Daily EV news · US · 30 October 2026
EV Charging
Los Alamos County to open new DC fast charging stations at Mesa Public Library with ribbon cutting on 2 November
Los Alamos County has invited the community to a ribbon cutting ceremony on 2 November marking the opening of new Direct Current (DC) fast charging stations in the Mesa Public Library parking lot. The project was funded in part by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). County Sustainability Manager Angelica V. Gurule described the stations as a step toward expanding public EV charging infrastructure and supporting more sustainable transport in the community.
Why it matters
This is another example of state transport funding supporting municipal DC fast charging at public civic sites, a route that can open opportunities for CPOs and installers working with local authorities. The announcement gives no figures on charger count, power output or funding value, so those details would need to be confirmed directly.
Green Rain Energy Holdings Reports Three Completed EV Charging Projects in New York and California
Green Rain Energy Holdings has highlighted three completed EV charging projects across New York and California. The company says it is expanding its infrastructure through strategic partnerships and channel collaborations. The input gives no figures on charger counts, power levels or project values.
Why it matters
A small developer pointing to delivered sites in two major US markets suggests it is positioning itself for partner led work, which may matter for those scouting delivery partners. Without disclosed capacity or contract details, buyers should seek project specifics before drawing conclusions.
Blink Charging renames itself Blink Energy as it expands into energy management and battery storage
Blink Charging is changing its name to Blink Energy to reflect a move into energy management and battery energy storage, according to a report posted on 30 October 2026. The company operates more than 48,000 networked EV chargers worldwide, and its EnergyConnect platform is deployed at 52 Blink-owned DC fast charging sites, 26 of which use load management. Early utility billing data shows billed peak demand falling 23% at one site within the first month, and Blink plans to roll EnergyConnect out to customers in the US and Europe.
Why it matters
A large charger network operator is now packaging load management and storage as a product, which gives site hosts and CPOs another route to add chargers within existing electrical capacity and to cut demand charges. Buyers should treat the 23% figure as a single-site early result and ask for broader performance data when comparing vendors.
Waymo robotaxis crowd public EV chargers in San Diego, drawing resident complaints and calls for regulation
San Diego drivers report finding public charging stations occupied by Waymo driverless vehicles since the fleet's official launch in September, with testing vehicles appearing months earlier. One Mach-E driver waited an hour last month, and another resident says he sometimes waits more than half an hour, with one account describing three Waymos in a four-space station. Local politicians are calling for more regulation of automated vehicles, according to the report on how California is working out rules for AI-enabled bots.
Why it matters
Robotaxi fleets are becoming heavy users of limited public charging, creating friction with private drivers and drawing political attention to site access. CPOs and procurement teams may need to consider fleet-specific capacity, pricing and dwell-time policies, as well as the risk of regulation shaping how shared sites are allocated.
Half Moon Bay switches public EV charging from hourly fee to per kilowatt hour rate
Half Moon Bay, California, replaced its $1 per hour fee at city operated EV charging stations with a 48 cents per kilowatt hour rate from 1 November, following City Council approval on 6 October. The change means a 20 kilowatt hour session costs $9.60 and a 50 kilowatt hour session costs $24. City officials said the hourly fee, set in 2015, no longer covered electricity, network services, maintenance and transaction costs, and the new pricing aims to reduce reliance on general fund subsidies, though it may not eliminate the operating deficit.
Why it matters
The shift from time based to consumption based pricing reflects growing pressure on municipal charge point operators to recover costs as networks mature. Half Moon Bay's move signals that early subsidy models are giving way to tariffs that better align revenue with actual energy delivery and infrastructure expenses.
Electric Vehicles
Electrek Podcast covers Rivian earnings, Waymo and Toyota partnership, and Ford's V2H plan for the Fathom pickup
In its weekly Friday show, live at 4 p.m. ET on YouTube, Electrek discusses Rivian's earnings, Waymo partnering with Toyota, and Ford betting on vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology for the Fathom electric pickup truck. The episode is archived on YouTube and podcast apps after the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET. The excerpt gives no figures from the earnings or the partnerships.
Why it matters
Ford positioning V2H as a feature of an electric pickup suggests bidirectional charging is moving into mainstream US vehicle offers, which could shape future demand for compatible home and site hardware. The excerpt gives no detail, so buyers should check the full coverage before acting on it.
Toyota reveals five lifted Woodland concepts, including the bZ electric SUV
Toyota has introduced a family of lifted, adventure-ready Woodland concepts based on the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, Grand Highlander, Sienna, Crown Signia and bZ electric SUV, designed by its North American studio CALTY Design Research. All five share Horizon Blue paint, a lift kit, large over-fenders, satin-black wheels, All-Terrain tires, two-tone roof and hood, and a roof rack with cross bars. Toyota already sells Woodland versions of the RAV4, Sienna, bZ and Grand Highlander, and says the electric bZ concept extends the theme into its battery electric future, as it chases the profitable US off-road market.
Why it matters
A mainstream manufacturer positioning an electric SUV and a plug-in hybrid for off-road and adventure use points to drivers who may charge away from home and on longer routes. CPOs and site developers may want to consider destination and rural locations when planning for this segment.
Fiat Topolino launches in the US at $14,985, with a free upgrade due this fall to meet Low Speed Vehicle rules
Stellantis began selling the 2026 Fiat Topolino through select US dealerships on 7 July 2026 at $14,985 including destination. It ships capped at 19 mph, which confines it to private property, but a free dealer-installed package due by the end of summer or fall 2026 raises the limiter to 25 mph and adds a rearview mirror with display, a backup camera and an acoustic pedestrian warning system. The upgrade also triggers VIN assignment and road-use labelling, with Stellantis reimbursing dealers for the labour.
Why it matters
A sub-$15,000 electric quadricycle gaining Low Speed Vehicle status points to a new class of small EVs on US roads, which could shape demand for low-power and destination charging. Timing depends on the fall upgrade, so any near-term charging plans should treat road-legal volumes as not yet confirmed.
Ford reportedly plans to replace the petrol Escape with an electric Escape as US EV news builds
Automotive press rumours say Ford will replace its Escape crossover SUV with an electric version that keeps the Escape name, which is unusual because retiring models normally lose their names. The piece says US EV sales fell sharply last autumn after the "OBBA" tax bill removed federal EV tax credits, but did not stop, helped by a wave of off-lease used EVs, Subaru's continued new EV plans and plug-in hybrids acting as a gateway. It also notes recent news including Slate Auto opening its first showroom in Chicago and General Motors unveiling its gen-4 EV platform, as Election Day 2026 approaches.
Why it matters
A major manufacturer carrying a mainstream nameplate into an electric version suggests continued confidence in US EV demand despite the loss of federal tax credits. For CPOs and procurement teams, a growing pipeline of new models, used EVs and plug-in hybrids points to a broadening base of drivers needing charging, though the piece offers no volume figures.
Analysts Reprice Major US Stocks After Tech Earnings Sell-Off
US futures fell on Halloween Eve as the Nasdaq dropped almost 2.5% after a broad sell-off in which all major indices ended lower. Alphabet was the main drag after its weakest third-quarter results in years, closing at $283.82, down 12.64%, while Intel fell towards $68.26 in pre-market trading after its forward guidance disappointed despite beating estimates. The article, a market roundup for investors rather than a charging-sector report, also covers upgrades and downgrades across Boston Scientific, DoorDash, GE Vernova, Honeywell Aerospace, Incyte, Reddit and Rivian Automotive.
Why it matters
Mega-cap tech volatility and analyst rating changes can shift capital availability and investor appetite for growth and infrastructure stocks, including EV-related names such as Rivian, which may affect funding conditions for charging operators and their partners.
LiveWire warns of survival doubts despite 38% revenue rise as cash falls to $39.9 million
Harley-Davidson spin-off LiveWire has issued a going concern warning and withdrawn its 2026 financial guidance, despite third quarter revenue rising 38% to $7.9 million and motorcycle unit sales up 21%. The electric motorcycle maker's cash reserves fell from $82.8 million at end 2025 to $39.9 million by 30 September 2026, with an $18.6 million net loss in the quarter. The company has formed a restructuring committee to explore financing, partnerships or a sale ahead of launching its sub $5,000 S4 Honcho series.
Why it matters
The financial distress at a prominent electric vehicle brand highlights ongoing capital challenges in the EV sector, particularly for niche manufacturers attempting mass market expansion. For charging operators, LiveWire's potential exit or restructuring could signal broader consolidation pressures among smaller EV makers that influence infrastructure demand forecasts.
Grid & Energy
Revised Texas transmission plan could affect 4,200 landowners, up from 2,800, while sparing a billionaire's ranch
Oncor and the Lower Colorado River Authority have proposed a roughly 200-mile transmission project linking Temple to Schleicher County, according to Texas Monthly as reported by The Cool Down. The March draft could affect 4,200 landowners, compared with 2,800 under a June 2025 proposal, and route segments rose from about 80 to 171. Every proposed crossing of the 20,000-acre Los Valles Ranch, owned by Energy Transfer Partners CEO Kelcy Warren, was eliminated, and owners could contest compensation but not stop the route.
Why it matters
The plan is meant to supply oil facilities and data centres in the Permian Basin, so large new loads are competing for grid capacity and routing goodwill in Texas. CPOs and developers should expect landowner opposition and fairness disputes to shape how quickly grid upgrades reach the sites they are planning.
US homeowner faces $250 inspection fee and UL equipment rules for DIY battery backup despite no grid export
A US homeowner planning a budget battery backup system for their 200 amp service panel encountered unexpected costs and regulatory requirements, including a $250 interconnection inspection fee, mandatory UL rated equipment, and formal drawings, even though the system would not export power to the grid. The case, shared on Reddit's r/SolarDIY community, highlights how local city and utility requirements can add complexity and expense to residential energy storage projects, with users advising separate checks of both city permitting rules and utility interconnection policies.
Why it matters
The case illustrates regulatory friction points for residential battery storage installations in the US, where permitting and inspection fees can deter DIY and budget projects even when systems remain isolated from the grid. For installers and equipment suppliers, it underscores the need to educate homeowners on the full scope of compliance costs beyond hardware, which vary significantly by jurisdiction and utility.