Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

Croatia’s State Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency will provide €21.2 million in subsidies to commercial buyers for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles, offering financial incentives of between €2,500 and €9,000 per vehicle or up to 40% of the vehicle’s price. Unlike neighbouring Slovenia, which recently introduced subsidies open to all electric vehicle buyers, Croatia’s programme is restricted to companies. The scheme also accommodates larger fleets, with a maximum subsidy cap of €90,000 per company. Eligible vehicles include electric and hydrogen-powered models, covering not only passenger cars and vans but also buses and trucks. For smaller vehicles in the…

British electric sportscar manufacturer Longbow has named three former automotive industry CEOs to its advisory board as it advances plans to produce its Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs), the Speedster and Roadster, in 2026. The appointments signal Longbow’s commitment to leveraging top-tier expertise from the global automotive sector to support its development of lightweight, driver-focused vehicles. The new advisory board includes Mike Flewitt, former CEO of McLaren Automotive; Michael van der Sande, who previously led Tesla’s European launch and Alpine’s global relaunch; and Dan Balmer, with leadership experience in engineering, marketing, and commercial strategy at Lotus and Aston Martin. Collectively, the…

Citroen has begun taking orders in the UK for the new e-C3 Aircross Extended Range, which features a larger 54 kWh battery enabling a WLTP combined range of up to 249 miles. Prices start from £23,495 on the road after the UK’s £1,500 Electric Car Grant, positioning the compact SUV below the scheme’s price threshold. The Extended Range variant is available in PLUS and MAX trim levels and joins the Standard Range version, which has a 44 kWh battery and 188-mile range. Both models support DC rapid charging at up to 100 kW, enabling a 20% to 80% charge in…

Finnish electric vehicle charger manufacturer Kempower has become the first in its sector to approve and adopt CableGuard, a forensic anti-theft solution developed by UK-based Formula Space, for use in its charging stations across Britain, Ireland and continental Europe. CableGuard is designed to deter theft by encasing EV charging cables in a cut-resistant sleeve and adding a forensic marking system. If tampered with, the device releases a pressurised, UV-visible liquid that can be traced to offenders and surrounding objects. Formula Space says the technology has shown a 98% reduction in repeat attacks on marked infrastructure and a 100% conviction rate…

Australia may introduce a road tax for electric vehicles (EVs) as federal and state governments consider ways to offset declining fuel excise revenue, senior ministers said. The proposal, which would apply to EV drivers in the future, is under discussion ahead of next week’s federal productivity roundtable. Treasurer Jim Chalmers flagged the idea in June, saying he was working with states and territories “on the future of road-user charging” for EVs. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek told Seven’s Sunrise program the move could be justified as part of a broader effort to fund infrastructure. “I don’t think anything’s happening tomorrow, but…

Vay, a company developing automotive-grade remote driving technology, has partnered with charging solutions provider Bluedot to manage the charging needs of its fully electric, remotely driven vehicle fleet. The collaboration is designed to support Vay’s operational reliability and long-term goal of offering a sustainable alternative to private car ownership and ride-hailing. Bluedot’s platform will provide Vay with integrated charging infrastructure, real-time analytics, and intelligent controls to optimize fleet performance. The system supports both on-the-go and depot charging, while delivering vehicle-level energy data to monitor usage and costs. By enabling precise scheduling and location-based charging, the technology is expected to reduce…

Honda is re-evaluating its electric vehicle (EV) strategy, reducing its previously announced investment and stepping away from a target that would have made battery EVs 30% of its annual vehicle sales by 2030. The shift underscores the automaker’s belief that battery-electric vehicles are just one of several paths to achieving carbon neutrality. In 2023, the Japanese automaker committed 10 trillion yen ($68 billion) toward electrification. However, it slashed that investment by 30% earlier this year, aligning with other car manufacturers that have tempered their EV ambitions in response to market and infrastructure challenges. Honda still maintains its long-term objective of…

Kia is preparing to introduce a high-performance version of its midsize electric SUV, the EV5, with the GT variant expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2026. The upcoming model will follow the standard EV5’s global launch, which began in China and is set to expand to Europe, North America, South Korea, and other regions in the coming months. The EV5 has already made a notable impact in China since its market debut in 2023, helping Kia achieve its first quarterly profit in the country in eight years. This recovery came despite heightened competition from domestic electric vehicle manufacturers…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio will add 100 battery swap stations in Jiangsu province under a new strategic agreement with Jiangsu Financial Leasing, the company said on Wednesday. The deal, signed in Nanjing, the provincial capital, will see Nio’s energy division, Nio Power, collaborate with the financial services firm to expand the region’s energy infrastructure for electric vehicles. The new facilities will support both battery swapping and charging services. “The two parties will jointly build 100 energy replenishment facilities in Jiangsu to make the region’s network more dense,” Nio said in a statement, adding that the partnership will provide “a…

NEXEN TIRE has launched the N’FERA Supreme EV ROOT, a high-performance tire designed to meet the demands of both electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Unveiled in Seoul, the tire builds on the N’FERA Supreme line with improvements in handling, reduced rolling resistance and durability tailored for heavier EVs such as electric SUVs. The N’FERA Supreme EV ROOT carries a High Load (HL) rating to support increased weight and features sound-absorbing materials to reduce cabin noise. Testing on the Kia EV6 showed a 13% improvement in wet and dry handling and comfort, with rolling resistance reduced by…

Luxeed, the automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Chery, is working on a luxury multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) that could become the first MPV under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), according to a report by Chinese outlet 21jingji. The model, internally codenamed “EHV,” is based on Chery’s E0X-L platform and is scheduled for launch in the first half of next year, the report said, citing multiple sources. It will offer both extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) variants, with batteries supplied by CATL. The vehicle replaces Chery’s previously planned Exeed Sterra E08 MPV project, which was…

German automotive supplier Brose has completed the sale of its e-bike drive business to Yamaha Motor, with the unit to continue operating under the name BAT GmbH during an initial transition phase. The deal, first announced in the spring, received antitrust clearance in recent weeks. Financial terms have not been disclosed. Yamaha will take on all 110 employees at the Berlin site, along with Brose’s market share and development department. “Brose will continue to support the transition through defined services during the initial phase to ensure continuity for employees, customers and partners,” the company said. “Brose is confident that under…