June 30, 2022
Citroën is developing an additional model to be positioned between the existing C4 and the C5 X. The new model will be baptised C4 X and will feature a 100% electric drive. Depending on the market, versions with combustion engines will also be offered for sale. In practice, the C4 X is an evolution based […]
June 28, 2022
Only a week after Audi proudly announced that it is the market leader in Belgium in terms of pure electric vehicles, the e-tron assembled in Vorst (Brussels) appears to be completely sold out on the Belgian market. Audi is experiencing an excellent year in terms of electrically powered models. During the first months of 2022, […]
June 27, 2022
Ford Pro, the commercial vehicle division of the American manufacturer, presented the Ford Pro Electric Supervan at the Festival of Speed in Goodwood, UK. Based on the E-Transit Custom, the boosted van can sprint from 0 to 100 km/hour in just two seconds. For Ford Performance, this particularly fast van is to showcase the potential […]
June 23, 2022
After a few striking teaser images, Peugeot has drawn the veil on the new 408, which is considerably larger than the 308 with which it shares its platform. Remarkably, Peugeot is planning two plug-in hybrid motorizations, with which the manufacturer is aiming at the business driver. The 408 is expected on the Belgian market in […]
June 22, 2022
D’Ieteren Automotive sees mobility from a broader perspective. In addition to the classic car distribution activities of the VW Group brands, it invests in sustainable mobility solutions such as sharing platforms (Poppy), bicycles (Lucien), charging infrastructure (EDI), and now energy supply with the acquisition of Go-Solar, a specialist in solar panels and home batteries. With […]
June 16, 2022
From 1 July, the emission measurement for diesel cars in the Belgian annual technical inspection will be changed. From then on, diesel cars will have to pass a new test procedure to map out the emission of particulate matter in the exhaust gases. The new system counts the particles that are present, making it possible […]
June 15, 2022
Schaeffler presented an innovative drive unit for electric vehicles at the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Oslo. Schaeffler says that the ‘four in one electric axle’ system is compact and up to 14% more economical than a “conventionally” built electric vehicle. Schaeffler is a major supplier of automotive components. The group with Scandinavian roots began with […]
June 14, 2022
As emissions from internal combustion engines (ICE) are reduced due to stricter standards and electrification, other sources of pollution such as brake and tire dust are taking the lead. For example, rubber tires emitting while wearing fine particles into the air are thousands of times more polluting than tailpipe emissions from (recent) cars. New research […]
June 13, 2022
At the 35th (EVS) Electric Vehicle Symposium in Oslo, German Vitesco Technologies, a spin-off from Continental, presented a new generation of electric motors. These no longer use a permanent magnet, but a second (controlled) electromagnetic field to bring the motor in motion. With this technology, far fewer rare earth metals are required for their manufacture. […]
June 09, 2022
Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool has just launched a new model range of zero-emission public transport buses and coaches for local transport at the Paris European Mobility Expo. Bus manufacturer VanHool is a family business from Belgian Koningshooikt (near the city of Lier), 75 years old in 2022, and primarily builds vehicles for Europe and […]
June 08, 2022
Fiat has announced in a press release that a new Doblò will soon be available on the Belgian market. This third generation of the famous van will also be offered with an electric drivetrain. The renewal of the Doblò fits in the rationalization of the product range within the Stellantis group. Following Fiat’s integration into […]
June 02, 2022
Renault is extending its range of electrically powered vans with an EV version of the latest Kangoo, the Rapid E-Tech Electric. The arrival of an electric version of the newest generation Kangoo is a logical step. After all, the manufacturer also has a Master E-Tech Electric on offer in the larger van segment. This Kangoo […]
May 19, 2022
Mercedes is joining forces with Sila Nanotechnologies, who developed an innovative battery with a much higher density (+30 to 40%) than what we see today in lithium-ion EV batteries. The first of these would be for the future electric G-Class. Alternative to hydrogen Sila Nanotechnologies is a start-up from Silicon Valley in California that uses […]
May 19, 2022
In a press release, the American EV manufacturer announced that also in Belgium, certain Tesla superchargers would be made available to electric vehicles of other brands. This means that 141 additional fast-charging points will now be available in Belgium. Tesla drivers are not complaining Tesla announced last year that it would open up its charging […]
May 18, 2022
At the IAA 2021, Porsche lifted the curtain on the Mission R, the electric version of the Cayman. Today, the South German sports car manufacturer indicates which direction the electrically powered coupé will take, as Porsche shows the first prototype with stunning specifications. The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance is the base for this concept […]
May 17, 2022
After the ID.3, the ID.4, ID.5, and the ID. Buzz, it looks like the next in line of VW’s electric ID. products will be the compact ID.2. Earlier, VW already showed a concept version in the form of the ID. Life. So it looks like the production version of that ID. Life will not be […]
May 17, 2022
SOLiTHOR, a spin-off of the Leuven-based research company Imec, will develop and market solid-state batteries under the brand name SOLiTHOR. These batteries should also be usable in automotive applications within five to ten years because they are safer, weigh less, and, above all, are cheaper than the current generation of batteries. Ten years of research […]
May 12, 2022
Both the new and second-hand motorbike markets were hit like the car market. Last month, the number of new motorbike registrations fell by 20,3%, while the second-hand market did even worse with 24,2%. The figures come from the automotive federation Traxio. The declining new motorbike market is partly due to delayed deliveries of ordered motorbikes. […]
May 12, 2022
Following the market launch (2019) of the LiveWire One, the first electric-powered Harley Davidson, today, the manufacturer announced that there will be a second model, the ‘S2 Del Mar’, which will be positioned below the LiveWire One. It is expected to hit the market in mid-2023 and will cost less than 15 000 euros. The […]
May 09, 2022
Taiwanese scooter manufacturer Kymco has plans to bring its range of electric scooters to Europe. The two-wheelers will be sold through the ionex brand and use battery swap. The arrival of an electric scooter of Kymco origin is not big news, as the manufacturer is already present in our market. However, the appearance of an […]
May 09, 2022
Next month, BMW will launch the i3, but only on the Chinese market. It’s an extended version of the 3-Series marketed in Europe. This i3 eDrive35L will also be built locally at the Chinese BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. and will be offered with a 100% electric drive. For the time being, there are no plans […]
May 06, 2022
The annual report of Car Pass, the organization that has been charting odometer fraud for 15 years, reveals that in the past year 1 578 cases of odometer fraud were detected in Belgium. The biggest problem is still with vehicles that come from abroad, there is even a 2% increase in the number of fraud […]
April 29, 2022
Wiesmann is a small and eccentric German manufacturer that builds refined and British-looking roadsters and relies on proven BMW engines for its drive. However, the manufacturer is switching to an electric Thunderball model that combines classic looks with a super-modern electric drive. The German manufacturer disappeared from the market for a while but seemed to […]
April 29, 2022
On the eve of the sixth E-Prix in Monaco, which will take place next weekend, the third generation of Formula E cars has just been presented. These new racing cars will be seen on the inner-city streets of major cities from 2023 onward. The vehicles will be faster, lighter, and more efficient. The future of […]
April 21, 2022
After Toyota showed several electric models in recent months, it is up to Lexus now, its luxury subsidiary, to unveil the first EV of its future lineup developed from the start as a 100% electric-powered model. This RZ is an SUV model based on the e-TNGA platform it shares with the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru […]
April 20, 2022
Belgian logistics player BD Logistics has asked Antwerp University to develop a tool to calculate the CO2 emissions of its urban delivery activities using a standardized calculation method. The calculation tool perfectly estimates the carbon impact of a specific delivery or shipment. This technology would also allow consumers to compare different players or means of […]
April 14, 2022
Like many manufacturers, Porsche is working on a bidirectional V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) charging system. This means the vehicle can store electricity in its battery, but it can also feed power back into the grid at peak times to balance the grid. The question is whether this system offers a structural solution, or is it just a […]
April 13, 2022
Porsche is sticking to its ‘Road-to-X’ strategy, whereby the manufacturer believes that by 2025 half of all new Porsches will be electric, and by 2030 that figure will be 80%. As more electric vehicles leave the showroom, the need to prepare the workshops for these vehicles also increases. Contrary to what is often claimed, an […]
April 12, 2022
At its first ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) Conference, Mercedes presented an ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions by more than half, Well to Wheel (WTW), being thus over the entire life cycle of each car, by the end of this decade. In addition, 70% of the energy used must be renewable. There needs to […]
April 11, 2022
At Ford’s Otosan production site in Turkey, production of the 100% electrically powered Transit will get started. Ford has big plans to electrify its commercial vehicle fleets, and the market is also responding positively, with 5 000 orders already in the Ford Pro order book. Ford is running a broad pilot project with pre-production models […]
April 06, 2022
Mercedes announced today that it has reached the milestone of 25 000 pure electric vans. It’s an important goal for the German manufacturer because it is determined to become a leading manufacturer in the field of fully electrically powered vans. “At the end of 2021, we were the market leader in the midsize and large […]
March 30, 2022
The EV9 on display today previews the next EV from Kia and shows the design language of future Kia models. The EV9 is expected in dealerships as early as 2023 and will be positioned above the existing EV6. What stands out is a very angular design with a massive, straight front, a fairly upright windshield […]
March 24, 2022
Mini is now developing its fifth generation and, just like the current generation, it will have an electric version. The emphasis seems to be on this zero-emission version, as the manufacturer is already running the arctic winter tests with the new e-Mini in Arjeplog, Sweden. Mini also promises to present a concept study of a […]
March 16, 2022
Mercedes has opened its order book for the EQE, the electric equivalent of the E-Class that rests on the new EVA platform that it shares with the larger EQS. The EQE 350+ can be bought on the German market from €70 626 and should be at the dealerships by the end of April. At the […]
March 14, 2022
ElectricBrands AG, the German manufacturer of a kind of modular EV minibus called XBUS, is a new player entering the Belgian market in 2023. The compact and electrically powered four-wheeler is available as a passenger car, van, camping car, and is affordable at a starting price of €17 672. Importer for the Benelux is Dutch […]
March 10, 2022
Michael Fux has just received his Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne. This is the first example to go to the US. The manufacturer came to life again in 2019, when it showed a prototype of the Carmen at the Geneva Motor Show. Now, the first car, a special version of the Carmen, has been delivered. The […]
March 09, 2022
This autumn, Renault will launch the Austral. This SUV will hit showrooms in autumn by sharing styling elements with the recently launched Mégane E-TECH. In addition, it will be launched with three different hybrid powertrains. This successor to the Kadjar, like its predecessor, shares its platform with the Nissan Qashqai. It should be noted, however, […]
March 07, 2022
Volvo is today showcasing a wireless charging solution for its electrically powered vehicles. In addition, a small fleet of Volvo XC40 electric taxis will use a wireless charging solution using induction technology in their car parks in Gothenburg, Sweden. To be clear, Volvo will not be offering a wireless charging solution for production models tomorrow […]
February 23, 2022
Belgian household services provider Ekoservices has just added 15 Citroën Amis to its fleet of company cars. The service provider is making a statement because, as a local assistance supplier, a small electric vehicle with a maximum speed of 45 km/hour is a remarkable choice. At Citroën, they describe their Ami as ‘disruptive urban mobility’. […]
February 21, 2022
Jeep is launching the fifth generation of the Grand Cherokee 4xe on the European market once again. This new Grand Cherokee was launched in the USA at the beginning of this year and will also make its debut in Europe before spring. Gasoline-guzzling V6 and V8 engines remain in the US for the time being, […]
February 17, 2022
Renault launches the all-electric Megane today, but in fact, it is an entirely new model that has nothing to do with the existing Mégane that has been in the showrooms for about five years now. The Megane E-TECH ELECTRIC is entitled to a brand new platform and benefits from ten years of EV experience that […]
February 03, 2022
In a response to the ruling of the Belgian Council of State, Ghent decided to scrap the ‘discrimination’ in allowing an unlimited access pass for vintage cars older than 40 years into the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and not for younger classics between 30 and 40. Now all classic cars have to buy a €35 […]
January 26, 2022
Car website Vroom launches the EV checker, an online tool that aims to guide prospective car buyers in their choice of car, particularly electromobility. The device is online today via vroom-ev.com. By entering some initial data like your location, the kilometers driven per year, whether you’ll use highways, city streets, or local roads mostly, the […]
January 25, 2022
The heritage of Sir Alec Issigonis, the creator of the Mini, still seems strong enough today to give it a contemporary touch. So much so that parent company BMW has given the go-ahead for MINI Recharged, where classic Minis swap their Morris engines for an electric powertrain. The idea of converting classic Minis came from […]
January 24, 2022
GM has some catching up to do when it comes to all-electric models. The American car giant has committed itself to having more than 20 electric models in its showrooms by 2023. Today GM is taking an essential step by starting pre-production of the Cadillac Lyriq. The first examples should reach (American) dealers in the […]
January 20, 2022
Electric scooters with universal swappable batteries provided by a network of swapping stations may become the future mobility solution in busy cities. Yamaha is launching such a scooter on the Taiwanese market (Yamaha EMF), and for the exchangeable batteries, the manufacturer is working together with local Gogoro. Of course, one can take the removable battery […]
January 17, 2022
The kilometer charge for trucks works because the proportion of clean trucks on Belgian roads is steadily increasing, with 80% of the trucks being of the latest Euro 6 standard. The increase is so significant, in fact, that Viapass is proposing making the rules stricter in the future, even for electric trucks. In 2021, revenues […]
January 14, 2022
AG Insurance, one of the leading players in the Belgian insurance market, wants to make charging infrastructure accessible to a broader public. With the Optimile Mobiflow card displaying actual prices that apply, it wants to give users a more transparent view of the different charging units. AG previously (2020) took a stake in Optimile in […]
January 11, 2022
Nowadays, it is challenging for consumers to decide which propulsion method or fuel is the best. Brandstofwijzer.be is DATS 24’s attempt to guide the consumer through the choice options. “What should I buy?” It has become a quasi-rhetorical question by now because even a technically skilled automotive journalist with broad market knowledge cannot give conclusive […]
December 28, 2021
Yamaha will launch two fully electric scooters in 2022. The concept versions were already seen on the Tokyo Motorshow back in 2019. Remarkably, the compact E02 is powered by a universal removable battery that can also be found in other scooters of Japanese origin. The E01 is a maxiscooter with a double saddle and an […]
December 27, 2021
A veteran car was discovered in a barn at a villa district in Leipzig, Germany, this year. The buyer paid several hundred euros for an old three-wheeler with the engine at the front. Today, there is speculation that this car may be the oldest car in the world, older even than the Benz Patent Car, […]
December 22, 2021
The Flemish Road Safety Foundation starts a campaign for truck drivers and transport companies to raise their awareness to wear their seatbelts better and more often because research shows that there is still room for improvement. A survey by the Flemish Traffic Research Foundation (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde, VSV) among truck drivers in Flanders has shown […]
December 21, 2021
General Motors has just delivered the first vehicles that use the brand new Ultium platform developed exclusively for electrically powered vehicles. By 2025, GM plans to launch 30 different models on this basis worldwide. In the first phase, the real GMC Hummer will be built on this base platform. The Hummer is back and wants […]
December 21, 2021
The Federal and Flemish Governments want to accelerate the electrification of the Belgian car fleet. The phasing out of the tax deduction for company cars with combustion engines will significantly increase the number of electric vehicles in the Belgian fleet over the next few years. To charge these vehicles quickly, Flemish Minister for Mobility, Lydia […]
December 20, 2021
The FIA (Féderation Internationale de l’Automobile) is getting a new president, after top executive Jean Todt hands over the torch to his successor, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, after 12 years of presidency. The FIA is an international body that manages numerous motorsport and mobility organizations worldwide. Founded in 1904, the FIA has its headquarters in Geneva […]
December 16, 2021
The Flemish Foundation for Traffic Science (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde, VSV) is launching a free learning platform, called ‘MijnrijbewijsA.be’, for motorcyclists and aspiring motorcyclists. It aims to inform users of motorized two-wheelers about the safety aspects of motorcycling and the applicable traffic rules. The platform is free of charge and addressed to all interested parties. To […]
December 15, 2021
Earlier this year, Belgian car importer D’Ieteren announced that – besides car import – it would also focus on bicycle distribution and maintenance. Today, the group puts its money where its mouth is with the second major acquisition of iBikes, a group of bicycle shops in the Antwerp region. D’Ieteren has already made a significant […]
December 08, 2021
Jeep has an update ready for its most legendary model, the Wrangler. As a sign of the time, the American 4×4-manufacturer also delivers a plug-in hybrid version (4xe) which got some adjustments for the model year 2022. With its 17 kWh battery, this Jeep should have a pure electric range of 50 kilometers. And on […]
December 03, 2021
Mobility organization VAB has just announced the winners of the ‘VAB Gezinswagen van het jaar 2022’ family car election. The three winners were the Dacia Sandero Stepway, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5, each in their specific category. The jury, consisting of automotive journalists and families, made a remarkably rational choice for […]
December 01, 2021
Italian motor racer Max Biaggi has set a new speed record at the wheel of an electric motorbike at the end of November. Venturi’s Voxan Wattman reached a top speed of no less than 456 km/hour on the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US. Max Biaggi is a renowned Italian racing driver […]
