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Lucid Air Grand Touring Longest NAF Winter Test Range
Lucid Group said a Lucid Air Grand Touring achieved the longest range in this year’s Norges Automobil-Forbund (NAF) Winter Test “El Prix,” traveling 520 kilometers without charging during the coldest test on record, with temperatures dropping to minus 31°C. The route ran from Oslo to Norway’s highlands and included city traffic, highways, mountain roads, and secondary roads, while the next closest competitor reached 421 kilometers. Lucid attributed the result to its proprietary electric powertrain technology and said the performance builds on earlier milestones, including a record-setting result in the 2025 NAF Summer Test and a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the longest journey by an electric car on a single charge.
California Accelerates EV Credits
California is moving quickly to strengthen its own electric vehicle (EV) regulations and incentives in response to federal rollbacks under President Donald Trump reports Reuters.
The state’s top air regulator, Lauren Sanchez of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), said officials are meeting with Detroit automakers about updated greenhouse gas standards for cars and trucks and planning a new $200 million state incentive program for EV buyers to make up for the loss of federal tax credits eliminated by Congress and the White House.
California’s actions come amid legal and political battles over federal emissions waivers that previously let the state set stricter air quality and zero-emission vehicle standards than national rules. Gov. Gavin Newsom and CARB are also preparing legal challenges and alternative strategies to advance EV adoption and clean air goals despite federal opposition.
Electrify America Charging in GM myBrand Apps
General Motors has integrated Electrify America’s fast-charging network into the myChevrolet, myGMC, and myCadillac apps, allowing GM EV drivers to find, access, and pay for charging in one centralized experience. Through the apps, customers can use more than 5,000 Electrify America DC fast chargers across the U.S., including 350-kW Hyper-Fast stations, with real-time availability, route planning, charging session monitoring, and in-app payment. The integration supports GM Energy’s broader effort to simplify EV ownership and expand access to public charging, connecting drivers to over 250,000 charging stations across the U.S. and Canada.
Emobi & HeyCharge Partner
Emobi and HeyCharge have announced a partnership to retrofit offline and low-connectivity EV chargers across North America and connect them directly to the Emobi ecosystem. By combining HeyCharge’s internet-independent, hardware-based communication technology with Emobi’s roaming hub and JustPlug plug-and-charge solution, the collaboration enables legacy chargers to support modern authentication, billing, and interoperability without costly upgrades. The retrofit solution reduces installation complexity and operating costs while making chargers discoverable across automaker systems, fleet platforms, and consumer apps, improving reliability for operators and delivering a more consistent charging experience for drivers in challenging connectivity environments.
Mitsubishi Electric Self-Recovery Property in Layered Graphite for MEMS
Mitsubishi Electric has confirmed the world’s first self-recovery property of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, a van der Waals–layered material, through joint research with Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Engineering. The finding could significantly extend the operational lifetime and reliability of micro electro mechanical systems used in devices such as accelerometers and pressure sensors. The breakthrough addresses a long-standing challenge in evaluating the fatigue and long-term durability of lightweight, flexible layered materials at the micro scale, opening new possibilities for more durable MEMS in smartphones, automotive systems, and wearable devices.
KWRL 14 Electric School Buses Deployed Four Washington Districts
The KWRL Transportation Cooperative is celebrating the deployment of 14 Thomas Built Jouley electric school buses serving the Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield, and La Center school districts, supported by new charging infrastructure at depots in Woodland and Ridgefield. The fleet, backed by 16 Zerova 30 kW chargers, is expected to travel about 700 miles daily while transporting 1,000 to 1,200 students. The transition to electric buses is projected to generate roughly $400,000 in operational savings over time, including about $200,000 annually from reduced diesel fuel use and maintenance costs. The project brings together multiple partners, including Highland Electric Fleets through its Electrification-as-a-Service model, and was funded through a mix of federal, state, and local sources, highlighted by EPA Clean School Bus rebates and Washington Department of Ecology support.
EV Roadway DC Fast Charging Hub at Vintage Oaks in Novato
EV Roadway has celebrated the grand opening of a new premium DC fast charging hub at the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center in Novato, bringing ultra-fast EV charging to a key retail and dining destination near Highway 101. The site features three Autel MaxiCharger DH480 all-in-one DC fast chargers, capable of delivering up to 480 kW and charging multiple vehicles simultaneously, allowing drivers to charge conveniently while shopping or dining.
The January 24, 2026 ribbon-cutting highlighted EV Roadway’s community-focused approach, with participation from local EV drivers, businesses, property partners, and city leaders. Developed over nearly two years in collaboration with the property owner, the project enhances Vintage Oaks’ amenities while supporting California’s transition to zero-emission transportation and underscoring the role of locally owned companies in expanding high-quality EV charging infrastructure.
Cyngn Triples DriveMod Tugger Sales
Cyngn reported that sales of its autonomous DriveMod Tuggers in 2025 were three times higher than in 2024, signaling growing enterprise adoption and increased activity across customer sites. The growth was driven by intensified field execution, including customer facility assessments, on-site demonstrations, software upgrades, and fleet readiness efforts to support new deployments.
The company expects additional multi-vehicle rollouts and fleet expansions to begin in early 2026, building on this momentum. The update follows Cyngn’s recent $32 million funding round and expanded collaboration with NVIDIA, reinforcing its push to scale next-generation autonomous vehicle solutions.
EVgo Expands NACS Deployment
EVgo Inc. plans to accelerate the rollout of NACS connectors across its fast-charging network, following a successful 2025 pilot that installed nearly 100 connectors in 22 metropolitan areas. The company aims to deploy over 500 NACS connectors by the end of 2026, targeting both existing and new sites in key markets such as Austin, Houston, Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, and San Francisco, with coverage expanding to more than 25 states. Most sites will initially feature two to four connectors, with flexibility to expand based on demand. NACS deployment supports Tesla and other NACS-compatible EVs, while the Autocharge+ system enables automatic, adapter-free charging for both NACS and CCS vehicles, enhancing convenience and network throughput as more than 35 NACS-compatible models are expected on U.S. roads this year.
WattEV expands San Bernardino depot with megawatt charging to meet surging electric truck demand
WattEV has more than doubled charging capacity at its busiest electric truck charging depot in San Bernardino, California, significantly expanding high-speed and megawatt-level charging to support growing zero-emission freight operations. The upgraded site can now charge up to 200 electric trucks per day—comparable to a traditional diesel truck stop—and supports trucks compatible with Megawatt Charging System standards.
The expansion adds 30 new CCS connectors and six 1.2 MW MCS chargers, bringing total site capacity to 11.5 MW and making the San Bernardino facility one of the largest commercial EV truck charging depots in the United States. Strong utilization, averaging about 700 MWh per month, drove the need for increased throughput at the strategically located depot along Interstate 215, a key freight corridor linking Southern California ports with Inland Empire distribution centers.
The San Bernardino upgrade is part of WattEV’s broader West Coast network expansion, with new depots under development in Oakland and along California State Route 99. Alongside its charging infrastructure, WattEV offers zero-emission freight services, Truck-as-a-Service for Class 8 electric trucks, and integrated software and maintenance support, aiming to deliver electric trucking at a total cost of operation comparable to diesel.
Emobi Raises $3.4M Seed Round 2 Scale JustPlug Plug & Charge Platform
Emobi, North America’s largest EV charging roaming and JustPlug infrastructure provider, has closed a $3.4 million seed round led by Florida Funders, with participation from Aves Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Gaingels, Gener8tor, Goodwater Capital, Oasis Capital, OneSixOne Ventures, Ride Wave Ventures, and Y Combinator. The funding will support the expansion of Emobi’s technical infrastructure and the commercial rollout of JustPlug, its cloud-based Plug & Charge solution, through partnerships with automakers, fleets, charging operators, and infrastructure providers. Emobi is currently running pilot programs with three of the top 10 EV automakers in North America, aimed at enabling large-scale deployment of automated, secure charging across both new and legacy vehicles and chargers.
The raise follows major milestones, including the launch of JustPlug, a patented solution that enables app-free, card-free EV charging without requiring new hardware or firmware. By combining ISO 15118 digital certificates with AI-powered charger–vehicle identification, JustPlug extends Plug & Charge functionality to the roughly 80% of chargers and vehicles that cannot support traditional implementations. In 2025, Emobi announced commercial partnerships with Flipturn, ElectricFish, and Curo, validating JustPlug’s ability to operate across public, fleet, and customer-managed charging environments. The company plans to further grow its ecosystem, which already spans more than 140,000 charging ports across 28+ networks, while deepening collaborations with partners such as Monta and Parkopedia to deliver seamless EV charging across North America.
The Mobility House Unveils Cascade EV Aggregator 4 V2G
The Mobility House North America has launched Cascade EV Aggregator, a vehicle-grid integration platform designed to help utilities optimize EV charging and discharging across a wide range of assets, from residential chargers to large electric school bus fleets. Positioned as the most versatile EV load aggregation tool in North America, Cascade enables utilities and fleet operators to manage growing EV load while improving grid reliability.
Cascade addresses mounting grid pressures driven by rapid EV adoption and new data center loads. With U.S. EV battery capacity projected to reach 4 TWh over the next decade, the platform aggregates and optimizes this capacity so it functions as a valuable distributed energy resource rather than an unmanaged grid burden. Working alongside existing charge management systems, including The Mobility House’s ChargePilot®, Cascade coordinates thousands of sites to deliver grid flexibility, demand response, and dynamic rate optimization. It also enables vehicle-to-grid (V2G) programs, already unlocking revenue opportunities for electric school bus fleets in states such as California, Massachusetts, and New York.
By managing both smart charging (V1G) and bidirectional V2G assets, Cascade creates individualized charging plans based on real-time utility or market signals while preserving vehicle mobility needs. The aggregated response supports virtual power plants, load reduction, and grid export, positioning EVs as scalable energy storage assets that enhance grid resilience and provide new economic value for fleets, schools, homes, and businesses.
Pilot Travel Centers & Tesla to Deploy Semi Truck Charging
Pilot Travel Centers has entered into an agreement with Tesla to install Tesla Semi Chargers at select Pilot locations, expanding heavy-duty electric truck charging along major U.S. freight corridors. The chargers will be deployed along routes including I-5, I-10, and other high-demand corridors, with the first sites expected to open in summer 2026.
Construction is set to begin in the first half of 2026 at Pilot travel centers in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Each location will feature four to eight charging stalls using Tesla’s V4 cabinet technology, capable of delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power per stall. The network will initially support Tesla Semi trucks, with potential future expansion to accommodate heavy-duty electric vehicles from other manufacturers.
The initiative aligns with Pilot’s broader strategy to expand alternative fuel offerings, which already include electrification, hydrogen, renewable diesel, and higher-blend biodiesel. Tesla has indicated that a 30-minute charging session can recover most of the Semi’s 500-mile range, making the charging experience compatible with mandated rest breaks for professional drivers.
Google Invests in Redwood Materials
Redwood Materials announced the final close of its Series E financing, raising a total of $425 million with continued participation from Capricorn and Goldman Sachs Alternatives and the addition of Google as a new investor, reflecting strong confidence in the company’s long-term strategy and execution. The funding supported the acceleration of Redwood’s energy storage platform while strengthening its integrated recycling and critical minerals business, positioning the company to address surging electricity demand driven by AI, data centers, manufacturing, and electrification, and to play a leading role in grid reliability, energy security, and the modernization of U.S. power infrastructure.
Toshiba Introduces Compact Gate Driver
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has begun supplying engineering samples of the TB9104FTG, a new gate driver designed for bridge circuits used in high-current automotive brushed DC motors in body system applications such as power back doors, sliding doors, windows and seats. Housed in a compact 5.0 mm by 5.0 mm VQFN32 package with an exposed thermal pad, the device supports smaller, lighter motor drive systems while maintaining strong thermal performance. The gate driver integrates an SPI interface for flexible microcontroller communication, a built-in PWM drive circuit to reduce processor load, and high-precision current sensing to enable safe operation and rapid shutdown under abnormal conditions. Toshiba said the design supports wire harness reduction by allowing multiple drivers to share an SPI bus and contributes to the growing electrification and safety requirements of modern vehicles, with automotive-grade reliability targeted through AEC-Q100 qualification.