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
- IONNA and Walmart are both aggressively working on lower-cost fast charging at their respective charging sites. This competitive spirit reflects the maturation of the U.S. fast-charging market.
- EVgo is placing 500 fast chargers at shopping destinations, reinforcing the trend of building charging around dwell time and consumer convenience. For drivers, locating chargers where people already spend time can make public charging feel less like a separate errand.
- Denver Public Schools deployed Kempower fast chargers for its electric school bus fleet. The project highlights how districts are pairing fleet electrification with charging systems designed around high utilization, reliability, and operational flexibility.
- Beam Global is supplying off-grid EV ARC charging systems for the Dallas municipal fleet and a Massachusetts carshare pilot. The project exemplifies grid-independent charging that is capable of supporting pilots where utility upgrades may be difficult or slow.
Automaker Announcements
- Ford plans to use its new Universal EV Production System to build the Fathom electric pickup, signaling a push toward more flexible, lower-cost EV manufacturing. With prices starting under $29,000, the competition for more affordable EVs continues.
Strong Partnerships
- EVgo and Tesla partnered to deploy EVgo-branded V4 Superchargers, giving EVgo access to hardware that many drivers already recognize. The move reflects how charging providers are beginning to compete on reliability, familiarity, and seamless access rather than network branding alone.
- EC Business Council partner GM stated that every 2027 GM EV will have a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, expanding Tesla Supercharger access across its lineup. For drivers, this will create a smoother experience with the Tesla network and make it easier to use many public fast chargers.
- DAF and Einride are adding Level 4 autonomous technology to electric trucks, pointing to continued convergence between electrification and automation in freight. While still early, the partnership shows how truck manufacturers are thinking beyond batteries to broader operational efficiency.
- Wawa and Electrify America are deploying Wawa-branded chargers at Pennsylvania stores. The project reinforces the growing role of retailers in corridor charging, adding common-sense convenience for drivers.
- dcbel is offering Massachusetts homeowners a free home energy station through a V2X pilot. The program is relevant for states considering how bidirectional charging could support home resilience, grid services, and consumer familiarity with vehicle-to-home use cases.
Local & State News
- Portland International Airport installed a ChargePoint overhead charging system for its rental car facility. The project is useful for fleet conversations because overhead hardware can help manage space constraints and frequent vehicle turnover in high-use depots.
- Colorado is adding a 26-plug charging hub for its largest electric school bus fleet. The deployment shows how school districts are scaling from individual charger installs toward larger hubs that can support daily fleet operations.
In the Weeds
- Tire efficiency is getting more attention as California’s new rules target lower rolling resistance. The EV relevance is straightforward: more efficient tires can help extend range, reduce energy use, and lower operating costs without changing the vehicle itself.
- Battery manufacturing is expanding in Michigan as LG’s large battery cell factory comes into focus. This development is another indicator that domestic battery capacity is becoming a major part of the EV supply chain conversation in the U.S.
- EV range could get a small but meaningful boost from a new Texas Instruments sensor that helps monitor battery conditions more precisely. The article is a good reminder that range gains can come from incremental improvements in components and controls, not only larger batteries.
Cool Tool Pool
- Kempower found that charging sites with more plugs get more use, a simple but useful takeaway for infrastructure planning. For fleet and public charging discussions, the finding supports designing sites with enough capacity to reduce wait times and build driver confidence.
- EPRI released research on virtual power plants (VPP) that stresses the importance and need for standardized, plug-and-play technical integration to bolster grid security and regional energy independence. For utilities and large public and private entities, this is a helpful resource on transportation electrification that covers planning, VPP-to-grid integration, and charging.
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