May 23, 2024
Volvo Trucks wants to give combustion engines another chance at existence beyond the next decade by introducing hydrogen combustion-powered trucks. The first road tests with this technology will begin in 2026, and commercialization is planned by the decade’s end. Hydrogen combustion is considered a carbon-neutral way to keep combustion engines alive without the massive costs […]
May 23, 2024
In some countries, Germany, for example, there is a renewed interest in plug-in hybrids. From its facelifted eight-generation Golf, Volkswagen now proposes two PHEV variants with electric ranges of up to 140 kilometers. In January, Volkswagen presented its facelifted Golf 8 to the public and announced a new PHEV generation simultaneously. VW first unveiled what […]
May 23, 2024
Electra, one of Europe’s experts in fast-charging stations, announces a collaboration with the Colmar Group, a renowned restaurant chain, to enhance the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Belgium and France. By the end of 2025, all six Belgian sites under the Colmar Restaurant brand will feature fast-charging stations managed by Electra. This collaboration aims to […]
May 22, 2024
Belgium will probably not achieve the agreed European environmental targets for CO2 emissions and green energy, although there are differences per sector. The transport sector, in particular, is finding it difficult to transition away from fossil fuels. These are the conclusions of research by the Federal Planning Bureau. The European Commission imposes targets for 2030 […]
May 21, 2024
After Jan De Nul ordered the largest cable-laying vessel in the world at the end of last year, the group is now investing in an identical vessel. It shows the group’s ambition to become a major player in the market for the construction of long submarine power cables. With an actual fleet of three cable […]
May 21, 2024
Stellantis’ premium subsidiary, DS Automobiles, is considering launching a radically designed electric sedan with unique styling and excellent aerodynamics. As part of its efforts to further distance itself from and position itself above Citroën, DS is looking to launch a radical new electric sedan later this decade. Featuring retro styling inspired by the legendary Citroën […]
May 21, 2024
According to insider information, VW and Renault have abandoned their talks about a possible cooperation for small electric cars. Around a month ago, there were already indications that the negotiations to jointly develop EVs at target prices of less than 20,000 euros were stagnating. Rumors persisted for months that the Franco-German cooperation on small cars […]
May 21, 2024
The small but sporty EV off-roader designed by Ian Callum, the Callum Skye, is now ready to order. The Callum Skye is the first EV from Ian Callum, the iconic British car designer’s own design and engineering firm after he left Jaguar, where he was heading design for decades. The car will be revealed at […]
May 21, 2024
The consortium between Ostend-based wind energy producer Elicio and renewable energy developer and solutions provider BayWa r.e. has won a tender to build the world’s first commercial floating wind farm off the coast of France. Elicio won the tender process, initiated in 2021 for an offshore floating wind project with a capacity between 230 and […]
May 16, 2024
ABB E-Mobility has presented its new A400 HPC charging station. According to ABB, it is characterised by particularly high reliability and user-friendliness. It offers two connections with 200 kW continuous charging power each or up to 400 kW for a single vehicle. The new product is an alternative to ABB’s HPC charging stations from the […]
May 16, 2024
Of the approximately 1.2 million streetlights along Flemish roads, some 640,000 have now received LED lighting. By the end of 2028, all streetlights in the Flemish cities and municipalities should have LEDs. “Switching to LED lamps will provide energy savings of as much as 30% – or 30.876 tons of CO2 – compared to 2015 […]
May 15, 2024
On Tuesday, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges launched the first methanol-powered tugboat, a world premier. The Methatug, as the vehicle is called, is used by the port authorities to investigate the feasibility of methanol as a more sustainable fuel for shipping. When methanol is produced from renewable sources, using biomass or renewably sourced hydrogen and carbon […]
May 14, 2024
According to a new analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E), onshoring the EV supply chain to Europe would cut the emissions of producing a battery by 37% compared to a China-controlled supply chain. This carbon saving rises to over 60% when renewable electricity is used. “Producing Europe’s demand for battery cells and components locally would […]
May 14, 2024
Mercedes-Benz is apparently putting the brakes on investment with a change of course. According to a media report, it is no longer developing its electric platform ‘MB.EA-Large’. From 2028, the Stuttgarters actually wanted to electrify the new generation of their largest saloons and SUVs based on this architecture. The German newspaper Handelsblatt cites four insiders […]
May 13, 2024
The VW ID.1 could arrive as the final VW e-up! successor later this decade. Volkswagen has begun initial planning but faces challenges in bringing the new electric city car to the market. The slowdown in EV sales is not one of them. Meanwhile, after confirming the launch of an all-new Golf EV, Volkswagen has started […]
May 13, 2024
With Lancia’s comeback in the Benelux, Stellantis is introducing three premium brands. The new fully electric version (a mild hybrid follows later) can be ordered now in Belgium for € 34,500. According to Milosz Tomanek, the Vice President of premium brands at Stellantis Belux and the MD of Lancia, Lancia is the epitome of Italian […]
May 10, 2024
Bentley’s future drivetrain will be an all-new, performance-focused V8 hybrid powertrain named ‘Ultra Performance Hybrid’, replacing its iconic W12 engine. A pure electric Bentley seems not yet in sight. In a press release, the ultra-luxury brand and VW Group daughter promises “producing the highest power output ever offered in a Bentley; the new powertrain will […]
May 10, 2024
Ford Europe is reportedly flirting with the idea of adjusting its electrification strategy in the region as BEV sales have been slow to take off. Originally, the European arm of Ford Motor Company said it would only sell battery-electric models by 2030, but that commitment could soon change. Ford Europe has followed the lead of […]
May 08, 2024
Dark clouds seem to be accumulating above Fisker’s future. Magna, the company contracted to build the Fisker Ocean in Austria, says in its Q1 2024 financial report that it assumes no more will be built. Fisker has been looking for opportunities to save itself for a while already. Now, the company hired to build its […]
May 07, 2024
Volvo Cars reported global sales of 65,838 cars, up 27% compared to the same period last year. The sales increase was primarily driven by a strong performance in Europe as well as the company’s fully electric small SUV, the EX30. The company’s electrified models, with a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain, grew 53% compared […]
May 06, 2024
BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí is gearing up for production of the ‘Neue Klasse’. Construction of a local high-voltage battery assembly has now begun, along with expansion projects for the body shop, assembly, and logistics areas. A total of €800 million will be invested in expanding the Mexican production site. The ‘Neue Klasse’ will […]
May 06, 2024
Chinese electric car manufacturer Xpeng is now accepting orders for its third model in Europe. The electric SUV G6 is initially available in Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, and it is cheaper than a Tesla Model Y. In Belgium, the Xpeng starts at €42,990 (190 kW, RWD, 435 km WLTP range), the same […]
May 02, 2024
Energy ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies agreed on Tuesday to end the use of coal in power generation during the first half of the next decade. Still, they gave leeway to Germany and Japan, whose economies depend on the fuel. Germany has written into its legislation a final target to shut […]
May 02, 2024
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has almost entirely fired the team – some 500 people – responsible for the Supercharger network, including Rebecca Tinucci, senior director of EV charging, who talked the whole car industry in America into adopting Tesla’s NACS standard. Musk earlier said that cutting 10% of the 140,000 jobs would be necessary to […]
May 01, 2024
BYD presented its new Ocean M electric car concept at the Beijing Motor Show. The production version of the hatchback will launch on the Chinese market in the third quarter of 2024 at a price between 150,000 and 200,000 yuan (some 19,300 to 25,800 euros). It is not yet known whether BYD will also bring […]
May 01, 2024
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), one of the world’s largest providers of ocean cruises, has been accused of misleading advertising. The company claims its LNG-fueled ships are better against global warming than the ones on traditional shipping fuel. Still, environmentalists say that liquefied natural gas (LNG) also contributes significantly to the greenhouse effect. On Monday, April […]
April 30, 2024
BMW will invest $2.8 billion in its plants in Shenyang, China, to prepare for the production of electric cars from its ‘Neue Klasse’ (New Class) model family. BMW and the province of Liaoning, where the BMW plants are located, have signed a letter of intent to this effect. More or less a year ago, BMW […]
April 29, 2024
Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS, one of Northern Europe’s largest shipping companies, is to deploy a fleet of battery electric vessels on the English Channel. The company reports this in a press release, after meeting with UK Minister for Investment and Regulatory Reform, Lord Dominic Johnson. DFDS’s long-term goal is to have up to […]
April 29, 2024
According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), the growth rate of charging point installations is not keeping pace with the expansion of EV sales. If not accelerated, the rollout of EV adoption will inevitably be hampered. However, a similar study by Transport & Environment is more optimistic about the progress. The report highlights an […]
April 29, 2024
Mobility Club Touring launched a new online car platform, Touring CarSelect, that focuses on qualitative second-hand cars or immediately available stock cars. To do so, it collaborates with financial and insurance partners BNP Paribas Fortis and AG, not coincidentally their new shareholders since last year, to offer a complete and interesting package. Important second-hand market […]
April 29, 2024
NIO and Lotus found each other at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition to sign a strategic charging and battery swap technology partnership. According to a statement by NIO, the ultimate goal is to build a standard battery system and jointly develop passenger vehicles with a unified battery-swapping and fast-charging operational and management system. Changan Automobile, […]
April 29, 2024
Japanese independent car manufacturer Mazda has shown its second full-electric vehicle, the EZ-6, at the motor show in Beijing. It was developed with partner Changan and is only intended for the Chinese market. The same goes for Toyota. The world’s number one car manufacturer presented two new BEV models for the Chinese market at Auto […]
April 26, 2024
French Energy provider Engie plans to invest four billion euros by 2030 to accelerate Belgium’s energy transition. The company mainly wants to invest in new green energy production. It intends to expand its green energy capacity in the coming years from about 700 megawatts today to 2,000 to a maximum of 2,500 megawatts by 2030. […]
April 25, 2024
BMW presents a slightly revised version of the 4 Series Gran Coupé and its electric sister, the i4, at Auto China in Beijing. The i4 not only has fresh design accents but also an additional drive variant. The new drive system is the i4 xDrive40. Until now, the i4 has only been available as an […]
April 25, 2024
The motor show in Beijing starts today, but Volkswagen already set the tone for the trade fair yesterday at its Group Media Night. What VW CEO Oliver Blume and his board members presented on stage was akin to a declaration of war. In China, the largest global market for cars, it is not only the […]
April 25, 2024
The first images of Range Rover’s fully electric SUV have been revealed, showing a modern take on the iconic SUV. Range Rover’s first electric SUV is being tested ahead of its upcoming debut. Can Range Rover’s new EV compete with competitors like Porsche and other luxury automakers? Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) continues to see strong […]
April 24, 2024
Volvo Cars’ Ghent plant will temporarily lay off its workers for four days next week. The reason is not the lack of interest in electric cars but simply the need to adjust the production lines. The small electric SUV EX30 has to be slotted in. Meanwhile, the compact SUV has been awarded the Red Dot […]
April 24, 2024
In its Global EV Outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts a “robust” 20% growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales for the entirety of 2024. This optimistic projection positions the year to shatter previous records, with an estimated 17 million EVs expected to be sold. The findings are surprising as they collide with earlier signs of […]
April 24, 2024
The German premium car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has revealed its electric version of the iconic G Class off-roader at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in China. It won’t be called the EQG but rather ominous the G580 with EQ technology. The all-new electric G-Class remains true to the model’s character, retaining its angular silhouette, including all […]
April 23, 2024
During testing at its development center in Wörth am Thein, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has achieved a charging speed of 1,000 kilowatts (kW) or 1 megawatt (MW) with the new eActros 600, which launches later this year. This means Mercedes one-ups MAN, which reached a charging speed of 700 kW, albeit at a public charging station in […]
April 23, 2024
The Smart Concept #5 is the brand’s most spacious and versatile vehicle to date. It will be presented to the public on 25 April at the opening of the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in China. The presentation of the series production model of the third vehicle in the smart product portfolio is planned for the […]
April 23, 2024
Opel has presented its new flagship SUV: the next-generation Grandland. It shares its STLA Medium platform with the Peugeot E-3008, with the choice between fully electric, plug-in hybrid, and mild hybrid drivetrains, but it gets a more traditional shape and fancy lighting. The new Opel Grandland has been expected for some time, as it is […]
April 23, 2024
Luxembourg has completed its fourth tender call for charging infrastructure and has assigned funding to support the construction of 434 new charging points. Following the fourth call for projects to support companies investing in charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, the Luxembourg government has selected 34 projects to install 434 new charging points. The companies will […]
April 22, 2024
French manufacturer HoloSolis is to build Europe’s largest photovoltaic panel factory in Hambach, near Sarreguemines in Moselle, France. The construction involves an investment of 710 million euros. Onsite construction is expected to launch in the second quarter of this year, and production will start in 2025. The factory is targeted to produce 10 million PV […]
April 22, 2024
The Mercedes concept van for sustainable logistics has been updated to enhance the efficiency of its battery pack. It also introduces an integrated solution for last-mile delivery, linking the van to cargo bikes from Onomotion. This aims to reduce waiting times and relieve traffic infrastructure. Mercedes-Benz Vans debuted the Sustaineer in 2022 to showcase sustainability […]
April 19, 2024
The police zone of Ghent has started testing the feasibility of electric drivelines for intervention vehicles. As of today, one anonymous and one striped Volkswagen ID.4 are patrolling the streets of the city, not only to monitor safety but also to gather feedback on operational viability. ‘Politiezone Gent Conceptcar EPV’ reads a sticker on the […]
April 18, 2024
Citroën unveils the first images of the all-new C3 Aircross, which shares the same design identity as the C3 hatchback and ambitions to shake up the market with a very competitive pricing positioning. Both models are based on the same Smart Car platform, allowing powertrain flexibility and cost efficiency, Citroën claims. The new C3 Aircross […]
April 18, 2024
Jeroen van Tilburg, Tesla’s former Head of Charging in the EMEA region, will replace Michael Hajesch as CEO of Ionity on May 13th, 2024. He will have to use his experience growing the American manufacturer’s charging network to do the same for the European joint venture as electric mobility becomes commonplace and charging infrastructure becomes […]
April 17, 2024
The Swedish dealer holding Hedin, which has been active in Belux since 2018, will start to import the Chinese brand XPeng. The first units of the momentarily available P7 sedan and the large G9 SUV should be delivered before the end of summer. The prices in Belgium aren’t known yet, but normally, they will be […]
April 17, 2024
The latest analysis from Transport & Environment reveals that the roll-out of charging infrastructure is proceeding as planned. Last month, several car makers complained about insufficiencies hampering EV adoption, but the numbers show that the EU countries live up to their promises. The deployment of charging infrastructure in the EU has been successful, according to […]
April 17, 2024
French company Hype’s hydrogen taxis are coming to Brussels, according to the business newspaper L’Echo. To tackle the market in the Belgian capital, Hype notably acquired a stake in the local taxi company Mol-Tax. The company would also install its green hydrogen stations in Brussels. Second hydrogen taxi project in Brussels From 2025, all new […]
April 17, 2024
Whereas most electric convertibles on the market today are compact city cars with modest performance, the Maserati GranCabrio turns up the dial to 11 thanks to its three-motor drivetrain with over 800 horsepower on tap. And there’s still space for four people, too. The arrival of the all-electric Maserati GranCabrio Folgore is not a surprise. […]
April 17, 2024
Dutch fast-charging company Fastned has launched its first-ever charging hub where customers can shop or visit a restaurant. The new facility is situated at a key charging station along the E19 motorway between Antwerp and Breda, near Brecht. In Belgium, opening a highway shop without offering fossil fuels is complicated. The debut of this retail […]
April 17, 2024
Chinese car brand Denza, a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, recently revealed the first glimpse of a new model. The registration application in China has now provided unveiled images and initial information, such as the model’s name. It is mandatory to be included in the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) vehicle […]
April 16, 2024
Renault seems to be considering a purely electric edition of the Espace. The car would be an MPV again, like the original one, and it would also have a retro look like some of the manufacturer’s new EV products lately. Renault could offer a competitor to the VW ID.Buzz and others with an electric, seven-seater […]
April 16, 2024
Yin Tongyue, chairman of China’s Chery Auto, said the Wuhu-based car manufacturer is planning to sign a deal with a premium European brand through platform cooperation. “Two premium European brands want to use our platform, and a deal will be signed with one of them, which is a more premium brand than us,” Yin said. […]
April 16, 2024
For the first time in the Belux, more electrified vehicles (BEV, PHEV, and HEV) were registered in the first quarter of 2024 than cars with only a combustion engine (ICE). According to the data of the importers federation, Febiac, 135,140 cars were registered in Q1 2024, the best result since 2020. 52.8% of them were […]
April 15, 2024
The Pininfarina Battista is already one of the most exclusive EVs on the planet, but the one-off Reversario ups the stakes. This bespoke all-electric hypercar was commissioned by a customer who wanted to add a stablemate to the one he already had. As typical for the hyper exclusive category, it can never be exclusive enough, […]
April 15, 2024
The Walloon government has approved the Mobi’Park project for public transport company TEC. The project involves developing a new bus depot in Tilleur, in the province of Liège. Philippe Henry (Ecolo), Walloon Minister of Mobility, says this will be the first electrified depot in Wallonia. A budget of 105 million euros has been allocated for […]
April 15, 2024
Sales of electric models from the Volkswagen Group showed strong regional differences in the first quarter of 2024. While sales fell significantly in Europe and the US, the Chinese market stood for outstanding growth. To further cement its position in China, the brand Volkswagen has announced an investment of 2.5 billion euro to expand its […]
