December 20, 2022
During a press conference previewing the Brussels Motor Show of next January, BMW Belux CEO Alexander Wehr declared that he foresees doubling the sales of pure electric BMWs in 2023. This year, already 12% were BEVs, but some 40% were plug-in hybrids, BMW Belux totaling more than half of its BMW sales as electrified. Like […]
December 19, 2022
Norway is the world leader in EV adoption, but in its far northern remote regions, a lot of its inhabitants still must make ends meet without an electricity grid. For one specific reindeer farm, Hyundai came to the rescue and powered a cabin for light and cooking lunch. No, not some Christmas magic, just the […]
December 19, 2022
From 2027 onward, citizens of the European Union will have to pay for the greenhouse gases they emit through their transport and the heating of their homes. On Saturday, negotiators from the European Parliament and the European Council, which represents the Member States, agreed on this. Climate goals This means that everyone within the European […]
December 19, 2022
For the first time in Germany, dynamic wireless charging technology for electric vehicles is being tested in practice. The main actor of the pilot project in Balingen is a shuttle bus for the Garden Show 2023, which is to charge its vehicle battery while driving. The Israeli company ElectReon, which specializes in inductive charging of […]
December 15, 2022
The Federal Government and energy provider Elia have signed an agreement relating to the financial support offered up as part of the Recovery & Resilience Facility (RRF). The fund was established by the European Commission during the corona pandemic to support future-oriented investments being undertaken by Member States. The signing of the protocol, which governs […]
December 14, 2022
The Brussels region has launched the new website electrify.brussels, which groups all information on public charging stations for electric vehicles – today exactly 2 311 – in the capital. Brussels Environment Minister Alain Aaron (Ecolo) also announced that EnergyVision won the public contract for 500 new charging points. To support the electrification of the car […]
December 14, 2022
A recent Green Impact study, ordered by Mobility Minister George Gilkinet (Ecolo), confirms the potential of recycling and reusing batteries. The study results were presented on Tuesday at Umicore’s site in Hoboken (Antwerp). Batteries contain rare materials like lithium, nickel, and black lead, so they are a source of valuable resources. Besides, only a few […]
December 14, 2022
Chinese electric carmaker NIO has opened a second battery swapping station in the Netherlands in Apeldoorn, near the 50 highway at the Hotel Van der Valk Exclusief parking. The first one opened two weeks ago in Tilburg near the Belgian border. NIO wants to roll out a network of 120 Power Swap Stations in Europe […]
December 13, 2022
The European Commission will allocate more than 150 million euros for two Belgian projects intended to capture CO2 in the ports of Antwerp and Ghent. That is what the companies involved in the project communicated on Monday in a common press release. [email protected] Export Hub is a joint project of Air Liquide, BASF, Borealis, ExxonMobil, […]
December 12, 2022
The impact of batteries on the environment and communities is set to significantly improve under a new law agreed by EU lawmakers on Friday. The European Union will impose battery producers tougher environmental standards. Batteries should become more environmentally friendly, easier to replace, and recyclable. The new law will apply to all types of batteries […]
December 09, 2022
Delhaize has ambitious plans: next year, the supermarket chain is to install 1 800 public fast-charging stations up to 150 kW for electric vehicles on the parking grounds of its stores. By providing such a large number of charging points – the largest in the retail sector – and making them accessible to everyone 24/7, […]
December 09, 2022
High inflation and the rising cost of raw materials and components are reversing the trend of decreasing prices for battery packs in EVs. According to data from BloombergNEF, the average price has risen by 7% in a year-to-year comparison. That’s the first time in ten years. Europe copes with the highest prices in the world. […]
December 09, 2022
In the port of Ghent, steelmaker ArcelorMittal has inaugurated its ‘Steelanol’ project, which converts gas from its blast furnaces into bioethanol. The project represents an investment of 200 million euros. It is part of the company’s plans to become carbon neutral by 2050. “Our customers are looking for green steel, and we want to lead […]
December 07, 2022
Commercial Vehicle Charging Europe, the joint venture formed in July 2022 by the Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and Traton Group, announced on Monday that it begins operating its fast-charging network for heavy trucks, buses, and coaches under the brand name Milence. Milence will initially focus on charging locations in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, […]
December 06, 2022
Air France-KLM is to buy 800 000 tons of non-fossil Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) over ten years from TotalEnergies to meet its environmental objectives. The two companies signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding for this, starting in 2023. The fuel will be produced by TotalEnergies in its biorefineries and made available to Air France-KLM […]
December 06, 2022
Due to the energy crisis, electricity outages may be possible in some European cities this winter. In France, struggling with its supply as several nuclear plants are out of service, public transport considers all scenarios to avoid stranding passengers, including electricity cut-offs. Although the metro system will be spared a power cut this winter, trams […]
December 06, 2022
The global energy crisis has triggered an unprecedented acceleration in installations of renewable power, reports the International Energy Agency (IEA). Energy security concerns caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have motivated countries to increasingly turn to renewables such as solar and wind to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. Prices of the latter have spiked […]
December 02, 2022
Belgian materials specialist Umicore and PowerCo, the battery company of German automotive giant Volkswagen, are to expand their partnership in battery materials. To this end, they are exploring a long-term strategic agreement to supply PowerCo’s future giant electric vehicle plant in North America. Umicore reports this in a press release. Umicore and PowerCo have also […]
December 01, 2022
In an unusual partnership, French carmaker Renault and airplane builder Airbus have announced a partnership to develop innovative battery technology. Apart from reducing the weight of the battery packs and looking at solutions for energy management, both companies will cooperate on solid-state development. Instead of joining forces with another carmaker, Renault has chosen one of […]
December 01, 2022
During the final test sessions for the all-new eSprinter, Mercedes gathered results on the consumption of its zero-emission van. Completing a journey from Untertürkheim to the airport of Münich and back, the van registered a range of 475 kilometers on a single charge. This autonomy corresponds with an average consumption of 21,9 kWh/100 km, which […]
November 30, 2022
Weather forecasters agree: we’re experiencing a ‘Dunkelflaute’. A period of cold and windless weather with a gray sky. As a result, solar panels and wind farms hardly produce any energy; consequently, in the last few days, energy prices have more than doubled. ‘Dunkelflaute’ (dark wind lull) events are characterized by a very dense cloud cover, […]
November 29, 2022
Owners of an electric car who cannot install a charging point at home and don’t have one nearby can ask for a public charging station in the immediate surroundings of their home. Since September, citizens with an electric vehicle can file such a request via an e-counter. In the meantime, 437 citizens or companies applied. […]
November 28, 2022
European car manufacturers struggle to produce affordable EVs in Europe and to make it a profitable business. That’s why Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares, during a visit to Chennai (India) declared that his company was unable at the moment to produce affordable EVs in Europe and that he was thinking of production in low(er) cost countries […]
November 28, 2022
BMW has announced that it will build assembly lines for the high-voltage batteries next to the new vehicle plant in Debrecen, Hungary. The first construction work is already underway, and the production of the battery packs will begin in parallel with vehicle production of the New Class, ‘die Neue Klasse’. As reported, the vehicle plant […]
November 25, 2022
Mercedes-Benz USA has posted a new product called ‘Acceleration Increase‘ on its online shop’s website. The new service costs $1 200 for one year (excluding tax) of the service, which can improve an EQ vehicle’s acceleration by 0,8 to 1,0 seconds. The car manufacturer’s website writes that the new service will “unleash enhanced performance for […]
November 25, 2022
It’s called the Caterpillar 793 Electric. The American construction equipment behemoth showcased its prototype of a zero-emission mining truck at its proving ground in Arizona. The test area is also being transformed into a sustainable project to inspire mining companies in their decarbonization goals globally. Without providing exact specifications, Caterpillar showcased the prototype of its […]
November 25, 2022
The anniversary edition of the Brussels Motor Show (BMS), taking place from 14 to January 22nd, 2023, is not to be considered the 100th edition of the ‘old school’ motor show but the first of a new kind. The aim is clear: inform the visitor/customer about the energy transition and its (electric) influence on mobility. […]
November 23, 2022
The German supplier ZF presented a new generation of electric drives for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. With numerous innovations at the component and system level, these are to “set standards with outstanding power density and energy efficiency”. According to the company’s press release, these standards include the compact design of the drives, the […]
November 23, 2022
Persistent rumors exist that the VW brand is about to replan its product strategy for further electric models fundamentally. According to some reports, more electric cars based on the MEB platform will be launched on the market. This means that MEB will have to be modernized, with an investment of billions. Last week, we mentioned […]
November 22, 2022
Swiss/Swedish technology group ABB has raised CHF 200 million (± €204 million) for its E-mobility division. Shares to raise said capital are being issued as part of a pre-IPO private placement. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2022, and the capital will be used to implement the growth strategy. The private […]
November 22, 2022
On Monday, November 21st, Elia Group welcomed Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) and the Belgian Federal Minister of Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen) to visit the Baltic Eagle offshore transmission platform. The project is a joint responsibility of Spanish energy group Iberdrola and 50Hertz, German subsidiary of Belgian Elia. The offshore […]
November 22, 2022
Belgian retail giant Colruyt Group will have its own truck fleet running on electricity or hydrogen by 2030 and forces all its suppliers to deliver using zero-emission transport by 2035. CEO Jef Colruyt announced the latter at the opening of the group’s fourth DATS 24 hydrogen station near its distribution center in Ollignies. According to […]
November 21, 2022
Volkswagen’s electric car plant in Zwickau set a production record in the week from 7 to 11 November when 7 100 electric cars were produced, more than in any previous week. This means that the plant is close to reaching its maximum capacity. Concerning the future of the VW icon Golf, the CEO has indicated […]
November 18, 2022
The production of the Fisker Ocean has started on schedule at the contract manufacturer Magna in Graz (Austria). However, this production of the electric SUV, for which Fisker has registered more than 63 000 reservations so far, is not expected to really pick up speed until next year. In addition, the configurator with the final […]
November 18, 2022
According to German media sources, the new Volkswagen Group boss Oliver Blume is questioning the construction of the new electric car plant initiated by his predecessor Herbert Diess in the Warmenau district of Wolfsburg. It also means that the first EV planned to be produced there, the prestigious ‘Trinity’ sedan, will also be (at least) […]
November 17, 2022
The Agoria Solar Team, the student team of the KU Leuven, has succeeded in covering the longest distance in 12 hours with the solar car they developed. In 12 hours, the BluePoint Atlas, as their newest solar car is called, covered 1 051 kilometers, breaking the previous record of the Dutch Solar Team from Delft […]
November 17, 2022
The Danish shipping company DFDS has ordered 125 e-trucks from Volvo Trucks. The first new Volvo FH Electric Truck was delivered in Ghent (Belgium) on Wednesday during a launch event in the presence of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. DFDS, one of the largest shipping companies in northern Europe, intends to run one-quarter of its […]
November 16, 2022
Gas network operator Fluxys, dredging company DEME, and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges port authorities are planning to produce green hydrogen in Egypt. The green hydrogen could be transported via the port of Antwerp or Zeebrugge, where Fluxys has already announced a first project. The project in Egypt should help meet the expected strong growth in […]
November 16, 2022
According to a recent study by Brussels University’s research center Mobi, the typical Belgian EV driver is a 47-year-old, technology-loving male. He’s highly educated and lives in a free-standing house. The Belgian charging station manufacturer Powerdale commissioned the study. VUB’s research center Mobi analyzed the data of 489 drivers with a hybrid or fully electric […]
November 16, 2022
The biggest car manufacturer in the world, Japanese Toyota, persists in its ‘self-charging’ hybrid technology approach and launches the fifth generation of the hybrid icon, the Prius. The car has its worldwide premiere today in Japan and at the Los Angeles Motor Show. The European introduction will be on the 5th of December. The car […]
November 16, 2022
Within a few weeks, the European Commission will review the truck’s CO2 standards, and lobbying groups of the industry and the environmental NGOs are bringing the heavy cannons to bear for the last influencers’ battle. So does Transport & Environment, publishing a study proving e-fuels can’t compete with battery electric trucks even in the most […]
November 15, 2022
The Chinese joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) has announced an investment of some € 1.4 billion in the expansion of its electric car battery production in the city of Shenyang. This is to supply the vehicle plants there. This still involves the assembly of purchased cells into ready-to-install batteries, not in-house cell production. The […]
November 15, 2022
Tesla is opening its new Supercharger EV connector design to the world, pushing a new fast-charging standard up to 900 kW to one megawatt. It has no moving parts, needs no external cooling, is half the size, and is twice as powerful as Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors commonly used in European EVs today, the […]
November 15, 2022
Volkswagen seems to be on track with the electrification of its vehicle fleet. One year earlier than planned, the company delivered 500 000 vehicles from the ID. family worldwide – despite the strained supply situation and the teething troubles with the ID.3 in the beginning. “Delivery of half a million ID.s confirms that the Volkswagen […]
November 15, 2022
The electric car manufacturer Polestar achieved a turnover of €420,8 million in Q3 of 2022. Compared to the same quarter of 2021, Polestar more than doubled its revenue. Nevertheless, the company is still in the red, but the operating loss fell from €292 million in Q3 of 2021 to €189 million from July to September […]
November 14, 2022
BMW has started series production of the iX1 electric SUV at the plant in Regensburg. Meanwhile, new details about the electric car platform New Class have been revealed by BMW development board member Frank Weber. At the same time, BMW will apparently continue to have electric cars produced in England for the Mini brand and […]
November 12, 2022
Lately, almost all manufacturers are talking about becoming more premium in their future plans, abandoning the lower A- and B-segments. One should expect from a premium/luxury player like BMW the same. But this has been recently denied by the big boss himself, Oliver Zipse, talking at an event hosted by car supplier Bosch. A few […]
November 10, 2022
Yesterday, Volvo Cars unveiled the EX90 in Stockholm. The revamped e-SUV and XC 90 successor is exclusively electric and boasts numerous new features. Visually, on the other hand, it could pass as a facelift of the familiar model. Those who fancy a somewhat bolder or more innovative design have to look for its technical brother […]
November 09, 2022
Zero Motorcycles developed an electric adventure model. It immediately gets the largest battery capacity Zero has ever built, achieving a driving range of just under 200 km, making it perfect for use as a commuter vehicle. We drove it. Zero is a small motorbike manufacturer that exclusively builds electrically powered motorbikes. The manufacturer has just […]
November 09, 2022
Volvo Cars announced years ago that its strategic goal was to become fully electric by 2030. In line with those strategic ambitions, Volvo Cars will now divest its 33% share in Aurobay to the mother company Geely Holding. Aurobay will participate in Horse, the ICE and hybrid development company Renault Group shares with Geely. The […]
November 08, 2022
It’s getting colorful but complicated. We already know grey hydrogen, the least environmentally friendly form, as it still generates CO2 when produced from gas, and blue hydrogen, where the CO2 is captured and stored. There is ‘green’ hydrogen, generated mainly by electrolysis using renewable electricity from solar or wind energy. But why not consider ‘turquoise’ […]
November 08, 2022
The German automotive supplier ZF will, as a part of its ‘Next Generation Mobility’ strategy, convert its transmission plant in Saarbrücken into a lead location for pure electric drives. It will invest a three-digit million sum for this purpose. Electric drive production is scheduled to start there in 2024. For the future production of driveline […]
November 08, 2022
Ahead of its initial targets, Renault Group opens the third chapter of its Renaulution plan: revolution. Renault Group aims at becoming a Next Gen automotive company built on 5 focused businesses addressing all the new value chains: electric vehicles, software, new mobility services, and circular economy, in addition to ICE and hybrid vehicles. At the same time, […]
November 08, 2022
According to Israelian battery start-up Storedot, the automotive industry should brace for the interim solution of semi-solid batteries in the medium term. While all eyes are set on a rapid introduction of solid-state technology, the company warns that mass production for that type of battery is still a decade away. Solid-state batteries are highly anticipated […]
November 07, 2022
The Belgian company and start-up ABEE (Avesta Battery and Energy Engineering) is considering building a large battery factory for electric vehicles and energy storage on the Seneffe-Manage industrial estate in Hainaut. The plant, planned for 2025 and targeting an annual capacity of 3 GWh, could supply millions of batteries ‘with a low carbon footprint’ annually […]
November 07, 2022
General Motors’ Hummer EV, in both pick-up and SUV formats, is “sold out for two years or more”, according to GMC Global Vice President Duncan Aldred. GM currently holds 90 000 reservations of the Hummer EV models and has only produced 2 570 units of the pick-up version as of September 2022. The news doesn’t […]
November 04, 2022
Volvo Cars will support the growth and development of Polestar by providing financial support in the form of an 18-month term loan, amounting to a total of $ 800 million. The loan includes an option for Volvo Cars to convert to equity on a pro-rata basis in a potential future equity raise by Polestar. Meanwhile, […]
November 04, 2022
BMW Group has communicated a 23% increase in its net benefit for Q3 of 2022. While sales won’t reach record heights again, the financial figures are very good. It gives the group enough confidence to realize a successful transformation into the new, ‘electric’ era. “In an uneven economic environment, the BMW Group once again delivered […]
November 03, 2022
In the Belux market, 30 541cars were registered last month, a 21,6% increase compared to October 2021. However, the high figures from before the pandemic aren’t back yet. In Europe, BEVs are confirming hybrid cars are still growing for the first three quarters of the year; PHEVs are starting to lose terrain. Thanks to this […]
November 03, 2022
“TotalEnergies’ greenhouse gas emissions are four times higher than what the French multinational oil and energy giant admits.” That is what the environmental organization Greenpeace’s French branch is accusing TotalEnergies of. The painful detail is that Greenpeace’s report was released just a few days before the start of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in […]
