Hioki has announced the RM3546 Resistance Meter, a high-precision measurement instrument designed for electric vehicle and energy storage system battery manufacturing. The RM3546 targets nanohm-class resistance measurement, supporting the growing quality demands of high-volume battery production lines.

The RM3546 offers 1-nanohm resolution within a 1,000 microohm range, using the Advanced-Offset Voltage Correction (A-OVC) feature to suppress thermal noise that can destabilize low-resistance measurements. This enables precise weld quality control for busbars and connections critical to EV and ESS battery packs throughout research and development, prototyping, and mass production.

To address the risks of accidental probe contact with energized components, the RM3546 integrates Active Circuit Protection, allowing it to withstand DC voltages up to 60 V. Hioki says this protection reduces instrument failure and unplanned downtime on high-voltage battery production lines.

The meter features a path-resistance tolerance of up to 9 ohms in 500-milliamp mode, enabling stable measurements even with long cables, multiple relays, or worn probes—conditions commonly encountered in large-scale automation. The instrument supports integration with Hioki multiplexer systems and includes an internal multiplexer board option for flexible, multi-channel inline inspection.

For post-weld evaluation, the Advanced-Temperature Correction (A-TC) function—used in combination with Hioki’s PC application—permits accurate resistance measurement within seconds after welding, minimizing cooling delays and improving production takt time. Hioki identifies the main applications for battery research and development, inline inspection of battery-pack welding and verification of cell-to-cell and fuse resistance.

Additional uses include EV charging infrastructure components and power distribution systems in industrial contexts.

Source: Hioki

EVSE supplier and charging network operator ChargePoint has announced that its entire current hardware portfolio now supports Plug & Charge technology.

Plug & Charge, based on the ISO 15118-20 communication standard, simplifies charging for EV drivers. Instead of navigating proprietary apps or dealing with credit card readers (both common points of failure), drivers simply plug in and go about their business. Authentication and secure billing are handled automatically.

“ChargePoint anticipates that PnC will gain traction, fueling further expansion of EV charging infrastructure, in 2026,” says the company. “It will be particularly useful for the fleet sector and car-sharing businesses.”

Starting January 1, 2027, support for ISO 15118-20 will be mandatory in the EU.

Plug & Charge technology already operates on ChargePoint’s network and via roaming partners in North America and Europe. However, the company points out that scaling it up to encourage widespread adoption will require overcoming complex technical, commercial and regulatory hurdles. (There is also a semantic hurdle. Here at Charged, we say “Plug & Charge,” but some say “Plug and Charge,” and ChargePoint appears to have coined “PnC.”)

Daniel Brown, Senior Director, Product Management at ChargePoint, said: “The consumer demand for Plug & Charge is clear, but scaling access to drivers is a complex exercise in global alignment across hundreds of market players in four key areas.”

To wit:

1. Charge Point Operators (CPOs) need to source hardware and backend software that is Plug & Charge-compatible.
2. E-mobility service providers, which manage user-facing data and process payments, need to align their offerings with backend providers that manage chargers.
3. Car manufacturers (OEMs) must enable their vehicles for Plug & Charge, and prepare their backend software for certificate management by a certification authority.
4. Certificate authorities oversee the authentication and all necessary security to ensure a seamless, reliable and trustworthy process for the end user.

The very real challenges of scaling Plug & Charge seem to be the reason that ChargePoint competitor EVgo prefers Autocharge (an alternative seamless charging system based on DIN Spec 70121) for the moment. “We are committed to rolling out the Plug & Charge standard once the intricacies around certification and implementation have been addressed, [but] in the meantime, we continue to support Autocharge+ as our current solution to offer seamless session initiation,” an EVgo spokesperson told Charged.

“As awareness of the benefits of Plug & Charge continues to grow and key players collaborate to remove barriers, we anticipate new levels of alignment and significant momentum in 2026,” added ChargePoint’s Daniel Brown. “With ChargePoint’s global scale and expertise driving this innovation, we are positioned as a key enabler of a competitive, interoperable and secure EV charging ecosystem.”

Source: ChargePoint

In response to rapidly expanding demand for electric construction equipment, especially in progressive regions like the Benelux and Nordic countries, Develon (formerly Doosan Construction Equipment) is significantly expanding its portfolio of electric-powered excavators.

Develon says its new electric machines offer identical performance to their diesel counterparts, while delivering significant reductions in emissions, noise and vibration.

Built on the company’s proven -7 Series platform, the first wave of electric machines covers key segments across both compact and mid-size classes. The initial lineup includes:

•           DX20ZE-7, DX23E-7 and DX85RE-7 electric mini excavators

•           DX100WE-7 and DX160WE-7K electric wheeled excavators (10 to 20-tonne class)

•           DX230LCE-7 and DX250LCE-7 electric crawler excavators (20-tonne class and above)

The expanded electric lineup will be introduced in phases. The DX160WE-7 electric wheeled excavator and the DX230LCE-7 and DX250LCE-7 electric crawler excavators are commercially available as of the end of 2025.

The DX160WE-7K offers all the new features from Develon’s -7K generation of wheeled excavators, combined with 100% electric drive. It features a 105 kW permanent-magnet motor and a LiFePO₄ battery pack capable of around 10 hours of operation under defined conditions. It boasts the same digging and handling capability as a legacy diesel machine.

The DX230LCE 7 crawler electric excavator is targeted at heavy applications. It delivers production capacity comparable to that of its diesel counterpart, and offers operating time of around 9 hours on one charge. The machine is designed with operator familiarity in mind—controls, attachments and service infrastructure align with the diesel model.

The DX250LCE 7 crawler electric excavator is designed for significant earthmoving and construction applications. It has all the features of the DX230LCE-7, and sports a larger battery pack, bringing total operating time to 12 hours.

The DX100WE-7 electric wheeled excavator and the DX85RE-7 electric mini excavator will follow next year, covering all core segments from compact to mid-size machines.

Source: Develon

Battery technology company Sionic Energy, together with Group14 Technologies, has announced the results of testing that demonstrates a new level of high-temperature stability for 100% silicon-carbon anodes in lithium-ion cells.

By combining Group14’s SCC55 silicon-carbon anode material with Sionic’s proprietary Rapid Integration Silicon Platform containing 100% silicon-carbon (Si-C) anode and enhanced electrolyte, the companies “have set a new benchmark for silicon battery technology, expanding its path to a broader set of applications in transportation, consumer electronics and aviation markets.”

The companies tested Sionic’s Rapid Integration Silicon Platform with SCC55 in 4 Ah, 10 Ah and 20 Ah pouch cells under electrolyte-lean conditions with NMC 83 cathodes. The cells delivered stable 1C/-1C cycling at 45° C, and retained >70% of room-temperature cycle life. Storage testing at 45° C and 60° C displayed substantial suppressed gas generation and lower impedance growth, supporting the potential of extended calendar life over baseline chemistries.

Sionic says its graphite-free Rapid Integration Silicon Platform delivers specific energy of up to 400 Wh/kg, cycle life of over 1,200 cycles, and strong performance, in cell formats already used by partners.

“Our Rapid Integration Silicon Platform delivers up to a 50% jump in performance while dropping right into industry-standard equipment with no complexity: no pre-lithiation, no external compression, no extensive cell design efforts,” said Ed Williams, President and CEO of Sionic Energy.

“This benchmark is a powerful validation that silicon batteries are market-ready,” said Rick Luebbe, CEO and co-founder of Group14 Technologies. “Customers want true drop-in silicon-carbon anodes that deliver up to 50% higher energy density, dramatically faster charging, and robust lifetime across extreme temperatures. These latest results with 100% SCC55 show that we can meet those expectations at scale, today.”

A technical white paper with full test data is available to qualified OEMs, cell manufacturers and investors.

Source: Sionic Energy

JET Charge has completed a large-scale electric delivery vehicle charging project in partnership with IKEA Australia, installing 59 chargers at 7 locations across the country—Tempe, Rhodes, Marsden Park, Sydney CDC, Canberra, Springvale and North Lakes. Future deployments are planned for Richmond and Logan.

“This project proves that zero-emission logistics isn’t just possible—it’s scalable,” said JET Charge CEO and co-founder Tim Washington. “By building intelligent, fit-for-purpose infrastructure, we’ve given delivery partners the reliability they need on the road and IKEA the visibility to lead real emissions reductions across its supply chains. It’s a blueprint any retailer can follow.”

The project included implementation of smart load management for future-proofing and managing energy constraints, as well as the integration of a Chargefox billing system, which allows third-party drivers to pay for charging sessions while reimbursing IKEA for electricity usage.

IKEA says that more than 100 vehicles are now charging at the company’s sites, indicating strong demand from third-party delivery partners.

“JET Charge’s infrastructure, which spans the majority of our Australian delivery network, is already having a significant impact,” said Alexandra Kelly, IKEA Zero Emission Delivery Project Lead, Australia and New Zealand. As of October 2025, some 83% of IKEA deliveries were completed by zero-emission vehicles, Kelly added. “We aim to hit 90% by the end of 2025 and the last 10% when technology allows.”

Source: JET Charge

Vianode, a Norwegian producer of advanced battery materials, has started site preparation at its new synthetic graphite facility Via TWO in St. Thomas, Ontario.

Production is expected to start in 2028. The site is located in the Yarmouth Yards Industrial Park, close to key automotive customers, and offers access to Ontario’s electricity grid and strong support from local and provincial authorities.

Subject to reaching a definitive agreement, the Government of Ontario will provide a loan of up to C$670 million ($484 million) in support of Vianode’s investment.

The project is structured as a phased multi-billion-dollar investment. The total planned capacity is up to 150,000 tons annually, supporting delivery of synthetic graphite for around two million EVs per year.

Vianode started Norwegian synthetic graphite production at its Technology Center in Kristiansand in 2021 and commissioned its first full-scale plant Via ONE at Herøya in 2024. The St. Thomas facility is part of the company’s goal to supply advanced materials for up to three million EVs annually by 2030.

“Today marks an important step towards a resilient North American battery supply chain. Ontario and the city of St. Thomas have been strong partners from day one, and Via TWO will bring industrial-scale, low-emission graphite to market through a phased build-out that supports customers, communities and the clean energy transition,” said Burkhard Straube, CEO of Vianode.

Source: Vianode

As any user of public EV charging will tell you, the industry badly needs a widely-accepted standard for seamless charging. Just as we ditched dial-up modems in favor of WiFi, we need to lose the apps and credit card readers and implement a system that lets us plug in and walk away—something like the system that Tesla drivers have always enjoyed.

At the moment, there are two different systems for seamless charging in the US: Plug & Charge (the popular name for a feature included the ISO 15118-20 standard) and Autocharge. (based on DIN Spec 70121). Both systems handle authentication and secure billing automatically—drivers simply plug in and go about their business.

Both standards have champions and detractors in the marketplace. Public EV fast charging provider EVgo is pushing ahead with its own version of Autocharge, which it calls Autocharge+. Competitor ChargePoint is throwing in its lot with Plug & Charge.

Actually, EVgo supports Plug & Charge too, but at the moment it’s touting the benefits of Autocharge+. Charged contacted EVgo and asked for clarification, and a spokesperson responded: “Autocharge+ is EVgo’s premier [seamless charging] solution at this time. We are committed to rolling out the Plug and Charge standard once the intricacies around certification and implementation have been addressed, so in the meantime, we continue to support Autocharge+ as our current solution to offer seamless session initiation.” (One of these intricacies is what to call the system. Here at Charged, we say “Plug & Charge,” but EVgo prefers “Plug and Charge,” and ChargePoint is calling it “PnC.”)

Be all that as it may, EVgo customers are embracing Autocharge+. The company reports that it has now delivered over five million Autocharge+ charging sessions, and that some 300,000 of its customers have enrolled in Autocharge+ to date. Nearly 30% of EVgo charging sessions are now initiated using Autocharge+.

Today, some 80 different EV models are eligible for Autocharge+. The technology supports most CCS vehicles as well as new native NACS vehicles. EVgo reports that the highest levels of enrollment have come from drivers of Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford and Rivian models.

“EVgo collaborates with our automaker partners and performs extensive testing at our Innovation Lab to develop and expand technology solutions like Autocharge+,” said Alex Keros, Senior Vice President at EVgo. “We are focused on the best possible customer experience and will continue to expand and deploy features like Autocharge+ and Plug and Charge across our network.”

Source: EVgo

US-based battery company Nuvola Technology has demonstrated that its SafeCoat Direct Deposition Separator (DDS) can prevent thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries under extreme conditions that typically result in catastrophic fires.

In testing, Nuvola’s 41-layer, 5 Ah lithium-ion pouch cell with SafeCoat DDS survived nail penetration testing, maintaining its charge without ignition or thermal runaway. That was in contrast to a commercial benchmark cell using thermally enhanced separators that erupted into thermal runaway within 10 seconds under identical conditions.

SafeCoat’s nanoporous layer remains structurally intact at temperatures exceeding 220° C, and in contact with direct flame. This prevents the cascading failure that turns one damaged cell into a fire.

SafeCoat is compatible with existing lithium-ion production lines and strengthens US battery manufacturing capacity by reducing reliance on centralized separator facilities that are mostly located in Asia.

Global battery manufacturers serving the EV, medical devices and consumer electronics sectors are evaluating the technology. Early assessments suggest that SafeCoat could lower battery pack costs by reducing insulation requirements for thermal runaway prevention, Nuvola said.

“What’s truly exciting is that this cost-effective and shovel-ready solution delivers most of the safety benefits expected from solid-state batteries—but it’s available today, and it integrates seamlessly into lithium-ion plants operating or under construction,” added Dr. Leland Smith, CTO and co-founder of Nuvola Technology.

Source: Nuvola Technology

Swedish forklift and facility power systems provider Concentric has surpassed 250,000 battery swaps using PowerHIVE, its autonomous forklift battery management system.

Concentric aims to help facilities accelerate their transition from lead-acid to lithium-ion batteries by eliminating expensive charging infrastructure, cutting downtime and reclaiming floor space. Lithium batteries require expansive electrical installations yet still require operators to manage charging and deal with idle forklifts and ancillary equipment, Concentric noted.

The PowerHIVE system standardizes batteries to a single size and centralizes charging in a compact footprint. Standardized batteries often enable a 10% reduction in fleet size while freeing as much as 80% of battery room space for revenue-generating storage, Concentric said.

Operators do not need to touch a 3,000-pound battery, and reloads take two minutes, increasing pallet throughput by up to 15%. Facilities realize a 5-12% increase in their throughput KPIs across receiving, shipping and production processes, according to the company. Customers report up to 37% reductions in energy usage.

“Reaching 250,000 forklift battery swaps in such a short period reflects what our customers already know: PowerHIVE works,” said John Winter, President and CEO of Concentric. “The first 100,000 swaps took 20 months. The next 150,000 happened in seven. That is exponential growth fueled by simplicity and results.”

Source: Concentric

bp pulse continues to expand its network of public DC fast EV chargers across the US. The company just opened its first site in Arizona, along with new locations in Texas, Florida and Ohio.

All these sites offer both CCS and NACS connectors, charging speeds up to 400 kW, and access to rest rooms, food and other amenities on-site or nearby.

bp pulse’s first site in Arizona is located at a Petro Travel Center just off I-10 near the town of Eloy. It has 16 charging bays, all with 400 kW chargers, and features a travel store, on-site diner, ATM and barber shop.

Another new site is found at a Petro Travel Center off I-10 in El Paso, Texas. Here you’ll find 12 charging bays, all with 400 kW chargers, a convenience store, a diner and a barber shop.

In Florida, bp has opened a new site just 3 miles from Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), convenient for ride-hail drivers, rental returns and airport pickups and drop-offs. This site has 16 charging bays, with 150 kW and 400 kW chargers. Hotels, restaurants and convenience stores are nearby.

The new Ohio charging station is at a Travel Centers of America site just off Interstate 70 in Hebron. There are 6 charging bays with 400 kW chargers, as well as a convenience store and fast-food options.

Source: bp pulse