July 21, 2023
The Dutch geodata specialist Cyclomedia has finished digitizing the whole of Belgium in 360° ‘street view’ high-definition images. It enables one to visit any street in the country virtually and measure distances and building dimensions without physically going there – an asset they sell to public instances and private companies. Using a fleet of nine […]
July 17, 2023
British Ineos Automotive, the global chemical giant’s daughter, debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (GFS), the hydrogen demonstration version of its Landrover Defender-clone, the Grenadier. The Grenadier Demonstrator got BMW’s latest fuel cell technology as used for the iX5 Hydrogen. After ‘rigorous offroad testing’ in the Austrian mountains, the Grenadier Demonstrator proved capable of […]
July 17, 2023
Hyundai has unveiled the high-performance version of its Ioniq 5 electric model at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The launch of the new electric Ioniq 5 N is expected in the second quarter of 2024. The basic concept of the Ioniq 5 N and the Kia EV6 GT is the same: both E-GMP models rely […]
July 17, 2023
Mazda Motor Corp. will launch its first electric-vehicle-only model in 2027, the new CEO Masahiro Moro said in a recent interview in Tokyo, to speed up its electrification efforts and catch up with global rivals. Mazda already has a BEV; in 2021, it started selling an electric model of the compact MX-30 sports utility vehicle, […]
July 14, 2023
German automotive supplier Robert Bosch GmbH has started mass production of fuel cell engines at its Stuttgart-Feuerbach factory, one of the ‘oldest’ of the group’s numerous factories worldwide. The first fuel power modules are going to American electric truck startup Nikola, whose Class 8 hydrogen truck should come to the US market in the third […]
July 13, 2023
The Dutch ‘flying car’ PAL-V Liberty, currently undergoing an extensive test program to prepare for serial production and homologation for Europe next year, has seduced Austrian aviation specialist Primus Aero to buy the first five of a whole fleet of them for its mobile service teams. At what price wasn’t unveiled. The PAL-V Liberty can […]
July 13, 2023
The all-new Renault Scénic E-Tech Electric will make its world premiere during the IAA Mobility 2023 event in Munich on September 4. The car starts to reveal its final silhouette as a fleet of pre-production cars will be driven on open roads this summer by Renault engineers. Made in the Douai ElectriCity factory, the pre-production […]
July 12, 2023
Renault recently gave a glimpse into readying the production version of its next-generation EV model. The Renault 5 is on a prototype production run in a ‘secret and high-tech miniature plant’. As a part of the brand’s Technocenter engineering complex near Paris, the location itself is not so secret. Created 25 years ago, the Global […]
July 11, 2023
BMW Motorrad is bringing the head-up display to the motorcycle world with the ConnectedRide Smartglasses. This clever pair of glasses connect to your smartphone to display all relevant riding data, including navigation and traffic information. BMW is not the first to introduce a head-up display (HUD) for bikers. Other third-party manufacturers have had these systems […]
July 07, 2023
French railway company SNCF plans to earmark 1 000 hectares of solar panels by 2030 to cover 15 to 20% of its own electricity needs. The plans would make the railway company one of France’s largest green power producers. The SNCF is making this switch to secure supplies and control costs (between 2022 and 2023, […]
July 07, 2023
In November, Mercedes-Benz will bring the CLE on the market, a Coupe that uses the technology of both the C- and (recently updated) E-Class. Later (in 2024), there will also be a cabriolet version and a PHEV variant. Although coupes and cabriolets seem to be an extinguishing species in car land, premium manufacturers like Mercedes […]
July 07, 2023
While the city car segment is under significant strain due to stronger emission rulings and a growing appetite for SUVs, the French brands aren’t loosening their grip. After the heavily revised Renault Clio, Peugeot took the wraps of its updated 208, last year’s best-selling car in Europe. The facelift doesn’t strike as lightning, as the […]
July 06, 2023
Stellantis has unveiled STLA Medium, a global battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform. It’s the group’s first dedicated architecture for electric vehicles, dressed to rival MEB from the Volkswagen Group and the underpinnings from Tesla. The ambition for cars building on the architecture is to provide a best-in-class range of over 700 km. STLA Medium is […]
July 05, 2023
Imagine Brussels a decade further in the future with electric flying VTOL taxis taking off and landing vertically on ‘vertidromes’ at several places in the inner city, picking up passengers to fly them in no time to the national airport high above a congested city. An airborne ride that would cost you four to eight […]
July 05, 2023
Expanding on its European presence, Chinese EV maker Nio has opened an innovation center in Berlin. It will be the hub for five teams focusing on digital technology. Nio is on a roll, as it also starts offering semi-solid-state batteries of 150 kW in China. As the automotive industry is gearing up for software-defined vehicles […]
July 04, 2023
How do you grab a parking ticket through the passenger window from the boxes at the parking entrance or toll booths when driving a left-hand-drive (LHD) car in the United Kingdom? Tesla drivers get a mechanic grabbing arm called ‘The Reacher’ with their left-hand-drive-only Model S or X these days to solve the problem. In […]
July 03, 2023
Israeli wireless EV charging solution company Electreon has managed to wirelessly charge a 50-ton electric truck on a stationary pad and a ‘Wireless Electric Road’ segment in Sweden. The truck in question was a converted DAF XF from Dutch specialist GINAF, but Electreon says other e-trucks can also be equipped. GINAF specializes in converting DAF […]
July 03, 2023
In a showcase car based on a Porsche Taycan, automotive supplier ZF has unveiled its latest evolution of electric drive. Together with its thermal management system, the EVSys800 sets new weight, compactness, and efficiency standards. The firm eyes a market introduction in 2026. With the EVbeat, ZF wants to demonstrate the potential of future electric […]
July 03, 2023
The Volkswagen Group also opens up to Tesla’s fast charging system in North America. VW’s charging infrastructure subsidiary Electrify America announces that it will integrate the NACS connection into its fast charging stations in the USA and Canada. While Volkswagen is still weighing its options to avoid losing US customers, Polestar confirmed the move entirely. […]
June 30, 2023
Lotus has already revealed the final pricing and specifications of its Eletre electric ‘Hyper-SUV’, and the first all-electric Lotus is now available for configuration in Europe. Lotus is launching sales of the Eletre in parallel in Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. In the UK, the electric SUV is […]
June 30, 2023
On its ‘tech days 2023’, state-owned Chinese carmaker GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group Co.) showed several technical ‘tour de forces’, including the world’s first passenger car engine running on ammonia. GAC developed a 2.0-liter engine that can burn liquid ammonia, delivering 120 kilowatts of power and a 90% reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional fuels. […]
June 28, 2023
Michelin and the French postal services are partnering for a two-year test of airless tires. A European-first, forty yellow ‘La Poste’ vans will be equipped with Michelin Utips tires by the end of 2024 in the Hauts-de-France region. Currently, this is the only airless tire being used on open public roads in Europe. With that, […]
June 27, 2023
French sportscar builder, Alpine, has confirmed its electric ambitions for the future. By 2030, the brand will have launched seven fully electric cars, including a future A110 coupé, a roadster, and a new A310 4-seat coupé, to sit on a new dedicated platform. In Formula 1, Alpine Racing Ltd. gets a €200 million investment to […]
June 27, 2023
Prepping for its first battery-powered model in 2025, the British sports carmaker has announced a partnership with American EV start-up Lucid for the supply of batteries and powertrain technology. For Lucid, which gains a 4% stake in Aston Martin in return, it’s the first partnership of this kind. While combustion-engine parts can easily be shared […]
June 23, 2023
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, British EV start-up McMurtry stunned the crowds breaking the hill climb record. The blistering run has spawned the necessary interest in this 1 000 bhp single-seater so that the Spéirling Pure will go into production. As a supercar for the modern ages, the Spéirling Pure builds its performance upon […]
June 22, 2023
Panasonic and Mazda announced they have agreed to enter into discussions on establishing a medium- to long-term partnership for automotive batteries with round cells. The tentative language suits Mazda’s relatively relaxed approach towards electrification, yet the timeline also fits. Mazda said it would commence “concrete discussions” with a view toward Panasonic Energy supplying the carmaker […]
June 22, 2023
As the Chinese economy shows signs of slowing down, the government has extended the tax exemption for hybrids and electric cars to 2027. Buyers of these so-called new energy vehicles (NEV) skip the purchase tax. Since 2014, the Chinese government doesn’t impose a ten percent purchase tax on electrified cars to support their adoption and […]
June 21, 2023
The ‘tsunami’ of Chinese EVs is reaching European shores with yet another brand, Human Horizon’s flagships HiPhi X and Z, available now in Norway and Germany. With prices above €100 000 euros, these are not your average budget cars, and they’re bluntly targeting the heart of Europe’s premium car market, armed with luxury and high-tech. […]
June 21, 2023
On Tuesday, June 20th, global materials technology and recycling group Umicore inaugurated one of the world’s most advanced solid-state battery material prototyping facilities in Olen (Belgium). Solid-state batteries are expected to propel electric mobility and complement Umicore’s world-leading portfolio of battery materials technologies. The new 600 m² facilities with state-of-the-art installations and equipment support the […]
June 21, 2023
Car manufacturing group Stellantis, the world’s number four, and Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn have announced the formation of SiliconAuto, an equally owned joint venture for developing and selling advanced semiconductors, particularly for electric vehicles. Like Stellantis, SiliconAuto will be headquartered in the Netherlands and is expected to supply the automotive industry, including Stellantis and Foxconn, […]
June 21, 2023
Renault has unveiled the senior management team for its EV and software subsidiary Ampere. Luca de Meo, currently CEO of the Renault Group, will personally take charge of the new management team, and two managers will join him to handle day-to-day operations. Josep Maria Recasens and Vincent Piquet will be appointed Chief Operating Officer and […]
June 20, 2023
Porsche looks likely to produce high-performance battery cells on a much larger scale than previously planned. The German carmaker will no longer do so with its partner Customcells but on its own. The Cellforce Group, the battery joint venture between Porsche and Customcells, is said to have been completely overtaken by Porsche in May. 20 […]
June 16, 2023
Mercedes-Benz has showcased its new Vision One-Eleven concept car. The low and sleek design arches back to the C111 prototypes of the 60s and 70s, incorporating it into Stuttgart’s recent ‘One-Bow’ shape specific to EVs. The new concept features a new axial flux motor from subsidiary YASA, supposedly lighter, smaller, and more powerful. Mercedes-Benz is […]
June 15, 2023
Chinese battery giant CATL has launched in its homeland ‘Qiji Energy ‘, a battery swap solution for heavy-duty trucks. These can be equipped with up to three ‘battery blocks’ with a capacity of 171 kWh each, up to 513 kWh. The blocks offered come with specific swapping stations and a cloud platform to make battery […]
June 15, 2023
The Belgian chemical company Solvay will use its salt caverns in Germany to store energy. In the caverns, compressed air or hydrogen will be stored to be used later again as an energy provider. Solvay has signed an Option Agreement to provide four salt caverns to the Irish company Corre Energy, which will develop a […]
June 15, 2023
Rolls-Royce is considering using hydrogen fuel cell technology over conventional batteries for its future electric cars once this technology is mature enough to be commercialized at scale for the high standards Rolls-Royce is claiming. The new Rolls-Royce Spectre made its European debut at the Concours d’Elegance event at Villa d’Este (Como Lake, Italy) last week. […]
June 15, 2023
Belgian start-up SOLiTHOR, a spin-off from research company Imec, which is developing its own promising solid-state battery technology, is expanding its scientific staff to move toward the final commercialization, aiming at vehicles and aviation, defense, and maritime applications. Among them, Belgian Dr. Matthieu Moors, returning from Tesla Giga Berlin, where he was Senior Staff Engineer […]
June 14, 2023
Created only two years ago, Software République is staging the world premiere of a collaborative concept at the Viva Technology 2023 exhibition. H1st vision ( for ‘Human First vision’) incorporates functional and innovative technologies that illustrate its human-centered visions of future mobility. Software République is an open innovation ecosystem created by six large companies (Atos, […]
June 14, 2023
Petrolheads will immediately recognize this Nyobolt EV Concept as the contemporary version of the original Lotus Elise. Unsurprisingly, this little battery-powered roadster was designed by Julian Thomson, the same man who styled the original version. But instead of lap times, the promised charging time of six minutes stands out, or half the waiting time of […]
June 14, 2023
The all-electric Renault 5 will be the first Renault vehicle equipped with a bidirectional charger. The associated V2G service will be available from the launch of the Renault 5 in France and Germany in 2024 and in the UK in 2025. Renault is coordinating the introduction of bidirectional charging through its mobility brand Mobilize. In […]
June 13, 2023
Japanese carmaker Toyota finally seems to embrace the all-electric car and aims at several improved BEV batteries shortly, with an all-solid-state battery announced as soon as 2027. That one should allow a 1 200 km range, later up to 1 500 km, and fast charging from 10-80% in 10 minutes or less. Toyota sold only […]
June 12, 2023
From 2025, General Motors will rely on Tesla’s charging port in the USA and Canada – exclusively. GM wants to provide adapters so that all cars equipped with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) can also charge at CCS stations. This makes GM the second major US carmaker to commit to Tesla’s charging standard: Ford […]
June 12, 2023
During the night from Saturday to Sunday, the new Hector Hennaud Avenue bridge on the Brussels Ring Road in Zaventem was successfully put in place. The colossus, which at 106 by 27 meters approaches the area of half a football pitch, weighs just under 2 000 tons. The smoothly run operation allowed the Ring Road […]
June 12, 2023
The world’s number one car manufacturer, Toyota, is investing almost $50 million in a new battery laboratory in the US. This will be built at the research and development headquarters in York Township and will go into operation in 2025. The investment illustrates Toyota’s “change of direction toward electrification”, says Shinichi Yasui, Vice President at […]
June 09, 2023
Two electric ‘hydrant fuel dispensers’, which pump fuel from the underground piping system into the aircraft, will come into operation at Brussels Airport from next year. The new custom-made devices are part of the greening of the airport sector, says the operator. Ordered by Skytanking The vehicles were ordered by the company Skytanking, which provides […]
June 08, 2023
Eneco, a Dutch energy supplier with its Belgian headquarter in Mechelen, will invest 90 million euros into a 50-megawatt battery power park in the Walloon town of Ville-sur-Haine. The battery park, which will be connected to the high-voltage grid as a backup, should be operational by the end of next year. The park, in the […]
June 06, 2023
Last Friday, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) began accepting seat reservations for its groundbreaking commercial electric flights in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark… in 2028. After that, there are no seats available anymore. “This extraordinary event presents an opportunity for travelers to become part of aviation history. Each of the three inaugural flights, scheduled to take place in […]
June 05, 2023
To boost its European expansion plans, Lexus is treading where BMW and Mercedes cancel out: the class of small city cross-overs. With a length of 4.1 metres, the new Japan-built LBX is beyond competition from the German premium brands, as Audi has announced the withdrawal of the Q2, its closest rival. In fact, this is […]
June 01, 2023
As from the summer, the Toyota Yaris can be ordered with a second hybrid driveline gaining power and a refined drive. In addition, the upgrade includes new digital features, such as an instrument display and an app-based key. But as for the design, everything remains like before. So, Toyota’s minor overhaul of its city car […]
May 31, 2023
Around noon on Whit Monday, a record amount of electricity was generated by wind and sun, enough to cover just about all of Belgium’s electricity consumption for a while. This is according to preliminary figures from high-voltage manager Elia. This is the first time that solar and wind have been enough to cover just about […]
May 31, 2023
Israeli start-up specializing in wireless charging, Electreon, has set up a new world record. It drove a plug-in hybrid Toyota RAV4 on electricity for 1.943 km over four days without stopping for a charge, thanks to its proprietary in-road charging strips. Between 21 and 25 May, Israeli start-up Electreon conducted a world-first proof-of-concept test for […]
May 31, 2023
Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha have agreed to develop hydrogen combustion engines to decarbonize two-wheelers and other compact vehicles. This consortium will focus mainly on the research for the viability of this type of powertrain, with no production plans quite yet. Japan’s four largest motorcycle manufacturers are looking into the viability of hydrogen combustion engines […]
May 30, 2023
Last Friday, BMW Group Belux donated another 20 brand new BMW and Mini cars to several technical schools throughout Belgium and Luxembourg. The vehicles represent €1,3 million in net worth and are destined to train candidate technicians with the latest car technology. It’s not the first time BMW Group Belux is acting as such. In […]
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 […]
May 25, 2023
Alpine and Lotus will not be co-developing an all-electric sportscar. The sports car brands have axed their collaboration under “mutual agreement” and will go through the development process alone. The project was scheduled to spawn a successor to the Alpine A110 and the new Lotus Type 135. Developing electric cars is costly, particularly when the […]
May 25, 2023
Ridesharing company Uber is going to offer robotaxis in the US. Uber’s partner is Waymo, a subdivision of the Alphabet group, Google’s parent company. An initial collaboration is scheduled for later this year in Phoenix City. The exact number of self-driving taxis remains undisclosed. The association surprises as the two companies were entangled in a […]
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 […]
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. […]
May 23, 2023
Chinese battery maker Gotion High-Tech, a company heavily backed by Volkswagen, has unveiled its L600 battery. Its cells use lithium manganese ferro phosphate chemistry capable of providing a range of 1 000 kilometers. Under the optimistic Chinese driving cycle, that is. Battery packs promising 1 000 kilometers of range aren’t new, but until today, these […]
May 22, 2023
After France created a legal framework for retrofitting vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE) into an electrical (or hydrogen) EV, Belgium is also ready from June 1st, 2023. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) drafted a new Royal decree by mutual agreement with the Regions, which now have their homologation services to publish updated […]
