Electrifying heavy-duty transport does not necessarily have to start with the tractor unit. Michael W. Nimtsch, Managing Director of the German company Trailer Dynamics, sees the trailer as the missing piece in the drivetrain transition. We spoke with him about the opportunities offered by electric trailers. Read more…
Author: electrive.com
Windrose to introduce Plug&Charge for its electric trucks
Hubject and Windrose Technology have announced a strategic partnership to enable Plug&Charge authentication for Windrose’s electric trucks. The Chinese manufacturer aims to simplify access to global megawatt charging networks. Read more…
Survey: German logistics firms increasingly trust battery-electric trucks
Acceptance of electric trucks is rising among logistics companies in Germany. This is demonstrated by a new representative study by the Öko-Institut, which surveyed over 200 logistics professionals nationwide. However, knowledge gaps around costs, infrastructure and the regulatory framework are still slowing the market ramp-up. We summarise the key findings. Read more…
Tesla Grünheide: Giga United list prevails in works council election
The votes have been counted in the works council election at Tesla’s German Gigafactory in Grünheide. The Giga United list, led by current works council chair Michaela Schmitz, secured nearly 41 per cent of the vote, ahead of the IG Metall list with around 31 per cent. Read more…
Kögel unveils optimised semi-trailer for battery-electric tractors
Kögel Trailer GmbH has presented a modified semi-trailer designed specifically for use with battery-electric trucks. Thanks to its design, the trailer reduces the load on the tractor unit’s drive axle by up to two tonnes compared to conventional curtain-sided trailers – which, according to Kögel, can translate into higher payload. Read more…
Barcelona offers €600 subsidy for electric moped purchases
The Barcelona city administration has launched a four-year subsidy program to replace combustion-engine mopeds with electric mopeds. Funded with a budget of 15 million euros, the program aims to introduce up to 20,000 new e-mopeds and establish a network of battery-swapping stations. Read more…
Lexus discontinues UX 300e electric SUV
Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus has discontinued the all-electric UX 300e in numerous markets. While the UX series remains available, it is now only offered with hybrid powertrains—including in Germany. Read more…
Wales compares electric and hydrogen refuse trucks
Wales has launched a trial comparing hydrogen and battery-electric refuse collection vehicles. The demonstration in South East Wales will collect real-world data on energy use, range and operational performance to support future decisions on zero-emission municipal fleets. Read more…
NFI opens Winnipeg facility for fully Canadian-built electric buses
NFI Group has opened a new Customer Acceptance and Delivery (CAD) facility in Winnipeg, enabling full domestic production of heavy-duty transit buses – including battery-electric models – in Canada for the first time in 15 years. The site is set to expand production capacity and support the rollout of zero-emission buses. Read more…
FedEx deploys 14 Mercedes eSprinter vans in the UAE
As part of its transition to zero-emission vehicles, FedEx has deployed 14 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter vans in the UAE. This marks the first time the company has introduced the German electric van in the Middle East. Read more…
Changan subsidiary develops detachable range extender
Changan’s subsidiary Hunan Tianyan is developing a retrofittable Power Turbine Generator (PTG) to equip pure electric vehicles with a range extender—flexibly attachable as needed. Read more…
Aptera builds first solar EV on validation production line
California-based solar EV developer Aptera Motors has built the first vehicle on its validation assembly line. The company says the milestone marks an important step towards regulatory certification and the start of initial customer deliveries. Read more…
EU unveils Industrial Accelerator Act to boost ‘Made in Europe’ clean tech
EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné has unveiled the long-awaited ‘Industrial Accelerator Act.’ With this industrial strategy, the EU Commission aims to boost domestic production, create jobs, and make the EU less dependent on the USA and China. This will impact numerous sectors—including the automotive industry. Read more…
MAN invests €300 million in service network with focus on e-mobility
MAN Truck & Bus plans to invest around €300 million in the expansion of its European service network by 2030. According to the company, this represents the largest investment programme of its kind in its history, with €100 million earmarked specifically for electric mobility and digitalisation. Read more…
Plenitude and Pininfarina develop new charging station concept
Plenitude, the charging infrastructure subsidiary of Italian energy company Eni, has entered into a strategic partnership with Italian design firm Pininfarina. The collaboration will focus on the concept development and design of a new generation of EV charging stations. Read more…
Hyundai and Kia invest in battery software specialist Qnovo
California-based battery management specialist Qnovo has secured a strategic investment from Hyundai and Kia. The move follows several years of validation testing between the companies. The parties have not disclosed the financial details of the investment. Read more…
Alpitronic unveils new generation of the Hypercharger HYC400
For over two years, Alpitronic has offered the Hypercharger HYC400. Now, the Italian charging station manufacturer has unveiled a new generation of its fast-charging station. The HYC400 Series 2 still maintains a maximum charging power of 400 kW. The development focused primarily on user needs—and, consequently, on barrier-free access. Read more…
EU project MiNaMi develops long-life fuel cell system for large ships
The EU project MiNaMi aims to advance hydrogen propulsion in shipping. Nine partners are working to develop Europe’s first PEM fuel cell system in the megawatt range, designed for a service life of 80,000 operating hours or more than one million nautical miles at a speed of 12.5 knots. Read more…
Canada eases tariffs on limited number of China-made electric vehicles
The Canadian government is allowing up to 24,500 electric vehicles from China to enter the country at a significantly reduced tariff rate within six months. Importers will only have to pay the recently negotiated tariff rate of 6.1 percent between the governments of Canada and China. Read more…
Volvo to increase production of EX60 amid strong demand
Volvo Cars plans to increase production of its new mid-size electric SUV, the EX60. According to the company, demand for the model is exceeding internal forecasts – even though the EX60 is currently available to order only in Europe. Read more…
