Author: Harding Greenwood

Gilbarco Veeder-Root (GVR), a US-based fueling equipment manufacturer, has introduced its Konect electric vehicle (EV) charging solution in Australia, aiming to future-proof service stations by integrating EV charging infrastructure. With a 60% market share in Australia’s fuel technology sector, GVR seeks to help fuel retailers adapt to evolving transportation trends. The Konect system, already available in the US and Europe, features a 600 kW power unit supporting two charging stations with dual connectors, capable of delivering up to 400 kW per plug with active power sharing in 50 kW increments. The company sees service stations as evolving into “hubs of…

Nissan has chosen South Korea’s SK On as its battery supplier in North America, with both companies agreeing to supply nearly 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of high-nickel batteries between 2028 and 2033. The deal, which had been anticipated since January, comes as Nissan undergoes a leadership transition and seeks to strengthen its EV strategy in the U.S. market. The batteries will be produced in the United States and used exclusively in Nissan’s next-generation electric vehicles, which will be manufactured at its Canton, Mississippi, plant. The agreement includes a total investment of $661 million, covering equipment purchases. This is in addition to…

German industrial giant Siemens has announced a strategic overhaul of its electric vehicle charging solutions business, shifting its focus to fast-charging infrastructure while cutting approximately 450 jobs worldwide by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. The restructuring aims to enhance competitiveness in a market experiencing price pressures and limited growth for low-power charging stations. Of the total job reductions, 250 positions are expected to be eliminated in Germany, with Leipzig emerging as the most impacted location. According to a report by the Leipziger Volkszeitung, Siemens is considering consolidating its European charging station production at its Corroios plant in Portugal,…

Contract manufacturer Magna Steyr is reportedly close to securing agreements to assemble electric vehicles for China’s Xpeng and GAC at its plant in Graz, Austria, potentially starting in June, according to German newspaper Kleine Zeitung. The move would allow the Chinese automakers to circumvent the European Union’s new tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles. Xpeng faces a 21.3% additional tariff on top of the standard 10% import duty, which could be avoided through a semi-knocked-down (SKD) assembly process in Austria. See also: Xpeng Launches 2025 G6 and G9 SUVs with Lower Prices, Faster Charging, and Vision-Based Smart Driving Under this method,…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr has launched its latest smart driving system, the Zeekr G-Pilot, as competition in the autonomous driving sector intensifies. The system features door-to-door smart driving capabilities and will be available in different levels to cater to varying user needs, the company said. See also: Zeekr 007 GT Makes Real-Life Debut, with 825 km Range and 800V Charging The top-tier Zeekr G-Pilot H9 will support Level 3 autonomous driving and will debut on the Zeekr 9X, which integrates dual Nvidia Drive AGX Thor chips delivering up to 1,400 TOPS of computing power. The Zeekr 9X will be…

A consortium of 19 Fraunhofer Institutes across Germany is working to advance fuel cell production through the H2GO research project, with a particular focus on reducing costs in the mass production of bipolar plates, a key fuel cell component. “In order to achieve widespread use of fuel cells, mature production technologies for series production are required,” researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute said in a statement. While fundamental research into fuel cell technology is well-established, “the components are still not available in the required quantities and at reasonable costs,” they added. See also: Fraunhofer ISE Develops Medium-Voltage System for Fast-Charging Stations,…

Chinese automaker BYD announced on Friday that its latest all-electric SUV, the Sealion 05 EV, will officially launch on March 25, further expanding its Ocean series. The company also shared new images of the vehicle, providing a closer look at the design and features of the upcoming model. Zhang Zhuo, general manager of BYD’s Ocean series sales division, revealed on Weibo that the Sealion 05 EV will be built on an all-new technology platform and will come equipped with BYD’s “God’s Eye C” smart driving system as standard. The system is a DiPilot 100 solution, offering advanced assisted driving capabilities.…

Berlin’s public transport operator, BVG, has started construction on its first all-electric bus depot in Schöneweide, following delays that affected the project timeline. The new facility on Köpenicker Landstraße will enable the deployment of 200 additional electric buses, with operations expected to commence in 2027. BVG plans to have at least 500 electric buses in service by that year as part of its broader decarbonization strategy. The company has described the depot as “an important step towards greater stability and the decarbonisation of the bus fleet,” marking the first new bus depot built in Berlin in nearly 60 years. Expanded…

Chinese automaker BYD is considering Germany as the site for a possible third assembly plant in Europe, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the company seeks to expand its presence in the region and navigate EU import tariffs on China-made electric vehicles (EVs). BYD, which is already constructing plants in Hungary and Turkey, is evaluating Western Europe for its next facility to strengthen brand recognition and establish itself as a local manufacturer. Germany has emerged as a leading option, though concerns over high labor and energy costs, as well as lower productivity and flexibility, are factors in…

The European Parliament’s largest political group, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), plans to challenge the European Union’s 2035 ban on new CO2-emitting cars, arguing that the policy should be revised to allow alternative combustion technologies. “It was a mistake to ban the combustion engine,” said Jens Gieseke, the EPP’s lead negotiator on car policies. “If fuels lead to a less carbon-intensive footprint, this should be recognised.” See also: EU Reaffirms 2035 Zero-Emission Car Target, Extends Compliance Period for Automakers The EPP intends to use an upcoming policy review in the third or fourth quarter to push for amendments, including…

BMW has announced key changes to its Board of Management, appointing Joachim Post as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) following the departure of Frank Weber. Post, currently BMW’s Chief Purchasing Officer, will be succeeded in that role by Nicolai Martin. The company stated that these decisions were made to “ensure future leadership in innovation and technology.” However, German newspaper Handelsblatt reports that Post is also being considered as a potential successor to CEO Oliver Zipse, making the appointment a pivotal decision within the automaker’s leadership. See also: BMW Neue Klasse to Feature Four Supercomputers, Smart Fuses, and Reduced Wiring Weber’s departure…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng on Wednesday unveiled the 2025 versions of its G6 and G9 sport utility vehicles (SUVs), featuring lower prices, streamlined configurations, and improved charging speeds as the company aims to expand its market presence. The refreshed G6, a mid-size SUV, is now available in three configurations, with starting prices of 176,800 yuan ($24,400), 186,800 yuan, and 198,800 yuan, respectively. This marks an 11.6% price reduction from the previous model, which had a base price of 199,900 yuan. Xpeng reported on Weibo that the 2025 G6 secured over 5,000 firm orders within seven minutes of its…