Author: Daniel Whitford

Volvo Buses has unveiled Australia’s first electric articulated bus, introducing the new BZL Electric Articulated for the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) as part of the state’s transition toward zero-emission public transport. The 18-meter bus, capable of seating 57 passengers, was bodied by Australian manufacturer Volgren and expands Volvo’s BZL Electric platform, which already has more than 140 units operating across the country. First Electric Articulated Bus for Australia The new BZL Electric Articulated builds on the PTA’s first deployment of Volvo electric buses in 2022 and extends the long-standing partnership between the transit operator and the Swedish…

Fleet electrification company Zenobē has secured a A$400 million financing facility to support the deployment of electric commercial vehicles across Australia and New Zealand. The company said the facility establishes what it describes as the region’s first integrated, multi-site financing platform dedicated to heavy-duty fleet electrification. Supporting Fleet Electrification The financing platform is intended to fund electric bus and commercial vehicle projects while helping fleet operators address the high upfront costs associated with transitioning from diesel-powered vehicles. Zenobē’s electrification model combines vehicle financing, charging infrastructure, battery replacement, depot electrification and fleet optimisation services into a single offering. According to the…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has delivered the first five eEconic battery-electric refuse collection vehicles to Stuttgart’s municipal waste management authority (AWS), marking the initial phase of a ten-vehicle deployment. The electric trucks have entered service from AWS’s newly developed operations centre in Stuttgart-Wangen, which has been purpose-built to support battery-electric refuse collection vehicles. First Five Vehicles Enter Service The first five Mercedes-Benz eEconic 300 trucks are equipped with approximately 300 kWh of usable battery capacity. Each vehicle features a Faun Variopress rear-loading refuse collection body with a capacity of 21 cubic metres, along with a Faun Skylift lifting system for waste collection…

Linfox is set to deploy 26 electric heavy-duty trucks across key freight corridors in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide, replacing diesel-powered vehicles as part of the company’s broader fleet decarbonisation strategy. The Australian logistics provider said the battery-electric trucks will be introduced into food, beverage, and intermodal rail logistics operations, with each vehicle expected to travel up to 500 kilometres per day. Volvo Electric Trucks Enter Service The fleet consists of Volvo eFM Prime Movers, which will initially operate from Linfox’s Laverton North facility in Melbourne before expanding to the company’s hubs in Willawong, Brisbane, and the Adelaide rail freight terminal.…

Tesla’s Model Y became Australia’s best-selling vehicle in May, marking a significant milestone for electric vehicles in a market traditionally dominated by pickup trucks and internal combustion engine models. The achievement came as Tesla delivered 6,433 vehicles in Australia during the month, its second-highest monthly sales total on record. The Model Y accounted for 5,605 units, while the Model 3 contributed 828 deliveries, according to industry sales data. The result placed the Model Y ahead of Australia’s long-time sales leaders, including the Ford Ranger, which recorded 4,474 deliveries, and the Toyota HiLux, which sold 4,005 units during the month. Model…

Australian renewable energy retailer Amber is expanding its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program to 1,000 homes, marking the country’s largest residential deployment of the technology to date. The expansion follows an initial 50-home pilot launched in October and represents a significant step in Amber’s efforts to integrate electric vehicles into Australia’s electricity network as distributed energy resources. Largest Residential V2G Rollout in Australia Amber said demand for the program remains strong, with as many as 6,000 people currently on the company’s V2G waitlist. The project has received additional support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which has provided a further AUD$13.6…

Brookvale Bus Depot in New South Wales has become the first facility in Australia to deploy a pantograph-down charging system for electric buses, as part of a project aimed at replacing up to 229 diesel buses with zero-emission alternatives. The depot, owned by Transport for NSW and operated by Keolis, is undergoing a major upgrade to support the state’s transition toward electric public transport under the Zero Emission Bus Transition Plan. Space Constraints Drive Alternative Charging Approach According to project participants, the Brookvale depot faced several operational and infrastructure challenges that made conventional charging solutions less suitable. Limited space at…

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars said it will expand access to Tesla Supercharger stations for its electric vehicle customers in Europe and selected Asia-Pacific markets as part of efforts to simplify public charging access. Beginning in the fourth quarter of this year, Volvo drivers in Europe will be able to access more than 20,000 Tesla Supercharger stations through the Volvo Cars application, the company said. The expansion will cover Tesla charging locations across 29 European countries, including Germany, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Spain. Volvo Cars also said it plans to transition selected future electric vehicle models in…

Renewable Metals has secured A$12 million in Series A funding to expand development of its battery recycling technology and establish a prototype recycling facility in Western Australia. The Perth-based company said the financing will support construction of a prototype plant in Kewdale, scheduled to begin operations in mid-2026, as well as the design of its first commercial-scale recycling facility in New South Wales. Renewable Metals said the Kewdale plant is expected to scale to processing up to 2,000 tonnes of batteries annually, equivalent to roughly 4,000 electric vehicle battery packs. The company said the funding round exceeded its original A$8…

Australian logistics and retail company Winning Group plans to deploy 30 electric trucks across Sydney and Melbourne through a partnership with fleet electrification specialist Zenobe, with financial backing from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The initiative forms part of Zenobe’s broader expansion strategy in Australia. In March, the UK-based company announced plans to invest A$100 million in the country’s electric truck sector, aiming to help more than double the number of electric trucks operating in Australia by the end of 2026. See also: Zenobē Commits $100 Million to Expand Electric Truck Fleet in Australia Zenobe said the investment would support…

The Australia government has decided to extend its Electric Car Discount (ECD) incentive programme, maintaining tax benefits for electric vehicle leasing arrangements as the country seeks to support continued growth in EV adoption. The programme, introduced in 2022, allows employees to reduce the cost of leasing eligible electric vehicles through salary sacrifice arrangements by exempting part of the payments from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). See also: BYD Plans Flash Charging Network Expansion in Australia and New Zealand A recent government review titled Statutory Review of the Electric Car Discount found the scheme contributed to approximately 64,000 additional battery-electric vehicle sales…

BYD said it plans to introduce its Flash Charging network in Australia and New Zealand, with the first charging sites expected to open by the end of the year. The expansion will coincide with the regional launch of the Denza Z9 GT in the third quarter. The model is among the first global vehicles from BYD to feature the company’s second-generation Blade Battery technology designed to support ultra-fast Flash Charging. See also: BYD Unveils Second-Generation Blade Battery With Nine-Minute Flash Charging According to news.com.au reports, BYD plans to establish three Flash Charging stations in Australia during the initial rollout phase,…

Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has committed AUD 100 million (around €60 million) to support electric vehicle adoption, partnering with Volkswagen Financial Services Australia to offer discounted loans for EV buyers. Under the programme, customers financing eligible electric vehicles through VWFS can receive interest rate reductions of up to 1.0 percentage point, with 0.5 percentage points contributed by the CEFC and 0.5 by VWFS. The scheme applies to consumer loans for passenger EVs priced below Australia’s Luxury Car Tax threshold, as well as commercial loans for light electric commercial vehicles such as vans and utility vehicles, which are not…

Volvo Bus Australia has delivered 22 battery-electric buses to Transport for NSW, with most of the vehicles scheduled to enter service in Western Sydney from July as part of new airport-linked routes. The buses are included in the state’s New Bus Services for Western Sydney programme and contribute to the broader Zero Emission Buses Program, which aims to deploy around 1,700 electric buses across Sydney by 2028. The vehicles are built on Volvo’s BZL Electric chassis and were bodied locally by Volgren. Under the latest rollout, 18 buses will operate across five new permanent routes connecting key areas—including Penrith, Liverpool…

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will provide up to $25.3 million to support the rollout of three open-access fast-charging hubs for electric trucks in Melbourne, as part of efforts to cut emissions from heavy freight and strengthen Australia’s energy security. The funding will underpin the development of the NewVolt Network, a shared fast-charging infrastructure initiative targeting heavy and medium-duty battery-electric trucks across Victoria. Construction has already begun on three purpose-built sites located in Melbourne’s key freight corridors in the west, south-east and northern suburbs. The first hub is expected to open in late 2026, with the remaining sites to…

The European Commission and Australia have reached a comprehensive free trade agreement after years of negotiations, aiming to remove tariffs across most sectors and strengthen cooperation in electric vehicles, batteries and critical raw materials. The deal will abolish more than 99% of tariffs on EU exports to Australia, while also reducing import duties on key raw materials. The European Commission estimates the agreement could save European companies around €1 billion annually in customs duties. For the automotive sector, the agreement removes the existing 5% tariff on vehicle exports from the EU to Australia, covering all drivetrains including battery-electric vehicles. At…

The New Zealand Government has announced a $52.7 million zero-interest loan programme to support the rollout of more than 2,500 new public electric vehicle charge points, as part of efforts to accelerate EV adoption and reduce emissions. The initiative will be complemented by $60 million in co-investment from ChargeNet and Meridian Energy, bringing combined funding to over $110 million. The programme will deliver 2,574 new charge points, including 1,374 DC fast chargers and 1,200 AC chargers. Fast chargers will primarily be installed along highways for shorter charging stops of 20 to 60 minutes, while AC chargers will be deployed in…

Solaris Bus & Coach is presenting its latest zero-emission bus, the Solaris Urbino 10.5 Electric, at Mobility Move 2026 currently taking place in Berlin. The three-day event, running from March 10 to 12, gathers public transport operators, manufacturers, and industry experts to discuss developments in sustainable mobility and public transport systems. At stand 39, Solaris is showcasing the Urbino 10.5 electric, a compact midibus designed for routes where conventional 12-metre buses may be less suitable. With a length of 10.5 metres, the vehicle aims to combine manoeuvrability with relatively high passenger capacity. The bus is built using Solaris’ modular drive…

Public transport operator Kinetic Group has secured all four units in the latest bus services tender issued by Auckland Transport, a contract valued at NZ$755 million (€384.6 million) that will expand electric bus operations in New Zealand’s largest city. Under the agreement, Kinetic will operate 201 zero-emission buses during the life of the contract, including 125 new electric vehicles scheduled to enter service in 2027. A total of 165 electric buses will be deployed from the start of operations, according to the company, marking its largest contract award in Auckland to date. The fleet will include lightweight electric double-decker buses,…

Hyundai has begun exporting its China-developed Elexio electric SUV to overseas markets, launching the model in Australia as it seeks to compete more directly with Tesla and Chinese EV makers such as BYD. The Elexio is the first dedicated electric vehicle tailored specifically for the Chinese market by Hyundai’s joint venture with BAIC Motor, Beijing-Hyundai. Its overseas rollout mirrors a strategy used by sister brand Kia with the China-focused EV5, reflecting growing pressure from fast-expanding Chinese competitors. In Australia, the midsize SUV is offered initially in a single “Elite” trim priced from AUD 59,990 driveaway under an introductory offer. Hyundai…