Author: Patrick Doyle

The Skoda Group has secured two public tenders to supply a total of 75 new trolleybuses to Sofia, expanding its presence in the Bulgarian capital’s public transport fleet. The contracts comprise 35 standard 12-metre trolleybuses and 40 articulated 18-metre vehicles, with a combined value of €56.19 million, Skoda said. The win follows an earlier order in 2021, when the Czech manufacturer delivered 30 low-floor trolleybuses to Sofia under a deal worth around €20 million. Under the first contract, Skoda will deliver 35 units of its 12-metre Skoda 32Tr low-floor trolleybus. The model has a passenger capacity of up to 95…

Kia’s PV5 electric van has secured a series of international awards for safety, design and efficiency during its first year on the market, underlining the company’s ambitions in the electric light commercial vehicle segment. The PV5, Kia’s first dedicated all-electric Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV), was named 2026 International Van of the Year, becoming the first Korean and Asian electric vehicle to receive the title. The award was decided unanimously by a jury of 26 commercial vehicle journalists, who cited the model’s modular architecture and real-world efficiency. See also: Kia PV5 Electric Van Wins 2026 International Van of the Year Award…

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) have both halted the use of electric vans supplied by the now-bankrupt EV startup Canoo. The decisions mark the abandonment of two high-profile government vehicle programs that Canoo had secured prior to its financial collapse. NASA, which purchased three Canoo EVs in 2023 for transporting astronauts to the launchpad for its Artemis lunar missions, informed media that Canoo “was no longer able to meet our mission requirements.” As of October, the space agency confirmed it is leasing the Airstream-built “Astrovan” from Boeing for its crewed…

MAN Truck & Bus has delivered the first two units of its long-haul electric truck, the eTGX, to the Italian transport company Koinè. The battery-electric vehicles will be immediately integrated into the logistics operations of the beverage manufacturer Sanpellegrino, a brand owned by Nestlé Waters. The delivery marks the beginning of a multi-year fleet transition plan, under which Koinè, one of Europe’s largest logistics providers operating nearly 1,000 vehicles, intends to acquire up to 50 eTGX units from MAN. See also: MAN Truck & Bus Launches Battery Production at Nuremberg Plant, Plans €150 Million Expansion Koinè, based between Bergamo and…

DSV, the global transport and logistics company, has deployed its first 8-ton electric truck in South Africa, in partnership with Volvo Trucks. The vehicle is the first of three scheduled to join the company’s Air & Sea fleet following successful operational trials, significantly boosting DSV’s local electrification drive. The deployment builds upon earlier steps taken three years ago, which included the introduction of a 4-ton electric truck and an electric van. With the addition of the new Volvo 8-ton trucks, 15 per cent of DSV’s current fleet in South Africa will now be fully electric. See also: DSV Introduces Volvo…

The Port of Houston this week deployed its first electric reach stacker as part of efforts to electrify cargo-handling operations and reduce emissions at one of the United States’ busiest seaports, according to Houston Terminal and equipment supplier Equipment Depot. The new machine, built by Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer SANY, is a 50-ton electric reach stacker that uses a regenerative braking system integrated into its boom to generate electricity as loads are lowered, improving overall operating efficiency and reducing charging-related downtime. The unit was launched earlier this year and is the first of its kind to enter service at the…