Author: Daniel Whitford

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…

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…