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Charging

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Portable chargers hit thermal limits despite wattage claims, industry pivots to active cooling

Portable power devices often list peak wattage on the box, but real-world performance drops as heat builds up during charging—especially in magnetic wireless chargers, where the induction coils sit in direct contact with the phone. For years manufacturers have relied on passive materials like graphite sheets and heat spreaders to manage that heat, but these can only slow warming, not stop it, once a compact enclosure hits its thermal ceiling.

Apple offers tips to curb CarPlay's battery drain on iPhones

A report outlines why using Apple CarPlay wirelessly can drain iPhone battery faster than a wired connection, and suggests fixes such as turning off the screen, enabling Low Power Mode, using a wireless charging pad, downloading media offline, and limiting GPS use. It also notes that keeping iOS updated can bring efficiency improvements to CarPlay itself.

Anker's chargers now feature a smart display showing real-time charging data

Anker has introduced a 'smart display' on some of its chargers that shows information like temperature, charging mode, status, and real-time wattage output, plus battery progress for compatible devices. The screen also includes a small animated character that reacts to touch, offering playful animations like napping or wobbling when tapped.

Dacia moves Spring EV production from China to Slovenia to unlock French subsidies

Renault's budget brand Dacia is relocating manufacturing of its Spring EV from China to a plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, allowing the car to qualify for French EV incentives. The base model costs €17,900 but drops to about €12,200 after credits, making it one of Europe's cheapest electric vehicles. The redesigned Spring is larger, more muscular-looking, and offers modest specs including 155 miles of WLTP range and 80 horsepower.

Audi unveils A2 e-tron, its most efficient EV with 646 km WLTP range

Audi introduced the A2 e-tron, a compact entry-level EV that the company calls its most efficient model yet, rating it at 12.8 kWh per 100 km and roughly 646 km of range under Europe's WLTP standard. The car comes in three battery options—52, 61 and 84 kWh—with fast charging times between 24 and 29 minutes for a 10-80 percent charge, plus bidirectional charging capability. Preorders open September 10 ahead of a December launch, priced from 38,200 euros, but Audi says it's built for European buyers only.

EV Owner Hit With $418 Bill After Charging at Dealership

A man who plugged in his electric vehicle at a car dealership was later charged $418 for the electricity used, far exceeding typical charging costs. The steep bill has drawn attention to how dealerships price EV charging for customers who use their facilities.

Amazon cuts Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Solar 45mm to $399.99

Amazon is selling the Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Solar 45mm for $399.99, a $100 reduction from its $499.99 list price. This matches near the lowest price seen outside June's Prime Day sale, and the watch carries a 4.6-star rating from buyers.

Microsoft's Play and Charge Kit offers alternative to disposable AA batteries in Xbox controllers

Xbox controllers can be powered by more than disposable AA batteries, with Microsoft's official Play and Charge Kit swapping them for a $24.99 lithium-ion pack that charges via USB-C and lasts up to 30 hours. Third-party options include swappable dual-battery docks and rechargeable AA batteries, while players can also simply keep their controller plugged in during play for continuous power.

Anker unveils MagGo Power Bank Pro 2, Laptop Charger Pro ahead of IFA 2026

Anker previewed several new chargers before IFA 2026, headlined by the MagGo Power Bank Pro 2, a 25W wireless power bank with a built-in fan that keeps temperatures under 96.8°F during charging. The lineup also includes a Laptop Charger Pro that claims to identify the exact laptop model plugged into it, and a MagStand Charging Station combining three charging modes in one device.

ChargePoint's Growth Chief Pushes 10x Thinking Over Incremental Gains

Jyothi Swaroop, chief growth officer at ChargePoint, described the leadership approach he uses to drive rapid expansion at the EV charging company. He argues that aiming for small, incremental improvements limits results, and instead pushes teams to target 5x or 10x gains regardless of a business's size or stage.

Range Rover unveils Electric SUV Keeping Familiar Design, 330-Mile Range

Range Rover has revealed its long-awaited fully electric SUV, the Range Rover Electric, which closely mirrors the look of its gas-powered siblings rather than adopting a futuristic design. The vehicle uses twin 260kW motors and a 118.5 kWh battery for an estimated 330 miles of range, with 542 horsepower and 800-volt architecture allowing rapid charging. Orders are now open starting at £154,070 (about $140,450), years after the EV was first announced and previewed for preorder.

Baseus Mini 10,000mAh 67W Power Bank Drops to $29.99 on Amazon

Amazon has cut the price of the Baseus Mini Power Bank Fast Charging 67W to $29.99 from its $69.99 list price, a 57% discount and the lowest price recorded this year, beating the previous 2024 low of $37.99. The compact 10,000mAh unit supports up to 67W output, includes two built-in braided USB-C cables, a digital charge display, and pass-through charging.