The Scottish Government has announced £4.5m in funding to expand EV charging infrastructure across rural and island communities. This investment is part of the broader Public Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, which aims to ensure equitable access to EVs and support Scotland’s transition to net-zero transport. This funding will help local authorities develop regional strategies and install public charge points in areas where commercial investment is currently unviable. Furthermore, it supports the government’s Vision for Scotland’s Public EV Charging Network, which prioritises accessibility, sustainability, and private sector collaboration. The initiative will (hopefully) deliver thousands of new charge points between 2025 and 2028, focusing on residents without off-street parking. With over 6,000 public chargers already in place, Scotland is ahead of its infrastructure targets. This move reinforces the government’s commitment to inclusive green transport and aims to reduce carbon emissions while improving mobility options for remote communities.
First Bus has announced it is advancing its sustainability strategy by launching its largest static battery energy storage facility at the Hoeford depot in Hampshire this September. This site will repurpose end-of-life traction batteries from electric buses, storing up to 1MW-hour of energy, which equates to being able to power 125 homes for a day. This stored energy will help balance the UK’s electricity grid during peak times and charge electric buses. A larger facility is planned for Aberdeen by the end of H2 25, with more sites under consideration nationwide. The initiative supports First Bus’s goal of achieving a net-zero commercial bus fleet by 2035, with 1,200 electric buses already in service. Additionally, FirstGroup Energy has invested in Palmer Energy Technology, a battery storage system manufacturer founded by Dr Andy Palmer. This investment aligns with FirstGroup’s commitment to backing technologies that accelerate the transition to zero-emission transport and enhance energy resilience across its operations.
Walmart Chile has announced the introduction of the country’s 1st hydrogen-powered long-haul truck, marking a significant step toward sustainable logistics. This truck, developed by Feichi Technology in partnership with Grupo Marval, features a 120kW fuel cell system powered by 75kg of green hydrogen. It will operate from Walmart’s distribution centre in Santiago, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and promote the use of clean energy in Chile’s transportation sector. This initiative aligns with Walmart’s broader sustainability goals and Chile’s national strategy to become a leader in green hydrogen. Walmart Chile also plans to expand its hydrogen fleet and infrastructure, including refuelling stations, to support its long-term decarbonization efforts. The project demonstrates the viability of hydrogen in heavy-duty logistics and sets a precedent for other Latin American countries exploring clean energy solutions in transportation.
TotalEnergies Lubrifiants and XING Mobility have signed an MoU to jointly advance immersion cooling battery technology, initially targeting marine applications and later expanding into energy storage, mobility, and AI data centres. The partnership combines TotalEnergies’ expertise in high-performance dielectric fluids with XING Mobility’s immersion cooling architecture, originally developed for electric sports cars. This collaboration aims to enhance battery safety, performance, and scalability across diverse sectors, including underground mining machinery and aviation. By integrating TotalEnergies’ global reach and XING’s technical capabilities, the alliance seeks to accelerate the adoption of next-generation battery systems that offer superior thermal management and fire safety. The partnership also supports European-certified marine solutions and high-power energy storage systems. Executives from both companies emphasised the strategic importance of this collaboration in driving sustainable electrification and expanding market access for immersion cooling technologies in high-demand applications.
Waymo has announced it has received its first-ever permit to test autonomous vehicles (AVs) in New York City, marking a major milestone in AV adoption. Approved by the NYC Department of Transportation and the state DMV, Waymo will deploy up to 8 Jaguar I-Pace SUVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September 2025. Testing must always include a trained safety operator behind the wheel, and the vehicles are prohibited from picking up passengers due to Taxi and Limousine Commission rules. This pilot is part of Mayor Eric Adams’ initiative to responsibly integrate autonomous technology under the nation’s strictest safety guidelines. Waymo must coordinate closely with city agencies, submit regular data reports, and adhere to cybersecurity standards. The company views this as a step toward launching a robotaxi service in one of the world’s most complex urban environments. The trial follows years of groundwork, including mapping and community engagement.
Go-Ahead London has unveiled its new Operations Control Centre (OCC), a facility officially opened by Mayor Sadiq Khan. Designed to manage a fleet of over 2,400 buses operating across 170 routes, the OCC replaces 6 previous centres and will operate 24/7 to improve service reliability for the 1m daily passengers. The centralised hub enhances collaboration and resource allocation, supporting broader improvements to London’s bus network, such as the Superloop, Hopper fare, fare freezes, and the rollout of over 2,000 zero-emission buses. Go-Ahead emphasised the company’s commitment to customer service, noting the OCC’s role in improving safety, punctuality, and overall service quality. The centre reflects Go-Ahead’s partnership with Transport for London and its role in delivering 1.8 billion bus journeys annually.
Deals
Overhaul, an Austin-based supply chain visibility and risk management platform startup, has raised $105m in Series C equity funding, led by Springcoast Partners. This capital will help to accelerate its global expansion and enhance its technology offerings. To recap, Overhaul provides real-time cargo tracking and protection using proprietary IoT-enabled software, helping businesses manage supply chain risks and improve operational resilience. Overhaul currently safeguards over $1.4tn in cargo trade, achieving a 99.9% shipment protection rate. The funding will support further development of its AI-driven platform, expand its customer base, and strengthen its position in in-transit supply chain risk management.
Oway, a San Francisco-based rideshare freight platform startup, has raised $4m in a Seed funding round to build a decentralised Uber for freight. Oway aims to tackle inefficiencies in long-haul trucking, where trailers are often half-empty. Using AI and electronic logging devices, Oway matches cargo with available trailer space in real time, cutting shipping costs by up to 50%. The platform also automates freight documentation and enables shippers to place goods on trucks already en route, reducing emissions and idle time. It blends the speed of full truckload shipping with the affordability of less-than-truckload models, without owning trailers or fleets. Oway is targeting to disrupt the $100bn inefficiency bubble in the trucking industry.
Nuro, a self-driving vehicle startup, has raised $203m Series E funding round, bringing its total raised to $2.3bn. The round includes investments from Uber, Nvidia, Baillie Gifford, Icehouse Ventures, Kindred Ventures, and Pledge Ventures. Nuro has shifted its focus from building delivery vehicles to licensing its autonomous driving technology for integration into robotaxis, commercial fleets, and personal vehicles. A key partnership with Lucid Motors and Uber will see Nuro’s tech embedded in the Lucid Air SUV, with plans for 20,000 robotaxis over 6 years. Uber has committed a multi-hundred-million-dollar investment, contingent on development milestones. Nuro also leverages Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor platform and cloud GPUs for data processing and model training. This funding supports Nuro’s strategy to scale globally through commercial partnerships and reinforces investor confidence in its vision for autonomous mobility.
Group14 Technologies, a Washington-based developer of silicon battery materials, has secured $463m in Series D funding led by SK Inc. Investors such as Microsoft, Porsche, and OMERS also participated. The funding will accelerate production of its silicon battery material, SCC55, which offers higher energy density and faster charging than traditional graphite-based batteries. Group14 also acquired full ownership of its South Korean joint venture with SK, gaining control of the BAM-3 factory that supplies top Asian battery manufacturers. This move strengthens its global supply chain and manufacturing capabilities. With 3 factories, 2 in the USA and 1 in South Korea, and expansion plans in Europe, Group14 is positioning itself as a leader in next-gen energy storage. The company’s technology is already integrated into millions of devices, including AI-enabled smartphones, and is poised to transform EVs and consumer electronics.