EPA, Ford, Siemens, Continental, Iberdrola, BP and much more

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new subsidy program for the acquisition of electric school buses and heavy commercial vehicles. Funded by the "Inflation Reduction Act," this initiative aims to improve air quality and reduce emissions in the transportation sector. This year, the U.S. government has awarded nearly one billion dollars in grants to help shift from combustion engine to electric heavy-duty vehicles and school buses. About 70% of the so-called "2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program" budget is allocated for school buses, while the remainder supports the acquisition of other heavy electric commercial vehicles such as delivery trucks, roadwork machines, and garbage trucks. This new subsidy program supports not only the procurement and operation of these vehicles but also the charging infrastructure and training of workers to handle them. 

Ford has announced that it will offer an E-Transit model with a battery option allowing for a range of up to 250 miles very soon. Orders are set to be taken this year, with deliveries beginning in spring 2025. The usable battery capacity will increase to 89 kWh. The new models will also feature enhanced AC and DC fast-charging capabilities. Standard equipment includes a heat pump with vapor injection, which efficiently heats the interior at lower temperatures. The vehicle can be fully charged in six hours at a business wall box. According to Ford, it takes just ten minutes of DC fast charging to add approximately 72 miles of range and charging from 10% to 80% capacity can be achieved in 28 minutes. Ford offers 19 model versions of the E-Transit. 

Siemens Smart Infrastructure has introduced Depot360, a fleet charging service designed specifically for the efficient management and maintenance of electric vehicle fleets. The service offers a comprehensive solution for charging electric vehicles, including installation, maintenance, and operation of charging infrastructure. It is targeted at companies and public institutions looking to convert their fleets to electromobility. Depot360 aims to help them maximize uptime and optimize charging operations, with the goal of generating green energy for the fleet at the lowest possible cost. Initially, the focus will be on logistics vehicles, municipal transport companies, and private bus fleets at depots, warehouses, and terminals. The service is available at launch in the USA, Canada, Germany, France, the UK, Sweden, and Norway. 

Continental has launched its new tire series, Conti Eco Gen 5, specifically designed for buses and trucks. The tires are engineered to improve efficiency through innovative technologies. The tread features new compounds and a dual-layer construction for high mileage while optimizing rolling resistance, according to Continental. A new bead geometry in the carcass further improves rolling resistance. This results in a 12% reduction in rolling resistance and a 10% increase in mileage compared to previous models, which also reduces operating costs and CO2 emissions, the company states. Additionally, the tires are designed for retreading. A retreaded tire consists of up to 70% material from the old tire and costs 40% less than a new tire. Continental plans to replace the EcoPlus for long-haul and the EcoRegional for shorter transports with the new Conti Eco series. 

Iberdrola and BP have announced plans to develop a comprehensive infrastructure of megawatt chargers in Spain, particularly for heavy commercial vehicles. This effort is part of a larger initiative by the two companies to equip the Iberian Peninsula with a robust and efficient rapid charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The charging stations will be strategically located along key transport corridors to enable an emission-free freight transport route. The companies aim to establish the first MCS chargers with a capacity of 1,200 kW by 2024. These will initially be built at the Disfrimur site near Murcia and later at another corporate location in San Isidro near Alicante. The hardware will be provided by the Spanish company Power Electronics. Through a joint venture, both companies plan to invest up to one billion euros in rapid charging infrastructure in Spain and Portugal by 2025, with around 5,000 fast and ultra-fast charging points planned by then. 

Geely’s electric vehicle brand Zeekr has introduced a new vehicle platform, SEA-M, and its first model built on this platform: the Zeekr Mix. This is the fifth model from Zeekr and is designed as an electric van with five seats, featuring spacious interiors and the latest infotainment systems. Technical specifications have not yet been released. The Zeekr Mix is expected to enter the European market in 2025. 

The British energy services company Mitie has incorporated the 5,000th electric vehicle into its fleet. Two-thirds of Mitie’s fleet now operates solely on electricity, with the complete transition expected to be finalized by the end of 2025. The vehicles are the ID. Buzz from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Mitie acquired these vehicles as part of a multi-million-pound partnership with National Grid, the British electricity network operator, where Mitie provides facility management services at over 260 National Grid locations. 

B-ON and Chinese automaker Chery are planning to form a joint venture to develop, produce, and market electric commercial vehicles. The two companies aim to jointly develop and produce a new family of electric delivery vehicles, starting with the model Pelkan, which is expected to be delivered to customers in Europe by mid-2024. The vehicle was first announced at last year's Japan Mobility Show. The Pelkan will be available with two battery options (43 and 54 kWh) and is designed to achieve a range of up to 250 kilometers. Charging from 30% to 80% at a DC charging station should take less than 30 minutes, while AC charging from 0% to 100% is stated to take less than 8 hours. According to B-ON, the payload capacity will be 1,235 kilograms with a top speed of 120 km/h. 

Milence, a joint venture by Daimler Truck, the Traton Group, and the Volvo Group for charging electric trucks, has announced its second charging site in Sweden, located along the critical route between Malmö and Stockholm. Situated on a 10,000-square-meter property along the busy E4 motorway, the park will initially feature eight CCS charging points each with 400 kW capacity, with plans to expand to 16 charging spots, including MCS chargers capable of up to 1,000 kW. Overall, Milence plans to install 1,700 charging points across 15 European countries by 2027. The company opened its first charging park in Venlo, the Netherlands, in December 2023, and another in Normandy, France, in April 2024. Recently, Milence also announced plans to build a charging park in Varberg, Sweden, located between Gothenburg and Malmö.