EV charging

New York City tests a solar-powered electric-school-bus microgrid

Utility Con Edison and school-bus operator First Student see bus-charging depots equipped with solar and batteries as a win-win that supports the power grid.

By Jeff St. John . 4 November 2024

Artist rendering of solar panel-topped electric school buses parked at EV chargers — First Student and Con Edison are building a solar- and battery-equipped electric bus-charging microgrid in Brooklyn, complete with solar-panel-topped EV school buses. (First Student)

Electric vehicles

A persistent EV challenge looms over NY Auto Show: Charging

Amid flashy new electric models on display at one of the nation's top car events, experts worried that EVs will struggle to go mainstream without a lot more places to plug in.

By Maria Gallucci . 11 April 2023
EV charging

NYC's grid is stressed. A 'smart' EV charging program aims to help

Con Ed’s revamped SmartCharge program will tap direct-to-EV communications to track and pay drivers for charging at times that reduce grid strain.

By Jeff St. John . 5 April 2023
Batteries

Nomad's mobile batteries deliver utility-scale power where it's needed

The company sources lithium-ion batteries from parent Kore Power, then stacks them in reinforced truck beds for portable grid storage.

By Julian Spector . 16 February 2023
EV charging

Tesla's Supercharger network will soon open to all types of EVs

The Elon Musk–led EV giant will make at least 3,500 charging stations available to non-Teslas as the Biden administration unveils funding for a national charging network.

By Maria Gallucci . 15 February 2023
EV charging

Renters need EV charging at home. These companies aim to provide it

Neither tenants nor landlords want to pay for EV chargers. Maybe third-party infrastructure finance can solve the conundrum.

By Jeff St. John . 24 January 2023
EV charging

Shell buys EV-charger operator Volta for pennies on the dollar

Volta went public via SPAC at a $2B valuation in 2021 but bled cash and sold to Shell for just $169 million. Building EV charging networks is a costly business.

By Jeff St. John . 19 January 2023
EV charging

Highway EV charging will need a ton of power — sooner than you think

A new report warns that EV charging along Northeast highways will require sports-stadium levels of grid power by 2030. Where are the plans to supply it?

By Jeff St. John . 5 December 2022
Electric vehicles

Elon Musk finally delivers on the long-awaited Tesla Semi truck

The battery-powered behemoth with up to a 500-mile range is the first semi designed from the start to be electric. Bonus: Musk says it's "super fun to drive."

By Eric Wesoff . 1 December 2022
EV charging

This new 'smart' cord lets everyone cash in on utility EV-charging perks

Smartenit has bundled smart-charging tech into a cord that plugs into standard outlets. That’s useful for people who can't easily install chargers at home.

By Jeff St. John . 8 November 2022
Clean fleets

The country’s biggest electric bus microgrid is open for business

Low-cost solar and batteries plus backup power come together in one Maryland county’s all-electric transportation hub.

By Jeff St. John . 1 November 2022