Three major transportation firms are set to work with one another on the development of a European charging network for “battery electric heavy-duty long-haul trucks and coaches.”
In a joint announcement earlier this week, Volvo, Daimler Truck and the Traton Group said they had signed a non-binding agreement related to the installation and operation of the network. The goal is to set up a joint venture that all three firms would own an equal part of, with operations slated to commence in 2022.
Together, the companies are set to invest 500 million euros (around $593 million) in the joint venture, which would be based in the Dutch city of Amsterdam.
It’s hoped that, within five years of the JV being set up, at least 1,700 “green energy charging points” will have been installed and functioning. The tech, the firms said, is set to be located “close to highways as well as at logistic and destination points.”
“The number of charging points is with time intended to be increased significantly by seeking additional partners as well as public funding,” they added.
Change on the cards, but challenges ahead
In April, the International Energy Agency said that, globally, the number of electric cars, buses, vans and heavy trucks on roads was expected to hit 145 million by 2030.
According to the Paris-based organization, if governments ramp up their efforts to meet international energy and climate goals, the global electric vehicle fleet could increase further still, hitting 230 million by the end of the decade. Both of these projections exclude two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles.
As the number of EVs on our roads increases, extensive charging networks will need to be rolled out for all types of vehicles to meet increased demand and dispel lingering concerns around “range anxiety” — the notion that EVs aren’t able to undertake long journeys without losing power and getting stranded.
The electrification of long-haul, heavy-duty trucks and coaches poses its own set of unique challenges. As the IEA’s Global EV Outlook for 2021 notes, “long-haul trucking requires advanced technologies for high power charging and/or large batteries.”
Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Wednesday, Volvo’s chief technology officer, Lars Stenqvist, sought to explain why a charging network for heavy duty vehicles was needed.
“Right now, we are producing and distributing electric heavy duty trucks mainly for refuse applications, for city applications,” he said. “And those vehicles, normally they’re coming home to their ‘base camp’ every evening for charging.”
Stenqvist said the next step on the journey would be regional and long haul applications.
“Then, you are dependent on … [getting] the pan-European charging network in place and, right now, it’s a little bit of [a] chicken and egg discussion because there are no vehicles out there and … no infrastructure. But if there is no infrastructure, there will not be any vehicles.”
In terms of how the project would operate on the ground, Stenqvist explained it would be a “public, open network — so whatever make can charge their vehicles in this network.”
Later on in the discussion, Stenqvist stressed the importance of differentiating between vehicles. “We are talking about really high capacity chargers here and that is one of the reasons why we are not using, and cannot use, the car charging network … not from a performance perspective and of course also not from a … layout perspective.”
Tennessee EV charging infrastructure developer PowerUp America just ordered a minimum of 100 new DC fast chargers in Q3 from Kempower, the Finnish company with a manufacturing hub in North Carolina.
PowerUp America, a relatively new player in the DC fast-charging station scene, is preparing to launch its first-ever DC fast-charging station in Kentucky by the end of the year.
These chargers are headed to NEVI-funded sites, which means they must all comply with the Build America, Buy America rules. PowerUp America posted on X/Twitter in October that the 400 kW chargers were already rolling off Kempower’s manufacturing line.
🚀 ROLLING OFF THE LINE IN NORTH CAROLINA!
Our Kempower DC Fast Chargers are officially off the manufacturing floor and ready to power the road ahead. ⚡
Here’s where they’re going, in addition to the fast charging station in Manchester, Kentucky: five new stations in Tennessee and two in Virginia. That Kentucky site features amenities such as pull-through stalls for easy towing, a full turning radius, a canopy for shade and weather protection, and on-site facilities (likely including snacks and restrooms – you know the drill).
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Each charger will offer both CCS1 and NACS connectors and will support tap-to-pay or app-based payments.
Josh Turner, CEO of PowerUp America, said, “Every new site is more than just a charger; it’s an investment in local economies, workforce development, and the transportation future we’re building across the Southeast.”
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Hyundai’s at it again. The automaker is extending its IONIQ 5 lease offer, keeping one of the most affordable EV deals in the US alive at just $189 per month.
Hyundai extends IONIQ 5 lease deal for $189 a month
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is one of the most popular vehicles in the US, and for good reason. Hyundai updated it for the 2025 model year with more driving range (up to 318 miles), a revamped look inside and out, and a built-in NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers.
Hyundai was also offering IONIQ 5 leases as low as $189 per month, making it one of the most affordable options for those looking to go electric.
The offer was set to end on November 3, but Hyundai has extended it for at least another month. Through December 1, you can still lease a 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD for just $189 per month for 36 months. With $3,999 due at signing, the effective cost is about $300 a month.
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2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited (Source: Hyundai)
That’s still a pretty good deal, considering the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select RWD is listed for lease at $219 a month for 24 months. With $4,499 due at signing, the effective cost is $406 a month, or over $100 more than the IONIQ 5.
Upgrading to the IONIQ 5 SEL RWD with 318 miles of range costs just $50 more per month. The offer is listed at $239 for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing, or an effective rate of $350.
Hyundai reduced prices on the 2026 model year by nearly $10,000 on some trims after the federal tax credit expired at the end of September.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim
Driving Range (miles)
2025 Starting Price
2026 Starting Price*
Price Reduction
IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range
245
$42,600
$35,000
($7,600)
IONIQ 5 SE RWD
318
$46,650
$37,500
($9,150)
IONIQ 5 SEL RWD
318
$49,600
$39,800
($9,800)
IONIQ 5 Limited RWD
318
$54,300
$45,075
($9,225)
IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD
290
$50,150
$41,000
($9,150)
IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD
290
$53,100
$43,300
($9,800)
IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD
259
$55,500
$46,275
($9,225)
IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD
269
$58,200
$48,975
($9,225)
2025 vs 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 prices and range by trim
The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was listed for lease starting at $289 per month, but that offer also ended on November 3. Hyundai has yet to update lease offers for the new model. We’ll keep you updated as soon as it’s posted.
Hyundai’s electric SUV remains one of the most affordable EVs in the US, alongside the Chevy Equinox EV and new Nissan LEAF.
For those looking for a spacious, efficient, reasonably priced SUV, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is still worth checking out.
Polestar is about to make staying on course and finding your exit on the highway a lot less stressful. The EV maker is rolling out Google Maps’ new live lane guidance feature right onto the 10.2-inch driver display in the Polestar 4 – and it’s the first car brand to do so.
If you’ve ever missed an exit because you couldn’t get over in time, this one’s for you. Google Maps’ feature uses in-car AI to determine exactly which lane you’re in by analyzing road elements like road signs and lane markings from one of the Polestar 4’s forward-facing cameras. Then, it gives you visual and audio reminders to change lanes in time. No more guesswork, no more “oh no, that was my exit” moments.
You’ll see every possible lane highlighted for your route, along with a clear indication of which one you’re in. It’s designed to calm the chaos of multi-lane driving, especially in rush-hour traffic or sprawling interchanges.
Sid Odedra, Polestar’s head of UI/UX, says of the company’s latest collaboration with Google: “Live lane guidance continues the path of Polestar’s driver-centric UX strategy, reducing driver stress and improving safety by making missed exits and last-minute lane changes much less of a worry.”
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The feature is coming first to Polestar 4 drivers in the US and Sweden “in the coming months,” via an over-the-air update. It’ll hit more markets and road types after that.
Google Maps’ Andrew Foster says this is just the next chapter in a partnership that began with the Polestar 2 in 2020, when it became the first car to ship with Google-built-in software. “Now, Polestar 4 will be the first to integrate our groundbreaking live lane guidance, which will help people drive with even more confidence.”
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