Karma Automotive has introduced a new application of its electrified platform E-Flex, and this time, it is neither a plug-in hybrid nor a sports car but an all-electric van. The demonstrator e-transporter enables level 4 automated driving.

The ZE85 electric excavator from Suncar HK is now successfully operated on a zero-emission construction site in Oslo, Norway. It is the first electric excavator with a CCS connection, which enables a full charge in less than an hour.

In the ‘Lade PV’ charging project, four industrial companies and two Fraunhofer Institutes aim to demonstrate the marketability of photovoltaic applications in freight transport. They also want to convert an electric truck into a demonstration vehicle.

In an interview with German media, Traton boss Andreas Renschler spoke about the existing cooperation between the VW commercial vehicle division and Toyota subsidiary Hino. Joint work has begun in Germany and Japan.

Hyundai Material Handling has re-engineered the U-series of its battery-electrically three- and four-wheel forklift trucks. The focus was on comfort, performance and power consumption. The Hyundai Group is also working on hydrogen-powered excavators.

The European branch of Californian electric vehicle manufacturer Tropos Motors has started manufacturing electric commercial vehicles in Germany in cooperation with Mosolf Group in the city of Herne.

The vehicle manufacturer Liebherr, in cooperation with Designwerk and ZF, have developed the first fully electric truck mixers with a drum holding ten or twelve cubic metres on a five-axle chassis. The first applications are planned for autumn 2020 at the customers Holcim and KIBAG in Switzerland.

The US charging system developer Momentum Dynamics, which specializes in wireless charging for electric vehicles, is cooperating with the North American vehicle manufacturer GreenPower Motor. They aim to integrate Momentum Dynamics’ inductive charging technology into GreenPower’s EV Star shuttle bus and to distribute it in the USA, Canada and Europe.

The Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation (MFTBC) announces the intention to start series production of fuel cell trucks “by the end of the 2020s”. The Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer, which belongs to the Daimler Group, is also presenting the concept of the eCanter F-CELL.

The US American engine manufacturer Cummins has increased their initial investment from September 2019 in Loop Energy, a Canadian manufacturer of fuel cell systems. The goal is to develop a fuel cell range extender for commercial electric vehicles.

The US American electric bus manufacturer Proterra has appointed current Chairman Jack Allen to double as Chief Executive Officer. Ryan Popple, Proterra’s CEO since 2014, was named Co-Founder and Executive Director.

The Japanese car manufacturer Toyota and its commercial vehicle subsidiary Hino Motors are developing a fuel cell truck based on the Hino Profia. The vehicle will use technology that Toyota developed for the next generation Mirai.

The English electric van manufacturer and vehicle developer Arrival has moved into a new plant in Bicester. The new factory in Oxfordshire is to build, among other things, the electric delivery vans from UPS’ bulk order.

VW Commercial Vehicles digitally delivers new details on the e-Bulli based on the T1 announced at the beginning of March. The release makes clear, the electrified classic won’t remain a one-off as VWVC’s partner eClassics offers conversions.

The Horizon Fuel Cell Group has launched Hyzon Motors, a hydrogen vehicle company focused on heavy-duty FCEVs and specifically fuel cell stacks exceeding 100kW. Hyzon’s vehicle line due to launch this year is to include trucks from 15-40 tonnes.

Northvolt has delivered its most significant order of battery systems to Epiroc. The mining company will integrate the Li-ion cells into its mid-sized drilling family. The order represents the first commercial roll-out of Northvolt’s latest generation of the battery system, the Swedes said.

The Geely subsidiary LEVC has announced the name of its new e-transporter with range extender due for production this year. It’s called the VN5, where the number represents the five cubic meter load capacity. There are also further details about the van’s chassis.

On the occasion of its tenth anniversary as a manufacturer of forklifts running on lithium iron phosphate batteries, BYD has presented an innovation in this field: Their new dual charging system. They are also launching the new generation of their PTP20P pallet truck.

The US American construction equipment manufacturer CASE Construction Equipment has introduced Project Zeus: According to the manufacturer, the 580 EV is to be the construction industry’s first fully-electric backhoe loader.

Renault Trucks is starting series production of the D Z.E. and D Wide Z.E. electric models at its Blainville-sur-Orne plant in Normandy this month. The plant has been expanded to accommodate the assembly of the electric delivery trucks.

Mercedes has introduced the revised version of the eVito Tourer (as well as the combustion engine versions). The electric version now has a much bigger battery, more power and finally: DC fast-charging capacity.

DAF Trucks has started to test the CF Hybrid in customer applications to gain experience in daily use. The Dutch transport company Peter Appel will be using two of these hybrid trucks to supply supermarkets in the Netherlands close to city centres.

The Swiss construction company Suncar HK has announced the completion of a small series of ten new battery-electric excavators, developed in cooperation with Huppenkothen Baumaschinen AG.

Daimler Trucks is launching another eight fully-electric Freightliner trucks for customer testing in North America. Over a period of 22 months, 14 different customers from a range of sectors will operate six heavy-duty Freightliner eCascadia and two medium-duty Freightliner eM2 106 within their daily transport business.

Nikola, the US maker of heavy-duty trucks with batteries and hydrogen fuel cells has become a Nasdaq listed company. The quick entry to the stock market was made possible via a merger with the already listed company VectoIQ Acquisition Corporation.

VW Commercial Vehicles will be showing the e-BULLI based on the T1 at the Techno-Classica at the end of March, and have released the first photo in advance. The e-BULLI is intended to “build a bridge between the historic T2 electric transporter (1972-1979) and the future ID. BUZZ (starting in 2022)”.

An increasing number of manufacturers from Eastern Europe are venturing into the electric city bus business. Aleksandra Fedorska took a look at the projects of Ukrainian manufacturers for electrive.

Deutsche Post/DHL announces they will cease the manufacturing of their StreetScooter electric vans before the end of this year. The Group’s CEO Frank Appel has given up on finding a buyer for its subsidiary, even though it looked as if a deal with China’s Chery was as good as made.

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is now accepting advance orders for its electric construction equipment, specifically for the ECR25 Electric compact excavator and the L25 Electric compact wheel loader.

A new cooperation between two US companies wants to offer Class 6 (up to 12.5 tons) trucks powered by fuel cells. New York-based fuel cell specialist Plug Power and Colorado-based e-drive developer Lightning Systems have now joined forces.