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.
International News
Photo credit: Einride
Several announcements were recently made about autonomous electric vehicles:
- Einride: At the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, EC Business Council partner Einride operated its first-ever fully autonomous heavy-duty truck. Driving down a public road in a major logistical hub, the Einride Level 4 makes the case for autonomous fleet EVs.
- Toyota: Unveiling an autonomous EV that acts as a bus or shuttle, Toyota is testing the waters in Japan’s market with the e-Palette’s debut.
Federal News
- GSA Charging: The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has renewed Beam Global’s contract to provide portable EV chargers to federal agencies, despite the GSA being instructed to shut down all EV chargers not deemed “mission-critical” earlier this year. Beam Global’s contract will last through October 2030, shedding light on the necessity for chargers in the existing and future federal fleet.
State & Local News
Charging Infrastructure
- MUD Charging: Moon Five Technologies has announced plans to install more than 450 EV charging units at multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Using a $3.4 million grant from the California Energy Commission under the Reliable, Equitable, and Accessible Charging for Multi-family Housing 3.0 (REACH 3.0) program, installations beginning in early 2026 will benefit households across the cities with Moon Five’s practical plug-and-play design that does not require additional utility infrastructure upgrades.
- Revival: The infrastructure-light EV charger concept brought to the market by Freewire seemingly vanished after it closed its doors last year, but Orange EV’s OptiGrid division has brought it back. Dubbed the Orange Juicer, this battery-backed charger provides up to 200 kW of DC fast charging without the need for expensive construction or utility upgrades. The product is expected to reach customer sites in Q4 of 2025.
- Smart Partnership: SWTCH Energy and FLO have signed a roaming agreement allowing drivers to charge on either network with one app, removing the need to juggle multiple accounts, apps, and payment methods.
- Charging Innovation: Stellantis recently debuted a faster, lighter, and more affordable charging technology: the Intelligent Battery Integrated System (IBIS), created in partnership with TotalEnergies subsidiary Saft. IBIS improves charging efficiency by 10% compared to a typical same-sized EV battery and reduces charging time by up to an hour. Currently, the IBIS is being tested in a Peugeot e-3008 and is expected to be integrated into its production by 2030.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)
- Fremont Unified School District Charging: The Mobility House, an innovator of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, has implemented its new V2G charging system in the Fremont Unified School District’s transportation yard. This is part of its involvement in the Pacific Gas & Electric’s Emergency Load Reduction Program.
Batteries
- Battery Reuse: In a Toyota and Mazda partnership, Toyota’s Sweep Energy Storage System will be deployed to power a Mazda factory in Japan. Combining old EV batteries into an energy storage system is a novel and proactive solution for reusing batteries and improving the battery ecosystem.
- Recycling Innovations: Battery recycling firm Princeton NuEnergy has received a SuperBoost grant from the National Science Foundation’s Energy Storage Engine in upstate New York to expand its low-temperature separation process for direct recycling of lithium-ion batteries.
Cool Tool Pool
- EV Market: According to Cox Automotive, used EV sales are skyrocketing, up by 40% in July compared to the previous year. A record of nearly 41,000 were sold in August. This represents a significant year-over-year uptick in Americans purchasing used EVs, many of which sell for $25,000 or less. Used EVs’ lower prices allow more consumers to take advantage of their reduced maintenance and fuel costs.
- Southeast Efforts: The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Atlas Public Policy released the sixth annual Transportation Electrification in the Southeast report, offering a snapshot of strong EV market momentum in the region at a critical political turning point. View the report for details on transportation electrification’s impacts on job growth, increased EV sales, public fast charger deployment, and more key pieces in the Southeast.
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