EDTA EV 2 Report January 2026

Top Story

IEA report highlights EVs' impact on auto industry

The global automotive industry is undergoing changes due to the rise of electric vehicles, per an International Energy Agency report, with global car sales reaching nearly 80 million in 2024, driven by a 30% increase in hybrid and electric vehicle sales. Legacy regions like Europe, Japan, Korea and North America retain dominance in internal combustion engine components, while China leads in battery-related manufacturing. The sector also is seeing divergence in technology choices and market priorities, with manufacturing increasingly concentrated in regional clusters and shaped by proximity and scale.

Full Story: EV Magazine (1/15)

Technology

LFP batteries surpass nickel-based EV batteries in use

Lithium-iron phosphate batteries saw rapid growth in 2025, with global demand increasing by 48%, RhoMotion reports. The surge enabled LFP to overtake nickel-based chemistries as the leading choice for electric vehicle batteries worldwide, with growth especially strong in China, Europe and parts of Asia, driven by LFP's lower costs and advancements that helped narrow the performance gap with traditional batteries. North America saw a dip in LFP adoption due to tariffs and sourcing restrictions.

Full Story: InsideEVs (1/20), EV Magazine (1/20)

DuPont boosts EV battery performance with adhesives

DuPont is advancing electric vehicle battery performance through its Battery Technology Center of Excellence in Michigan. The company is focusing on adhesives that enhance thermal management and structural integrity, such as thermally conductive systems and BETAMATE 2090 structural adhesive, which is used by Volkswagen. "As battery pack designs start to converge, there's a need for innovation in battery thermally conductive adhesives, as well as a combination with thermally insulating adhesives," says Tyler Auvil, DuPont's R&D director, adhesives.

Full Story: PlasticsToday (1/20)

Policy

Calif. utilities launch EV incentive programs for low-income

California utilities are launching initiatives to make electric vehicles more affordable. Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Gas & Electric plan to provide preloaded debit cards for public EV charging to households that qualify for public assistance.

Full Story: Government Technology (1/16)

Infrastructure

Kroger, EVgo to add 150 fast-charging stalls per year

Kroger and EVgo have partnered to add thousands of DC fast chargers at Kroger stores nationwide over the next decade, with the first site operational in Salt Lake City. EVgo will build at least 150 fast-charging stalls per year through 2035 at Kroger, Foods Co., Fred Meyer, Fry's Food Stores, Harris Teeter, King Soopers, and Smith's Food and Drug locations. Each station will feature as many as 16 high-power stalls.

Full Story: InsideEVs (1/16)

Va. city adds chargers as part of bus electrification

Alexandria, Va., is taking steps to electrify its bus fleet by adding in-route overhead charging and constructing a facility with as many as 24 overhead chargers. The initiatives, in partnership with ABM, aim to extend the operational range of electric buses and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Full Story: Smart Cities Dive (1/16)

Supply Chain

Mercedes-Benz ramps up US EV production

Mercedes-Benz is increasing electric vehicle production at its Tuscaloosa, Ala., plant despite a 54% drop in US sales of its EQ lineup last year. The plant, which has been assembling the EQS SUV since 2022, uses advanced automation and robotics to enhance efficiency.

Full Story: Autoblog (1/21)

Energy and the Environment

Managed EV charging cuts costs for utilities, ratepayers

Active managed charging can reduce per-vehicle charging costs by at least 25% and delay distribution grid upgrades, according to a Brattle Group report. The report, prepared for EnergyHub, finds that active managed charging can more than double the electric vehicle hosting capacity of the distribution grid compared with unmanaged charging or time-of-use rates.

Full Story: Utility Dive (1/21)

Hot Topics

EV adoption nears tipping point in many countries

AZO Cleantech (1/12)

Porsche Engineering taps AI to boost EV range

Electrive (Germany) (1/9)

Voltpost, EVSE scale up lamppost EV charger

Electrek (1/9)

GWM's twin-turbo V-8 bucks China's EV trend

Autoblog (1/9), CarNewsChina (1/6), Car and Driver (1/8)

US automakers adding energy storage to their lineup

CNBC (1/15)