Daily EV news · US · 28 January 2026
EV Charging
The Mobility House North America launches Cascade EV aggregator platform
The Mobility House North America has introduced Cascade, an EV aggregator platform designed to manage and optimise electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The system aims to coordinate charging loads across fleets and sites, though the announcement does not specify deployment scale or customer commitments. Business Wire carried the launch statement.
Why it matters
Aggregator platforms are becoming critical tools for CPOs and fleet operators seeking to balance grid demand, reduce costs and unlock revenue from demand response programmes. A new entrant from an established mobility player may intensify competition in the North American charge management software market.
US National Renewable Energy Laboratory releases open source Python tool for EV charging site optimisation
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has published EVI-EnSitePy, a Python tool designed to estimate energy requirements and optimise site selection for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The open source software aims to help planners model charging demand and evaluate potential locations for deployment. The tool is now available via the laboratory's online repository.
Why it matters
Procurement teams and charge point operators gain a free, government backed planning resource to model energy loads and compare site economics before committing capital to new installations, potentially reducing costly site selection errors.
US EV charging rollout continues despite Trump administration uncertainty
Canary Media reports that electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment in the United States is maintaining momentum even as the Trump administration introduces policy uncertainty. The article examines how the sector is progressing through the current political environment, though specific deployment figures are not provided in the excerpt.
Why it matters
Charge point operators and contractors need to understand how federal policy shifts may affect project pipelines and funding streams, particularly for publicly supported schemes. Continued rollout signals sustained procurement opportunities despite potential regulatory changes.
Electric Vehicles
Maryland education board upholds ruling that Montgomery County's 168 million dollar electric bus contract was illegal
Maryland's State Board of Education has denied Montgomery County Public School District's appeal and confirmed its earlier finding that the district's 168 million dollar electric bus contract with Highland Electric Fleets violated procurement rules. The district terminated the contract last summer after Highland delivered only 285 of 326 contracted electric buses. The state board's 11 page report cited arbitrary and unreasonable bidding procedures, delivery delays, the district's failure to recover 372,000 dollars for non operational buses, and criminal convictions of two former MCPS transportation officials including an assistant director who stole over 300,000 dollars from the project.
Why it matters
The ruling underscores procurement compliance risks in large scale electric bus deployments and highlights how procedural failures can derail major fleet electrification contracts. School districts and fleet operators pursuing similar transitions must ensure rigorous oversight and adherence to competitive bidding rules to avoid costly contract terminations and legal challenges.
Policy & Market
New York senator challenges CLCPA affordability as utility bills rise
Senator O'Mara has stated that New Yorkers are seeing monthly utility bill increases tied to the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates and timelines, which he argues are not affordable, realistic or reliable. The remarks, published by the New York State Senate, reflect growing political scrutiny of the CLCPA's implementation costs. No specific bill figures or timeline adjustments were cited in the statement.
Why it matters
Rising energy costs and political pushback on climate mandates could slow New York's transition to electric transport and charging infrastructure, affecting CPO business cases and public funding for EV programmes. Procurement teams must monitor policy stability as grid upgrade costs feed into charging tariffs and site economics.
Wisconsin retains $62 million in EV infrastructure funding after court victory
Wisconsin has successfully defended $62 million in federal EV infrastructure funding following a lawsuit win, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The state will retain the full allocation for charging infrastructure deployment. The court decision ensures Wisconsin can proceed with planned EV charging projects using the secured federal funds.
Why it matters
The ruling removes legal uncertainty around a significant state level funding pool, allowing Wisconsin procurement teams and charge point operators to move forward with planned infrastructure tenders and site development using the $62 million allocation.