NEWSNOTES | March 7, 2025
News Notes

Listen on the Go! News Notes in Audio

Prefer to listen instead of read? Tune into the audio version of this newsletter for all the latest updates, insights, and stories - wherever you are. Hit play and stay informed.

The Mobility House, an expert in vehicle-grid integration technology, has been selected by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to lead a statewide vehicle-to-everything (V2X) program to unlock the potential of EVs as mobile energy storage. Working alongside clean energy solutions provider Resource Innovations, the two-year initiative will deploy 100 bidirectional chargers to residential, school bus, municipal, and commercial fleet participants, activating EVs as mobile energy storage assets. Prioritizing low-income and disadvantaged communities, program participants will receive the charging station equipment and installation at no cost. The program’s V2X technology will add an estimated 1.5MW of new storage capacity across the state, hopefully creating a scalable blueprint for future programs nationwide. 

Fleet electrification specialist Camber has unveiled details of their partnership with transit agency CapMetro in Central Texas, delivering 2.9 megawatts of power to their primary bus depot in Austin. A milestone in CapMetro’s ongoing electrification efforts, the two 1440kW Camber Charging Systems can charge up to 48 electric buses simultaneously. Camber is also providing support services to ensure the vehicles are well maintained and optimized for efficiency. The new charging systems are interoperable with different vehicles, building the agency’s resiliency against future changes to fleet composition or advancements in technology. Camber President, Brendan Harney, said of the endeavor: “Our partnership with CapMetro represents a significant step forward in the electrification of public transit, showcasing how charging solutions at scale can empower communities to embrace a more sustainable future without sacrificing reliability.”

If you’ve walked around Los Angeles, Phoenix, or San Francisco lately, chances are you’ve seen one of Waymo’s self-driving rideshare vehicles. The robotaxi service is logging more than 200,000 rides every week, a remarkable increase from the 100,000 weekly rides it was reporting back in August. Across its service areas, Waymo’s vehicles drive more than 1 million miles each week. These figures are expected to keep their rapid growth, as Waymo and Uber launch a partnership to offer robotaxis in Austin and Atlanta this year, with services in Miami coming early next year. 

One of the country’s largest fast-charging networks, Electrify America, has released details of their significant progress made in 2024 to expand charging and enhance customer experience. Electrify America tracked more than 16 million charging sessions last year, a 50% increase from 2023. The charging network itself grew to 4,800 DC fast chargers across 1,000 stations, with a focus on opening larger stations in convenient locations. In an effort to decrease wait times for available chargers, Electrify America is also rolling out idle fees that kick in once an EV reaches an 85% charge and hangs out over 10 minutes. 

Electric automaker Rivian is teaming up with eccentric ice cream maker Ben and Jerry’s to launch a new fleet of “scoop trucks”. Built on Rivian’s Commercial Van platform, the electric scoop trucks will debut at the upcoming South by Southwest conference before a nationwide tour. The collaboration emphasizes each company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, and the vans’ ~160 mile range is ideal for events and catering needs... or driving around town delivering ice cream. 
 

RESOURCES