There have been some EV stories this week:
- 2027 Chevrolet Bolt America’s Cheapest EV @Dealerships
- Why EV Battery Lives are Degrading–Fast Charging, Climate & Usage
- GM, Telsa, Mini Cooper, Ford F-Series Top Loyalty Awards
- Fixing The Great EV Divide—Good & Bad News Survey
Rivian Begins R2 Production
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe announced that manufacturing validation builds of the highly anticipated Rivian R2 are now rolling off the production line at the company’s Normal, Illinois plant, marking a major milestone on the road to customer deliveries. The update signals that Rivian has moved beyond design and development into the critical phase of validating manufacturing processes and vehicle quality ahead of full-scale production. Scaringe said he is “beyond excited” to begin delivering the R2 to customers soon, underscoring the importance of the R2 as Rivian’s next-generation, more affordable electric vehicle aimed at expanding the company’s market reach.
Sensata Launches STEV High-Voltage Contactors
Sensata Technologies has introduced its new STEV high-voltage contactor series, designed to meet the growing performance, safety, and integration needs of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. These contactors act as critical high-voltage switches that control power flow between the battery and key systems like inverters and chargers, making them central to the safety and reliability of modern EVs.
The STEV series is built to scale across a wide range of vehicle types, from passenger PHEVs to battery-electric pickups and heavy-duty Class 8 trucks. Sensata also designed the contactors to be highly customizable, allowing automakers to adapt them to different vehicle architectures while meeting strict global automotive quality and safety standards.
With proven use in millions of vehicles, the STEV contactors offer low resistance, reduced heat generation, and strong electrical protection, including hermetic sealing, high short-circuit tolerance, and advanced insulation. Supported by Sensata’s global manufacturing network, the new series strengthens the company’s electrification portfolio and helps automakers deliver safer, more efficient electric vehicles worldwide.
EVgo 100’s Fast Chargers at Kroger Stores Nationwide
EVgo announced plans to build at least 150 fast-charging stalls per year through 2035 at Kroger Family of Stores locations across the U.S., significantly expanding public EV charging where people already shop. The rollout builds on a partnership that began in 2022 and will bring up to 16 high-power fast chargers to selected Kroger, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, King Soopers, Smith’s and other Kroger-owned stores.
The first site under the expanded program is already live in Salt Lake City, with new locations coming in states including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Washington. These EVgo chargers can add a full charge in as little as 15 minutes, making them well-suited for quick grocery trips and helping drivers recharge while running everyday errands.
With more than 4,600 charging stalls already operating nationwide and a target of over 15,000 by the end of 2029, EVgo is using the Kroger partnership to make fast charging more accessible, increase convenience for EV drivers, and drive more foot traffic to retail locations.
EV Managed Charging Cuts Grid Peaks 50%, Saves $
EnergyHub and The Brattle Group released findings from a study using real-world electric vehicle data from Washington State that quantifies the grid reliability and cost benefits of active managed charging. The analysis demonstrates how advanced EV charging optimization can reduce grid strain while meeting customer needs as EV adoption accelerates.
The report, “Demonstrating the Full Value of Managed EV Charging,” compared two active management strategies against unmanaged charging and passive time-of-use (TOU) rates in a real-world trial, revealing significant advantages:
Key Findings:
- Reduces EV charging peaks by up to 50%, smoothing load at transformer and feeder levels
- Doubles distribution system hosting capacity, allowing networks to support ~2x more EVs before requiring upgrades
- Defers distribution system upgrades by up to 10 years, delaying costly infrastructure investments
- Saves up to $400 per EV annually in system costs (potentially higher in constrained locations)
- Delivers 95% of charging during off-peak periods while handling complex rate schedules
- Maintains 100% charging reliability for vehicles that remained plugged in with sufficient time
The study found that just 1-2 EVs can overload distribution transformers under unmanaged charging or passive TOU rates, while active management enables the same transformers to support up to five EVs. Customers overrode charging commands an average of only 2.3 times per month, demonstrating high satisfaction with automated management.