Author: Shaun Williams

A new German research initiative is seeking to overcome the barriers preventing the widespread adoption of fully electric construction sites by taking a holistic approach that integrates construction machinery, energy infrastructure, and digital planning tools. The project, known as ForBat@Bau, is led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and aims to create a framework for economically viable, battery-electric construction operations. The three-year initiative has received approximately €1.9 million in funding from the Bavarian Transformation and Research Foundation. Moving Beyond Individual Machines While battery-electric construction equipment has become increasingly available, fully electrified construction sites remain rare. According to the researchers,…

Audi has opened UK order books for the updated Q4 e-tron, introducing a refreshed version of its electric compact SUV with improved range, faster charging capabilities and the brand’s first bidirectional charging functionality. Priced from £46,260 on-the-road for the SUV variant, the updated Q4 e-tron is available in both SUV and Sportback body styles and across four trim levels: Sport, S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung. First customer deliveries are expected later this summer. The revised model arrives as Audi seeks to build on the Q4 e-tron’s strong performance in the UK market, where it ranked as the country’s third…

BYD expects its sales performance this year to be largely determined by battery production capacity, with a more significant release of volume expected in 2027 as manufacturing bottlenecks ease, according to Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu. Speaking at BYD’s annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, Wang said the company’s battery production remains under pressure following the introduction of its second-generation Blade Battery and ultra-fast charging technology. The event attracted about 1,000 attendees, a record turnout for the company, according to The Paper reports. Battery Capacity Remains the Key Constraint Wang said BYD’s latest battery technologies have addressed one of the biggest…

A real-world range test conducted by automotive publication Edmunds has found that the 2026 Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) can travel nearly 400 miles (643 km) on a single charge, exceeding its official EPA-rated range and highlighting continued improvements in EV efficiency. The test vehicle, a Premium version of the 2026 Model 3 RWD, covered 393 miles (632 km) before depleting its battery, surpassing Tesla’s EPA-estimated range of 363 miles (584 km) by approximately 30 miles (48 km), or 8.3%. Efficiency Tops Edmunds Rankings Edmunds described the Model 3 as the most efficient mass-produced battery-electric vehicle it has tested…

Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer Clean Motion has introduced an extended version of its EVIG Memorial electric vehicle, specifically designed for funeral transport applications. The new EVIG Memorial Extended expands the company’s zero-emission mobility offering for funeral service providers by providing sufficient space to transport coffins while retaining the quiet electric drivetrain and compact design of the original model. The vehicle was developed in collaboration with Bestattung Wien, one of Europe’s largest funeral service organizations, and was showcased at the BEFA FORUM trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany. Designed for Funeral Transportation The EVIG Memorial Extended is based on Clean Motion’s existing…

Schaeffler AG has unveiled a range of new electrification technologies designed to improve energy efficiency, battery performance, and vehicle integration as electric vehicle architectures become increasingly complex. The German automotive supplier presented its latest developments at the 13th Schaeffler Automotive Symposium held in Bühl, Germany, on 8 June 2026. The company used the event to outline its strategy of integrating high-voltage systems, battery technologies, and thermal management into a unified energy management approach for future electric vehicles. Focus on System-Level Energy Management According to Schaeffler, maximizing EV performance increasingly depends on how individual systems interact rather than on improvements to…

Audi has unveiled the Nuvolari, a limited-edition hybrid supercar that revives one of the brand’s most iconic names and is set to become the most powerful production vehicle in the company’s history. Restricted to 499 units, the Audi Nuvolari combines a high-performance hybrid powertrain with a new design language inspired by the brand’s future sports car strategy. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027. The model takes its name from the 2003 Nuvolari quattro concept, which was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of legendary Italian racing driver…

Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) has started production of the 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid in Georgia, marking the first Kia-branded vehicle and the first hybrid model to be assembled at the company’s new manufacturing facility. The launch adds the Sportage Hybrid to the plant’s production portfolio alongside the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Hyundai IONIQ 9 battery-electric SUVs, making it the third vehicle currently built at the site. The milestone also expands Kia’s manufacturing footprint in the United States as the automaker increases local production of electrified vehicles. First Hybrid Model at Metaplant HMGMA was designed as a flexible manufacturing…

The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team will deploy a battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 truck across all nine European races on the 2026 Formula One calendar, a move the team says makes it the first F1 team to use an electric truck throughout an entire European race season. The eActros 600 will transport one of the team’s race trailers between events, covering approximately 15,000 kilometres over the next three months as the championship travels between venues including Monaco and Madrid. The truck arrived in Monaco from the team’s headquarters in Brackley, England, on June 1 ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix,…

Murata Manufacturing has introduced a new soft-termination chip multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) designed for automotive applications, claiming it is the first product in the industry to achieve a capacitance of 2.2μF at 100Vdc in the compact 0805-inch package size. The new component, designated GCJ21BD72A225KE02, is aimed at automotive powertrain and safety systems as vehicle manufacturers increasingly adopt 48V electrical architectures and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), creating demand for higher-performance passive components within limited circuit board space. Automotive Electrification Driving Demand The shift toward 48V systems is prompting automakers to use components capable of handling higher voltages while maintaining compact dimensions.…

Subaru’s new E-Outback and Uncharted battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have both received the maximum five-star rating in the 2026 Euro NCAP safety assessment, achieving strong results across all major crash-test categories. According to Subaru UK and Ireland, both models exceeded the minimum requirements in adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and safety assistance systems. Strong Occupant Protection Scores The Subaru E-Outback achieved an adult occupant protection score of 89%, while the Uncharted scored 88%. Both vehicles received an identical score of 85% for child occupant protection. The results place the two electric models among the latest vehicles…

GAC has partnered with Sinopec to launch a new retail model that allows customers to view, purchase and service vehicles directly at the energy company’s gas stations. The initiative marks a new approach to automotive retailing in China as automakers seek alternative sales channels in an increasingly competitive market. First Integrated Energy and Auto Service Station Opens According to GAC, China’s first integrated “energy and auto” service station has opened in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province. The facility combines vehicle display, sales, maintenance and fueling services within a single location. The companies said the model is designed to improve access to automotive…

Knorr-Bremse has secured a new series production order for its electric power steering (EPS) system from a commercial vehicle manufacturer in the Asia-Pacific region, further expanding its presence in the market for electrified and automated vehicle technologies. The company said production for the new program is scheduled to begin in 2028, adding to existing EPS contracts already secured in Europe and Asia. Growing Demand for Electric Steering Systems The latest order reflects increasing demand for steering technologies designed to support electric and automated commercial vehicles. Unlike conventional hydraulic steering systems, Knorr-Bremse’s EPS technology operates on a power-on-demand basis, consuming energy…

A new study from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has found that plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) in Europe emit substantially more carbon dioxide in real-world driving than indicated by official certification figures, with the gap widening in recent years. According to the research, real-world emissions from plug-in hybrids were, on average, 400% higher than official values in 2023, equivalent to approximately five times the certified level. The discrepancy increased from 265% in 2021, which the ICCT attributed largely to an overestimation of how frequently drivers operate these vehicles in electric mode. Gap Between Official and Real-World Emissions Widens…

Setra has entered its MultiClass S 515 LE hybrid intercity bus in the Bus Euro Test 2026 in Hungary, showcasing a model that combines a conventional diesel powertrain with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The entry highlights ongoing demand among European bus operators for hybrid solutions as fleets gradually transition toward fully electric transport. The S 515 LE is one of four new body variants introduced as part of Setra’s expanded MultiClass range. Mild Hybrid System Supports Efficiency The vehicle is powered by a 260 kW OM 936 six-cylinder diesel engine paired with a ZF Ecolife 2 six-speed automatic transmission.…

MG Motor is preparing to expand its premium electric vehicle offering in Europe with the launch of the IM5 sedan and IM6 sport utility vehicle in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The two battery-electric models, marketed under MG’s IM sub-brand, are scheduled to arrive in the four markets in July, following their initial European launch in the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland last year. Pricing and detailed market-specific specifications have not yet been announced. Premium EV Brand Expands European Presence IM Motors was established in 2020 through a partnership between SAIC Motor, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. The company began…

BMW is reportedly reviewing plans to introduce electric Mini production at its Oxford plant in the United Kingdom, as concerns over post-Brexit trade rules and increasing manufacturing costs raise questions about the project’s long-term viability. The automaker announced in 2023 that the Oxford facility would begin producing two battery-electric Mini models from 2026, including the electric Mini Cooper three-door hatchback and the Mini Aceman compact crossover. BMW had also outlined plans for the plant to transition fully to electric vehicle production by 2030. However, German business publication WirtschaftsWoche reported that the company is reconsidering those plans due to regulatory and…

Karsan announced a series of product, battery and charging technology developments for its electric bus lineup at the Next Mobility Exhibition (NME) in Milan, while confirming that it has delivered more than 400 electric buses in Italy and has over 100 additional vehicles scheduled for delivery in 2026. Speaking at the event in May, Halit Özgür Altınsoy, International Sales Director at Karsan, outlined the company’s progress in the Italian market and detailed upcoming developments for its electric and hydrogen-powered vehicle portfolio. According to Karsan, the company has delivered 424 electric buses in Italy through its local organization, Karsan Europe, and…

Lightship has introduced PowerSled, a mobile electric power platform designed to provide energy storage and on-site electricity supply for construction, infrastructure, emergency response and off-grid operations. The company said the system offers up to 240 kWh of usable battery capacity and can deliver 38 kW of continuous vehicle-to-load (V2L) power output, while also serving as a transport platform for equipment and cargo. Based on Existing Electric Trailer Technology PowerSled builds on technology originally developed for Lightship’s AE.1 Aero-Electric travel trailer. The platform incorporates the company’s TrekDrive propulsion-assist system, which can provide active assistance while being towed, reducing towing-related energy losses.…

Ford is planning to bring back the Escape nameplate as an all-electric compact crossover later this decade, according to a report from Ford Authority. The vehicle, internally designated U833, is expected to enter production at Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky in 2029. The electric crossover would revive the Escape model after production of the gasoline-powered version ended at the facility in December 2025. Escape Nameplate Expected to Return The Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair were discontinued at Louisville Assembly last year, leaving Ford without a compact crossover offering in a segment that continues to attract significant consumer demand. Reports…