Author: Ryan Hayes

London is assessing potential new charges for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) as part of its Vision Zero strategy to improve road safety, the BBC reported, citing concerns over vehicle size and urban traffic risks. The Vision Zero plan, led by city authorities, outlines the growing impact of larger vehicles on urban infrastructure and safety. It notes that around half of new cars are now too wide for standard on-street parking spaces, reflecting a broader shift in vehicle design and consumer preference. City Hall analysis indicates that larger vehicles occupy more road space, reduce visibility at junctions and crossings, and limit…

The UK Government has announced a £1 billion funding package to support the adoption of electric vans and trucks, aiming to reduce costs for businesses and accelerate the decarbonisation of road transport. The funding will be distributed through two programmes: the Zero Emissions Truck and Van scheme and the Depot Charging Scheme. Together, they are designed to address key barriers to electrification, including high upfront vehicle costs and limited charging infrastructure. Under the vehicle subsidy programme, businesses can receive grants covering up to 40% of the purchase price of electric trucks, with a maximum of £81,000 per vehicle for heavy-duty…

The Hackney Council has launched the first nine rapid electric vehicle chargers as part of a broader plan to install more than 50 units across the borough by 2030. The chargers, supplied and operated by ESB Energy, offer up to 100 kW of charging power and are designed to deliver approximately 30-minute charging sessions. The rollout is aimed particularly at residents who do not have access to private home charging. Each charging unit is installed in a dedicated parking bay large enough to accommodate delivery vans and commercial vehicles, reflecting a focus on both residential and business users. Access to…

Volvo Car UK has introduced the Volvo EX30 Cargo, its first fully electric car-derived van designed for commercial customers, as automakers expand into compact electric utility vehicles for urban fleets. The EX30 Cargo is based on the Volvo EX30 and is offered in two variants: the standard Cargo and the Cross Country Cargo. The model is tailored for fleet and business users, combining passenger car features with added practicality. To create cargo space, the rear seats have been removed and replaced with a flat load floor and access panel, resulting in up to 1,000 litres of load capacity and a…

All 22 local authorities in Wales have been granted free access to ChargePoint Navigator, a digital planning tool designed to support the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, marking the first nationwide deployment of the platform outside England. The tool was developed through a collaboration between Field Dynamics, Cenex, Zap-Map and UK Power Networks. It provides local authorities with a comprehensive data dashboard covering factors such as grid capacity, cabling infrastructure, pavement dimensions, off-street parking availability and projected charging demand. ChargePoint Navigator is designed to streamline the planning process for EV infrastructure, from identifying optimal sites to estimating connection…

A fleet of 30 new electric buses has been introduced in Salisbury, southern England, as part of a £15 million investment involving Salisbury Reds, Wiltshire Council and the Department for Transport. The rollout includes 18 double-decker and 12 single-decker electric buses, primarily supplied by Wrightbus. Some of the vehicles will be used for tourist services, including routes serving Stonehenge. Additional vehicles have been provided by Alexander Dennis, including Enviro100EV single-deck models designed for narrower or more challenging routes. Ed Wills said the initiative reflects a joint commitment to cleaner transport. “Salisbury Reds and Wiltshire Council have, together, made a significant…

Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus has secured an order for 55 electric buses from Greater Manchester, as the region continues to expand its zero-emission fleet under the Bee Network transport initiative. The order was announced by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham during a visit to Wrightbus’s headquarters in Ballymena. While the exact model of the newly ordered buses has not been confirmed, Burnham also inspected production of a previous order of 76 battery-electric StreetDeck Electroliner double-deckers, which are scheduled to enter service from April. See also: Wrightbus Expands Rapidly as Electric Buses Lead, Hydrogen Finds Targeted Role With the addition…

The United Kingdom’s Department for Transport said the country’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) targets were met in 2024, with both passenger car and van markets exceeding required thresholds under the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (VETS). In its first annual assessment of the framework underpinning the UK’s ZEV mandate, the department reported a compliance rate of 24.3% for passenger cars, surpassing the mandated 22% target. The van segment reached 11.5%, above its 10% requirement. See also: Study Finds Nearly One-Third of UK EV Chargers Show Energy Measurement Errors The evaluation covered both the ZEV mandate, which sets annual quotas for electric vehicle…

Sheffield is set to introduce 186 electric buses from 2027 as part of a wider push to decarbonise public transport, with funding support from the UK government and regional authorities, officials said. The project forms part of the UK’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme, which is designed to accelerate the adoption of cleaner bus fleets across England. While the supplier of the vehicles has not yet been confirmed, the new buses will replace older diesel models operating in the city. See also: Be.EV Opens Ultra-Rapid EV Charging Hub in Sheffield, Expanding UK Network The UK government has committed…

Council-owned operator Reading Buses has secured £3 million in government funding to expand its electric bus fleet, bringing the total number of battery-electric double-decker buses in operation in Reading to 49. The grant comes from the UK Department for Transport through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 initiative. The funding will support the introduction of 17 new electric buses on the emerald 5 and emerald 6 routes, which serve the southern part of the borough. Officials have not yet disclosed the bus manufacturer or specific models that will be purchased. Local authorities said the vehicles will be “high-spec…

UK bus operator Pulhams Coaches, a subsidiary of Go-Ahead Group, is introducing 15 new electric buses into service across its network in the Cotswolds as part of a wider fleet electrification programme. The company unveiled the vehicles at its Golden Valley depot in Staverton, following upgrades to charging infrastructure and depot facilities. The new fleet includes seven double-decker buses and eight single-decker buses built by Wrightbus at its manufacturing plant in Ballymena. The double-deck vehicles are Wrightbus Electroliners equipped with 442 kWh battery packs. The single-decker models are Wrightbus GB Kite buses, including four 11.6-metre variants with 528 kWh batteries…

Stellantis will invest £50 million ($63 million) in its Ellesmere Port facility in the United Kingdom to install a new assembly line for electric vans, while warning the government that regulatory penalties under the country’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate could threaten the plant’s profitability. According to a report by The Times, the investment will support production of battery-electric versions of the Opel and Vauxhall Vivaro vans and related models starting next year. The new funding doubles the originally planned investment in the facility. The expansion follows Stellantis’ decision to close its Luton plant, shifting production of medium-sized electric vans to…

Battery-electric vehicle registrations in the United Kingdom increased in February, but their market share declined compared with a year earlier and remains below the level required under the country’s upcoming zero-emission vehicle mandate. According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 21,840 battery-electric cars were registered in February, up 2.8% from the same month last year. BEVs accounted for 24.2% of the 90,100 new cars registered during the month. See also: Study Finds Nearly One-Third of UK EV Chargers Show Energy Measurement Errors Despite the increase in sales volumes, the share of battery-electric vehicles declined year-on-year.…

A study in the United Kingdom has found that a significant number of public electric vehicle charging stations may not accurately measure the electricity delivered to vehicles, raising questions about billing transparency for drivers. Independent inspection provider EVCI Global said 31.5% of the public chargers it reviewed either overestimated or underestimated the amount of energy transferred during charging sessions. In about 15% of the cases, measurement errors exceeded five percent, while a small number showed what the company described as materially larger deviations. The findings, first reported by The Telegraph, highlight differences between the regulatory standards governing EV charging equipment…

Authorities in Wales have launched a pilot project comparing hydrogen-powered and battery-electric refuse collection vehicles, as part of efforts to identify effective zero-emission solutions for municipal fleets. The demonstration is taking place in South East Wales and aims to collect real-world data on energy use, driving range and operational performance. The findings are expected to help inform future decisions on the deployment of low-emission heavy-duty vehicles for public services. The project has received more than £420,000 in funding from the Welsh Government through its Climate Innovation and Circular Economy programmes. It is being coordinated by Cardiff Capital Region (CCR), a…

Southern Vectis has introduced 31 battery-electric double-decker buses into service on the Isle of Wight, marking a significant step in the operator’s transition toward zero-emission public transport. The new buses were built by Wrightbus and were partly funded through the UK government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme, known as ZEBRA-2 Scheme. The project represents a £10.7 million investment by Southern Vectis, with additional financial support from Isle of Wight Council, which contributed £733,000. “I am delighted that Southern Vectis is now at the forefront of the nation’s sustainable transport. Buses are the perfect solution to improving air quality, and…

The UK government has announced an additional £4 million in funding to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across National Health Service facilities in England, bringing total investment under the programme to £22 million. The funding, provided by the Department for Transport, forms part of the NHS Chargepoint Accelerator Scheme and is intended to support the installation of hundreds of additional EV charging sockets at NHS sites. The initiative aims to accelerate the electrification of the National Health Service fleet, which includes approximately 20,000 vehicles and is considered the second-largest public sector fleet in the United Kingdom. With the latest allocation,…

Arnold Clark has opened the 60th location under its Arnold Clark Charge brand, marking a milestone in the dealership group’s plan to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the United Kingdom. The new charging hub is located at the company’s Wolverhampton Motorstore at the Pantheon Park development and is open to the public. The site features ultra-rapid chargers with power outputs of up to 150 kW and is priced at 55 pence per kWh. See also: Arnold Clark Charge Claims Scotland’s Largest Ultra-Rapid EV Charging Network Arnold Clark Charge operates charging hubs primarily at Arnold Clark dealership sites nationwide. The…

BYD’s UK division has announced pricing and updated specifications for the 2026 Seal electric sedan, introducing a range of design and technology changes while maintaining its existing price structure. The company said prices for the updated model will start at £45,730 for the Design variant, with the range-topping Excellence trim priced at £48,730. The vehicle is now available to order through local retailers across the United Kingdom. BYD UK said the latest version of the Seal includes “a series of changes to enhance its appeal, including extra technology, greater storage capacity front and rear, plus new paint colours.” The revisions…

The first electric double-decker buses have arrived in Liverpool as part of a programme to introduce around 100 zero-emission vehicles across the city region’s public transport network. Dozens of additional battery-electric buses from British manufacturers Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) are expected in the coming months. Before entering passenger service, drivers are undergoing training on the new vehicles, according to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. See also: Liverpool Allocates £26 Million for New Electric Double-Decker Buses as Part of Green Transport Initiative The buses carry a yellow, grey and black “Metro” livery. Initial deliveries appear to be Enviro400EV…