Next-Level EV Tech: 3 Innovations Driving the Future in 2026

2026 is shaping up to be a watershed year for electric vehicles (EVs) with major advancements in batteries, charging technologies, and smart charging software. There is a general industry shift toward more affordable vehicles with longer driving ranges and smarter charging capabilities that will make EV ownership easier and more efficient. And Blink is proud and excited to be a key player in this evolving EV ecosystem by continuing to grow reliable charging infrastructure in the United States and beyond for the next generation of EVs.

Solid-State Batteries: Lighter, Safer, and Up to 50% More Range

Solid state batteries are next-generation batteries that have higher energy density than current EV batteries. This is possible because rather than using liquid electrolytes, they use solid electrolytes. The science behind solid state batteries is fascinating, but for the everyday EV driver, the most important aspects about them are: 

• their ability to hold more energy, which means potentially up to 50% more range on a single charge, 

• their ability to charge faster,

• their increased safety over liquid batteries. 

Researchers from Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology and the AIRI Institute used machine learning to help them identify high-performance battery materials, which has led to the potential for 50% more range.

But, automotive manufacturers are also diving into the world of solid state batteries. Toyota is leading the way with Prime Planet Energy & Solutions Inc., a joint venture with Panasonic that started operations in April 2020. With over 1,000 solid state battery patents, the automotive manufacturer is aiming to have these next generation batteries in production some time in 2026, starting slowly and then ramping up operations through to 2030. Toyota says its solid state batteries could last up to 40 years, meaning they would likely outlast the vehicles they come with and may be able to be mounted onto new vehicles as the old ones reach the end of their lives.

Dynamic Wireless Charging: Powering Your EV While You Drive

But, what if you could charge your vehicle while driving. That is the goal of dynamic wireless charging, which uses specialized in-road coils to charge EVs via inductive charging while they drive. 

For drivers, the obvious benefits are fewer stops at chargers and reduced range anxiety. Paired with the increased range of solid state batteries, it is conceivable that in the near future, EVs may be able to travel thousands of miles without having to charge in the traditional sense. 

Examples:

• In the United States, a stretch of Detroit’s 14th Street is the site of a current pilot project to test the technology’s viability. Expect to see more pilot projects popping up in major cities in the U.S.A. along with highway integrations throughout Europe and Asia as more places start to experiment with wireless EV charging.

• European countries like France, Germany, and Sweden also have plans to install and expand existing dynamic wireless charging along some roadways.  

• In Japan, the Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City near Tokyo is running a pilot program that uses not only dynamic wireless charging in roadways, but also static wireless charging at traffic lights. While dynamic wireless charging works while a vehicle is moving, static wireless charging works when a vehicle is stationary, much like you would wirelessly charge your phone. 

South Korea, meanwhile, has been using dynamic wireless charging to charge buses for well over a decade now and is expanding this service in Seoul for autonomous buses, with the goal of replacing 10% of diesel vehicles with electric vehicles by 2026.