All articles tagged with #ev charging
General Motors and Pacific Gas and Electric have launched the Smart Charge Bundle in Northern and Central California. The program offers new EV buyers a free home charger valued up to $1,999, along with monthly bill credits for participating in managed charging. This initiative aims to reduce grid strain during peak hours while lowering energy costs for consumers.
Tesla has officially begun volume production of its long-delayed Semi electric truck at a new facility in Sparks, Nevada. The company announced a major customer roster, including PepsiCo and DHL, while highlighting engineering improvements that reduced weight and increased efficiency. Despite the launch, Tesla withheld specific pricing and total order numbers, leaving key financial details unclear.
Geely has officially launched its 'Smart Charge' ecosystem, featuring a single-gun charger with a peak output of 2,250 kW, a new industry record. The system uses an AI-driven energy model to manage battery temperatures, enabling a Lynk & Co 10 to charge from 10% to 97% in 8 minutes and 40 seconds. Geely plans to deploy over 100,000 charging guns by 2027, including 50,000 Smart Charge units, and offers new incentives such as extended battery warranties and annual charging allowances for early adopters.
AAA reports the national average price for regular gasoline rose to about $4.44 per gallon, up 16 cents from last week as crude oil remains around $100 a barrel amid Hormuz volatility; demand rose and inventories dipped slightly, with prices approaching this year’s peak of $4.56, while EV charging averaged 42 cents per kWh and state prices vary widely.
ChargePoint stock jumped about 74% after hours following a fiscal Q2 where revenue reached $116.1 million (up 18% YoY and above estimates) and adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to $4.8 million. The gross margin rose to 38% (helped by a $4.2 million tariff refund; ex-refund margin would be ~35%). Management guided Q3 revenue to $105–$115 million, roughly in line with consensus. The company showed essentially zero cash burn and a hardware-led mix, but despite the rally the stock remains below its 52-week high, suggesting the move may reflect sentiment around a near-term beat rather than a proven turnaround.
ChargePoint stock jumped over 70% after a stronger-than-expected Q2 with revenue of $116.1 million and a 35-cent loss per share, beating estimates and guiding higher for 2027. CEO Rick Wilmer says momentum is accelerating thanks to new high-performance chargers, AI-driven efficiency, and a three-year plan to cut losses and move toward EBITDA profitability. The company, which provides hardware, software, and services (not chargers themselves), is expanding Level 3 chargers in Europe and Level 2/3 in the US, while user demand remains solid despite a broader EV slowdown.
A tech writer tested dozens of free CarPlay apps and highlights the best for navigation (Google Maps, Apple Maps), music (Spotify, Apple Music), podcasts (Pocket Casts), audiobooks (Audible), live radio (TuneIn), EV charging (PlugShare), and parking (SpotHero), noting differences in CarPlay layouts across cars and occasional quirks with wireless versus wired connections.
A Washington Post analysis shows that skyrocketing gas prices driven by geopolitical conflict have made fueling a gasoline car more expensive than charging an electric vehicle in nearly every state. The average driver spends about $149 a month on gas versus $106 a month on EV charging (up 37% and 16% since early February, respectively). Eight states, including West Virginia, previously had cheaper gas for a month than EV charging, but the price surge has flipped the math in most places; Wisconsin is highlighted where electricity costs have barely budged compared with gas. The piece also notes hybrid sales rising after EV tax credits ended.
The piece argues that many so‑called public EV chargers at car dealers aren’t truly public—access is limited, hours aren’t consistent, and pricing is opaque or punitive (cited examples include $15/kWh at a Hyundai dealer and a $671.60 bill from an MES station). It urges stronger regulation and clearer disclosure, plus concrete rules (visible price signage, guaranteed public access, and clawback mechanisms for subsidies) to ensure chargers funded with public money actually serve drivers. It also calls for industry standards like prioritized public use, enforceable pricing, regular audits, and penalties for noncompliance.
Trump's plan to require 100% domestic content for federally funded EV chargers would effectively kill the $5 billion program, since no 100% domestically produced chargers exist and demand isn't high enough to justify domestic production, according to 20 state attorneys general; the piece also notes Uber's plan to deploy Nvidia-powered robotaxis by 2028 (starting in LA and SF in 2027), Audi ending the A8, and Ford recalling about 47,804 EcoBoost-powered vehicles for a potential engine valve issue.
GM’s Bolt uses a Chinese-sourced lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) pack that runs at a higher nominal voltage (near 400V), enabling a 10–80% charge in about 26 minutes—faster than GM’s Ultium-pack models that run around 290V and rely on high current. This speed comes from the Bolt’s LFP chemistry and different pack architecture, but the article notes there’s a catch to the Bolt’s approach that’s explored in a fuller drive review.
Uber will incentivize third-party operators to install EV chargers in drivers’ US and European neighborhoods and guarantee a minimum amount of usage to help recoup investments, aiming to accelerate charging infrastructure despite recent U.S. policy shifts.
Toyota revealed the fifth-gen Highlander as an EV-only, U.S.-built three-row SUV coming in late 2026, with a price likely around $50k–$55k to take on the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. It uses a 400-volt TNGA-K platform, offering a 77.0 kWh base pack (FWD 287 miles, AWD 270 miles) and a larger 95.8 kWh pack (up to about 320 miles); cargo behind the third row is 15.9 cu ft (45.6 cu ft with second row folded); no frunk is provided. Interiors look-ups are limited, but the cabin is reportedly well-appointed. Warranty trails rivals (8-year/100k miles for powertrain vs 10-year/100k for Kia/Hyundai; 3-year/36k vs 5-year/60k basic). Built in the U.S., the Highlander EV is expected to hit dealers end of 2026 with more details to come.
A Tesla owner highlights that home charging is significantly cheaper than using Superchargers, with costs roughly half, though Superchargers offer faster charging. Despite the higher expense, EVs remain cheaper overall compared to gas cars, with owners saving thousands over years of use.
Chargeway Plus now offers real-time kWh pricing for over half of North America's public EV chargers, providing drivers with detailed cost and availability information to make smarter charging decisions and accelerate EV adoption.