Author: Ryan Whitmore

Swiss logistics operator Hugelshofer Logistik AG has added two electric trucks to its fleet, bringing its total number of electric trucks to 87. The new vehicles are the SuperPanther eTopas 600, assembled in Austria, and the Sany e263, manufactured in China. The company plans to evaluate both trucks in daily transport operations, comparing their range, energy consumption, reliability, ease of use, service support and total cost of ownership. The trials form part of Hugelshofer’s longer-term objective of electrifying its entire vehicle fleet by 2035. Two Trucks Enter Operational Testing The eTopas 600 is assembled at Steyr Automotive’s facility in Austria,…

Scania has opened a new vehicle testing centre in Södertälje, Sweden, following an investment of approximately SEK 975 million. The 85-hectare site will support research and development work across vehicle safety, electrification, automated driving and conventional transport technologies. The facility contains 17 kilometres of paved and gravel roads, providing engineers with dedicated areas to evaluate vehicle behaviour and test systems under repeatable conditions. Scania said the new infrastructure will allow some development activities previously carried out at external test facilities to take place on site. Purpose-Built Tracks for Vehicle Evaluation The proving ground was inaugurated on October 19, with vehicles…

Fastned reported strong growth in charging revenue during the third quarter of 2026 as it expanded its European fast-charging network. The company commissioned 17 new stations, secured agreements for 26 additional locations and had 65 stations under construction at the end of the reporting period. The Dutch charging provider recorded €51.3 million in charging revenue for the quarter. This total included €5.1 million in Dutch e-credits attributable to the first quarter but transferred during the third quarter because of a temporary closure of the government portal. Excluding this timing effect, charging revenue amounted to €46.3 million, up 47% year on…

Belgian logistics company H.Essers has expanded its electric truck fleet with 20 new vehicles, comprising ten trucks from MAN and ten from Mercedes-Benz Trucks. The vehicles will primarily operate from the company’s locations in Belgium. The latest deliveries bring H.Essers’ battery-electric truck fleet to 31 vehicles. The company is expanding its electric transport operations alongside investments in charging infrastructure and energy management as part of its broader emissions-reduction strategy. H.Essers aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its own transport fleet by 42% by 2030. The company plans to pursue this target through operational efficiency, synchromodal transport, renewable energy, alternative…

Daimler Buses and its partners in the government-funded Electrified Coach (ELCH) project have completed a joint test drive of a technology demonstrator capable of travelling more than 500 kilometres. The test took place in Neu-Ulm, Germany, marking a milestone in the development of battery-electric coaches. The project, coordinated by Daimler Buses, began in 2022 and is scheduled to continue until the end of 2026. Its objective is to develop a modular electric powertrain and validate technologies that could support future series-production coaches under the Mercedes-Benz and Setra brands. The demonstrator is being used to evaluate technical concepts and gather data…

Foton and Weichai Power have signed a strategic agreement to expand cooperation in commercial vehicle powertrains, electrified models and connected technologies. The agreement was signed in Beijing on 21 September 2026 alongside a broader accord between their parent companies, BAIC Group and Shandong Heavy Industry Group. The partnership builds on existing cooperation between the commercial vehicle manufacturer and the powertrain supplier. Support from their respective parent groups provides a wider framework for coordinating component sourcing, product development and technology research. Cooperation on Powertrain Supply and Development Under the agreement, Weichai Power will contribute its expertise in engines, transmissions, integrated powertrains…

BYD has produced its 150,000th commercial new energy vehicle (NEV), marking a milestone in the Chinese automaker’s commercial vehicle business as it increases its focus on electric trucks. The milestone vehicle, a Q3 electric semi-truck, rolled off the production line at BYD’s truck plant in Huai’an, Jiangsu province, on 9 October 2026. The company said the achievement capped 18 years of development in commercial NEVs. BYD Expands Into Long-Haul Electric Freight BYD identified the Q3 as a key model in its expansion into long-haul transport and said it plans to increase investment in the heavy-duty truck market. Long-distance freight operations…

New Flyer has introduced a next-generation vehicle controls and electrical architecture for its Xcelsior transit buses, adding processing capacity, expanded diagnostics and support for software-based vehicle management. The system is part of NFI Group’s broader effort to develop more connected vehicles and streamline maintenance across its bus and coach operations. The new architecture consolidates vehicle programming, software updates and fault diagnostics, giving technicians greater visibility into vehicle systems. It will also provide more data to NFI Connect, NFI Group’s fleet connectivity platform, supporting future development of predictive maintenance capabilities and additional software functions. Rollout Starts With Zero-Emission Buses NFI Group…

Solaris has unveiled the Urbino 40 electric, a battery-electric bus developed specifically for the North American market. The world premiere took place at the APTA TRANSform & EXPO in Chicago, marking the Polish manufacturer’s planned entry into the North American electric bus market. The model measures 12.44 metres, or just over 40 feet, which provides the basis for its Urbino 40 designation. Solaris is also preparing the longer Urbino 60 electric, an articulated three-axle model measuring 18.59 metres. Solaris has been accepting orders from North American operators since the beginning of 2025, with the first deliveries expected to King County…

MAN Truck & Bus has begun operating an automated Lion’s City 12 E electric bus on a public transport route in Munich, marking a move from controlled testing to trials in regular urban traffic. The 12-metre electric bus has been operating on Munich Transport Company’s (MVG) Route 178 between Petuelring and Freimanner Hölzl since early September. A safety driver remains on board during the current testing phase. Automated Bus Uses Multiple Sensors MAN developed the automated system in cooperation with software specialist ADASTEC. The vehicle uses eight cameras, six radar sensors, five lidar sensors and satellite navigation to collect information…

Quantron plans to establish a platform for zero-emission and autonomous heavy-duty commercial vehicles in China with HyperView and Riyue Group, targeting the procurement of 2,000 zero-emission trucks in Shaoxing by 2030. Consortium Targets Chinese Commercial Vehicle Market Quantron, HyperView and Riyue Group have signed a strategic framework agreement to establish a consortium for the rollout of autonomous electric commercial vehicles in China. The agreement identifies a government-affiliated platform company in Shaoxing as the planned buyer of the vehicles, although further details about the company have not been disclosed. The initiative is intended to combine vehicle technology, autonomous driving, hydrogen mobility…

Tesla has been selected as the primary manufacturer for an initial order of 2,500 electric Class 8 trucks from ZET SCALE, a new alliance of shippers and carriers. The order could nearly double the number of electric heavy-duty trucks operating in the United States. Catalyst Mobility, the nonprofit formerly known as CALSTART, announced the selection on Tuesday. Catalyst Mobility operates ZET SCALE in partnership with the Smart Freight Centre. Tesla Selected As Primary Manufacturer Tesla was chosen as the primary supplier following a competitive request-for-proposals process. The alliance evaluated manufacturers based on factors including vehicle price, range, charging capability and…

Chinese automaker Dongfeng has presented three hydrogen fuel cell electric truck models at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, all based on its T1 hydrogen-electric platform. The lineup includes long-haul tractor units and a refrigerated truck, with the company’s largest 400-kW fuel cell system supporting a claimed real-world range of up to 1,700 kilometres. Three Trucks Based On T1 Platform Dongfeng is displaying three fuel cell electric vehicles based on the T1 platform. The DONGFENG-1 is a 6×2 tractor unit designed for long-haul transportation and equipped with large hydrogen storage capacity. The smaller DONGFENG-2 uses a 4×2 tractor configuration, while the…

Chinese automaker GAC is making its debut at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover through its commercial vehicle subsidiary, GAC Commercial Vehicle. The company is presenting the T9 electric truck, autonomous driving and battery-swapping technologies, as well as its new Montx light commercial vehicle brand. T9 Electric Truck Takes Centre Stage Under the theme “Delivering the Future Together,” GAC Commercial Vehicle is displaying its light and heavy commercial vehicle technologies in Pavilion 35 of the outdoor exhibition area. The company is also presenting solutions developed with partners including Pony.ai and Aulton for Level 4 autonomous driving and battery swapping. The T9…

Commercial fleet electrification company VEV has secured a new investment led by Jolt Capital to support its expansion across Europe as an independent business. The investment comes from Jolt Capital V, a fund targeting €1 billion to finance the growth of about 20 European deeptech companies. Finland’s state-owned investment company Tesi is joining the transaction as a co-investor, while Jolt Capital and Tesi will acquire Vitol’s stake in VEV. The new ownership structure is expected to support VEV’s expansion into markets including France, Germany and the Netherlands, alongside targeted acquisitions and continued product development. VEV Reaches 6,000 Commercial EV Milestone…

Volvo Trucks has started series production of its new FH Aero Electric, with the first electric long-haul trucks now rolling off the production line at the company’s Tuve plant near Gothenburg, Sweden. The model offers a claimed range of up to 700 kilometres on a single charge. The FH Aero Electric was introduced in June and became available for order shortly afterwards, together with Volvo Trucks’ new e-axle. The start of series production marks the next stage in the rollout of the long-range electric truck as Volvo expands its battery-electric heavy-duty portfolio. Volvo Expands Electric Long-Haul Options Volvo Trucks said…

Governments in Canada, the United States and Mexico have launched an initiative to develop a zero-emission truck corridor along the North American West Coast. The British Columbia to Baja California ZEV Corridor, known as BC2BC, will connect Vancouver in Canada with Baja California in Mexico through Washington, Oregon and California. The 2,222-kilometre corridor will follow the I-5 highway and include charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles. The initial development is planned to include 20 electric truck charging stations and three hydrogen stations. Connecting Major Freight Routes The BC2BC corridor is intended to support zero-emission freight operations between…

British startup Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) will unveil a 3D model of its largest and highest-torque electric motor to date at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, Germany, in September 2026. The new motor, called Titan, is being developed for heavy-duty applications, with first samples expected to be available in the third quarter of 2027. AEM specializes in electric motors designed without rare earth materials and will present Titan as the latest development of its Heavy Duty Rare-earth-free Motor (HDRM) family. Titan Expands AEM’s Heavy-Duty Motor Range AEM will present Titan at IAA Transportation, which takes place in Hannover from September…

Swedish mining company LKAB has deployed two 120-tonne battery-electric trucks at its Malmberget iron ore mine, where the vehicles operate at depths of up to 1,250 metres. Developed with Scania, the trucks have already transported more than 100,000 tonnes of iron ore since entering service and are being used in regular underground operations. Heavy Electric Trucks Enter Underground Operations The battery-electric tractor units each have a payload capacity of just over 70 tonnes, making them, according to LKAB, the largest and heaviest battery-electric trucks currently operating underground. https://evmagz.com/sany-expands-autonomous-electric-mining-trucks-into-south-america/ LKAB’s claim specifically relates to underground mining. Larger battery-electric mining dump trucks…

Czech commercial vehicle manufacturer Tatra Trucks has unveiled its first battery-electric truck, the Force e-Drive BEV, an 8×8 prototype designed for demanding construction and mining applications. The heavy-duty truck combines a 480 kWh battery with all-wheel drive and an electric powertrain producing up to 550 kW. Tatra Develops Electric 8×8 Truck The Force e-Drive BEV is based on the latest generation of Tatra’s Force chassis, which uses the company’s central tube frame and independently suspended half-shafts. All four axles are driven. The two front axles can be engaged when required, while the two rear axles remain permanently driven. The chassis…