Serbia Holds Rates Again as Price Risks Prevail Over Growth
The National Bank of Serbia held the one-week repurchase rate at 5.75% on Thursday. The decision matched the forecasts of eight out of 17 economists in a Bloomberg survey, while a slim majority expected a quarter-point cut.
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Researchers explore next-gen twin batteries that could solve concerning problem with EVs: 'A promising approach'
Electric vehicles are transforming transportation for the better, but producing their batteries comes with high costs — a trade-off that researchers at engineering firm IAV may have found a solution for. IAV, a firm focused on the future of mobility, has developed a twin-battery design that pairs two different but complementary chemistries to reduce the cost and environmental impact of manufacturing EV batteries, reported. Instead of relying on lithium-ion cells, the design combines sodium-ion (SIB) and lithium iron phosphate solid-state (LFP-SSB) batteries. SIBs are low-cost and easier to recycle, while LFP-SSBs offer long cycle life and strong energy density. The system reuses waste heat from one battery to optimize the performance of the other. Combining the two types creates an energy-saving system that could boost range and efficiency without the high costs of cooling, heating, or mining for lithium-ion batteries, according to IAV also designed and developed the new battery with minimal waste. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, IAV engineers were able to tweak parameters and simulate the batteries' real-world thermal, chemical, and mechanical behavior. This validated the effectiveness and efficiency of the battery system without the need for multiple prototypes, per which sped up development while slashing costs and resource waste. Jakob Hilgert, a technical consultant at IAV, considers the use of diverse cell chemistries "a promising approach to respond to market fluctuations and at the same time minimize system costs," per IAV is also exploring other innovations, like the use of bipolar technology to maximize volume utilization of lithium-ion batteries. There are also other companies pursuing similar breakthroughs. For instance, Watt Electric Vehicle Company is developing a solar-powered closed-loop production system. Other automakers are also investing in research and development for better EV chargers and infrastructure. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Energy solutions like these can make EVs more affordable. They could help drive EV adoption, going far beyond the 17.3 million electric cars produced in 2024 alone. For drivers looking to save even more, pairing an EV with home solar can drastically reduce charging costs. Platforms like EnergySage make it easy to compare quotes from vetted vendors, and can help you save up to $10,000 while minimizing environmental impact. While there's no firm rollout date yet, IAV's approach could contribute to a smarter, cleaner, and more accessible EV future. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Entrepreneur
an hour ago
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Why This Market Dip Is Your Chance to Accelerate Product Velocity, Win Customers and Own the Next Cycle
When markets go quiet and headlines fade, the founders who keep building, shipping, and listening are the ones who will be ready when the next bull run erupts without warning. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Crypto volumes have plunged from a post-Trump election surge of $126 billion to a mere $35 billion. Tech stocks remain sluggish compared to their former highs, even as the dollar hits a decade low. Venture capital feels like it's collectively holding its breath, with top Silicon Valley firms pivoting their business models. This isn't a collapse — far from it. It's a rare, fragile pause. A "wait and see" moment of equilibrium that, like all market pauses, likely won't last. Behind the headlines, a far bigger story is unfolding. The United States and China have quietly reopened high-level trade talks aimed at easing the tensions that have defined the past five years of decoupling and protectionism. According to Bloomberg, these negotiations are among the most serious since Trump-era tariffs began reshaping global supply chains. At the same time, China is reportedly loosening capital controls and courting global investors again, which suggests Beijing views the current economic stall as too risky to endure. If these talks produce breakthroughs — whether tariff rollbacks, a tech export détente or coordinated policy resets — investors can expect a market reaction not seen since early 2021. In short, this stillness may be the calm before the next global bull run. When capital floods back into high-growth sectors, it will do so suddenly and violently. Founders should see this moment for what it is: a gift. The quiet between cycles is the rarest and most valuable time to build. Attention is cheap. Competition is minimal. Customers are more accessible. And though investors seem quiet, they're watching closely for the teams that stayed focused while others lost steam. Related: Today's Biggest Companies Are Acting Like VCs. Here's Why Startup Founders Need to Pay Attention. For startup founders, the single most important mandate now is to increase velocity. This doesn't mean grinding longer hours or chasing a vague idea of "hustle." It means removing friction from your product cycle and delivering tangible features or updates to users every week. If your roadmap is quarterly, break it down into weekly shippable blocks. Tools like Linear and Notion help teams stay aligned without heavy process overhead. For UI or user-facing experiments, Figma remains one of the fastest ways to move from idea to prototype without slowing development. Founders must get hands-on with their products and focus on delivering value to power users. Equally critical is user proximity. It's easy to skip customer conversations when fundraising is tough and feature velocity slows, but that's exactly when listening matters most. Even five brief conversations can reshape your roadmap. Ask simple questions: What frustrates power users right now? What features did they stop using, and why? This feedback doesn't live in dashboards or pitch decks — it lives in the space between what users say and what they wish existed. Another key use of this pause is building owned distribution. Paid channels are overpriced during market stagnation, and unless you've raised a mega-round, you can't outbid incumbents. Instead, focus on organic reach and audience trust. Use content marketing tools like Substack or Beehiiv to grow an email list that's immune to algorithm shifts. Invest time in SEO and keyword ranking. Record short product explainers or vision videos with Loom or Descript — not to "go viral," but to humanize your build process and deepen audience trust through transparency. When markets heat up, people will remember the builders who kept showing up in the quiet— and say, "I've got the alpha on a hot project that's about to pop." Macro signals are aligning. Long-term bond yields are starting to wobble, suggesting markets expect increased government stimulus or monetary easing. Chinese capital markets are showing signs of foreign inflows again, especially in ETF activity across Hong Kong and Singapore. Central bank rhetoric is shifting — from "containment" to "cooperation." Once that shift becomes public and coordinated, markets will snap back, starting with high-risk, high-reward sectors like crypto, AI infrastructure, e-commerce and frontier B2B tooling. Here's the truth most won't say: you won't have time to prepare when that happens. The winners of the next cycle won't be those who waited patiently for conditions to improve. They'll be the founders who treated this silence like a sprint, not an intermission. Then boom! Silicon Valley's legendary VC, Tim Draper, wrote a social media post saying, "Slack transforms communication, Microsoft responds with Teams. Tesla enters the market, and suddenly every automaker rediscovers innovation. Progress happens in bursts of energy." Related: 6 Hidden Costs of Scaling Your Business Too Quickly Being first to market matters. That means launching scrappy MVPs before they're perfect. Writing landing pages before the product is done. Building waitlists and generating buzz, even if customer acquisition costs aren't optimized. This isn't the time for polish; it's the time for presence. Investors remember who shipped, who listened and who made noise without needing a bull market to do it for them. This moment in the cycle doesn't feel urgent, but it is. The silence is a setup. The only founders who survive the surge will be those building now, shipping weekly, while the world isn't watching. Ship faster. Build deeper. Talk to your loyal users. Grow your content channels. Engage. Because when capital returns, it won't send a save-the-date. It will kick the door down. And everything you've built in this quiet stretch will either stand or be swept away when the big players come in.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Signs for EV chargers to be fitted on major roads
Road signs for electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs will be introduced on major A roads in England, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. Officials hope the measure will encourage more drivers to switch to electric motoring. Concerns over the ability to recharge EVs on long journeys have been blamed for some motorists being reluctant to move on from petrol or diesel cars. The DfT also announced it will launch a £25 million scheme for local authorities to support residents without off-road parking to recharge EVs via cables connected to their homes which run along gullies embedded in pavements. This will enable thousands of drivers to access cheaper household electricity rates for recharging, rather than using more expensive public chargers. The DfT said drivers can save up to £1,500 by charging an EV at home, compared with running a petrol or diesel car. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the Government is making it 'easier and cheaper' to own an EV. She added: 'We know access to charging is a barrier for people thinking of making the switch, and we are tackling that head-on so that everyone – whether or not they have a driveway – can access the benefits of going electric.' Other EV measures announced by the Government include providing the NHS in England with an £8 million fund to support the electrification of ambulances and medical fleets across more than 200 sites. There will also be a new grant scheme to help businesses install charging points at vehicle depots nationwide, supporting the electrification of heavy goods vehicles, vans and coaches. AA president Edmund King said there are more public EV chargers than people realise but they are 'often hidden in plain sight'. He went on: 'Increasing signs for the public network is vital to help the EV transition as it will create confidence for drivers both now and in the future.' Delvin Lane, chief executive of charging company InstaVolt, said the introduction of charging signage on major roads is a 'crucial step'. He added: 'For years, we have emphasised that the UK's public EV infrastructure, so critical to mass adoption, is already largely in place, and now this signage will finally showcase it to drivers in a visible, accessible way.' The Government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars and vans from 2030. Under the Government's zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero emission, which generally means pure electric. Across all manufacturers, the figure during the first half of the year was 21.6%. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in April that sales of new hybrids that cannot be plugged in will be permitted to continue until 2035. Changes to the (Zev) mandate also mean it will be easier for manufacturers which do not meet the targets to avoid fines. Richard Fuller, a shadow Treasury minister, said: 'Investment in infrastructure is welcome, but Labour have slashed road funding while forcing families into more expensive electric vehicles before the country is ready, as this announcement clearly shows. 'Rachel Reeves's economic mismanagement and Keir Starmer's failure to control his own party have led to chaotic, unfunded U-turns, meaning more tax rises are on the way. Working people, the makers who create wealth, build businesses, deliver frontline services and drive our economy, are once again being punished for Labour's confusion and weakness. 'For too long, we've allowed a system that rewards takers rather than supporting those who work hard and play by the rules. Only the Conservatives stand for sound public finances, lower taxes, and real support for Britain's drivers, not unaffordable electric cars and impossible net-zero targets.'
