November 29, 2024
Finally, instead of complaining about low EV acceptance and the general public’s reluctance to give up combustion engines, a major carmaker, Volkswagen, is ready to address the ‘common customers concerns’ about the affordability and usability of an electric car. And that includes salespeople, too, who are often reluctant to sell EVs instead of the ICE […]
November 29, 2024
Toyota’s production plans for next-generation electric cars appear to be further delayed in the EU and the US. The new Lexus brand battery-electric model, for example, scheduled for 2026, will not go into production until mid-2027. As the Japanese broadcaster NHK writes, Toyota seeks a longer development period to “incorporate the latest technologies” in the […]
November 28, 2024
The Chinese car manufacturer Chery has kicked off car production in the old Nissan site in Barcelona’s Zona Franca. The first model to roll off the line is the Ebro S700, a plug-in hybrid SUV, which is part of the joint venture between Chery and Spain’s Ebro-EV Motors. Chery’s Omoda 5 will also be produced […]
November 28, 2024
The BMW Group is building a competence center for battery cell recycling (CRCC) in Kirchroth, Lower Bavaria. There, the company will implement the so-called direct recycling process. The German automobile manufacturer has announced plans to open a new battery cell recycling center in Kirchroth, a town in the Straubing-Bogen district of Lower Bavaria. There, the […]
November 28, 2024
French aerospace and defense company Safran has inaugurated BeCOVER, a new aviation test center of the future. The test center in Herstal, in the province of Liège, is the only one in Europe. The 3,000 m² will be used to test all types of compressors for new generations of civil and military aircraft engines in […]
November 28, 2024
The Limburg Investment Company (LRM) sells its Terhills battery park in Dilsen-Stokkem to the British energy and services company Centrica. Financial details about the acquisition have not been disclosed. Terhills was the first large battery park in Belgium to be used in 2018. Its capacity of 18 megawatts was a European first. The 140 Tesla […]
November 28, 2024
The all-electric Renault 5 E-tech is one of the first Renault vehicles equipped with a bidirectional charger capable of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). From March 2025, the Dutch city of Utrecht will implement that with a fleet of 500 shared Renault EVs that will help stabilize the grid and deliver extra electricity when demand is high. It […]
November 28, 2024
Volkswagen and SAIC have extended their cooperation until 2040 to mark the 40th anniversary of their joint venture agreement. At the same time, the German manufacturer wants to stop its activities in the Xinjiang region, where it was criticized for being a partner in what is considered a violation of human rights. The partners are […]
November 28, 2024
Amazon calls it a ‘practical joke’ but sells it online: “the ultimate gag gift for car enthusiasts and pranksters alike” who like to park their gas-guzzling pickup truck on a free parking spot at an EV charger. In the US, this practice is called ‘ICEing,’ referring to the car’s internal combustion engine (ICE). The $22.99 […]
November 27, 2024
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a proposal to revive the state’s electric vehicle rebate program in response to former President Donald Trump’s pledge to eliminate the federal EV tax credit. However, the proposed plan includes a controversial exclusion of Tesla models, the state’s leading EV manufacturer. Elon Musk labeled the move as “insane.” As […]
November 27, 2024
Belgians suffer from so-called ‘car obesity’: they want bigger and bigger cars. Recent Transport & Environment (T&E) research has shown that vehicles grow one centimeter wider every two years. Something that Belgian drivers adore. According to global research from T&E, the average width of new cars has increased from 177.8 cm to 180.3 cm since […]
November 27, 2024
Starting next summer, Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madeira, will be added to the network of destinations to which Brussels Airlines flies. At the same time, the airline will also deploy more aircraft in the 2025 summer season, allowing it to increase capacity by 18%, which means higher frequencies to many destinations. This higher […]
November 27, 2024
As Donald Trump prepares for his second term as US president, his campaign rhetoric quickly transforms into aggressive trade policies. The president-elect has reignited fears of wide-ranging trade wars, confirming his plans to impose substantial tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Cars and automotive parts assembled in this region could face excess duties of […]
November 27, 2024
High-voltage grid operator Elia is postponing the decision on the energy island in the North Sea. On Tuesday, NMN announced that after earlier postponements, Belgium had finally issued a tender for the first of three new giga wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth zone in the North Sea. However, the decision has been postponed now […]
November 27, 2024
Maextro, the joint venture between Chinese tech giant Huawei and car manufacturer JAC, has unveiled its first model: the Maextro S800. It is a fully electric luxury sedan meant to compete with the likes of Maybach-Mercedes, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce, but with a sub-€150,000 price tag and high levels of autonomy. Huawei, the Chinese conglomerate primarily […]
November 27, 2024
Car manufacturing group Stellantis plans to close its plant in Luton, north of London in the UK. Company sources said that it wants to concentrate the entire production of electric light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in the Ellesmere Port site in Cheshire. The Italian-French-American carmaker explained that the aim is to create a new hub to […]
November 27, 2024
Fully autonomous driving is becoming a reality, at least within the BMW and MINI factories. The cars drive themselves off the production lines after being finished without any human intervention. After a pilot in BMW’s largest European factory, Dingolfing proved successful, Leipzig is the official start of the roll-out. Other facilities are set to follow […]
November 27, 2024
Northvolt’s number one and two shareholders, the Volkswagen Group and Goldman Sachs bank will write down their stake in the battery maker. This is another blow for the cash-strapped company. Northvolt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US last week. The Swedish factory has a new CEO, and Peter Carlsson has stepped down. […]
November 26, 2024
Those who thought to see the light and the end of the tunnel in connection with the works on the Leonard crossing can abandon all hope for a short pain. The complete “facelift” of the Brussels ring tunnel (R0) has finally been postponed until next spring. In January, the Works Association (De Werkvennootschap) will start […]
November 26, 2024
By 2030, replacing an electric car’s battery might be cheaper and easier than replacing a dying classic combustion engine (ICE). At least, that’s what a new study of evolving battery prices by American startup Recurrent Motors Inc. shows. Using data from global investment banking and asset management firm Goldman Sachs and climate research firm RMI, […]
November 26, 2024
Renault Trucks has announced a new long-range version of its E-Tech T electric heavy-duty truck. This version promises a range of up to 600 km on a single charge thanks to the incorporation of an e-axle, which frees up space for additional battery packs. However, there is an impact on the payload. Until now, the […]
November 26, 2024
CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery supplier, has expanded its Tectrans commercial vehicle battery system. The battery range now offers the choice between superfast charging, an ultra-long lifespan, or a long-range battery pack with up to 800 km range for commercial vehicles. CATL wants to attack the commercial vehicle market with battery options for […]
November 26, 2024
After earlier postponements, Belgium has issued a tender for the first of three new giga wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth zone in the North Sea. The first new wind farm would be put into operation by the end of 2028 and produce at least 2.6 terawatt hours of electricity annually. A tender for two […]
November 26, 2024
From December 1st, the American ride-hailing service Uber will also start offering its services throughout Wallonia, just as it already does in Flanders and Brussels. New regulations in Wallonia will make expansion possible. In February, Uber had already launched its UberTaxi service, a classic stand-up cab service in several cities in Wallonia. The price is […]
November 26, 2024
General Motors has announced its entry into Formula 1, with the Cadillac brand set to join the grid as the 11th team starting in 2026. The decision, approved in principle, marks a watershed moment for the American automaker as it ventures into the pinnacle of motorsport. Former F1 driver and US’s last F1 champion Mario […]
November 26, 2024
German carmaker Mercedes is ‘reinventing’ braking on electric cars by ditching the classic wheel brake disks and moving the braking system into the electric drive unit at the front or rear axle. This system is more efficient, quiet, and virtually maintenance-free for the car’s lifespan, and brake dust is kept inside without the need for […]
November 25, 2024
In no other European country is rail travel more popular than in Switzerland. Last year, the Swiss traveled an average of 2,466 km by rail and took the train a whopping 68 times. Worldwide, only the Japanese travel more by train. That Switzerland remains the European champion of train travel it owes to a dense […]
November 25, 2024
German automotive supplier Bosch plans to cut 5,500 jobs amid a growing crisis in the automotive industry, a spokeswoman said on Friday. She said that more than two-thirds of these, some 3,800 jobs, will be in Germany, as the company sees a further “need for adjustment.” The figures are based on plans, but exact numbers […]
November 25, 2024
The 29th international UN climate summit in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, ended with a disappointing outcome on Sunday night. The summit disappointed developing countries, which are also the most vulnerable to climate change. There is a prevailing feeling that the wealthiest industrialized countries have left them in the dust. Oxfam Novib, in its response, said […]
November 25, 2024
Renault Trucks has achieved its first-ever approval in France for an electric retrofit truck. This pioneering vehicle, a 12-ton Renault Truck D, previously powered by a diesel engine, has been converted into a battery-electric truck. The retrofit truck will be leased for several years to Extime, the operator of duty-free stores at Paris Airport. Retrofitting […]
November 25, 2024
Chinese-owned British sports car icon Lotus, which was on track to be an electric-only brand by 2028, is backing down on its plan and will add extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). It’s the such-and-such car manufacturer swallowing its green intentions to give in to the surge of negative perceptions of EVs by part of the general […]
November 25, 2024
Battery manufacturer Northvolt has appointed restructuring expert Paul O’Donnell as head of the Northvolt Ett factory. The company’s only active cell factory is lagging behind its production targets. Meanwhile, Northvolt founder Peter Carlsson stepped down as CEO, and the company has filed for Chapter 11 in the US. Northvolt Ett (based in Skelleftea in the […]
November 22, 2024
German parcel company DHL Express and energy company Shell have signed a one-year agreement for the use of 25,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Brussels Airport. This will allow it to replace a third of the traditional kerosene in the planes departing from Brussels Airport with the more environmentally friendly fuel derived from, […]
November 22, 2024
According to data from ACEA, the European Car Manufacturers Association, new EU car registrations reversed their decline in October 2024, recording a modest 1.1% increase. Registration of battery-electric vehicles rose by 2.4% in the last month. Spain led the way with a robust 7.2% growth, while Germany rebounded with a 6% increase following three months […]
November 22, 2024
Flanders has the potential to realize 1,096 ‘smart charging hubs’ or ‘charging plazas’ by 2030–around 6,600 individual charging points. These central locations offer multiple charging stations via one grid connection. This was evident from a study launched on Thursday by grid operator Fluvius, environmental organization Bond Beter Leefmilieu (BBL), and consultancy firm The New Drive. […]
November 22, 2024
Honda is joining the pioneering car group that takes solid-state battery technology from the lab to a demonstration production line. Verification production will begin in January next year at a Sakura facility just north of Tokyo. Honda’s pilot line will test and refine production procedures for this next-generation battery type, often hailed as a potential […]
November 21, 2024
During the Guangzhou Auto Show, Toyota revealed its latest electric car, the bZ7 concept. Slated for production in 2025, this sleek electric sedan underscores Toyota’s growing commitment to the Chinese market and its strategy to challenge domestic players. While Toyota’s global fully electric offerings remain limited to the bZ4X SUV, the brand has rapidly expanded […]
November 21, 2024
The Jan Yperman Hospital, located in a rather enclosed region in Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium, has deployed drones to transport blood samples automatically. The new drone system operates fully automatically and combines 5G technology with a high-tech drone cargo port (DCP)—a world first, it claims. Last week, the British NHS also deployed drones to quickly […]
November 21, 2024
The first (pre-series) cars of the Neue Klasse have rolled off the production line at the new BMW plant in Debrecen, Hungary. These are not production models but test vehicles of the all-electric X SUV model of the Neue Klasse. As the validation of production processes is “progressing according to plan” with the assembly of […]
November 21, 2024
Bicycle shops and manufacturers cannot get rid of the enormous stock they have built up after Corona. Research by mobility federation Traxio shows that six in ten bicycle shops currently offer discounts of 20 percent and more. For the first time in five years, the Belgian bicycle retail market sees a decline in turnover this […]
November 21, 2024
Hyundai has officially revealed its latest electric vehicle, the Ioniq 9, ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The three-row SUV is the equivalent of the Kia EV9 and is slated to hit the market in 2025. As the brand’s flagship model, the SUV must draw in more premium-oriented buyers and rival the Volvo EX90. […]
November 21, 2024
These are tense times for Air Belgium. An investor has submitted a bid for the ailing Walloon airline. Judicial reorganization proceedings ended in late September, and potential investors had until November 15th to go forward. The court in Nivelles will consider the bid on December 5th. Who the investor is and the plans regarding activities […]
November 21, 2024
The UK’s best-selling used electric cars, even from the first generation like the Audi Q8 e-ton, could save their owners an average of £1,600 (€1,919) per year compared with their gasoline equivalents. According to a new study by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), these savings can continue over the entire ten-year lifespan of […]
November 21, 2024
Once again, Ford has announced plans to reduce its European workforce by around 4,000 employees in 2027. There are 2,900 of them in Germany, 800 in the UK, and some 300 elsewhere in Europe. The car manufacturer hopes to increase its competitiveness in this way. At the beginning of 2023, Ford announced a job cut […]
November 20, 2024
Following orders for e-buses from VDL Bus & Coach, Van Hool, and Chinese BYD, the Flemish public transport company De Lijn has again ordered similar buses from Italian Iveco. The order involves 32 18-meter articulated e-buses. Earlier, De Lijn ordered 109 similar buses from Iveco. The first vehicles from that order will be delivered this […]
November 20, 2024
The Brussels ombudsman office wants MIVB/STIB to curb noise pollution caused by defective wheels on M7 subway trains. The appeal comes after an investigation following a complaint from a resident of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert/Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe about noise pollution from the metro. According to Ombuds Brussels, the MIVB/STIB, the future Brussels government, and the public institution Brussels Environment must […]
November 20, 2024
Daimler Buses presented its first electric high-floor intercity bus at the 2024 eMobility Days in Berlin: the Mercedes eIntouro. It is based on the diesel-powered Intouro but features the latest generation of LFP batteries and over-the-air updates and will be available to order from 2025. After conquering the low-floor electric city bus market with the […]
November 20, 2024
This year, Belgium has moved up four places in the annual ranking of almost seventy countries in the fight against climate change. According to the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025, drawn up by environmental NGOs, Belgium is now in 35th place. The classification considers fourteen criteria, divided into four categories: greenhouse gas emissions, the […]
November 20, 2024
Second time lucky? Jaguar is setting the stage for a dramatic reinvention aimed at the higher end of the luxury market. Ahead of the reveal of its first battery-powered model of its reinvented era, planned for the beginning of December, the brand has presented the new visual identity that goes along with its rebirth. The […]
November 20, 2024
Chinese EV giant BYD, almost on par with Tesla as the biggest in the world, has officially released its Sealion 7 SUV on Belgian roads. It comes in three flavors: Comfort (€48,990), with a range of 482 km; Design (€51,990), a four-wheel version with a range of 456 km; and Excellence (€56,490), also all-wheel drive […]
November 20, 2024
Tesla shares soared by over 7% following reports that U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump’s administration plans to prioritize federal regulations for self-driving vehicles. Bloomberg reported that Trump’s transition team has identified autonomous vehicle policy as a critical focus for the Department of Transportation. In a single trading session, Tesla’s market value was boosted by $70 billion […]
November 20, 2024
Following the lead of individuals, several business leaders, and Hollywood celebs, Groupe Rossel, the Belgian media group behind the newspaper Le Soir and SudPresse, has announced it will no longer buy Tesla or use X because Elon Musk supports Trump. “It seems incompatible to us to implement ESG principles and actions and continue to buy […]
November 19, 2024
Less than two months after celebrating its 9 millionth new energy vehicle (NEV) milestone, BYD has reached the next step: 10 million plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles have been built. The model in question was the newly launched Denza Z9 saloon, which will go to the CEO of Game Science, the game developer behind the […]
November 19, 2024
The Danish government will introduce an emissions tax on livestock farming by 2030, making Denmark the first country in the world to do so. Although New Zealand announced a similar law in 2022, it was withdrawn after widespread farmer protests. The aim is to make agriculture more sustainable. Denmark is a big dairy and pork […]
November 19, 2024
The Denza Z9, a full-size electric saloon from BYD’s premium subsidiary, has gone on sale in China for a starting price of around €44,000. It features a choice between a fully electric (BEV) or range-extended electric (EREV) drivetrain, with powerful performance and 630 to 1,100 km of range. After launching the Denza Z9 GT in […]
November 19, 2024
German carmaker BMW announced in September of last year that it was investing an extra €100 million in its Innovation Park Wackersdorf campus near Regensburg to set up a new battery testing center that would be integrated into the existing buildings. The first section of the new battery testing center now has the green light […]
November 19, 2024
The Dutch province of Zeeland wants to replace the Westerschelde Ferries, which currently sail across the Western Scheldt, with zero-emission ferries. Hybrid ships (diesel/electric) are also being considered. The States of Zeeland unanimously agreed to that proposal on Friday. The two ships currently transporting cyclists and pedestrians between Vlissingen and Breskens are approaching the end […]
November 19, 2024
Chinese CATL, the world’s biggest battery maker, claims a breakthrough in developing its second-generation sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries. These batteries still perform well at minus 40° Celcius, which could make them an even more exciting alternative to current lithium-ion batteries, LFP or NMC. CATL envisions these batteries becoming the cheapest alternative, costing less than lithium iron […]
November 18, 2024
Toyota plans to expand its electric vehicle production capabilities with ‘Area 35’. This global initiative aims to increase manufacturing capacity and embrace the production of 3.5 million EVs annually by the decade’s end. With an emphasis on optimizing existing resources and reducing production complexities, the Japanese giant hopes to compete with Tesla and the Chinese […]
November 18, 2024
Exactly one year after its launch, 350,000 digital Brupass, and Brupass XL tickets have already been sold to nearly 125,000 customers for public transport in the 19 Brussels municipalities and the Flemish periphery. These digital tickets allow travelers to use the public transport network of the Brussels transport company MIVB/STIB, the railroad company MIVB/SNCB, and […]
