Aptera Solar EV Livestream 6/27
Aptera Motors will unveil its first fully functional solar electric validation vehicle during a YouTube Live broadcast on June 27, 2025, at 3:00 PM PT. This milestone marks the debut of a production-intent model featuring all core systems, including climate control, infotainment, full solar integration, and Aptera’s proprietary vision system. With nearly 50,000 reservations, the streamlined, ultra-efficient vehicle is the most complete realization of Aptera’s radical three-wheeled solar EV to date.
Co-CEOs Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro emphasized the company’s in-house development of nearly every component—from battery management to solar charge control—as part of a tightly integrated system designed to maximize energy efficiency. Aptera is now building multiple validation units and plans a cross-country road trip later this summer to demonstrate the car’s real-world solar capability and collect performance data as it advances toward scaled production.
Advantech AFE-E420 SBC
Advantech (TWSE: 2395), a global AIoT and edge computing leader and a 2023 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index honoree, has unveiled the AFE-E420 single board computer (SBC), the first in its new AFE product line targeting EV charger and energy storage solutions. Designed in collaboration with NXP® Semiconductors and built on the NXP i.MX 93 processor with Arm Cortex-A55 and Ethos-U65 microNPU, the AFE-E420 delivers high performance, secure machine learning, and real-time task handling with low power use and heat output. Its compact 145 x 115mm form factor supports dual displays, CAN-FD, RS-232/422/485, RTD, and control pilot ports, and enables compatibility with global EV charging standards (CCS1/2, NACS, GB/T, CHAdeMO). With support for ISO15118 and OCPP protocols and membership in CharIN, Advantech positions the AFE-E420 as a robust, scalable, and future-proof platform for next-generation EVSE and energy applications.
Scania Electric Trucks Megawatt Charging
Scania has announced the launch of its Megawatt Charging System (MCS), a high-capacity charging solution for electric trucks set to become commercially available in early 2026. Designed to dramatically reduce charging times, the system can deliver up to 750 kW (initially 1,000 amps), enabling trucks to charge from 20% to 80% in under 30 minutes—perfectly aligning with drivers’ mandated rest breaks. MCS doubles the speed of current CCS2 chargers through innovations such as liquid-cooled connectors and enhanced communication protocols, ensuring safe, stable, and efficient operation.
Scania’s MCS-ready trucks aim to make long-haul electric transport viable, with infrastructure support from the Milence initiative, which plans to deploy 1,700 charging points across Europe by 2027. As part of the TRATON Group, Scania is also working with TRATON Charging Solutions to ensure cost-effective public and private charging. This move reflects Scania’s commitment to electrification and sustainability, combining technical leadership with practical solutions to accelerate the shift from diesel to electric in heavy-duty transport.
Motive Acquires InceptEV
San Francisco-based Motive, an AI-powered fleet management platform, has acquired InceptEV, a Carnegie Mellon University spinout specializing in battery intelligence and machine learning. The acquisition brings patented EV forecasting tools to Motive’s platform, enabling more precise assessments of electric vehicle (EV) performance under real-world conditions—like terrain, cargo, weather, and driver behavior. This enhanced insight aims to cut costs and ease the transition to electric fleets, which can be up to 114% more expensive than conventional ones.
InceptEV co-founder and EV expert Venkat Viswanathan joins Motive as a strategic advisor. Later in 2025, Motive will release new EV reporting tools—offering battery usage trends, route optimization, and charging analytics—to help commercial fleets plan and scale EV adoption more efficiently. The move also supports regulatory compliance with California’s CARB Clean Truck Check.
Factorial Gammatron™ Battery Innovation
Factorial Inc. has launched Gammatron™, a proprietary AI-powered simulation platform designed to fast-track the development of next-gen solid-state and lithium-ion batteries. Developed in-house to overcome R&D delays, Gammatron™ integrates electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and lab data to create digital twins, predict cycle life, and optimize charging protocols with minimal testing. It also enables smarter electrolyte formulation through molecular modeling and advanced machine learning. Already used in Factorial’s partnership with Stellantis, Gammatron™ has doubled cycle life in some cases and accelerated validation timelines. Initially available as an internal co-development tool, the platform will support both solid-state and conventional battery programs.
LG Energy & Toyota Tsusho U.S. Battery Recycling
LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Corporation have announced the formation of Green Metals Battery Innovations, LLC, a joint venture focused on battery recycling in North Carolina. The facility, set to open in 2026 in Winston-Salem, will process up to 13,500 tons of EV battery scrap annually—equivalent to more than 40,000 automotive batteries. The plant’s pre-processing operations will extract “black mass,” which contains valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium, from battery manufacturing scrap provided initially by LG’s own EV battery production for Toyota. The recovered materials will feed into a closed-loop battery-to-battery system, aiming to advance a sustainable circular economy. The initiative enhances LG’s North American recycling capabilities while supporting Toyota’s broader carbon reduction goals.