July 03, 2024
Belgian industrial group John Cockerill has completed the acquisition of Arquus, a French manufacturer of armored vehicles. Arquus, formerly Renault Trucks Defense, previously belonged to Swedish bus and truck maker Volvo Group. The deal reportedly involves about 300 million euros. Arquus has 1,200 employees who make armored vehicles for the armies of some 60 countries […]
July 03, 2024
The Belgian Innoptus Solar Team, related to Louvain University, has presented a new version of its Infinite solar race car, the most efficient one to date. With it, they want to participate in the most challenging Solar Challenge race ever in South Africa in September. In October 2023, the student team of KU Leuven University […]
July 03, 2024
The US-based hydrogen truck manufacturer Hyzon is narrowing its focus further on North America. After shutting down its European production facility in the Netherlands, the company plans to leave the Australian market, one of the most significant contributors to its revenue, to focus on the North American waste truck business instead. The road ahead continues […]
July 03, 2024
Electrogenic, a British-based firm specializing in EV conversions for classic vehicles, has launched a ‘plug-and-play’ EV conversion kit for the DeLorean DMC-12, made famous for its appearances in the ‘Back to the Future’ movie trilogy. The futuristic-looking car’s disappointing PRV V6 gets replaced by an electric motor that offers nearly double the performance. While the […]
July 03, 2024
In 2023, Honda amazed the world with a modern electric version of its iconic foldable MotoCompo motorscooter from the eighties (1981 – 1983), the MotoCompacto. That ‘electric suitcase on wheels’ might get a ‘family version’ or an electric child cart version for two kids and one parent standing on it like an e-scooter. At least […]
July 03, 2024
European cities are still much better connected by air than by rail, according to research by Greenpeace. From Brussels, for example, 41 of the 44 cities studied can be reached by direct flight and only 11 by rail. Greenpeace analyzed 990 routes between 45 major European cities. Only 12% of those routes are served by […]
July 03, 2024
Oil giant Shell has temporarily halted the construction of a biofuel factory in Pernis, near Rotterdam (Netherlands) – one of Europe’s largest biofuel plants. The pause should give the company space to assess the best commercial path forward for the project. It is the latest low-carbon energy project to be shelved by an energy giant […]
July 02, 2024
Cargo transporter DHL Express at Brussels Airport is leading the way in electrifying its ground-handling equipment. The company’s crew buses and tarmac cars are already 100% electric, and over the past days and weeks, the company has put eleven electric tractors and thirteen electric container lifts, belly loaders, and pushbacks into operation at Brussels Airport. […]
July 02, 2024
Belgian Dieter Vranckx, who was previously CEO of Brussels Airlines, has again been appointed chairman of the board of SN Airholding, the holding company wholly owned by German airline group Lufthansa. He succeeds Christina Foerster in the position. The German, also a former airline CEO, is leaving Lufthansa. Dieter Vranckx (51) already has a long […]
July 02, 2024
Ampere, Renault Group’s electric vehicle department, has secured the supply of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries from LG Energy Solution and CATL. These cheaper batteries will be used from 2026 in a cell-to-pack configuration to lower the purchase price of the group’s electric models and sell sub-€20,000 EVs. Until now, Renault has only used nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries […]
July 02, 2024
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn has served the first of the new e-buses from supplier VDL from its depot in Destelbergen, East Flanders. These are the first five of 24 e-buses from VDL to reinforce the electric fleet in the Ghent region. In the coming weeks and months, the Destelbergen depot will receive […]
July 02, 2024
CIM Capital, founded by one of the grandsons of Van Hool founder Bernard, Mark Van Hool, missed out in court in summary proceedings on its claim against the take-over of the Van Hool truck-trailer division by Australian GRW. CIM Capital, a Belgian investment company specializing in taking over ailing firms, claimed it was not granted […]
July 01, 2024
In 2030, one in three cars sold worldwide will be Chinese, compared to one in five today. Chinese brands are well underway to catch 33% of the global car market by then, according to a study by financial advisory and international consulting firm AlixPartners. “The 21st edition of the AlixPartners Global Automotive Outlook finds Chinese […]
July 01, 2024
Last week, heavy protests arose again against a large lithium project in western Serbia. Rio Tinto, the Australian mining giant, wants to exploit the thousands of tons of lithium abounding in this region. However, the demonstrators fear pollution of the soil and air. The ‘Jadar mine’, as the project is called, refers to the Jadar […]
July 01, 2024
Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) has unveiled the production version of its eCV1 electric van. It features cell-to-frame technology, a central seating position for the driver, and a flexible skateboard platform to offer professionals a complete range of body styles. But two critical questions remain the price… and the range. WEVC, founded in 2019, first […]
July 01, 2024
German airline Lufthansa suffers from delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus. According to CEO Carsten Spohr, the problems will not be solved before 2030, and the shortfall could cost Lufthansa around half a billion euros a year. The airline, which wants to modernize its fleet, has ordered 250 new aircraft from Airbus and […]
July 01, 2024
As a ‘lifelong petrolhead’ (his words), Ford CEO Jim Farley has just recently posted an insightful ode to electric vehicles. In an opinion piece on social media, he shared a fresh and inspiring perspective about his newfound love for electric cars. As a self-described ‘lifelong petrolhead’ with a career in the automotive business (mainly Toyota […]
July 01, 2024
The Skoda Enyaq is about to get a little brother, the Elroq. The Czech manufacturer has revealed the technical details of the compact SUV, although the design remains camouflaged. The Elroq shares many components with the Enyaq and features a more than 560 km range according to the WLTP cycle. Like the Enyaq, the new […]
July 01, 2024
Last Saturday, Dredging company DEME signed a cooperation agreement with the Egyptian government to establish an industrial-scale green hydrogen production facility in Egypt’s western desert. The wind and solar energy infrastructure will be located 70 kilometers away and connected to the factory by a high-voltage line. The new HYPORT green hydrogen production plant will be […]
July 01, 2024
Mercedes-Benz will once again invest more in combustion technology, Group CEO Ola Källenius told a German newspaper. The drivetrain of the hybridized combustion engines is to be “properly” reworked so that “it will last well into the 2030s.” Mercedes-Benz is far behind schedule in terms of EV sales. As the general economic and regulatory conditions […]
July 01, 2024
German premium car manufacturer BMW is the world’s most innovative carmaker, but the Chinese are breathing down its neck. Geely and SAIC are closing in as second and third. Toyota ranks fourth – ahead of Mercedes-Benz and VW Group. However, five Chinese manufacturers show a clear lead when looking at innovations in electric mobility (BEVs). […]
July 01, 2024
The high-speed train, or TGV, between Brussels and France, will not run at its normal speed between 12 and 29 August. During that period, the HST will run on the conventional track up to the French border, which means the train will travel longer. Railway network operator Infrabel announced the renovation works on Belgium’s oldest […]
June 28, 2024
According to figures from the European statistics agency Eurostat, renewable energy was the most important source of electricity in the European Union in 2023. The supply of renewables – sun and wind – increased by 4.4% compared to 2022, and the amount of electricity produced by renewables increased by 12.4%. Last year, renewable energy represented […]
June 28, 2024
With three Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide delivered to the Chilean transport company Trailer Logistics, Renault Trucks has expanded its electric offering outside of Europe. The manufacturer has always been mostly focused on Europe but is looking to deliver its electric models on a global scale. The three Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide models for […]
June 28, 2024
As Polestar delivers its first three models to customers, it also introduces a more affordable version of its electric SUV. This new variant, the Long Range Single Motor, aims to intensify the model’s chances against the Tesla Model X or Porsche Macan EV. It’s been a long time coming, but Polestar has finally commenced deliveries […]
June 28, 2024
Belgian public transport operator NMBS/SNCB invests between 30 and 40 million euros a year in a facelift for its smaller stations until 2032. This will include investments in accessibility and signaling and an expansion of bicycle and car parking facilities. NMBS/SNCB has 555 stations, including 20 large ones, 80 medium ones, and 455 smaller ones. […]
June 28, 2024
It’s official now: due to the 100% import taxes the Biden Administration imposes on EVs built in China, America will have to wait for the Volvo EX30 ‘made in Belgium’ to arrive. And that will be no sooner than 2025. People who had already paid a $500 deposit to make a reservation got a message […]
June 27, 2024
Volkswagen is set to introduce a new variant of the electric ID. Buzz, featuring a smaller battery. The move must make the model’s price point more accessible to a larger customer pool. Projected to be a genuine hit number, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is scaling up its production volume. In an interview with Automobilwoche, Lars Krause, a board member […]
June 27, 2024
According to the business newspaper De Tijd, Chinese electric truck builder Windrose is to establish its European headquarters and first workshop in Zele. Zele is considered the gateway for constructing an assembly plant for e-trucks in Antwerp port, potentially creating 3,000 jobs. An “operational base” consisting of an office and a workshop will be set […]
June 27, 2024
The Croatian capital of Zagreb will be the first European city to host a fleet of fully autonomous robotaxis, which Rimac Group will make. That Croatian technology powerhouse manufactures electric hypercars like the Nevera and owns the Bugatti brand. It also provides technology to global automakers like Porsche or BMW. The Verne robotaxi is built […]
June 27, 2024
The Liège-Maastricht-Aachen ‘three-country train’ was inaugurated in Liège on Wednesday. The train connects Liège-Guillemins with Dutch Maastricht and German Aachen. The connection will be open to the public from June 30. The new direct train is the result of a collaboration between Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB, Dutch transport company Arriva, and Dutch public railway […]
June 27, 2024
The Brussels Motor Show will return to its traditional location and date. Car enthusiasts will be welcome again in January 2025 at the Brussels Heysel, Motor Show organizer Febiac announced on Wednesday evening. In May this year, Febiac announced that – after a year of absence – the board had decided to reorganize a motor […]
June 27, 2024
As promised, Hyundai fully unwrapped its latest subcompact EV, the Inster, at the Busan International Mobility Show. It is the European version of what is called Casper Electric in Korea and should become the brand’s best budget-priced EV at around 20 to 25,000 euros. Hyundai promises “a segment-leading projected range of 355 km (WLTP) on […]
June 27, 2024
Auto giant Stellantis warns of a potential production withdrawal in the UK due to concerns over the government’s electrification policies. Maria Grazia Davino, the automaker’s UK Managing Director, pointed to the existential threat posed by the zero-emission vehicle mandate and the proposed bans on new combustion-engined car sales. Speaking at the Society of Motor Manufacturers […]
June 27, 2024
The Belgian federal authorities will only buy or lease electric service vehicles from July 2024. The Council of Ministers approved a plan by Minister of Civil Service Petra De Sutter (Groen) in March last year, which is now in effect. One consequence of the measure is that by 2030, most service vehicles within the federal […]
June 26, 2024
According to Statbel, the Belgian statistics office, 501 people lost their lives in accidents on Belgian roads in 2023. Accident figures also decreased again last year after increasing in 2021 and 2022. Also striking: the number of accidents fell more sharply in Brussels than in the rest of the country. Last year, there were 36,855 […]
June 26, 2024
According to a new study by the environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E), 52 million people in Europe – more than 10% of Europe’s total population –are exposed to ultrafine particles (UFP) from aviation. The study, released on Tuesday by Dutch consultancy CE Delft on behalf of T&E, found that they’re affected by the 32 […]
June 26, 2024
German airline group Lufthansa, to which Brussels Airlines also belongs, is launching an environmental surcharge of 1 to 72 euros for all flights departing from Europe and the UK, Norway, and Switzerland. For Brussels Airlines, the surcharge will be a maximum of 36 euros per flight. The surcharge will be charged on bookings starting today […]
June 26, 2024
After 40 years, the seventh generation of the BMW M5 gets a combination of a high-revving V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and a specific version of the M HYBRID system, boosting power to 535 kW or 727 hp and a peak system torque of 1,000 Nm. The world premiere will take place at […]
June 26, 2024
According to a study by HR service provider Acerta, the average CO2 emissions from leasing cars have fallen by almost 20% in one year and 40% in ten years. The study analyzed a database listing more than 270,000 workers and employees in Belgium. Tax deductibility for fossil fuel cars purchased between July 1, 2023, and […]
June 26, 2024
Chinese electric vehicle brand Voyah, a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor for luxury EVs, has announced plans to open its first showroom in Belgium by the end of the year. The new Chinese brand is imported into the Benelux region by the Gomes Group, a successful Mercedes dealer group from the Netherlands. Voyah’s entry into Europe […]
June 26, 2024
Polestar announces another update for the Polestar 2 after the extensive overhaul from last year. All versions gain range, but the base model Standard Range Single Motor also benefits from a new battery. Dubbed the 2025 model, the upgraded Polestar 4 can immediately be ordered in Europe. Other markets—except for Canada—will follow in late 2024. […]
June 25, 2024
VIL, the point of contact for the Flemish logistics sector, and WaterStofNet have installed the first mobile hydrogen refueling station at Brussels Airport. At the same time, DHL is testing the first hydrogen prototype for ground handling operations, a Mulag tractor with an integrated hydrogen fuel cell system. This is a first for the airport. […]
June 25, 2024
Mobility organization Touring is calling on the new Brussels government, which has yet to be formed, to include in its policy plan the tightening of the low-emission zone (LEZ) on its territory, which usually takes effect in January 2025. Touring is thus calling for a relaxation of the LEZ. According to the organization, if the […]
June 25, 2024
Aptera Motors, the Californian start-up for solar electric vehicles (SEV), wants to expand into new mobility industries by licensing its innovative solar technology. Retrofitting cars with solar panels can significantly boost their range. Aptera Motors is looking into various sectors to offer its propriety technology, not only automotive. Aptera is in the phase of scaling […]
June 25, 2024
Electra, a French startup in fast charging stations, will open and operate 23 fast charging stations over the next two years at the Belgian fast-food chain Quick’s existing and future restaurant locations. The charging stations will have a fast charging capacity of 400 kW and will be accessible to everyone at any time of the […]
June 25, 2024
During a trip to China, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck made headway in the trade dispute over additional tariffs for EVs in the EU. The Chinese government and the EU want to start intensive negotiations, fuelling hopes of a short-term solution. Of course, it’s not a coincidence that a German Minister has made the opening, […]
June 25, 2024
BloombergNEF’s Electric Vehicle Outlook 2024 shows that EV adoption is still growing worldwide. With advances in EV technology and battery prices further falling, the future is bright despite an apparent slowdown in some countries and car manufacturers revising their EV policies. EVs are still the most cost-effective and commercially viable route to fully decarbonizing transport. […]
June 24, 2024
That is a shame and bad for the climate because tall forests are critical for storing carbon and hosting biodiversity. Moreover, old trees absorb more carbon dioxide than young ones. This is the conclusion of the World Resources Institute (WRI), which conducts worldwide research into climate and natural resources. Over the past 20 years, the […]
June 24, 2024
Mercedes has completed its EQT and (e)Citan model range with a long-wheelbase version of the electric versions of its compact van, while the Citan gets a new ‘Mixto’ variant. All Citan and EQT models also bring more safety systems as standard, following the EU regulations. Thanks to an additional 38 centimeters in the wheelbase, the […]
June 24, 2024
Belgian high-voltage operator Elia is calling on the market to be vigilant this summer. There is a chance that Belgium will produce too much power because all available nuclear power plants are running, and especially because a lot of solar panels have been added this year. This threatens to put pressure on the electricity system. […]
June 24, 2024
Fisker’s bankruptcy leaves thousands of Ocean SUV owners in limbo. With the company’s future in doubt, customer concern about the long-term support and maintenance for their cars is growing. In the US, they decided to unite. The European branch is still up and running, so servicing is not an immediate worry. Some Ocean owners have […]
June 24, 2024
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based in Washington, D.C., Chinese car manufacturers received some €216 billion in government aid to produce electric cars. The American think tank’s researcher Scott Kennedy says more than half of it was given as a turnover tax exemption. Other subsidies include premiums for new electric […]
June 21, 2024
Flemish public transport operator De Lijn’s flex transport, vans on demand, is not operating efficiently. That’s according to the business newspaper De Tijd, based on figures the newspaper requested from De Lijn. According to the newspaper, 56% of all kilometers traveled have only the driver on board. In other words, minibusses drive around without passengers […]
June 21, 2024
The successor to the Bugatti Chiron loses its quad-turbocharged W16 engine but gains an electrified and naturally aspirated V16 instead. The Tourbillon is not only even faster than the Chiron but also achieves a fully electric range of 60 kilometers and features gemstones in the instrument cluster made by Swiss watchmakers. As Bugatti entered a […]
June 21, 2024
Citroën has presented its new ë-C3 Aircross in more detail after the Stellantis brand showed the first images of the model in April. Now, there is also information about the drive system, the seat configuration, and prices in some markets. The battery-electric drive is only available for the five-seater version, as Citroën has now specified. […]
June 21, 2024
The BMW i1 and BMW i2 have long been in the rumor mill. BMW Group’s company’s board has finally approved the launch of the compact EVs. A new report from the specialized English magazine Autocar says the BMW i1 and i2 have received the green signal. These entry-level EVs have been developed at the BMW […]
June 21, 2024
Demand for fossil fuels has never been as high as in 2023. Demand for oil and coal, in particular, pushed the consumption of fossil fuels to unprecedented heights. As a result, never before have so many greenhouse gases been emitted. Last year, they increased by 2%, exceeding 40 gigatons of CO2 for the first time. […]
June 21, 2024
“Unprecedented” and “shocking”. The Chinese automotive players involved in the EU survey into state subsidies are stirred by the resulting tariff proposal. They have joined forces and called upon Beijing to impose retaliating import duties, which could hurt the premium brand’s sales performance in the region. Chinese manufacturers are urging their government to implement punitive […]
June 21, 2024
BMW announced on Thursday it’s pulling back from the €2 billion deal it concluded in 2020 with Swedish battery maker Nortvolt to deliver cells from 2024 as part of a long-term contract. But Northvolt is two years behind schedule and would deliver ‘too many rejects’, German media, like Manager Magazine, report. BMW Group downplays the […]
