Author: Michael Cartwright

The Scottish Government has announced £17.8 million in funding for 2026–27 to support electric vehicle adoption, with a focus on expanding access to charging infrastructure across Scotland. The programme, delivered by Transport Scotland in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, will support the rollout of charging solutions in public, workplace and residential settings. It will also include targeted measures for rural and island communities, low-income households and those without off-street parking. The funding package covers five key initiatives. A Rural and Island Infrastructure Fund will support the installation of up to 1,000 public charging points in remote areas. A Domestic…

The European Commission has approved a €4.6 billion grant payment request from Germany under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), with measures aimed at accelerating electric vehicle adoption and expanding charging infrastructure, the Commission said. The funding forms part of the European Union’s €750 billion NextGenerationEU recovery programme, launched in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Germany is allocated €30.3 billion under its national Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP), of which €24.4 billion—around 80%—will have been accessed if the latest payment is finalised. See also: European Parliament Backs Amendment Easing CO₂ Credit Rules For Truck Manufacturers The Commission said…

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are preparing to draft a new surface transportation bill that could introduce additional costs for electric vehicle (EV) owners, as policymakers seek to address declining revenues used to fund road infrastructure, according to a report by Reuters. The initiative, led by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, is expected to take shape in April as part of a broader effort to replace the current transportation law set to expire on September 30. The proposal is anticipated to outline a five-year funding framework totaling between $500 billion and $550 billion. See also:…

The European Parliament has approved an amendment to European Union rules on calculating CO₂ emission credits for heavy-duty vehicles, a move that could ease compliance requirements for truck manufacturers while leaving long-term emissions targets unchanged. Under current EU regulations, manufacturers must reduce emissions from new lorries by 15% by 2025, 45% by 2030, and 90% by 2040, compared with 2019 levels. Companies are pursuing these targets by introducing more battery-electric trucks while also improving the efficiency of internal combustion engine vehicles. The amendment proposed by the European Commission does not revise these targets but changes how compliance is calculated. It…

The European Commission has approved a €200 million ($217 million) Spanish state aid program aimed at strengthening the country’s electric vehicle supply chain and expanding production of key e-mobility technologies. The funding is part of Spain’s broader PERTE industrial program and will support investments in battery manufacturing, hydrogen technologies and critical raw materials used in electric vehicles. Spain required approval from the European Commission before implementing the program under EU state aid rules. The Commission said the measure was “necessary, appropriate and proportionate.” The aid scheme will help companies expand production capacity for electric vehicle battery components and hydrogen-related technologies,…

The government of Ireland has expanded its Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle (ZEHDV) grant scheme in an effort to accelerate the adoption of electric trucks and buses across the country. Under the revised programme, companies can now receive up to €500,000 per year in funding to purchase zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles. Businesses may also access grants of up to €300,000 to install charging infrastructure to support the operation of these fleets. The scheme is funded by the Department of Transport Ireland and administered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. See also: Ireland Launches €7 Million EV Grant Scheme for Taxi and Hire Vehicles…

The European Council has approved a binding climate target requiring the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels. The interim goal, established under the European Climate Law, provides a milestone between the bloc’s previously established targets of cutting emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050 under the European Green Deal. See also: EU Unveils Industrial Accelerator Act to Boost Domestic Manufacturing Under the new rules, up to five percentage points of the 2040 emissions reduction may be achieved through the purchase of international carbon credits beginning…

The European Commission has introduced the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), a policy package designed to expand manufacturing capacity in the European Union and reduce reliance on external suppliers, particularly in strategic industries including automotive, steel and clean technologies. Stéphane Séjourné presented the initiative as part of a broader industrial strategy aimed at boosting domestic production, creating jobs and supporting the development of low-carbon technologies across the EU. If adopted, the legislation would introduce new conditions for major foreign investments and public procurement. Governments providing subsidies or purchasing goods may be required to meet CO₂ and “Made in EU” criteria…

Ireland’s Department of Transport has reopened its Electric Small Public Service Vehicles (eSPSV) Grant Scheme for 2026, allocating €7 million to support the adoption of battery-electric vehicles in passenger transport services. The programme, first introduced in 2018, aims to help operators of taxis, limousines and hackneys transition away from combustion-engine vehicles. Previous funding rounds have allocated a total of about €65 million, supporting the purchase of roughly 3,600 vehicles. This year’s budget is significantly smaller than the €12.5 million provided in 2025, but Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said the scheme remains an important driver of decarbonization in the sector. “The…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to overhaul the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program, signalling a shift away from the initiative’s strong emphasis on battery-electric buses toward a broader mix of fuel technologies. Introduced in 2021 under former President Joe Biden, the programme has primarily funded electric school buses as part of a push to reduce emissions from the nation’s roughly 480,000-vehicle school bus fleet. The EPA now says it wants to provide school districts with “increased choice and affordable options,” including biofuels, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG/propane), and hydrogen. While these alternatives were…

New York State has withdrawn plans to legalize robotaxi services, dealing a blow to autonomous vehicle operators—particularly Alphabet’s Waymo—which had been seeking entry into the market. Governor Kathy Hochul’s earlier proposal would have allowed companies to apply for licences to run pilot autonomous ride-hailing services, with a pathway toward full commercial deployment. The initiative was widely seen as a critical step for companies aiming to operate on the U.S. East Coast. According to a report by Bloomberg, the governor has now abandoned the plan. Although the original proposal did not include New York City itself, the state remains one of…

The European Commission is preparing legislation that would tie state subsidies for electric vehicles to local production, potentially requiring cars to be assembled within the European Union and source at least 70% of their components from the bloc. The proposal, first reported by Financial Times, is part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic industry amid global competition. Under the draft plan, only battery-electric, hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles built in the EU would be eligible for public purchase incentives, procurement contracts, or leasing schemes funded by governments. In addition, at least 70% of non-battery components would need to originate…

Serbia has resumed its electric vehicle subsidy program after a pause in August 2025, extending financial support beyond passenger cars to include mopeds, motorcycles, three-wheelers, quadricycles, and electric delivery vans. The initiative, administered by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, carries a budget of about 170 million dinars (roughly €1.5 million), similar to the previous year. Grants vary by vehicle category, with battery-electric cars and vans eligible for up to €5,000. Electric motorcycles, three-wheelers, and quadricycles can receive €500, while mopeds and light three-wheelers qualify for €250. Based on these amounts, estimates suggest the funding could support anywhere from a few…

China’s Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China has indicated that electric vehicle manufacturers affected by European Union tariffs may be granted greater freedom to negotiate individual arrangements with Brussels, potentially paving the way for additional company-specific deals. The shift follows a recent agreement between the European Commission and Cupra, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, covering imports of the Cupra Tavascan electric SUV produced in China. Under the terms, the automaker secured relief from punitive tariffs in exchange for minimum pricing commitments, import quotas, reporting obligations, and investment pledges related to battery-electric vehicles within the EU. Initially, Beijing had…

The U.S. government is seeking to tighten domestic sourcing requirements for federally funded electric vehicle chargers, potentially making it more difficult for states to access funding under the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a proposal to increase the required share of American-made components in publicly funded charging stations from the current 55% to as much as 100%. The program is administered by the US Department of Transportation. See also: Trump EPA Moves to Reconsider 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding The move follows a court ruling that prevented the administration of Donald Trump…

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to revisit the 2009 greenhouse gas “endangerment finding,” a regulatory determination that established the legal basis for federal limits on vehicle emissions, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The finding, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), concluded that six greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide and methane — pose a threat to public health and welfare. That determination has underpinned federal regulation of tailpipe emissions for cars and trucks for more than a decade and has withstood multiple legal challenges. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is reportedly seeking…

Canada is exploring the creation of a joint automotive assembly plant with Chinese partners to manufacture electric vehicles for global export, a move that signals a shift in Ottawa’s long-standing auto industry strategy, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Joly said Canadian automotive parts makers already operating in China — including Magna, Linamar and Martinrea — could play a role in a Sino-Canadian joint-venture assembly plant based in Canada. See also: Canada–China EV Tariff Deal Seen Benefiting Tesla, Volvo and BYD “We believe that these great Canadian champions can partner with Chinese EV companies to make…

California is evaluating a new incentive programme for electric vehicle buyers as it seeks to offset the impact of the loss of U.S. federal tax credits, with state regulators outlining proposed funding criteria tied to a planned $200 million budget allocation. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office included the funding proposal in its 2026/27 draft budget released in mid-January. The plan, which is still undergoing legislative review, would establish a new state-level EV incentive scheme following the federal government’s decision to end tax credits for electric vehicles last year. See also: California Awards $202 Million for Clean Transit Projects Using Cap-and-Trade Funds…

Drivers of electric vehicles in the U.S. state of Tennessee could face higher charging costs under a proposed law that would introduce a tax on electricity used at public fast-charging stations, aligning EV charging more closely with the state’s existing fuel tax framework. The draft legislation, introduced by Republican state senator Page Walley, would require operators of publicly accessible DC fast chargers to collect a tax of $0.03 per kilowatt-hour on behalf of the state. The measure has not yet been adopted but would apply only to DC chargers with a capacity exceeding 20 kilowatts, exempting slower DC chargers, all…

South Africa is considering raising import tariffs on vehicles from China and India to as much as 50% as global protectionist pressures intensify and policymakers seek to shield the country’s automotive manufacturing base. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is conducting an internal review to evaluate measures aimed at curbing vehicle imports that authorities say are undermining local production, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. See also: BYD to Introduce 1,000 kW ‘Flash Charging’ Network in South Africa by 2026 One option under discussion is revising South Africa’s tariff schedule to bring duties closer to World Trade Organization most-favoured-nation ceilings. “For…