Capable of delivering up to 1,200 kW of power to get electric commercial trucks back on the road in minutes, the new ABB MCS1200 Megawatt Charging System is part of an ecosystem of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) that ABB’s bringing to this year’s ACT Expo.
UPDATE 03MAY2025: ABB reads Electrek (see above).
So, in fun news, the team at ABB reads Electrek (as they should), and were eager to talk to us about that “Goldilocks” post about matching charge time to the preferred customer experience. That idea isn’t just something ABB can get on board with – it’s at the core of their new, modular EV charging infrastructure.
“With our new interface, we make it easy to customize the charging experience for the CPO and the customer,” explained an ABB engineer, who walked me through the new EVSE’s backend on the show floor (paraphrased). “The users can pay with a card, with an app, or an RFID – and you can program what that experience is like, even prioritizing certain members or giving others free or discounted charging.”
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There’s a lot to unpack there, including the ability to provide priority charging to certain vehicles (like police or emergency service EVs) to get them back on the road faster. In the next few days, we’ll have ABB President, Brandt Hastings, on Quick Charge to walk us through more of those features and how they come together to deliver a better charging experience.
Stay tuned for that, and check out the original article, below.
New 1.2 MW truck charger; via ABB.
ABB E-mobility is using the annual clean trucking conference to showcase the expansion of its EVSE portfolio with three all-new charger families: the field-upgradable A200/300 All-in-One chargers, the MCS1200 Megawatt Charging System for heavy-duty vehicles shown (above), and the ChargeDock Dispenser for flexible depot charging.
The company said its new product platform was built by applying a computer system-style domain separation to charger design, fundamentally improving subsystem development and creating a clear path forward for site and system expansion. In other words, ABB is selling a system with both future-proofing and enhanced dependability baked in.
“We have built a system by logically separating a charger into four distinct subsystems … each functioning as an independent subsystem,” explains Michael Halbherr, CEO of ABB E-mobility. “Unlike conventional chargers, where a user interface failure can disable the entire system, our architecture ensures charging continues even if the screen or payment system encounters issues. Moreover, we can improve each subsystem at its own pace without having to change the entire system.”
The parts of ABB’s new EVSE portfolio that have been made public so far have already been recognized for design excellence, with the A400 winning the iF Gold Award and both the A400 and C50 receiving Red Dot Design Awards.
New ABB chargers seem pretty, good
ABB’s good-looking family; via ABB.
ABB says the systemic separation of its EVSE enhances both reliability and quality, while making deployed chargers easier to diagnose and repair, in less time. Each of the chargers’ subsystems can be tested, diagnosed, and replaced independently, allowing for quick on-site repairs and update cycles tailored to the speed of each systems’ innovation. The result is 99% uptime and a more future-proof product.
“The EV charging landscape is evolving beyond point products for specific use cases,” continued Halbherr. “By implementing this modular approach with the majority of our R&D focused on modular platforms rather than one-off products … it reduces supply chain risks, while accelerating development cycles and enabling deeper collaboration with critical suppliers.”
Key markets ABB is chasing
HVC 360 Charge Dock Dispenser depot deployment; via ABB.
PUBLIC CHARGING – with the award winning A400 being the optimal fit for high power charging from highway corridors to urban locations, the latest additions to the A-Series All-in-One chargers offer a field-upgradable architecture allowing operators to start with the A200 (200kW) with the option to upgrade to 300kW or 400kW as demand grows. This approach offers scalability and protects customer investment, leading to Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) savings over 10 years.
PUBLIC TRANSIT AND FLEET – the new Charge Dock Dispenser – in combination with the already in market available HVC 360 – simplifies depot charging with a versatile solution that supports pantograph-, roof-, and pedestal charging options with up to 360kW of shared power and 150m/490 ft installation flexibility between cabinet and dispensers. The dispenser maintains up to 500A output.
HEAVY TRUCKS – building the matching charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles and fleets represents a critical innovation frontier on our journey to electrify transportation. Following extensive collaboration with industry-leading truck OEMs, the MCS1200 Megawatt Charging System delivers up to 1,200kW of continuous power — 20% more energy transfer than 1MW systems — providing heavy-duty vehicles with purpose-built single-outlet design for the energy they need during mandatory driver breaks. To support other use cases, such as CCS truck charging, a dual CCS and MCS option will also be available.
ABB says that the result of its new approach are chargers that offer 99% plus uptime — a crucial statistic for commercial charging operations and a key factor to ensuring customer satisfaction. The new ABB E-mobility EVSE product family will be on display for the first time at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo (ACT Expo) in Anaheim, California next week, then again at Power2Drive in Munich, Germany, from May 7-9.
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The bright yellow D6 XE dozer might look like your everyday medium-class dozer, but underneath that vibrant bodywork it’s hiding a highly efficient electric drive system that Cat says makes it the most advanced hybrid dozer on the market.
Operating more like an extended range EV (EREV) than a conventional hybrid, the D6 XE runs a Cat C9.3B diesel engine that operates as an electrical generator, feeding power to electric motors that drives the dozer’s tracks directly. The result is instant torque, smooth, high-precision controls, and 35% better fuel efficiency (and, as a consequence, significantly lower emissions) compared to the diesel-only D6T.
35% is big in a segment where equipment can and do regularly burn 25 gallons of red dye diesel per day, and that number only gets bigger when you factor in the oil and maintenance costs saved from ditching the conventional transmission altogether. Combined with the reduced number of moving parts and reduced metal fatigue from vibration-free running, and Cat estimates its D6 XE electric drive operators are saving over $1/hour of operation in rebuild savings, alone — that’s a game-changing number!
“(A full rebuild) can be up to roughly 60 percent of new machine price,” says Sam Meeker, marketing professional at Caterpillar, citing the need for a typical rebuild at the 10,000- to 15,000-hour mark. “So you could be getting a half-price dozer for that second life.”
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Turbo encabulator
CAT electric drive; via CarolinaCat.
First introduced in 2018, the newly updated Cat D6 XE features a switched reluctance electric motor and generator instead of the previous, permanent magnet system used in the first-gen Caterpillar electric-drive machines. The newer drivetrain is more power-dense and efficient, and makes for a generator that doesn’t require a massive, maintenance-intensive cooling system.
“We like to run this machine at a lower RPM, not only for fuel efficiency, but then it allows us to lug up into a load,” adds Meeker, hyping up the big hybrid dozer. “So when we pull the load on, instead of the tractor lugging down, it actually increases the RPM and the power output, maintaining that consistent torque … we only make as much power as we’re going to use, and we generate less heat than previous designs.”
In a bid to encourage more operators to give their electric drive models a try, Caterpillar is offering on-demand learning resources through its online platform, catoperatortraining.com. Designed to be accessible any time and from any device, Cat’s is particularly valuable for operators, whether they’re digital natives or just learning how to navigate new technologies. The company is also partnering with global equipment rental fleets like Plantforce in the UK, which (if nothing else) is absolutely phenomenal at taking pictures of heavy equipment.
Electrek’s Take
While there are a lot of people outside the urban construction space who may scoff at environmental concerns, the quest for improved efficiency and cost reduction among commercial fleet managers knows no political ideology. Add in more restrictive noise regulations and the side benefits of improved job site safety and fewer sick days, and electric equipment is a no-brainer.
Simply put: If it’s better or cheaper, fleets will buy it. If it’s better and cheaper, they’ll buy two — and electrically driven heavy equipment assets are proving to be consistently better, in a broader scope of use cases, than diesel alone.
A report this morning detailed American EV automaker Rivian’s plans to lay off a portion of its current workforce as it tries to conserve cash while gearing up for the launch of its newest model, the R2, next year.
Not much backstory here, so we’ll get right into it.
A report from the Wall Street Journal this morning shared brief details of Rivian’s layoff plans, which could affect approximately 4% of the current staff. At the end of 2024, Rivian’s workforce tally sat around 15,000 people, so the reported layoff could affect as many as 600 individuals, possibly more.
Other outlets have pointed out that EV automakers like Rivian have faced a tougher market following the end of the $7,500 federal tax incentive. While that may be true to a certain extent, most of Rivian’s R1 variants didn’t qualify, unless it was a lease, and the automaker has deployed its own incentive programs.
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In fact, Rivian’s Q3 2025 deliveries exceeded expectations. It remains speculative at this point until we receive an official statement from Rivian explaining the plans to lay off staff, but this could be a preemptive decision based on market forecasts.
Furthermore, Rivian is closer than ever to launching R2 in 2026, which has the makings of becoming a bestseller in the EV industry if sales match a mere portion of the hype surrounding it. The layoffs could also be a lean-down to conserve funds through the home stretch of that development process before beefing back up again in 2026 or 2027 when demand is (ideally) higher.
We really do not and will not know the reasoning behind the decision until Rivian shares more information.
We reached out to Rivian for comment and were told the automaker will have more to share this afternoon. We will update this story as new information becomes available.
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Hyundai will reveal the refreshed electric fastback at the LA Auto Show next month. Ahead of the event, the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 was caught rocking a sleek new facelift in the US.
Hyundai will reveal the IONIQ 6 facelift in November
Hyundai’s electrified streamliner is undergoing its first major refresh since it first launched in September 2022. Although the IONIQ 6 was expected to be Hyundai’s answer to the Tesla Model 3, it hasn’t quite lived up to the hype.
Last year, Hyundai sold just 12,264 IONIQ 6s in the US. That’s less than the nearly 13,000 it handed over in 2023.
The IONIQ 5, on the other hand, has remained one of the most popular EVs alongside the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Chevy Equinox EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Honda Prologue.
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Like the 2025 IONIQ 5, Hyundai gave its electric fastback a facelift, a built-in NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers, and a bigger battery to extend driving range.
After launching the 2026 IONIQ 6 in South Korea in July, Hyundai will introduce the updated US model at the LA Auto Show next month.
The new Hyundai IONIQ 6 (Source: Hyundai Motor)
Although we’ve seen plenty of the same web-generated images floating around, the new and improved IONIQ 6 looks way better in person.
The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 was spotted on public streets in California rocking a stylish new look ahead of its official debut.
Hyundai said it “enhanced every line and detail to make the IONIQ 6 simpler and more progressive,” after unveiling the design at the Seoul Mobility Show earlier this year.
The video from KindelAuto gives us a clear look at the redesign. Hyundai tweaked the front end, which was often the most criticized part, with a new hood and updated fascia.
In South Korea, the 2026 IONIQ 6 is now the longest-range domestically made electric vehicle, with up to 350 miles (562 km) of driving range.
We will learn prices, driving range, and other details at the LA Auto Show next month. The event starts on November 21, but the media and press day kicks off the day before on November 20, 2025. Check back soon for the full rundown.
The new Hyundai IONIQ 6 N Line (Source: Hyundai)
The 2025 IONIQ 6 already has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 342 miles. With Hyundai’s fourth-gen batteries, we could see the 2026 model arrive with around 350 miles of range. It will also feature an NACS port for the first time.
Hyundai also plans to introduce the IONIQ 6 N in early 2026. The sporty model packs nearly 650 horsepower (478 kW), good for a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint in just 3.2 seconds.
With the updated 2026 models arriving, Hyundai is offering some sweet deals on its current EV lineup. The 2025 IONIQ 6 is available for lease starting at $229 per month, or you can take advantage of 0% APR or a $7,500 cash bonus. Looking for something bigger? The 2025 IONIQ 5 may be an even better bet with up to $11,000 in bonus cash. Check out our links below to find Hyundai vehicles in your area.
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