Author: Shaun Williams

Openreach said it has deployed its 7,000th electric van as part of an ongoing effort to electrify its fleet of approximately 23,000 vehicles across the United Kingdom. The company said the rollout has focused on ensuring battery-electric vans can meet the operational demands of engineers maintaining and expanding Openreach’s full-fibre broadband network in both urban and rural areas. Judy O’Keefe, director of fleet at Openreach, described the latest deployment milestone as significant but said the company’s transition strategy has centered on practical operational requirements rather than symbolic electrification goals. “That’s why our move away from diesel hasn’t been about making…

A European research consortium said passenger vehicles equipped with integrated solar modules could independently cover up to 55% of their annual energy demand in Central Europe and as much as 80% in Southern Europe, highlighting the growing potential of solar-assisted transportation technologies. The findings come from the EU-funded SolarMoves pilot project involving Dutch research organization TNO, Fraunhofer ISE, and companies Sono Motors, IM Efficiency and Lightyear. Since early 2024, the group has been studying the technical and operational potential of Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV), a technology that incorporates solar modules into parts of a vehicle including the roof, hood and…

Japanese automaker Nissan is considering exporting vehicles produced through its Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng Motor to Canada, as the company evaluates opportunities created by rising demand for lower-cost electric vehicles in the North American market. The potential move would expand the export footprint of Nissan’s China manufacturing operations beyond Latin America and into North America, according to a Bloomberg report published on Tuesday. “The Canadian government has opened the door for some China-made products, and Nissan is currently studying this seriously,” Christian Meunier, Nissan’s head of the Americas, said in an interview. Meunier did not identify which specific models…

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…

Motor Fuel Group has introduced Plug & Charge capability across 95% of its MFG EV Power charging network in the UK through a partnership with Octopus Electroverse. The companies said the system enables drivers of compatible electric vehicles to begin charging automatically by simply connecting their vehicle to a charger, with authentication and payment processed through the customer’s Electroverse account. According to MFG, the initiative is intended to simplify the charging process and reduce operational friction for EV drivers. The company noted that Plug & Charge functionality is only available for vehicles meeting specific technical and certification standards required for…

Renault has opened UK order books for the Renault 4 E-Tech electric ‘Plein Sud’, a new version of its compact electric vehicle featuring an electrically operated canvas roof inspired by the original Renault 4. The automaker said prices for the new variant begin at £27,445 on-the-road after application of the UK government’s £3,750 Electric Car Grant. First customer deliveries are scheduled for the third quarter of 2026. Renault said the retractable ‘Plein Sud’ roof draws inspiration from the fabric roof design used on the classic Renault 4 while adapting the concept for modern electric mobility. The company described the model…

The EU-funded MAXIMA project has announced the completion of its first development milestones as it works to create a cost-effective axial flux motor for electric vehicles with reduced reliance on permanent magnets. The project, formally known as Modular AXIal flux Motor for Automotive, was launched in 2023 with funding of 5.5 million euros from the European Union. MAXIMA aims to develop compact, high-performance electric motors while improving recyclability and reducing dependence on critical raw materials used in conventional motor designs. See also: Mercedes-Owned Yasa Develops Prototype In-Wheel Drive for High-Performance EVs Axial flux motors differ from traditional radial flux motors…

A research team at Fraunhofer IZM has developed a compact high-efficiency inverter for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries that delivers 500 kilowatts of output while occupying a volume of just one litre. According to the researchers, the inverter achieves an efficiency of 99% and was designed to reduce both size and production costs compared with existing high-performance systems used in electric drivetrains. The project was led by Wiljan Vermeer and the Power Electronic Systems group at Fraunhofer IZM, which focuses on power electronics and microintegration technologies. See also: Fraunhofer-Led Difference Project Targets Improved Recycling of Cell-To-Pack Batteries Inverters are critical components in…

Lexus has revealed the new Lexus TZ, a fully electric three-row SUV based on the upcoming Toyota Highlander BEV platform that is expected to reach European markets next year. The Lexus TZ becomes the latest addition to a growing family of large electric SUVs developed by Toyota and its affiliates. The model follows the recently introduced Toyota Highlander BEV and the Subaru Getaway from Subaru, both of which share much of the same underlying technology. While the Highlander BEV is initially intended for North America, Lexus plans to offer the TZ in Europe beginning in 2027. See also: Lexus Introduces…