Author: Patrick Doyle

char.gy has installed its 5,000th public electric vehicle charge point in the United Kingdom, reaching the milestone with a new kerbside charger in Brighton & Hove. The company said the achievement reflects the continued expansion of on-street charging infrastructure aimed at households without access to private driveways or dedicated off-street parking. Brighton & Hove Deployment The milestone charger forms part of Brighton & Hove City Council’s broader plan to install approximately 6,000 kerbside charging points across the city. According to char.gy, the programme represents one of the largest on-street charging deployments outside London. The company noted that a significant proportion…

Stellantis Pro One, the commercial vehicle division of Stellantis, has outlined a strategy to increase annual sales by 30% by 2030, supported by a broad product renewal programme and an expanded focus on connected fleet services. The plan, presented during Stellantis’ Investor Day on May 21, targets growth from approximately 1.65 million commercial vehicles sold in 2025 and includes the launch of 11 new models across multiple regions and vehicle segments. A central element of the strategy is the introduction of two new multi-energy van platforms built on Stellantis’ STLA Brain electrical and software architecture. The platforms will support battery-electric,…

Polish bus manufacturer Solaris has obtained Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for three electric bus models as the company expands environmental transparency across its zero-emission vehicle portfolio. The newly certified models include the Solaris Urbino 10.5 Electric, Solaris Urbino 12 Electric and Solaris Urbino 18 Electric. Solaris said the independently verified EPD datasets cover the full life cycle of the vehicles, including raw material extraction, component production, manufacturing, transport, operation, servicing and end-of-life processing. Environmental Product Declarations are internationally recognised environmental labels designed to provide standardised information about a product’s environmental impact. According to Solaris, the EPDs were developed in accordance…

A survey conducted by Germany’s Öko-Institut found that companies operating heavy battery-electric trucks are reporting high satisfaction levels with the vehicles, citing reliability, operating cost advantages and positive driver feedback as key benefits. The study surveyed 57 transport and logistics companies in Germany that have operated at least one heavy-duty electric truck in daily operations for a minimum of one year. According to the results, 93% of participating companies described battery-electric trucks as a reliable and economically viable alternative to diesel-powered vehicles. The research forms part of the federally funded ELV-Live project, which examines the practical adoption of electric trucks…

Dutch truck manufacturer DAF has started series production of its XG Electric and XG+ Electric heavy-duty trucks at its Eindhoven facility, marking the latest expansion of the company’s battery-electric vehicle range. The first production unit, an DAF XG+ Electric tractor, is scheduled for delivery to German logistics provider Hellmold & Plank. See also: Paua Partners With DAF Dealers to Expand Shared Charging for Electric Trucks in UK The XG Electric and XG+ Electric models are designed for long-haul transport and share core drivetrain technology with DAF’s XD Electric and XF Electric trucks, which were previously introduced by the company. DAF…

Komatsu has introduced the PC9000-12, the largest hydraulic mining excavator in its product lineup, to global markets with the option of a fully electric drive system. The company said the excavator, which was first launched in Canada, is now available worldwide through Komatsu’s dealer network. See also: Komatsu, Applied Intuition Partner on Next-Generation Autonomous Mining Platform Customers can choose between a conventional diesel powertrain and an electric-drive configuration depending on site requirements and regulatory conditions. “This flexibility allows mining companies to align their equipment selection with regulatory requirements and site-specific conditions,” Komatsu said in a statement. According to the company’s…

German industrial group Freudenberg Group has withdrawn from the battery and fuel cell systems business for heavy-duty applications, dissolving its Freudenberg e-Power Systems (FEPS) unit as of January 1, 2026, the company said alongside its annual results. The move marks the end of Freudenberg’s activities in developing and marketing battery cells, modules, systems and complete fuel cell systems. The company will instead retain its hydrogen components business, which will be integrated into its sealing technologies division. “Ultimately, we decided to discontinue the business involving system integration and modules for fuel cells and batteries. However, we will continue in the components…

Scottish bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis is exploring options to retain jobs in Scotland, proposing to preserve up to 200 roles at its Larbert facility while proceeding with the planned closure of its Falkirk plant. The company had initially announced in June 2025 that both Scottish sites would close, with production consolidated at its facility in Scarborough, England, putting up to 400 jobs at risk. The move was attributed to “challenging market dynamics,” according to Paul Davies, President and Managing Director of Alexander Dennis. Davies said at the time: “We must take significant action to drive efficiency to allow our operating…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks said it has started sales of its battery-electric eArocs 400 construction truck in 13 European markets, marking the brand’s entry into electrified solutions for heavy-duty construction applications. The model is currently available to order in countries including Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands, with production of the base vehicle scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026 at the Wörth am Rhein plant. Final integration of the electric drivetrain will be carried out by Paul Group. The eArocs 400 was first unveiled at the Bauma Munich and represents a shift from the diesel-powered Arocs line, which has…

Polish bus manufacturer Solaris said its electric bus retrofit programme now covers around 170 vehicles across Europe, as operators seek to extend the lifespan of early-generation battery-electric fleets. The update was shared during the Mobility Move event in Berlin, with details reported by Sustainable Bus. The programme includes 105 buses for Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), as well as additional vehicles in cities such as Kraków, Cluj-Napoca, Hamburg, Jaworzno, Brussels and Warsaw. Solaris said the retrofit initiative targets approximately 1,325 battery-electric buses delivered between 2013 and 2019, representing about 22% of its electric fleet currently in operation. The company aims to prevent…

Bosch Engineering has introduced a new 800-volt electric drive system designed for heavy-duty intralogistics machinery, aiming to support the electrification of forklifts, terminal tractors and port transport vehicles. The system will be presented at the LogiMAT 2026, taking place in Stuttgart from March 24 to 26, where the company is showcasing its latest developments in electrified powertrains for industrial applications. The new solution combines the SMG230 electric motor with a silicon carbide-based inverter, supporting system voltages between 400 and 850 volts. The motor delivers a continuous output of 188 kW and around 250 Nm of torque, with peak torque reaching…

MAN Truck & Bus has carried out winter testing of its upcoming battery-electric coach, the Lion’s Coach E, in northern Sweden and eastern Turkey, exposing the vehicles to temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius as part of final endurance trials ahead of series production. Four prototypes of the electric coach completed thousands of kilometres of testing near the Arctic Circle and in Erzurum, Turkey, regions known for harsh winter climates. According to the Munich-based manufacturer, the trials evaluated the performance of the high-voltage battery system, energy management including preconditioning, charging capability, drivetrain reliability and the bus’s interior thermal…