Author: Jessica Park

Ford Energy is pursuing additional customer agreements as it prepares to enter the utility-scale battery energy storage market, according to comments from Ford Motor Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley reported by the Detroit Free Press. The newly established subsidiary plans to manufacture battery energy storage systems (BESS) for utilities, data centers, and industrial and commercial customers in the United States, with production targeted to reach at least 20 GWh annually beginning in late 2027. Early Customer Interest Speaking during Ford’s recent shareholder meeting, Farley said the company is currently engaged in discussions with multiple prospective customers. “We have a great…

MAN Truck & Bus and Dettendorfer Energy GmbH have launched the Initiative Green Brenner, bringing together companies from the logistics, energy and infrastructure sectors to accelerate the deployment of battery-electric trucks along the Brenner freight corridor connecting Germany, Austria and Italy. The initiative aims to support the transition to zero-emission freight transport on one of Europe’s busiest cross-border logistics routes by promoting charging infrastructure, demonstrating commercial viability and encouraging broader adoption of electric heavy-duty vehicles. Dettendorfer Energy is a joint venture between regional utility Energie Südbayern and Dettendorfer Spedition, an Upper Bavarian logistics company operating a fleet of approximately 240…

Italian public transport operator Tper has introduced hydrogen-powered buses into service in Bologna, marking the start of operations for a new fleet of fuel cell vehicles as part of the city’s broader zero-emission mobility strategy. The first Solaris Urbino 12 Hydrogen buses entered operation on selected services across routes 11, 14, 20, 36 and 92 following completion of the authorisation process for the hydrogen refuelling station at the Via Battindarno depot. The deployment represents the first phase of a planned fleet of 127 hydrogen buses that will operate primarily on urban and suburban routes across the Bologna metropolitan area. Tper…

The European Investment Bank will provide up to 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) to Hamburger Energienetze for the expansion and modernization of Hamburg’s electricity distribution grid, while also extending around 125 million euros in financing to Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein for battery-electric buses and depot upgrades. The financing agreements, signed on May 19, form part of Hamburg’s broader efforts to accelerate electrification and modernize infrastructure supporting the city’s energy and transport transition. Hamburger Energienetze, also known as HNE, plans to use the funding to strengthen and digitalize the city’s power distribution system as electricity demand rises from transport electrification and renewable energy…

Ford Motor plans to introduce five new passenger vehicle models in Europe by the end of 2029, including two fully electric vehicles and three models offering multiple powertrain options, as the automaker adjusts its strategy in response to changing market conditions. The company said all five vehicles will be manufactured in Europe for European customers. Among the upcoming launches are a fully electric compact car and a small electric sport utility vehicle, both aimed at expanding Ford’s battery-electric offering in the region. Ford described the planned compact EV as a small battery-electric vehicle designed to combine distinctive styling with the…

ElectroMobility Poland and Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn have announced plans to cooperate on the development of an electric vehicle production facility in Jaworzno, southern Poland. The project would also include a research and development centre, although both parties said negotiations are still ongoing and no binding agreements have yet been finalised. According to the companies, detailed agreements are expected to be negotiated during the second half of 2026. See also: Foxconn Opens EV R&D Centre in Zhengzhou to Shorten Vehicle Development Cycles ElectroMobility Poland, commonly known as EMP, was established roughly a decade ago by several Polish state-owned energy companies…

Leapmotor, in partnership with Stellantis, has launched its new electric fastback sedan, the Leapmotor B05, in Europe, with orders now open in selected markets from €26,900. The model marks an expansion of the company’s lineup beyond SUVs and compact city cars in the region. The B05 was first presented in Germany during IAA Mobility last year, with its interior details revealed at a later stage. It was subsequently introduced in China before arriving in Europe. With a length of 4.43 meters and a width of 1.88 meters, the vehicle is positioned within the C-segment and features a fastback design intended…

The European Commission’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), aimed at strengthening domestic industry and accelerating the adoption of clean technologies, has drawn sharp criticism from China, which warned the draft could lead to retaliatory measures. Unveiled in early March and still under review, the IAA is designed to boost manufacturing, support corporate growth, and create jobs within the European Union. The legislation also seeks to promote cleaner industrial processes, with potentially significant implications for sectors such as automotive, batteries, and renewable energy. Key provisions in the draft include new requirements for public procurement and subsidy programs, introducing criteria tied to…

Stellantis said its circular economy subsidiary SUSTAINera recorded 51% growth in its reuse business in 2025 and plans to open a third vehicle dismantling center in a new region as the automaker expands its end-of-life vehicle recovery operations. The company said the additional dismantling facility will complement existing sites in Turin, Italy, and São Paulo, Brazil, as part of its strategy to recover functional vehicle components for resale as original used parts. SUSTAINera said growth in its reuse business was supported by strong performance from the B-Parts e-commerce platform in Europe and North America, where total inventory has surpassed 15…

Skoda Auto has provided an early look at its upcoming flagship electric SUV, the Peaq, as part of plans to expand its battery-electric vehicle portfolio by 2026. Based on the Vision 7S concept, the Peaq will measure nearly 4.9 metres in length and be offered in both five- and seven-seat configurations. The model will sit at the top of Skoda’s EV lineup and is expected to support the company’s goal of doubling its number of electric models within the next two years. The Peaq is built on the MEB platform developed by Volkswagen Group, which underpins several electric models across…

Cupra has unveiled an updated version of its electric SUV, the Cupra Tavascan, introducing a new entry-level variant alongside interior and technology upgrades as part of the broader refresh of Volkswagen Group’s MEB-based models. The updated Tavascan follows recent revisions to models such as the Cupra Born, Skoda Enyaq and Skoda Elroq. However, design changes to the Tavascan remain minimal, reflecting the model’s relatively recent launch in 2024. The key update is the introduction of a new base drivetrain, featuring a 140 kW electric motor paired with a 58 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. This marks the first time…

The average price of electric vehicles in the European Union declined in 2025 for the first time in five years, driven by the arrival of lower-cost models as automakers respond to emissions regulations, according to an analysis by environmental think tank Transport & Environment (T&E). T&E said the average price of battery-electric cars in the EU dropped by about €1,800, or roughly 4%, to €42,700 in 2025. The decline was largely attributed to the introduction of more affordable compact electric vehicles in the B-segment, where average prices fell by 13%. Among the models contributing to the trend were the Citroën…

Austria’s Ministry of the Interior has concluded that battery-electric vehicles are only conditionally suitable for operational police use following a large-scale trial involving electric patrol cars across several regions of the country. The assessment came after a pilot program that deployed 24 electric vehicles in real-world police operations beginning in early 2024. The trial involved around 20 participating police stations across four federal states: Tyrol, Salzburg, Lower Austria and Vienna. According to the ministry, the evaluation identified several operational challenges, including limited charging infrastructure and increased vehicle weight resulting from batteries combined with tactical police equipment. As a result, the…

Cupra has unveiled a refreshed version of its Born electric hatchback, introducing a new exterior design and updated interior features while largely retaining the existing drivetrain configurations. The updated Born, produced at Volkswagen Group’s Zwickau plant in Germany, adopts the brand’s latest design language. The facelift includes a redesigned front end featuring a “shark nose,” new bumpers and triangular matrix LED headlights, a motif that also appears in the rear lighting design. The Cupra logo on the tailgate is now illuminated and integrated into the rear light strip. With the redesigned bumpers, the vehicle’s length has increased slightly by 12…

Lexus has discontinued the battery-electric UX 300e in several major markets, leaving the compact crossover available only with hybrid powertrains in many regions, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United States. The Lexus UX 300e was the first fully electric vehicle introduced by the premium brand of Toyota. Based on the UX compact crossover platform, the model was launched in various international markets between 2020 and 2021 as Lexus’s initial entry into the battery-electric segment. See also: Lexus Unveils RZ 600e F SPORT Performance as New Flagship Electric Variant The vehicle initially featured a 54.3-kWh battery pack before…

Stellantis has confirmed that the Leapmotor B10 will be produced at its plant in Figueruelas near Zaragoza, with manufacturing scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. The confirmation came from Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa during the presentation of the company’s financial results. The B10 will be the first model from the Chinese brand to be manufactured at the Spanish facility. Plans for local production had previously been signalled in December when Ding Yongfei outlined the project during a visit to a supplier in Spain. The supplier, Lieder Automotive, is preparing to produce chassis components for the B10 locally…

Sales of battery-electric cars in the European Union rose 24.3% in January to 154,230 units, lifting their share of new car registrations to 19.3%, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The increase marks a significant rise from a 14.9% market share a year earlier, even as the overall EU car market contracted by 3.9% to 799,625 registrations. The stronger performance of electric vehicles therefore reflects both higher absolute sales and weaker demand for conventional cars. Other electrified powertrains also expanded. Plug-in hybrid registrations climbed 28.7% to 78,741 units, while hybrid electric vehicles grew 6.2% to 308,364…

Chinese-owned automaker MG Motor has opened orders for the new MG4 EV Urban in Austria, marking the model’s first launch in continental Europe following its debut in the United Kingdom earlier this year. The entry-level electric hatchback starts at €19,990 under a promotional offer that includes trade-in, environmental and insurance bonuses worth €5,000. Without incentives, the base price would be about €25,000. Deliveries in Austria are expected to begin in April 2026. Three variants are currently available, all priced below €25,000 with incentives. The base model uses a 43-kWh battery, while higher-trim Comfort and Luxury versions feature a 54-kWh pack…

A consortium of German research institutions has launched a project to develop a magnet-free electric motor designed to reduce reliance on rare-earth materials while maintaining high torque density and efficiency. The initiative, known as NAFTech—short for “Sustainable Axial-Flux Machines Considering Tolerance-Affected Manufacturing Technologies”—is funded by the German government and brings together experts from RWTH Aachen University, the University of Stuttgart and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. See also: RWTH Aachen-Led Project Tests Delamination Methods for Direct Battery Recycling The project involves the Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen, the Institute for Electrical Energy Conversion (iew) at the University of Stuttgart,…

BMW Group has launched a commercial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) offering in Germany for its upcoming Neue Klasse electric vehicles, extending its long-standing partnership with E.ON into bidirectional charging services for private customers. The offering, which follows a pilot announcement at IAA Mobility in September 2025, allows customers to order a complete V2G package comprising the BMW Wallbox Professional, an E.ON electricity tariff with a V2G feed-in contract, and an intelligent metering system where required. See also: BMW Partners With PreZero to Boost Circular Economy in European Auto Industry The system enables eligible Neue Klasse vehicles equipped with BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology—starting…