Sensata Technologies has introduced the OmniNode, a patent-pending, off-the-shelf high-voltage power distribution unit for battery-electric commercial vehicles. It combines DC charging, switching, circuit protection, sensing, diagnostics and communications in a single system, built from Sensata components including contactors, fuses and current sensors.

The OmniNode is designed for on- and off-road commercial vehicles, including Class 5 and above trucks and buses. Sensata says the standardized unit reduces reliance on custom-engineered solutions, cutting integration and validation work and simplifying sourcing for OEMs. One design can also be reused across vehicle programs with different applications and configurations, according to the company.

The product page lists an operating voltage of up to 1,000 V DC and a continuous current rating of 500 A. A boost rating allows 700 A for 15 minutes at 60° C, and current derates above 60° C ambient. The unit operates at ambient temperatures from −40° C to 85° C, and is rated for altitudes up to 4,000 m. It needs no active cooling, the company says, even in low airflow.

Overcurrent protection covers up to 1,250 A at 850 V. Short-circuit protection spans 1.25 kA to 40 kA at 850 V for inductance of 0 to 200 µH, and Sensata says the unit protects against a full battery short circuit. Protection is bidirectional.

The unit includes a high-voltage interlock loop (HVIL), and dielectric withstand is rated at 2.7 kV between high-voltage circuits and 4.3 kV between the high- and low-voltage sides. Precharge and an isolation monitor are available as options.

The controller runs on 12 V and 24 V nominal low-voltage systems and senses current across ±1,500 A, to ±10% accuracy with its Hall-effect sensor or ±2% with an optional shunt. Voltage sensing reaches 1,200 V. It communicates over CAN 2.0B, J1939 and CAN FD, and AUTOSAR software is standard. According to the product page, it is suitable for use in ISO 26262 safety-related systems up to an ASIL-B target.

Don’t miss Sensata’s webinar next week: Simplifying Commercial EV Power Distribution with Integrated Off-the-Shelf Solutions, which covers the challenges of commercial EV power distribution.

“With the OmniNode, we are delivering an integrated, off-the-shelf approach that helps engineers simplify power distribution architecture, accelerate development timelines and bring greater consistency and efficiency to vehicle platform design,” said Brian Wilkie, Sensata’s Executive Vice President and President of Aerospace, Defense and Commercial Equipment.

Source: Sensata Technologies

German test-equipment maker comemso has ported its test libraries based on ISO 15118-4 and ISO 15118-5 to comframe, its own software platform. Developers can configure, run and evaluate standardized communication tests for AC and DC charging stations directly in comframe. Additional test libraries are planned.

The ISO 15118 series defines the digital communication between an EV and a charging station. Parts 4 and 5 specify conformance tests for the network and application protocol layers and for the physical and data link layers, respectively.

The earlier libraries ran on a different software platform, but comemso had developed them entirely in-house. The comframe version is also an in-house development and builds on comemso’s earlier implementation validated through the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN), an international association that promotes interoperability between EVs and charging stations.

Don’t miss comemso electronic’s webinar next week:
Standards And Practical Methods For EVSE Commissioning And Field Inspection

To verify the port, comemso ran test cases repeatedly on two charging stations using both comframe and the previous platform and compared the results. One of the two was the same unit used for the original CharIN validation. The company also checked every test case against comframe’s own charging station simulation, deliberately feeding in correct and faulty communication sequences to confirm that passing behavior was flagged as PASS and deviations from the requirements as FAIL.

comframe controls comemso’s EVCA (EV Charging Analyzer/Simulator) family of test systems, which analyze charging sessions and can simulate either a vehicle or a charging station. In the charging station tests, the EVCA takes the role of the vehicle and checks whether the connected station follows the specified communication rules.

Test configuration accounts for which functions the station supports and which technical details the tests require, drawing on standardized Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS) and Protocol Implementation Extra Information for Testing (PIXIT) data. Test selection, execution and evaluation all happen in the same software, and comframe can generate a separate report for each executed test case, which comemso says supports documentation and repeat testing after software changes.

Existing EVCA systems can be upgraded with comframe and the corresponding libraries.

“A key priority was to compare the results with the proven implementation and specifically check every test case for correct PASS and FAIL detection,” said Kiriakos Athanasas, comemso’s CEO.

Source: comemso

Is the charging station safe and fully functional?

Extrusion and co-extrusion can provide a cost-effective solution for producing long, continuous, or complex profiles, particularly when the tooling and production costs associated with processes such as molding may not be economically practical. These processes can also integrate multiple functions into a single component, including sealing, thermal management, electrical conductivity, switching, grounding, and sensing.

This webinar, presented by Fujipoly, will introduce the fundamentals of extrusion and co-extrusion, including how these processes are used to manufacture profiles with controlled shapes, dimensions, and material properties.

Join us to see practical examples of how extruded components can be used beyond traditional environmental sealing in thermal, electrical, and sensing applications.

Sep 15, 2026, 12:30 pm EDT
Register now—it’s free!

See the complete session list for the Virtual Conference on EV Engineering here.

Broadcast live from September 14 to 17, 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.

Paua, provider of an EV charging payment platform for UK businesses, has partnered with Zaptec, a Norwegian EV charger manufacturer, to offer fleet operators “a fully connected EV charging ecosystem spanning home, workplace, depot and public charging.”

As organizations make the transition to EVs, charging can become a multi-location affair, the companies explain. Vehicles may be charged not only at depots, but also at employees’ homes and at public charging stations. As a result, fleet managers may contend with fragmented systems, manual expense claims and limited visibility of charging costs.

Together, Paua and Zaptec aim to deliver “a seamless charging experience that enables businesses to manage every charging event, regardless of where it takes place.”

Zaptec’s Go 2 solution provides intelligent charging at home for company car and van drivers, while Zaptec Pro delivers scalable charging infrastructure for workplaces, depots and commercial sites. Cloud-based management features give businesses real-time visibility into charging activity, energy consumption and charger performance.

Zaptec chargers securely share charging session data with Paua using in-built energy meters, enabling businesses to automatically calculate charging costs and accurately reimburse business mileage. Drivers can continue using Paua’s charge card and app to access the UK’s public charging network.

“Fleet electrification should be an operational advantage, not an administrative burden,” said Niall Riddell, CEO and co-founder at Paua. “Businesses need confidence that drivers are reimbursed accurately, charging infrastructure can scale with demand, and fleet managers have complete visibility of charging activity. Our partnership with Zaptec provides a simpler, smarter way to manage EV charging across an entire fleet.”

“Fleet managers need charging solutions that are as flexible as the way their drivers operate,” said Albert Parnell, Head of Partnerships at Zaptec. “By combining Zaptec’s intelligent charging technology with Paua’s payment and fleet management platform, we’re enabling organizations to gain greater visibility, provide a turnkey solution and reduce the workload for companies to accelerate their transition to a fully electric fleet for home and depots.”

Sources: Paua, Zaptec

DELIVAN, a subsidiary of Chinese OEM Chery, has developed a new electric van for the European market, and plans to unveil its first production models at the upcoming IAA Transportation 2026 trade show in Birmingham.

DELIVAN’s first two all-electric production vans represent two different sizes within the company’s forthcoming European lineup. At the show, the company will also reveal four converted variants, demonstrating the flexibility of DELIVAN’s vehicle platforms and their potential for specialist applications.

DELIVAN will also announce collaborations with several European conversion partners, including new partnerships in Germany.

DELIVAN plans to enter the European market in phases beginning in 2027. The company has a European headquarters in Liverpool, and is in the process of establishing a German subsidiary.

DELIVAN’s wider ecosystem includes three complementary layers: DELIVAN PRO, DELIVAN X and DELIVAN I, which cover service, conversion and customisation, and intelligent fleet technology.

Source: DELIVAN

Nexperia and Aurobay Technologies will explore a collaboration on gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors for electrified and hybrid vehicle platforms. Aurobay Technologies is a division of Horse Powertrain, a joint venture between Renault Group and Geely, and the collaboration aims to combine Nexperia’s GaN and SiC work with Aurobay’s powertrain system design and integration capabilities.

The collaboration follows an earlier project in which Nexperia’s GaN devices were used in Aurobay’s integrated power generation system for range extenders. Nexperia says that project showed the potential for wide-bandgap devices to improve efficiency and reduce system size and weight in demanding automotive environments.

From there, the companies plan to look at power electronics architectures for applications such as traction inverters and power generation systems. They also intend to evaluate joint engineering approaches, including early-stage co-design and system-level optimization.

GaN and SiC devices switch faster than silicon IGBTs and dissipate less energy doing it, so an inverter of a given rating can use smaller passive components and less cooling hardware. Hybrid and range-extender drivetrains are packaging-constrained, because the power electronics share space with an engine and its generator.

“By working closely with Aurobay Technologies, we can better understand system-level requirements and evaluate how advanced semiconductor technologies can deliver measurable benefits at the vehicle level,” said Edoardo Merli, Nexperia’s Head of Business Group Wide-Bandgap, IGBTs and Modules.

“Our experience integrating Nexperia’s GaN technology into a highly integrated power generation system demonstrated the potential of close collaboration across the value chain,” said Ma Yongquan, Aurobay Technologies’ Chief Engineer, Advanced Engineering on Electrical Components.

Source: Nexperia

Is the charging station safe and fully functional?

A charging station may be operational without being fully functional or electrically safe. This expert webinar provides a structured overview of the standards, test requirements, and practical methods used to verify EVSEs during commissioning and field inspection.

Join this webinar, presented by comemso electronics GmbH, to learn how functional testing and electrical safety testing complement each other, which checks are relevant at different stages of an EVSE’s lifecycle, and how common faults can be identified efficiently on site. The session covers key test areas such as charging communication, control pilot behavior, protective functions, insulation, grounding, residual current protection, and the correct response to simulated vehicle and fault conditions.

The webinar also presents a practical, standards-based inspection workflow for newly installed charging stations, maintenance activities, troubleshooting, and periodic inspections. The focus is on reproducible testing, clear documentation, and efficient field processes that help technicians, operators, service organizations, and EVSE manufacturers verify that charging infrastructure remains safe, compliant, and fully functional.

Sep 16, 2026, 8:45 am EDT
Register now—it’s free!

See the complete session list for the Virtual Conference on EV Engineering here.

Broadcast live from September 14 to 17, 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.

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has begun deploying electric buses in the first phase of a transition to an all-electric school bus fleet.

In May, the district announced plans to deploy 104 electric school buses this year, and an additional 134 next year. Details of the buses, including the identity of the manufacturer(s), have not been publicly reported, to the best of our knowledge.

The fleet will use vehicle-to-grid technology, allowing buses to return stored energy to the electrical grid when not transporting students. According to transportation operator Zum, the V2G system will have a capacity of approximately 3 GWh.

“San Francisco presents one of the most unique operating environments in the country, and this milestone is the result of an enormous amount of work and collaboration,” said Tomas Beccar-Varela, Transportation Director at San Francisco Unified School District. “We are not simply introducing new vehicles—we are building a cleaner, more modern student mobility system.”

“I’ve been driving school buses in San Francisco for 26 years, and it’s thrilling to see our fleet take this next step,” said Angela Watson, Vice President of SMART Local 1741 and a San Francisco school bus driver for 26 years.” Drivers are looking forward to these electric buses. They’re quieter, cleaner and better for our drivers, our students and the communities we drive through every day.”

Source: Zum

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has announced a significant expansion of its Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) program, adding several new vehicles and charger options for its California customers.

V2X technology allows compatible EVs to be used as mobile batteries, providing backup power to a home during outages and sending power back to the grid during periods of high electricity demand.

PG&E’s Vehicle-to-Everything program offers customers financial incentives to install and use cutting-edge bidirectional EV charging technology. Residential incentives include:

• $2,500 upfront ($3,000 for customers in disadvantaged communities)
• $1,500 Early Adopter Incentive for the first 250 customers to enroll
• $13,000 in additional incentives through California Energy Commission grant funding, subject to additional eligibility requirements.

The expansion includes the addition of four new automakers to the Eligible Products List: Kia, Volvo, Polestar and Nissan. Certain EV models from Ford, Tesla and GM were already on the list of eligible vehicles.

PowerFlex, a commercial solar installer and EV charging provider, and Bidirectional Energy, provider of a software platform that connects EVs, bidirectional chargers and utility programs, will also be added as approved partners.

“This expansion is all about choice,” said David Almeida, Director, Clean Energy Transportation at PG&E. “By broadening the mix of eligible vehicles and chargers, we’re helping our customers access this valuable technology, while also offering them a way turn their EV into a home backup and a grid asset.”

Bidirectional charging’s transition from pilots to commercial implementations is still in an early phase. For now, only specific vehicle and charger combinations are supported. The expanded program now includes the following models:

• Nissan Leaf (2018-2025) with a dcbel Ara charger
• Volvo EX90 (2025) with a dcbel Ara charger
• Polestar 3 (2025) with a dcbel Ara charger
• Kia EV9 (2024 and newer) with a Wallbox Quasar 2 charger
• Kia EV6 (2025 and newer) with a Wallbox Quasar 2 charger
• Chevrolet Bolt (2027)
• Cadillac Celestiq (2025 and newer)
• Cadillac Escalade IQL (2025 and newer)

PG&E is also promoting V2G technology on the commercial side. The utility has supported Fremont, Oakland and San Francisco school districts in transitioning to bidirectionally-capable electric school bus fleets.

Commercial incentives include:

• $2,500 upfront ($3,000 for customers in disadvantaged communities) for installing a 3-phase bidirectional charger with a power capacity of less than 50 kW.
• $4,500 upfront ($5,000 for customers in disadvantaged communities) for installing a 3-phase bidirectional charger with capacity of 50 kW or more.

Source: Pacific Gas and Electric

Wireless EV charging pioneer WiTricity has completed a new R&D lab following the company’s recent relocation to Stuart, Florida. The new facility will increase the company’s ability to support OEM and Tier 1 integration programs.

WiTricity says its medium-power wireless charging systems are proven, operational and available today.

Automatic wireless charging isn’t just about convenience—it’s an enabling technology for autonomous vehicles.

“Autonomy cannot stop at the charger,” said Joe Benz, CEO of WiTricity. “If a robotaxi, delivery vehicle or self-driving passenger vehicle still needs a person to connect a cable, then one of the most basic parts of its operation remains non-autonomous. The new Stuart lab gives us an environment to assist partners with integrating wireless charging into current and next-generation vehicle platforms.”

Wireless charging also eliminates exposed cords and connectors that can create trip hazards or suffer handling damage. With no moving parts at the charging interface, WiTricity systems are designed for rugged, low-maintenance operation, and can support frequent opportunity charging each time a vehicle parks.

WiTricity’s medium-power wireless charging systems support power levels from 7.2 kW to 50 kW. A vehicle equipped with a receiver on its undercarriage parks over a ground-based charging pad. Power is then transferred through highly resonant magnetic coupling.

The new Stuart laboratory expands the company’s capacity for design engineering, application-specific prototyping, electromagnetic and system simulation, testing, validation and vehicle-integration support. At the new facility, WiTricity can work with automakers, suppliers, fleet operators, licensees and technology partners to tailor and deploy its existing wireless charging systems across specific vehicle platforms and operating environments.

While the company is focused on the medium-power segment, which addresses passenger and autonomous applications, WiTricity’s capabilities extend to 75 kW and higher for heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. In industrial settings such as airports, marine ports, transit operations, drayage and yard operations, automatic charging can improve safety and reduce downtime, the company points out.

“The future of electric mobility will not be defined by a single vehicle class or power level,” Benz added. “From passenger cars and robotaxis to the heavy-duty fleets that keep commerce moving, charging must become an automatic part of the vehicle’s normal routine. Our Stuart lab is built to help make that future practical.”

Source: WiTricity