The EC Tech Desk is a monthly resource compiled by the EC’s technical services team that aims to curate transportation electrification’s most relevant news, tools, and resources in a brief, readable format.
Vehicle News
- Harbinger unveiled its HC Series Cab. The low-cab box truck will be available as an electric or extended-range electric vehicle—a much-needed option in the Class 6 market.
- Rivian and Uber partnered on a $1.25 billion investment to produce 10,0000 autonomous Rivian R2 robotaxis, with an additional investment of up to 40,0000 more in 2030. This aligns with Uber’s plans for autonomous ridesharing in multiple major U.S. cities in the near term, with R2 robotaxi deployments starting in San Francisco and Miami in 2028 and expanding to 25 cities by 2031.
- Mercedes-Benz announced a new, more affordable EV, following a trend of other luxury automakers like Audi, BMW, Rivian, and Lucid. The A2 e-tron will have a 58-kWh lithium-iron phosphate or 85-kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, expected to start at around $40,000.
- Mitsubishi, in collaboration with Nissan, will launch a new EV similar to the Leaf. With little known yet, this model is expected to launch in summer 2026.
- Oshkosh is on track to deliver 29,000 new electric USPS vehicles this year out of a total of 66,000 EVs designated by the contract.
- Fleet Study: Mitra EV released a white paper, Small Fleets, Big Impact: A National Study of EV Adoption, detailing how small– and medium-sized fleets are optimal for electrification, with the most effective entry points being pickup trucks and vans.
Charging Infrastructure News
Photo credit: Ion Storage Systems
- ION Storage Systems reports that it’s been cleared to produce the cornerstone Cell, making the Maryland-based company the first U.S. solid-state battery technology producer.
- Tesla is now selling its Superchargers without manufacturer branding. For example, the City of Alpharetta, GA installed four stalls capable of peak charging up to 325 kW. This will support the city’s fleet and be a boon for other public fleets that have no-branding laws on public-owned property.
- Speaking of Tesla, the company is partnering with a Sheetz location near the Detroit Metro Airport to construct the largest EV charging station in Michigan. Featuring 48 direct current fast-charging (DCFC) stalls, it will support the region’s booming EV adoption. The location is expected to open in summer 2026.
- Electreon announced it completed an acquisition of InductEV, a wireless charging provider. This is great news for fleets with niche use cases that require nearly 24/7 operations, including transit buses and freight trucks. It would also allow Electreon to be BABA-compliant with InductEV’s offerings.
- EVSE Energization Study: Friends of the EC at Atlas Public Policy debuted a timely report that finds reducing utility energization timelines for public DCFC could expedite the rollout of fast chargers in America and yield upwards of $3.4 million in economic value per station.
Cool Tool Pool
- Refresher: To learn how the most prominent EV charging networks got their start in the U.S., check out Charged EVs’ article highlighting ChargePoint, Blink Charging, Electrify America, EVgo, EV Connect, Shell Recharge, and Tesla.
If you come across any tools or resources you think should be added to the next edition of the Tech Desk, please reach out to Senior Program Associate Steph Wagner at steph@electrification.org