Daily EV news · US · 10 October 2026
EV Charging
Winchester, Massachusetts sees plug-in vehicles reach 9.3% of local fleet, but town has only 6 public charging ports
Winchester, Massachusetts recorded 1,538 plug-in vehicles (1,111 battery electric and 427 plug-in hybrids) out of 16,478 passenger vehicles as of 1 July 2026, representing 9.3% of the local fleet, according to Massachusetts Department of Transportation Vehicle Census data reported by Winchester News. This share is nearly three times the statewide rate of 3.3% and marks an increase from 254 plug-ins (1.6%) in January 2020. Despite the growth of 1,284 plug-in vehicles over six years, the town has only 6 public charging ports available.
Why it matters
The mismatch between Winchester's high plug-in adoption rate and minimal public charging infrastructure highlights a procurement gap that could inform CPO site selection and municipal charging expansion strategies. Towns with above average EV penetration but limited public infrastructure represent immediate deployment opportunities for charge point operators.
Electric Vehicles
GM US EV sales fall 62% year on year to 25,473 units in Q3 2026 after federal tax credit ended
General Motors delivered 25,473 all electric vehicles in the United States in Q3 2026, down 62% from 66,501 units in Q3 2025, according to the company's latest quarterly report. The sharp decline follows the end of the $7,500 federal tax credit in Q3 2025, which had driven record sales in that period. The Q3 2026 figures provide a 12 month view of the market impact since the incentive was withdrawn.
Why it matters
The collapse in GM EV volumes after the tax credit lapsed signals weaker near term demand for public and workplace charging infrastructure tied to these models. Fleet and site host procurement decisions may need to account for lower utilisation if OEM sales remain subdued without federal purchase incentives.
Kia expects EV3 to become its top-selling electric model in the US
Kia anticipates its EV3, launched in the US in August, will become its best-selling electric vehicle in the country, according to senior product planning manager Young Kim. The model has already achieved this status in Europe, where it was the Hyundai Motor Group's top electric seller in the first half of 2026 with 27,000 sales. The optimism contrasts with subdued rollouts of other affordable EVs, including the new Chevy Bolt, which GM said would have only a limited run to 2027, and the Nissan Leaf, which has sold just 2,318 units in the US this year.
Why it matters
Kia's confidence in the EV3 signals a potential bright spot for affordable EV demand in a market where other manufacturers are scaling back similar offerings. The model's European success and planned US expansion could influence charging infrastructure planning and procurement strategies for networks targeting mass-market EV drivers.
Grid & Energy
Pasadena Water and Power seeks lenders for 0% to 3% solar and battery loans up to $65,000
Pasadena Water and Power is tendering for banking partners to offer residential customers loans of up to $65,000 at 0% to 3% APR for solar panels and battery storage, with repayment terms of 10 to 15 years. The California utility will buy down interest rates to enable cheaper financing and plans to prioritise customers already enrolled in bill assistance programmes for lower income residents. The scheme aims to expand access to solar and storage for households facing high upfront costs.
Why it matters
The procurement creates a potential pipeline of residential solar and storage installations in Pasadena, with financing structured to reach lower income households that typically face barriers to adoption. Lenders and installers targeting utility backed programmes will want to track this tender as a model for subsidised clean energy financing in California.
Tesla secures 90% of output from 450 MW Arizona solar farm with 1.4 GWh battery storage
ContourGlobal broke ground on 6 October for Project Sterling, a 450 MW AC solar farm paired with 360 MW and 1.4 gigawatt hours of battery storage in Mohave County, Arizona, expected online in 2028. Tesla has signed a long term power purchase agreement covering around 1 terawatt hour per year, or 90% of the project's anticipated 1.1 TWh annual output. The 2,000 acre site will use over 760,000 solar panels and more than 300 lithium iron phosphate battery containers with liquid cooling.
Why it matters
Large scale battery storage paired with solar generation demonstrates the infrastructure needed to support EV charging networks with reliable, dispatchable renewable power. Tesla's commitment to procure nearly all the output signals growing corporate appetite for long term clean energy contracts that can underpin grid stability and charging uptime.