NEWSNOTES | August 11, 2025
News Notes

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GM Breaks EV Sales Record
General Motors sold over 19,000 EVs in July, led by the Chevrolet Equinox EV, which became the top-selling non-Tesla electric vehicle in U.S. history, driven by affordability, range, and rising demand among younger buyers.

America’s EV Charger Deployments Skyrocket in Q2
So far in 2025, the U.S. has seen a record surge in EV charger deployment, on-track to deploy over 16k new public fast-charging ports — led by Tesla, ChargePoint, and EVgo. Despite political headwinds and slowing EV sales, the charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly, marking a 20% year-over-year growth and signaling strong industry resilience and commitment to electrification.

New Audi Electric Sports Car Coming Soon?
Audi plans to unveil a mid-priced electric sports car at the Munich Motor Show, signaling a bold new design direction. CEO Gernot Döllner describes it as a “TT moment 2.0,” positioned between the TT and R8, aiming to become a new identity builder for the brand.

BYD Continues to Reach New Milestones
BYD has reached a major milestone by selling over 13 million new energy vehicles (NEVs), solidifying its dominance in China’s EV market. In February alone, BYD sold more than 300,000 units, marking a 160% year-over-year increase, along with a 128.5% year-on-year growth in exports.

Chevy Silverado Reaches 1k+ Miles on a Single Charge
GM engineers achieved 1,059 miles on a single charge in a Silverado EV — more than double its EPA-rated range of 493 miles. This hypermiling feat involved meticulous planning, optimized driving strategies, and vehicle modifications, including tire pressure adjustments, weight reduction, and alignment tweaks. The test, conducted as a team-building exercise, showcased the potential of EV efficiency when driven with precision.

Tesla Semi Completes Pilot Programs
Tesla’s all-electric Semi truck completed successful pilot programs with ArcBest and thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services, logging over 9,000 miles in real-world conditions. With ArcBest, the truck averaged 321 miles per day with an energy efficiency of 1.55 kWh per mile. Drivers praised its comfort, safety, and ease of use while companies highlighted its sustainability and operational benefits.

CALSTART Members Driving the Transition to ESBs
CALSTART Members A-Z Bus Sales, The Mobility House, NV5, and Blue Bird are part of Turlock Unified School District’s (TUSD) plan of transitioning to a fully electric fleet by 2035. TUSD recently added nine electric buses along with solar-powered charging infrastructure. The Mobility House played a key role by providing a charge management system that prioritizes solar energy use, reducing grid reliance and long-term costs while supporting sustainable school transportation.

Location! Location! Location!
A recent survey by Konect reveals that EV drivers are willing to pay significantly more for convenient and reliable charging. Nearly 93% would accept higher costs to avoid detours, with an average 63% price premium. “This survey makes one thing clear: people don’t just want fast charging, they want fast access to charging,” said Merrick Glass, Managing Director at Konect. “It’s not solely about charging speed anymore, it’s about where the chargers are, how easy they are to reach, and what the experience feels like when you get there.” In addition to proximity and reliability, amenities like WiFi and clean restrooms were found to be important to drivers when they were making their charging location choice.

ZM Trucks Plant Opening
Join ZM Trucks to celebrate the opening of their manufacturing plant in Fontana, CA, on Thursday, August 28th, from 4 pm to 6 pm! Festivities include the opportunity to tour the facility, learn more about ZM Trucks, and enjoy appetizers and refreshments.

• Where: ZM Trucks Regional HQ – 10271 Almond Ave, Fontana, CA 92335
• When: Thursday, August 28th, 4pm-6pm (Open House 12pm-2pm)

RESOURCES

• GM breaks EV sales record, Equinox EV becomes top-selling non-Tesla model in US, CBT News
• America's EV Charging Network Is About To Skyrocket, InsideEVs
• Audi Teases Mid-Priced Electric Sports Car, Kelley Blue Book
• BYD Reaches 13 Million NEV Milestone, The EV Report
• GM Engineers Just Drove a Chevy Silverado EV 1,000+ Miles on a Single Charge, The Drive
• Tesla's all-electric Semi completes major real-world pilot programs: 'Matched the performance of its diesel counterparts', The Cool Down
• California’s TUSD Electric Bus Fleet Expands with Solar Charging Infrastructure, The Buzz EV News
• EV Drivers Will Pay for Convenience, The EV Report