Belgian second-hand car market closes 2022 with 9,4% loss

January 05, 2023

In 2022, 642 669 second-hand cars were registered in Belgium, a decrease of 9,4% (66 936 units) compared to the year before (709 605 registrations). Even compared to ‘corona year’ 2020, mobility federation Traxio registered a decline of 2,6%. In December 2022, a regression of 5% was listed, with This content has been archived. Log […]

‘Language law allows French-speaking traffic offenders to delay court’

January 04, 2023

Drivers getting caught speeding in traffic in Flanders can request a language change when they have to appear before a judge. As a result, their file moves to a French-speaking court, resulting in a lengthy legal backlog and avoiding losing their driver’s license. In the first six months of 2022, poThis content has been archived. […]

Brussels Train World museum passes mark of one million visitors

January 04, 2023

On Tuesday, January 3rd, the Brussels museum ‘Train World’ in Schaarbeek (Brussels) welcomed its one-millionth visitor. Train World is the museum of NMBS/SNCB, the National Company of the Belgian Railways. It is Belgium’s first real railway museum, and it opened its doors to the general public in SeThis content has been archived. Log in or […]

Antwerp water bus to deploy larger ships due to success

January 03, 2023

The ferry connection on the Belgian river Scheldt, the so-called Antwerp ‘water bus’, is a huge success. The number of annually transported passengers increased year after year, growing from 105 000 to 775 000 in five years. That is why Aqualiner decided to deploy larger ships this year. The wateThis content has been archived. Log […]

Belgians most annoyed by unsocial behavior in traffic

December 30, 2022

Belgian citizens can be extremely annoyed by unsocial behavior in traffic and illegal dumping in their surroundings. Inappropriate speed, aggressive driving, inappropriate parking and illegal dumping in the neighborhood are considered among the most irritating inconveniences. That is what the latThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that has access […]

Belgian wind energy production reaches record levels

December 29, 2022

Last Wednesday, wind energy production in Belgium reached record levels. That morning, at 7:15 a.m., the combined wind farms produced as much as four nuclear power plants: 4 505 MW of electricity. The new record is partly due to the expansion of wind farms on land, and at sea, the national grid manaThis content has […]

Brussels-Berlin European Sleeper train operational in May 2023

December 28, 2022

European Sleeper, the Dutch-Belgian night train service announced in February 2021, will be operational in May 2023. The train will connect Brussels, Amsterdam, and Berlin and be available three times a week in both directions. The maiden trip is planned for May 25th, departing in the German capiThis content has been archived. Log in or […]

Swedish engineer develops world’s first female crash test dummy

December 27, 2022

Swedish engineer and researcher in motor vehicle safety, Astrid Linder, has developed the world’s first female crash test dummy. Linder and her team are convinced that this research can help shape the way cars will be built in the future by highlighting key differences between men and women. Some ofThis content has been archived. Log […]

‘Flanders on track to triple number of charging points in three years’

December 23, 2022

In the two coming years, Flanders will install at least 10 789 additional charging points for electric vehicles. Compared to the beginning of the year, the total number will almost triple. According to Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), answering a question posed by MP Stijn Bex (Groen),This content has been archived. Log in or […]

Last raised bridge over Albert Channel ready for traffic

December 23, 2022

Today, traffic will be able to cross the steel arch bridge over the Albert Channel in Viversel (Heusden-Zolder, Limburg, Belgium) again. That is what the Flemish Waterway (Vlaamse Waterweg) announced on Thursday. All bridges on the Channel had to be raised to allow inland shipping barges with four cThis content has been archived. Log in […]

EIB study confirms Africa’s one trillion euros green hydrogen potential

December 22, 2022

According to the European Investment Bank (EIB), Africa can earn a trillion euros annually from the production of green hydrogen from 2035. This hydrogen can be produced without CO2 emissions using solar energy and transported abroad. The ‘Africa’s Extraordinary Green Hydrogen Potential’ reportThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that […]

Flanders added 55 new wind turbines this year

December 22, 2022

This year, Flanders installed 55 additional windmills – twelve of them to replace old units – increasing the energy production by 204 megawatts (MW) to a total of 1 748,6 MW. The new units have a capacity of 3,6 MW, compared to 2,0 mW for the older ones. They’re situated higher in the atmosphThis content […]

De Lijn needs to recruit 900 additional drivers in 2023

December 21, 2022

In recent months, the Flemish public transport company De Lijn had to cancel many planned trips. The reason for it was a shortage of staff. After an intensive recruitment campaign focusing on the largest ‘problem areas’ (Antwerp, Louvain, and the Flemish part of Brussels), De Lijn recently recruiThis content has been archived. Log in or […]

T&E: ‘Christmas presents increase air pollution by 133%’

December 20, 2022

Trucks hauling Christmas presents to Europeans will emit an extra 10 300 tons of nitrogen oxides in December. According to a new study by the environmental organization Transport & Environment (T&E), heavy-duty vehicles transporting gifts all over Europe will produce 133% more nitrogen oxideThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level […]

EU citizens to pay CO2 tax on transport and heating from 2027

December 19, 2022

From 2027 onward, citizens of the European Union will have to pay for the greenhouse gases they emit through their transport and the heating of their homes. On Saturday, negotiators from the European Parliament and the European Council, which represents the Member States, agreed on this. ClimateThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe […]

A Belgian-made world first: CO2-absorbing bricks

December 16, 2022

Two family businesses from Limburg (Belgium) – Orbix in Genk and Betonagglomeraten Gubbels Masterbloc in Maasmechelen (both Limburg) – have launched a world-first: they produce CO2 ‘absorbing’ construction blocks based on slag from the steel industry. The finished products are bricks in whichThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that […]

Mechelen prepares radical redesign of E19-junctions

December 15, 2022

The Agency for Roads and Traffic (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV) has launched several studies to analyze how traffic at the main junctions in Mechelen North and South on the E19 highway can be improved. A study team is considering reorganizing the successive entrances and exits. To this end, tThis content has been archived. Log […]

Elia gets €99,7 million EU funding for Belgian energy island

December 15, 2022

The Federal Government and energy provider Elia have signed an agreement relating to the financial support offered up as part of the Recovery & Resilience Facility (RRF). The fund was established by the European Commission during the corona pandemic to support future-oriented investments being uThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a […]

EU makes non-European companies pay for CO2 emissions

December 14, 2022

The EU members and the European Parliament have agreed on introducing a CO2 tax for non-European companies. The new climate measure applies to the aluminum, steel, and fertilizer sectors and the hydrogen industry. The so-called Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) makes companies outside theThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level […]

Green Impact study confirms potential for EV battery recycling

December 14, 2022

A recent Green Impact study, ordered by Mobility Minister George Gilkinet (Ecolo), confirms the potential of recycling and reusing batteries. The study results were presented on Tuesday at Umicore’s site in Hoboken (Antwerp). Batteries contain rare materials like lithium, nickel, and black lead, This content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level […]

EU allocates €150 million to Belgian CO2 capturing projects

December 13, 2022

The European Commission will allocate more than 150 million euros for two Belgian projects intended to capture CO2 in the ports of Antwerp and Ghent. That is what the companies involved in the project communicated on Monday in a common press release. Antwerp@C Export Hub is a joint project of AirThis content has been archived. […]

EU passes law to make batteries cleaner

December 12, 2022

The impact of batteries on the environment and communities is set to significantly improve under a new law agreed by EU lawmakers on Friday. The European Union will impose battery producers tougher environmental standards. Batteries should become more environmentally friendly, easier to replace, andThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level […]

Delhaize to install 1 800 public fast-charging stations on its sites

December 09, 2022

Delhaize has ambitious plans: next year, the supermarket chain is to install 1 800 public fast-charging stations up to 150 kW for electric vehicles on the parking grounds of its stores. By providing such a large number of charging points – the largest in the retail sector – and making them accesThis content has been […]

Traxio: ‘New and used speed pedelecs continue to peak’

December 09, 2022

The registrations of new motorbikes and second-hand ones scored surprisingly well in November. Last month, 1 093 new motorbikes were registered, an increase of 25,3% compared to last year. However, not enough for a positive annual figure. Speed pedelecs, on the other hand, continue to peak. The aThis content has been archived. Log in or […]

Flanders to distribute 10.000 saliva tests to fight drugs in traffic

December 08, 2022

The Flemish Minister for Mobility, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), is planning to distribute 10 000 additional saliva tests for police control. She wants to step up the fight against drug abuse in traffic. On the federal level, Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open Vld) earlier announced to mThis content has been archived. Log in or […]

Antwerp commissions two hydrogen-powered refuse trucks

December 08, 2022

The city of Antwerp welcomes two new hydrogen-powered municipal waste collection vehicles. A first for Flanders. The vehicles were introduced on Wednesday, December 7th, at the DATS 24 hydrogen filling station in Wilrijk (Antwerp, Belgium). Hydrogen-powered vehicles are very quiet and clean. TheyThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that […]

Drones successfully detect traffic issues before accidents occur

December 08, 2022

Flanders’ proactive approach to tackling unsafe traffic situations appears to be successful, and the first results are visible. Flemish Minister for Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) intends to use new technology to preventively improve traffic safety. Last year, Minister Peeters introduced the MThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that […]

Mercedes-Benz to produce 1 million e-drives at Untertürkheim plant

December 07, 2022

Mercedes-Benz continues to realign its global production network toward electric vehicles. That is why the company and employee representatives have agreed on the significant expansion of the production capacities for electric drive units. According to the agreement, the previously planned capacitieThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that has access […]

Traxio: ‘Second-hand car market recovering slightly’

December 06, 2022

For the first time since January, sales figures for the second-hand car market were positive in November, Traxio announced. Last month, 53 996 used cars were registered, 1,9% more than in 2021. Still, the second-hand market remains down -9,8%, with a cumulative loss of -64 261 vehicles compared to lThis content has been archived. Log […]

IEA: ‘Energy crisis triggers unseen acceleration of renewables’

December 06, 2022

The global energy crisis has triggered an unprecedented acceleration in installations of renewable power, reports the International Energy Agency (IEA). Energy security concerns caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have motivated countries to increasingly turn to renewables such as solar and This content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that has […]

EU gives France green light to ban short-haul domestic flights

December 05, 2022

France will ban short-haul domestic flights in favor of the train. The country was given the green light by the European Commission to abolish flights between cities if the link by a train offers an alternative solution with trips of fewer than 2,5 hours. When the measure was first announced, it This content has been […]

Flanders to invest €2,3 billion in mobility and public transport

December 02, 2022

Next year, Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works (Open Vld) will invest 2,3 billion euros in 815 projects. In all those projects, three keywords are involved: bicycle, safety, and sustainability. The largest part of the budget is destined for the Agency for Roads and Traffic (Agentschap This content has been archived. Log in or […]

BMW to share its global trend research publicly

December 01, 2022

The BMW Group has decided to share its technological expertise with the world. BMW opts for an open-access approach and hopes to start a dialogue with potential partners. The initiative shows an approach that has never been implemented in the automotive industry before. Global trend research alloThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe […]

‘Dunkelflaute’ drives energy prices up

November 30, 2022

Weather forecasters agree: we’re experiencing a ‘Dunkelflaute’. A period of cold and windless weather with a gray sky. As a result, solar panels and wind farms hardly produce any energy; consequently, in the last few days, energy prices have more than doubled. ‘Dunkelflaute’ (dark wind lull) evenThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe […]

Mobia: ‘Company car remains popular among young employees’

November 30, 2022

Applicants and young employees are still interested in a company car. That is what 68% of fleet and mobility managers confirmed in the new Company Car Report organized by Mobia, the mobility federation of Febiac, Traxio, and Renta. According to the questioned managers, 21% of youngsters have a neThis content has been archived. Log in […]

Flemish campaign promotes applying for public charging point

November 29, 2022

Owners of an electric car who cannot install a charging point at home and don’t have one nearby can ask for a public charging station in the immediate surroundings of their home. Since September, citizens with an electric vehicle can file such a request via an e-counter. In the meantime, 437 citiThis content has been […]

AWV: ‘Bikeways along Flemish regional roads improved’

November 28, 2022

In 2021, the quality of bikeways along the Flemish regional roads was better than in 2019. As a result, not only has the infrastructure improved, but the comfort for cyclists increased. That is the conclusion of the Agency for Roads and Traffic’s latest bicycle report. The ART (Agentschap Wegen en VThis content has been archived. […]

T&E: ‘Truck emissions spike 94% during Black Friday week’

November 25, 2022

Truck transport is massively polluting, and the emissions from transporting retail goods spike 94% during Black Friday week. However, there is a ready-made solution in the form of zero-emission trucks, the European environmental lobbying group Transport and Environment (T&E) says. Black FridaThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that has […]

EEA: ‘Air pollution in EU decreases but remains health risk’

November 24, 2022

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published its recent ‘Air Quality in Europe 2022’ assessment, and the conclusion is not really reassuring. Although Europe’s air quality keeps on improving, air pollution still remains the largest environmental health risk in Europe, causing chronic diseasesThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a level that […]

More traffic jams than ever fuel Flemish kilometer tax debate again

November 23, 2022

Despite the popularity of teleworking and the reduced number of cars on Flemish roads compared to pre-corona times, traffic congestion is worse than ever. That flared up the debate on the introduction of a kilometer tax for passenger cars and vans in the Flemish Parliament. October 2022 was the sThis content has been archived. Log […]

Belgian joint venture finishes Baltic Eagle offshore platform

November 22, 2022

On Monday, November 21st, Elia Group welcomed Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) and the Belgian Federal Minister of Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen) to visit the Baltic Eagle offshore transmission platform. The project is a joint responsibility of Spanish energy group IberdroThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to […]

Paris considers e-scooter ban for safety reasons

November 21, 2022

Paris is considering banning its 15 000 free-floating shared electric scooters riding around in the French capital. Local authorities are concerned about public safety on the city’s sidewalks. Shared e-scooter providers Lime, Dott, and Tier, active in Paris’ city center, are promising a series ofThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to a […]

Belgian rail to introduce ‘silent’ alarm system for travelers

November 18, 2022

Next year, the Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB will introduce a new ‘silent’ reporting system for train travelers who feel unsafe. According to research, the feeling of insecurity among train travelers continues to increase. The new system is simple and discrete: travelers can simply ask for heThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to […]

New bicycle highway between Vilvoorde and Strombeek-Bever

November 18, 2022

The Flemish government plans a new bicycle highway along the Brussels beltway between Vilvoorde and Strombeek-Bever. The new bikeway will be five kilometers long and connect several bicycle highways (F28 and F23, along the channel in Vilvoorde). The project fits in a larger-scale initiative to imThis content has been archived. Log in or Subscribe to […]

Belgian solar car breaks world record: 1.051 km in 12 hours

November 17, 2022

The Agoria Solar Team, the student team of the KU Leuven, has succeeded in covering the longest distance in 12 hours with the solar car they developed. In 12 hours, the BluePoint Atlas, as their newest solar car is called, covered 1 051 kilometers, breaking the previous record of the Dutch Solar This content has […]

Belgian-German ICE high-speed train celebrates 20th birthday

November 17, 2022

This year, the Inter City Express (ICE) high-speed train connection between Belgium and Germany will celebrate its 20th birthday. In 2022, it will also transport a record number of more than one million passengers. On December 15th, 2002, the first ICE train rode between Brussels and Frankfurt. TThis content has been archived. Log in or […]