Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Vietnamese automaker VinFast has taken an order for 3,000 electric vehicles from domestic transport operator Xe Nhanh Viet Nam, which plans to put them into service on the Green SM platform by 2027, according to electrive.

The deal was set out in a memorandum of understanding signed in Hanoi on Friday by VinFast, Xe Nhanh Viet Nam and Green SM, electrive reported.

Five VinFast models make up the order: the Minio Green, the EC Van, the Limo Green, the VF 5 and the Herio Green. The mix spans passenger cars and a van, matching the ride-hailing and delivery duties typical of platform fleets.

Orders of this size from a single operator concentrate demand risk and revenue in one counterparty, and the 2027 deployment date sets the window in which Xe Nhanh Viet Nam must take delivery.

ChargePoint has appointed John Saffrett as Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Europe, electrive reported.

The appointment formalises a relationship that began earlier. Saffrett has advised the charging company as a member of its Advisory Council since March 2026, according to electrive.

Europe has become a larger contributor to the company's top line. ChargePoint generated a quarter of its corporate revenue in the region in the fourth quarter of 2025, a record share for Europe, according to CEO Rick Wilmer, as reported by electrive.

Saffrett arrives from the vehicle leasing sector. He previously served as Global Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ayvens, where electrive reports he played a central role in the merger of ALD and Leaseplan.

Solar Team Eindhoven's solar-powered ambulance Stella Juva has completed a field test in Kenya, covering more than 800 kilometres while being assessed for medical response in remote regions, electrive reported.

The vehicle was built by 23 students from TU Eindhoven and designed for regions that lack reliable electricity supply or widespread fuel and charging infrastructure, according to electrive.

The test in Kenya ran over two days and was carried out with Amref Health Africa. Solar Team Eindhoven said the ambulance could have provided medical care to around 200 people during that period.

The distance driven in the field test exceeded 800 km, and the trial also examined how the vehicle would handle medical response tasks away from established road and power networks.

On range, the team stated Stella Juva could achieve up to 715 km of electric driving on sunny days, a figure determined on paved roads. The Kenyan trial therefore tested the vehicle over surfaces different from those used to establish that headline number.

The design premise addresses a specific gap: an ambulance that generates its own power does not depend on a charging point or a fuel supply chain at the end of the route.

Charging infrastructure software provider Chargecloud has entered a partnership with Hubject to bring Plug&Charge to AC charging stations, a segment the authentication standard has not covered until now, according to electrive.

Plug&Charge lets a vehicle authenticate and start a charging session without an app or card. Hubject has rolled the technology out primarily at DC fast-charging stations, working with charge point operators, electrive reported.

The AC solution carries three conditions, according to electrive: a charging point compatible with ISO 15118-2, a vehicle equipped for the standard, and a valid contract stored in the vehicle by a Plug&Charge-capable e-mobility provider.

The two companies announced the collaboration at icnc26 in Berlin, an e-mobility festival running until 3 September, where firms can find out more about the solution, electrive reported.

Fastned has switched on its 40th ultra-rapid charging hub, its first in Liverpool, at Brunswick Business Park, according to electrive.

The site carries eight charging bays rated at up to 400 kW, electrive reported.

At that output, Fastned says compatible vehicles can take on up to 200 miles (333 km) of range in 10 minutes.

Tom Hurst, UK Country Director at Fastned, described Liverpool Brunswick as a significant milestone as the company continues to expand its network.

Ford will begin building its Fathom electric pickup at the Louisville Assembly plant in Q1 2027, according to Electrek, which reported that CEO Jim Farley offered a closer look at the truck ahead of the start of production.

The advertised starting price covers the standard-range version and excludes a USD 1,595 delivery fee, Electrek reported.

Electrek also reported that the Fathom will be the first vehicle with Apple Maps integrated directly into the navigation system, supplying turn-by-turn directions, EV routing, and other features.