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Green Rain Energy Launches EV+ Networks For Infrastructure Expansion
Green Rain Energy Holdings has established Green Rain EV+ Networks to develop EV charging infrastructure across New York, New Jersey, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The division targets commercial corridors and strategic zones aligned with state clean energy mandates. Infrastructure deployment is underway at the 1600 West Ridge Road site, with utility pole installation expected by late February following weather-related delays. The company is also in acquisition negotiations with Chronical EV Engineers to internalize engineering capabilities and shorten deployment cycles for the 2026 rollout.
The EV+ Networks division will leverage software channel partnerships to integrate smart management systems and usage analytics, prioritizing recurring revenue models and operational efficiency. To support capital structure stability during this expansion, the company plans to finalize a share buyback program by the end of February 2026. Additionally, a stock dividend is scheduled for shareholders of record as of March 31, 2026, pending regulatory approval, aimed at reinforcing shareholder alignment as the network scales.
ChargePoint Data Indicates Charging Infrastructure Deficit
ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT) reports that EV charging utilization is outstripping infrastructure expansion, with session volume increasing 34% in 2025 despite a lower growth rate for vehicles on the road. Data from over 100 million annual charging sessions reveals a 20% gap between utilization growth and new port installation. CEO Rick Wilmer notes that cumulative EVs in operation, rather than annual sales, have become the primary driver for infrastructure demand, with 60% of the company’s historical 19.3 billion miles enabled occurring in the last 24 months.
Global EV sales rose 20% in 2025, led by a 33% increase in Europe, placing extreme pressure on the current network of 375,000 managed and 900,000 roaming ports. Plug-in hybrids account for 16% of commercial AC charging sessions, further diversifying demand. While ChargePoint estimates its network has avoided 714 million gallons of gasoline use since 2007, the current bottleneck suggests a need for accelerated installation rates in 2026 to maintain adoption parity and capitalize on increasing ROI for infrastructure providers.
Fastest Battery Charging Degrades Batteries Fastest
Geotab Inc. has released updated telematics data from 22,700 electric vehicles indicating an average annual battery degradation rate of 2.3%. This marks an increase from the 1.8% recorded in 2024, a shift attributed to the burgeoning reliance on high-power DC fast charging (DCFC) infrastructures. Analysis confirms that vehicles utilizing DCFC above 100 kW experience degradation rates of 3.0% per year, doubling the 1.5% loss seen in units primarily utilizing AC or low-power charging solutions.
Operational behavior has emerged as the primary determinant of State of Health (SOH) over environmental factors. While thermal stress in hot climates accelerates degradation by approximately 0.4% annually compared to temperate regions, the impact of charging power remains the dominant variable. Data suggests that high-utilization fleets see a modest 0.8% increase in degradation, an offset considered acceptable when measured against increased fleet productivity and lower per-mile operational costs.
Long-term battery viability remains consistent with typical fleet replacement cycles provided state-of-charge (SOC) extremes are managed. Degradation acceleration is most pronounced when assets habitually reside at the highest or lowest SOC thresholds for more than 80% of their operational life. Geotab emphasizes the integration of telematics-driven SOH monitoring to optimize charging strategies, recommending the use of the lowest viable charging power to meet duty-cycle requirements while preserving battery lifecycle value.
NextStar Energy Reaches Million Cell Milestone
NextStar Energy announced the production of its one-millionth battery cell at its Windsor, Ontario facility, marking a significant ramp-up since commercial operations commenced in November 2025. The site represents Canada’s first commercial-scale battery manufacturing plant, backed by a 5 billion CAD investment. To date, the company has onboarded over 1,300 direct employees and secured critical automotive and environmental certifications, including IATF 16949 and ISO 14001, to support high-volume manufacturing standards.
The milestone coincides with a strategic shift in corporate structure as LG Energy Solution acquires full ownership of the venture. While Stellantis will remain a primary customer, the transition allows NextStar to leverage LGES’s global operational expertise to diversify its portfolio. Moving through 2026, the facility intends to accelerate the production of battery cells specifically for the Energy Storage System (ESS) market, aiming to improve agility in response to evolving global demand for stationary power solutions.
Nio Reaches 100 Million Battery Swaps
Nio officially completed its 100 millionth battery swap on February 6, 2026, marking a critical scale achievement for its proprietary Power Swap infrastructure. The milestone delivery involved an ET5 Touring in Shanghai, witnessed by CEO William Li. The company reports that its automated swapping process now averages three minutes per session, having delivered a cumulative 5.28 billion kWh of energy to its user base.
The industrial impact of Nio’s network extends beyond rapid energy replenishment to encompass grid services and lifecycle battery management. The system has facilitated over 740 million kWh in grid load shifting, enhancing utility-scale energy utilization. Furthermore, the centralized monitoring inherent in the swap process functions as a continuous battery health diagnostic, while the company claims significant carbon emission reductions and lower total cost of ownership compared to internal combustion engine alternatives.