Watts up? This week, electrification has entered the construction industry as LG Energy Solution and Doosan Bobcat collaborate on battery pack solutions for compact machinery.

Also, Stellantis and Leapmotor are planning to invest $200 million into an electric vehicle factory in Spain, while Vena Energy are investing an identical amount into its Yokji Offshore Wind Project in South Korea.

We’ll be breaking down these stories, and many more, in this weeks edition of Watts Forward.

We hope you have a great weekend!

Stellantis and Leapmotor to invest $200 million into EV factory

Stellantis and Leapmotor are planning to invest $200 million into a Spanish electric vehicle factory, with Leapmotor looking to locally produce its B10 crossover for the European market.

While the final decision is pending, Zaragoza, in northeast Spain, has emerged as the preferred site. Both companies are hoping to start mass production of the electric vehicle in early 2026.

The B10, which was debuted in Europe last year, is a part of Leapmotor's push towards global expansion. So far, the company has established more than 400 sales outlets across the continent, with sales beginning in the UK just last week.

—Multiple sources

Rivian has spun off its micromobility business into a new company called Also, aimed at electrifying urban transportation worldwide.

The spin-off, backed by a $105 million investment from Eclipse Ventures, will leverage Rivian’s expertise in software and electrification to produce cost-effective micromobility solutions.

More so, Also will operate independently, with Rivian maintaining a minority stake in the company. Likewise, Rivian's CEO, RJ Scaringe, will serve on Also’s Board of Directors as its Chairman.

—Rivian

Tesla's market share in Europe has continued to decline year-on-year, with February figures showing a 42.6% drop in sales compared to 2024.

Despite a 26% rise in battery-electric vehicle sales across the continent, Tesla's market share fell to 10.3%, down from 21.6% in the previous year. Analysts attribute the shift to growing competition and a limited line-up of vehicles.

With that being said, the company's sales have nearly doubled since January, rising from roughly 9,900 to 17,000 vehicles sold. Although, its not quite the 28,000 sold in the previous year.

Meanwhile, rivals like Volkswagen and BMW have both seen solid growth in February, with Volkswagen selling around 20,000 electric vehicles, and BMW selling just shy of 19,000.

—Multiple sources

Kempower to supply charging infrastructure for Danske Fragtmænd

Kempower has supplied ultra-fast charging infrastructure for Danske Fragtmænd’s first electric truck charging station, which is now operational at its Aalborg depot in Denmark.

The charging station was designed and developed by GodEnergi and is equipped with four 400 kW ultra-fast chargers. The site utilises dynamic power sharing to maximise charging efficiency and minimise the downtime of Danske Fragtmænd’s trucks.

Additionally, it marks the beginning of a nationwide rollout, with 26 further sites to be constructed in Sakskøbing, Taastrup, Odense and Aarhus.

—Kempower

Pilot, General Motors (GM), and EVgo have reached a key milestone in their joint venture, expanding to over 130 locations across 25 states in the U.S.

Designed to support long-distance travel for electric vehicles, the fast-charging infrastructure includes stations along major highways and regional routes, all of which are equipped with EVgo’s 350 kW chargers.

Pilot, GM, and EVgo first announced their partnership in 2022 and plan to install up to 2,000 chargers across 500 Pilot and Flying J locations.

—General Motors

InstaVolt has officially opened the UK’s largest and most advanced ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging Superhub in Winchester.

The Superhub is equipped with 44 ultra-fast chargers, capable of delivering up to 160 kW. To power them, InstaVolt integrated an on-site solar farm, featuring 870 panels and a 4 MWh battery storage system.

Delvin Lane, the CEO of InstaVolt, described the Superhub as "a flagship site that sets a new standard for ultra-rapid EV charging."

—InstaVolt

The number of the week is 30,000,000—the number of battery-electric passenger cars on the road today.

Sales of electric cars continues to rise rapidly, battery electric vehicles accounted for more than 20% of all passenger cars shipped globally. China leads the way in volume but many countries saw strong growth.

—DATAportl

Vena Energy to invest $200 million into South Korean wind farm

Vena Energy is investing $200 million into its Yokji Offshore Wind Project in South Korea, aiming to boost the country’s energy independence.

The project is being co-developed with KOMIPO and boasts a planned capacity of 384 MW. It is expected to play a major role in supporting South Korea’s long-term carbon neutrality goals, providing renewable energy to upwards of 184,000 households annually.

In addition, the company's 500 MW Taean Offshore Wind Project, developed with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, will begin construction next year and power around 300,000 households once completed.

—Vena Energy

Nofar Energy and Qcells have teamed up to develop and construct two utility-scale battery storage projects in Texas, totalling 350 MW of capacity with a 2 hour duration.

The projects include Bracero Pecan, a 230 MW facility located in Reeves County, and Fairway, a 120 MW facility located in Freestone County.

Both projects are currently in the final stages of interconnection approvals, with construction planned for later this year. Nofar, who will be the sponsor and full owner of the facilities, is aiming to bring them online in 2027.

—Multiple sources

Vindr has secured five new wind project development areas across Latvia, with plans to invest up to €600 million.

The selected locations are Cēsis, Jēkabpils, Līvāni, Saldus, and Valmiera. In total, the projects will exceed 600 MW of capacity, marking a major step in Latvia’s transition towards renewable energy.

Before construction can begin, the projects will undergo environmental and technical assessments. Additionally, alongside the wind projects, Vindr is investing €2 million into a solar park near Līvāni.

—Vindr

LGES and Bobcat to develop battery packs for construction equipment

LG Energy Solution (LGES) has partnered up with Doosan Bobcat to co-develop battery pack solutions for compact construction equipment.

The partnership will aim to accelerate electrification within the industry, specifically for equipment like skid-steer loaders and excavators. The companies will be targeting key markets such as North America.

As part of the collaboration, LG Energy Solution's cylindrical batteries, designed to withstand extreme outdoor conditions, will power Doosan Bobcat’s flagship models.

Additionally, Doosan Bobcat is looking to construct an R&D facility in South Korea later this year to conduct research into electrification.

—LG Energy Solution

Webasto and cylib, a recycling start-up from Germany, have entered a partnership to tackle the growing need for sustainable battery recycling in Europe.

Under the agreement, cylib will collect and recycle used batteries and production waste from Webasto’s European battery sites. The company's low-emission process, which utilises mechanical, thermal, and hydrometallurgical methods, sustainably recovers key materials like lithium and graphite.

More so, outside of the partnership, Webasto is reusing old batteries in on-site energy storage, with a 1 MWh solar-powered system in operation at its Schierling plant.

—Webasto

Gelion has entered a strategic partnership with the Max Planck Institute (MPI) to co-develop both sodium-sulfur and lithium-sulfur batteries.

The collaboration will merge Gelion’s battery design with MPI’s nano-confined carbon/sulfur composites. Both companies hope to produce fast-charging, long-life batteries with energy densities above 400 Wh/kg.

Early testing has shown strong potential, with their sodium-sulfur cells demonstrating charge and discharge rates below 10 minutes, as well as lifetimes in the excess of many hundreds of cycles.

—Gelion