September 20, 2023
Rixensart-based start-up Risorce has raised 12,5 million euros to build a new factory in Baelen, Liège, which will eventually be able to recycle 2,4 million used car tires a year. This will be done through pyrolysis. In the process, the tires will be processed into mainly oil. By 2025, the plant should be fully operational […]
September 20, 2023
In August 2023, the EU car market expanded by 21%, reaching 787 626 registered units, marking the thirteenth consecutive month of growth, according to the figures of the Association of European Car Manufacturers (ACEA). The market share of battery–electric cars exceeded 20% for the first time (up from 11,6% in August last year). Despite August […]
September 20, 2023
The Car-Free Sunday in Brussels again positively impacted air quality and reduced noise pollution. So says the Brussels public service Brussels Environment. On the 23rd Car-Free Sunday, concentrations of nitrogen monoxide and dioxide dropped by 95 and 77%, respectively, compared to a normal Sunday. Readings were taken on Regent Avenue, a spot near Arts-Loi/Kunst-Wet where […]
September 19, 2023
At the top of Hongtu Daban in Tibet, a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo EV conquered a new record for the greatest altitude change by an electric car: 5 573,979 meters. The Porsche Taycan has secured a new Guinness World Record after completing an extreme 2 783-kilometer journey that saw it go from the lowest natural […]
September 19, 2023
Spain’s Perte plan, a subsidy scheme to transform the country into an industrial hub for electric mobility, is bearing fruit. After Volkswagen, the Stellantis group is tapping into favorable incentives. Models built on the STLA Small architecture will be produced in Spain. Stellantis has three plants in Spain and will now convert those in Figueruelas, […]
September 19, 2023
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has started the construction of a brand-new Car Rental Service Center. It will be the Netherlands’ largest car rental company facility, accommodating about 2 500 vehicles and able to charge some 300 EVs simultaneously. The building is expected to be finished by the end of 2024. Schiphol is transforming the former P4 […]
September 19, 2023
Air Belgium, founded in 2016 and employing some 500 people, will stop passenger flights after 3 October and is applying for a judicial reorganization. Since April, Air Belgium, one of the principal shareholders of the Walloon region, has concentrated its passenger operations on two main destinations: South Africa (Johannesburg/Cape Town) and Mauritius. The affected employees […]
September 19, 2023
In 2022, traffic congestion cost the Belgian economy 4,8 billion euros due to lost time, extra fuel consumption, and higher emissions of CO2 and harmful gases. The Federation of Belgian Enterprises (VBO- FEB) reports this based on Stabel and the Federal Planning Bureau data. Mobility has changed in recent years. Teleworking has taken hold, especially […]
September 19, 2023
Tesla has surpassed the five million cars produced for fifteen years of manufacturing. Most remarkably, the jump from four to five million units took the company no longer than half a year. The success is mainly attributed to the highly efficient Shanghai factory, where the symbolic model was assembled. The news on the milestone was […]
September 19, 2023
In The Netherlands, considered one of Europe’s most advanced countries in EV adoption, the enthusiasm to switch to an electric car seems lower than expected. After nine months, the subsidy pot of 100 million euros still has 43 million left. In former years, that subsidy pot was generally plundered by the end of May. Only […]
September 19, 2023
Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese battery cell manufacturer and Volkswagen partner, now also builds its battery packs in Göttingen. The first battery products are to be delivered to customers in October. “Our Göttingen factory’s production line is highly automated, with an overall automation level of nearly 70% and close to 80% in the module assembly stage,” […]
September 19, 2023
Volkswagen reportedly wants to stop vehicle production in Dresden after more than 20 years. The site is to be retained, and the 300 or so employees will be given other tasks, among others, in the area of innovative production and testing. VW is building the ID.3 in the so-called ‘Gläserne Manufaktur’ or Transparent Factory. According […]
September 18, 2023
Lithium is indispensable in today’s rechargeable batteries, from smartphones to EV batteries. With demand expected to grow exponentially over the following decades, every discovery of lithium reserves makes headline news. Even in Belgium, where lithium is found in brine pumped up from 1 000 to 3 000 meters deep for a geothermic heat-distribution grid. Experts […]
September 18, 2023
Carmakers can sell small electric cars made in Europe for € 25 000 while making a profit, new research from Transport & Environment (T&E) shows. Falling production costs and battery prices would make mass-market B-segment vehicles feasible to electrify by 2025, according to the study by Transport & Environment (T&E) based on analysis by the […]
September 18, 2023
In January, there will be a central bicycle register in Belgium to fight bicycle theft. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) confirmed this in Le Soir newspaper, among others. It is one of the showpieces of the ‘Be Cyclist’ program, which aims to promote the use of bicycles through a series of 52 measures. The […]
September 18, 2023
Not all battery packs in EVs age at the same level. According to research by the Future Mobility department of Thomas More High School, the variation can mount up to 8% annually on specific packs. This is much worse than the rule of thumb prescribing 70% capacity after usage of eight years and could severely […]
September 18, 2023
Everfuel, the operator of Denmark’s hydrogen stations, has decided to close all of its operational stations, leaving customers of hydrogen cars or buses with no opportunity to fill up their vehicles. Currently, only the station in Henning is operational. It’s a big u-turn from Everfuel’s earlier ambition to have 19 hydrogen stations ready by the […]
September 18, 2023
Today, 1,62% of Belgian employees has a leased bike to commute. That is one-quarter more than last year (1,29%) and more than ever. The figures come from HR service provider Acerta and are based on a survey among 320 000 employees working in 37 000 private sector companies. The reason for this extensive study was […]
September 18, 2023
Xpeng will be the next Chinese manufacturer to launch an electric van on the domestic market from the end of this year. It will bear the model designation Xpeng X9 and will go on sale later this year. The first undisguised pictures and technical key data have now emerged from the Chinese Ministry of Industry […]
September 15, 2023
A volcanic crater on the border between Nevada and Oregon is believed to contain an estimated 20 to 40 million tons of lithium, a critical raw material for producing batteries for electric cars. So, report several US media outlets. With an estimated value of 1,5 trillion dollars of precious metal, the amount is almost double […]
September 15, 2023
British oil company BP continues to set ambitious targets for its network of ultra-fast charging stations. By 2030, it wants to roll out 20 000 High Power Charging (HPC) points for cars and a network of low-carbon mobility hubs for medium and heavy-duty vehicles. It will do this with Germany’s largest service station network, Aral, […]
September 15, 2023
Danish container shipping company Maersk has launched the world’s first container ship to run on green methanol in its fleet. The ship, the ‘Laura Maersk’ was christened in Copenhagen by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “This ship embodies Europe’s decision to be a pioneer in the fight against climate change,” von der Leyen […]
September 15, 2023
Toyota has revealed more details about its next-gen battery tech for electric vehicles, including three new liquid battery technologies and the start of mass production of solid-state batteries. The aim is to offer 1 200 km or more range, faster charging times, and a lower height for better aerodynamics. In June, Toyota announced it would […]
September 15, 2023
Leasys, the 50/50 joint venture between multinational automotive company Stellantis and the French Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance, is a multi-brand leasing company operational in eleven European countries. This week, Leasys Belgium was officially presented. The new company intends to take advantage of the changes in the market and maximize its presence. According to the press […]
September 15, 2023
Despite substantial offers from the automakers, negotiations with the United Union of Autoworkers (UAW) fell short on Thursday. With no agreement at the deadline of past midnight, the members kickstarted a historic strike at the carmakers Ford, GM, and Stellantis. “Tonight, for the first time in our history, we will strike all three of the […]
September 15, 2023
Volkswagen is laying off workforce at its biggest plant for EV manufacturing in Zwickau. As incentives are declining and the economy remains weak, demand for the ID. models is underperforming. Volkswagen made the decision official at an extraordinary works council yesterday. The German car giant will not extend the interim contracts of 269 laborers who […]
September 15, 2023
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement on Wednesday that the EU is to launch an investigation into China’s state support for makers of electric vehicles was brushed away by the Chinese government as ‘naked protectionist behavior.’ One that von der Leyen’s home car industry fears will backfire in a Chinese market they desperately […]
September 14, 2023
Belgian rail operator NMBS/SNCB is struggling with obsolete rolling stock. According to the newspaper La Libre Belgique, 15% of NMBS/SNCB’s rolling stock is idle for repairs or maintenance, which has consequences for train punctuality. The problem is not new, but problems and delays in delivering new equipment are causing the problem to drag on. In […]
September 14, 2023
The clock is ticking for the three big American car groups to reach an agreement with the Union of Auto Workers (UAW). Without a deal on new wages and other demands, the union threatens to strike on Friday, the 15th of 2023. It would dim the spotlights of the Detroit Auto Show, which opened doors […]
September 14, 2023
BMW, Honda, and Ford are combining forces in the US and have founded ChargeScape, a joint venture that connects energy providers and EV customers from the brands. The three automakers have been researching the possibility of a standard charging service network for some time and have turned their findings into a business. ChargeScape is not […]
September 14, 2023
According to a study by HR service provider SD Worx among 1 000 working Belgians, commuting is not a reason to change employers. However, some people have a very long morning and evening commute. Those who live in East Flanders spend the longest time commuting (daily average of 59 minutes), followed by those living in […]
September 14, 2023
Volvo Trucks announced on Thursday it has finally kicked off serial production of heavy battery electric trucks up to 44 tons in its Ghent factory in Belgium. That is Volvo Trucks’ largest production site with a yearly capacity of around 45 000 trucks. The electric trucks are assembled on the same platform and line as […]
September 14, 2023
After adding Stellantis-dealer Vandecasteele Group in Kortrijk, Chinese carmaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) is expanding to Hasselt as its fifth dealership in Belgium, under the wings of Renault-Dacia specialist Paesmans Auto Group. The Chinese carmaker is looking for five more dealerships in Belgium and Luxembourg. BYD, China’s biggest EV maker, is imported by international car […]
September 13, 2023
Polish zero-emission bus manufacturer Solaris has secured the most significant order for hydrogen buses in Europe, with 130 units for Bologna’s public transport company TPER and an option for 140 more FCEV buses. A day later, Venice’s Azienda Veneziana della Mobilita ordered 90 more hydrogen buses, expandable up to 108 units in total. It’s a […]
September 13, 2023
In 2022, Belgium’s national railway company NMBS/SNCB had to remove 218 600 square meters of graffiti from trains, noticeably more than in previous years. The cost of the entire cleaning operation was 6,8 million euros. It was the first time the ‘unwanted art’ exceeded a 200 000-square-meter surface. In 2021, NMBS/SNCB removed 175 800 square […]
September 13, 2023
Battery packs with pouch cells from LG Chem continue to cause problems and recalls at car manufacturers who purchase them for their EVs. Latest in row are Porsche and Audi, globally recalling 6 766 vehicles over a possible leak inside the battery pack that could lead to sparks. The affected models are from the Taycan […]
September 13, 2023
After a nine-year absence, Brussels Airlines will again fly to the Kenyan capital Nairobi in June. To do so, it will deploy a new aircraft, an Airbus A330, now the airline’s tenth long-haul aircraft. It will also increase the number of flights to the Rwandan capital, Kigali, from five to seven a week. The ramping […]
September 13, 2023
VDL Special Vehicles has produced the first of five hydrogen fuel cell trucks for Toyota Motor Europe, which will be used in an extensive five-year test by Toyota’s European logistics providers. The hydrogen truck uses Toyota’s fuel cell technology. Earlier this year, in May, the Dutch VDL group and Toyota Motor Europe announced a partnership […]
September 13, 2023
On 17 September, the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, like 40 Flemish cities and municipalities, will organize another Car Free Sunday. The entire region will be closed to car traffic on that day from 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., making it the largest car-free zone in Europe. The service of the Brussels public transport […]
September 13, 2023
After a few teasers, Peugeot has finally unveiled its new all-electric e-3008. The popular SUV now resembles a high-riding fastback with a swooping roof line. In addition to its new look, the e-3008 is the first vehicle to sit on Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform, offering from 210 to 320 hp of power and an impressive […]
September 13, 2023
The XEV Yoyo, imported in Belgium by VJB Motors in Hasselt, is available to order in its latest model year. To address the growing competition in the microcar class, the Yoyo receives a more efficient battery for more range, some new options, and a revised line-up. The irony is more than subtle. At the time […]
September 13, 2023
On Tuesday, the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) updated the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) to raise the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42,5% by 2030. Member states should strive to achieve 45%. The legislation will also speed up procedures to grant permits for new renewable energy power plants, such […]
September 13, 2023
Californian EV start-up Fisker is ramping up production of its Fisker Ocean One EV at Magna Steyr in Austria from 180 to 300 per day, the company announces. So far, 3 123 customer vehicles have been built, but by the end of September, 5 000 is the target. All these Ocean One launch editions have […]
September 12, 2023
Volkswagen has unveiled its sporty interpretation of the ID.7 sedan: the ID.X Performance. It features a two-motor electric drivetrain with 558 hp and numerous carbon enhancements for the bodywork. Does this show car hint at what the MEB platform is capable of? Remember the Wörthersee GTI Treffen, the year’s highlight for fans of powerful and […]
September 12, 2023
After an earlier decision from last year to move the new generation of the electric Mini to China, BMW is making a U-turn. The German carmaker announces a crucial investment that keeps production in Oxford, the birthplace of the famed Mini, for the future zero-emission generation. Brexit hasn’t done any favors for Britain’s car industry, […]
September 12, 2023
Allego, founded in 2013 in the Netherlands as part of grid operator Alliander and now a pan-European EV network with 34 000 chargers, says it is finally phasing out CHAdeMO chargers as only 4,12% of EVs today are still equipped with the Japanese system. Only the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are still […]
September 12, 2023
Smart is in a complete transformation phase. After recently launching its first SUV, the #1, the brand known for its city cars, has presented the #3, an even larger SUV-Coupé. However, Smart is rumored to return to the small, two-seater city car. It could be named #2 and should be presented as soon as 2025. […]
September 12, 2023
Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) will break up the monopoly of car inspection centers in Flanders. In the future, drivers will be allowed to have repairs for certain minor defects carried out by their own garages without having to present themselves again for the technical inspection afterward. In concrete terms, the current centers […]
September 12, 2023
Fiat has kicked off production of its new 600e electric crossover in Stellantis’ Tychy plant in Poland, alongside the technically similar Jeep Avenger. The first test drives of the Fiat 500e’s bigger brother are soon to follow. The new Fiat 600e debuted in July and was presented alongside the Topolino quadricycle, which shares its underpinnings […]
September 12, 2023
Dutch fast-charger network Fastned has signed its first contract in Italy with highway managing A4 Holding Group to build a large charging station along the A4 Brescia – Padova highway in northern Italy, close to the Brescia Est exit. It’s the 8th European country where Fastned has established its presence. Fastned already operates 275 fast […]
September 11, 2023
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) has approved the operations of a second lithium mine in the country. The Romano mine will be situated in Montalegre, in the northern region, near the Baroso mine, which was permitted back in May 2023. However, only part of it has been approved, so the owner still has homework. The […]
September 11, 2023
The Gotthard tunnel, at 16,9 km the longest road tunnel in Switzerland, has been closed since Sunday. The reason is a crack in the ceiling of the tunnel, which is popular with motorists driving to and from Italy. Chunks of concrete landed on the road, but no one was injured, said FEDRO, the Swiss agency […]
September 11, 2023
In Turin, car group Stellantis has opened its first battery technology center – one of Europe’s most significant. More than a hundred employees will test, verify, and produce new battery products for its upcoming range of all-electric vehicles. As part of its Dare Forward 2030 plan, Stellantis is subjecting the Italian Mirafiora factory to a […]
September 11, 2023
A recent Mozilla Foundation study reveals some shocking facts, and 25 car manufacturers deserve the ‘Privacy Not Included’ warning label in the United States. According to the study, cars have become data-gobbling machines that watch, listen, and collect information about what you do and where you go. While we worry that our connected doorbells or […]
September 11, 2023
Ford unveiled the Mustang Mach-E Rally after showing a camouflaged version at Goodwood in July. The electric crossover is based on the sporty Mach-E GT but takes its sportiness off-road thanks to a modified suspension, underbody protection, and a special RallySport drive mode. No, this is not a one-off show model: You can order the […]
September 11, 2023
The permit for the Airport Tram, which will connect Brussels Airport to Brussels, has been granted by Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA). Construction works could start in late 2025 to early 2026. The Brussels Region had already issued planning permission for the Brussels section of the future inter-regional tram line to the national airport. […]
September 11, 2023
From all the foreign brands eager to conquer the European market, Seres, the American-Chinese manufacturer from the same group as DFSK, is the odd man out, focusing on lesser-known local dealerships to import and market their EVs overseas. That often translates into ‘under-exposure’ compared to other Chinese brands investing in direct sales or using established […]
September 08, 2023
Lucien, the bicycle shop chain under the wings of Belgian’s most significant car importer D’Ieteren, is expanding its territory again with the recent acquisition of ‘Fietsen King’ in Louvain. It will be the 17th Lucien shop. Until now, D’Ieteren’s bicycle subsidiary was mainly active in and around Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent. Later this year, the […]
September 08, 2023
The Global Maritime Trends 2050 Report, commissioned by Lloyd’s Register, revealed that some of the world’s largest ports could become unusable due to rising sea levels. According to the study, efforts to decarbonize the maritime shipping sector and introduce new technologies will be crucial. Weather-related disruptions are already impacting ports across the globe. These include […]
September 08, 2023
British car manufacturer Lotus has unveiled its third electric model, a sleek four-door sedan named Emeya. This so-called ‘hyper GT’ shares much of its technical side with the Eletre SUV and is set to compete with the Porsche Taycan and the upcoming Polestar 5. After Evija, Emira, and Eletre comes Emeya, the fourth model of […]
