FibreCoat says it will unveil a next-generation composite battery-case concept for EVs at JEC World 2026 in Paris (March 10-12), developed with composite manufacturer Coleitec and engineering consultancy Forward Engineering. The company’s approach uses its AluCoat material—an aluminum-coated fiber yarn—to add conductivity and functional layers directly into the composite, rather than relying on foils, plates or sprayed coatings applied as secondary steps.
According to FibreCoat, the component integrates woven fabric made from AluCoat yarn into a composite structure produced using Coleitec’s HP-RTM (high-pressure resin transfer molding) process. The company says the material-level approach can provide integrated electromagnetic interference shielding, improved fire protection, and passive cooling effects, while reducing production steps, complexity and carbon footprint.
Multiple prototypes were manufactured on Coleitec’s industrial HP-RTM line as part of a joint development program. “During the HP‑RTM production trials, we saw how AluCoat integrates smoothly into established composite processes while adding real functional value,” said Coleitec CTO Bin Wei. “Achieving this level of functionality without changing the existing production process makes AluCoat a very strong candidate for broader industrial adoption.”
Electromobility is rapidly expanding into heavy‑duty transport, creating a need for charging technologies that can handle large battery systems. The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) addresses this challenge with a new international standard for high‑power DC charging of commercial vehicles and other large electric platforms.
As with passenger‑car charging, reliable communication between the vehicle and the charging station is essential. MCS uses ISO 15118‑20 and 10BASE‑T1S automotive Ethernet to enable this interaction, both supported by our Smart Charging Solution.
In this webinar at our March Virtual Conference on EV Engineering, presented by dSPACE, we demonstrate a complete high‑power charging process and show how the communication protocol and its connection to the charging application can be tested efficiently. The accompanying slides outline the technical background, test setup, and key challenges of megawatt charging.
Broadcast live from March 9 to 12, 2026, the conference content will encompass the entire EV engineering supply chain and ecosystem, including motor and power electronics design and manufacturing, cell development, battery systems, testing, powertrains, thermal management, circuit protection, wire and cable, EMI/EMC and more.
Battery manufacturer Electrovaya has received new purchase orders for its Infinity battery systems totaling approximately $10.5 million through its OEM sales channel.
“A Fortune 500 US-based customer” will buy Electrovaya’s Infinity battery systems to power material handling electric vehicles at multiple distribution centers.
Electrovaya says its Infinity battery systems are “engineered for demanding, high-duty-cycle applications, delivering exceptional safety, longevity and performance for industrial electric vehicle fleets.”
“Electrovaya is proud to support our customers’ shift toward safe and long-lasting energy solutions for their logistics operations,” said Dr. Jeremy Dang, Vice President of Business Development at Electrovaya. “Additional orders are also anticipated as they continue to advance their electrification strategy.”
KULR Technology Group and Texas-based drone maker Hylio have signed a joint development collaboration to design, prototype, qualify, and manufacture battery systems in Texas for Hylio’s unmanned agricultural drones.
The companies said the goal is to produce NDAA-compliant (National Defense Authorization Act) battery packs for integration into Hylio’s UAS platforms, with an emphasis on US-based supply chains and “mission-critical” architectures suited to agricultural and defense-adjacent applications. KULR said engineering, integration, and manufacturing activities are expected to be centered in Texas.
KULR also cited growing regulatory scrutiny and federal procurement standards as drivers of demand for domestically manufactured, NDAA-compliant components. The release pointed to a Research and Markets forecast projecting the global agricultural drone market will grow from $4.08 billion in 2026 to $8.65 billion by 2032.
“Domestic, NDAA-compliant energy storage is becoming a foundational requirement for advanced unmanned and defense-adjacent systems,” said KULR CEO Michael Mo. Hylio CEO Arthur Erickson said the collaboration is intended to strengthen Hylio’s supply chain and “enhance performance capabilities.”
Hitachi Energy is collaborating with Pakal Technologies to incorporate Pakal’s IGTO(t) silicon power switch into Hitachi Energy’s high-voltage power module portfolio, starting with devices used in applications including rail, renewables, energy storage and power infrastructure for AI and data centers.
The companies say the work targets a core problem in large-scale electrification: reducing losses in high-voltage power conversion. Pakal claims its IGTO(t) (Insulated Gate Turn-Off Thyristor) technology delivers about 30% lower losses than today’s widely used devices, and 30% lower conduction losses at high current and temperature than IGBTs, while remaining compatible with existing module architectures.
Pakal describes the IGTO(t) as the first new high-voltage silicon power semiconductor since the IGBT was introduced in the 1980s. At the system level, the companies say the performance gains can translate into higher power density, reduced thermal and cooling requirements, and improved efficiency.
“We are pleased to join forces with Pakal Technologies to incorporate its novel IGTO(t) within our semiconductor portfolio,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business unit. Pakal CEO Ben Quinones said the partnership provides “a long-term partner capable of scaling impact.”
It’s quick where the Crosstrek is poky, more fun to drive, and offers some off-road capability. Is it a real Subaru? That’s for shoppers to decide.
The 2026 Subaru Uncharged electric hatchback will arrive at dealers within several weeks. It’s the smallest of three EVs Subaru offers this year—along with the Solterra on sale since 2022 and the newly arriving Trailseeker. While it offers all-wheel drive, a “limited availability” base model of the Uncharted Premium powers the front wheels alone. Known for its all-wheel-drive expertise, Subaru hasn’t offered a FWD-only model in roughly 30 years. But, that one version of the Uncharted hits its mark: the EPA range rating is 308 miles, above the crucial 300-mile level.
Adding all-wheel drive lowers range, as it does on any EV; the Uncharted Sport, with AWD standard, is rated at 287 miles, while the top Uncharted GT trim falls further to 273 miles, also with AWD standard. That Uncharted Premium FWD model has a starting price of $36,445; the range-topping Uncharted GT comes in at $45,245 (both prices include a mandatory $1,450 destination fee). Importantly, that FWD base model just beats the Nissan Leaf FWD in range.
Uncharted: Crosstrek counterpart
Each of Subaru’s three EVs is roughly analogous to an existing gasoline model in the lineup: the Solterra to the Forester, the Trailseeker to the Outback, and the Uncharted to Subaru’s smallest and least expensive model, the Crosstrek (or its less butch sibling, the Impreza hatchback). Among EVs, the Uncharted’s closest competitor is the Volvo EX30 Cross Country, with the Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Nissan Leaf in the same segment but having fewer off-road chops.
The 2026 Uncharted was unveiled last July and, not to put too fine a point on it, is effectively a Subaru badge plus some very minor changes applied to the car also known as the Toyota C-HR EV. Both cars have all but identical sheet metal, and both go on sale this quarter. We spent half a day driving an Uncharted in the pleasant environs in and around Orange County, California.
Subaru’s plans for a more elaborate off-road test course were washed out, literally, by the torrential rains that pelted Southern California for days before we arrived. A substitute course bulldozed into place offered steep, muddy hillocks, and enough dips and rises to lift a wheel off the ground even with 8.2 inches of ground clearance—only 0.5 inch less than the Crosstrek, and a bit more than the corresponding Toyota C-HR at 7.3 to 8.0 inches.
It also had breakover angles that showed the usefulness of the car’s front-facing camera within the Multi-Terrain monitor view while using the off-road X-Mode drive setting. Annoyingly, that view disappeared as soon as the Uncharted went above 6 mph—apparently a Toyota safety measure—meaning drivers had to select it (a multistep sequence) before the next hill.
Fast acceleration … in a Subaru?
As the lightest Subaru EV, with a battery pack of 74.7 kilowatt-hours, the Uncharted is pleasantly quick in traffic. That contrasts with the Crosstrek, which requires the more expensive Hybrid model to offer even average performance. Off-the-line acceleration has never been a Subaru characteristic, until now. On the all-wheel-drive GT model, the company quotes a 0-to-60-mph acceleration time of 4.7 seconds, and total power between the two drive motors of 338 horsepower (250 kilowatts). The FWD Premium base model comes in at “only” 221 hp (160 kW). Like every 2026 electric Subaru model, the Uncharted will come standard with a NACS charging port.
While each of Subaru’s EVs has a very, very close Toyota sibling, the two companies have split responsibilities differently for each of the three. The powertrain, including battery pack, motors, and power electronics, fell to Toyota. But Subaru took responsibility for the all-wheel-drive system and tuning, the roadholding and ride, and several aspects of the car’s safety systems. Both companies had input into the design, and the Uncharted is built in Toyota’s Motomachi plant in Japan.
To our eyes, this entry-level Subaru EV looks like a Toyota both inside and out. The design language and some of the unexpected body accents are less off-road Subaru and more urban Toyota. Inside, the interior layout, instrument cluster, and central infotainment touchscreen are all directly traceable to current Toyota models.
The car’s 14-inch center touchscreen includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone mirroring as standard, and dual wireless phone chargers sit in the front console. Rear-seat passengers can charge their devices on a pair of USB-C ports. Wheels come in various 18- and 20-inch versions.
Is it a ‘real Subaru’—and does that matter?
But none of the Toyota flavor may matter to Subaru shoppers who assess the Uncharted. The company’s market research suggests they’re ‘Youthful Explorers’ with a median age of just 32, believe “life is about the journey”, and view owning an EV as a responsible thing to do for the environment. We’d wager Toyota’s C-HR shoppers are more urban, possibly older, and view EVs as more practical and perhaps as a way to save money on running costs.
Given the progressive, outdoorsy nature of its loyal customers, Subaru could probably have done well with EVs starting in the late 2010s. But the company is tiny by global standards, and it simply didn’t have the cash to fund its own EVs. Enter Toyota, which owns a percentage of Subaru—and has finally come around to offering multiple EV models.
So whether any given auto reviewer see the Uncharted as a genuine product of the quirky company that’s given us reliable adventure and standard all-wheel drive for 30 years, versus just a Subaru-inflected Toyota, the market will tell us how Subaru buyers view this new electric entry.
We certainly aren’t betting against this one becoming another Subaru success.
Subaru provided airfare, lodging, and meals to enable Charged to bring you this first-person drive report.
Ampere, Renault Group’s EV and software unit, has signed a joint development agreement with Basquevolt to accelerate development and validation of lithium metal-based batteries aimed at meeting “Pre-A Sample” EV prototype requirements.
Basquevolt says its lithium metal-based technology—combining a polymer electrolyte with an advanced anode—could deliver a major jump in energy density compared with today’s liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries. The companies also pointed to potential benefits including improved thermal stability and fast-charging capability, enabling more compact and lightweight packs.
The partners said the goal is to validate performance in real-world automotive conditions and move the technology toward commercial deployment in electric vehicles.
“Entering this next phase with Ampere marks a major milestone in our mission to bring polymer electrolyte technology closer to the mass market,” said Basquevolt CEO Pablo Fernández. Ampere VP Nicolas Racquet said the work will focus on “validating performance in real-world automotive conditions.”
Basquevolt also claimed its polymer electrolyte approach could simplify manufacturing, translating into about 30% lower capital investment per GWh and 30% less energy used per kWh produced compared with conventional gigafactory processes.
