From 2026 a fast-charging station every 60 km on EU highways

July 12, 2023

The European Parliament took a final decision on Tuesday: from 2026, the main European highways must be equipped with fast-charging stations for electric vehicles every 60 kilometers. From 2028, this should apply to half of the European road network. Those charging stations must have a capacity of at least 400 kW and be able to […]

No Belgian support for limiting validity of driver’s licenses for over-70

July 07, 2023

The European Commission wants to limit the validity of driver’s licenses for people over 70 to five years. After that time, people would be required to undergo a medical examination or take a refresher course. Okra, the association for the elderly, is highly offended by the proposal and calls it “age discrimination”. And also, the […]

Chinese SAIC Motor wants to produce in Europe

July 06, 2023

The Chinese car manufacturer SAIC plans to build a plant for electric vehicles in Europe and is currently looking for a location. SAIC has joint ventures in China with Volkswagen and General Motors that produce electric cars, among other things. According to Reuters, the company is not yet giving any further details. SAIC is active […]

Rivian starts deliveries of Amazon’s European e-vans

July 05, 2023

The good news for Rivian is that the American EV start-up has ended its Q2 with good production figures, putting it on track for its 2023 target. Meanwhile, the first European Amazon EDV vans have landed in Germany. Back in April, things were not looking up for Rivian. It had fallen behind on its production […]

Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent in top 20 of Clean Cities, Liège trailing

July 04, 2023

According to the latest Clean Cities Campaign, comparing emission-free mobility in 42 European cities, Brussels (11th place), Antwerp (12th), and Ghent (18th) have achieved a place in the top twenty rankings.  Liège, on the other hand, sits in 36th place. Still, all four Belgian cities could step up their game toward a zero-emission future, especially […]

Tesla’s pricewar leads to record second quarter

July 03, 2023

Announcing its production and delivery numbers for the second quarter of 2023, Tesla posted a new record, beating analysts’ predictions. The company is well on track to achieve its annual goal of deliveries by the end of the year, meaning it would globally outperform Audi. But over in China, BYD is in a fierce fight […]

Renault’s delay of Ampere IPO doesn’t hurt profits

June 30, 2023

Renault delays the stock market introduction of its all-electric subbrand Ampere to the first half of 2024. The French car maker points to a less-than-ideal market climate, but the postponed launch of the all-electric R5 is also playing its part. Renault is pushing forward with a revolutionary plan to launch 18 new models by 2025, […]

Denmark to review energy island project because of high costs and risks

June 29, 2023

Denmark will review the energy island project in the North Sea because of the high costs. That is what the Danish government announced on Wednesday. “The project is challenging, the costs are too high, and the risks are too great,” the Danish Ministry of Energy explains in a press release. “The island would cost the […]

EU invests €20 million in Ostend HOPE hydrogen project

June 29, 2023

The European Commission will invest 20 million euros in a hydrogen project off the Belgian coast by 2026. It will build and operate hydrogen facilities off the coast of Ostend, in an offshore testing zone intended to be the nerve center of the green hydrogen industry in Belgium. The HOPE project as it is called […]

Record operating profit of €332 million euros for Eurostar

June 28, 2023

The Eurostar Group, the merger of high-speed train operators Thalys and Eurostar, transported 14,8 million passengers last year and posted a turnover of over 1,53 billion euros, two and a half times more than a year earlier. As a result, profit before Ebita reached a record level of 332 million euros. By mid-October, a new app, […]

German Federal Court considers another diesel software system as fraud

June 27, 2023

Apart from dieselgate, there was another conflict of interest between consumers and manufacturers of diesel cars, the so-called ‘thermal window’ software. For the first time, the German Federal Court (Bundesgerichtshof or BGH) has considered that customers, having bought a car with the device, can claim compensation. The software permits controlling the air pollution equipment on […]

Court of Auditors doubts EU will meet 2030 climate goals

June 27, 2023

It is by no means certain that the European Union will achieve its ambitious climate and energy targets for 2030 with the current measures, warns the European Court of Auditors in a new report. Moreover, the foundations of the member states’ climate plans are not transparent, so it’s unclear whether they are feasible. The Auditors […]

Major companies call upon EU for phase-out date for ICE trucks (again)

June 26, 2023

In an open letter to the EU, 41 firms call for bigger ambitions on the greening of transportation in the logistics sector. Among the companies are Heineken, Nike, the Colruyt Group, and shippers like DFDS and Maersk. They say that increasing the targets will lower costs and make it easier to decarbonize fleets. More precisely, […]

Consumer organizations denounce greenwashing by 17 airlines

June 22, 2023

More than 20 European consumer organizations have filed a complaint to stop what they call misleading greenwashing claims by a series of airlines. The complaint is filed with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC). It is directed against 17 airlines, including those in the Lufthansa Group (among which Brussels Airlines), Air […]

ACEA wants EU to delay more stringent ‘rules of origin’ for EVs

June 21, 2023

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) calls for a three-year postponement to restrictive rules on EU-UK electric vehicle trade, set to come into force in six months. Otherwise, tariffs could total € 4,3 billion, potentially reducing electric vehicle production by some 480 000 units, according to ACEA. Goods exported under EU free-trade agreements must comply […]

German highway charging station monopoly to EU Court

June 19, 2023

The fight of Dutch fast-charger company Fastned and Tesla with its Superchargers against the charging station monopoly for Tank & Rast, owning 95% of all fuel stations along German highways, is moving to a higher level; the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Both companies were challenging the decision of the German Federal Anti-Cartel Office, which […]

Court of Auditors: ‘EU ambition in EV battery leadership is at risk’   

June 19, 2023

According to the European Court of Auditors, Europe’s plan of becoming a world leader in battery development and production is at risk. The stakes are high. If Europe fails in shaping up, the energy transition can falter, while it might also affect the 2035 ban on combustion engines. In 2018, the European Union issued the Battery […]

Qbuzz also announces plans for Amsterdam-Paris rail link

June 13, 2023

After Arriva last week, now Dutch public transport company Qbuzz has announced plans for high-speed trains between Amsterdam and Paris. For both companies, the trains would stop in Antwerp and Brussels en route. The start-up is targeted for January 2027. The application to the Dutch regulator Authority Consumer & Market (ACM) mentions seven trips in […]

Audi Brussels has built its 200.000th (Q8) e-tron

June 13, 2023

After about 3,5 years, the Audi plant in Forest (Brussels) has built its 200 000th electric vehicle: a Soneira Red Q8 Sportback e-tron, the updated version of the original e-tron, which has been in production since late 2018. Later this year, the plant will also start building the smaller Q4 e-tron to meet global demand. […]

Ford inaugurates transformed Cologne plant for EV production

June 13, 2023

Ford has completed the $2 billion transformation of its Cologne (Germany) production facility, which will focus on EV production. The Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center will start production with the new Explorer, with another electric crossover soon to follow. Ford’s Cologne plant in Germany, which has been operating since 1930, building the Model A, has […]

Zeekr X production has started (Update)

June 12, 2023

The Zeekr X is the first model from Geely’s young premium brand to journey to the European market soon. In China, the series production has started. The car will be ready for delivery at the end of this week. Later this year, Zeekr’s smallest will be launched in Europe, starting in Sweden and the Netherlands. […]

Safety specialist Autoliv cuts workforce by 11%, mostly in Europe

June 09, 2023

Swedish automotive safety supplier Autoliv announced that it would cut its global workforce by up to 6 000 employees (11%). One thousand of these are expected to be in Europe. The worldwide leader in airbags and seatbelts says these cuts aim at reducing costs in the face of inflation. Autoliv is a significant actor in […]

7% of Belgian drivers already had accident due to ‘drunk’ driving

June 05, 2023

A European survey shows that 7% of Belgians, or around 420 000 drivers, have already had an accident attributable to alcohol behind the wheel. Last year, nearly 47 000 drivers, an average of 128 per day, were also fined for ‘alcohol behind the wheel’ in Belgium. The new BOB campaign ‘BOB protects lives’, therefore, calls […]

European transport ministers want to make 2024 Year of the Bicycle

June 05, 2023

Seven European transport ministers want to make 2024 the year of cycling. They launched this call on World Cycling Day. The United Nations has declared the 3rd of June World Cycling Day in 2018 to draw attention to the benefits of bicycles. The seven mobility ministers are asking Europe to develop a genuine cycling policy. […]

Great Wall Motor looking to build or buy EV plant in Europe

June 01, 2023

Chinese car manufacturer Great Wall Motor is looking into acquiring a European EV plant in order to support its international expansion. Building a new plant in Germany, Hungary or the Czech Republic would be an option, but the company is also looking to buy an existing plant. Great Wall Motor, known in Europe for the […]

Tesla Model Y dethrones Toyota Corolla as the world’s best-selling car

May 30, 2023

The Model Y can parade itself as the best-sold car in the world. It took the title in Q1 of 2023 from the Toyota Corolla, which has held the top spot for many years. It’s the first time an electric car has won the gold medal. The Model Y also surges in Europe. Tesla’s price […]

ACEA: Euro 7 ruling to cost up to 2 600 euros per car

May 24, 2023

The lobby organisation for car manufacturers ACEA is flashing the lights again on the proposed Euro 7 rules, which are considered unnecessary and a waste of money by many car brands. A new survey has calculated that the price increase could be four to seven times higher than initially accounted for. “The effects on the […]

Geely doubles its stake to electrify Aston Martin

May 23, 2023

Chinese car giant Geely is increasing its interest in iconic British sports car brands. The owner of Lotus has raised its share in Aston Martin to 17 percent, a little more than a half year after it stepped in, buying 7,6 percent in September last year. Geely is now the third-biggest shareholder of Aston Martin. […]

EU backs Spanish subsidy program for EV batteries

May 16, 2023

The EU Commission has approved an 837 million euros program by the Spanish government to support the production of batteries for EVs. This reports the news site elective.com. The program is open to battery manufacturers and suppliers of essential components or related materials. The Spanish government plans to launch two new electric vehicle and battery […]

Macron could exclude non-European electric cars from EV bonus

May 12, 2023

French President, Emmanuel Macron, could announce a reform of the government’s EV bonus plan. The suggestion could be based on the vehicle’s carbon footprint, thus excluding cars produced in heavy-polluting countries such as China. However, it’s easier said than done. For a few months now, France has considered a way to exclude vehicles built far […]

Copenhagen wants to ban all ICE cars by 2030

May 12, 2023

The Danish capital plans to oust all passenger cars on combustion engines from its center by the decade’s end. The proposition isn’t put into law yet but has been accepted by all the governing parties. The confines of the electric-only zone will be determined after a feasibility study. Copenhagen is an example of the transition […]

BYD biggest in China, dethrones Volkswagen

April 28, 2023

On its home turf, Chinese car giant BYD has beaten Volkswagen and is currently the number one brand in sales. Also, the brand doubled its registrations worldwide, boosting its profit fivefold during the first quarter of 2023. At Auto Shanghai, Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume stated, “BYD is very, very strong”. Reporting on its sales for […]

IEA: ‘explosive’ growth of global EVs to a record share

April 27, 2023

The latest study from the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals a significant jump in the adoption of electric cars around the globe. In a year-on-year comparison, the share has risen from 9% in 2021 to 14% in 2022, a new record. Expectations for this year are a further rise of 35%. In its yearly ‘Global […]

North Sea to become Europe’s green power plant

April 25, 2023

Nine European countries signed a joint declaration on Monday in Ostend at the second North Sea Summit to make the North Sea the “green power plant of Europe”. The nine aspire to produce some 300 gigawatts (GW) of energy by 2050 through the massive construction of offshore wind farms. According to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander […]

Ford F-150 Lightning to land in Europe via Norway

April 24, 2023

Ford has started the international career of its electric pickup F-150 Lightning, as the American manufacturer is preparing for a market launch in Norway. According to Ford, the customer demand for the product and the country’s advanced EV adoption were just too hard to resist. Although production of Ford’s first electric pickup truck is still […]

HEFT: EU research project for cheaper, sustainable electric motors

April 21, 2023

Eight European partners, of which five research facilities and three industrial partners, have joined forces to create a next-gen electric drive unit for mass-produced EVs. The goal is to create a synchronous motor that is more efficient, cheaper to produce, and, importantly, less dependent on rare earth materials from China. The Mondragon University in Spain […]

Chips Act to double EU’s share in global semiconductor production

April 19, 2023

The European Parliament and EU member states have agreed on a plan to produce more chips in Europe and become less dependent on Asia. “Europe is taking control of its destiny”, is how Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton hailed the breakthrough. With the so-called Chips Act, the EU aims to increase its share of global […]

Where’s the rear window on the new Polestar 4?

April 18, 2023

Polestar has thrown the rear window, well, out of the window on its latest addition to the range. Though the number in its nametag suggests otherwise, the cross-over coupé 4 slots exactly between the sedan 2 and the larger SUV 3. The new model was unveiled at the press day of Auto Shanghai. Swedish-Chinese EV […]

Lancia Pu+Ra HPE brings Italian design into electric era

April 17, 2023

After more than ten years, Lancia has come out with a newly-designed car. The Pu+Ra HPE is not meant for production, but it shows the way for the next decade as Lancia embarks on its renaissance in the electric era. And it’s very much a designer’s car, with countless new materials, classic inspirations, and a […]

German TÜV approval opens EU doors for HiPhi X SUV

April 17, 2023

HiPhi, the young Chinese brand of the Human Horizons Group, is one step closer to launching in European markets. Its first model, the SUV called X, already for a while on sale in its homeland, completed TÜV SÜD testing in Germany successfully. The futuristic-looking Z sedan-GT and a compact SUV, called Y,  just announced as […]

MG Cyberster released ahead of Auto Shanghai reveal

April 14, 2023

Images and preliminary info of MG’s all-electric roadster have been released before its official debut at the Chinese motor show Auto Shanghai later this month. The body type of a roadster is historically rooted in the back-then British brand, but this new version is in every sense a modern take on that old formula. Instead […]

Amsterdam to become full-fledged Eurostar hub

April 13, 2023

Amsterdam should become a full-fledged European hub for train travel across Europe by 2025. So says the top woman of the Eurostar Group, Gwendoline Cazenave, in an interview with the Dutch news agency ANP. An additional Eurostar train and a redevelopment of Amsterdam Central Station should contribute. Currently, four trains depart daily from Amsterdam for […]

Tesla’s Giga Berlin finally ramped up to full speed

April 06, 2023

After facing numerous delays and difficulty finding – and keeping – workers, Tesla’s Brandenburg Gigafactory near Berlin has finally ramped up to full speed with three shifts. And a fourth weekend shift could also be on the cards if the production rate keeps increasing, with a cheaper and more compact Tesla on the horizon. It’s […]

EU lays foundation for charging infrastructure every 60 km

March 29, 2023

Negotiators from the European Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission have reached an agreement on the rollout of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Drivers of electric cars must be able to charge their vehicles every sixty kilometers on the main European thoroughfares. However, the text still has to get the final approval of […]

T&E: ‘Germany’s bid to keep ICE engines will cost a lot to the customer’

March 23, 2023

The German support for e-fuels in new cars could leave the average German driver paying €210 to fill up their tank, a new analysis by NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) shows. The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in a stand-off with the EU over his insistence that cars powered by e-fuel can be sold after […]

Germany blocks EU decision about banning ICE cars

March 14, 2023

After Poland and Italy, a third EU member state, Germany, rejected the EU’s Parliament’s decision to ban ICE cars by 2035. Inside the German government, there is a serious disagreement between the liberal FDP party and the Green party, both members of the government coalition. The German Digital and Transport Minister Volker Wissing has blocked […]

EU allows member states to subsidize green tech in reaction to US

March 10, 2023

The European Commission decided on Thursday that individual member states are temporarily allowed to support local industries developing green technologies. The move answers protectionist measures in the United States and China. Among other carmakers, the Volkswagen Group awaited this approval to decide on its battery plant in Poland. As Europe fears that its multinationals will […]

Almost 70% of Germans don’t want to ban combustion engine

March 09, 2023

A survey from RTL/N-TV is throwing more oil on the fire in Germany, as the country is currently obstructing the final vote on the de facto ban for combustion engines as of 2035. With only 14% in favor, national enthusiasm for the European deal is low. The probe unveiled that 68% of the German population […]

First Belgian ship load of CO2 arrives in Denmark for undersea storage

March 08, 2023

In the port of Esbjerg, the first ship with captured CO2 from Belgium arrived to store the carbons in a depleted oil field in the Danish part of the North Sea. Called the Greensand project, this is considered the first cross-border offshore CO2 storage project in the world. With the incoming CO2 from the port […]

EU proposes ‘universal’ digital driver’s license

March 02, 2023

The European Commission wants to introduce a universal digital driver’s license. It should be accessible on smartphones and other digital devices, and it should be easier to replace or renew someone’s license. Such a digital document, issued nationally, should be recognized throughout Europe. According to the Commission, youngsters in the EU should be able to […]

More sustainable materials for Volkswagen ID family

February 28, 2023

Volkswagen’s ID. Family is becoming more circular as the German car maker transfers some of its ecological materials used in the ID. Buzz. The latter was the most sustainable of the electric family and will now serve as a technology donor. The additional recycling materials will be introduced on ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and ID.7, but […]

EU wants heavy trucks to reduce CO2 by 90% in 2040

February 15, 2023

While the European Parliament finally ratified on Tuesday in Strasbourg the agreement with the 27 member states to ban all sales of new cars and vans with a combustion engine beyond 2035, heavy trucks and buses were targeted a few hours later by the Commission. They will have to reduce CO2 emissions by 90% in […]

Wolfspeed and ZF to build world’s largest silicon carbide plant

February 02, 2023

American silicon carbide (SiC) specialist Wolfspeed has announced its plan to build the world’s largest SiC fabrication plant in Saarland, Germany, to increase capacity for the EV market. The move is supported by a large investment from ZF, with a joint R&D center in Germany also on the way. Silicon carbide semiconductors are more power […]

Battery electric car grabs 12% share of new sales in Europe

February 01, 2023

The battery electric car (BEV) has grown its market share in new car registrations in 2022 with 3% to 12,1% overall. Still, range anxiety apparently drives more Europeans to a classic hybrid (22,6%) instead of electric to replace diesel and gasoline cars. Together, the latter still represent 52,8% of new car sales, even with diesel […]

European car manufacturers ask for ambitious automotive policy

February 01, 2023

Ahead of the unveiling of the Green Deal Industry Plan, Luca de Meo, the new President of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and Renault Group CEO, is urging EU leaders to put in place an ambitious and structured automotive, and industrial policy, to rival those of other world regions. Concerned about the EU industry’s […]

Lucid starts European deliveries and powers Gen3 Formula E

January 30, 2023

Lucid Motors has launched the non-limited Air Grand Touring, with an all-electric range of over 800 km, in Germany and the Netherlands. At the same time, the American manufacturer unveils a very compact drive unit to be used in 2023’s Formula E cars. Lucid tentatively launched the Air, its luxury electric sedan, in Germany and […]

Toyota plans PHEV and battery production in Turkey

January 30, 2023

The second generation Toyota C-HR will be produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT) in Sakarya. It will be the first plug-in hybrid passenger car to be produced in Turkey. In addition, TMMT will be Toyota’s first European plant to start producing PHEVs and the first to be equipped with a battery production line. “The […]

European commercial vehicle market drops by 14,6% in 2022

January 25, 2023

Last year was a (or another) tough year for both the passenger vehicle market and commercial vehicle registrations. As a result, the European numbers dropped by 14,6% in 2022, with Belgium being one of the countries that was hit the hardest by supply chain issues. Overall, the number of new commercial vehicles registered in Europe […]

Eurostar-Thalys merger aims at 30 million passengers a year

January 25, 2023

The high-speed train operators Eurostar and Thalys merger has entered a new phase. The former exploits high-speed train connections between Belgium and the Netherlands, France, and Germany; the latter between the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and the UK. By 2030, the group intends to transport 30 million passengers annually, or twice as many as in 2022. […]

T&E: ‘Europe can be self-sufficient in EV battery cells by 2027’

January 24, 2023

If we can rely on what battery manufacturers are predicting for the next four years, Europe can be self-sufficient in lithium-ion battery cells for its domestic EV production as soon as 2027, and end its reliance on China. That’s the conclusion of NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) after analyzing all recent announcements. That is if […]