April 06, 2023
Five years ago, with much ado, the so-called ‘beer train’ was launched, a train between the AB InBev brewery in Jupille, Liège, and the distribution center of the supermarket chain Delhaize in Ninove, East Flanders. That train was supposed to take 5 000 trucks a year off the road. Now it turns out that it […]
April 06, 2023
Ford has revealed a new generation of its most compact commercial vehicle, the Transit Courier. This new model improves its practicality with a larger cargo area and will also get an electric version. In contrast to its bigger brothers, Transit Connect and Transit Custom, this model was not built in collaboration with Volkswagen. The new […]
April 06, 2023
The Belgian safety institute VIAS has confirmed with an independent study what several others, among which some leading leasing and HR service companies, claimed for more than a year: the electric car is the cheapest option today and in the long term compared to vehicles with a combustion engine (ICE). Except for the smallest city […]
April 06, 2023
VW ID.7 testing is in its last weeks. Shortly before the world premiere of Volkswagen’s future ID. flagship on 17 April, VW provides pictures of the last test drives and delivers more details on the electric sedan’s drive, chassis, and comfort features. The VW ID.7 will have a new, specially developed electric drive when it […]
April 06, 2023
A year ago, we first mentioned the Taito, the first product of a young Ghent start-up. The three-wheeler e-scooter is now ready for sale and will cost €2 590, available through the Bike Republic sales network. That’s more than the initially suggested retail price of €1 750 back in 2022, but the company argues that […]
April 06, 2023
Rivian has published its official Q1 2023 production and delivery numbers, with 9 395 and 7 946 vehicles, respectively. That is slightly less still than the numbers achieved in Q4 2022, although the American EV start-up assures its customers and investors that Rivian is on track to produce 50 000 vehicles in 2023. Life is […]
April 06, 2023
After facing numerous delays and difficulty finding – and keeping – workers, Tesla’s Brandenburg Gigafactory near Berlin has finally ramped up to full speed with three shifts. And a fourth weekend shift could also be on the cards if the production rate keeps increasing, with a cheaper and more compact Tesla on the horizon. It’s […]
April 05, 2023
The new generation Mini Countryman, the largest Mini model, is in its final testing phase. The start of production at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig in November 2023 will be the first time a Mini is produced in Germany. With five doors and a variable-use interior, the largest model in the new Mini family of […]
April 05, 2023
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of Europe’s largest air hubs, will, from 2025-2026, ban night flights and private jets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution. Aircraft will be banned from taking off between midnight and 6 a.m. and will not be allowed to land before 5 a.m., the airport’s CEO Ruud Sondag said in […]
April 05, 2023
Flemish Minister of Mobility, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), has ambitious plans. In her most recent bicycle policy plan, she expects Flemish citizens to hop on the bike for more than 30% of their daily journeys. To achieve that goal, Peeters is willing to invest at least 300 million euros a year. Peeters’ previous bicycle policy […]
April 05, 2023
Dutch solar carmaker Lightyear declared bankrupt by the court in January, has managed to find eight more million with mostly private investors, a group of 225 people around Amsterdam entrepreneur Arnoud Aalbersberg. Lightyear has announced the founding of a new company that will focus entirely on Lightyear 2. This might enable the company to reboot […]
April 04, 2023
The US Treasury Department has issued guidance for the electric vehicle (EV) tax credits under the famous Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Though the final draft doesn’t bring in surprise requirements, the declaration has been awaited as it outlines how the eligibility for the second half, applying to battery component sourcing and critical minerals, is calculated. […]
April 04, 2023
D’Ieteren’s Taxis Verts and Colruyt’s Virya Energy started a pilot project in September 2022 with a Toyota Mirai as a hydrogen taxi to see if this type of drivetrain is a suitable option as the taxi sector in Brussels is forced to electrify by 2025. With half of the year-long test program completed, both companies […]
April 04, 2023
Planes at Brussels Airport cause strong annoyance to 220 000 residents. As a result, the cost of health damage would amount to more than 1 billion euros annually. This emerged from a new study by Bond Beter Leefmilieu (BBL), the Flemish federation for a better environment. The study, carried out by study agency ENV-ISA at […]
April 04, 2023
Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) is fed up with the problems at the technical car inspection centers. That is why she wants to engage certified garages for the re-inspection of passenger cars. Today, these re-inspections take place in the 43 accredited inspection centers. In the summer of 2022, Minister Peeters decided to organize […]
April 04, 2023
The Korean car manufacturer SsangYong Motor Company was saved from bankruptcy last year (September) by the Korean chemical-to-steel group KG. So today, the name of the new automotive KG daughter has changed to KG Mobility. KG Mobility showcases three new concepts and the new Torres EVX at the Seoul Motor Show, now taking place in […]
April 04, 2023
The registrations of new cars in Belgium and Luxembourg increased for the eighth consecutive month. With 51 754 cars registered, it is an increase of 39,9% compared to 2022 and the best month of March since pre-corona 2019, when almost 55 000 cars got registered. The increase is noticeable in the professional (fleet) and individual […]
April 03, 2023
As expected, Parisians voted overwhelmingly against using shared e-scooters in their capital: on Sunday, 89,03% were against in the citizens’ poll. However, the low turnout was also striking. Only just over 100 000 people, or 7,46% of Parisians, had registered for the referendum. So from 1 September, shared e-scooters will disappear from the Paris streets […]
April 03, 2023
Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB recorded a recurring operating loss of 142,6 million euros last year. Those debts were due to five consecutive wage indexations during the last year and sharply increased energy costs. Compensations from the federal government cushioned the impact so that NMBS/SNCB ended up with an operational result of 39,6 million euros. So, […]
April 03, 2023
The German car manufacturer BMW Group is betting on efficient design and recycling to bring down battery costs and is steering clear of investing in mines, its finance chief said on Friday, according to Reuters press agency, setting it apart from some competitors digging deep into the supply chain. “We don’t think it is right […]
April 03, 2023
It looks like, besides Zeekr, there is no end coming to Chinese EV brands that are targeting to land in Europe. HiPhi, the brand of the Human Horizons Group founded in 2018, will launch in some European markets later this year, a company executive told Reuters press agency. Today it sells the HiPhi X SUV […]
April 03, 2023
Tesla has beaten analysts’ forecasts with 422 875 cars delivered in the first quarter of 2023. However, with this achievement, the EV maker also slashes its previous record of 405 000 vehicles, achieved during the fourth quarter of 2022. The price cuts, which started in China and then spread globally, are the main contributor to […]
April 03, 2023
General Motors has revealed its plan to scrap Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity from its electric vehicles. However, Google will be providing its Android Automotive infotainment system to GM. The General wants to gather more data from its users and also aims to sell them subscription services to use some apps or connectivity […]
April 03, 2023
D’Ieteren’s shared mobility service, Poppy Mobility, will double its fleet in Antwerp to meet growing demand. By the end of spring, 450 new red cars will be driving around in the city of Antwerp, on top of the 450 shared cars that are already available now. “The expansion of our fleet will allow us to […]
April 03, 2023
According to Volkswagen brand boss Thomas Schäfer, it is now clear that there will be no ninth generation of the current VW Golf, despite being still a best-seller. Schäfer uttered similar thoughts in the German newspaper Die Welt in August last year. Now he has reiterated them in an interview with the specialized magazine Automobilwoche. […]
April 03, 2023
The Chinese luxury brand Zeekr, daughter of Geely Holding Group and sister brand to Volvo and Lynk & Co, among others, is having a crack at the European premium electric car market, starting in Q4 of this year. The latter was confirmed by the CEO An Conghui – also President of Geely – at the […]
April 01, 2023
The Brussels Parliament’s special Uber Commission concluded hearings on Thursday regarding lobbying contacts between service and ride-hailing company Uber and the Brussels government during the preparation of the reform of the taxi ordinance. The contacts between then-Mobility Minister Pascal Smet (One.Brussels-Vooruit) and Uber lobbyist Mark McGann stood out. Smet denies the allegations. “No incriminating element can […]
March 31, 2023
Carmakers and suppliers are looking into several innovations to meet the growing demand for convenient and more accessible charging infrastructure. For example, Chinese charging service provider NaaS is joining the likes of Volkswagen and announcing the development – and launch – of a self-developed automatic mobile charging robot. The compact robot on wheels, looking for […]
March 31, 2023
Italian sports car icon Lamborghini is making its first steps into the world of electric cars by adding a plug to the successor of the Aventador, the Revuelto. The small 3,8 kWh battery is hardly sufficient for 10 km of full-electric autonomy. Still, it feeds three extra motors to boost the power of the 6.5 […]
March 31, 2023
The cargo bike is gaining popularity, but, as with any mobility vehicle, there are also safety risks associated with these types of bicycles, which often weigh 65 kg unloaded alone and end up loaded almost as much as a motorbike. This means they can be thrown through the air over a long distance in the […]
March 31, 2023
After a delay of five years, electric car start-up Faraday Future has finally kickstarted production of the FF 99 Futurist. The start has been postponed several times over financing hiccups. But as the company raised a multi-million dollar investment, first customers can expect their cars later this month. As for many start-ups in the zero-emission […]
March 31, 2023
Last year, a record number of drivers in Belgium were fined for speeding. The number of fines went up from 4,9 million in 2021 to 6,2 million in 2022 (+27%) – that is no less than 16 980 per day or 707 per hour. An explanation for this spectacular increase is to be found in […]
March 31, 2023
Lotus Technology Inc., the heritage of the famous British racing brand part of Chinese Geely, has delivered the first fully electric Lotus Eletre, a hyper-SUV, to Chinese customers at the Shanghai International Circuit F1 track to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the brand. The company is now rolling out further deliveries across China and will […]
March 31, 2023
Last month, Belgium rounded the cape of 100 000 EVs on the road, says EV Belgium, the federation of zero-emission vehicles in Belgium. They assume that number will be pushed this year to 200 000 and up to half a million by 2025, driven by the coming obligation that all new company cars beyond 2026 […]
March 30, 2023
Private jet flights in Europe reached record levels last year – most of which were ultra-short journeys. As a result, the number of private jet flights increased by 64% last year, reaching a record high of 572 806. Together, they emitted 3,4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In Belgium alone, private flights more than […]
March 30, 2023
The improvements made for the Good Move Plan in Brussels have had a positive impact on the journey times in the Pentagon and Schaerbeek of several MIVB/STIB tram and bus lines. Especially during rush hours, the travel times of the public transport company’s units are slightly shorter as a result. “Six months after its introduction, […]
March 30, 2023
Volkswagen is partnering with EnerKite to develop flexible, grid-independent e-charging stations. These will be powered by electricity generated from wide-winged kites – also called ‘airborne wind turbines’. The technology must help facilitate the switch to a suited infrastructure for e-mobility by avoiding costly and complex power grid upgrades and subsequent investment in conventional wind turbine […]
March 30, 2023
The French government has finalized its national regulation plan for e-scooter users. As a result, the age to use an e-scooter goes from 12 to 14 years old, and the fines for e-scooter offenses go up sharply. By doing so, the government hopes to reduce the nuisance of the mode of transport that has become […]
March 30, 2023
BMW has rounded off a year-long winter testing program with the i5, the first all-electric 5 Series. This testing validated the powertrain’s and heating system’s ability to perform at extremely low temperatures and provided valuable data for fine-tuning the torque delivery and unique stability control systems. The electric BMW 5 Series has had to prove […]
March 30, 2023
Lucid Motors is joining the growing list of EV makers forced to trim down on their operations. With the ambition of challenging Tesla, the American electric carmaker is to cut about 1 300 jobs or nearly one-fifth (18 percent) of its workforce. Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson calls it “a painful but necessary decision”. He expects […]
March 30, 2023
Dutch fast-charging provider Fastned has nearly tripled its charging turnover by 191% to €36,0 million, providing 2,3 million load sessions at 244 charging stations (+30%). Nevertheless, the company is still writing in red with a €22,2 million loss in 2022, compared to €24,6 million in 2021. The EBITDA went up by 244% to 8,1 million. […]
March 29, 2023
Velocity Truck Rental & Leasing has placed a large order of 200 electric Freightliner trucks, which will mainly be used in Southern California. The Freightliner eM2 medium duty and eCascadia heavy-duty e-trucks have a driving range of up to 230 miles and will be offered to Velocity’s fleet customers, including a charging service. Daimler Truck’s […]
March 29, 2023
Kia already gave us a look at the design of its EV9, with its boxy shape and three-row seating, but now the Korean manufacturer has revealed all of the relevant technical data of the flagship SUV. And that includes the 541 km driving range of the most efficient version, thanks to a new-gen battery used […]
March 29, 2023
Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB’s new transport plan for the 2023-2026 period offers 2 000 extra trains per week. At the same time, certain rush-hour trains and some 20 stops with fewer than 50 passengers per day would also be cut for this purpose. However, according to Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), the latter should […]
March 29, 2023
Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB has ordered 70 articulated electric buses from EvoBus GmbH, a German bus and coach manufacturer and a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, headquartered in Stuttgart (Germany). That is what MIVB/STIB announced on Tuesday. Belgian factories of Van Hool and VDL Roeselare missing the bus in this case… The buses will […]
March 29, 2023
Negotiators from the European Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission have reached an agreement on the rollout of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Drivers of electric cars must be able to charge their vehicles every sixty kilometers on the main European thoroughfares. However, the text still has to get the final approval of […]
March 29, 2023
Rupert Stadler, the former top executive of Audi, may receive a suspended prison sentence for his part in late-scale cheat software with the brand’s diesel cars. To qualify, Stadler must admit guilt, says the Munich court. For the past two and a half years, the 60-year-old Stadler and three co-defendants have been facing charges relating […]
March 29, 2023
American electric carmaker Fisker is ready to launch its first model, the Ocean SUV, in Europe after concluding European homologation from authorities by April 28, 2023, with first deliveries after that. The top model, the Fisker Ocean Extreme, listed at $68 999 and ready to be configured online from now, just proved to reach a […]
March 28, 2023
Seven out of a hundred Belgian drivers admit to watching video films behind the wheel at least once a month. That is what a recent survey traffic safety institute Vias organized among 6 000 Belgians revealed. In Flanders, 5% of car drivers say they sometimes watch a video in the car; in Wallonia, it is […]
March 28, 2023
The United States and Japan have signed an agreement to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and electric vehicle batteries. The agreement also envisages strengthening trade between the two countries in these products, which are essential for the energy transition and have been dominated by China. The agreement marks the first […]
March 28, 2023
With the final life cycle of internal combustion engines (ICE) in sight, Audi has decided to change its model naming structure to differentiate its fuel-powered models from its electric vehicles. As a result, new EVs will have an even number (A4, A6, A8), while ICE-powered models will be odd-numbered (A3, A5, A7). But the e-tron […]
March 28, 2023
Some thirty movable bridges across Flanders must be replaced by 2030 with a public-private partnership (PPP). Prior to the start of the works, the Flemish Waterway will start a market survey to present the approach to the sector. The Flemish Waterway wants to have all its movable structures (bridges, locks, weirs, and pumping installations) remote-controlled […]
March 28, 2023
Toyota and component supplier Denso have signed an agreement with Israeli wireless EV charging specialist Electreon to develop a wireless charging solution for the electric vehicles of the Japanese car manufacturer. This includes integrating wireless charging in new vehicles, an aftermarket solution for existing cars, and a plan to standardize the technology. Electreon specializes in […]
March 28, 2023
Brussels-based car importer and distributor D’Ieteren Automotive is setting up a distribution and service network to launch the Swiss-Italian Microlino electric car by summer in France. Besides Belgium and France, D’Ieteren is also the distributor of the microcar in Luxembourg. In France, the Microlino belongs to the L7 vehicle class and is available to holders […]
March 28, 2023
From Brussels Airport you can fly to nine new destinations this summer. These are Toronto (Canada), Billund (Denmark), Seville (Spain), Kayseri (Turkey), Monastir (Tunisia), and Béjaïa, Constantine, Oran, and Tlemcen (Algeria). From Brussels Airport, 59 airlines will thus depart to 175 destinations in summer. Brussels Airlines, with four additional aircraft in its fleet, will fly […]
March 27, 2023
German drivetrain parts specialist Schaeffler has developed a compact electric hub motor suited for municipal utility vehicles, with manufacturers of street sweepers, snowplows, and garbage collectors already showing interest. This innovation represents a new step in eliminating air and noise pollution from cities and other densely-populated areas. Schaeffler has been innovating in the electric drivetrain […]
March 27, 2023
The French traffic safety organization, Sécurité Routière, has decided to phase out average speed checks. According to some French media, they would be too expensive to maintain, although a motorists’ organization questions that. The oldest installations, which appeared in 2012, would even need replacement. Average speed checks are no typical French phenomenon. They’re frequently used […]
March 27, 2023
The EU Commission and the German government have agreed on a compromise on how new cars with combustion engines can be registered after 2035 as long as they run on climate-neutral fuel. The original regulation on the phasing out of internal combustion engines is not to be touched again, and the exceptions will now be […]
March 27, 2023
For foreign carmakers, Germany must be the toughest market to conquer. Not only because domestic carmakers carry a reputation for high standards and sophisticated technology but also because the patriotic feelings of the population tend to favor the local brands. That circle has been broken in the corporate garage for electric vehicles. Among employees, the […]
March 27, 2023
Flemish public transport operator De Lijn plans to buy up to 600 new electric buses. With the new framework agreement, De Lijn wants to green its fleet. Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) is making at least 55 million euros a year available for the purchase of emission-free buses. Two framework agreements are involved: […]
