Daily EV news · US · 15 October 2026
EV Charging
Arlington County proposes 72% rise in EV charging tariff to 30 cents per kilowatt hour
Arlington County Board in Virginia is considering raising its public EV charging rate from 17.46 cents to 30 cents per kilowatt hour, a roughly 72% increase, to cover higher energy costs and capital recovery. The new rate would lift the cost of driving 100 miles from between 4.37 and 10.48 dollars to between 7.50 and 18 dollars, depending on vehicle efficiency. County staff say the proposed tariff aligns with rates at government owned stations in Fairfax County and Prince William County and remains below most commercial rates in the region, with the measure listed on the County Board's 17 October consent agenda.
Why it matters
The proposal illustrates how public sector charge point operators are adjusting tariffs to reflect rising energy and infrastructure costs, a trend that may influence pricing strategies across municipal networks. For procurement teams and CPOs, the move signals that cost recovery pressures are prompting local authorities to benchmark against neighbouring jurisdictions and commercial operators when setting rates.
Vandals cut cables at eight EV chargers in Sioux Falls, causing $20,000 damage
Eight electric vehicle charging stations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota were vandalised over the weekend of 11 October, with charging cables cut and total damage estimated at approximately $20,000. Sioux Falls Police Department is investigating the incident at West 26th Street and South Marion Road, with Crime Stoppers offering up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests.
Why it matters
Cable theft and vandalism represent a growing operational risk for charge point operators, driving up maintenance costs and reducing site uptime. The incident underscores the need for enhanced security measures and vandal resistant hardware in public charging deployments.
CES warns infrastructure and funding gaps slow UK commercial EV adoption
CES has stated that infrastructure and funding shortfalls continue to hinder commercial electric vehicle adoption in the UK. Fleet operators require depot charging solutions and clearer government guidance on available funding support to accelerate the transition.
Why it matters
Depot charging infrastructure remains a critical procurement priority for fleet operators, while funding uncertainty affects investment decisions and project timelines for charge point operators serving the commercial sector.
Electric Vehicles
Slate Auto opens first showroom in Chicago for $24,950 electric pickup truck
Slate Auto has opened its first Slate Experience Center at 1053 W. Grant Ave in Chicago, where customers can view and test drive its $24,950 electric pickup truck. Unlike Rivian, Tesla and Lucid, Slate is not building owned service centres, instead partnering with RepairPal to vet independent repair shops. The company declined to share plans for future showroom locations or expansion timelines.
Why it matters
The asset light retail model could influence how emerging EV makers approach physical infrastructure investment, potentially reducing capital requirements for market entry. For charging operators, understanding where new EV brands establish customer touchpoints helps identify future fleet concentration areas for site planning.
Smart unveils all-electric #2 two-seater with 180 mile range and 65 kW DC charging for under $23,000
Chinese automotive company Smart revealed the all-electric Smart #2 at the Paris Motor Show, reintroducing its ultra-small two-seater EV format. The vehicle offers up to 180 miles of WLTP range from a 35.8 kilowatt hour LFP battery with a 60 kilowatt rear motor, and DC fast charging tops out at 65 kW, enabling 10% to 80% charging in about 20 minutes. Early European orders open on 13 October with deliveries scheduled for 2027, priced under $23,000.
Why it matters
The Smart #2's compact form factor and sub $23,000 price point could expand the addressable market for urban EV charging infrastructure, particularly in dense city centres where space constrained vehicles dominate. Its 65 kW DC fast charging capability represents a doubling of power versus many existing city car models, potentially influencing minimum power specifications for urban rapid charging tenders.
Sakuu prints 100% dry carbon fibre battery cell on Kavian platform
Sakuu has produced a fully functional 0.5 Ahr lithium ion battery cell using 100% dry anode and cathode with metal free carbon composite and polymeric current collector technology on its Kavian manufacturing platform. The company says the cell is immune to thermal runaway, lightweight, and made from globally available materials, addressing safety and scalability challenges in battery manufacturing. Sakuu positions the dry printed carbon fibre cell as suitable for transportation and energy storage applications where structural integrity and flexibility are required.
Why it matters
Dry processing and metal free architectures could reduce manufacturing costs and supply chain risks for battery procurement, particularly for EV and stationary storage projects requiring safer, lighter cells. The technology's claimed immunity to thermal runaway may influence safety specifications in future charging infrastructure and fleet tenders.
US police departments adopt e-bikes with federal Justice Assistance Grant funding
Police departments in the United States are increasingly using electric bicycles for patrols, with federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding supporting purchases. Clinton Police Department and County Sheriff's Office received five Recon Power Bikes capable of 20 mph speeds and 50 mile range, already deployed for two weeks. The bikes enable officers to patrol trails, parks and areas inaccessible to patrol cars.
Why it matters
Federal criminal justice funding is creating procurement opportunities for e-bike suppliers targeting law enforcement applications. The trend demonstrates how grant programmes can drive adoption of electric mobility solutions in public sector fleets beyond traditional vehicle categories.
Xtracycle Swoop ASM cargo e-bike review highlights Shimano automatic shifting and UL-listed components
A review of the Xtracycle Swoop ASM cargo e-bike, a Class 3 model capable of 28 mph, features Shimano's EP6 Cargo mid-drive motor with a 630Wh battery offering up to 60 miles of range. The bike includes Shimano's automatic electronic shifting system and UL-listed motor and battery components. The review, published by an electric bicycle journalist with over a decade of experience testing cargo e-bikes, describes the Swoop ASM as potentially the best cargo e-bike tested to date.
Why it matters
While primarily a consumer product review, the emphasis on UL-listed electrical components reflects growing safety standards in the e-mobility sector that may influence procurement specifications. The cargo e-bike segment's technical evolution, including automatic shifting and extended range capabilities, signals maturation in last-mile and micro-mobility solutions that could inform fleet purchasing decisions.
Rivian expands Redwood Materials partnership to recycle battery scrap and power Illinois plant with repurposed packs
Rivian has extended its partnership with Redwood Materials to include battery production scrap alongside end-of-life battery packs for recycling. In return, Redwood will provide energy storage for Rivian's Normal, Illinois factory using repurposed battery packs from Rivian vehicles. The expanded deal builds on an April agreement under which Redwood deployed 10 megawatt hours of battery energy storage at the plant, which produces the R1T, R1S, R2 and electric vans.
Why it matters
The partnership demonstrates a circular economy model for EV manufacturing that could reduce material costs and grid dependency for production facilities. Redwood's ability to integrate various battery types into energy storage systems may offer a template for other OEMs seeking to manage battery waste and factory energy needs.
FedEx orders 2,000 electric delivery vans from Harbinger in US$300 million deal
US logistics giant FedEx has placed an order for 2,000 medium duty all electric delivery vans from US manufacturer Harbinger, valued at over US$300 million. All vehicles are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027 for deployment across FedEx pickup and delivery operations in the US and Canada. Harbinger estimates each electric truck will reduce fuel costs by an average of US$20,000 annually compared with the conventional diesel vehicle it replaces.
Why it matters
This major fleet procurement signals growing confidence in electric commercial vehicles at scale, with clear operational cost savings driving the business case. The order provides a significant revenue pipeline for Harbinger and demonstrates how large logistics operators are committing to electrification timelines through the mid 2020s.
Grid & Energy
California home batteries deliver record 745 MW to grid in Sunrun and Tesla virtual power plant
Residential battery systems operated by Sunrun and Tesla supplied 745 MW of power to the California grid on 6 October, setting a new US record for distributed residential energy resources. The previous record of 669 MW had been set just one day earlier. Thousands of home batteries discharged stored solar energy during evening peak demand hours, functioning as a coordinated virtual power plant at the request of distribution utilities.
Why it matters
The deployment demonstrates how aggregated home storage can provide grid services at utility scale, potentially reducing the need for centralised peaking infrastructure. For charge point operators and energy managers, it signals growing competition for evening grid capacity and highlights the role of distributed assets in balancing renewable intermittency.
DTE Energy signs data centre deals with Oracle and Google, adding 2.4 gigawatts of load
DTE Energy has secured 2.4 gigawatts of signed data centre agreements with Oracle and Google, with a further five to six gigawatts of opportunities in the pipeline, according to 24/7 Wall St. The Michigan utility reported second quarter operating earnings per share of $1.32, beating the $1.1354 estimate, and management says the company is on track for the high end of its 2026 guidance of $7.59 to $7.73. DTE completed construction of Cold Creek Solar Park on 1 October.
Why it matters
Large data centre loads create sustained demand for grid capacity and generation, driving utility capital expenditure and long term power purchase agreements. The Oracle and Google deals position DTE to capture a significant share of Michigan's data centre growth, with the signed 2.4 gigawatts representing a material addition to the utility's load base.