BMW Panoramic Vision is HUD for the ‘Neue Klasse’

March 15, 2023

The new BMW head-up display is called BMW Panoramic Vision and represents the reinterpretation of the BMW driver orientation “eyes on the road, hands on the wheel” in the ‘Neue Klasse’. BMW is developing an entirely new technological platform for the ‘Neue Klasse’, whose name refers to the company’s pioneering models of the 1960s. This […]

This is Kia’s all-electric super-SUV EV9

March 15, 2023

Kia is joining the category of luxurious seven-seater SUVs with the EV9, set to debut later this month. In the wake of the full release, the Korean carmaker shared the first model pictures and some info. Though Kia already has a few battery-powered models, like the Niro EV and the Soul EV, the EV9 is […]

BMW confirms all-electric i5 in both estate and M guise

March 15, 2023

With still a few months before its official launch, BMW has released more details on the all-new 5 Series. As a segment first, the all-electric i5 will be available as an estate. And the brand’s performance department will also have its take on the battery-powered version. In an official statement on its website, BMW has […]

Mercedes to roll out its own ‘supercharger’ network (update)

March 13, 2023

Mercedes plans the rollout of its own high-speed charging network. Called HiPower, North American customers will be served first with 20 fast charging plazas, but other major markets, like Europe and China, will follow. The first charging plazas in Europe will be built in Germany and France starting in Q4 of this year, the boss […]

Can magic of white hydrogen be game changer for FCEVs?

March 10, 2023

The energy-intensive process of producing green hydrogen (made from renewable electricity) is one obstacle hampering fuel cell vehicles’ development. But according to the German newspaper Der Spiegel, scientists are collaborating to exploit white hydrogen. Under this label, the energy carrier is sourced from underneath the earth’s crust. Naturally occurring hydrogen can be found in the […]

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 […]

Belgian dredgers to jointly test offshore floating solar park in Ostend

March 09, 2023

The Belgian marine engineering companies DEME and Jan De Nul and engineering office Tractebel have jointly developed new floating solar technology capable of operating in harsh marine conditions. This summer, they will set up a test installation off the Belgian coast for experiments. SEAVOLT, as the project is called, combines the expertise of solar, environmental, […]

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 […]

Onsemi supplier of semiconductors for BMW Group

March 08, 2023

Automotive supplier Onsemi will also use its silicon carbide technology in BMW electric cars in the future. The US semiconductor manufacturer has signed a long-term supply agreement (LTSA) with BMW to use its EliteSiC silicon carbide power module in the manufacturer’s future electric cars. The US semiconductor specialist did not specify the exact number of […]

NDM pleads for abolition company car and mobility premium of €400 for every Belgian

March 07, 2023

In its Memorandum 2024, a series of recommendations ahead of next year’s elections, Network Sustainable Mobility (Netwerk Duurzame Mobiliteit, NDM) advocates the abolition of the company car and the introduction of an annual ‘proximity budget’ of 400 euros for every Belgian. “As long as the company car is in front of the door, you are […]

Mercedes starts construction of first battery recycling plant

March 06, 2023

Following its plan to start recycling electric vehicle lithium-ion battery systems this year, Mercedes has laid the first brick of its dedicated plant in Kuppenheim. If the works keep to the schedule, the first packs from its electrified vehicles, so plug-ins included, will be dismantled by the end of 2023. “This foundation symbolizes the decisive […]

Scandinavians to ship cars over the oceans by wind power

March 03, 2023

Wouldn’t it be a great idea to have today’s giant car carriers sailing the world’s oceans on merely wind power like the square-rigged sailings ships of centuries ago? The modern descendants of the Vikings, with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a global ro-ro shipping company from Norway, and Swedish carmaker Volvo among others, are dreaming of realizing this […]

Tesla teases but fails to excite at Investor Day

March 03, 2023

“Tesla to show 25 000 dollar car.” “Musk will ready a hydrogen model as of this year.” Before this year’s Investor Day, rumors were plenty of what the famous EV maker would unveil. But news hunters came back with not much more than some souvenir photos for their social media, as Elon Musk kept himself […]

Polestar is confirming its success as an EV manufacturer

March 03, 2023

A growing number of companies is producing EVs, but not all are comparably successful. You have the start-ups, and you have the more traditional car companies trying to catch up. Among the start-ups, Geely-daughter Polestar seems to be heading for success. Others, like Nio, are accumulating sales but also losses. Polestar strengthened its financial position […]

BMW CEO: ‘Openness to all technologies is best for climate’

March 03, 2023

During a round table, BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse told car magazine Motor.at and others about his view on hydrogen and the plans to ban ICE cars in the EU by 2035. In his view, “hydrogen-fueled cars don’t stand a chance against BEVs except for customers who do not have access to charging infrastructure or […]

A breakthrough for solid-state lithium-air battery in the US?

February 28, 2023

US researchers have developed a lithium-air battery with a solid electrolyte, of which the energy density could be increased fourfold compared to today’s lithium-ion batteries. The team said it achieved 1 000 charge and discharge cycles in test cells. Researchers drive the project at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and the US Department of […]

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 […]

Tesla pulls back on full self-driving, gears up for Investor Day

February 28, 2023

Some buzz ahead of Investor Day, a keynote held by Tesla CEO Elon Musk on the 1st of March 2023, has American media reporting on a cheap electric model and maybe even a hydrogen version. That’s quite a U-turn for Musk, who depicted fuel cells in the past as ‘fool cells’ because of their lack […]

BMW iX5 Hydrogen begins world tour in Belgium

February 27, 2023

In March 2022, several demo cars of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen were traveling around Europe to gather merely political support. In the next phase of its road map for the iX5 Hydrogen, BMW now presented the prototype to the press and fleet customers, who could test and refill the car in the region of Antwerp. […]

Delorean halves production slots for Alpha 5

February 27, 2023

In a mail to potential customers, Delorean Motor Company urges to secure reservations as its production slots have been slashed in half. Supply chain bottlenecks have affected the original output of 9 351 units, reducing them to no more than 4 000. With much fewer building slots available, the resurgence of the sports car, made famous […]

Sono Motors finaly pulls the plug on Sion solar car

February 27, 2023

While the Dutch still struggle to keep their Lightyear solar car project on life support, Sion, the affordable German solar electric vehicle (SEV), is dead. Sono Motors decided to pull the plug on the Sion program just before entering pre-series production. It couldn’t convince new investors despite 45 000 reservations from potential clients. However, the […]

Ford tests improved electric efficiency with surface heaters in EVs

February 23, 2023

As part of the EU project CEVOLVER (Connected Electric Vehicle Optimized for Life, Value, Efficiency, and Range), Ford engineers have shown that heating surfaces can reduce energy consumption in the interior of an electric vehicle by 13%. This can improve the range of that vehicle by 5%. The test was conducted in an electric delivery […]

Belgian high-tech joins forces in aviation solid-state battery

February 22, 2023

Belgian aerospace company Sonaca joins the Limburg-based start-up SOLiTHOR to develop solid-state batteries for regional aviation and future air taxis (VTOLs). Solid-state batteries are lighter, have more energy density, and are considered safer than current lithium-ion batteries with a fluid electrolyte. SOLiTHOR will be responsible for cell research, development, testing characterization, format design, and production […]

VW to develop its own key electric components

February 21, 2023

In addition to the battery and the electric drive, Volkswagen Group Technology is now also developing the pulse inverter and the thermal management itself for its electric drives. This was announced at the company’s Tech Day 2023. As with other components, the VW developers have opted for a modular system. The first application will be […]

Dacia VP: ‘Excessive weight is not acceptable’

February 21, 2023

In an interview with the British car magazine Autocar, Dacia Vice-President for Sales, Marketing, and Operations Xavier Martinet says that a much greater emphasis needs to be put on weight efficiency when designing (EV) cars. “If we’re serious about collectively reducing emissions, then excessive weight should not be acceptable.” Martinet made his statement when he […]

French show world’s first racing bike on hydrogen

February 20, 2023

French technical study bureau H2 Motronics has developed a fuel cell racing motorbike on hydrogen, which they claim is a world first. The H2K, short for ‘H2 Kompact’, was shown at the Hyvolution exhibit in Paris and is meant as a live demonstrator for the bureau’s technical and innovative project management skills rather than for […]

Nissan’s EV ‘kei’ car to power elevators during blackouts

February 20, 2023

Japanese carmaker Nissan and compatriot Hitachi’s Building Systems Co Ltd. subsidiary have demonstrated in Japan the possibility of keeping elevators running via V2H (vehicle-to-home) power from an electric car in a building during blackouts. In earthquake-prone Japan, the risk of getting stuck in an elevator is not uncommon. For the test, according to Reuters, both […]

Tesla forced to recall 360.000 cars over faulty self-driving software

February 17, 2023

After identifying malfunctions in its driver assistance software, Tesla was forced to recall 362 758 cars in the United States. Models equipped with the Level 2 software of Full Self-Driving (FSD) can act in a potentially dangerous manner at intersections. In Europe, Tesla only tests FSD in the company cars of its staff. According to […]

Living the battery swap experience: NIO opens 4th station in Netherlands

February 17, 2023

Chinese electric carmaker NIO has opened its fourth battery swap station in the Netherlands, on the outskirts of Utrecht on the A2 highway to Amsterdam. Swapping a 75 or 100-kWh battery underneath the car is a seamless, fully automated process, as we could experience ourselves test-driving the ET7 sedan at the NIO Power Swap station […]

Will new Volkswagen ID.2 be rebadged as ID. Golf?

February 16, 2023

New Volkswagen management has never been very pleased with the concept version of the ID 2. The study, announcing the most affordable and smallest member in the ID. family, was sent back to the drawing board. Insiders have revealed that the overhaul might imply that the car will be badged as Golf when it appears […]

Brussels test radars to measure traffic noise

February 15, 2023

The Brussels region is stepping up the fight against noise pollution. Environment Minister Alain Maron (Ecolo) presented a pilot project testing two noise radars on Tuesday. The aim is to provide Brussels residents with a pleasant and healthy noise environment. In 2019, the Brussels Region approved the quiet.brussels plan. The plan’s objective is to reduce […]

Volkswagen to invest even more in software and EVs

February 13, 2023

The German Volkswagen Group plans to expand its software investments, digital services, and electromobility investments. That’s the result of a supervisory board meeting when it weighed investments for the next five years. Related discussions were delayed as the IT development (grouped under the Cariad daughter) ran into development problems, and the first EV products encountered […]

Belgian rail abolishes cash payments onboard trains

February 09, 2023

Train passengers wishing to buy a ticket on board a train operated by Belgian rail operator NMBS/SNCB will only be able to do so electronically from May. Railroad employees will no longer accept cash, but only carry a mobile payment terminal. According to NMBS/SNCB, the measure fits into “a broad social trend toward digitalization and […]

T&E: ‘Plug-in hybrids pollute more than claimed’

February 08, 2023

Plug-in hybrid cars are still presented as a climate solution. Still, tests on the newest generation of PHEVs indicate they pollute significantly more than claimed on city and commuter routes, says the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Two years ago, T&E discovered that the PHEV technology polluted significantly more than advertised on longer routes. Now […]

BMW presents updated X5 and X6

February 08, 2023

It was already a sneak preview at the Brussels Motor Show, now BMW officially presents the updated editions of its successful Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) X5 and Sports Activity Coupé (SAC) X6. The refreshed drive system line-up includes new combustion engines, a latest-generation plug-in hybrid system, and 48 V mild hybrid technology for all other […]

Denmark gives go-ahead for CO2 storage in North Sea

February 07, 2023

For the first time, Denmark has granted permits to store carbon dioxide (CO2) under the North Sea seabed on a large scale. The Danish climate and energy ministry announced this on Monday. Two projects are involved: French energy group TotalEnergies (Bifrost) and a consortium of British chemical giant Ineos and German oil company and gas […]

Is this Zeekr X the one for Europe?

February 03, 2023

Zeekr took the wraps from the prototype car that seems poised to accelerate the brand’s launch in Europe. While it was thought to be called the 003, the compact crossover is dubbed X. The launch for China is scheduled for the end of the year, after which the rival for the Volkswagen ID.3 could hit […]

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 […]

Is the Max-Out an all-electric MX-5 by Nissan?

February 02, 2023

In November 2021, Nissan showed four virtual renderings depicting future products. The Japanese carmaker has now materialized one of them, the Max-Out. After the more sensible Leaf and Ariya, this two-seater convertible must add more spice to Nissan’s electrification plans, though details remain scarce. The Max-Out was unveiled as part of the Nissan Futures event, […]

Revamped Mercedes GLE gets an extra shot of electrification

February 02, 2023

Though Mercedes has already launched an all-electric version in the guise of the EQE SUV, the brand is still supporting the combustion-engined versions of its large SUV GLE for which it has announced a facelift. Asides from some mild tweaking on the outside, Mercedes has added a new batch of diesel models with mild hybrid […]

Gilson: “Infrabel now head of the European pack in rail management”

January 27, 2023

Belgian railway network operator Infrabel has inaugurated a new control room in Brussels. This forms the completion of a major operation in which 368 outdated signal boxes were replaced by ten modern counterparts. The program started 18 years ago and represents an investment of nearly 1 billion euros. It turns the operator into one of […]

Audi ActiveSphere Concept takes autonomous driving offroad

January 27, 2023

Is this future of its Sportback models? Audi has unveiled the fourth iteration of its concept series Sphere. The ActiveSphere is the most adventurous of all, taking the previously featured functions of lounging whilst driving… offroad. “This is a new type of crossover”, says Chief Designer Gael Buzyn. After the roadster Skysphere, the sedan Grandsphere […]

Renault launches electric retrofit kit for its vintage cars

January 27, 2023

French automaker Renault has teamed up with compatriot R-FIT to offer, in 2023, electric retrofit kits for its iconic R4, R5, and later also for the first generation of the Twingo. A complete retrofit kit for the Renault 4 costs €11 900, VAT, and installation included. And the government is willing to subsidize it from […]

German Sion solar car buys itself more survival time

January 26, 2023

Munich-based Sono Motors, creators of the Sion solar car, is buying more time to survive by extending its #savesion campaign until the end of February 2023. “As talks with potential investors are in progress”, the founders announce in a press release and a video. So far, they have managed to secure 47 million euros of […]

TEC buses to get green light automatically at intersections

January 26, 2023

By the end of this year, buses and trams of the Belgian public transport company TEC in Wallonia will automatically get a green light when approaching a traffic light at an intersection. This will reduce travel times, causing fewer delays, and as another positive result, allow for fewer emissions if not yet electric. To technically […]

Colruyt tests Estonian delivery robot on Belgian roads (update)

January 25, 2023

On Tuesday, the Colruyt Clevon delivery robot, on test since November last year, has delivered for the first time groceries to a client, 26-year-old Ellen Cools, who lives on the trajectory between the distribution center and the Collect & Go pickup point in Londerzeel. Colruyt has found thirty clients living along the route the robot […]

FUREC project: converting municipal waste into green hydrogen

January 25, 2023

German multinational energy company RWE is building two new plants in the Maastricht-Roermond region in the Netherlands, to produce 54 000 tons of green hydrogen yearly out of 700 000 tons of municipal solid waste that otherwise would have to be incinerated. Hydrogen from non-recyclable solid waste streams saves around 3,6 million tons of CO2 […]

Tesla invests $3,6 billion in Nevada for Semi and cell manufacturing

January 25, 2023

On Tuesday, Tesla announced in a statement an investment of “more than 3,6 billion dollars”, to expand its factory in Nevada for manufacturing its Semi-truck and the new 4680 batteries. The continuing growth of Tesla’s mother of all factories is demanding more infrastructure and more financial provisions. The new battery cell factory will have a […]

Toyota enters e-cargo bike business with French Douze

January 25, 2023

In France, Toyota will offer an e-cargo bike for the last-mile delivery sector and privateers. It has struck a deal with French e-bike brand Douze to jointly market a new e-cargo bike with “the potential of replacing a car”. The initiative is regional, as it was realized and managed by Toyota’s French subsidiary. With the […]

E-Ray: the cleanest Corvette is also the fastest

January 24, 2023

The current generation of the Corvette stirs up the heritage bloodline in many ways. After moving the engine from front to rear, General Motors has now also pulled the covers from the first hybrid ever in the series: the E-Ray. Meet the cleanest, fastest, and most expensive Corvette of them all. It’s the Stealth mode […]

Fairbrics to transform captured CO2 into clothing polyester in Antwerp

January 24, 2023

The French start-up Fairbrics, a pioneer in the field, wants to capture the CO2 released by manufacturers to transform it while using molecular chemistry into polyester spools for the clothing industry. To that end, it will establish a factory in Antwerp, a pioneering project that should be up and running by mid-2024. The project is […]

CEO Mazda Europe: ‘We will never tell people what they need’

January 23, 2023

At the Brussels Motor Show, the Japanese manufacturer Mazda had a world premiere, the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, a range extender version of their MX-30 BEV. On the sidelines, we talked to Martijn ten Brink, President and CEO of Mazda Europe. This relatively small car manufacturer has its own way of doing things. For Mazda, its […]

Extremely efficient Aptera solar car promises 1.000-mile range

January 23, 2023

Californian start-up Aptera Motors has revealed the Launch Edition of its highly efficient solar car. Thanks to its solar array, it can recover up to 40 miles (64 km) of range per day. Production is set to start in late 2023, but Aptera still needs funding to build its vehicles. Aptera’s quest for ultimate efficiency […]

Self-driving shuttle at Brussels Airport turns out to be ‘too complex’

January 23, 2023

The project to run a self-driving electric shuttle bus at Brussels Airport has been called off. Nearly eight years after initial plans, the development of such a bus is proving too complex. The cancellation of the urban autonomous transport project in cooperation with about four Flemish cities is another setback for De Lijn in its […]

Geely’s SEA platform to underpin new Polish EV brand Izera (update)

January 23, 2023

ElectroMobility Poland (EMP), Poland’s only car manufacturer created in 2016, has postponed the production of its first car under the new Izera brand for the second time until the end of 2025. The state-owned company, which made a technology deal in November 2022 with Chinese Geely for the underpinning of its car, confirmed this to […]

Belgian start-up Veton wraps EV-charger in fashionable design

January 20, 2023

Belgian start-up Veton wants to conquer the world and a growing number of EV owners from its base in Antwerp by wrapping the classic EV-charge pole or wallbox in a sleek, fashionable design with the cable neatly hidden when not in use. As 85% of EV charging is done at home or work, the young […]

Only Lufthansa remains to bid for take-over ITA Airways

January 19, 2023

German airline group Lufthansa is the only bidder to take a stake in Italian airline ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia. This was announced by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance on Wednesday evening, after the deadline. Earlier in the day, French-Dutch airline group Air France-KLM had announced that it would not submit a […]

Belgian Educam prepares sector for servicing hydrogen cars

January 19, 2023

Educam, the Belgian knowledge and training center for the automotive sector, wants to prepare the automotive industry for the advent of hydrogen vehicles. The organization, therefore, launched a brand new certification and training program focused on hydrogen-powered vehicles. The training will be given in Flanders and Wallonia. In addition, the organization has invested in hydrogen-ready […]

Suzuki’s first all-electric SUV isn’t a Toyota

January 18, 2023

At the Delhi Auto Show 2023, Suzuki unveiled the EVx, a concept car announcing the brand’s first all-electric SUV. The first specs seem to point to in-house development. Though the unveiling took place in India, the brand intends to sell it worldwide. “Strong 4×4 DNA with the advanced features of the latest BEVs.” Those words […]

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