PowerCo, the new battery company of the Volkswagen Group, and Belgian circular technology group Umicore have obtained full regulatory approvals for their joint venture announced in September 2022. The partners can now swiftly proceed to prepare for large-scale industrial production of cathode active materials (CAM) and precursor materials (PCAM) in... Read more →

The Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached provisional political agreement on green shipping fuels regulations. The main objective of the FuelEU Maritime initiative, as a key part of the EU’s Fit for 55 package, is to increase the demand for and consistent use of renewable and low-carbon... Read more →

For Europe, Ford revealed the new all-electric Explorer—the first in a series of new electric vehicles from Ford. The mid-size crossover, engineered and built in Germany, uses Volkswagen’s MEB platform (earlier post) and has seats for five across two rows. Ford and the Volkswagen Group announced an expanded e-mobility partnership... Read more →

Fusion Fuel has been awarded €3.6 million in grant funding through Component 5 (‘C-5’) of Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan to develop a 1 MW decentralized green hydrogen production facility co-located with a hydrogen refueling station in Elvas, Portugal. Fusion Fuel had previously been awarded €36 million in C-5 funding... Read more →

Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein GmbH (VHH) is ordering up to 100 electric buses from MAN Truck & Bus. VHH also recently ordered 95 Mercedes-Benz Citaro E electric buses, with an option for 155 more. (Earlier post.) VHH has already called for the first 48 eBuses from the new framework agreement with MAN.... Read more →

The European Commission (EC) unveiled two draft laws in response to the US subsidies that the Commission fears are luring European clean-tech companies to North America. The European Critical Raw Materials Act would help the bloc secure supply of the metals needed to build batteries, wind turbines and other green... Read more →

A pre-print study by European environmental scientists assesses the direct impact of the recent sabotage of the undersea Nord Stream pipelines on marine ecosystem. The explosions that ripped open the gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea last September released more than 100,000 tonnes of methane—which was widely covered in the... Read more →

Sumitomo Rubber Industries will launch FALKEN e. ZIEX as a new line of replacement tires for electric vehicles (EV) in Europe, where the market for EV has been growing rapidly. Featuring the highest level of fuel (energy) efficiency of any tire that the company has offered to date, e. ZIEX... Read more →

Volta Trucks has received European Whole Vehicle Type Approval for its 16-tonne all-electric Volta Zero truck. (Earlier post.) The European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) certification allows Volta Trucks to produce and sell the all-electric Volta Zero in volume. It’s the process used to ensure that all vehicles meet... Read more →

ACC (Automotive Cells Company), a joint venture of Stellantis and TotalEnergies (together with its subsidiary Saft), joined by Mercedes-Benz, and strongly supported by France, Germany, and the European Union, said that its planned €2B gigafactory in Termoli, Italy was expected to start operations in 2026. (Earlier post.) The Termoli plant... Read more →

More than two-thirds (68%) of lithium-ion battery production planned for Europe is at risk of being delayed, scaled down or cancelled, according to new analysis by the European NGO Transport & Environment. Tesla in Berlin, Northvolt in northern Germany and Italvolt near Turin are among the projects that stand to... Read more →

Cabot Corporation plans to establish a new technology center in Münster, Germany. The new technology center will focus on technical collaboration with customers in order to accelerate application innovation for Cabot’s battery materials product lines within Europe. The new EMEA Technology Center will enable Cabot to enhance its battery materials... Read more →

Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport Dr. Volker Wissing has called on the European Commission to enable the use of e-fuels in order to achieve the climate goals. More specifically, Wissing said that Germany would not agree to the proposed compromise between the EU Commission, the Council of Ministers and the... Read more →

bp pulse, one of the leading rapid and ultra-fast public EV charging networks in the UK and APCOA Parking Group, the UK’s leading provider of tailored parking solutions with an established presence in Europe, have signed a strategic pan-European frame agreement to open more than 100 EV fast charging hubs... Read more →

French start-up Hyliko plans to integrate Toyota’s second-generation hydrogen fuel cell modules into heavy-duty trucks for their zero-emission fleet offering. This latest cooperation into the truck sector further expands Toyota’s portfolio of partnerships where it provides its fuel cell technology for hydrogen solutions across diverse sectors including trains, buses, generators... Read more →

Shell Petroleum NV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell plc (Shell), has completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Nature Energy Biogas A/S (Nature Energy). By purchasing the shares in Nature Energy, Shell has acquired the largest producer of renewable natural gas (RNG) in Europe, its portfolio of... Read more →

The German carrier Stadtwerke Aschaffenburg Verkehrs GmbH has opted for 12 Solaris hydrogen buses: 10 Urbino 12 hydrogen and 2 Urbino 18 hydrogen units. This is Solaris’s first order for the 18-meter hydrogen-powered buses that were launched in autumn last year. (Earlier post.) The ordered buses will roll out onto... Read more →

IVECO BUS, a brand of Iveco Group N.V., has been awarded a public tender for the supply of 120 E-WAY full electric city buses for Autoguidovie Group, the largest Italian privately owned local public transport company. Available both in standard and articulated versions (9.5, 10.7, 12 and 18 meters), E-WAY... Read more →

The TranSensus LCA project has kicked-off in Brussels, gathering 60 representatives from the project partners. The goal is to develop a standardized and transparent LCA approach to support the transition towards a climate-neutral transport system. For that to happen, the project will define and harmonize a commonly accepted and applied... Read more →

The European Parliament approved the new CO2 emissions reduction targets for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, part of the “Fit for 55” package. With 340 votes in favor, 279 against and 21 abstentions, MEPs endorsed the deal reached with the Council on revised CO2 emission performance standards for... Read more →

Ford in Europe announced next steps in the transformation of its business. The actions are intended to align Ford’s product development organization and administrative functions in Europe with a smaller, more focused, and increasingly electric product portfolio. The plans include the elimination of approximately 3,800 jobs, creating a leaner, more... Read more →

MINI is moving ahead with a small series of the all-electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible (power consumption combined: 17.2 kWh/100 km according to WLTP). The world’s first locally emission-free premium convertible in the small car segment shortens the transition period to the introduction of the next-generation all-electric model family. From... Read more →

The European Commission has proposed new CO2 emissions targets for new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) from 2030 onwards. The Commission proposes phasing in stronger CO2 emissions standards for almost all new HDVs with certified CO2 emissions, compared to 2019 levels, specifically: 45% emissions reductions from 2030; 65% emission reductions from 2035;... Read more →

Air Liquide and TotalEnergies will create an equally owned joint venture to develop a network of hydrogen stations, geared towards heavy-duty vehicles on major European road corridors. This initiative will help facilitate access to hydrogen, enabling the development of its use for goods transportation and further strengthening the hydrogen sector.... Read more →

Umicore has signed a long-term agreement with Finland-based Terrafame Ltd. for the supply of low-carbon, sustainable high-grade nickel sulfate. Following the successful completion of the qualification process, commercial deliveries have already started with further ramp-up of volumes to take place during 2023. Terraframe produces nickel and cobalt sulfates, which are... Read more →

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) will award up to €80 million to support the construction of electrolysis plants for the production of green hydrogen for the transport sector. Hydrogen and fuel cell applications are a future technology with great potential for the transport sector. We must... Read more →

Five years ago, Volvo Trucks launched its trucks that can run on liquified biogas (bio-LNG), which is a renewable fuel that can be produced from many types of organic waste, including food scraps. The fuel can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 100%. (A small amount of diesel or HVO... Read more →

The second-generation Toyota C-HR will be produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT) in Sakarya—about 150 km east of Istanbul. Available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, the new Toyota C-HR will also be the first plug-in hybrid passenger car to be produced in Turkey. In addition, TMMT will be... Read more →

Abu Dhabi-based Masdar, a developer of renewable energy projects and urban development, Port of Amsterdam, SkyNRG, Evos Amsterdam and Zenith Energy Terminals have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the development of a green hydrogen supply chain between Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam to support Dutch and European markets.... Read more →

IVECO BUS, a brand of Iveco Group N.V., signed a framework agreement with the Flemish government-owned public transport enterprise De Lijn for the sale of a first batch of 65 E-WAY full electric city buses and further batches up to a total of 500 vehicles. The vehicles will be deployed... Read more →

bp pulse, bp’s electric vehicle (EV) charging business, has announced the first charging corridor for medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks (E-Trucks) in Europe. Six public charging locations with ultra-fast 300kW charge points aimed at E-Trucks have been launched along a 600km stretch of the Rhine-Alpine corridor across Germany. The corridor... Read more →

Nikola Corporation and IVECO, the brand of Iveco Group that designs, manufactures, and markets heavy-, medium-, and light-duty trucks, announced a Letter of Intent for an order of 100 Class 8, heavy-duty Nikola Tre hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) from GP JOULE, a system provider for integrated energy solutions... Read more →

RWE's FUREC project, which aims to produce circular and green hydrogen from non-recyclable municipal solid waste in Limburg, the Netherlands, received a €108-million grant from the EU’s Innovation Fund. The funding by the EU Innovation Fund marks a key milestone for advancing the FUREC project, which will require an investment... Read more →

The European Clean Hydrogen Partnership launched its 2023 call for proposals. A total of €195 million will be made available for projects that support the creation of clean hydrogen technologies. A total of 26 topics will be part of the call for proposals. Renewable hydrogen production: 7 topics, €49M Hydrogen... Read more →

The UK Government has published an Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Action Plan. The plan sets out steps being taken to seize on the significant potential of smart charging and make it the preferred method of long duration charging by 2025. Smart charging harnesses the potential of energy use data and... Read more →

Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC, a provider of heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell engines for on- and off-road mobility, signed a memorandum of understanding with Netherlands-based clean technology engineering company Urban Mobility Systems (UMS). The MOU includes the initial sales of Nuvera E-Series Fuel Cell Engines to UMS and an agreement to... Read more →

Euro Manganese has entered into an offtake term sheet with Verkor, a low-carbon battery manufacturer based in Grenoble, France, for the sale of high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM) from the company’s Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic. (Earlier post.) The term sheet is non-binding. Located approximately 90 km east... Read more →

Norwegian state-owned energy company Equinor and Germany-based energy company RWE have agreed to work together to develop large-scale value chains for low carbon hydrogen. The partners aim to replace coal-fired power plants with hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plants in Germany, and to build production of low carbon and renewable hydrogen in... Read more →

Brussels Airlines, the flag carrier of Belgium and part of the Lufthansa Group, has started the new year by being the first airline receiving a delivery of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Brussels Airport for the first time using the NATO Central European Pipeline System (CEPS). The Central Europe... Read more →

Ørsted’s Board of Directors has taken final investment decision (FID) on the 50,000 tonnes/year FlagshipONE e-methanol project. (Earlier post.) FlagshipONE will be Ørsted’s first commercial-scale Power-to-X facility and is an important step towards Ørsted’s ambition of taking a leading position in renewable hydrogen and green fuels. Reinforcing the commitment to... Read more →

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has started production of its 5th-generation hybrid powertrains for the new Corolla. The latest Toyota hybrid electric low-emission powertrains will be made at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland (TMMP) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) for the new Corollas manufactured at TMUK and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey... Read more →

Volkswagen AG and its charging and energy brand Elli now operate 400,000 charging points in Europe—the largest charging network there, with more than 800 providers in 27 countries. Over the past 18 months, the network has doubled in size by adding about 200,000 new charging points. Elli most recently expanded... Read more →

FREYR Battery and Nidec Corporation, a globally leading producer of high-efficiency electric motors and a leader in the energy storage systems (ESS) space, have established a downstream joint venture, now called Nidec Energy AS. The newly established Nidec Energy aims to develop and supply highly competitive, integrated battery energy storage... Read more →

UP Catalyst, an Estonia-based company developing a method to produce sustainable carbon nanomaterials and graphite from CO2 (earlier post), says that it can produce carbon-negative graphite, consuming 3.7 tons of CO2 per ton of graphite material produced. Conventional production of graphite not only takes place far away from battery manufacturing... Read more →

Cepsa—the Spain-based multinational oil and gas company—will invest more than €3 billion to establish the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, creating the largest green hydrogen hub in Europe in southern Spain. The project, part of Cepsa’s 2030 strategy Positive Motion, will contribute to Europe’s energy security and independence, in line with... Read more →

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, China’s leading privately-owned automotive technology group, has signed an agreement to license its pure electric Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) to ElectroMobility Poland (EMP), an electric vehicle manufacturer backed by the Polish government. Geely Holding will also become a technology partner to EMP’s first series of vehicles... Read more →

The European Commission presented its proposal for Euro 7 standards to reduce air pollution from new motor vehicles sold in the EU. While CO2 emission rules will drive the deployment of zero-emission vehicles, it is important to ensure that all vehicles on European roads are much cleaner, the EC said.... Read more →

At EICMA in Milan, Honda unveiled its full European motorcycle range for the upcoming season. Among the highlights was the unveiling of Honda’s first European EV two-wheeler, the EM1 e:. Due for release in summer 2023, the EM1 e: is the first Honda EV two-wheeler for customers in Europe, and... Read more →

Solaris won a tender held by public transport operator Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne (MPK) in Cracow for the delivery of electric buses. At the end of October the carrier signed a contract with the manufacturer for the delivery of 18 articulated electric vehicles. The contract is worth more than PLN 98... Read more →

Last week, the European Parliament adopted its position on draft EU rules on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport. Parliament wants the maritime sector to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships by 2% as of 2025, 20% as of 2035 and 80% as of 2050... Read more →