Author: Shaun Williams

ZF has decided to continue producing electric motors and inverters internally following a strategic review of its Electrified Powertrain Technologies division, known as Division E. The decision concludes a “Make or Buy” review launched by the company to determine whether core electric powertrain components should continue to be manufactured internally or sourced from external suppliers. ZF Chief Executive Mathias Miedreich said the company had opted to retain production of key electric mobility technologies in-house. “The decision to produce the core components of electric powertrains, namely motors and inverters, was made in close collaboration with our employee representatives,” Miedreich said. “This…

Bosch has secured a major contract from Mercedes-Benz to supply electric motors for the automaker’s next generation of electric vehicle drive systems through the 2030s. The agreement covers the production of electric motors across multiple power classes, though Bosch did not disclose financial terms or specific production volumes. Unlike some of Bosch’s other electric vehicle supply contracts, the deal does not include fully integrated e-axle systems combining motors, transmissions and power electronics. Instead, Mercedes-Benz will integrate Bosch-supplied electric motors into its own proprietary drive units. The German automaker is already using a similar strategy in vehicles such as the all-electric…

Go-Ahead London has introduced 13 battery-electric Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV buses on Transport for London route 322, which operates between Crystal Palace and Clapham Common in south London. The deployment forms part of a wider rollout of the Enviro100EV platform within Go-Ahead London’s fleet, with a total of 60 units either already in service or scheduled for delivery. The operator said the buses are the first electric vehicles to enter passenger service from its Sydenham Garage, which opened in September 2025 and has become the company’s 14th depot supporting battery-electric bus operations. The Enviro100EV is an 8.5-metre electric midibus developed for…

More than 20 million battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were sold globally in 2025, with emerging economies increasingly contributing to the expansion of the electric vehicle market, according to a report by the International Council on Clean Transportation. The ICCT said roughly one in four new light-duty vehicles sold worldwide last year was either a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). China remained the world’s largest electric vehicle market, accounting for 62% of global light-duty EV sales and 71% of worldwide production, the report said. “China remained the world’s leading EV market, representing 62% of all global…

Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High-Tech has been provisionally awarded 92 million euros ($104 million) under Spain’s PERTE VEC electric mobility funding programme to support two battery-related projects in Valladolid, according to details released on the initiative. The projects include plans for a battery cathode manufacturing facility and a battery recycling plant, forming part of the company’s broader strategy to strengthen its battery supply chain presence in Europe and North Africa. Spain’s PERTE VEC programme has previously provided funding support to major automotive groups including Seat, Stellantis and PowerCo, with grants amounting to hundreds of millions of euros aimed at accelerating…

Rompetrol plans to build a new fast-charging network for electric passenger cars and commercial vehicles in Romania, with 30 charging stations scheduled to enter operation by the end of 2027. The project is being implemented by Rompetrol Financial Group, Rompetrol Downstream and KMG Rompetrol Development, all part of KMG International. According to the company, the charging network will span 26 locations across Romania and include infrastructure for both passenger vehicles and heavy-duty electric trucks. Rompetrol said 13 of the planned stations will specifically target electric trucks. These heavy-duty charging locations will each feature one charging point delivering up to 350…

United Kingdom will remove several regulatory restrictions affecting larger electric vans from June 2026, aligning many zero-emission commercial vehicles weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes with the rules applied to diesel and petrol vans. The reforms are intended to reduce operational costs and administrative burdens for fleet operators transitioning to electric vehicles. Under the updated regulations, battery-electric vans within the 3.5-to-4.25-tonne category will no longer be subject to heavy goods vehicle testing requirements. Instead, the vehicles will move into the Class 7 MOT framework used for conventional light commercial vehicles. The changes also mean new electric vans will require their…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has unveiled a battery-electric refuse truck concept designed to test how recycled and bio-based materials could be integrated into future commercial vehicle production across its lineup. The concept vehicle, named ReEconic and based on the Mercedes-Benz eEconic, was presented at the IFAT Munich environmental technology exhibition in Munich. The project brings together 33 industry partners and focuses on evaluating the practical use of recycled materials in areas such as the truck’s interior, body panels and glazing systems. Mercedes-Benz Trucks said the ReEconic will enter operational testing in the second half of 2026 at waste management company Remondis in…

Jeep said the fully electric Jeep Avenger now qualifies for the UK government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG), lowering the starting price of the compact electric SUV by £1,500. Following the incentive, the entry-level Jeep Avenger Full-Electric Longitude is now priced from £28,499 in the United Kingdom. The grant also applies to the Altitude and Summit trims, which are now available from £30,499 and £32,499 respectively, according to the company. Jeep said the Avenger Full-Electric offers a WLTP driving range of up to 248 miles and is equipped with an electric powertrain delivering 116 kW and 260 Nm of torque. The…

Driivz has partnered with Duracell E-Charge to support the rollout of an ultra-fast electric vehicle charging network across the United Kingdom. Under the agreement, Driivz will provide software services covering charging operations, billing, roaming, remote diagnostics and network management. The companies said the platform is intended to simplify operational management for charge point operators by providing session monitoring, billing systems and settlement services. According to Driivz, the software also includes real-time charger monitoring and automated fault management designed to improve charger uptime and availability. The company said its platform supports “advanced algorithms for self-healing capabilities” aimed at maximising charging network…

Iveco Bus has secured two contracts to supply battery-electric buses for the public transport network of Limoges Métropole in France, including articulated Bus Rapid Transit vehicles and standard electric buses. The company said deliveries will begin in 2028 and continue over a four-year period. Under the agreements, Iveco Bus will provide between 20 and 45 articulated GX 437 Elec Linium buses through its French subsidiary Heuliez. The associated charging infrastructure for the articulated bus fleet will be supplied, installed and maintained by Dalkia Electrotechnics. In a separate order, Iveco Bus also confirmed the supply of 13 GX 337 Elec standard…

Lotus has revised its earlier plan to become an all-electric vehicle manufacturer by 2028, outlining a new strategy that includes a larger role for plug-in hybrids and continued use of internal combustion engine technology. The British performance car brand, owned by Geely, said in its newly presented Focus 2030 strategy that it now expects plug-in hybrid vehicles to account for around 60% of its electrified portfolio by the end of the decade, while battery-electric vehicles would represent about 40%. The move marks a significant shift from the company’s 2021 announcement that it would transition exclusively to battery-electric vehicles from 2028…