Former Volkswagen Boss Diess Unveils Electric Tractor Plans
Former Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess has founded Diess E‑Agrartechnik AG in Munich to launch a mid‑range electric tractor by 2027. The tractor will feature a swappable battery system that enables 24/7 operation and claims to cut operating costs by 50% compared with diesel models. Diess also plans a network of battery‑swap stations, solar‑powered chargers and future autonomous implements. The venture marks Diess’s shift from automotive to agri‑tech, leveraging his experience from VW’s GenFarm project.
Stellantis to Build Next-Generation Electric Vehicles in Mulhouse
President Emmanuel Macron announced that Stellantis will pour more than €1 billion (about $1.08 billion) into a next‑generation electric‑vehicle line at its Mulhouse plant starting in 2029. The investment is part of France’s broader electrification strategy, which aims to halve the nation’s...
New Driving Assistant From Mercedes Available in Germany From Late 2026
Mercedes‑Benz will roll out its new MB.Drive Assist Pro driver‑assistance system in Stuttgart and Munich by the end of 2026, with a nationwide German launch slated for early 2027. The Level 2 solution lets the vehicle steer, brake and accelerate autonomously...
New York Eases Electric School Bus Mandate
New York’s budget plan pushes back its electric school‑bus procurement mandate from 2027 to 2032 and delays the target for a fully electrified fleet to 2040, five years later than originally set. The change follows pressure from school districts concerned...
Nissan May Abandon Plans for Sunderland E-Axle Factory
Nissan’s JATCO subsidiary has scrapped its planned e‑axle plant in Sunderland, which would have been the automaker’s first European component facility. The project, budgeted at ¥9 billion (about $60 million) and sized for 340,000 units annually, was halted due to weak EV...
An Post Halves Emissions as EVs Top 50% of Fleet
Irish postal operator An Post announced that it has halved its carbon emissions compared with 2009 levels, achieving its target three months ahead of schedule. Electric vehicles now represent more than half of the company’s delivery fleet, with 575 new...
EU Lawmakers Challenge Tax Privileges for Combustion-Engine Company Cars
The European Parliament is drafting legislation to eliminate tax advantages for combustion‑engine company cars starting in 2028, reserving such incentives exclusively for battery‑electric vehicles built in Europe. The move aligns with the European Commission’s Automotive Package, which ties public funding...
New York Awards $6 Million for Vehicle-Grid Integration Projects
New York State’s energy agency NYSERDA has allocated more than $6 million to seven vehicle‑grid integration projects. The funding supports bidirectional charging, managed charging, wireless charging and thermal storage pilots ranging from electric refuse trucks to Manhattan‑based charging platforms. The largest...
Targeted Thefts Force HPC Charging Stations Offline Near Naples
A wave of targeted thefts has forced several high‑power charging (HPC) stations operated by Enel X Way to go offline across the Naples metropolitan area. Unknown perpetrators dismantled the charging cabinets and stole the internal power‑stack modules that enable fast...
“Europe Must Close Ranks on Bidirectional Charging” As Germany Dawdles
Germany is lagging behind its European peers in deploying bidirectional vehicle‑to‑grid (V2G) charging, despite a growing number of pilots such as a MAN electric‑truck demonstration and several passenger‑car models ready for two‑way power flow. Industry leaders including BMW, Ford, Volkswagen...
Zunder Launches Charging Infrastructure Software Kawat for Third Parties
Spanish EV charger operator Zunder has released its in‑house charging‑network software, Kawat, as a commercial platform for third parties. The cloud‑based solution merges charge‑point management (CPMS) and e‑mobility service provider (eMSP) capabilities, enabling operators to control heterogeneous hardware from a...
Kempower Supplies Fast Chargers for APM Terminals Globally
Finnish charger maker Kempower has signed a global framework agreement with APM Terminals to provide DC fast‑charging infrastructure for port operations. Pilot installations are already active in Mexico, Morocco and Peru, supporting the rollout of battery‑electric container handlers. The agreement,...
Audi Tests A2 E-Tron Ahead of Autumn Premiere
Audi unveiled a camouflaged prototype of its upcoming A2 e‑Tron, the brand's first entry‑level electric model, ahead of an autumn 2026 launch. The compact EV is currently undergoing a series of rigorous tests, including cold‑weather trials in Lapland, wind‑tunnel aerodynamic work,...
EIB Loans Billion-Euro Sum for Hamburg’s Distribution Grid and Electric Buses
The European Investment Bank approved a €1 billion ($1.08 billion) loan to Hamburger Energienetze (HNE) to modernise Hamburg’s electricity distribution grid, and a €125 million ($135 million) loan to Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg‑Holstein (VHH) for 188 new battery‑electric buses. HNE plans to spend €2.9 billion ($3.13 billion) on...
Study Highlights Potential of Solar Modules on Vehicle Roofs
A EU‑funded consortium led by TNO, Fraunhofer ISE, Sono Motors, IM Efficiency and Lightyear released findings from the SolarMoves project, showing that integrated solar modules can supply a large share of a vehicle’s electricity. In Central Europe, SUVs could meet...
Autel Energy Europe Highlights Integrated Charging Solutions for Growing Infrastructure Demands
Autel Energy Europe unveiled an integrated charging platform designed for Europe’s fast‑growing EV market. The DS600L backbone delivers up to 3 MW of scalable power, while the MaxiCharger DT300 supports ten vehicles per cabinet and the compact DH120 targets fleet and...
SBRS Introduces 500 kW Charging System for Commercial Vehicles
Shell subsidiary SBRS has launched the PowerPack 500, a modular DC fast‑charging system delivering up to 500 kW for heavy‑duty commercial vehicles in Europe. The all‑in‑one unit starts with two charging points and can scale to six connectors without any depot redesign....
Reading to Install 2,600 On-Street EV Charge Points with char.gy
Reading Borough Council has teamed with charge‑point operator char.gy to install roughly 2,600 on‑street electric‑vehicle chargers over a 15‑year period. The initiative, backed by £866,000 from the UK government’s LEVI fund, aims to have at least 90% of households without...
Pod Point Acquires EO Charging in the UK
Pod Point, EDF’s UK EV‑charging arm, announced the acquisition of EO Charging, a former administrator that had built a fleet‑focused portfolio for customers like Amazon and Tesco. The deal adds EO’s depot‑charging software, ISO 15118‑compliant hardware, and a roster of commercial‑fleet contracts,...
Bosch Secures Major Order From Mercedes-Benz for Electric Motors
Bosch has landed a high‑volume order from Mercedes‑Benz to supply electric motors for the automaker’s next‑generation EVs through the 2030s. Unlike full e‑axles, Mercedes‑Benz will integrate Bosch’s motors into its own drive units, leveraging Bosch’s 98% efficiency and up to...
Xiaomi Sets up Subsidiary for Battery and Electric Motor Production
Xiaomi has launched a new subsidiary, Beijing Xiaomi Jingxu Technology, to manufacture electric‑vehicle batteries and motors. The unit, fully owned by Xiaomi Intelligent Technology, was registered with about $1.4 million in capital. A joint‑venture battery plant, involving CATL, BAIC and others,...
Gotion Receives €92 Million for Two Battery Projects in Spain
Chinese battery maker Gotion High‑Tech has been provisionally awarded a €92 million ($100 million) grant from Spain’s PERTE VEC e‑Mobility programme for two projects in Valladolid. The projects, backed by a €944.3 million ($1.03 billion) investment, will build a battery‑cathode plant and a recycling...
Testing the Entry-Level Model Y: Where and How Tesla Stripped Back Its Bestseller
Tesla’s entry‑level Model Y Rear‑Wheel‑Drive hit the European market in autumn 2025, driving a 59.6% jump in Q1 registrations and a 101.9% surge in March. Priced at €39,990 (≈$43,600) before incentives, the model can be reduced to €30,990 (≈$33,800) after a...
“We Are Working on Subscription Models Across Multiple CPOs” – Wilhelm Henriksson, Plugsurfing
Plugsurfing, founded in 2012 to aggregate fragmented European EV chargers, has evolved from a consumer‑focused app into a B2B platform serving OEMs, fleet operators, and fuel‑card providers. After acquisitions by Fortum and later Corpay, the company now emphasizes API‑based integrations,...
Romania: Rompetrol Rolls Out Fast-Charging Network for EVs and E-Trucks
Rompetrol, part of KMG International, will install a 30‑station fast‑charging network across 26 locations in Romania, targeting both passenger EVs and heavy‑duty trucks. The 13 truck‑focused stations will deliver up to 350 kW per point, while the remaining sites will offer...
UK Removes HGV Rules for Larger Electric Vans
The UK government will strip heavy‑goods‑vehicle testing, tachograph and driver‑hours rules from electric vans weighing 3.5‑4.25 tonnes starting June 2026, moving them into the Class 7 MOT regime used for light commercial vehicles. The reforms, driven by the Zero Emission Van Plan coalition,...
BYD Puts 500th Electric Bus on Japanese Roads
Chinese EV maker BYD has delivered six K8 electric buses to Nankai Rinkan Bus, bringing its total fleet in Japan to 500 units. The new buses will run on the Koyasan Inland Line in Wakayama Prefecture, marking BYD’s first commercial...
Lotus Doubles Down on Hybrids While Scaling Back BEV Ambitions
Lotus has abandoned its 2028 all‑electric target, opting for a mixed‑powertrain lineup through 2030. The Focus 2030 plan calls for 40% battery‑electric vehicles and 60% plug‑in hybrids, while still producing internal combustion models. New offerings include the Eletre X hybrid SUV for...
Generational Highlights Importance of Battery Health Check for Used PHEVs
UK diagnostics firm Generational analysed 2,000 used plug‑in cars, split evenly between PHEVs and BEVs. While average battery state of health (SoH) was similar—94.27% for PHEVs versus 94.94% for BEVs—the spread was wider for hybrids, with a 5.48% standard deviation...
93% of Battery-Electric Truck Users Are Highly Satisfied
A recent Oeko‑Institut survey of 57 German transport firms using heavy‑duty battery‑electric trucks for at least a year found a 93% satisfaction rate. The study, conducted with Daimler Truck’s eActros 600 users, highlights superior reliability, driver comfort and economic benefits such...
Source Taps Siemens and Evolt for EV Charger Maintenance
Source has teamed with Siemens eMobility and Evolt Charging to create a single‑partner maintenance model for its UK and Ireland EV‑charging network. Siemens will supply DC fast‑charging hardware while Evolt will handle installation, commissioning and field‑maintenance across all sites. The arrangement is...
Around the Globe with the eActros 600 in 80 Charging Sessions
Mercedes‑Benz Trucks is partnering with German truck‑driver influencer Tobias Wagner to circumnavigate the globe in a production eActros 600 electric truck. The 45,000‑kilometre journey across more than 35 countries will involve roughly 80 charging stops and is slated to begin in...
Sungrow Expert Christos Tsegkis: “The Combination of PV, Storage, and Charging Is Highly Attractive”
Sungrow, a Chinese power‑electronics pioneer, is leveraging its Munich hub to roll out a full suite of EV‑charging solutions across Europe. Its portfolio now spans AC wallboxes from 22 kW to 3.5 MW, DC chargers up to 480 kW, and the ultra‑fast ChargeStack 1000...
First Bus Uses Electric Bus Depots to Support the Grid
First Bus has launched the UK’s first smart‑charging trial for its electric‑bus fleet, beginning at a Glasgow depot and slated to expand to Great Yarmouth. Partnering with Optimo Energy, the trial uses a platform that synchronises charging with real‑time grid...
Ampeco Teams up with Plugsurfing on Roaming for eMSPs
Ampeco has partnered with Plugsurfing to add a managed roaming solution for eMSPs across Europe. The integration uses a single Roam‑OCPI interface, giving eMSP customers access to over one million charging points in 28 countries. The managed roaming option joins...
PPC Plans 34 Fast-Charging Sites in Greece and Romania
Greece’s Public Power Corporation (PPC) will roll out 106 fast and ultra‑fast electric‑vehicle chargers at 34 strategically placed sites across Greece and Romania. The deployment, part of the EU‑backed Blue Route 4E programme, is funded with up to €3.42 million (about $3.7 million)...
Ten More eEconic Vehicles for Frankfurt
Frankfurt's waste‑management firm FES has placed an order for ten additional Mercedes‑Benz eEconic trucks, bringing its electric low‑floor fleet to 34 units. The vehicles share a 291 kWh battery pack (97 kWh usable per pack) that supports a full day of collection...
Uganda Targets Fossil-Fuel Free Public Transport by 2030
Uganda announced a $1.7 billion public‑transport electrification plan aiming to replace all buses and boda‑bodas with electric models by 2030. The initiative, part of the Fourth National Development Plan and the National E‑Mobility Strategy, has already secured $800 million in funding commitments....
Malaysia Tightens Norms for Imported EVs
Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry announced that from July 1 2026 only franchise‑approved permit holders may import fully built electric vehicles (CBU) with a CIF value of at least RM200,000 (about $44,000) and a powertrain output of 180 kW. The rule...
Norwegian Consortium Develops Inductive Ship Charger for Offshore Applications
A Norwegian consortium of research institute SINTEF and shipbuilder Vard is developing an inductive charging adapter for battery‑electric service vessels operating offshore. The laboratory prototype can already transfer 50 kW wirelessly, and the design envisions a crane‑mounted system capable of delivering...
Hunan Yuneng Plans Cathode Material Factory in Spain
Chinese battery material maker Hunan Yuneng announced a €800 million ($872 million) investment to build a lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) cathode plant in Mérida, Spain. The first phase will cost €125 million ($136 million) and deliver 50,000 tonnes of cathode material annually, with a later expansion to...
IFAT Munich Showcases Next Generation of Municipal Electric Vehicles
At IFAT 2026 in Munich, leading European truck makers showcased their latest electric municipal vehicles. Mercedes‑Benz introduced the eEconic 400 with a larger 400 kWh battery and announced an initial Copenhagen order of six units. Volvo displayed a next‑generation FM Electric 6×2...
Nissan Equips the Ariya with New Features for the Upcoming Model Year
Nissan has refreshed the 2026 Ariya with subtle exterior tweaks, a new paint option and a host of interior upgrades, including extra storage, a 15 W wireless‑charging pad with cooling, and 64‑color ambient lighting. The EV now ships with deeper Google...
British H2 Truck Company HVS Sold at Steep Discount
Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS), a Scottish fuel‑cell truck developer founded in 2017, was sold in a pre‑pack administration for £145,000 (approximately $186,000). The company, which once employed about 70 staff and relied on UK grants and private capital, ran out...
Electric Mercedes C-Class Starts at €67,711
Mercedes‑Benz opened orders for its all‑electric C‑Class C400 4MATIC, pricing the German‑spec base model at €67,711 (about $73,800) including VAT. The sedan sits on the same MB.EA‑M 800‑volt architecture as the GLC 400 4MATIC, offering a 94 kWh battery, up to 762 km (≈475 mi) WLTP...
Ballard to Supply Fuel Cell Modules for New Solaris H2 Bus
Ballard Power Systems will equip Solaris’s next‑generation hydrogen bus with its new FCmove‑SC fuel‑cell module. The partnership, which began in 2019, previously used the 70 kW FCmove‑HD and 100 kW FCmove‑HD+ modules for the 12‑metre and 18‑metre Urbino models. Ballard’s order for...
UK Passes Two Million EVs as Market Share Hits 26%
The United Kingdom has officially crossed the two‑million mark for registered battery‑electric vehicles, underscoring rapid e‑mobility adoption. In April, 39,084 new BEVs were logged, representing 26.2% of all new car registrations and a 59.1% year‑over‑year increase. Despite this momentum, the...
Komatsu Launches PC9000-12 Mining Excavator with Electric Drive Option
Komatsu has launched the PC9000-12, the largest hydraulic mining excavator in its lineup, now offered worldwide with a diesel or fully electric drive option. The electric variant features two 1,700 kW motors and an operating weight of up to 896 tonnes. With...
Nissan Completely Abandons Plans for EV Production in Mississippi
Nissan has fully scrapped its plan to build electric vehicles at the Canton, Mississippi plant, a move that follows a year‑long postponement after U.S. federal EV incentives expired. The company had intended to launch two battery‑electric crossovers—one under Nissan and...
California Fleets Order 60 Tesla Semi Trucks via Forum Mobility
Two California logistics firms have placed a combined order for 60 Tesla Semi trucks through electric fleet services provider Forum Mobility. Big F Transport will receive 40 units and Nica Container Freight Line 20, with all trucks slated to charge at Forum's...