Daily EV news · Global · 5 March 2026
EV Charging
Zeno raises $25 million Series A for East African EV charging and mobility platform
Zeno, an electric mobility and distributed energy services company, has closed $25 million in combined Series A equity and debt financing, with equity led by Congruent Ventures and debt from Trifecta Capital and Camber Road. The company operates more than 150 charge point locations across four cities in East Africa, offering multi-modal charging for two and three wheel vehicles through swap stations, public fast chargers and home charging. Zeno serves nearly 1,000 motorbike and energy subscription customers and has developed three charging products, a battery system, the Emara electric motorcycle and a cloud based operating system.
Why it matters
The round signals growing investor confidence in emerging market EV infrastructure, particularly for two and three wheelers where charging density and swap models can unlock commercial fleet adoption. Zeno's integrated approach combining hardware, batteries and software offers a template for CPOs targeting light vehicle segments in cities with nascent grid infrastructure.
Electric Vehicles
BYD unveils Blade Battery 2.0 with five minute 10 to 70 per cent charge, requiring 1.5 MW chargers
Chinese automaker BYD announced its Blade Battery 2.0 system on Thursday, capable of charging from 10 to 70 per cent in five minutes and reaching near full capacity in nine minutes total. The battery, debuting in the Yangwang U7 luxury sedan, requires pairing with BYD's new Flash Charging stations that deliver 1.5 megawatts. Even at minus 20 degrees Celsius, the pack can charge from 20 to 97 per cent in under 12 minutes.
Why it matters
The announcement signals a new benchmark for ultra rapid charging infrastructure, with the 1.5 MW requirement pushing charge point operators and grid planners to consider higher power delivery standards. BYD's vertical integration of vehicle and charging hardware may influence procurement specifications as automakers increasingly tie battery performance to proprietary charging networks.
Hyundai and Kia invest in battery software provider Qnovo
Hyundai and Kia have announced a strategic investment in Qnovo, a company that develops software to monitor battery health, following years of collaborative testing. Qnovo's platform provides real time battery performance and safety data through a hardware free architecture, enabling automakers to manage warranties and assess residual battery value throughout the lifecycle. The investment was announced on 5 March 2026.
Why it matters
Battery health monitoring software is increasingly critical for EV fleet operators and charging infrastructure providers managing warranty exposure and optimising charge cycles. Real time battery intelligence can inform dynamic charging strategies and support second life battery applications in stationary storage tied to charging sites.