Author: Ryan Whitmore

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…