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Hydrogen-electric plane aviation technology developer ZeroAvia is exploring a form of energy-dense fuel to develop aircraft that can refuel faster and potentially fly farther. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with hydrogen tech startup Verne to co-develop the plane integrations.

Following a series of milestones in the past decade, ZeroAvia sits closer than ever to delivering commercial operations of hydrogen-electric planes en route to its goal of achieving a 40- to 80-seat aircraft with up to 700 miles of range by 2027.

We’ve already seen the company achieve experimental flight certificates from the CAA in the UK and the FAA in the US, and it’s been one year since it completed its first flight with a 19-passenger hydrogen-electric plane.

September 2023 brought several new partnerships and a fresh round of funding led by Airbus, Barclays, and Saudi Arabia’s “living laboratory,” NEOM. In late November, ZeroAvia announced a deal to provide up to 70 zero-emission planes to sustainable startup airline EcoJet, which looks to become the world’s first all-electric airline.

As more and more airlines take notice of the viable solutions hydrogen and electric planes can provide, ZeroAvia is now optimizing its technology to provide aircraft that can refuel faster, cheaper, and fly farther. To do so, it has enlisted the help of hydrogen fuel specialist Verne.

Hydrogen plane
Source: Verne / verneh2.com

ZeroAvia taps Verne to optimize its hydrogen planes

Per news from ZeroAvia today, it has signed a MOU with Verne to jointly explore the potential of cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2) as a viable source of zero-emissions fuel for planes. Verne currently operates as a hydrogen storage and refueling startup focused on heavy-duty mobility.

Verne specializes in cryo-compressed hydrogen, which stores gaseous hydrogen at cold temperatures, thus increasing the fuel’s energy density. Through its research, Verne states CcH2 can deliver 40% greater usable hydrogen density compared to liquid hydrogen and 200% percent more usable hydrogen density than (350 bar) gaseous hydrogen.

In addition to providing a more extended range to ZeroAvia’s future electric planes, Verne says cryo-compressed hydrogen can significantly reduce densification costs and refueling times compared to liquid hydrogen while increasing dormancy time and potentially eliminating any need for pressure management, e.g., venting. Per Verne co-founder and CEO Ted McKlveen:

Aviation is a massive potential market for Verne, as it becomes clear that hydrogen is critical to tackling the industry’s climate impact.  Airports can be centers of hydrogen activity, with co-located hydrogen demand for aircraft, airport ground operations, and on-road commercial transportation. Cryo-compressed hydrogen has a key role in optimizing this ecosystem.

Verne has already developed systems that can deliver 4 MWh of hydrogen storage, backed by several grants, including Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund. Following today’s partnership announcement, ZeroAvia will work alongside Verne to assess the potential benefits of scaled CcH2 storage and refueling infrastructure at airports. That process will begin with an initial model implemented at airports in California.

As ZeroAvia and other electric plane developers look to take to the skies in more extensive and efficient vessels, cryo-compressed hydrogen could serve as the novel technology for those planes. This is an exciting development as aviation accounts for 10% of all US transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 3% of the US total emissions, per the EPA.

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GM is adding NACS to its EVs, and new adapters in the meantime

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GM is adding NACS to its EVs, and new adapters in the meantime

Starting with the 2026 Cadillac Optiq, all future GM EVs will have a built-in NACS port, including the new Chevy Bolt. In the meantime, GM introduced several new charging adapters for current Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC EV owners.

GM launches new NACS adapters for EVs

You know how the iPhone seems to get a new plug every year? GM compared the transition to NACS to the evolution of USB-C in smartphones and laptops and the HDMI standard for TVs.

With a similar movement with EV charging transitioning to the NACS standard, GM aims to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Starting with the 2026 Optiq, Cadillac’s new entry-level electric SUV, all future GM EVs will be equipped with an NACS charge point as standard. And yes, that does include the upcoming 2027 Chevy Bolt EV, which is expected to make its official debut by the end of the year.

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The company introduced four new chargers this week to “help ensure that every customer can navigate this transition,” including NACS-to-CSS, CSS-to-NACS, and several others.

2026-Cadillac-Optiq-EV
2026 Cadillac Optiq EV (Source: Cadillac)

GM’s new adapters are mainly designed to help drivers access Tesla’s Supercharger Network. However, the company is also offering an adapter for NACS-equipped EVs to connect to its Level 2 PowerShift home charger. Another adapter for NACS-equipped models enables vehicle-to-home (V2H) capabilities.

The new adapters are in addition to the NACS DC Adapter that GM began selling last year, so drivers could use Tesla Superchargers.

To help you understand which adapter you need, GM has created a helpful graphic. Although it may seem like a lot, the new adapters are really just designed to help current owners get the best charging experience while GM works to add native NACS ports to all its upcoming EVs.

GM-NACS-adapters-EVs
GM electric vehicle adapters (Source: GM)

With over 46,000 electric vehicles sold in the second quarter, GM is starting to chip away at Tesla’s dominant lead in the US. Thanks to the new Equinox EV, or “America’s most affordable 315+ range EV,” Chevy became the fastest-growing electric vehicle brand in the US earlier this year.

With leases starting at just $279 a month, the Chevy Equinox EV is hard to pass up right now. If you want to test out one of GM’s electric vehicles for yourself, you can use our links below to find Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC EVs near you.

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ChargePoint + Eaton’s Express Grid amps up DC fast charging

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ChargePoint + Eaton’s Express Grid amps up DC fast charging

ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT) and Eaton just unveiled ChargePoint Express Grid, powered by Eaton, a V2X‑ready ultrafast EV charging platform with full‑site power gear that pushes passenger EV charging up to 600 kW and brings megawatt‑level power for heavy‑duty fleets.

What it is

  • Express Grid integrates ChargePoint’s Express DC fast chargers with Eaton’s power infrastructure.
  • It’s designed to overcome grid constraints and make it easier and cheaper to roll out high‑power charging as more EVs hit the road.
  • The system is V2G‑enabled and can sync onsite renewables, energy storage, and EV batteries with local energy markets to help fleets cut fueling costs. With participating utilities and at scale, it can also help balance the grid.

How it works

  • Eaton custom engineers each Express configuration and ships the site‑ready power package, with an optional skid‑mounted setup to speed installation, trim equipment needs, and simplify connections to the grid and distributed energy resources (DERs).
  • Eaton plans to commercialize solid‑state transformer technology in the next year through its acquisition of Resilient Power Systems to support DC applications for the EV market and beyond.

ChargePoint CEO Rick Wilmer said the new ChargePoint Express architecture, particularly the Express Grid variant, will “take DC fast charging to levels of performance and cost not previously imagined.” He added, “Combined with Eaton’s end-to-end grid capabilities, ChargePoint is delivering solutions to help EVs win on pure economics, regardless of tax incentives or government support.”

Eaton’s Paul Ryan, vice president and general manager of energy transition, called it “industry‑changing technology” that can be deployed faster while achieving new levels of reliability and efficiency “at a significantly lower cost.”

Express solutions are available to order for select customers in North America and Europe, with deliveries beginning in the second half of 2026.

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Quick specs

  • Platform: ChargePoint Express Grid, powered by Eaton
  • Capability: V2X (with integrated V2G)
  • Power: Up to 600 kW for passenger EVs; megawatt‑level for heavy‑duty
  • Deployment: Site‑ready power package; optional skid‑mounted configuration
  • Grid/DER: Built to sync renewables, storage, and vehicle batteries with local energy markets
  • Timeline: Orders open (select customers, North America & Europe); deliveries start H2 2026

Read more: Home charging rules as global EV ports soar to 206 million by 2040


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A Chinese robot vacuum maker is not only trying to build luxury EVs, but compete with Bugatti

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A Chinese robot vacuum maker is not only trying to build luxury EVs, but compete with Bugatti

Only in China can a company specializing in robot vacuums be bold enough to design, manufacture, and sell EVs. Additionally, China is the only place where such a business could actually work. A company named Dreame Technology is transcending smart appliances and wants to deliver ultra-luxury BEVs. Better still, it’s already targeting Bugatti as its main competitor. Dreame big!

Dreame Technology was founded in 2017 with the goal to, per its website, “revolutionize daily life for our global consumers.” Dreame currently offers a number of electronics that do just that, including robot vacuums, robotic pool cleaners, and hair dryers.

Over the last eight years, Dreame has accumulated manufacturing know-how and its team understands much of the technology behind electric mobility, but does that mean it’s capable of transitioning into a bona fide BEV automaker?

We saw Chinese smartphone behemoth Xiaomi, announce a similar strategy back in 2021. Now, a mere four years later, Xiaomi Automobile’s two flagship BEVs are among China’s most sought-after, and the company is setting world speed records with its technology.

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Dreame Technology has likely drawn some inspiration from Xiaomi, but its automotive development plans actually predate the company’s existence. Today, the robot vacuum maker has already assembled a massive team to “Dreame up” its first all-electric model—one it says will compete against the Bugatti Veyron.

robot vacuum
Dreame’s current product offering / Source: Dreametech.com

From robot vacuums to luxury EVs? Meet Dreame

As reported by CnEVPost, Dreame Technology officially announced its entry into the ultra-competitive BEV industry in China, beginning with an ultra-luxe model planned for a 2027 debut that will compete against the Bugatti Veyron.

The flagship EV from the robot vacuum developer will be powered by Dreame super motors as well as an intelligent ecosystem that differs from traditional luxury vehicles, enabling “seamless integration” with user smart homes and smartphones. Per Dreame Technology:

Today, Dreame officially announces its entry into automotive manufacturing to build the world’s fastest car.

While Dreame’s decision to evolve beyond robot vacuums and pool cleaners into BEVs may seem hasty, the company explained that its plans for vehicle development actually date back to 2013, four years before the current iteration of the company was established.

Per the company, it has already assembled an automotive team of nearly 1,000 people, which it will continue to expand as development of its flagship BEV model continues. The company added:

We may not be the earliest to embark on this journey, but we will be the most determined.

What do you guys think? Can a robot vacuum company deliver the world’s fastest BEV? Can it even deliver an all-electric model that can compete in China’s saturated market? Xiaomi did it, so there’s hope. This will be a developing story to keep an eye on.

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