EV, Battery & Charging News: JLR, Scout Motors, Nexus, Zum, Sensata, Stellantis, Rivian & Ram

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In EV, battery and charging news are JLR, Scout Motors, Nexus, Zum, Sensata, Stellantis, Rivian and Ram.

Jaguar Land Rover introduced its first BEV Range Rover. Scout Motors revealed new PHEV concepts. Lexus electrified its NX Lineup.

Zum Begins Electric School Bus Rollout for San Francisco Unified School District

Zum has initiated the deployment of electric school buses for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) as part of the district’s transition toward an all-electric student mobility fleet. Following real-world evaluation and terrain testing in San Francisco that began in 2022, initial vehicles have entered active route service, with additional buses scheduled for phased delivery through the fall. Dedicated depot charging and electrical infrastructure are fully installed to support the fleet expansion.
The deployed buses integrate directly with Zum CMX, the company’s proprietary AI-driven operating platform that coordinates route planning, telematics, dispatch, and real-time operations across the district network. The vehicle rollout adheres to federal motor vehicle safety standards and California state student transportation certifications, incorporating driver operational training alongside fleet telemetry monitoring.

Sensata Launches R290 Pressure and Temperature Sensor for EV Thermal Management

Sensata Technologies (NYSE: ST) has launched an integrated R290 Pressure + Temperature (P+T) sensor tailored for electrified vehicle thermal management systems utilizing propane refrigerant. The integrated unit addresses original equipment manufacturer compliance requirements for low global warming potential (GWP) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-free thermal architectures, delivering unified diagnostic feedback across high-voltage battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
The sensor features a leakage-optimized mechanical package engineered to mitigate flammability hazards and reduce fluid volume loss over the operational lifespan of the vehicle. Configurable with analog and LIN bus output protocols, the hardware coordinates heat pump and cabin HVAC thermal loop regulation to maintain precise operational parameters across complex electrified powertrain platforms.

Stellantis Pushes Wagoneer and Ram Extended-Range EV Production Schedules

Stellantis has adjusted the production schedules for its forthcoming series plug-in hybrid and extended-range electric vehicles. Assembly of the Jeep Wagoneer EREV is now scheduled to commence in November, representing a six-month postponement from its initial targets. The extended timeline allows engineers and Tier-1 suppliers additional runway to validate the high-voltage electrical architecture and power management systems.
Concurrently, the launch of the Ram 1500 EREV pickup has been shifted to April 2027. Both platforms utilize a 400-volt battery pack integrated with a 3.6-liter V-6 gasoline engine operating exclusively as an onboard generator to recharge the cells rather than driving the wheels directly. Stellantis representatives noted that despite the modified ramp-up milestones, both vehicle programs remain actively tracked for market rollout.

Rivian Deploys RivianOS 2 Across Unified R1 and R2 Fleet Architectures

Rivian has initiated over-the-air distribution of RivianOS 2 via software update 2026.31, aligning its legacy Gen 1 R1, Gen 2 R1, and forthcoming R2 models onto a unified software stack. The deployment establishes a shared software development framework across multiple hardware generations, incorporating configurable in-cabin interface layouts and enhanced edge-compute integrations.
The updated digital cockpit leverages Unreal Engine 5 on Gen 2 R1 and R2 platforms to render high-resolution 3D vehicle and environmental visualizations, while Gen 1 models maintain Unreal Engine 4 to optimize responsiveness on earlier system-on-chip hardware. In parallel, the update introduces the Rivian Unified Intelligence platform, expanding local edge compute capability, native voice processing, and crowd-sourced hazard and enforcement alerts integrated into vehicle navigation.

Automakers and Industry Groups Lobby Congress for Chinese EV Restrictions

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation and major domestic vehicle manufacturers have expanded joint policy engagement with members of the 119th Congress, urging formal statutory prohibitions on connected and electric vehicles developed by Chinese OEMs. The trade organization stressed that connected hardware and telematics modules imported from adversarial nations create critical infrastructure vulnerabilities across North American transportation networks.
The legislative agenda advocates for robust supply chain tracing protocols alongside stringent restrictions covering both full vehicle imports and embedded software operating systems. Automakers are seeking clear statutory definitions that classify connected sensor arrays, lidar units, and high-level vehicle computers under federal national security and data sovereignty frameworks.

Battery Electric Vehicles Capture Record 30 Percent Market Share in UK

Preliminary vehicle registration data compiled in the United Kingdom shows that pure battery electric vehicles reached approximately 30 percent of total market volume over the preceding month, capturing the highest volume share of any powertrain category in the territory. The surge reflects accelerated fleet deliveries alongside aggressive end-of-quarter retail incentives deployed by volume manufacturers.
The market expansion aligns with escalating regulatory compliance thresholds established under the UK Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, which penalizes automakers that fail to meet strict electric delivery quotas. Continued parity pricing in the fleet sector and expanding high-power public charging hubs along major motorways contributed to the powertrain’s ongoing retail momentum over conventional internal combustion and mild-hybrid alternatives.