Author: Ryan Whitmore

Swiss technology company Suncar has introduced a new megawatt charging interface designed for installation on electric commercial vehicles, aiming to simplify adoption of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard among manufacturers. The product, named Megaflow1500, is intended to address a perceived gap in the development of MCS, a global standard currently under development for ultra-fast charging of heavy-duty vehicles and machinery. While industry efforts have largely focused on charging infrastructure, Suncar said vehicle-side integration remains less developed. “So far, discussions often focus on charging infrastructure outside the vehicle. In this area, the market already offers various solutions,” the company said.…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks plans to begin initial customer trials of megawatt charging-compatible eActros 600 electric trucks in the second half of the year, as part of efforts to validate the emerging Megawatt Charging System (MCS) under real-world conditions. The trials will be conducted within the company’s inbound logistics operations, particularly at its main plant in Wörth am Rhein, where an MCS-capable charging station is scheduled to be commissioned by mid-year. The initiative forms part of the company’s “Electrify Inbound Logistic” project, which aims to electrify logistics flows between facilities in Wörth, Gaggenau, Kassel and Mannheim. The eActros 600, which entered series…

Kögel Trailer GmbH has introduced a modified semi-trailer designed for battery-electric trucks, aiming to address axle load limitations while allowing higher payloads for transport operators. The Germany-based trailer manufacturer said its new e-optimised Kögel Light Plus model reduces the load on a tractor unit’s drive axle by up to two tonnes compared with conventional curtain-sided trailers. The design change is intended to help offset the additional weight of batteries commonly used in electric trucks. The trailer is based on the existing Kögel Light Plus platform but features a shortened wheelbase between the kingpin and the first trailer axle, reduced by…

Austrian transport operator Dr. Richard Gruppe has introduced its first fully electric coaches into regular service, becoming the first bus company in Austria to deploy battery-electric long-distance coaches. The company has placed three Yutong T12E vehicles into operation. Two are based at its Vienna depot, while the third operates in Salzburg. From these locations, the coaches will be used for day trips, city tours and shuttle services within a range of approximately 380 kilometres. Each vehicle can carry up to 50 passengers. Dr. Richard said it selected the T12E following extensive market analysis and testing of multiple manufacturers. “The provider…

Metzger Spedition GmbH has added a MAN eTGX electric truck to its fleet, expanding its zero-emission operations alongside three Volvo FH Electric vehicles already in service. The logistics company, based in southern Germany, said the new truck is equipped with a 534 kWh battery and offers a range of up to 500 kilometres, enabling longer routes than its existing electric vehicles, which are primarily used for short- to medium-distance transport. The company expects high utilisation of the new vehicle. See also: Xos Unveils $99,000 Electric Medium-Duty Truck Chassis for Fleet Market Metzger acquired the MAN eTGX through a funding programme…

German engineering firm FEV Group said trucks equipped with range-extender electric drivetrains could reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) by up to 33% compared with conventional diesel vehicles, based on internal analysis of European operating conditions. The study examined electrified heavy-duty vehicles using a “realistic European usage profile,” including overnight depot charging at industrial electricity prices of about €0.19 per kilowatt-hour. According to FEV, cost advantages could be even greater in regions with lower electricity prices. See also: FEV and Ceer Sign Agreement to Support Saudi Electric Vehicle Development “Depending on the driving cycle, through trucks with range extender architecture…

Chinese construction equipment manufacturer XCMG has delivered two large battery-electric mining machine prototypes to Australian mining company Fortescue, marking progress on a major order for zero-emission heavy equipment. The prototypes—a fully electric wheel loader designated XC9260BEWL and an electric wheel dozer XC9260BEWD—were presented to a Fortescue delegation at XCMG’s facility in Xuzhou, China. The company said both machines are the largest electric models of their type currently developed. Fortescue had previously announced plans to invest more than $400 million to procure over 100 battery-electric mining vehicles from XCMG as part of its decarbonisation strategy. A subsequent agreement expanded cooperation to…

The battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eArocs 400 has successfully completed intensive winter testing in northern Finland, clearing a key development milestone ahead of its planned market launch in April, Daimler Truck said. Designed for urban construction transport, the eArocs 400 marks the first electric version of the long-running Arocs line, which has traditionally been powered by diesel since its introduction in 2013. Mercedes-Benz Trucks unveiled the model last year and plans a limited annual production of about 150 units for selected European Union markets. Testing took place near the Arctic Circle in temperatures as low as −20°C, focusing on performance under harsh…

A consortium of 30 partners from ten countries is developing lightweight electric commercial vehicles tailored for urban logistics under the European Union–funded Shift2Zero project, with prototype testing planned in six major cities including Oslo and Thessaloniki. The initiative focuses on refining six electric vehicle prototypes based on the Iveco eDaily and Alkè ATX platforms. The vehicles are designed for real-world delivery and municipal operations, with trials scheduled in Bergen, Oslo, Thessaloniki, Bologna, Brussels and Wrocław to evaluate performance under diverse urban conditions. Funded through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, the project operates with a total budget of €12 million, including…

Adoption of zero-emission trucks (ZETs) in the United States showed mixed progress through mid-2025, with deployment slowing overall but accelerating in certain vehicle segments and states, according to a report by clean transportation nonprofit CALSTART. Cumulative deployments surpassed 59,000 vehicles nationwide by June 2025, spanning cargo vans, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, refuse vehicles and yard tractors. However, only about 6,526 new zero-emission trucks were deployed in the first half of the year, a 49.2% decline from a year earlier and roughly 1.32% of all new truck deployments. See also: Tesla Confirms Semi Truck Specifications, Sets Two Variants Ahead of Production…

Stagecoach is withdrawing bus services from two streets in Torquay in south-west England after finding that newly introduced battery-electric buses are too large to operate safely on the narrow roads, the BBC reported. From Feb. 1, services on Park Road and Hartop Road will be removed from the 35A and 35C routes as part of changes linked directly to the rollout of Stagecoach’s electric fleet. While the new zero-emission buses replace diesel vehicles, their slightly larger dimensions have made them unsuitable for some older streets originally built long before modern bus standards. See also: Stagecoach West, Gloucestershire to Add 42…

Chinese electric truck developer Windrose Technology is establishing operations at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, where it plans to assemble battery-electric trucks for the European market and set up research, development and aftersales functions, the port operator said. Under the project, branded Windrose Park Antwerp, components will be shipped from China to Belgium and assembled locally, with finished vehicles expected to receive full European certification before being distributed across the continent. The new site will be located along the Noorderlaan within the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. See also: Windrose Bundles Free Electric Charging With Global E700 Truck Sales Windrose operates a design-led…

The UK installed 14,097 new electric vehicle charging stations in 2025, with the fastest growth concentrated in high-power chargers, according to figures published by charging data platform Zapmap. By the end of the year, Great Britain had 87,796 charging stations across 45,033 locations, Zapmap said, underscoring steady progress in expanding the country’s EV infrastructure. These stations comprised 116,052 EVSE units, supporting a total of 122,071 connectors, although multiple connectors on a single unit cannot be used at the same time. See also: Suzuki Selects Ohme as Exclusive UK Charging Partner for e Vitara Launch Zapmap said growth was strongest in…

New registrations of battery-electric vehicles in the United Kingdom rose sharply in 2025, with electric cars approaching a quarter of all new passenger vehicle sales and light electric commercial vehicles setting a fresh annual record, according to industry data released this week. A total of 473,348 battery-electric passenger cars were registered in the UK in 2025, up 23.9% from the previous year, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed. The share of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in new passenger car registrations increased to 23.4%, from 19.6% in 2024, as overall new car registrations climbed 3.5% year on…

FIAT has announced immediate price reductions across its battery-electric passenger car range in the United Kingdom, including models sold under its Abarth performance brand, as the Stellantis-owned automaker prepares for the market launch of new models later this year. The Italian brand said the cuts are intended to align pricing between its existing electric lineup and upcoming vehicles, notably the electric Grande Panda and the new 500 Hybrid due later in 2026. As a result, entry prices for the Fiat 500e and Fiat 600e have been lowered to match those of their new counterparts. Under the revised pricing, the Fiat…

French sports carmaker Alpine has announced UK pricing for its upcoming electric flagship, the A390, with order books set to open in early 2026 ahead of first customer deliveries planned for the spring. The electric fastback will start at £61,390 on the road in the UK for the entry-level A390 GT, Alpine said. Prices rise to £65,390 for the Premiere Edition and £69,390 for the range-topping GTS variant. The UK pricing follows the opening of order books in mainland Europe late last year, where the model launched with a starting price of €67,500. The A390 marks a key step in…

French logistics company Vallée Group has begun deploying battery-electric heavy-duty trucks from Mercedes-Benz Trucks as part of a gradual transition of its drivetrain strategy, adding three eActros 600 models to its fleet and commissioning new charging infrastructure at its headquarters. Vallée Transports, which employs around 850 people and operates a fleet of roughly 650 vehicles, is based in La Madeleine-de-Nonancourt, west of Paris. The first eActros 600 was delivered around six weeks ago, with the remaining two units scheduled to arrive before the end of the year, the company said. The electric trucks will be charged at a newly installed…

Refrigerated vehicle rental specialist Petit Forestier has expanded its electric fleet with the delivery of nearly 300 battery-electric Iveco eDaily vehicles, as part of a broader transition toward lower-emission urban logistics. The company said 275 Iveco eDaily vehicles fitted with refrigerated box bodies have now been delivered to its French operations and other European branches. The deliveries form part of a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2022, under which Petit Forestier agreed to order up to 2,000 eDaily chassis, to be equipped with refrigerated bodies by Lecapitaine. The vehicles delivered so far represent nearly 14% of the total volume…

U.S. electric commercial vehicle maker Workhorse Group Inc. said it has completed its merger with Motiv Electric Trucks, forming a unified original equipment manufacturer aimed at the North American medium-duty electric vehicle market and backed by up to $50 million in new financing. The combined company will continue to operate under the Workhorse name and trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker WKHS, the company said. Management estimates the addressable medium-duty commercial vehicle market in North America at around $23 billion. As part of the transaction, the company secured new debt financing capacity from Motiv’s legacy controlling investor, providing up…

Renault Trucks said it has electrified a major internal logistics corridor linking its sites in Blainville-sur-Orne, Bourg-en-Bresse and Lyon, moving critical components almost entirely with battery-electric trucks as part of its decarbonisation strategy. Working with French haulier Malherbe, the truck maker now transports cabs, engines and axles on a just-in-time basis using electric vehicles, supplying assembly lines without interruption. Heavy-duty cabs produced in Blainville-sur-Orne are shipped to Bourg-en-Bresse for assembly, while engines and axles manufactured in Lyon are delivered to Blainville-sur-Orne for integration into medium-duty trucks. See also: Renault Trucks Launches E-Tech D12 and D14 Electric Models for Urban Distribution…