Author: Patrick Doyle

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…

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…

U.S. electric vehicle startup Harbinger has introduced a new medium-duty work truck called the HC Series Cab, expanding its lineup of commercial vehicles as the company seeks to broaden its presence in the fleet market. The Los Angeles-based company said the HC Series Cab will be offered in both fully electric and hybrid versions. The hybrid variant is designed to deliver a driving range of up to 500 miles. The truck platform is intended for commercial fleet use and features a tight turning radius, easier cab entry and exit, and the ability to accommodate different chassis configurations such as cargo…

Austrian contract manufacturer Steyr Automotive has begun assembling trucks for Chinese commercial vehicle producer Sinotruk at its facility in Steyr. The first vehicle was completed earlier this week under a newly signed contract between the two companies. According to Steyr Automotive, the agreement covers the assembly of both diesel-powered and fully electric trucks in several variants. Initially, production will follow the Semi Knocked Down (SKD) method, meaning partially assembled kits imported from China will be completed at the Austrian plant. As volumes increase, the partners plan to transition to Completely Knocked Down (CKD) production, allowing vehicles to be assembled entirely…

Mining company Rio Tinto and Chinese battery manufacturer CATL have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore cooperation on electrification and low-carbon technologies in the mining sector. The agreement, announced by CATL on March 4, outlines collaboration in three areas: electrification strategy and innovation, circular supply chains and potential new commercial cooperation models linked to the energy transition. See also: BMW and CATL Sign Pact on Battery Supply Chain Decarbonization The companies plan to assess opportunities for large-scale electrification of mining operations, which traditionally rely on diesel-powered heavy equipment. The partnership will also explore approaches to recycling battery materials and…

Stellantis has launched a promotional campaign offering battery-electric versions of its compact and mid-size vans at the same price as diesel models across Europe, as the automaker seeks to accelerate the adoption of electric commercial vehicles. The initiative, introduced by the company’s commercial vehicle division Stellantis Pro One, will run until the end of June and applies to several models in the group’s light commercial vehicle lineup. The offer covers compact vans including the Citroën Berlingo, Fiat Professional Doblò, Opel Combo and Peugeot Partner, as well as mid-size vans such as the Citroën Jumpy, Fiat Professional Scudo, Opel Vivaro and…