We’ve been jealous of Europe’s burgeoning electric car charging infrastructure for a while now but the U.S. is finally getting some of that sweet, sweet infrastructure of our own with six American utilities across the South and the Midwest announcing a new EV charging network called the Electric Highway Coalition.

The following American energy companies are banding together to develop this new network:

• American Electric Power
• Dominion Energy
• Duke Energy
• Entergy Corporation
• Southern Company
• Tennessee Valley Authority

The network will stretch across 16 states and connect “major highway systems from the Atlantic Coast, through the Midwest and South, and into the Gulf and Central Plains regions,” as outlined in a statement from American Electric Power (AEP), which happens to be one of the U.S’s largest electric companies.

Energy Web plans to use blockchain technology to help ensure an efficient future for Volkswagen’s electric vehicles.

Automobile makers everywhere are betting big on electric vehicles as the world begins to push for environmentally friendly modes of transportation. For example, while fewer than 1% of cars on the roads in the United States today are electric, a number of automobile manufacturers are aiming to change this by stopping sales of gasoline-powered cars. 

At the end of January 2021, General Motors said it would stop selling gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035. In addition, automakers such as Tesla, Ford, Volkswagen and even Porsche have announced plans to introduce new electric models in the coming years. At the same time, President Joe Biden recently announced an executive order to replace the U.S. government’s fleet of about 650,000 vehicles with electric models. 

The desire to move away from gas-powered vehicles is clear, but this goal may be easier said than done. Despite the potential for clean energy, major silos exist between EV solutions and global power grids today. For instance, more electric vehicles will surely result in the need for additional charging stations and careful planning from utility companies to accommodate EV requirements. As such, a digital, common frame of reference is needed to integrate EVs into global energy markets. 

Volvo launched its first fully electric car on Tuesday.

By Miguel Ángel Moreno Ramos and Jeevan Ravindran 

• Volvo announced on Tuesday that it would go fully electric by 2030 and 50% electric by 2025. 
• To celebrate the plan, the company also launched the C40 Recharge, its first fully electric car. 
• “There is no long-term future for cars with an internal combustion engine,” said CTO Henrik Green.

Volvo announced on Tuesday that it would become a “fully electric” manufacturer by 2030.

The Swedish company plans to launch a series of electric vehicles over the coming years but they will only be available for purchase online.