In this Article
QuantumScape $131 Million Funded by VW
QuantumScape Corporation, a pioneer in next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries, has expanded its collaboration and licensing agreement with PowerCo SE, the battery subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The updated deal is aimed at accelerating development of QuantumScape’s QSE-5 battery through the company’s pilot production line in San Jose.
Under the revised terms, PowerCo will provide up to $131 million in new milestone-based payments over the next two years to support scaling and automation of QSE-5 production. These payments are in addition to the previously announced $130 million tied to technical progress and licensing milestones.
The expanded partnership allows PowerCo earlier involvement in QSE-5 development and grants rights to manufacture up to an additional 5 gigawatt-hours of QSE-5 battery cells per year. It also includes the right to license certain future QuantumScape technologies, potentially extending the battery’s reach beyond Volkswagen’s own brands.
QuantumScape CEO Dr. Siva Sivaram said the strengthened agreement signals growing alignment between the two companies and a shared belief in QSE-5’s potential to transform the battery landscape.
SHAED Renews CALSTART Membership
SHAED, the technology platform behind CommercialEVs.com, has renewed its membership with CALSTART, a prominent national nonprofit dedicated to advancing clean transportation. The continued partnership underscores SHAED’s commitment to expanding commercial electric vehicle (EV) adoption and staying aligned with the latest policies, incentives, and zero-emission vehicle trends.
CALSTART, with over 240 members spanning startups to global firms, plays a critical role in developing clean transportation policies and administering key incentive programs like California’s HVIP and ISEF. By maintaining its membership, SHAED gains valuable access to early program updates, funding opportunities, and policy insights, helping its customers stay ahead in the transition to zero-emission fleets.
Through CommercialEVs.com, SHAED provides fleet operators with a centralized platform to compare EVs, access chargers, understand incentives, and receive expert guidance. CEO Ryan Pritchard emphasized the importance of simplifying electrification for fleets, ensuring that customers not only select the right vehicles but also maximize savings through available funding.
The renewed collaboration with CALSTART positions SHAED to influence the clean transportation ecosystem while offering cutting-edge support and tools to commercial fleet operators nationwide.
Lucid Launches MINAC Coalition for Mineral Supplies
Lucid Group, maker of the Lucid Air and upcoming Gravity SUV, has joined forces with four critical mineral companies—Alaska Energy Metals, Graphite One, Electric Metals, and RecycLiCo—to form the Minerals for National Automotive Competitiveness Collaboration (MINAC). The initiative aims to accelerate the domestic production, qualification, and procurement of essential minerals like nickel, manganese, graphite, lithium, and cobalt for use in U.S.-made electric vehicles.
Through offtake agreements, policy engagement, and supply chain coordination, MINAC will address challenges facing the mineral-to-mobility pipeline, with a focus on strengthening U.S. competitiveness in the global EV market. The coalition’s launch will be marked by a high-profile roundtable in Washington, D.C. featuring Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Sen. Dan Sullivan (AK), and other lawmakers.
Each MINAC partner contributes a unique piece to the puzzle:
- Alaska Energy Metals is advancing a major nickel project in Alaska.
- Electric Metals is developing a manganese mine in Minnesota.
- Graphite One plans synthetic and natural graphite production in Ohio and Alaska.
- RecycLiCo brings advanced recycling tech to recover valuable minerals from batteries and scrap.
The collaboration aligns with Lucid’s efforts to localize and decarbonize its supply chain while ensuring the availability of high-performance battery materials necessary for its next generation of EVs.
MN8 Energy Freight EV Charging Hub in South Bronx
MN8 Energy, a New York-based renewable energy leader, has announced the “Gateway to Hunts Point FDC” project, a first-of-its-kind freight electric vehicle (EV) charging hub and workforce development center in the South Bronx. The facility, one of the largest freight electrification investments in New York City, will feature 42 EV charging plugs designed for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, plus a new community-focused welcome center called “The Bolt.”
Located near the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center—home to over 15,000 daily truck trips—the project aims to reduce emissions, improve local air quality, and create new job opportunities. Hunts Point has long struggled with air pollution and has asthma rates more than double the city average. The Gateway project addresses these concerns by combining clean infrastructure with social and economic development.
The site will include 32 high-powered DC fast charging stations, 10 Level 2 chargers, and facilities for e-bike and e-scooter charging. Future upgrades are already factored into the design. MN8 plans to integrate a community solar array that will power the site and serve about 300 nearby households. Additional environmental benefits include reducing over 66,000 tons of CO2 emissions over a decade and eliminating hundreds of thousands of pounds of other air pollutants.
“The Bolt” welcome center will serve as the community centerpiece of the project. It will offer workforce development programs, including CDL training, EV education workshops, and job recruiting services. The center will also include public amenities such as free WiFi, a meditation room, a convenience store, and green spaces.
Backed by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), NYSERDA, and Volvo Group North America, the Gateway project is part of the broader “Bronx is Breathing” initiative—a public-private effort focused on clean air and economic equity in the South Bronx. The initiative includes a goal of training 420 new commercial drivers over three years and creating 46 new jobs through its partners.
MN8 will offer discounted charging rates to Hunts Point Food Distribution Center tenants, provide fleet transition support, and ensure high system uptime. This support is intended to help smaller businesses adopt EVs by reducing cost and operational barriers.
The project also marks the introduction of the first electric trucks supported by the New York Clean Transportation Prizes program. MN8 brings deep expertise in clean energy, with over 900 renewable and battery storage projects totaling 4 GW across North America, including a national EV charging network being developed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz.
By blending clean energy infrastructure with community-driven design and workforce training, the Gateway to Hunts Point project offers a model for equitable electrification—anchored not only in sustainability but in opportunity.
Diodes Inc. 80V Automotive Ideal Diode Controllers for 48V
Diodes Incorporated has launched the AP74502Q and AP74502HQ, two automotive-grade ideal diode controllers offering 80V reverse polarity and transient protection. Designed for 12V, 24V, and emerging 48V electrical systems in hybrid and electric vehicles, these controllers support applications such as ADAS, infotainment, lighting, and USB charging.
Both controllers include features like load disconnect during overvoltage/undervoltage events, cold crank operation down to 3.2V, and fast gate turn-off with a 2.3A sink current. The AP74502Q enables inrush current control with a 60μA gate source current, while the AP74502HQ offers faster turn-on with an 11mA gate drive. With ultra-low standby power—just 1μA when disabled—they minimize battery drain.
Optimized for harsh automotive environments and packaged in a compact SOT28, the devices are priced at $0.27 in 1,000-unit quantities and operate from -40°C to +125°C. Both can also function as surge stoppers for added circuit protection.
Blink Charging Digital Media Platform
Blink Charging Co. has partnered with Universal Media to introduce the EV Totem, an innovative EV charging solution combined with dual-sided, elevated digital media displays. Installed at Mountain View Village in Salt Lake City, Utah, the EV Totem offers reliable charging alongside two 55-inch high-definition screens positioned seven feet above ground for maximum visibility.
This platform delivers real-time, location-based advertising and analytics, creating new revenue opportunities for brands and property owners while enhancing driver engagement during charging sessions. Blink’s CEO Mike Battaglia emphasized the collaboration’s role in transforming EV charging into a dynamic media and mobility platform, while Universal Media’s Todd Cohen highlighted its potential to deliver value to drivers and unlock opportunities for communities and marketers alike. The project marks the first step in expanding EV Totem installations to other high-traffic locations.
Blink Charging & Universal Media Launch EV Totem with Ads
Blink Charging has partnered with Universal Media to debut the EV Totem, a dual-purpose EV charging and media display unit, now live at Mountain View Village in Salt Lake City, Utah. Combining Blink’s charging technology with dual 55-inch elevated digital screens, the EV Totem delivers real-time, location-based advertising and analytics while offering reliable charging for electric vehicle drivers.
The displays, positioned seven feet above ground for high visibility—even while cars are parked—provide an engaging media platform for brands, property owners, and communities. The launch marks the beginning of a broader rollout aimed at high-traffic retail and lifestyle locations, positioning EV Totem as a next-generation solution for both clean mobility and digital out-of-home advertising.
Blink and Universal Media say the initiative transforms traditional EV charging into a smart, connected experience that enhances driver engagement and creates new revenue opportunities for advertisers and site partners.
Honda NACS Adapters for Prologue & Acura ZDX EVs
Honda has introduced a $225 EV charging adapter that enables its all-electric Prologue and Acura ZDX models—equipped with CCS plugs—to charge at over 23,500 Tesla Supercharger stations across North America. This adapter provides Honda EV drivers access to Tesla’s expansive NACS charging network while the company prepares to integrate NACS plugs into future vehicles. Available now through Honda’s website and dealerships, the launch is complemented by a new feature allowing EV owners to locate Tesla Superchargers via the built-in Google Maps app in their vehicles.
ComEd’s EV Rally Empowers STEM Young Women
Forty-five young women across northern Illinois are participating in ComEd’s third annual EV Rally, a hands-on STEM program focused on electric vehicles, clean energy, and mentorship. Over four build nights, participants—ages 13 to 18—team up with female ComEd mentors to assemble electric go-carts, culminating in a public race event on Saturday, July 26 at The Fields Commons in Chicago. Each student will receive a $2,000 scholarship upon program completion.
Rooted in the legacy of the Icebox Derby, the EV Rally encourages teen girls to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) while supporting underrepresented communities—over half the 2025 participants come from equity investment eligible communities. Since 2014, more than 300 young women have engaged in the program, receiving over $600,000 in scholarships.
The initiative is part of ComEd’s broader investment in building an inclusive energy workforce through programs like STEM Labs, Construct Youth Academy, and Future of Energy Scholarships, aimed at preparing the next generation for a zero-emissions future.
Driivz & Greenspot PartnerEV Charging Network
EV charging software provider Driivz, a Vontier company, has partnered with Greenspot, a prominent global EV charging network operator, to manage thousands of chargers across Greenspot’s expanding international footprint. The collaboration integrates Driivz’s flexible, hardware-agnostic software—compatible with over 2,000 charger types—into Greenspot’s infrastructure to boost charger uptime, availability, and reliability.
The agreement includes end-to-end Level 1 support, with 24/7 global call centers offering a single point of contact for driver assistance. Driivz’s platform also enables remote issue resolution through self-healing algorithms, minimizing the need for field technicians.
Additionally, Greenspot will implement Driivz’s Smart Energy Management solution to optimize power usage, reduce operational costs, and prevent grid overload. Real-time dashboards will provide energy and network visibility to improve ROI. The partnership is designed to support Greenspot’s continued growth and deliver seamless, sustainable EV charging experiences for drivers and property owners worldwide.
Wallbox Virtual Power Plants in CA & NY
Wallbox has launched its first virtual power plants (VPPs) in California and New York through a partnership with Leap, a platform for scaling grid-responsive energy systems. The initiative, part of the new Wallbox Rewards program, allows residential EV charger users to support grid stability by shifting their charging schedules to off-peak hours. In return, participants receive in-app insights, feature upgrades, and potential financial incentives.
The VPPs connect thousands of Wallbox chargers to local energy markets, helping utilities manage demand spikes and improve grid resilience. The program is live in two states and is set to expand to Texas and other U.S. markets in 2025. Wallbox’s initiative positions EV chargers as flexible, distributed grid assets in the transition to a more reliable and clean energy future.
MHP, AWS: New DIN SPEC Digital Twins
German consultancy MHP, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and a third partner, has developed and released a new DIN SPEC (DIN SAE SPEC 91487:2025-08) to define terminology and classifications for digital twins of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Published after a 2.5-year development using the PAS process, the specification establishes a common language and framework to support global collaboration in EV battery monitoring, analysis, and digital twin implementation.
Led by MHP, the joint working group included AWS contributions based on its Level 4 digital twin maturity model, using real-time data, fleet insights, and AI. The DIN SPEC targets R&D teams, cloud solution providers, and IoT developers, while remaining technology-agnostic.
The new standard is expected to simplify digital twin deployment, improve legal clarity, and facilitate service development across the automotive sector. With SAE International involved, American companies now have access to the framework, which is set to be proposed as a future ISO standard for global use.