September 30, 2022
The premium car manufacturer BMW expects to hit its target of 10% fully electric sales this year at around 240 000-245 000 BEVscand could see that figure rising to about 400 000 next year, according to BMW Group CFO Nicolas Peter. BMW also expects to reach the higher end of its 7-9% margin target for […]
September 30, 2022
New York State has officially banned the sale of new, emission-intensive passenger vehicles by 2035. Governor Kathy Hochul announced this on Thursday. It thus follows the example of California, which in August made the historic decision to ban sales of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. In addition, several local transit agencies will also commit to […]
September 30, 2022
Alice, the fully electric propeller airplane from American aircraft builder Eviation under development, has made its maiden flight this week at Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3 500 feet (1 066 m). Alice is targeted at commuter and cargo markets and will typically operate flights ranging from […]
September 30, 2022
It’s all sweat and tears at the stock exchange these days. Contrary to the victorious entry of Porsche on Thursday, another mobility company faced a more challenging stock debut: LiveWire, the electric sub-brand from Harley-Davidson, raised $334 million. Less than anticipated. “It’s above our minimum requirements,” said the CEO of Harley-Davidson, Jochen Zeitz, to Bloomberg […]
September 30, 2022
On Thursday, Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB inaugurated a new underground bicycle parking lot at Louvain station. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) and Sophie Dutordoir, CEO of NMBS/SNCB, were present at the opening. The new and partly guarded parking lot is an important step in the further transformation of the station and its surroundings. After […]
September 30, 2022
Polestar unveiled that it will launch its SUV in Copenhagen on the 12th of October and accompanied the statement on the release date with an additional image showing the backside of the car. Readying for its international market launch, a decent list of specifications is already known about the sister car to the upcoming Volvo […]
September 30, 2022
American global power technology provider Cummins, known for decades for its diesel and gas engines, is quadrupling the capacity of its Belgian hydrogen electrolyzer plant in Oevel, Hydrogenics Europe, which it acquired in 2019. Production halls were doubled, and capacity will be quadrupled from 250 megawatts to 1 gigawatts with 150 people more to be […]
September 30, 2022
Citroën showed Oli yesterday (to pronounce all:ë), a concept of an EV that wants to be light, frugal and more sustainable and recyclable “as an unconventional answer to the actual tendencies in the automotive industry”. The angular model targets a one-tonne weight, an electric range of 400 kilometers, and a top speed limited to 110 […]
September 29, 2022
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wants to make France the champion of low-carbon hydrogen. To achieve that goal, Ms. Borne presented an initial list of ten selected projects on Wednesday. These should allow for the creation of a “sovereign sector” for producing hydrogen that so far is still very greedy for fossil fuels. While hydrogen, […]
September 29, 2022
Daimler Truck has already received an order of 50 electric Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul from the German transport group Hegelmann, only a few days after revealing the near-production version of the long-distance electric truck at IAA Transportation in Hannover. It has been a productive show for Daimler Truck at IAA Transportation. After showing the near-production ‘concept […]
September 29, 2022
Belgian car importer D’Ieteren Automotive is going to import the Microlino in Belgium. The importer sees the microcar as the perfect product to close the gap between two- and four-wheelers in urban mobility. It will be for sale in 2023 and have its Belgian premiere at the Brussels Motor Show in January at €14 900. […]
September 29, 2022
The ‘e’ in the revived GSe-series from Opel doesn’t just stand for ‘electric’ but also ‘electrified’. The first model from the recently announced new sub-brand is a plug-in hybrid version of both the Astra and the estate Sports Tourer. But don’t expect a specific power hike, despite the legacy of the GSe label. With 225 […]
September 29, 2022
If everything goes according to plan, cyclists will get a fast, safe, and comfortable bicycle connection between Brussels, Tervuren, and Louvain. The new F29 bicycle highway will be 16,5 km long and is expected to be ready by 2025. The project is part of the planned beltway constructions (‘Werken aan de Ring’) to offer cyclists […]
September 29, 2022
CEO of Mercedes Olla Källenius has confirmed to journalists that the all-electric G Wagon will hit global markets in 2024. The offroader will also feature a new battery technology option, using an innovative anode material to boost range. Källenius added in his comments that he drove a prototype of the electric G Wagon, which will […]
September 29, 2022
On Wednesday, Volkswagen announced an introductory share price of €82,5 for its Porsche brand’s IPO (Initial Public Offering). Almost 113,9 million shares are put on the market today, representing some 12,5% of the total estimated value of the sports car brand. It’s the most important IPO in Europe in ten years. The relatively low share […]
September 29, 2022
The Dutch aren’t diesel-lovers; they never were with one of the smallest diesel fleets in Europe today, except for the transport sector. Those who drive diesel vehicles are refueling more and more with alternative biodiesel, the so-called Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). According to mobility service provider MultiTankCard, the Netherlands saw a rise of 42% in […]
September 29, 2022
Luc Lallemand, for many years the top executive of Belgian rail network operator Infrabel, is being replaced at the head of SNCF Réseau. The latter was confirmed by the French government on Wednesday and ratified by an extraordinary board meeting. The French rail operator’s former number two, Matthieu Chabanel, who left the group this summer […]
September 28, 2022
BMW has given a significant portion of its model range a refresh with the fall 2022 model updates. It includes the sales launch of the hybrid X1 and electric iX1 models, a new entry-level powertrain for the i4, new hybrid versions of the 7 Series, and more. The new BMW X1 features two hybrid models, […]
September 28, 2022
In 2023, a new European climate center will be inaugurated in Uccle (Brussels). It has to become a federal ‘center of excellence’. The idea is to centralize and coordinate all climate knowledge in one accessible location. Scientists and organizations will be able to gather there and exchange expertise. The leading lady of the new institute […]
September 28, 2022
“Car manufacturers are misleading investors by significantly underestimating the total distance traveled and fuel consumption of cars, representing a ‘ticking carbon bomb’ for asset managers,” says the NGO Transport & Environment. The results of a new report issued by the organization show that carmakers’ global emissions are, on average, 50% higher than what they report, […]
September 28, 2022
BMW has unveiled its XM (not to be confused with the Citroën XM), its first standalone M model since the M1, and also the first electrified full-fat M model from the brand. The large SUV combines a V8 engine with a 197 hp electric motor to generate 653 hp of total power, although a 748 […]
September 28, 2022
After Renault proposed its 42 000 employees in its home country a ‘purchasing power’ premium of up to 1 000 euros, Stellantis will pay its French employees €1 400 extra in October. The entire premium will only apply to those, part-time employees included, who earn less than two times the official minimum wage or 60% […]
September 28, 2022
Premium carmaker BMW is partnering with German ‘historic’ combustion engine manufacturer Deutz AG in a ‘real-life operation’ project to test the feasibility of using heavy trucks with a six-cylinder combustion engine burning hydrogen instead of diesel in its logistics chain. The project is called HyCET (Hydrogen Combustion Engine Trucks) and is led by the BMW […]
September 28, 2022
After twelve days of protests by disgruntled residents, shopkeepers, and even the security services against the new circulation plan in the Cureghem district, the municipal council of Anderlecht had no other choice Tuesday evening than to scrap the project and remove all concrete blocks in the streets. The committee “No to the Good Move Plan” […]
September 27, 2022
Japanese motorbike manufacturer Kawasaki Motor is joining forces with Toyota to pool resources and develop hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines (ICE) for motorbikes and other vehicles, like its 4-wheel outdoor vehicles. Earlier this month, Toyota President Akio Toyoda drove a hydrogen-powered off-road 4-wheel vehicle based on Kawasaki’s Teryx sport side-by-side lineup at the Mobility Resort Motegi […]
September 27, 2022
French carmaker Renault will control 80% of its electric vehicle value chain well ahead of its 2030 target as it develops partnerships in batteries, electric motors, and power electronics. That’s what its CEO Luca de Meo said at the end of last week. De Meo pointed out that the research and development costs were too […]
September 27, 2022
Airline company EasyJet will invest billions in hydrogen technology and more fuel-efficient aircraft, among other things, to achieve emission-free flying by 2050. The British low-cost airline reported this on Monday when presenting its detailed future plans. According to CEO Johan Lundgren, these measures and investments in hydrogen-powered jet engines, or a “roadmap to net zero”, […]
September 27, 2022
Belgian CMB.Tech and Dutch-British based Windcat Workboats, both daughters of bulk shipping giant Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), announce they will build six extra hydrogen ships to transport personnel to and maintain offshore wind farms. The catamarans will be delivered in 2022, 2023, and 2024 to be used by joint venture partners Thomas Services Maritime (TSM) […]
September 27, 2022
Every day in the European Union, more than eighteen children are seriously injured and one is killed in road traffic collisions. More than 6 000 children up to the age of 14 have died in traffic in the European Union over the last ten years. The impact of these deaths and life-changing injuries on families […]
September 27, 2022
The car-sharing and mobility organization BattMobility, located in Ghent and only offering electric cars, sees its business boom. The 4-year-old company reached 50 000 shared rides last September and noted a severe increase in car-sharers. BattMobility started as a local initiative in a Ghent neighborhood but has become the city’s market leader for electric car […]
September 27, 2022
Iveco didn’t fail to do its homework with the newest version of its all-electric eDaily. The van is available in myriad body variants, has a scalable battery pack, and impresses with class-leading specs. The brand also showcased a hydrogen version. Since 2009, Iveco has offered a zero-emission battery-powered version of the Daily. But its efforts […]
September 27, 2022
Infrabel, the infrastructure branch of Belgian Rail, has ordered three battery electric measuring trains from Italian supplier Mermec. These so-called hybrid-electric trains can use a catenary system like regular trains but also access railway lines without it, pure on battery energy. The trains, totaling €42 million, will be delivered in 2024, 2026, and 2027. Measuring […]
September 27, 2022
The Volkswagen Group’s new battery subsidiary PowerCo and the Belgian materials technology group Umicore have established a joint venture for cathode and pre-material production in Europe. From 2025, the joint venture will supply PowerCo’s European battery cell factories with key materials. By the decade’s end, the new partners want to produce cathode and battery production […]
September 26, 2022
In a joint letter to EU policymakers, Mazda, a coalition of fuel makers, and CLEPA, the European association of automotive parts suppliers, ask to safeguard an additional route to defossilize transport next to electrification. According to the alliance, the high cost of raw materials, geopolitical uncertainty, and a complex roll-out of sufficient charging infrastructure across […]
September 26, 2022
Vietnamese car brand Vinfast has officially kickstarted its EV offensive by delivering its first batch of 100 VF 8 models in September. Even though the event was held in its home country, at its manufacturing site in Haiphong, this marks the brand’s international expansion. The VF 8 has been designed specifically for non-domestic customers. Unlike […]
September 26, 2022
Ghent Alderman for Mobility Filip Watteeuw (Groen) has ‘re-invented’ a new traffic sign for Belgium, getting the inspiration from Copenhagen. The new blue-white road sign indicates that cars and bikes can park alternately depending on the day’s moment. The new road sign will be valid and may be introduced in all Belgian cities and municipalities […]
September 26, 2022
Belgian high-voltage net manager Elia has joined forces with German carmaker Volkswagen to work on integrating EVs into the electricity grid. Through their daughters, re.alto and Elli, they will focus on ways to have EV-owners charge when green electricity is available in abundance at one time and use the battery as a backup to stabilize […]
September 26, 2022
Every year, bicycle use in Belgium avoids 1 294 premature deaths. At the same time, 137 717 tons of CO2 emissions are avoided because motorized traffic is replaced by bicycle trips. This is shown by a new study by road safety institute Vias. Moreover, also not insignificant when looking at the whole mobility cost picture: […]
September 26, 2022
Before the inline skaters kicked off the competition over the full distance at the 2022 BMW Berlin-Marathon on Saturday afternoon, a small fleet of fully-electric BMW CE 04 took on the fastest 42 kilometers on the international running calendar. Like the biggest marathon in Germany, the two-wheeler is a genuine Berliner: it is manufactured at […]
September 23, 2022
On Friday, Volkswagen is showing for the first time its Gen.Travel design study at the Chantilly Arts & Elegance in France. Imagine a fully level-5 self-driving prototype with a modular interior as an alternative for short-haul flights where you can sleep, hold your business meetings or watch movies while the car drives, alone or platooning […]
September 23, 2022
The Hopium Māchina, the French premium hydrogen sedan, is one step closer to production. CEO Olivier Lombard has announced that his company will construct a manufacturing facility in the North of France. Hopium has chosen Vernon, in the region of Douains, to erect its first plant. Once operational, the production lines will be capable of […]
September 23, 2022
Fuel prices are skyrocketing, and this impacts people’s mobility behavior. As a consequence, two-thirds of Flemish citizens (67%) use their cars less often. Some opt for the bicycle (56%), others use public transport (20%), and some (24%) just reduce their outdoor trips. The figures come from the large-scale biennial citizen’s survey Fietsberaad Vlaanderen (FV) organized […]
September 23, 2022
With the launch of the G9, Chinese EV maker XPeng is trying to make up for a difficult year. The detailed specifications unveil a high-end SUV with a charging capability that dethrones the Porsche Taycan as the fastest in the world. In August, XPeng Motors showcased a new 480 kW ultra-fast supercharger so that, in […]
September 23, 2022
French carmaker Renault is proposing its 42 000 employees in its home country a ‘purchasing power’ premium of up to 1 000 euros, after negotiating with the unions for months about a wage raise. The company declared that the bonus would apply to all working in France, including part-time workers, and won’t replace future salary […]
September 22, 2022
When the Good Move plan and the new parking ordinance were introduced in Brussels, it was already clear that 53% of Brussels households do not own a car on average. That average rises to 70% among the poorest quarter of the population. Still, there are nearly half a million cars registered in Brussels. A new […]
September 22, 2022
During the last seven months of 2022, the number of employees who opted for a mobility budget in Belgium increased to 0,022% compared to 0,015% last year. These figures still are disappointingly low, but there is a change. Teleworking and the possibility to finance rent or mortgage loans make the difference. The mobility budget was […]
September 22, 2022
ElectricBrands, best known for their funky XBUS, brought three new vehicles to IAA Transportation in Hannover. The XBUS S, Evetta Cargo, and NITO C+S are all compact electric vehicles designed for business use but with a friendly touch. The German start-up ElectricBrands first came into the spotlight with two compact electric vehicles based on iconic […]
September 22, 2022
On Friday, 23rd of September, at 9 p.m. to be precise, the nuclear power plant Doel 3 in Antwerp will be closed after a 40-year career. It’s the first of the seven nuclear plants in Belgium to close down in the context of the nuclear phase-out. Despite Flemish Minister of Energy Zuhal Demir’s call to […]
September 22, 2022
Who says a birthday cake can’t be spicy? Celebrating 50 years of its R5 icon, Renault pulls the veils of the R5 Turbo 3E, a commemorative concept car following in the footsteps of the iconic Turbo series. This all-electric sports version, limping between the real and virtual world, will be showcased to the public at […]
September 22, 2022
Five industry giants, IKEA, Unilever, JSW Steel Limited, A.P. Moller – Maersk, and GeoPost/DPDgroup, commit themselves to have their heavy truck fleet (+7,5 tons) converted to zero-emission by 2040 in OECD markets, China and India. “Medium- and heavy-duty trucks, representing 4% of all vehicles on the road globally, account for 40% of all road transport […]
September 21, 2022
The Flemish Institute for Logistics (Vlaams Instituut voor Logistiek, VIL) and the Hasselt University joined forces to analyze what they could do about the acute shortage of truck drivers. Together, they launched the ‘Truck Driver 4.0’ project in search of solutions for the sector. The project’s starting point was the problematic shortage of truckers, despite […]
September 21, 2022
Punch Powertrain, the Chinese-owned Belgian manufacturer of fuel-efficient powertrains, will set up with carmaker Stellantis a new production unit for gearboxes for hybrid cars at the historic Fiat plant in Mirafiori near Turin. That production should start in the second half of 2024. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed, but, according to Reuters, […]
September 21, 2022
Energy consumption and car use are the first two domains where Belgians are adapting their behavior today to cope with uncertain times. Sixty-nine percent say to change how they use energy drastically (23%) or in a limited way (46%). Car use comes second (57%), before food (53%), travel (52%), and clothing (50%). On its first […]
September 21, 2022
Government party Open Vld wants the Fleming to be able to travel unlimitedly by bus or tram during the winter months for one euro a day. This reports De Morgen, and the news has been confirmed to press agency Belga. According to De Morgen, Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) has put a striking […]
September 21, 2022
Maxus has expanded its European model range with three new electric models: the T90 pickup truck, the MIFA 9 minivan, and the 7,5-ton Electric Light Truck. With this expansion, the Chinese manufacturer enters both passenger and heavier commercial vehicle markets. Maxus, part of the Chinese conglomerate SAIC and imported by Astara Western Europe in Belgium, […]
September 21, 2022
Wednesday, 21st of September, Belgian circular materials technology company Umicore inaugurated its carbon-neutral production facility for cathode-active materials for electric vehicles in Nysa, in the south of Poland. It will be Europe’s first ‘gigafactory’ with a complete circular and sustainable battery materials value chain. The gigafactory will supply battery materials to Umicore’s car and battery […]
September 21, 2022
Quantron has presented its QHM FCEV Heavy Truck at the IAA Transportation in Hannover, a MAN TGX-based hydrogen truck that boasts driving ranges of up to 1 500 km. That would make it the longest-range hydrogen truck on the market, with delivery expected in 2023. The Quantron QHM FCEV Heavy Truck uses two 120 kW […]
September 20, 2022
Working from home is increasingly popular in Belgium. The number of teleworkers doubled in four years. The good news is that this trend has saved us millions of kilometers a day and, on top of that, traffic safety has improved. That is what a Federal Public Service (FPS) for Mobility survey, based on figures from […]
September 20, 2022
Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) has given the go-ahead to establish so-called ‘middle lanes’. This new type of public road should ensure greater safety for vulnerable road users, especially cyclists. The adaptation of the traffic regulations will take effect from 1 October. The pressure group Cyclists Association (Fietsersbond) does not react highly enthusiastically. Initial studies […]
September 20, 2022
From 19 September, the lights go out at night on many Walloon highways. The measure comes at the initiative of the Walloon government and the administrator Sofico in response to the energy crisis, reports Walloon Energy, Mobility, and Infrastructure Minister Philippe Henry (Ecolo). Specifically, the measure involves lights on the central reservation of highways going […]
