Author: Patrick Doyle
Patrick Doyle
Patrick Doyle is a commercial electric vehicle journalist at EVMagz.com, covering electric vans, trucks, bus fleets, and the transition of logistics and public transport operators toward zero-emission mobility. His reporting focuses on fleet electrification strategy, vehicle technology, charging deployment, and the economic impact of electrification across global commercial transport markets.
The Port of Vancouver has launched a pilot program deploying battery-electric container trucks into commercial freight operations to evaluate the performance of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles under real-world port conditions. The initiative, known as the Electric Container Trucking Program (ELECTRA), has introduced six battery-electric Class 8 trucks across five trucking companies operating in British Columbia. Pilot Supports Zero-Emission Freight Operations The program is one of the first coordinated deployments of battery-electric container trucks at a major North American port. Under the C$3 million initiative, participating trucking companies receive subsidized five-year vehicle leases together with charging infrastructure, maintenance support, driver training, and…
Fleet electrification company WattEV has opened a new heavy-duty truck charging depot in Fresno, California, expanding its electric freight infrastructure into Northern California and strengthening charging access along one of the state’s busiest logistics corridors. The Fresno facility is the company’s seventh commercial truck charging depot and the first of four planned locations that will support zero-emission freight transport across Northern California. Expanding High-Power Truck Charging Located along California’s Highway 99 corridor, the new depot is positioned to connect freight traffic between the ports of Oakland and Stockton with distribution centers throughout the northern San Joaquin Valley. The site is…
European truck manufacturers are pushing back against plans by Chinese battery maker CATL and Octopus Energy to establish a battery-swapping network for heavy-duty electric trucks in Europe, according to a report by Nikkei. The joint venture, branded Swaptopus, aims to deploy 30 battery-swapping stations across Europe by 2035, with the first facilities expected to open in the United Kingdom in 2027. However, industry stakeholders have raised concerns that adopting a common battery-swapping platform could reduce manufacturers’ control over vehicle technology and battery systems. Standardization Concerns Cloud Battery-Swapping Plans According to Nikkei, one of the main obstacles is the level of…
The European Union-backed GIANTS project has entered the next phase of development, moving from technology design to real-world vehicle demonstrations as it reaches month 30 of its 42-month programme. Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer Clean Motion is contributing its EVIG platform as one of the project’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners, with prototype testing set to begin across six international urban living labs. Project Moves into Demonstration Phase Funded through the Horizon Europe programme, the GIANTS project has a total budget of €15 million and runs from January 2024 through June 2027. The consortium, which comprises 24 partners, has spent the…
MAN Truck & Bus has expanded the electrification of its factory logistics after logistics partner J.S. Logistics introduced five MAN eTGX battery-electric trucks for cross-border freight operations between Hungary and Germany. The vehicles will support inbound logistics for MAN production facilities, marking another step in the manufacturer’s strategy to reduce emissions across its supply chain. Electric Trucks Enter Cross-Border Service The five MAN eTGX electric tractor units will transport components between suppliers and MAN plants using both direct routes and consolidated freight operations. On the approximately 520-kilometer route between Lébény in Hungary and MAN’s Munich plant, the trucks will operate…
Chinese mining company Zijin Mining is expanding the electrification of its mining vehicle fleet, deploying battery-electric haul trucks across multiple operations while developing its own heavy-duty electric mining vehicles. The company said it established an in-house production and assembly line after determining that commercially available vehicles did not fully meet its operational requirements. In-House Electric Mining Trucks By the end of 2025, Zijin had produced its first battery-electric mining dump truck, the LK220E. The company now operates nearly 300 battery-electric dump trucks weighing up to 140 tonnes, depending on configuration. The vehicles are equipped with swappable battery packs with a…
Sales of zero-emission commercial vehicles in Europe continued to grow during the first quarter of 2026, with Mercedes-Benz and MAN emerging as leaders in the battery-electric truck market, while Chinese bus manufacturer Yutong became the top-selling electric bus brand in the region, according to a new analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The study, based on European Union vehicle registration data, highlights accelerating adoption of electric trucks and buses, alongside increasing competition among manufacturers. Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicle Sales Rise The ICCT recorded approximately 6,355 zero-emission commercial vehicle registrations across the EU-27, excluding Malta and Finland, during the…
BMW is preparing its Leipzig plant for production of electric vehicles based on its next-generation Neue Klasse platform, with the factory set to undergo extensive upgrades during a five-and-a-half-week production shutdown this summer. The move marks another step in BMW’s broader transition toward electric mobility, although the company has not yet disclosed which Neue Klasse models will be manufactured at the eastern Germany facility. Major Factory Upgrade Planned Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel said the Leipzig site is being prepared for the arrival of the Neue Klasse vehicle family, BMW’s new generation of electric vehicles built on a dedicated EV architecture.…
Mercedes-Benz has officially started series production of the all-electric VLE, the first model built on the company’s new VAN.EA electric vehicle platform, at its long-established manufacturing facility in Vitoria, Spain. The launch marks a significant milestone for Mercedes-Benz Vans as it accelerates its transition toward fully electric commercial and passenger vehicle offerings. First VAN.EA Model Enters Production The VLE was unveiled earlier this year as the successor to the EQV and represents the first production vehicle based on Mercedes-Benz’s next-generation VAN.EA architecture. Customer orders for the premium electric van have been open since April, including blind orders placed before test…
San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) has awarded a contract to Fastech and Bosch Rexroth to develop a large-scale hydrogen refuelling station in California capable of supporting up to 175 fuel cell electric buses. The facility is expected to become the world’s largest hydrogen refuelling station dedicated to public transit bus operations and will serve as the primary hydrogen hub for the SamTrans network. Supporting a Large Fuel Cell Bus Fleet The hydrogen station is being designed to support a fleet of up to 175 fuel cell electric buses as SamTrans advances its zero-emission transportation strategy. According to the project…
Austrian fire service vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer and German truck maker MAN Truck & Bus have unveiled a fully electric turntable ladder fire truck at the Interschutz trade fair in Hanover, Germany, marking a significant step in the electrification of emergency response vehicles. The new L32A-XS Electric is built on MAN’s battery-electric eTGM chassis and is described by Rosenbauer as the world’s lightest fully electric turntable ladder truck. With a gross vehicle weight of less than 16 tonnes and an axle load below 10 tonnes, the vehicle complies with weight restrictions commonly applied to fire service deployment areas across Germany. The…
Solaris Bus & Coach has entered its Urbino 15 LE electric in the intercity category of Bus Euro Test 2026, showcasing a battery-electric bus designed for both urban and regional transport operations. The vehicle combines a low-floor front section for efficient passenger boarding in city environments with a raised rear section intended to enhance comfort on longer-distance routes. Designed for Urban and Intercity Operations The Urbino 15 LE electric can accommodate up to 100 passengers and offers seating for 65 people, making it suitable for a range of public transport applications. Solaris said the vehicle provides an operating range of…