TransnetBW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, VinFast, Audi and more

TransnetBW and Mercedes-Benz have trialed a new system designed to intelligently control charging infrastructure. The project aims to adjust the charging times of electric vehicles based on power consumption and network capacity. The transmission network operator, TransnetBW, connected 140 charging points for electric cars and plug-in hybrids at Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen, Germany to the network status indicator of their own “StromGedacht” app and has tested the feasibility of intelligent network stabilization over recent months. The app informs its users about the status of the electricity network in the German federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and sends push notifications indicating when it is advisable to adjust power usage. For businesses and smart home users, TransnetBW offers a free data interface (API), as in the pilot project with Mercedes-Benz, where the charging points automatically reduced the load during strained network situations, thus contributing to the stabilization of the power grid.

Honda plans to double its investments in electrification and software development to approximately 60 billion euros by 2030. These investments are intended to support the development of electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems, strengthening Honda's position in the market for sustainable mobility. By 2030, Honda aims for 40 percent of its global auto sales to come from electric vehicles and to produce more than 2 million electric cars annually. Starting in 2026, Honda plans to launch seven models of its new electric vehicle generation, the 0 Series, worldwide. Moreover, the company announced ten electric models for China by 2027, focusing particularly on the Ye vehicle series.

Vietnamese electric car manufacturer VinFast has secured Bosch as a partner to expand charging infrastructure across Europe. Bosch will provide VinFast with charging systems and technologies to promote the proliferation of electric vehicles in Europe. As a result, VinFast users will have access to a network of 700,000 charging points across 30 European countries. Drivers will soon be able to locate charging stations, initiate the charging process, and make payments either through the VinFast app or directly through the vehicle's infotainment system. In North America, VinFast has already maintained a charging infrastructure partnership with Bosch for two years.

Audi and Chinese automaker SAIC have announced plans to launch their first joint electric vehicle by 2025. The vehicle will be based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) and is being specifically developed for the Chinese market. Both companies have now signed a cooperation agreement and a contract for joint development of the "Advanced Digitized Platform." Details about the platform and the upcoming model are yet to be announced.

Nissan has revised its strategy for launching electric vehicles in the U.S. Originally scheduled to start production of electric sedans in 2025, these plans have been repeatedly postponed, most recently to November 2026. According to an internal memo, Nissan has paused the development of its EV sedans and now plans to introduce a new electric crossover SUV into its model lineup.

A Nissan spokesperson told Reuters that the schedule for launching five new models is being adjusted to ensure the vehicles are introduced at the right time. The SUV models are expected to hit the market faster than the sedans. Initially, both an electric sedan and a crossover SUV were planned under the Nissan and Infiniti brands.

Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese battery cell manufacturer and partner of Volkswagen, has unveiled a new fast-charging 5C battery set for mass production. According to the company, the G-Current battery can be charged to 80% in 9.8 minutes and to 90% in 15 minutes. This battery can be used in various vehicles, from fully electric cars to hybrids, and supports different cell chemistries such as LFP, LMFP, and NCM. The 5C battery allows for charging power equivalent to five times the energy content, which means a 50 kWh battery can support a maximum charging power of 250 kW.

Additionally, Gotion also introduced a cylindrical NCM Stellary battery with high nickel content designed to provide high energy density and range. This battery can be charged from 10% to 70% in just nine minutes, enabling 350 km in five minutes and 600 km in ten minutes.

The company also announced a new all-solid-state battery technology named Gemstone, which aims to achieve an energy density of 350 Wh/kg, 40% higher than traditional NMC batteries.

Electric two-wheeler manufacturer Horwin has introduced a new electric scooter named SK3 Plus, which features a mid-motor with a peak power of 8.64 kW. The scooter is capable of reaching speeds up to 100 km/h and is powered by two 45 Ah batteries, achieving a range of about 130 kilometers. A full charge takes approximately 4.5 hours.

According to media reports, Hyundai plans to launch its first hydrogen supercar in 2026, which will be an advanced version of the Hyundai N Vision 74 hydrogen fuel cell hybrid concept introduced in July 2022.

The refreshed VW Golf is now available as a plug-in hybrid. VW offers two PHEV variants, the Golf eHybrid and Golf GTE, with up to 143 km and 131 km of electric range, respectively.