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First Charge Honored as 2024 Green Product of the Year by BIG Awards for Business

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First Student’s innovative trenchless charging infrastructure recognized for accelerating EV adoption, lowering costs, and simplifying electrification for school districts and fleet managers

CINCINNATI, Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — First Student, the trusted school transportation and technology provider to millions of families and industry leader in electrified student transportation, announced today that First Charge, the company’s modular, scalable charging solution, has been recognized as the Green Product of the Year by 2024 BIG Awards for Business. Hosted by the Business Intelligence Group, this prestigious award celebrates the companies, products, and leaders making a significant impact by reshaping their industries and setting new standards for success.

First Charge, the flexible, cost-effective charging infrastructure for electric bus fleets and medium-to-heavy-duty vehicles, has enabled First Student to accelerate electric school bus deployment in districts across North America. First Charge is First Student’s above-ground, trenchless infrastructure solution designed to charge electric vehicles and simplify the electrification process. It can save districts up to 50% on construction costs and leads to faster EV adoption by eliminating the need for time-intensive and cost-prohibitive trenching, even in cold weather climates. First Charge can also support other last-mile services for medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles such as dump trucks, garbage trucks, and even postal/delivery vehicles.

First Student has installed First Charge in 21 school districts, with 49 more under construction across North America. The infrastructure system has helped First Student go from three to four million miles driven in its electric school buses in a matter of six months, saving 533,325 gallons of diesel and preventing 11,935,803 pounds in carbon emissions.

“First Charge is changing the way we electrify student transportation, freeing up valuable resources for districts to focus on educating students and accelerating electric deployments as well as our ability to deliver clean, quiet and safe rides to school,” said First Student CEO and President John Kenning. “We are honored by this recognition and thank the Business Intelligence Group for highlighting First Charge, naming it the Green Product of the Year. First Charge is making it easier than ever for school districts to afford, install and scale their electric school bus fleet. As we continue to pursue innovations in the mold of First Charge, First Student will always put our mission first, providing unmatched service with healthier rides for children, so they are starting the day ready for success.”

“For 13 years, the BIG Awards for Business spotlight those whose innovative spirit, commitment to progress and resilience are not only advancing their fields, but also inspiring a global movement,” said Russ Fordyce, CEO of the Business Intelligence Group. “Congratulations to First Student for driving forward a brighter future with First Charge.”

First Charge is at the center of a landmark demonstration project from First Student and Con Edison in Brooklyn, New York. It revolutionizes how students are transported to school and how cities and utilities power their grids. First Charge will power a fleet of 12 electric school buses topped with solar panels. These panels, along with solar arrays on the facility’s rooftop, will create a unique energy generation, battery storage and power delivery system. The system will utilize Vehicle-to-Everything technology, allowing Con Edison the ability to send clean solar-generated power anywhere on the grid using school bus batteries.

First Charge can support up to 25 electric school buses per power management module. Most firms hired by school districts to design a power distribution solution to promote effective electric school bus operations choose to bury cable underground. Burying cables requires digging and trenching, an expensive approach that limits future expansion and disrupts residents, businesses and operations. Once buried, the infrastructure can no longer be modified to accommodate changing lot requirements as a school district grows its electric school bus fleet. First Charge is crucial in First Student’s commitment to transitioning 30,000 diesel vehicles to electric by 2035.

Learn more about First Charge here.

About First Student
As North America’s leading school transportation solutions provider, First Student strives to provide unmatched care and the safest ride to school to 5.5 million students daily. With a team of highly trained drivers, the company will complete 1 billion student trips during the 2024-25 school year. First Student delivers reliable, quality services, including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, scheduling, maintenance, and charter services. Its fleet includes about 45,000 buses.

About Business Intelligence Group
The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, business executives—those with experience and knowledge—judge the programs. The organization’s proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

CONTACT
Jen Biddinger, First Student, 513.362.4600

Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business Intelligence Group, jmaria@bintelligence.com, 909.529.2737

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SOURCE First Student

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SKYWORTH Solar Announces Global Launch of Solavita as a Smart Microgrid Brand

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SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SKYWORTH Solar has officially announced the global launch of Solavita, its dedicated brand for smart microgrid solutions. Positioned strategically as “A Smart Microgrid Expert for Diverse Energy Scenarios,” Solavita consolidates the company’s extensive solution portfolio and service infrastructure under a unified global identity, building upon its rapidly expanding international footprint.

Addressing Grid Flexibility and Long-Term System Value

The launch comes as electricity systems face growing demands for flexibility. The International Energy Agency’s 2026 mid-year electricity update highlights the importance of flexible resources and more efficient use of infrastructure as renewable generation expands. For customers, the priorities vary by market: managing electricity costs, using more locally generated solar power, or maintaining essential loads where grid supply is unreliable.

“As renewable energy becomes more distributed, the long-term performance of the whole system becomes increasingly important,” said Fan Ruiwu, Chairman of SKYWORTH Solar. “We see that performance as the foundation of our international energy business. With Solavita, we are bringing our capabilities together around a common approach to solution development and service, while working with local partners to adapt delivery to each market. Our focus is on the value these systems provide throughout their life.”

Solutions for Different Energy Needs

To address the dual challenges of grid volatility and operational cost, Solavita engineers its systems around a core architectural philosophy prioritizing grid-forming stability, intelligent automation, cross-generation efficiency, and multi-tier security. Translating these technical principles into practical applications, the brand introduces a comprehensive solution matrix tailored to specific market demands.

For residential users, the SolaHome suite utilizes an advanced Home Energy Management System (HEMS) to seamlessly coordinate rooftop solar, battery storage, and flexible domestic loads like heat pumps and EV chargers. In markets with dynamic electricity tariffs, such as Germany, HEMS automates energy dispatch to capitalize on low-price periods. This practical value is evidenced by a recent residential installation in Jesteburg, Germany, combines 18.9 kW of rooftop solar with 20.48 kWh of battery storage. Solavita reports nearly €50 in electricity-price arbitrage benefits during the first month of dynamic-tariff operation.

Expanding beyond the home, the portfolio scales up with SolaBiz, which integrates distributed solar, commercial storage, and smart dispatch to help factories and retail spaces manage peak-demand costs and safeguard against grid disruptions.

For larger utility and off-grid demands, SolaMatrix delivers scalable, containerized storage and microgrid management focused on stabilizing renewable integration in weak grid environments.

Finally, ensuring energy access in highly mobile contexts, SolaGo offers plug-and-play balcony solar and portable power systems for outdoor activities and critical emergency backup, completing Solavita’s end-to-end coverage of modern energy applications.

Global Engineering Foundation and Ecosystem Delivery

To guarantee the reliable implementation and long-term asset value of these diverse solutions, SKYWORTH Solar underpins Solavita with a robust global engineering foundation.

On the technology front, the Smart Microgrid Technology Centre connects cutting-edge research with product engineering, supported by academic collaborations with Tianjin University and Hainan University. This pipeline is further strengthened by a comprehensive Haikou test platform—scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2026—to rigorously validate grid-connected, islanded, and grid-forming systems.

The InfraCosmos Digital Platform supports lifecycle data management, operational monitoring and fault identification. It connects system information with service and maintenance, helping teams monitor performance and respond to operating issues.

Beyond hardware and software, this foundation extends to flexible supply chain execution and strategic project delivery. Solavita employs F+D+EPC+O (Financing, Development, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Operations) framework for large-scale, asset-light project coordination, alongside a localized PD2C cooperation model actively deployed in markets like Germany and Italy to ensure rapid, market-specific service.

These capabilities underpin Solavita’s positioning as a smart microgrid expert, connecting system development with local delivery and ongoing service. The aim is to make integrated energy systems practical to deploy and support in each market.

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SOURCE SKYWORTH Solar

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TCL Donates Ultra-Low-Power Display System to the Youth Olympic Village, Bringing Advanced Display Technology to Everyday Use

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The donation of the display, featuring TCL CSOT’s high-brightness Field Sequential Color technology, continues TCL’s long-term commitment to the African market

DAKAR, Senegal, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TCL, a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, donated an ultra-low-power display system powered by solar energy to Université Amadou Mahtar Mbow (UAM) in Senegal. Delivering outdoor brightness at roughly half the power consumption of comparable displays, the system will serve as an information hub on the UAM campus, which will also serve as the Youth Olympic Village during the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Attendees at the donation ceremony included IOC President, Kirsty Coventry; UAM President, Professor Mababa Diagne; Senegal Higher Education Minister, Boubacar Camara; TCL Charity Ambassador, Jacky Heung; and General Manager of TCL Industries’ Middle East and Africa Marketing Division, Naimin Yang.

“Powered by TCL’s advanced display technology, this new display system will create new possibilities for our campus facilities and support development for both students and faculty,” said Professor Diagne.

Advanced Display Technology Delivers Best in Brightness and Efficiency

The donated system features a TCL CSOT 75-inch high-brightness Field Sequential Color (FSC) display capable of delivering 4,000-nit brightness at approximately 300W. By eliminating conventional color filters and generating color through the sequential switching of red, green and blue light, FSC technology enhances light utilization with transmittance over 15%.

The technology reflects TCL CSOT’s continued pursuit of improved display performance and energy efficiency, bringing advanced screens into everyday settings through TCL’s broader Screen Universe vision. Installed at UAM, the display will serve as an outdoor information hub, remaining bright and clear even in direct sunlight.

TCLArt and TCLYoung Champion Local Art and the Next Generation of Creators

Beyond technology, TCL also supports local culture in Dakar through its art-focused initiative, TCLArt. TCL participates in the Yeesal urban art initiative, which works with Senegalese artists and communities to create large-scale public murals. The project supports 43 artists, especially creators under 35, whose works draw inspiration from African athletes, cultural diversity, and youth aspirations. These murals will become permanent features of Dakar’s urban landscape, celebrating local creativity while reflecting TCL’s commitment to the next generation of creative talent through TCLYoung.

From Local Presence to Shared Growth: TCL Deepens its Footprint in Africa

Both the donation and Yeesal partnership build on a presence in Africa stretching back more than two decades. TCL first entered the African market in 2004. Today, TCL TVs and home appliances are sold in nearly 50 African countries across the continent, supported by six sales subsidiaries and three regional business units. TCL continues to strengthen its retail presence across the region, including with the opening of the first TCL brand experience store in Africa in Johannesburg, and the establishment of its own retail and distribution channel in Kenya.

Through its established business network and localized operations, TCL continues to build closer connections with African customers and consumers, combining global technological capabilities with a deeper understanding of local markets to better serve people across the region.

About TCL

Founded in 1981, TCL is dedicated to empowering smarter, healthier lifestyles through next-generation experiences.

Today, with 50 R&D centers and 47 manufacturing bases globally, TCL operates in over 160 countries and regions, reinforcing its position as a globally competitive smart technology brand. To further inspire greatness, TCL has become an official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Home Audiovisual Equipment and Home Appliances category.

https://www.tcl.com/global/en

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SOURCE TCL Technology Group Corporation

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GAC Wins 8 Awards, Including 4 First Prizes, Showcasing Technological Innovation Strength

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SUZHOU, China, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 28, GAC won 8 awards at the 2026 China-SAE Science and Technology Award ceremony in Suzhou, Jiangsu. In the fields of automotive chips, electric drive, vehicle safety, intelligent driving governance and body design, four first prizes were awarded to two GAC-led projects and two GAC-participated projects, and one GAC-led project won second prize.

In chips, GAC’s led project built a full-chain path from vehicle definition to scale application, working with 105 partners to apply nearly 400 chip models and over 1,000 domestic chips. The HYPTEC GT Special Edition, China’s first ICV with 100% domestically designed chips, has been launched.

In electric drive, GAC pioneered mass production of amorphous alloy stators and carbon-fiber high-speed rotors, becoming the world’s only company to mass-produce amorphous alloy automotive motors. Its amorphous ribbon is just 0.025 mm thick. The motor reaches 99.03% peak efficiency, 17.29 kW/kg power density (@1000V)—nearly three times the industry mainstream—and 30,000 rpm maximum speed; system CLTC efficiency reaches 94.184%. For users, energy consumption drops 4%, and range rises 30-50 km with the same battery capacity. It has been applied to HYPTEC, AION and AISTALAND models and promoted to other automakers. The related precision manufacturing technology won the Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva.

In safety, the GAC-led project with Tsinghua University won second prize. It developed China’s first ASIL-D fully domestic safety controller, real-time risk quantification, active-suspension side-impact mitigation, a rear-window airbag and an “automaker-traffic police-hospital” integrated rescue model. It has been applied to 20 models with cumulative sales of 1.446 million units.

In addition, GAC’s participated L2-L4 safety governance project helped establish a full-lifecycle system covering pre-admission, in-process supervision and post-event traceability. Its participated BIW project features an AI-based body design system that generates concept schemes within 5 hours, with over 95% stiffness prediction accuracy and over 30% higher design efficiency; it has been applied to the second-generation GAC GS8, GAC ES9 and GAC All-new S7.

Looking ahead, GAC will uphold innovation-driven development, advance core technology breakthroughs and commercialization, and support high-quality development of China’s auto industry.

For further information about GAC, please visit: https://www.gacgroup.com/en or follow us on social.

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SOURCE GAC

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