Watts up? We’ve seen some major milestones get hit this week, from the UK surpassing 75,000 charging points nationwide, to battery startup Moonwatt raising €8 million in funding.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen has unveiled more details surrounding its upcoming electric vehicle, and Adapture Renewables has secured $321 million in financing to construct its largest project to date.

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

We hope you have a great weekend!

—Lachlan Cooney

Volkswagen unveils the ID. EVERY1

Volkswagen has unveiled more details surrounding the ID. EVERY1, a £20,000 electric city car that is "from Europe for Europe."

While its battery specifications still remain undisclosed, its expected to deliver at least 155 miles of range, with a top speed of 81 mph. Additionally, it features a newly developed electric motor that produces 94 hp.

As the market for more affordable EVs continues to rise, the ID. EVERY1 will compete with models like the Dacia Spring, priced at around £14,995, and the Leapmotor T03, priced at around £15,100.

Volkswagen has also confirmed that it will launch the production version in 2027.

—Volkswagen

Hyundai Germany have signed a framework agreement to supply over 3,000 electrified vehicles to the car subscription company, FINN.

Overall, 5,000 vehicles will be supplied, 65% of which are electrified. The agreement builds on a collaboration that began in 2020, which has since resulted in over 1,000 fully electric subscriptions.

Both companies are committed to decarbonising mobility within Germany. FINN aims to increase the electric share of its fleet to over 80% by 2028, while Hyundai plans to exclusively sell emission-free vehicles in Europe by 2035.

—Hyundai

Genesis are planning to produce electrified vehicles in China over the next three to five years, according a report from the Economic Observer.

The vehicles will be developed by Hyundai's R&D teams in China and South Korea, being built in existing Hyundai plants. Genesis' CEO, Zhu Jiang, did not elaborate on the vehicles Genesis plans to produce.

This announcement aligns with broader industry trends, as Toyota also recently announced plans to develop electric vehicles and batteries in China, specifically for its Lexus brand.

—Multiple sources

Ford has reported a 23% rise in its electrified vehicle sales, with over 7,000 all-electric and 15,000 hybrid-electric vehicles being sold.

In contrast, gas-powered vehicle sales fell by almost 13%, totalling 135,992 units. Likewise, overall sales totalled 158,675 units, a 9% decline compared to 2024's number of 174,192.

Despite the overall decline, the report highlights a shifting consumer interest towards electrification.

—Ford

The UK reaches 75,000 charging stations

The UK's charging network has hit a major milestone, surpassing 75,000 public charge points, according to Zapmap.

As of February, 75,675 charge points were identified nationwide, a 32% increase from last year. High-powered chargers are leading the growth, with 150 kW+ charger installations up 74% year-on-year.

This milestone reflects the UK's broader push towards electrified mobility. In February alone, one in four cars registered in the UK were electric, up from 18% last year. In contrast, petrol and diesel sales have continued to decline, with petrol registrations falling by 34% since February of 2024.

—Zapmap, Email

CATL and Jinmao have signed a strategic agreement to advance the development of electric vehicle charging and battery swapping technology.

The partnership will focus on tackling the challenges faced within energy replenishment, enhancing the charging infrastructure for heavy-duty transportation.

—Multiple sources

In 2024, Electrify America expanded its charging network to over 4,800 public chargers, with plans to increase by a further 30% in 2025.

Last year, the company focused on enhancing the charging experience, increasing its portfolio of ultra-fast chargers, while opening larger and more convenient stations.

As a result, Electrify America delivered over 600 GWh of energy in 2024, a 65% increase compared to the previous year. Now, the company is looking to further expand its network, introducing solutions to meet the changing needs of its customers.

—Electrify America

The number of the week is 80 million—the estimated number of residential heat pumps installed globally between 2019 and 2024.

DATAportl estimates that nearly 80 million residential heat pumps were installed globally between 2019 and 2024, with 20% in EMEA, 30% in North America, and 50% in Asia-Pacific. Based on current market conditions, historical trends, and future expectations, they forecast that almost 150 million heat pumps will be installed over the next five years.

—DATAportl

Adapture Renewables secures $321 million from MUFG

Adapture Renewables has secured $321 million in financing from MUFG, supporting the construction of its largest project to date, the 441 MW Titanium solar portfolio.

The project, spanning three sites across Arkansas and Illinois, will generate enough energy to power over 71,000 homes annually. Commercial operation of Titanium’s first site is expected for early 2026.

The financing will include a construction loan and a tax credit bridge loan, marking Adapture Renewables’ first partnership alongside MUFG.

—Multiple sources

Kommunalkredit Austria is issuing a €200m bond to support the transition towards clean energy in Central and Eastern Europe.

Both the International Finance Corporation and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are each investing up to €100m.

The funds will support renewable energy projects, especially in the wind sector, to help Europe's climate targets. In particular, the initiative aligns with the European Green Deal’s goal of reducing emissions by 55% by 2030.

—Kommunalkredit

EDF Renewables and Masdar have signed a power purchase agreement with Soluna Holdings, set to supply up to 166 MW of wind energy from the Las Majadas Wind Project.

The energy will help power Soluna's data centre, Project Kati, which is situated close to the farm’s substation. It will operate using behind-the-meter energy, adjusting its consumption during peak grid demand to improve efficiency.

As data centre energy consumption continues to rise, renewable energy will play a crucial role in meeting the demand, while also supporting net-zero targets.

—EDF Renewables

European Energy has agreed to sell a wind and solar project to Energix, with the sale set to be completed later this year.

The Lithuania-based project, boasting a total capacity of 470 MW, consists of a 140 MW wind farm and a 330 MW solar farm. While the project is currently in the "pre-Ready-to-Build" phase, European Energy is hoping to reach the "Ready-to-Build" phase within the next few months.

Lithuania is actively expanding its renewable energy sector, with a goal of generating approximately 45% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.

—European Energy

Moonwatt raises €8 million in funding

Moonwatt, an Amsterdam-based startup, has raised €8 million in funding to help advance its sodium-ion battery technology, designed specifically for solar power.

The funding round was co-led by Daphni and LEA Partners, with additional support from Founders Future, AFI Ventures, Kima Ventures.

Moonwatt is offering a cheaper, safer, and more scalable alternative to lithium-based batteries. The company aims to address issues surrounding grid congestion and enhance solar farm efficiency, increasing their capacity factor from 15% to 80%.

—Moonwatt

Altilium has announced a partnership alongside Talga Group, supplying the company with 16,000 tonnes of recycled graphite over the course of 3 years.

Talga is currently constructing Europe's first natural graphite anode refinery in Sweden. Likewise, they are also developing a recycled graphite product to address the growing electric vehicle demand.

The collaboration is set to begin in 2026, aligning with the expected 250% rise in global graphite demand by 2030.

—Altilium

Watercycle Technologies have announced a partnership alongside Primobius, aiming to enhance sustainable mineral recovery from lithium-ion batteries.

The collaboration will focus on utilising hydrometallurgical processes to reduce the reliance on new raw materials. Hydrometallurgy involves the use of aqueous solutions to recover the necessary minerals from batteries.

Both companies are committed to sharing their expertise, hoping to explore commercial opportunities for circular economy projects.

—Watercycle Technologies

Amprius has announced a partnership alongside an undisclosed Fortune 500 company, shipping its latest 6.3 Ah SiCore cell for evaluation.

The new cell features an energy density of 315 Wh/kg, over 25% more capacity than a standard 5.0 Ah cell. Likewise, it achieves 800 cycles at 80% depth of discharge, extending the cells lifespan.

Set for commercialisation this year, the 6.3 Ah SiCore cell is gaining strong interest from many OEMs, particularly those within the robotics, aviation, and light electric vehicle markets.

—Amprius

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