Sow Good, a candy maker, acquires Tanzania’s Nachu graphite project to pivot battery materials

Sow Good Inc., a Nasdaq-listed freeze-dried candy and snack company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Nachu Graphite Project in Tanzania in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $107 million. If it closes, the transaction would pivot the company into critical minerals and battery anode materials.

The Nachu Project is an advanced-stage open-pit graphite development located in the Ruangwa District of southern Tanzania, about 220 km by road from the deep-water port of Mtwara. According to Ryzon’s JORC Code 2012 studies—which Sow Good has not independently verified—the project hosts a mineral resource of 174 million tonnes at 5.4% total graphitic carbon (TGC) and an ore reserve of 76 million tonnes at 5.2% TGC. Designed processing capacity is 5 million tonnes per year of run-of-mine ore, yielding approximately 236,000 tonnes per year of graphite concentrate at 98.5–99.0% TGC purity via flotation alone, without chemical purification. Reported mine life is 15.5 years.

The project holds full permits and a Special Economic Zone license in Tanzania but has not commenced construction or production. Ryzon has disclosed a binding offtake agreement with an unnamed US Tier-1 EV and ESS manufacturer; Sow Good says it has not independently verified the terms or current status of that agreement and that re-confirming it will be a priority post-close.

The deal is paid entirely in Sow Good shares, based on a 10-day VWAP of US$0.3209. Closing requires Sow Good shareholder approval, Tanzanian regulatory clearances and other conditions. The company says there is no assurance the transaction completes.

The supply chain backdrop is real. China controls approximately 70% of global natural flake graphite production and more than 95% of spherical and coated graphite anode processing—concentration that IRA Foreign Entity of Concern provisions and the EU Critical Raw Materials Act are specifically designed to reduce. Nachu is positioned as a non-Chinese African source of battery-grade graphite at scale, though it remains years from first production.

“The global battery supply chain is at an inflection point: Western governments and automakers are actively seeking non-Chinese sources of battery-grade graphite, and we believe Nachu is uniquely positioned to meet that demand,” said Sam Goldberg, CEO of Sow Good.

Source: Sow Good Inc.

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Brooklyn Navy Yard to launch EV charging workforce training program

The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) has been awarded $450,000 from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and launch a training program focused on maintaining and repairing EV charging infrastructure. The program will be delivered in partnership with SmarterHelp, a workforce development company recently spun off from EVSE reliability specialist ChargerHelp.

Training is to begin later this year at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, following the buildout of a dedicated Smart Lab equipped with EV charging units and instructional tools.

Once launched, the program will provide hands-on training designed to prepare New Yorkers for in-demand technical roles in the growing EV sector.

Participants will gain skills in:

• Electrical systems and codes
• Energy fundamentals
• EV charging equipment maintenance and repair
• Industry certification preparation

Graduates of the part-time program will earn industry-recognized credentials and be connected to job placement opportunities developed by BNYDC and SmarterHelp.

“As New York expands its EV charging network, it’s critical that we have trained technicians ready to support and sustain that growth,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll.

“We’ve always believed that technology alone isn’t enough—you need people prepared to maintain and lead the systems of the future,” said Kianna Scott, CEO of SmarterHelp. “Through our partnership with the BNYDC, we’re opening the doors to well-paying EV careers for New Yorkers who need them most.”

“By making this program part-time, accessible, and rooted in a growing industry, we’re ensuring that NYC is expanding clean energy capacity while simultaneously creating lasting economic mobility for New Yorkers who have too often been shut out of the promise of a good job,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su.

Source: Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation 

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Vishay’s new 200 V FRED Pt automotive-grade rectifiers deliver up to 15 A in new 0.88 mm DFN package

Vishay Intertechnology has introduced 16 FRED Pt ultrafast rectifiers in a new DFN6546A package, covering 200 V ratings and continuous current from 6 A to 15 A in single configurations and 2×3 A to 2×7.5 A in dual configurations. All 16 are available in both commercial and AEC-Q101 automotive-grade versions.

The DFN6546A measures 6.5×4.6 mm with a typical profile of 0.88 mm. Compared to Vishay’s SMPC (TO-277A) package at the same footprint, the new package cuts height by 10% and supports 50% higher current ratings. Wettable flanks allow automated optical inspection (AOI), eliminating the need for X-ray inspection.

Key electrical specs are uniform across the family: 0.75 V forward voltage drop at rated current, operating range of −55 to +175 °C and 175 °C maximum junction temperature. Fast reverse recovery time (trr) and low reverse recovery charge (Qrr) are the defining characteristics of the FRED Pt line—the parameters that determine switching losses in inverter and converter applications.

Vishay targets the parts at 48 V boardnets, onboard chargers and battery management systems in EVs and HEVs, along with ECUs, ADAS, lidar and camera systems. General-purpose targets include high-frequency inverters, DC/DC converters, freewheeling diodes, load dump protection and snubbers.

Devices are MSL 1 per J-STD-020, rated to a 260 °C LF peak, RoHS-compliant and halogen-free, with matte tin leads passing JESD 201 class 2 whisker testing. Samples and production quantities are available now with 8-week lead times.

Source: Vishay Intertechnology

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Norwegian ferry operator orders 20 Candela electric hydrofoil vessels

Norwegian ferry operator Boreal has ordered twenty P-12 electric hydrofoil vessels from Sweden’s Candela Technology. The new vessels will speed up commuting along Norway’s fjord-lined coast, where water travel is an essential part of daily transport.

Norway has many electric ferries in operation, but electrifying hurtigbåtar, the high-speed passenger vessels that ply many rural routes, has been challenging, as conventional e-ferries lack the range and speed to replace the diesel-powered fast ferries connecting communities along the country’s 100,000 kilometers of coastline. The Candela P-12 combines a cruising speed of 25 knots with a range of around 40 nautical miles, making electric operation practical on routes previously only served by diesel vessels.

The P-12 features computer-controlled hydrofoils—wings mounted beneath the hull—that lift the vessel above the water at speeds above 18 knots. Flying above the waves reduces drag, and energy consumption drops by around 80 percent compared with conventional vessels of similar size. The P-12 is already in successful use in Stockholm’s public transport system.

“The Candela P-12 is the only electric passenger vessel that combines longer range with high speed without requiring extensive charging infrastructure. Our investment will enable new high-speed routes both in cities and in rural areas,” says Nikolai Knudsmoen Utheim, CEO at Boreal.

The P-12 can fully recharge in an hour using standard DC fast chargers, avoiding the expensive megawatt-scale charging systems required by larger electric ferries.

“Tourists and commuters in Norway will enjoy better service and more frequent departures—free from seasickness, silent, and without the negative impacts of wake and emissions in the unique Norwegian fjords,” says Alexander Sifvert, Candela’s European Director.

Source: Candela

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AITO joins BMW and Mercedes-Benz as equal partner in China’s IONCHI charging network

IONCHI, the premium high-power charging joint venture established by BMW and Mercedes-Benz in China in 2024, has announced that SERES Group will join as an equal shareholder. Through the investment, SERES’ premium brand AITO becomes part of the three-party network, giving BMW, Mercedes-Benz and SERES each a 33.3% stake. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

IONCHI operates public high-power charging stations at prime urban locations across China, powered by 100% renewable energy. The network offers premium services to all eligible EVs, with online reservation and priority power allocation reserved exclusively for customers of the three OEM brands.

AITO, SERES’ luxury EV line, has surpassed one million cumulative users and was the best-selling Chinese luxury car brand domestically in 2025. Adding SERES as an equal partner gives the network a third OEM driving geographic expansion, network density and service development alongside the two German brands.

Source: Seres Group

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Coke Canada Bottling adds 7 Volvo VNR Electric trucks in BC and Quebec

Coke Canada Bottling has added seven Volvo VNR Electric trucks across two provinces, bringing its total Canadian electric fleet to nearly 40 vehicles. Three trucks have arrived in Quebec City; four more are set for delivery this spring in Vancouver.

The VNR Electric runs a six-battery configuration covering up to 440 km (275 miles) on a single charge, enough for several daily round trips between distribution centers and customer locations. To support the expansion, the company installed one 180 kW Heliox Flex charger with three dispensers in Quebec City and two 180 kW Heliox Flex chargers with six dispensers in Vancouver.

The family-owned company launched its electric pilot in Montreal in 2023. Its fleet now spans vans, on-road trucks and yard tractors, all on local and regional distribution routes where predictable, high-frequency operations suit battery-electric technology. The new Volvo trucks serve Coke Canada’s Lower Mainland and Quebec City regions.

“Coke Canada Bottling has taken what they learned early on and turned it into a practical, multi-region deployment,” said Matthew Blackman, managing director, Canada, Volvo Trucks North America. “When you see electric trucks running predictable, high-frequency routes like these, it shows how well the technology fits into everyday fleet operations.”

Source: Volvo Trucks North America

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Flemish transport agency deploys its 1,000th electric bus

Transport agency De Lijn, which serves the Flanders region of Belgium, has commissioned its 1,000th electric bus, and is steadily ordering more. In 2025, De Lijn ordered more than 650 new e-buses, which will be deployed in phases in the coming years.

By 2035, the company plans to phase out diesel buses entirely. This will require a fleet of 3,800 e-buses, representing major investments not only in new vehicles, but also in charging infrastructure, energy supply, software, training and maintenance.

“The 1,000th electric bus is a clear signal that Flanders is moving forward towards sustainable and future-oriented public transport,” said Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder. “The Flemish Government provided a turbo investment of 400 million euros for the purchase of electric buses.”

De Lijn is investing heavily in software and employee training during this transformation. In 2025, some 1,400 drivers received specific e-bus training, and 176 technicians received training in electromechanics.

Electric buses require less mechanical maintenance than diesel buses, and lend themselves to a different, more data-driven approach, De Lijn has found. Maintenance is increasingly shifting towards prevention and monitoring, reducing the need for urgent repairs and increasing the reliability of service.

“The enormous behind-the-scenes transformation that many people are involved in is now fully visible on the road with modern, quiet and fuel-efficient vehicles,” said De Lijn Director-General Ann Schoub. “For the traveler, that means more comfortable transport today, and tomorrow completely emission-free public transport throughout Flanders, with a positive impact on air quality, noise and livability.”

Source: De Lijn

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