Solvent-free electrodes promise smaller factories and lower costs
Why it matters: High-efficiency battery factories, not faster cars, are emerging as the real test of who wins the next phase of the EV race. The companies that can strip energy use, floor space, and solvents out of cell production are beginning to show how electric vehicles could finally hit mass-market price points without sacrificing range or performance.
The Lightning faces sluggish sales, steep losses, and a shifting EV market
Rumor mill: If Ford cancels the Lightning, it would mark the first major exit of a mainstream electric truck from the US market. For an industry that once viewed battery pickups as the most straightforward path to electrified profitability, the reversal underscores a deeper reality: heavy vehicles remain the toughest test case for the EV revolution.
The big picture: With federal incentives ended, EV automakers are monitoring demand, recalibrating production, and weighing further adjustments amid shifting policies and renewed global competition. At the same time, newly forged trade agreements and planned industry investment suggest that some of the current downsizing may be reversed as markets adjust and manufacturers launch new models.