Wednesday, February 18, 2026

NOVONIX sells battery testing division to its former CEO to refocus on synthetic graphite


NOVONIX is divesting its Battery Technology Solutions business in Nova Scotia, Canada, selling the unit back to its founder and former NOVONIX CEO Chris Burns for $1. The move sharpens the company’s focus on building a vertically integrated synthetic graphite supply chain in North America.

BTS, founded in 2013 in collaboration with Dalhousie University researchers and acquired by NOVONIX in 2017, provides advanced battery testing systems—including Ultra-High Precision Coulometry—along with R&D services and a proprietary all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis technology. Its customers span defense, grid stability and high-performance energy storage.

Under the deal, NOVONIX retains a 15% non-dilutable equity stake in the cathode business and will leave $2 million in cash at BTS at closing. NOVONIX will also provide transition services and a trademark license through at least September 2026. The transaction follows the company’s sale of its Mt. Dromedary natural graphite mining project in September 2025.

“The divestiture of the BTS division reflects NOVONIX’s disciplined strategy to prioritize synthetic graphite,” said CEO Mike O’Kronley. “We are focused on directing our management attention and capital to building the North American supply chain for this critical mineral.”

Source: NOVONIX



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WiTricity launches 600 W wireless charger for golf carts


WiTricity AI Tech has added a lower-cost option to its golf cart wireless charging lineup. The MR/1 600 W system is priced at $1,625—half the cost of the company’s existing MR/1 900 W commercial unit—and is aimed at courses, communities and smaller fleets where the higher-power system isn’t necessary.

The 600 W unit uses the same contactless charging pad approach as the 900 W version: carts park over the pad and charging begins automatically with no cables, exposed contacts or user interaction. Charging times are slightly longer than the 900 W system but remain practical for daily operations, according to the company.

“For courses and communities that want the benefits of wireless charging at a lower entry cost, the 600-watt system delivers an excellent balance of performance, simplicity, and value,” said CEO Joe Benz.

The system is available immediately and is compatible with a range of golf carts and light electric vehicles.

Source: WiTricity



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Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Japanese EV startup partners with major gas station chain


Japanese startup KG Motors (whose investors include Toyota Gosei) makes a tiny, affordable city EV called the MiBot. The single-seat MiBot is aimed at drivers who have short urban commutes—it has about 100 kilometers of range, a top speed of 60 km/h, and a rock-bottom price tag of ¥1 million (around $7,000).

KG delivered the first units in late December 2025. Now CleanTechnica reports that Idemitsu Kosan, one of Japan’s largest oil refiners and gas station operators, took an early interest in the electric runabout, and that company execs envision some interesting synergies with their business.

In January, the two companies signed an agreement to collaborate. Idemitsu will provide sales support, delivery handling, insurance services, and after-sales maintenance and parts support.

Idemitsu will provide e-mobility services on a pilot basis at some of its apollostation service stations in Tokyo and Hiroshima beginning in April—around the same time that KG Motors plans to bring the MiBot into mass production, beginning at a volume of 300 to 500 units per month.

Idemitsu plans to converts some of its apollostation locations to electrified energy hubs. Many of the stations already offer EV charging. Under the company’s new Smart Yorozuya (“many trades”) strategy, select locations will add shopping options, solar generation and renewable electricity supply.

Oil companies have been diversifying into EV charging for years. But as CleanTechnica’s Raymond Tribdino writes, this is a deeper collaboration that could become “a test case for how a legacy oil company can remain relevant in an electrified future.”

Source: CleanTechnica



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Helix supplies dual-motor propulsion system delivering 1,000 hp for McMurtry Spéirling hypercar


UK-based electric motor manufacturer Helix has developed a bespoke dual-motor propulsion system for the McMurtry Spéirling, the single-seater electric fan hypercar that holds records at Goodwood and Laguna Seca. Customer deliveries of the production car are set to begin in 2026.

The system pairs two Helix SPX242-94 motors at the rear of the vehicle, delivering a combined 1,000 hp and 1,000 N-m of torque. Each motor produces 500 N-m and weighs just 33 kg. The compact packaging was tailored to the Spéirling’s tight single-seater layout, where it works alongside McMurtry’s fan-based downforce system. The motors mate with McMurtry’s own gearbox.

Helix SPX242-94

The Spéirling can accelerate from 0–60 mph in 1.5 seconds and cover a quarter mile in eight seconds. It has posted the fastest-ever lap of the Top Gear test track.

“The McMurtry Spéirling demonstrates one of the most effective applications of advanced electric motor technology,” said Simon Mead, automotive chief engineer at Helix. “We are proud to have been involved in its journey from an early stage, with Helix drive motor propulsion systems featuring throughout the evolution of this groundbreaking hypercar, from prototype to production.”

Helix has previously supplied propulsion systems for Formula E as well as hypercars including the Aston Martin Valkyrie, Lotus Evija and Czinger 21C.

Sources: Helix



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Monday, February 16, 2026

Turntide’s new axial flux drive unit delivers up to 700 kW peak in a stackable package


Turntide Technologies has unveiled a modular axial flux electric drive unit (EDU) that integrates motor, inverter and gearing with shared cooling in a single package. The company says the axial flux design delivers 53% higher torque density than a comparable radial flux motor in 58% less volume and at 37% less weight.

The platform supports 400 V and higher, with single or stacked motor configurations scaling from 73 kW to 220 kW nominal and 300 kW to 700 kW peak. Target applications include off-highway equipment, construction, powersports, commercial vehicles and automotive. The low-speed, high-torque characteristics of the axial flux motor allow for simpler gear designs, which Turntide says reduces mechanical complexity, weight and maintenance costs.

The company is positioning the EDU as a pre-validated platform aimed at OEMs looking to electrify without the component-level integration work that typically adds months or years to development programs. “By handling the integration, validation, and testing upfront, our EDU decreases the risk, time and cost of bringing new products to market,” said CEO Steve Hornyak.

Turntide recently put the platform through a durability test at King of the Hammers, one of the most demanding off-road races in the US. Its Sierra Echo-R became the first purpose-built EV to qualify for and compete in the Desert Challenge course, completing more than 600 miles of terrain with no drivetrain issues, according to the company.

Source: Turntide Technologies



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Sunday, February 15, 2026

Download the EV inverter thermal management case study


Recently, a leading manufacturer of EV inverters encountered a heat dissipation issue related to the inverter and required a reliable solution to address this challenge.

Download this case study to learn about diligently evaluating various options for thermal conductivity, high reliability, and suitability for thin gaps; and to learn more about Honeywell’s Phase Change Material (PCM) applications in EV inverter, on-board charger, and advanced driver-assistance system.



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UT Austin spinout Supra aims to recover gallium, scandium and other critical minerals from waste streams


Supra Elemental Recovery, a spinout from the University of Texas at Austin, has launched with a $2 million pre-seed round to develop technology for recovering critical minerals—including gallium and scandium—from domestic waste streams such as industrial byproducts, mine tailings and electronic waste.

The US is currently 100% import-dependent for both gallium and scandium, elements essential to semiconductors, aerospace and defense applications. Gallium in particular is a key feedstock for the GaN power devices increasingly used in EV onboard chargers and power conversion systems.

Supra’s approach uses proprietary reusable cartridges through which dissolved industrial waste is pumped. The cartridges selectively capture and release target minerals in sequence. The company claims up to 100x greater selectivity and speed compared to incumbent refining methods, enabling higher purity at lower cost without the toxic processes used in conventional refining.

“Every year, billions of dollars worth of critical minerals are trapped in domestic waste streams,” said CEO Katie Ullmann Durham. “By profitably recovering these elements, we can secure the inputs needed for America’s advanced manufacturing future.”

The technology is also being validated for cobalt, lithium and lanthanides used in batteries and magnets. Commercial pilots are expected later in 2026. The pre-seed round was led by Crucible Capital, with participation from the UT Seed Fund, Climate Capital, Portmanteau Ventures and Pew Protection Trust.

Source: Supra



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NOVONIX sells battery testing division to its former CEO to refocus on synthetic graphite

NOVONIX is divesting its Battery Technology Solutions business in Nova Scotia, Canada, selling the unit back to its founder and former NOV...