We curate most relevant posts about Electrification & Battery Technology on LinkedIn and regularly share key takeaways.
In this edition, the 2026 electric vehicle infrastructure landscape is defined by a strategic pivot from hardware deployment to the active management of grid constraints, which have emerged as the primary bottleneck for site development. To bypass costly upgrades and lengthy utility queues, developers are adopting hybrid energy management systems and on-site battery storage, a shift that is particularly critical for the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) sector where 60–90% of charging occurs at private depots. Concurrently, public freight infrastructure is advancing rapidly with the standardisation of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) under IEC 63379 and the rollout of major corridor networks by partnerships such as Tesla and Pilot Flying J. Consequently, the market is prioritizing operational reliability and uptime – managed via "lights out" automation and AI – over simple charger counts, while operators face new financial challenges such as hidden costs from reactive power fees. Regionally, the European Union maintains a distinct lead over the United States regarding standardisation, interoperability, and asset utilization, driven by cohesive regulations. As the industry matures, batteries are increasingly viewed as foundational infrastructure, evidenced by the commercial rollout of vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology in 13 European markets and the use of second-life batteries to expedite grid storage commissioning. However, significant challenges persist, notably the scarcity of recycled materials required to meet 2031 EU targets and the need to secure connected assets against growing cybersecurity threats.
This podcast was created via Google Notebook LM.
