July 04, 2024
Swedish battery maker Northvolt, one of Europe’s pioneers in that field, is forced to gear down in its ambitions to build several gigafactories in Europe and Canada. Founder and CEO Peter Carlsson told Swedish media, “We’ve been a little too aggressive in our expansion plans and need to reassess the next steps.” That includes postponing […]
July 03, 2024
The Belgian Innoptus Solar Team, related to Louvain University, has presented a new version of its Infinite solar race car, the most efficient one to date. With it, they want to participate in the most challenging Solar Challenge race ever in South Africa in September. In October 2023, the student team of KU Leuven University […]
July 03, 2024
Oil giant Shell has temporarily halted the construction of a biofuel factory in Pernis, near Rotterdam (Netherlands) – one of Europe’s largest biofuel plants. The pause should give the company space to assess the best commercial path forward for the project. It is the latest low-carbon energy project to be shelved by an energy giant […]
July 02, 2024
Cargo transporter DHL Express at Brussels Airport is leading the way in electrifying its ground-handling equipment. The company’s crew buses and tarmac cars are already 100% electric, and over the past days and weeks, the company has put eleven electric tractors and thirteen electric container lifts, belly loaders, and pushbacks into operation at Brussels Airport. […]
July 01, 2024
As a ‘lifelong petrolhead’ (his words), Ford CEO Jim Farley has just recently posted an insightful ode to electric vehicles. In an opinion piece on social media, he shared a fresh and inspiring perspective about his newfound love for electric cars. As a self-described ‘lifelong petrolhead’ with a career in the automotive business (mainly Toyota […]
July 01, 2024
Last Saturday, Dredging company DEME signed a cooperation agreement with the Egyptian government to establish an industrial-scale green hydrogen production facility in Egypt’s western desert. The wind and solar energy infrastructure will be located 70 kilometers away and connected to the factory by a high-voltage line. The new HYPORT green hydrogen production plant will be […]
July 01, 2024
Mercedes-Benz will once again invest more in combustion technology, Group CEO Ola Källenius told a German newspaper. The drivetrain of the hybridized combustion engines is to be “properly” reworked so that “it will last well into the 2030s.” Mercedes-Benz is far behind schedule in terms of EV sales. As the general economic and regulatory conditions […]
June 28, 2024
According to figures from the European statistics agency Eurostat, renewable energy was the most important source of electricity in the European Union in 2023. The supply of renewables – sun and wind – increased by 4.4% compared to 2022, and the amount of electricity produced by renewables increased by 12.4%. Last year, renewable energy represented […]
June 26, 2024
According to a study by HR service provider Acerta, the average CO2 emissions from leasing cars have fallen by almost 20% in one year and 40% in ten years. The study analyzed a database listing more than 270,000 workers and employees in Belgium. Tax deductibility for fossil fuel cars purchased between July 1, 2023, and […]
June 25, 2024
VIL, the point of contact for the Flemish logistics sector, and WaterStofNet have installed the first mobile hydrogen refueling station at Brussels Airport. At the same time, DHL is testing the first hydrogen prototype for ground handling operations, a Mulag tractor with an integrated hydrogen fuel cell system. This is a first for the airport. […]
June 25, 2024
Aptera Motors, the Californian start-up for solar electric vehicles (SEV), wants to expand into new mobility industries by licensing its innovative solar technology. Retrofitting cars with solar panels can significantly boost their range. Aptera Motors is looking into various sectors to offer its propriety technology, not only automotive. Aptera is in the phase of scaling […]
June 25, 2024
Electra, a French startup in fast charging stations, will open and operate 23 fast charging stations over the next two years at the Belgian fast-food chain Quick’s existing and future restaurant locations. The charging stations will have a fast charging capacity of 400 kW and will be accessible to everyone at any time of the […]
June 25, 2024
During a trip to China, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck made headway in the trade dispute over additional tariffs for EVs in the EU. The Chinese government and the EU want to start intensive negotiations, fuelling hopes of a short-term solution. Of course, it’s not a coincidence that a German Minister has made the opening, […]
June 24, 2024
That is a shame and bad for the climate because tall forests are critical for storing carbon and hosting biodiversity. Moreover, old trees absorb more carbon dioxide than young ones. This is the conclusion of the World Resources Institute (WRI), which conducts worldwide research into climate and natural resources. Over the past 20 years, the […]
June 24, 2024
Belgian high-voltage operator Elia is calling on the market to be vigilant this summer. There is a chance that Belgium will produce too much power because all available nuclear power plants are running, and especially because a lot of solar panels have been added this year. This threatens to put pressure on the electricity system. […]
June 21, 2024
The successor to the Bugatti Chiron loses its quad-turbocharged W16 engine but gains an electrified and naturally aspirated V16 instead. The Tourbillon is not only even faster than the Chiron but also achieves a fully electric range of 60 kilometers and features gemstones in the instrument cluster made by Swiss watchmakers. As Bugatti entered a […]
June 21, 2024
Citroën has presented its new ë-C3 Aircross in more detail after the Stellantis brand showed the first images of the model in April. Now, there is also information about the drive system, the seat configuration, and prices in some markets. The battery-electric drive is only available for the five-seater version, as Citroën has now specified. […]
June 21, 2024
The BMW i1 and BMW i2 have long been in the rumor mill. BMW Group’s company’s board has finally approved the launch of the compact EVs. A new report from the specialized English magazine Autocar says the BMW i1 and i2 have received the green signal. These entry-level EVs have been developed at the BMW […]
June 21, 2024
Demand for fossil fuels has never been as high as in 2023. Demand for oil and coal, in particular, pushed the consumption of fossil fuels to unprecedented heights. As a result, never before have so many greenhouse gases been emitted. Last year, they increased by 2%, exceeding 40 gigatons of CO2 for the first time. […]
June 21, 2024
BMW announced on Thursday it’s pulling back from the €2 billion deal it concluded in 2020 with Swedish battery maker Nortvolt to deliver cells from 2024 as part of a long-term contract. But Northvolt is two years behind schedule and would deliver ‘too many rejects’, German media, like Manager Magazine, report. BMW Group downplays the […]
June 20, 2024
It seems like an entirely hypothetical question, but at least the Finish paper industry is convinced it can make EV battery production much more sustainable. Using lignin, a byproduct of its cellulose fiber (like for cloths) and paper pulp industry, Stora Enso has developed a bio-renewable replacement for the graphite carbon used for anodes today. […]
June 20, 2024
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is reviving its Freelander brand for future electric cars. The Freelander models will be based on a platform from its Chinese partner Chery Automotive, built in China and sold only there for the time being. However, export to the rest of the world is envisaged. Not so long ago, JLR revealed […]
June 20, 2024
Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell has inaugurated its first self-developed megawatt charger for dual use by electric trucks and shipping vessels at the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam (ETCA) in the Netherlands. The Shell megawatt charger provides a crucial additional charging facility for local operators and facilitates end-to-end testing for high-power charging solutions across marine and road […]
June 20, 2024
Elia, the Belgian high-voltage grid operator, has awarded three contracts worth almost 1.5 billion euros to construct the High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) infrastructure of Princess Elisabeth Island, an artificial energy island of 3.5 gigawatts located approximately 45 kilometers off the Belgian coast. The infrastructure will bundle 2.1 gigawatts of wind energy and bring it […]
June 20, 2024
According to the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA) data, car registrations in the European Union decreased by 3% in May 2024. Declines were observed in three out of the region’s four major markets: Italy (-6.6%), Germany (-4.3%), and France (-2.9%). Spain, on the other hand, achieved a modest growth of 3.4% last month. Despite the […]
June 19, 2024
On Tuesday, the Flemish and Belgian governments signed energy agreements with Norway to bring Norwegian wind energy to Belgium and store CO2 from Belgian industry in Norway. Princess Astrid of Belgium leads a Belgian delegation to discuss energy transition, circular economy, life sciences, and design. The joint statement on energy cooperation in the North Sea […]
June 19, 2024
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Ferrari’s first electric car will cost at least €500,000. The luxury automaker is preparing to open a plant to make the model, which could boost group production by up to a third in the long run. The exclusive Italian brand has said it will launch an […]
June 18, 2024
The Ostend-Bruges airport will soon have the largest solar park in West Flanders and the second-largest park in Belgium. The 66,200 solar panels on the site, covering a total area of about 303,864 m2, the equivalent of 61 football fields, will produce almost 37,000 MWh of annual energy – much more than the airport can […]
June 15, 2024
Chinese car manufacturer Nio has revealed the EL8, a new luxury SUV for Europe. The large SUV seats six, has a range of 500+ km, and will cost approximately €80,000 if nothing changes tax-wise. It will first be offered in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. According to the manufacturer, the EL8 will have […]
June 14, 2024
One year after Bpost put its thousandth electric delivery van into use, the Belgian postal company surpassed the 2,000 electric vehicle mark. This means that Bpost has doubled its fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles in just one year. These figures underline the company’s commitment to further reducing emissions and delivering CO2-free mail and parcels throughout […]
June 14, 2024
Mercedes-Benz is accelerating its electric vehicle infrastructure plans with a new deployment of cutting-edge charging technology from supplier Alpitronic. The German carmaker already collaborates with the provider for its branded high power charging (HPC) network, but the announced charging points offer up to 400 kW peak power. Alpitronic is Mercedes’ partner for the rollout of […]
June 13, 2024
The listed group Warehouses De Pauw (WDP) plans to build a battery park in the Genk-Zuid industrial zone. The investment can amount to 50 to 80 million euros. The company aims for 2028 for commissioning. The project should help balance the power grid now that more energy is generated with solar panels and wind turbines. […]
June 13, 2024
The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects an ‘unprecedented’ oil surplus of 8 million barrels daily by 2030. According to the Agency’s latest report, oil demand worldwide will slow down, driven by the energy transition. Several aspects, including the increasing number of electric cars, better fuel efficiency in cars with combustion engines, and decreasing use of […]
June 12, 2024
As well as being a part of Milence, the joint venture between the major truck manufacturers for public charging solutions, Scania has established Erinion, a charging solutions company for depot and destination charging. It aims to install 40,000 new charging points at customer locations by 2030. According to Scania, depot charging will be the primary […]
June 12, 2024
Through its Energy Transition Fund, Zeevonk, a joint venture of Swedish multinational power company Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), has been awarded a permit to build wind farm IJmuiden Ver Beta in the Netherlands. Both major offshore wind developers – Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners – have a strong track record in developing, constructing, […]
June 12, 2024
At Brussels Airport, the new building of Safran Aircraft Engine Services, a French aircraft engine maintenance company, has been officially inaugurated. The building, which cost 24 million euros to build, measures 8,500 m² and is carbon-neutral thanks to its use of 100% renewable energy. By 2027, the site will employ 220 new workers. The new […]
June 12, 2024
Chinese Gotion High Tech, one of the ten leading global players in battery technology with sites in the USA, Japan, Germany, and Singapore, has signed an investment agreement with the Moroccan government to build North Africa’s first EV battery gigafactory. The Kenitra city project will cost 1.3 billion US dollars (12.8 dirhams). The first phase […]
June 11, 2024
Maritime contractor Jan De Nul is partnering with Australian Fortescue, a mining company and producer of green energy, to lay a 1,000 km long submarine cable between Morocco and Europe and transport renewable energy generated in North Africa to Europe. A high-voltage cable between the two continents would enable Europe to tap directly into that […]
June 10, 2024
According to the latest edition of International Energy Agency’s annual World Energy Investment report, global investment in clean energy is set to reach almost double the amount going to fossil fuels in 2024, despite pressures on financing. Total energy investment worldwide is expected to exceed $3 trillion in 2024 for the first time, with some […]
June 07, 2024
Solid-state battery developer Factorial Energy has delivered B-samples of its cells to Mercedes-Benz. The German company is now integrating these into modules and battery packs before extensively testing them. The American company has also publicized an energy density value for the first time: 391 Wh/kg. According to Factorial Energy, the B samples are solid-state battery […]
June 07, 2024
Van specialist Maxus is widening its passenger car offering in Belgium. After the Uniq6 and Mifa 9, the smaller sibling of the latter is launched. Seating seven persons with ample interior space, the model aims to be the modern Renault Espace. The Chinese version with a swappable battery isn’t imported. Showing its more compact dimensions […]
June 06, 2024
After the bulky Chinese Hongqi E-HS9 super-SUV, Hedin Automotive, the Swedish multi-brand retailer active in the Belux, will now start to import the luxury sedan Hongqi EH7. According to the press release, the Chinese luxury brand’s fully electric D-segment sedan sets a new standard for range, performance, and roominess. The car offers a range of […]
June 06, 2024
Volvo will launch the world’s first electric vehicle (EV) battery passport with its new EX90 electric SUV, which has finally gone into production. The move aims to provide customers with detailed information about the battery’s composition, material origins, carbon footprint, and usage. Despite many brands diluting their commitment to a deadline for an all-electric portfolio, Volvo’s […]
June 06, 2024
Sector federation Traxio has just published the figures for the second-hand market in May. Last month, 5,9% more second-hand cars were registered, 60,284 in total, compared to 38,907 new ones. Noticeable: the registration of EVs boomed in both cases. Filip Rylant, Traxio spokesman: “Also in May, we saw a rising trend for second-hand cars. This […]
June 05, 2024
The market uncertainty surrounding electric car sales is impacting the Franco-German battery cell manufacturer Automotive Cells Company’s (ACC) plans. The joint venture of Stellantis, Mercedes, and TotalEnergies has decided to pause the construction of its factories in Germany and Italy. In addition to the EV slowdown, other reasons are cited. ACC, the joint venture between […]
June 05, 2024
The first production model of the new Ford Explorer has rolled off the production line in Cologne and was also handed over directly to the first customer at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Centre. The second electric model from Cologne is due to follow this year. Also noticeable: Ford’s EV sales grew by 65% in May […]
June 05, 2024
Kia has set an ambitious target for the European market: achieving annual sales of 800,000 vehicles by 2028, with 85% of these vehicles powered by electrified drivetrains. The strategy was unveiled during a detailed presentation at a dealer convention held in Berlin. In the wake of the conquest of Chinese newcomers, one tends to forget […]
June 04, 2024
The big Stelato S9 luxury sedan, which debuted at the Beijing Auto Show in April, is now available to pre-order in China. Its domestic launch will take place in the coming months. The Stelato S9, BAIC BluePark’s and Huawei’s first jointly built electric model, promises an 800 km range. Pre-sales started in China on 31 […]
June 04, 2024
Following the decision to withdraw production of the Q8 e-tron from Europe and relocate it to Mexico, the search is ongoing for alternatives for the Audi plant in Brussels. This could be a new high-luxury SUV EV, the assembly of batteries and other electric parts, or both. As the German publication Handelsblatt writes, citing negotiating […]
June 03, 2024
Volvo is expanding its range of emission-free construction machines with a battery-powered excavator and a set of wheel loaders. To keep them operational in remote areas, the company is introducing a mobile energy storage system for grid-independent recharging. At the showcase event, Volvo Days in Eskilstuna, Sweden, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) introduced an array […]
June 03, 2024
On a former Ford site in Blanquefort, near Bordeaux, Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has opened the world’s first high-power fuel cell plant. HDF Energy has developed an innovative renewable electricity storage solution combining hydrogen production and fuel cells to transform it into electricity and batteries. The site covers 7,000 m² – another 5,000m² can […]
June 03, 2024
Although many European manufacturers warn of Chinese competition and think they’re getting indirect subsidies, obstructing a level playing field, they also seem interested in partnerships with ‘the enemy’. Take Renault, for example: It will be running its ICE business (called Horse) with Geely, and now it’s partnering with another Chinese company to create the new […]
May 31, 2024
Volkswagen facelifted the ID.3 extensively precisely one year ago, but it churns out another update. The entry-level version Pure is back with a different battery, and peak power for DC charging has increased. Customers can choose a power hike – even as an after-purchase option. Nothing tells old from new on the outside. The facelift […]
May 31, 2024
Almost a year after the Chinese government first showed pictures of the upcoming Cadillac Optiq, the American manufacturer unveiled the mid-size electric SUV. The Optiq slots in below the Lyriq in Cadillac’s electric line-up and is also coming to Europe, likely in 2025. The Cadillac Optiq is a mid-size SUV with a length of 4.83 […]
May 31, 2024
Jeep’s first fully electric vehicle that stands on its own is the Wagoneer S. While it is not the first electrified vehicle by the manufacturer, it is the first that is not built based on a combustion model. Pictures of the car had already leaked out in January; now, the manufacturer has official ones, also […]
May 31, 2024
According to news agency Reuters, China is set to invest more than 6 billion yuan (765 million euros) in a government-led project to develop solid-state batteries (SSB). The state funding will be attributed to six companies supporting their work on next-generation battery technology and securing the nation’s lead on the global EV playing field. Belgian […]
May 30, 2024
Even before the official market launch in August this year, Audi has announced a further drive variant for the Q6 e-tron. The rear-wheel drive increases the range and reduces the base price. However, the new Q6 e-tron Performance will not be the cheapest model in the Q6 range for long as another variant with a […]
May 30, 2024
Almost three months after filing for insolvency for a second time, the German electric car manufacturer e.Go has to call it quits. According to the insolvency administrator, business operations will be discontinued, and the company will be liquidated. The liquidation was unavoidable “because, despite intensive efforts, no buyer could be found to take over the […]
May 28, 2024
Introduced in January, the Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar is now rolling off the assembly line at Audi Brussels, Belgium. The Q8 e-tron edition Dakar is the off-road-oriented first Audi EV available in showrooms. Named after the world-famous desert rally, the Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar is based on the Audi Q8 advanced 55 e-tron […]
May 28, 2024
Engie Electrabel is demanding 500 to 600 million euros in compensation from the Belgian government as the lifetime extension of two nuclear power plants disrupts the previously planned decommissioning plan. So, reports business newspaper De Tijd, which consulted the annexes to Electrabel’s annual accounts published last week. The government does not agree and has requested […]
