Month: February 2026

By Majid N. Aziz, Product Marketing, CAE

Lara, an experienced transporter for a cold storage packaging company primarily operating in Germany, undertakes three weekly trips between Munich and Dresden. Her role involves delivering frozen products between city warehouses, requiring strict adherence to timely deliveries while maintaining the payload at a constant temperature of -20°C.

To support sustainability goals and minimize environmental impact, the company recently transitioned from conventional trucks to electric-powered trucks. This shift aims to improve ratings on low emissions and reduce carbon footprints, reflecting a modern, eco-conscious approach.

While Lara is confident in her driving abilities and her track record of punctual deliveries, the switch to electric trucks introduces new challenges. She now faces the need to adapt to the logistics of charging and recharging the vehicles during trips. This adjustment fuels her “range anxiety,” a common concern in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, which may directly influence her performance and the overall efficiency of the company she represents.

Addressing Range Anxiety: Overcoming a Key Challenge for Electric Vehicle Adoption

Range anxiety is a significant factor influencing consumer confidence in adopting EVs. While the shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs has gained substantial momentum in recent years, this transition brings with it a mix of excitement and apprehension. Automakers are increasingly committed to putting more EVs on the road, yet consumers remain concerned about the infrastructure needed to support this change.

A consumer’s decision to adopt and embrace EVs often hinges on several pressing questions:

• What range can I expect after a full charge, whether driving in the city or on long routes?
• How do factors like weather conditions and driving behavior impact range?
• Can an EV provide the same comfort and deliver a unique experience compared to its ICE counterpart?
• What are the long-term maintenance costs of an EV?

These questions, compounded by the overwhelming amount of information available online about battery-powered vehicles, often complicate the decision-making process.

The anxiety surrounding EV range stems from these uncertainties. To alleviate this concern, automakers must leverage advanced engineering and cutting-edge technology to provide precise range estimates. This not only reduces drivers’ apprehension about range but also enhances their overall driving comfort and experience, paving the way for broader EV adoption.

Factors Influencing EV Range Predictions

Largely the battery capacity and the overall energy consumption should help to predict the range better. However, even if you know the exact battery capacity, the energy consumption can vary depending on multiple influencing factors. Let us understand them quickly

Battery capacity and overall energy consumption are critical for predicting an EV’s range. However, even with precise knowledge of the battery capacity, energy consumption can vary significantly due to several influencing factors. Let’s explore them:

• Vehicle Design: Energy efficiency is influenced by key design elements such as overall dimensions, passenger capacity, HVAC systems, battery packs, drivetrain type, tire assembly, braking and suspension systems. These defined and constant physical properties play a foundational role in range determination.
• Driving Style: Driving habits introduce variability in energy consumption. A/C usage, acceleration pedal handing, gear-shifting, and braking patterns differ among drivers, impacting energy efficiency in unique ways.
• External Environment: Weather conditions, route topology (elevation, slopes, or flat profiles), and traffic significantly influence energy consumption. For example, colder temperatures increase energy demand due to denser air creating higher (air) drag and the additional energy required for cabin heating.

All these factors exhibit nonlinear and dynamic interdependencies. A system-level analysis of these variables—and others like them—enables designers and engineers to enhance transparency and make more accurate range predictions.

The Impact of Colder Temperatures on EV Range

Colder climates present unique challenges for EV range performance. Cold air is denser than warm air, causing increased aerodynamic drag, and additional energy is required to heat the cabin. Heat pumps in EVs must work harder to manage heat transfer effectively, further impacting energy consumption.

Countries like the Nordics, with high EV adoption rates, offer ideal proving grounds to test EV range performance in freezing temperatures. For example, the El Prix Winter Range Test, held in January 2025 in Norway, assessed 24 brand-new EVs. Each vehicle was fully charged and driven on the same hilly route until it ran out of energy. The test compared advertised WLTP ranges with real-world distances, providing valuable insights into how weather and terrain affect performance.

Highlights from the Test Results

Here are the top 5 EVs that performed best in the test. The full results can be viewed on the Motor.no website. Source: NAF Elbil Test and Motor.no

Model	WLTP Range Rating	Real-World Distance Covered	Differnce
Polestar 3	348 miles / 560 kms	330 miles / 531 kms	-5%
BYD Tang	329 miles / 530 kms	299 miles / 482 kms	-9%
Mini Countryman	247 miles / 399 kms	220 miles / 355 kms	-11%
Lotus Emeya	320 miles / 500 kms	271 miles / 436 kms	-13%
BYD Sealion 7	312 miles / 502 kms	271 miles / 436 kms	-13%

Interestingly, the Tesla Model 3 fell short of expectations, showcasing how real-world conditions can defy expectations set by manufacturers.

The Role of Early Design Phase Testing

What if EV range and energy consumption patterns could be simulated at the system level during the design phase? This approach could potentially provide more accurate predictions of range performance under harsh or extreme conditions, helping engineers address these challenges proactively.

Would such early-stage analysis revolutionize how we design and market EVs?

Electric Truck Model in SimulationX

We created an electric truck model in SimulationX as shown in the picture above using the Vehicle Drive Library. This demonstrator focuses on testing the battery range for the truck vehicle running on the same route but in different weather conditions. Below are some of the key components of this model:

• Model is divided into mainly two parts: control level and physical level. They are connected here to a bus system to transfer information / data.
• The environmental temperature, air drag, and the rolling resistance can be set to a constant value, or they can be time dependent.
• Using Google maps, we have uploaded a route from Munich to Dresden in hilly terrain.
• The speed of the truck is determined based on individual curve data depending on the kind of the roads which is again taken from Google maps.
• Driver is modelled with a PDI controller to manage the drive cycles based on the velocity provided.
• Driver’s comfort in the model is only considered via the temperature of the cabin. Cabin can be heated with the waste heat of the engine cooling system and when not sufficient we can use an additional electric cabin heater.
• The powertrain of the truck itself is modelled using an electric motor, a mechanical transmission, and a frictional break.
• The battery has a capacity of 620 kWh, and we can also preset the voltage using a characteristic curve.
• At low temperatures the battery is heated to get fast a comfortable temperature in terms of performance.
• The battery and the electric motor are cooled by a cooling system based on a water-glycol cooling circuit driven by an electric water pump.
• The truck has a cooling trailer which transports frozen food at a low temperature of around – 20°C.
• All systems are controlled using an operating strategy in the model depending on the various driving conditions.

Converting Lara’s range anxiety into improved decisions & on time payload delivery

In the beginning of the article, we spoke about Lara, an experienced transporter for a cold storage packaging company and her dilemma with electric trucks. When automotive manufacturers have designed their electric trucks with full control and transparency over the actual delivered on-road electric truck, then the overall customer’s experience around range anxiety or EV adoption becomes a confident approach. We’re happy to say that Lara now loves to drive her new trailer with accurate range predictions in varying weather and hilly terrain or highways. She knows exactly how long the charge will last, when to re-charge, how long to charge and ensure the payload delivery on time. She is also quite proud that her small contribution towards adoption of greener and cleaner vehicle is making a huge environmental impact inspiring a lot of her other colleagues.

To learn more about system level simulation and SimulationX visit the webpage

With nearly 40% of carbon emissions coming from the built environment, the construction industry is building and renovating more and more sustainably. With innovative solutions and new construction methods, we have a whole new vocabulary that this podcast is going to decipher for you!

The term “soil sealing” refers to the transformation of natural land into stable, impermeable surfaces required for human activities. While soil sealing has been occurring since prehistoric times, the practice has increased since the industrial revolution and can have  negative impacts on the environment. How can construction practices be adapted to help minimize this impact? We will tell you more!

Listen here, S…for Soil Sealing, a Saint-Gobain Podcast

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
More than 161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050

CLEVELAND, February 24, 2026 /3BL/ – KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) is being recognized for its support of small and middle market business clients with nine 2026 Best Bank Awards from Crisil Coalition Greenwich in small business and middle market banking. These national and regional awards honor Key’s collaborative approach that empowers small business owner-operators in addressing their complex financial needs and depth of expertise that helps middle market companies optimize business performance.

KeyBank received the following national Coalition Greenwich 2026 Awards:

• Best Bank:
  • Trust for Middle Market Banking in the U.S.
  • Customer Service for Middle Market Banking in the U.S.
  • Customer Service for Small Business Banking in the U.S.
  • Trust for Small Business Banking in the U.S.
  • Ease of Doing Business for Small Business Banking in the U.S.
  • Satisfaction with Relationship Manager for Small Business Banking in the U.S.

KeyBank also received the following regional Coalition Greenwich 2026 Awards:

• Best Bank:
  • Satisfaction in Cash Management for Middle Market Banking in the U.S. (Midwest)
  • Satisfaction with Relationship Manager for Middle Market Banking in the U.S. (Midwest)
  • Satisfaction with Relationship Manager for Small Business Banking in the U.S. (Midwest)

“Our unique approach of having conversations with and building enduring relationships with small business owners across the nation is a true differentiator for KeyBank,” said Mike Walters, President of Business Banking at KeyBank. “We are grateful that our approach has been recognized by our clients through Coalition Greenwich; clients that we are proud to work with each day and help them grow in their communities.”

• Learn more about how KeyBank helps small businesses

“We are honored to be recognized by our clients through Coalition Greenwich for the support and specialized service our middle market teams provide,” said Ken Gavrity, President of Key Commercial Bank. “We are committed to earning our clients’ trust by providing them with a best-in-class platform and deep industry expertise that empowers middle market businesses to grow and succeed.”

• Learn more about the solutions KeyBank offers to middle market businesses

Methodology

Small Business: Awards are based on more than 11,000 interviews with businesses with sales of $1 million –$10 million across the country.

Middle Market Business: Awards are Based on nearly 11,000 interviews with businesses with sales of $10–500 million across the United States.

Source: Coalition Greenwich Voice of Client – 2025 U.S. Commercial Banking Study

ABOUT KEYCORP

KeyCorp’s roots trace back more than 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $184 billion at December 31, 2025.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 950 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

CFMA #260220-4110928

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Wearable technology has become part of everyday life — tracking health, enabling connectivity, and moving seamlessly with people wherever they go. Behind that convenience is a supply chain that must move at scale, speed, and with precision.

In 2025, DP World moved 1.9 million wearable technology units through its global fulfillment network, managing every stage of the device lifecycle — from warehousing and order fulfillment to returns, refurbishment, and redeployment. This end-to-end approach helps brands keep products in circulation longer while meeting rising consumer expectations for fast, reliable delivery.

Across the Americas, DP World’s integrated logistics services support technology supply chains with flexible warehousing, value-added services, and regional connectivity that keeps products moving efficiently from distribution centers to customers’ wrists.

Watch the video to see how DP World powers the wearable technology supply chains people rely on every day.

Learn more about DP World’s technology logistics solutions.

Originally published on CVS Health Company News

By Joshua Fredell, SVP, Pharmacy Services

Key Points

• Understanding your prescription coverage leads to lower costs and better health outcomes.
• Review your plan details, explore cost-saving options, take medications as prescribed and consult your doctor or pharmacist with questions.
• Access additional support for managing your prescriptions through pharmacy navigation services, disease management programs, and support groups.

With health care costs rising, knowing how to navigate your benefits can lead to significant savings and better health outcomes for you. This essential guide can help you make the most of your prescription drug coverage and health plan.

1. Know your prescription plan inside and out

   Review your plan details, including covered medications, copays, deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.

   Tips include:

   • Know who your Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) is and how to contact them with questions. Your PBM, like CVS Caremark, can describe your prescription drug plan and help explore cost-saving options.
   • Explore accepted pharmacies or if a specialty pharmacy would be more cost efficient. Specialty pharmacies may offer better pricing for complex medications.
   • Check your medication’s formulary status and which medications are covered at what cost.
      

2. Save On Your Prescription Drug Plan

   Small changes to your prescription routine can lead to significant savings, making medications more affordable and improving health outcomes.

   Consider these options as appropriate:

   • Switch to a generic or biosimilar
   • Order 90-day supplies
   • Use mail-order services
   • Apply discounts or use patient assistance programs
      

3. Take Advantage of No-Cost Preventive Care

   Take advantage of the no-cost health benefits included in your plan. Staying on top of preventive care can keep small health issues from becoming bigger problems so you can feel your best.

   This can include services such as:

   • Routine vaccines and screenings
   • Annual physicals
   • Diabetes prevention medicine
   • Tobacco cessation products 
      

4. Follow Prescription Instructions for Your Medication

   It is important to take your medication at the right dose, at the right time and for the correct duration. This is what is called medication adherence. Adhering to prescribing instructions leads to optimal health outcomes, prevents disease progression and reduces health care costs.

   If you experience challenges with adherence:

   • Ask your pharmacist questions.
   • Use counseling available.
   • Refill your prescriptions on time. 
      

5. Explore Additional Prescription Coverage Resources

   Health care providers are available to help ensure you have the right medications for you and your coverage. They can help create a personalized care experience, improve medication adherence and ultimately health outcomes.

   Additional resources include:

   • Pharmacy navigation services to help you find the best medications, pharmacy options, or cost-saving opportunities.
   • Management plans that provide education, support, tools, resources, etc. to improve your care.
   • Pharmacist and provider consultations for questions about the instructions, interactions or proper usage.
   • Educational programs and support groups including workshops, seminars, online courses and peer support communities.

Take control of your health today and maximize your prescription coverage. Review your documents, contact your PBM, like CVS Caremark, or your doctor or pharmacist with any questions along the way.

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