California Governor issues order to ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2035


California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order requiring all new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035. Some 15 countries have announced proposals to phase out legacy vehicles (and the UK recently brought its proposed ban forward to 2030), but California will be the first US state to do… Read more »

Volkswagen ID.4, Nissan Ariya bring EV drive to compact crossovers … chasing Tesla Model Y


Can new electric entries in a hugely popular segment convince U.S. buyers to buy EVs from Nissan and VW as family vehicles? Two new battery-electric models from major global car brands are about to bring electric cars into a category where they’ve been notably absent: family crossover utility vehicles. The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 and 2022… Read more »

Scania introduces range of electric trucks


Scania, a major Swedish manufacturer of commercial vehicles, has announced a pair of new plug-in trucks: a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric model. Both versions are offered with L- and P-series cabs, and can be configured for general cargo, temperature-controlled transport, or for specialty applications such as hooklifts, tippers, concrete mixers, refuse collectors and… Read more »

Ford says electric F-150 will be “a workhorse,” will begin production in mid-2022


Many believe the tipping point for EVs in the US will occur when a selection of electric pickup trucks hits the market. Now Ford, the prime purveyor of pickups, has announced that it is moving ahead with its plans to produce an electric version of the F-150, the nation’s bestselling vehicle. The Detroit Free Press… Read more »

Shaffhausen, Switzerland to deploy 15 Irizar e-buses


The historic city of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, is located on the River Rhine, which provides not only a picturesque setting, but a reliable source of hydroelectric power—an ideal source of green energy for the city’s new electric buses. Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport (the equivalent of our Federal Transit Administration) has tested and certified the electric… Read more »

BYD delivers 33 electric buses to Barbados


Electric buses are proliferating beyond the usual EV hotspots. Caribbean islands, many of which have short travel distances and high fuel prices, could be great candidates for transit electrification. The Barbados Transport Board recently received 33 BYD battery-electric buses, and two more of the 30-foot buses are to be delivered by December. The buses were… Read more »

Rear seat delete option converts the Chevy Bolt to a tiny electric van


Cargo capacity has always been a sore point with legacy-brand (non-Tesla) EVs. The already limited cargo space in hatchbacks such as the LEAF and Bolt has been cannibalized for the battery, and the rear seats are not designed to fold flat. Well, if you’re willing to sacrifice the rear seats entirely, you may be able… Read more »

Navistar’s IC Bus to deliver 18 electric school buses in British Columbia


IC Bus, a school bus manufacturer owned by Navistar, has secured an order for 18 Type C electric school buses to be delivered to 14 school districts in British Columbia. “We are very happy to announce the first order of our electric CE school bus,” said IC Bus VP Trish Reed. “Electric is an exciting… Read more »

GM unveils Ultium Drive family of integrated electric drive units


General Motors has unveiled a family of five interchangeable drive units and three motors, which will power its next generation of EVs. “Ultium Drive will help the company transition its current portfolio to a fully electric lineup, providing significant advantages over GM’s previous EVs in performance, scale, speed to market and manufacturing efficiencies,” says GM…. Read more »

Madrid transit agency orders 30 BYD electric buses


EMT Madrid, which operates a fleet of 2,100 buses and a network of 213 bus lines, has ordered thirty 40-foot electric buses from Chinese manufacturer BYD. The company describes the deal as Spain’s largest order for electric buses to date. The announcement follows the delivery of an initial order of fifteen BYD 40-foot models in… Read more »