Author: Harding Greenwood

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) has ordered an additional 270 articulated electric buses from Solaris, further expanding its transition to zero-emission public transport. The order follows the delivery of an initial batch of 50 Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses under a framework agreement signed in December 2023. The agreement allows for the procurement of up to 700 articulated electric buses over an eight-year period, depending on demand and operational priorities. The new order significantly scales up BVG’s commitment to sustainable mobility in the German capital. Christian Goll, Managing Director of Solaris Deutschland GmbH, said, “Fleet electrification and infrastructure modernization are key challenges…

AEye Inc, a provider of high-performance lidar solutions, has joined the WinTOR research initiative at the University of Toronto, a collaborative project focused on enhancing autonomous vehicle capabilities in challenging weather conditions. The initiative is supported by General Motors, along with industry partners such as LG Electronics, Applanix, Navtech, and the Ontario Research Fund. The WinTOR project—short for Winter Technology for Operational Reliability—seeks to address one of the most persistent barriers in autonomous mobility: maintaining vehicle perception and safety during heavy rain, snow, and other low-visibility scenarios. AEye will contribute its Apollo lidar sensor, a long-range and high-resolution system designed…

Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley expressed a preference for LiDAR-based autonomous driving systems over Tesla’s camera-only approach, highlighting safety considerations and the importance of maintaining consumer trust in emerging technologies. Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival during an interview with author Walter Isaacson, Farley compared the self-driving strategies of Waymo and Tesla, suggesting that systems using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology may offer greater reliability in real-world conditions. “To us, Waymo,” Farley said, when asked which approach he preferred, according to a report by Fortune. Farley acknowledged the progress made by both companies in developing autonomous vehicles but emphasized…

Rock Tech Lithium and Ronbay Technology have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to establish an integrated battery materials supply chain in Europe, with lithium hydroxide from Rock Tech’s planned Guben Converter in Germany to be supplied to Ronbay’s cathode active material (CAM) plant in Konin, Poland. The agreement signals deeper collaboration between the Canadian-German lithium producer and the Chinese multinational CAM manufacturer, as Europe ramps up efforts to localise battery supply chains for electric vehicles. The lithium hydroxide, a critical input for cathode materials, will be processed at Rock Tech’s facility in Guben, located on the German-Polish border, which…

Ireland will begin rolling out green ‘flash’ registration plates for electric vehicles from July 1, in an effort to normalise zero-emission driving and increase public awareness of the transition to cleaner transport. The new plates will feature a vertical green stripe along the left-hand side and will be available for all new and existing vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and future hydrogen fuel cell models. The initiative is part of the government’s broader Climate Action Plan, which targets a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030. “This is a small but effective step and a…

BMW will recall more than 70,000 electric vehicles in the United States due to a software issue that may cause a sudden loss of propulsion, posing a safety risk, according to a notice published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall impacts several model series: the i4 and iX from model years 2022 to 2024, the i7 from 2023 and 2024, the i5 from 2024, and the 2025 i4 eDrive35 and eDrive40. NHTSA said the issue stems from a fault in the electric drive motor software, which “may shut down the high-voltage system, causing a loss of…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has introduced its TruckCharge consultancy service in the UK, offering free expert guidance to heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators transitioning to electric trucks. The programme, announced on Wednesday, is designed to assist with strategic planning, infrastructure development, and digital solutions integration for electric fleets. The free consultancy provides tailored support in areas such as route and cost analysis, funding options, depot infrastructure planning, and the use of digital charging management tools. Customers can also take advantage of seamless payment options via the Mercedes ServiceCard. “As every depot and business is different, we’ve introduced the TruckCharge free consultancy service…

Eleven of Europe’s leading automotive and technology companies have entered into a joint open-source initiative to accelerate the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), including components for autonomous driving. The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding at the 29th International Automotive Electronics Congress, marks a rare pre-competitive collaboration among automakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and key suppliers including Bosch, ZF, and Continental. The group aims to develop a certifiable, open, and transparent software stack for future vehicle platforms. Initiated by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and managed through the Eclipse Foundation under the S-CORE project, the…

Delivery company DPD will invest £330 million (€390 million) in seven new automated distribution centres across the United Kingdom, each equipped to support the firm’s expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet as part of its drive toward net zero emissions. The new sites, each measuring 60,000 square feet, will feature high-capacity parcel sorting systems and advanced automation. Designed to integrate with DPD’s low-emission operations, they will include EV charging infrastructure to accommodate the company’s growing fleet of electric vans, which currently makes up 38% of its delivery vehicles. “With 38% of our delivery van fleet already electric, these facilities will be…

Chilean public transport operator Red Movilidad has added another 300 electric buses to its fleet in Santiago, following a similarly sized delivery in May. The latest deployment brings the capital’s total number of electric buses to 2,555, making it the city with the largest electric bus fleet outside China, according to government officials. The new fleet forms part of the country’s broader electromobility initiative, which aims to convert a majority of Santiago’s public transport system to zero-emission vehicles. Red Movilidad says it plans to grow the fleet to more than 4,400 electric buses by March 2026, at which point electric…

U.S. semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed has announced plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a broader restructuring strategy aimed at cutting its debt by 70% and securing $275 million in new financing. The move comes amid ongoing economic pressures and a strategic pullback from its planned expansion in Germany. The restructuring agreement, backed by existing creditors, is expected to reduce Wolfspeed’s debt by approximately $4.6 billion. As of March, the company reported $1.33 billion in cash and $6.5 billion in total debt obligations. Subject to court and regulatory approval, the company aims to emerge from bankruptcy by…

Bremer Straßenbahn AG (BSAG) has begun operating 50 new electric articulated buses from Daimler Buses and Irizar, marking a significant step in the city’s transition to zero-emission public transport. The rollout coincides with the completion of the conversion of BSAG’s Blumenthal depot for full electric bus operations. The new buses—35 all-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro Gs and 15 Irizar iebus18s—will operate on Line 90 in the Bremen-North region. The vehicles were delivered gradually over the first half of the year, beginning with the arrival of the first Irizar model in January. These new additions expand BSAG’s electric fleet to a total of…

The Irish government will reopen its 2025 Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV25) Grant Scheme on Monday, 23 June, offering financial support of up to €25,000 per vehicle to accelerate the shift to electric mobility in the country’s taxi, hackney, and limousine sectors. The Department of Transport confirmed that nearly €5 million in funding remains available for the latest application phase. The scheme was initially reopened in early 2024 with a €12.5 million budget. Since then, demand has surged, with nearly €7.5 million already allocated to successful applicants. According to the Department of Transport, this reflects growing momentum among SPSV…

Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer VinFast is encountering early challenges in its India expansion, as many of its appointed dealers have pulled back, casting uncertainty over the company’s retail strategy in one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets. VinFast had previously signed letters of intent with dealers for 40 locations across India but now retains only eight to ten partners, according to a report by The Economic Times. Several dealers reportedly exited due to concerns over VinFast’s distribution planning, pricing clarity, and inconsistent brand positioning. One dealer who withdrew said, “There’s no visibility on how many showrooms they want, what…

Stellantis has been granted a U.S. patent for a three-speed gearbox designed for electric vehicles, a move that could significantly improve both off-road performance and highway efficiency for future models across its brands such as Jeep, Ram, and Dodge. The patent, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on October 25, 2023, and granted on May 1, 2025, details a compact electric drive unit featuring two planetary gearsets and four clutches. The system delivers three distinct gear ratios tailored to varying driving conditions—ranging from high-torque rock crawling to optimized efficiency for highway cruising. In the filing, Stellantis…

Brighton & Hove City Council has selected EV charge point operator Believ to deliver up to 208 new rapid and ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging bays across the city, significantly expanding its public charging infrastructure. Construction of the new chargers is expected to begin in late 2025, pending final contract approval. The new rollout is set to increase the number of rapid charging bays in the city fourfold. Most of the chargers will be installed in public car parks, with Believ taking responsibility for installation, operation, and long-term maintenance under the contract. The chargers will comply with PAS 1899 accessibility…

Intel is closing its automotive architecture business and laying off the majority of its workforce in the unit, marking another step in the chipmaker’s broader restructuring strategy aimed at refocusing on its core client and data center businesses. The decision, confirmed by Intel to TechCrunch, follows an internal memo sent to employees on Tuesday. A company spokesperson said the restructuring reflects Intel’s effort to streamline operations and better align with evolving customer demands. “As we have said previously, we are refocusing on our core client and data center portfolio to strengthen our product offerings and meet the needs of our…

Swiss Post has launched a four-month pilot project to evaluate whether its fleet of light electric delivery vehicles can contribute to local grid stability and serve as an additional income source, the company said on Monday. The project, located in the canton of Fribourg, aims to test bidirectional charging—also known as vehicle-to-grid (V2G)—using postal ebikes and electric scooters. The initiative involves Swiss Post, vehicle manufacturer Kyburz Switzerland AG, and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), with financial backing from Switzerland’s Federal Office of Energy. “As soon as the scooters arrive at the depot in the early afternoon,…

Suzuki unveiled official pricing for its first fully electric vehicle, the e Vitara, which will start at £29,999 in the UK ahead of its sales launch in July. The entry-level model is equipped with a 49 kWh battery, while larger 61 kWh variants will retail between £32,999 and £37,799. The e Vitara will be offered in two trim levels—Motion and Ultra—with the top-tier model featuring Suzuki’s new ALLGRIP-e four-wheel-drive system. “This system not only provides powerful performance but also allows for precise control with excellent responsiveness,” Suzuki said in a statement. To incentivize early orders, Suzuki is including a free…

Northvolt’s bankruptcy trustee has received an indicative bid from a foreign party for the company’s Swedish operations, public broadcaster Sveriges Radio reported on Tuesday, as talks continue following one of Sweden’s largest corporate collapses. “We now have an indicative offer on the table and hope for more indicative bids,” bankruptcy trustee Mikael Kubu told Sveriges Radio. “We expect to receive another indicative offer during the day,” he added. The current bid reportedly covers Northvolt’s battery cell factory in Skellefteå in northern Sweden, along with its research and development center located in Västerås, west of Stockholm. Northvolt filed for bankruptcy in…