Author: Daniel Brooks

Huawei expects megawatt-scale charging for commercial vehicles, wider adoption of liquid-cooled charging systems and artificial intelligence-enabled network management to shape the global charging infrastructure market in 2026, according to an industry outlook released this month. The company published its Top 10 Trends of Charging Network Industry 2026 on Jan. 16, outlining how charging networks are likely to evolve as electrification expands from passenger cars to heavy commercial transport. The analysis was presented by Wang Zhiwu, president of Huawei’s Smart Charging Network domain. Huawei said charging infrastructure will face rising technical demands as electric heavy goods vehicles move from pilot projects…

Loop Global has introduced a new technology that enables electric vehicle charging sessions to begin even when network connectivity is unavailable, targeting a persistent challenge for chargers installed in underground garages, remote locations and areas with unreliable cellular coverage. The system, called Infinity Link, allows drivers to initiate charging through Loop’s mobile app even when neither the charging station nor the user’s smartphone has an active network connection. The company said the technology is compatible with most Loop chargers already deployed, requiring no hardware retrofit in many cases. See also: Nuvei Expands Partnership With Loop Global To Boost EV Charging…

Portuguese charging solutions provider i-charging said one of its high-power chargers achieved near-continuous availability in a commercial fleet application in Switzerland, highlighting the potential reliability of electric truck infrastructure when tailored to specific operational needs. The company said its blueberry charger recorded 99.96% operational availability in 2025 during an 18-month deployment supporting an electric truck operated by Swisspor Romandie SA. The charger supports a battery-electric truck supplied by Scania used for daily delivery routes across Switzerland. See also: PostNL Sets Out Plan for Nationwide Electric Truck Charging Network According to i-charging, the installation experienced just 0.04% downtime over a 10-month…

EVgo Inc. said it is expanding its partnership with grocery retailer Kroger to install at least 150 fast electric vehicle charging stalls per year through 2035 at Kroger Family of Stores locations across the United States, extending a collaboration that began in 2022. The first site under the expanded agreement has become operational in Salt Lake City, Utah. EVgo said the rollout will cover multiple Kroger banners, including Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, King Soopers and Smith’s, with deployments planned across states such as Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Washington. See also: EVgo Accelerates U.S. Fast-Charging Rollout With Prefabricated Stations…

U.S. startup ElectricFish Energy on Tuesday unveiled a battery-powered fast charging platform at CES 2026, positioning the system as a way to overcome grid constraints that have slowed the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The company’s Turbo Charge service combines a fast charger with a built-in battery and artificial intelligence-driven energy management software, enabling charging power of up to 400 kilowatts while relying on grid connections as small as 30 kW. ElectricFish said the approach allows charging sites to be installed in four to six weeks, compared with 12 to 18 months for conventional direct-current fast chargers that often…

Blink Charging Co. said it has begun accepting cryptocurrency payments at a limited number of its U.S. DC fast-charging stations, allowing electric vehicle drivers to pay for charging sessions using USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. The Nasdaq-listed charging network operator said the initiative marks the first phase of a broader rollout and is currently available at two Blink-owned fast-charging locations in Florida. One site is located in Chipley in the Florida Panhandle, while the other is in Madison, near the Georgia state border. Blink said it plans to expand the option to additional company-owned DC…

European charging operator Allego, in partnership with real estate investment company Mitiska REIM, has opened Belgium’s largest fast-charging hub at Malinas Retail Park in the city of Mechelen, as both companies step up efforts to integrate electric vehicle charging into high-traffic retail locations. The new site comprises 24 ultra-fast charging points spread across 12 charging stations, each equipped with two connectors. Eight of the stations provide charging power of up to 300 kilowatts, while the remaining four deliver up to 150 kilowatts. All charging points support plug-and-charge functionality, enabling vehicles to begin charging automatically without additional authentication steps. See also:…

Fastned said it ended 2025 with more than 400 fast-charging locations across Europe, underscoring a rapid build-out of infrastructure as electric vehicle adoption expands across the region. The Amsterdam-based company said it now operates 406 fast-charging sites spanning nine countries — the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain and Italy — after opening 60 new locations during the year, including its first stations in Italy and Spain. See also: Fastned Expands Ultra-Rapid Charging Network In North East England With Two New Hubs Fastned’s growth has accelerated sharply in recent years. The company opened its first fast-charging…

Berlin-based eMobility specialist Hubject said it has entered strategic partnerships with Italy’s Go Electric Stations and India’s Numocity, as it seeks to accelerate global adoption of its Plug&Charge technology. Under the agreements, Hubject’s ISO 15118-based Plug&Charge solution will be integrated into the charging management platforms operated by both partners, enabling automated authentication and payment between electric vehicles and compatible charging stations without the use of apps or RFID cards. See also: Hubject Adds Shell Recharge to intercharge Platform to Expand EV Roaming in Europe In Europe, Hubject will work with Go Electric Stations to embed Plug&Charge into the Italian company’s…

GreenWay has expanded its fast-charging network in Eastern Europe, commissioning new sites in Slovakia and Poland under the European Union–backed Expand-E infrastructure programme, the company said. In Slovakia, GreenWay added 20 new fast-charging locations, including three hubs designed to accommodate electric heavy-duty vehicles. In Poland, the operator commissioned a further 48 charging parks, some of which are also suitable for electric trucks, strengthening coverage along major transport routes. See also: GreenWay to Install 368 High-Power Charging Points in Poland and Slovakia by 2025 The rollout forms part of the Expand-E project, which aimed to deploy 260 fast-charging stations with a…

Glasgow City Region has launched a tender to appoint a private charging point operator (CPO) to deliver and manage one of Scotland’s largest public electric vehicle charging networks, as local authorities step up preparations for rising EV adoption. The proposed contract would see a single operator take responsibility for installing more than 3,000 new charge points and assuming control of over 600 existing council-owned units across eight local authority areas surrounding Glasgow. Officials said the deal, backed by more than £3.6 million in Scottish government funding, would run for up to 20 years and represents the largest contract of its…

Global real estate services firm Colliers has entered into a strategic partnership with EnviroSpark to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Colliers-managed commercial properties, the companies said. Under the agreement, EnviroSpark will provide end-to-end EV charging services, including system design, installation and ongoing operations, while Colliers will integrate the offering across its portfolio of office, retail and mixed-use assets. The partnership is aimed at helping property owners respond to rising tenant demand for on-site charging and prepare assets for long-term electrification trends. The companies said the programme will offer multiple ownership and deployment models, ranging from turnkey, operator-owned installations to…

West Berkshire Council has announced plans to install more than 600 new public electric vehicle charge points across the district under a long-term partnership with charging infrastructure provider Connected Kerb, supported by funding from the UK government. The rollout will be backed by £382,000 from the Department for Transport’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, alongside private investment from Connected Kerb. The programme is aimed at improving access to EV charging for residents without off-street parking, such as those living in flats or terraced housing. See also: UK’s Connected Kerb Secures £65 Million to Expand EV Charging Network West Berkshire…

Germany’s EnBW has extended and deepened its long-standing partnership with South Tyrolean charging equipment maker Alpitronic, as the country’s largest fast-charging operator pushes ahead with the expansion of a nationwide and reliable electric vehicle charging network. Under the latest agreement, EnBW and Alpitronic will continue working together on the supply of fast-charging stations, while also entering a development partnership focused on future charging functionalities. The cooperation additionally includes a maintenance contract of up to five years, aimed at supporting the operational reliability of EnBW’s rapidly growing charging network. Financial terms and the exact number of charging stations covered by the…

The European Commission has approved a German state aid scheme worth up to €1.6 billion to support the rollout of fast-charging infrastructure for battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles along the country’s motorways, clearing the way for large-scale public funding of e-truck chargers. The approval allows Germany to proceed with subsidies for charging stations at unmanaged motorway rest areas, after Brussels assessed the plan under EU state aid rules designed to prevent market distortion and unfair competition. See also: EU Plans to Ease 2035 Combustion Engine Restrictions, Allowing Hybrids Beyond Deadline The scheme covers the deployment of up to around 1,410 charging points…

U.S. electric vehicle charging operator EVgo said more than 40% of the fast-charging stations it deployed this year were built using domestically manufactured prefabricated charging skids, a move the company says has reduced costs and shortened installation timelines. The modular approach, developed in partnership with Miller Electric Company, assembles major charging components in a factory onto a single steel-and-aluminium base before transport to site. EVgo said the method has lowered average station installation costs by about 15% and helped accelerate deployment as charging demand grows. See also: EVgo Autocharge+ Surpasses Five Million Charging Sessions “The prefabrication model is a win-win…

Ionity has expanded access to its charging service in Europe to include stations operated by fellow ChargeLeague members Fastned, Electra and Atlante, allowing drivers to charge across the combined network without switching apps. Pricing, however, continues to vary by provider, tariff and country. ChargeLeague, formerly known as Spark Alliance, was established earlier this year with the aim of enabling customers of one charging provider to use the networks of others seamlessly. The first phase of integration was rolled out in July, when the four founding members—Electra, Ionity, Fastned and Atlante—began displaying each other’s charging locations in their respective apps. See…

Hubject has integrated Shell Recharge into its intercharge roaming platform, expanding access to public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across Europe and enabling drivers to use Shell’s charging network through a single access method. The integration allows eMobility service providers and EV drivers to access Shell Recharge stations using existing RFID cards, key fobs or mobile applications, without the need to create separate accounts or subscriptions. Hubject said the move is intended to simplify cross-border EV charging and reduce fragmentation within Europe’s charging ecosystem. See also: Hubject Expands Plug&Charge and eRoaming Across Europe Through Partnerships with Electra and eONE By…

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has secured £1.6 million in funding from the UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to support the rollout of more than 800 public electric vehicle charging points, aimed primarily at residential areas without off-street parking. The project will be delivered in partnership with charging infrastructure provider Connected Kerb, which was selected following a procurement process launched in January 2025. Under a 15-year contract, Connected Kerb will provide private investment alongside the public funding to install a total of 826 charging sockets across the borough. Installation work is scheduled to begin in January 2026,…

SWTCH Energy has expanded into Canada’s single-family residential market with a new home charging program that monetizes electric vehicle (EV) charging through federal carbon credits. The Toronto-based company will offer qualified homeowners a Level 2 charger at no upfront cost and share revenue generated from Clean Fuels Regulation (CFR) credits linked to residential charging activity. The program centres on SWTCH’s ability to aggregate carbon credits created by home charging sessions and sell them to obligated parties such as fuel suppliers. Homeowners receive a payment of C$0.03 per kWh, which the company estimates could amount to between C$100 and C$150 per…