participation from Correlation Ventures, Higher Life Ventures, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Automotive Ventures, Outpost Ventures, Potomac Angel Capital, and MaC Venture Capital. This Pre-Series A priced round of financing brings total funding to $11 million and fuels continued development of the company’s Safe, Impact-Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE™) technology to transform the safety benchmarks of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries across government and automotive industries. Canaan’s Hrach Simonian will join co-founders John Lee and Mike Grubbs on the board of directors.
“We are grateful to have a highly regarded, deeply experienced, and values-aligned investor in Canaan, and we are eager to continue building Safire Group together,” said Mike Grubbs.
“Safire Group is revolutionizing Li-ion battery technology with a focus on safety. Their innovative solutions are addressing the critical issue of battery volatility and setting new standards in the industry,” said Hrach Simonian, General Partner of Canaan Partners. “Safety should be intrinsic to battery design, not an afterthought. Safire Group’s commitment to redefining how these batteries are used in mobility and government applications promises to unlock unprecedented opportunities on a global scale.”
SAFIRE is the world’s only patented and proprietary drop-in additive for Li-ion batteries that prevents fires through an instantaneous liquid to solid transformation upon kinetic impact, such as an electric vehicle (EV) crash or ballistic event. During an impact, Safire Group’s shear thickening electrolyte technology enables the battery to resist deformation and prevents a short circuit – providing EV makers with lightweight crash protection and enabling Li-ion batteries to be used in novel ways.
Invented after nearly a decade of research and development by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), SAFIRE is currently being deployed by the company in four distinct use cases across broad domains: a ruggedized electric motorcycle, a rapidly deployable sensor tower, an unmanned ground vehicle, and multifunctional body armor.
“There is significant demand across the government to integrate SAFIRE technology into novel, ruggedized applications. This financing allows us to expand our operations in the Knoxville, Tennessee area, continue collaboration with ORNL, and further demonstrate the benefits of SAFIRE in government and automotive markets,” said John Lee, CEO of Safire Group. “We are excited about our partnership with Canaan and the opportunities it brings for the next stages of growth in deploying safety solutions for energy systems. Our focus remains on protecting people and critical assets while driving innovation in safety.”
Group 14 Tech US DOE Award Negotiation
Group14 Technologies, the global leader in advanced silicon battery materials, has been selected for an award negotiation of up to $200M by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains as part of the second set of projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand domestic battery manufacturing for electric vehicles and the electrical grid. This marks the second time Group14 has been selected for a large-scale DOE grant in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, following its initial $100M award in 2022.
EnerSys US DOE Award Negotiation
EnerSys (NYSE: ENS), the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, announced that it has been selected to enter into award negotiations for $199 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to support the development of EnerSys’ lithium-ion cell production facility in Greenville, SC.
The DOE funding is part of the federal $62 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Grants, which are focused on ensuring that the U.S. has a viable battery materials processing industry with the objective of expanding domestic battery manufacturing capabilities and enhancing processing capacity. The selection is subject to final contract and funding negotiations between the DOE and EnerSys, which could take approximately 120 days to conclude.
The Company plans to invest approximately $615 million to construct and commission the plant over the next four years. The Company also plans to invest approximately $50 million to construct a specialized production line for the US Department of Defense. As announced in February 2024, EnerSys had also been awarded a comprehensive incentive package through South Carolina and Greenville County valued at approximately $200 million, which includes a combination of short-term and long-term incentives. EnerSys intends to use the federal, state, and local funding, along with a portion of the tax benefits received through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), to support the capital requirements of the gigafactory.
EnerSys’ plan includes developing a 500,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with the potential to create up to 500 high-quality new jobs. The operation will manufacture various form factors of lithium-ion cells for commercial, industrial and defense applications, with an initial production capacity of five gigawatt hours (GWh) per year. The factory will help support the needs of critical customers such as the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) which has specific manufacturing requirements for domestically sourced batteries. EnerSys is also progressing on a strategic relationship with Verkor SAS (Verkor), a European leader in battery technology, to leverage their expertise in electrode manufacturing and high-speed cell production to support the factory. EnerSys’ Board of Directors has formally approved the investment and development plan.
ChargePoint Chargers in CA Awards
ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of networked charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), has received awards, through its partners, of more than $19 million to deploy 248 DC fast charging ports at 45 sites along California highways. The awards were approved last week by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and California Department of Transportation as part of the state’s first tranche of National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funds.
The new ChargePoint charging stations will be located along some of California’s most travelled highways, many of which have EV-charger congestion. Expansion of DC fast charging across the state’s interstate highways like I-5 is much needed to connect many of state’s largest cities, and every community in between, with accessible, reliable charging solutions.
“ChargePoint remains committed to delivering world-class solutions for every charging scenario, at-home and on the go,” said Rick Wilmer, President and CEO of ChargePoint. “With the latest awards from California, ChargePoint and its partners continue to open NEVI-funded fast charging locations across the United States, ensuring all EV drivers can access charging when and where they need it via the ChargePoint mobile app.”
ChargePoint continues to be a leader in the EV charging industry in the receipt of NEVI awards. The company, through its partners, has been allocated almost $90 million in funding for nearly 150 sites. These sites represent around 700 fast charging ports across 21 of the U.S. states that have awarded funding to date. The NEVI program aims to drive the development of accessible, reliable DC fast charging solutions across U.S. highways.
Most awarded sites will feature ChargePoint Express Plus charging stations, a modular DC fast charging platform with fast charging speeds up to 500kW. Express Plus combines with ChargePoint’s innovative software to charge every make and model of electric vehicle available today. Express Plus can simultaneously charge two vehicles at one time from the same charging station. Express Plus uses a proprietary cooling architecture to deliver peak charging speeds for sustained periods of time, meaning an EV driver can charge and go without any unexpected delays.
Noveau Monde Graphite Milestones
-Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (“NMG“ or the “Company”) (NYSE: NMG, TSX.V: NOU) has attained tangible milestones in preparing for the construction of the Phase-2 Matawinie Mine through key procurement activities, detailed engineering, construction planning and community investment. Among these is the awarding of the 120kV electrical substation to ABB (NASDAQ: ABBNY) as part of the construction preparation and strategy to secure long-lead items for the establishment of an all-electric 103,000-tpa graphite mining and concentrator complex at Matawinie, 120 kilometers north of Montréal, Canada.