USA Rare Earth acquires Less Common Metals to accelerate its mine-to-magnet strategy

USA Rare Earth (USAR) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire UK-based rare earth metal and alloy producer Less Common Metals (LCM).

The acquisition secures USAR’s access to high-quality rare earth metal and strip cast alloy for its global customers and the development of its Oklahoma magnet facility.

Under the terms of the deal, USAR will acquire LCM for $100 million in cash and 6.74 million shares of USAR common stock. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

LCM produces light and heavy rare earth permanent magnet metals and alloys at scale at its 67,000 square foot production facility in Cheshire, UK. It also benefits from an established supply of raw materials outside of China. The company is one of the few producers capable of processing metal oxide feedstocks from mined and recycled sources.

LCM closes the loop for USAR’s in-house processing of recycled rare earths. USAR will be able to reuse end-of-life magnets and its own swarf generated during magnet production, providing access to alternative low-cost sources of feedstock.

LCM will be able to continue to expand and serve its global customer base with a broad portfolio of rare earth and critical metals and alloys, while also supplying neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) metal and strip cast alloy to USAR’s Stillwater, Oklahoma magnet facility when it starts production. LCM’s metals and alloys are used in the manufacturing of advanced magnets for customers across EV, automotive, industrial, defense and other sectors in the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Taiwan.

LCM has previously announced a planned expansion into France supported by the French government under the 2030 France investment plan.

“Midstream metal making is the linchpin of the global supply chain and LCM is the only proven ex-China producer of rare earth metal, alloys, and strip casting at scale,” said Michael Blitzer, Chairman of USA Rare Earth. “The combination of USAR-LCM will establish rare earth metal making in the United States for the first time in decades, as we move quickly to integrate these capabilities in Stillwater, Oklahoma to provide all of the feedstock for the buildout of our 5,000-ton magnet production facility. Our ambition is also to expand LCM’s capabilities in both the United Kingdom and Europe.”

Source: USA Rare Earth

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Argonne scientists develop protective coating to boost solid-state battery stability

Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have developed a method to coat sulfide-based solid electrolytes to improve chemical stability and reduce manufacturing costs.

The process uses atomic layer deposition (ALD) to apply a protective layer of aluminum oxide onto the electrolyte particles. This coating improves stability by acting as a shield and modifying the surface’s electronic structure.

In tests under conditions where there were levels of high humidity and oxygen, the coated electrolytes outperformed uncoated electrolytes, remaining stable with little degradation. This addresses a key challenge for solid-state batteries, as electrolytes can break down when exposed to humidity and oxygen. This is particularly the case for high-performance, sulfide-based solid electrolytes such as lithium phosphorus sulfur chloride (LPSCl), according to the researchers. Producing solid-state batteries using these materials requires maintaining a dry room below -40° C, which drives up production costs.

“Our research shows that even a very thin coating—just a few nanometers thick— can act as a strong barrier, keeping the electrolyte intact and boosting its performance,” said Argonne Materials Scientist Justin Connell. “This breakthrough can extend battery life and lower manufacturing costs by allowing production in less controlled environments.”

The research team is working to scale up this method and is collaborating with a commercial partner to produce larger quantities of the coated electrolyte for demonstration in larger-format batteries. Future research will focus on exploring other coating chemistries.

Source: Argonne National Laboratory

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John Deere introduces all-electric Gator GX and GX Crew utility vehicles

Utility vehicles are used by commercial and residential property owners, farmers, maintenance crews and others for all kinds of light-duty hauling applications, transporting people, tools, landscape materials and debris. They aren’t golf carts, although they may be seen on golf courses, transporting groundskeepers and their equipment around the greens.

US manufacturer John Deere makes a vast variety of light off-road vehicles, from utility vehicles tractors to golf carts to lawn mowers, and the company is gradually electrifying each of these market segments.

Now John Deere is expanding its Gator utility vehicle lineup with the introduction of the all-electric Gator GX and GX Crew, built for “reliable and quiet performance in residential, rural and light-duty commercial jobs.”

The two Gators are designed to offer “a comfortable and quieter operating experience, compared to gas or diesel utility vehicles.”

The GX model seats two. The GX Crew seats four, and boasts additional storage and fold-down rear seats.

Both models include multiple cargo and storage areas, high-back ergonomic seating, canopy protection from sun and rain, and optional attachments including a lighting kit and a JDLink M modem for connectivity and fleet management. 

A 51 V lithium-ion battery delivers instant torque and smooth acceleration. Like all EVs, the electric Gators have fewer moving parts compared to their fossil-burning ancestors, and this translates to a simpler maintenance schedule. No oil changes or belt replacements are necessary, which “significantly reduces upkeep and increases uptime.”

“The Gator GX lineup offers property owners the opportunity to increase productivity around their properties with less noise, less maintenance and more versatility,” said John Deere Go To Market Manager Eric Halfman. “These utility vehicles are intuitive and durable while offering users the comfort, reliability and convenience they expect from a John Deere Gator.” 

Source: John Deere

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Orange EV yard dogs surpass 10 million hours of operation

Orange EV, a manufacturer of Class 8 all-electric terminal trucks, has announced that its deployed fleet has surpassed 10 million hours of operation across 340 fleets.

“This milestone confirms Orange EV as the most proven and widely adopted heavy-duty EV in North America, delivering reliability, savings, and sustainability at scale, while setting new standards for uptime, longevity and savings,” said the company.

Orange delivered its first truck in 2015. Since then, it has deployed more than 1,600 trucks across 40 US states and 4 Canadian provinces.

Several units have surpassed 30,000 hours of operation and remain in service. Some of them are approaching a decade of use while still running on their original lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs, the company said, adding that no Orange EV battery has experienced a thermal event. “This level of durability sets a new standard for what fleets should expect from their equipment.”

Earlier in the year, the company announced a new 7.5-year, 30,000-hour warranty for its terminal trucks.

Terminal trucks, which are also referred to as terminal tractors, as well as by several more colorful names including yard trucks, yard dogs, yard mules and, in the United Kingdom, terminal lorries, are semi-tractor vehicles designed to move semi-trailers within a warehouse facility, cargo yard or intermodal facility.

Source: Orange EV

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THOR Industries introduces PHEV Class A motorhome, built on Harbinger’s electric chassis

Recreational vehicle maker THOR Industries has introduced a new plug-in hybrid Class A motorhome, the Embark, manufactured by Entegra Coach.

The Embark is built on an EV platform developed exclusively for the THOR family of companies by Harbinger Motors. THOR and Harbinger have been working together to develop the platform since 2022, and released some new technical details in April.

The Embark’s center-mounted 140 kWh battery pack delivers 105 miles of electric range—plenty for shorter trips or daily exploration. For longer hauls, it also incorporates a low-emission gasoline range extender that brings total range up to 450 miles.

Embark’s 800-volt electrical architecture allows for rapid charging at DC fast charger locations. The battery pack can also be charged using the traditional power hookups available at most campsites. The motorhome can serve as a mobile energy backup system to power a home in the case of a power outage.

Standard safety features include a backup camera with dynamic trajectory, front and rear ultrasonic collision warnings, and real-time tire pressure monitoring.

“Electrification will play a central role in the future of mobility, including RVing,” said THOR Industries President and CEO Bob Martin. “This first-of-its-kind [electrified] Class A motorhome reinforces THOR’s innovation leadership and offers unapparelled product differentiation for the Entegra Coach brand.”

Embark is now available for orders, and full production is to begin in 2026. Consumers interested in trying an electrified motorhome will be able to rent an Embark from THL in 2026. Entegra Coach plans to use consumer feedback from THL’s rental fleet to make continuous product improvements throughout 2026.

“The Embark will go through extensive consumer testing through the rental market prior to production next summer,” said Ken Walters, CEO of Entegra’s parent company Jayco. “We want to be sure that it offers everything a customer expects from an Entegra Coach motorhome.”

Source: THOR Industries

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Stagecoach Midlands opens up its electric bus depot chargers to local truck fleets

UK bus and coach operator Stagecoach has partnered with e-fleet solutions provider VEV to create a microgrid-based commercial EV charging hub at Stagecoach’s bus depot in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Now the companies have announced the successful delivery of the companies’ first third-party charge.

The Nuneaton depot boasts 45 high-powered EV chargers and a new solar power system, supported by VEV’s smart charging and digital energy management platform. Stagecoach plans to give other businesses access to its charging infrastructure during off-service hours, creating a secondary income stream while helping to advance transport decarbonization. Stagecoach and VEV successfully tested the system with an electric HGV, setting the stage for more third-party charging. 

“This is a huge step forward for the team as we continue to test and refine our offer before rollout more broadly,” said Marvin Smith, Head of Solutions Sales at Stagecoach. “What we’re building is truly unique, with wide bays that offer plenty of space for large vehicles, clean infrastructure and no queues.”

This milestone forms part of a wider regional electrification project from VEV to support the introduction of 150 new electric buses across depots in Leamington, Nuneaton, Rugby and Chesterfield. In addition to the new chargers, solar power generation has been installed at Chesterfield, Leamington and Nuneaton, reducing reliance on the national grid.

Source: VEV

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