Author: Shaun Williams

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…

Ford Motor has reportedly reached an agreement with Geely involving the use of the “Body 3” assembly hall at Ford’s Almussafes plant in Valencia, according to Spanish automotive publication La Tribuna de Automoción. Neither Ford nor Geely has officially confirmed the reported agreement. Citing industry sources, the report said Geely is considering producing an electrified vehicle for the European market at the Spanish facility using its Global Intelligent Electric Architecture (GEA) platform. The platform supports multiple powertrain types, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric systems. See also: Geely Auto April Sales Rise 0.45% to 235,164 Vehicles as Overseas Exports Surge…

Germany’s automotive industry may be further advanced in its transition toward electric mobility than public debate often suggests, according to a new strategy paper published by Fraunhofer ISI, although the study also revealed divisions within the sector over emissions policy and the speed of change. The survey, completed at the end of 2025, gathered responses from automotive executives shortly after the European Commission introduced its draft Automotive Package, which is expected to include some easing of CO2 regulations. Fraunhofer ISI said the subsequent political debate surrounding the proposals was not reflected in the survey results. See also: Fraunhofer-Led Difference Project…

Greenlane Infrastructure is expanding its public charging network for battery-electric commercial vehicles beyond California with new charging sites planned in Dallas and Houston. The two facilities will be located along the Interstate 45 corridor, one of the busiest freight routes in the United States. According to Greenlane, each Texas site will include between six and eight pull-through charging lanes designed for heavy-duty electric trucks, along with tractor parking and charging facilities. The charging infrastructure will support both CCS connectors for current-generation battery-electric trucks and Megawatt Charging System (MCS) connectors intended for next-generation heavy-duty vehicles. Greenlane said the dual charging capability…

Lucid Motors has withdrawn its annual production guidance for 2026 after supplier issues disrupted deliveries and revenue during the first quarter, prompting the company to reassess its outlook under newly appointed chief executive Silvio Napoli. The California-based electric vehicle maker said problems involving seats for its second model, the Lucid Gravity, significantly affected deliveries during the quarter. Lucid produced 5,500 vehicles during the first three months of 2026, representing a 149% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. However, deliveries totaled 3,093 vehicles, slightly below the 3,109 units delivered in the first quarter of 2025. The company said…

Hungarian bus manufacturer Ikarus has secured a contract to supply 150 battery-electric buses to North Macedonia, marking the largest single electric bus order in the company’s history. The contract was awarded through a tender issued by North Macedonia’s Ministry of Transport earlier this year for battery-electric solo buses and associated charging infrastructure. The tender required buses with a minimum driving range of 325 kilometres and battery capacity of at least 360 kilowatt-hours. It also included the supply of 75 charging stations, each with minimum charging output of 120 kilowatts. The package additionally requires a four-year warranty covering the buses and…

Hamburger Hochbahn plans to procure up to 240 additional battery-electric buses by 2031 as the German transit operator continues expanding its zero-emission fleet, although its earlier goal of operating a fully emission-free bus fleet by 2032 has been pushed further into the future. The company also intends to add up to 150 additional buses powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), reflecting a broader strategy focused on both fleet electrification and operational resilience. See also: EUROGATE and Embotech Launch Autonomous Terminal Tractor Pilot in Hamburg Hamburger Hochbahn has long been regarded as one of Germany’s leading public transport operators in electric…

Xpeng reported a fourth consecutive month of year-on-year delivery declines in April, although the pace of contraction slowed as the company expanded its smart driving technology and premium vehicle offerings. The company delivered 31,011 vehicles in April, down 11.51% from a year earlier but up 13.12% from March, according to figures released Friday. For the first four months of 2026, Xpeng delivered 93,693 vehicles, representing a 27.40% decline from the same period last year. The automaker said advanced driver-assistance technology is becoming an increasingly important factor in vehicle sales. Xpeng launched its second-generation Vision-Language-Action autonomous driving platform, known as VLA…

Rivian is considering developing and manufacturing its own LiDAR sensors and may work with a Chinese technology partner as part of the effort, according to comments by chief executive RJ Scaringe reported by Reuters. Scaringe said in an interview that future versions of Rivian’s upcoming Rivian R2 vehicles, expected later this year, will incorporate LiDAR sensors to support advanced driver-assistance and autonomous driving functions. LiDAR systems help vehicles generate three-dimensional environmental maps by using laser-based sensing technology. See also: EPA Filings Detail 2027 Rivian R2 Battery and Range Specifications The California-based electric vehicle company has been expanding its in-house technology…

Norway set a new monthly record for electric vehicle adoption in April, with battery-electric vehicles accounting for 98.6% of all new passenger car registrations, according to data released by the Road Traffic Information Council (OFV). Out of 11,103 newly registered passenger vehicles during the month, 10,952 were fully electric. The latest result follows previous records of 98% in February and 98.4% in March, further tightening Norway’s grip as the world’s most advanced electric vehicle market. See also: Norway to Launch Europe’s First Autonomous Bus Service Without Safety Driver The OFV said battery-electric vehicles exceeded a 95% share of new registrations…

U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is expanding plans for its second U.S. production facility in Georgia, increasing the site’s planned annual production capacity to 300,000 vehicles from an earlier target of 200,000. The California-based company, which partners with Volkswagen, currently operates a manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, producing the EDV electric delivery van, R1 models, and the recently introduced R2 midsized electric SUV. The Illinois facility has a total annual production capacity of 215,000 vehicles. See also: Rivian Details Launch Package for R2 Performance as Production Begins Rivian broke ground on the Georgia site near Atlanta in September, although work…

Moto Hospitality said it plans to significantly expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across its UK sites, targeting a fourfold increase in charging bays over the coming years while developing dedicated hubs for electric freight vehicles. The company, the UK’s largest motorway service station operator with more than 60 locations nationwide, said the expansion forms part of a broader £500 million investment programme aimed at upgrading its network to support growing demand for electric mobility. Its sites, traditionally offering fuel, retail, and rest services, have increasingly become key charging points for long-distance EV travel. Moto said it has already installed…