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.
Charging Infrastructure News
Photo: Ionna charging station, taken by EC staff
- IONNA is accelerating its U.S. charging buildout, with the automaker-backed network targeting 30,000 high-speed charging bays by 2030. The effort is notable because automakers are treating reliable charging as part of the vehicle ownership experience, not just an external infrastructure problem.
- Schneider Electric upgraded its Charge Pro commercial Level 2 charger with NACS support, app-free QR-code charging, and configurations up to 80 amps. The update is aimed at apartment buildings, workplaces, fleets, and destination sites, where ease of use and lower operational friction can matter as much as the charger itself.
- WEX added Greenlane, Synop, and QuickCharge by Integra Energy to its EV charging network. The integrations expand access to public and depot charging for commercial fleets while keeping payments and operational data within the tools that fleet managers already use.
Automaker Announcements
- Chevrolet is moving the 2027 Blazer EV to a native NACS port, continuing GM’s shift toward the charging standard increasingly commonplace across North America. The update gives drivers easier access to Tesla Superchargers while preserving CCS access through adapters.
- GM is reportedly developing a new dedicated EV architecture, known internally as BEV-N, expected to arrive near the end of 2028 or in early 2029. The next-generation Equinox EV is expected to be first in line, followed by the Blazer EV, suggesting GM is already planning the next phase of improvements in range, charging, and software.
- EV Affordability: ICCT argues that EVs are often cheaper than consumers think once fuel, maintenance, and total ownership costs are included. While sticker prices remain a barrier in the U.S., the piece notes that operating savings and improving purchase-price parity are making the value proposition easier to explain.
- EV Drivers: A Plug In America survey highlighted by Electrek found that 94.3% of EV drivers are likely or very likely to choose another EV for their next vehicle. The finding reinforces a recurring theme: direct experience tends to reduce concerns about range, reliability, charging, and cost.
- Mobility Trends: McKinsey’s latest mobility consumer survey shows consumers balancing affordability, technology, sustainability, and openness to new mobility options. For EV adoption, the big takeaway is that interest continues to broaden, but cost and charging infrastructure remain key hurdles for mainstream buyers.
Public-Private-Partnerships
- Managed Charging: Utility Dive covered how automakers and utilities are advancing managed and bidirectional charging pilots. The growing partnership model suggests EVs are becoming flexible grid assets, but success will depend on utility programs, customer participation, and software that makes the value easy to capture.
- GM added ChargePoint to its EV apps, expanding in-app access to public charging information and payments. For drivers, this kind of integration can reduce the “too many apps” problem and make charging feel more like a native part of vehicle ownership.
- Bojangles joined the growing list of food and travel brands using fast charging to bring EV drivers on-site. It is another reminder that charging locations are increasingly being planned around dwell time, amenities, and retail partnerships rather than chargers alone.
- Pilot reached its 300th DC fast-charging location, showing how familiar travel brands are becoming key players in corridor charging.
Local & State News
- DASH broke ground on the DC region’s first en-route electric bus chargers in Alexandria, Virginia. The overhead pantograph chargers will help buses top up during service and could improve range, utilization, and reliability for transit electrification.
- Illinois saw its first federally funded NEVI chargers go online, an important milestone for an EC State Fleet Electrification cohort state. The deployment is a practical sign that NEVI-funded stations are moving from planning to real-world service.
- Massachusetts is testing how vehicle-to-grid technology could support school bus and broader fleet electrification. The project is relevant for another EC State Fleet Electrification cohort state because it connects transportation planning with grid services and resilience.
In the Weeds
- Supply Chain: Sila raised $300 million to expand U.S. silicon-anode manufacturing in Moses Lake, Washington. This improves domestic access to critical battery materials and strengthens the supply chain for EVs and related charging needs.
- Battery Durability: The Wall Street Journal reported that many EV batteries are holding up better than expected after hundreds of thousands of miles. That durability story matters for consumer confidence, used EV values, and fleet total cost of ownership because battery replacement risk has long been one of the most persistent concerns around electrification.
- Grid Impact: An American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy piece examines whether EV adoption could translate into lower energy bills for consumers and commercial fleets. The bigger takeaway is that outcomes will depend on managed charging, rate design, utilization, and the ability to shift charging away from peak demand.
- Energy Hub Report: A new report covered by Charged EVs finds that DC-coupled energy hubs can reduce costs and help fleets work around grid constraints. The concept is useful for fleet-charging conversations because it integrates charging, storage, and energy management into a more flexible infrastructure model.
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 Technical Manager Steph Wagner at steph@electrification.org