Volvo Trucks North America was awarded $21.7 million in grants to deploy 70 VNR Electric trucks in Southern California for regional freight distribution and drayage. Deliveries are to begin next year, with the order expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2022.

The electric bus manufacturer Nexport has announced plans for the production of electric vehicles in a new plant in the Australian state of New South Wales. It will initially produce buses, but later also other types of vehicles such as cars, trucks and vans.

The Volkswagen subsidiary MAN Truck & Bus intends to give greater priority to hydrogen in its electrification strategy in future, in addition to the development and manufacture of battery-powered commercial vehicles. The Munich-based company will be testing hydrogen-powered vehicle prototypes as early as next year.

Volvo Trucks starts this month with the practical testing of an all-electric transport solution for the construction industry. Two heavy trucks will be delivered to the Scandinavian company Swerock.

Toyota and eight other Japanese companies have announced the formation of the “Japan Hydrogen Association” (JH2A) to promote the formation of a hydrogen supply chain and global partnerships in the hydrogen sector.

The Swedish startup Einride has introduced the next generation of its autonomous electric truck T-Pod, making it commercially available worldwide for the first time. The company is relying on a subscription model for this. Initial customers include Lidl Sweden, Oatly, Bridgestone and Northvolt.

Volkswagen subsidiary Scania made a solar cell clad trailer to power a plug-in hybrid truck and is preparing testing in Sweden. In Germany, Fraunhofer LBF was looking at semi-trucks as well and developed a lightweight high-voltage battery system for heavy-duty EVs.

Austria’s Rosenbauer presents the first all-electric fire engine based on a series chassis as the development builds on Volvo’s FL Electric also known from city logistics. The new truck allows flexible use, says Rosenbauer, not “only” firefighting.

Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Schenker has been testing the Fuso eCanter, a small electric truck since 2018. Two units are in operation in Berlin, three more in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Paris. But testing is not the end of the story.

MAN Transport Solutions is offering charging equipment to buyers of MAN’s electric trucks and buses with two strategic partners, Heliox and Schaltbau Refurbishment (SBRS). The offer includes markets in 28 European countries and covers a range of mobile chargers up to solutions for large fleets.

ABB has officially entered into a charging infrastructure partnership with Lion Electric. ABB will make its complete portfolio of charging solutions available to the Canadian electric commercial vehicle manufacturer for distribution in North America under the new Lion Energy division.

Walmart Canada has reserved another 100 electric trucks at Tesla. After the Canadian branch of the US retail giant ordered 30 Tesla Semi two years ago, Walmart Canada is now increasing its order to a total of 130 units of the Tesla electric truck.

The strategic e-mobility and manufacturing partnership between General Motors and Nikola still awaits finalisation. The deal for electric trucks was supposed to be signed and sealed tomorrow, but according to GM, this is not yet the case.

German automotive supplier Mahle and the Canadian fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems have agreed to jointly develop and mass-produce fuel cell systems for commercial vehicles of various weight classes.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that from 2035 only emission-free cars may be sold in the state. By 2045 every new commercial utility vehicle will have to be emission-free.

The Mercedes eCitaro G articulated bus has celebrated its world premiere. The electric bus is now also optionally available with solid-state batteries that can provide a range of up to 220 kilometres. Mercedes has also revealed more on the series production of the eActros.

Renault Trucks is now offering various financing options their electric trucks. Renault Trucks Financial Services, the company’s leasing subsidiary, is providing the offers.

In cooperation with Denyo, Toyota has developed a fuel cell commercial vehicle that uses hydrogen to generate electricity. The truck is to be used for outdoor concerts or natural disasters, for example, and replace diesel generators.

Amazon is now part of a growing number of customers for Lion Electric vehicles. The company that entered the zero-emission market with electric school buses now sees demand increase for its electric trucks.

Hyundai has announced plans to sell hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks in the United States by 2022. The Korean company has confirmed its focus on H2 fuel cell for commercial vehicles, aiming to increase global FCEV sales yearly to 500,000 units in 2030.

Daimler Trucks has just presented its technology strategy for the electrification of its vehicles ranging from urban distribution vehicles right up to international long-distance transport. The presentation event in Berlin focused on fuel cell technology for trucks in the long-distance transport segment.

Scania has announced the official market launch of its all-battery electric truck and plug-in hybrid truck. With these two models, the VW subsidiary brand initially intends to focus primarily on urban applications.

Truck manufacturer Kenworth will start selling the Kenworth K270E battery-electric truck model and its bigger brother, the K370E, in the USA and Canada. The drivetrain for the BEV trucks is supplied by Dana. The first deliveries of the trucks should be made before the end of the year.

General Motors and Nikola have agreed on a strategic partnership, which sees GM taking an eleven per cent stake in the US startup. With this agreement, GM will become Nikola’s US manufacturing partner starting with the much anticipated zero-emission pickup Badger.

In Germany, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has launched the development of a fuel cell system for trucks in the 40-ton weight class. The company is cooperating with commercial vehicle conversion company Quantron.

Dutch truck manufacturer DAF Trucks has doubled the range of its all-electric CF Electric truck to over 200 kilometres. Since the vehicle is significantly lighter with the new battery generation, the payload has also increased.

The Canadian electric bus and truck manufacturer Lion Electric has just received its largest order to date. The manufacturer has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian National Railway (CN) to supply 50 zero-emission trucks.

In an online meeting between Berlin and Los Angeles, Carrie Hampel interviewed Hubject’s Senior Director of Corporate and Business Development Barton Sidles about the new Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Designwerk has entered a partnership with Daimler Trucks and has included a low-entry chassis based on the Mercedes Econic in its own product range. The first vehicle of this type is to be delivered in the second quarter of next year.

With the integration of a new Volvo FL Electric truck into the electric fleet of the ‘Oslo City Hub’ distribution centre, DB Schenker can now carry out its city logistics in Oslo without direct emissions. A further 23 electric vehicles are to follow by the end of the year.