Emobi Selected for SXSW Pitch 2025 to Showcase JustPlug EV Charging Innovation
Emobi, a leading EV charging infrastructure provider in North America, has been selected as a finalist in the Smart Cities, Transportation & Sustainability category for the 17th annual SXSW Pitch. The event, taking place March 8-9, 2025, in Austin, Texas, highlights innovative startups worldwide.
Emobi will present its cutting-edge Plug & Charge solution, JustPlug, which simplifies EV charging by enabling secure, automatic authentication without requiring hardware upgrades. Compliant with the ISO 15118 standard, JustPlug enhances interoperability, reduces range anxiety, and increases access to public chargers across Level 2 and DC fast charging networks.
CEO Lin Sun Fa expressed enthusiasm for showcasing JustPlug at this prestigious platform, emphasizing Emobi’s mission to accelerate EV adoption by streamlining the charging process.
SXSW Pitch is the flagship startup event of the SXSW Conference & Festivals, offering startups global exposure and an opportunity to present their technologies to expert judges and a live audience. Emobi will present on March 8, 2025, with category winners announced during the SXSW Pitch Awards Ceremony on March 9.
ZM Trucks Establishes First U.S. Manufacturing Plant and Regional HQ in Fontana, CA
ZM Trucks, a subsidiary of ZO Motors and a leading zero-emissions commercial truck brand, has opened its first North American manufacturing plant and regional headquarters in Fontana, California. The 210,000-square-foot facility, located at 10271 Almond Avenue, spans 9.67 acres and is set to begin production in the first half of 2025.
This state-of-the-art plant will support the production of electric commercial trucks, terminal tractors, and airport ground service equipment, marking a key milestone in ZO Motors’ expansion into the U.S. market. The facility also emphasizes the company’s commitment to creating sustainable transportation solutions and generating regional job opportunities.
Joost de Vries, CEO of ZO Motors, highlighted the importance of the Fontana plant in driving zero-emission innovation and delivering value to customers. This follows the company’s establishment of a manufacturing plant in Cambodia to serve the Asia-Pacific market, showcasing its global strategy to lead the transition to clean transportation.
Zevtron Offers Seamless Transition for Shell Recharge Users as Shell Sky Software Ends
Zevtron, a leader in EV charging solutions, is stepping in to support locations affected by Shell’s decision to discontinue its Shell Sky software for third-party EV chargers on April 30, 2025. Zevtron’s OCPP-compliant white-label platform ensures a smooth migration, allowing businesses, municipalities, and government agencies to retain their existing chargers while upgrading to a flexible and customizable system.
With proven expertise in efficient transitions and a commitment to minimizing downtime, Zevtron’s platform offers compatibility with most charging hardware, advanced features like flexible pricing and detailed reporting, and future-ready technology. CEO Bob Andrews emphasized Zevtron’s goal to empower partners to maintain control of their EV infrastructure without disruptions.
Locations are encouraged to begin transitioning now to avoid service interruptions. For consultations and migration support, visit www.zevtron.com or contact Chris Mckenty at cmckenty@zevtron.com.
SES AI Secures $10 Million in Contracts to Advance AI-Driven Battery Material Discovery
SES AI Corporation (NYSE: SES), a global leader in AI-enhanced Li-Metal and Li-ion battery development, announced $10 million in new contracts with two major automotive OEM partners. These contracts focus on applying SES AI’s proprietary AI-discovered electrolytes to develop Li-Metal B-samples and mature Li-ion batteries for automotive applications.
Revenue from these agreements will begin in Q4 2024, with additional recognition through mid-2025. This milestone follows SES AI’s recent success in using AI-discovered electrolyte materials for drone and robotics batteries.
Founder and CEO Qichao Hu highlighted the contracts as a validation of AI for Science in battery innovation, emphasizing SES AI’s leadership in revolutionizing battery materials for commercial and automotive use.
Rekor Systems and SoundHound AI Partner to Enhance Emergency Vehicle Technology
Rekor Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: REKR) and SoundHound AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: SOUN) have announced a collaboration to integrate SoundHound’s voice AI with Rekor’s vehicle recognition software, Rekor Scout®, aiming to provide hands-free control of critical systems in law enforcement and first responder vehicles.
The partnership will initially focus on police vehicles, with plans to expand to other emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances.By utilizing voice commands, officers will be able to manage systems like automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), emergency light bars, sirens, two-way radios, PA systems, in-car printers, and HVAC controls, thereby reducing distractions and enhancing safety during high-pressure situations.
This collaboration represents a significant advancement in integrating voice AI and vehicle recognition technologies to support law enforcement and emergency response operations.