In EV, battery and charging news are ChargePoint, Optimus Energy, Stanford, SLAC, Heliox, Infineon, Advantics and CATL. In this Article ChargePoint & Optimus Energy Expand Southeastern EV Charging ChargePoint has formalized an exclusive hardware, software, and services agreement with Optimus Energy Solutions to deploy more than 200 public electric vehicle charging ports across the southeastern United States. Under the expanded framework, ChargePoint operates as the technology provider while Optimus retains site owner-operator status, targeting critical charging corridors and high-utilization commercial hubs. The infrastructure rollout prioritizes quick-service restaurants and retail centers to align charging deployment with existing consumer amenities and maximize driver utilization rates. The initiative leverages ChargePoint’s end-to-end telematics platform alongside Optimus’ local deployment capabilities to increase localized DC fast charging and Level 2 density, addressing regional network gaps in the eastern U.S. transit sectors. Stanford-SLAC Study Validates Real-World Driving Impact on EV Battery Longevity A longitudinal study by the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center reveals that consumer-driven electric vehicles subject to real-world stop-and-go driving profiles exhibit battery lifespans up to 40% longer than standard laboratory testing indicates. Published in Nature Energy, the research demonstrates that industry-standard laboratory cycles utilizing constant discharge and rapid recharge methodologies systematically underestimate lithium-ion pack longevity. The findings suggest that time-induced degradation, rather than cycle-induced wear, serves as the primary aging mechanism for average consumer vehicles that spend prolonged periods parked. The research team deployed machine learning algorithms to isolate degradation variables across 92 commercial lithium-ion cells over a two-year evaluation period. The study identifies that dynamic discharge behavior—including regenerative braking, frequent deceleration, and transient acceleration spikes—mitigates cellular degradation. Notably, transient power peaks from acceleration do not accelerate cell aging as previously assumed, but instead correlate with decelerated degradation pathways. The researchers established an optimal discharge rate sweet spot that balances calendar aging with cycling wear, aligning