Author: Daniel Whitford

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…

Tesla’s six-seat Model Y L has received regulatory approval for sale in Australia, marking another step in the electric vehicle maker’s plans to expand the variant beyond China. The Model Y L was first introduced in China last year as an alternative to the standard five-seat version, featuring a 2+2+2 seating configuration with captain’s chairs in the second row and a bench seat in the third. The design aims to offer more practical space than the optional seven-seat layout available on the regular Model Y. Approval documents published on Australia’s ROVER portal, which manages applications under the Road Vehicle Standards…

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has placed a follow-up order with New Flyer of America for 100 forty-foot buses, including 75 hybrid-electric models and 25 battery-electric units, as part of efforts to modernize its fleet serving the U.S. capital region. The latest purchase mirrors an order placed last summer for the same mix of vehicles and falls within a broader agreement that included options for up to 400 additional buses. Financial support for the procurement comes from a combination of federal, state and local sources, including funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission grant program.…

Tesla has confirmed key performance specifications for its long-delayed all-electric Semi truck, including an 800-kilowatt powertrain and two range configurations, as the company prepares to begin mass production later this year. Tesla quietly updated its official Semi webpage with final production details, a change first reported by Electrek, without issuing a formal announcement. The update confirms that the Class 8 electric truck will be offered in Standard Range and Long Range variants, though Tesla has not disclosed battery capacity figures. See also: California EV Truck Incentives Reserve $165 Million for Tesla Semi, Drawing Industry Scrutiny For the Standard Range version,…

California’s flagship clean-truck incentive programme has set aside about $165 million for purchases of the Tesla Semi, despite the electric truck not yet entering full-scale production, prompting concerns among rival manufacturers over market concentration and access to public funding. The allocation comes through the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), a state-backed scheme designed to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Since its launch in 2009, HVIP has distributed more than $1.6 billion in incentives aimed at reducing emissions from freight and transit fleets. See also: Tesla Semi Production Delayed to 2026 as…

Kent County Council has awarded a 20-year contract to Urban Fox to install up to 10,000 on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging sockets across the county, as part of a programme aimed at expanding access for residents without off-street parking. The rollout, supported by more than £12 million in central government funding, is scheduled to begin in summer 2026. The chargers will be installed primarily in residential streets where access to private driveways is limited, with locations selected based on local demand and technical suitability. The funding is provided by the UK Department for Transport through its Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure…

Phoenix Contact has introduced a combined CCS vehicle charging inlet and charging control unit, aiming to simplify electric vehicle architectures and reduce installation space for commercial and heavy-duty applications. The new product, branded CHARX connect advanced, integrates charging communication and control directly into the vehicle-side CCS charging socket, functions that have traditionally required separate external control devices. Phoenix Contact said sample units are already available for original equipment manufacturers, with series production scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026. The company, headquartered in Blomberg, Lippe, described the system as the world’s first CCS vehicle charging inlet with integrated…

TotalEnergies has formed a joint investment platform with asset manager Tikehau Capital to accelerate the rollout of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Belgium and the Netherlands, the companies said. The platform, owned equally by TotalEnergies and Tikehau Capital, will focus on expanding and operating public charging concessions already developed by TotalEnergies in major cities across both countries, while also bidding for new municipal and regional tenders. See also: TotalEnergies and Banque des Territoires Form Joint Platform to Expand EV Charging in France The initiative is aimed at supporting local authorities as they scale urban charging networks and transition…

Sunswap has expanded into Australia through a partnership with Protran Solutions, marking the UK-based company’s sixth international market as it scales its battery- and solar-powered transport refrigeration technology. The move follows Sunswap’s growth across the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Chile, where its Endurance refrigeration units are already in operation with major retailers and logistics providers. The company positions its technology as a zero-emission alternative to diesel-powered transport refrigeration systems commonly used in cold-chain logistics. See also: ABB Installs First 400 kW A400 EV Chargers in Australia at Ampol Sydney Site Sunswap manufactures the Endurance unit, which is powered…