Ford Transit van with range-extended electric powertrain revealed

Ford Transit Plug-In Hybrid van for the UKAs European countries continue to crack down on emissions from road vehicles, automakers are stepping up with solutions to ease reduce levels of smog-causing nitrogen oxides, especially in city centers. Ford identified the commercial vehicle segment as one it believes is ripe for electrification, and earlier this month it revealed its Ford Transit...

Used diesel demand drops in Germany over fear of software upgrades

Volkswagen TDI diesel vehicles owned by Phil Grate and family, Seattle, WashingtonDiesel-powered cars, long a staple on European roads, are starting to lose favor as million of dollars of inventory begins to pile up in used diesel models. The inventory, largely recent models certified under the superseded Euro-5 emission standards, has boomed recently over the possibility the cars will not meet future emission limits to be...

How Teslas charge in US and UK.: similarities and differences

Tesla charging port in the United KingdomIt's well-known that electrical outlets in the United States and elsewhere vary, but it also makes for somewhat different charging experiences with the Tesla Model S. In Europe, the standard voltage is higher than the United States, which means more power can be drawn from a standard wall outlet. However, higher-rated charging connectors, such as...

UK Royal Mail electric vans now entering service

Arrival UK Royal Mail electric postal vanThe United Kingdom's Royal Postal Service has entered a new era as its first electric mail vans enter service. In total, nine electric postal vans from local company Arrival will enter the Royal Post's fleet, along with another 100 electric vans to be added in December from French brand Peugeot. The Arrival electric vans are capable of traveling...

European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-June 2017

2017 Renault ZoeThe numbers are in, which means it's once again time take a look at European electric and plug-in hybrid sales. Delivery and registration data is compiled from January through June of 2017, and once more, it remains clear Europe has a favorite electric car. The Renault Zoe walks away with an even higher market share than it had in May and leaves...

Do German makers face ‘iPhone moment,’ after dodging diesel bullet?

2017 Tesla Model 3 The Volkswagen diesel scandal has largely fallen out of the public eye in the U.S., as VW and Audi buy back and modify roughly half a million noncompliant vehicles sold from 2009 through 2016. In Germany, meanwhile, the major sellers of diesel vehicles—not only VW Group but also Mercedes, Opel, and Fiat—have agreed to modify 5 million...

VW, Mercedes, Opel, Fiat launch buybacks of dirtiest diesels in Europe

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI SEAlmost two years ago, the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal burst into public view, and nothing has been quite the same since then. The news that VW Group engineers had deliberately cheated on eight years of emission tests for the "clean diesels" sold by Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche sent shockwaves around the world. Settling the criminal charges...

Porsche prototype 350-kw electric car fast-charging station installed

Porsche solar pylon Porsche has big plans to expand the capability of the Combined Charging System (CCS) DC standard into much higher voltages to allow much faster electric-car charging. Now, it's completed a first step: at the brand's new branch office in Berlin-Adlershof, Porsche has installed a prototype 350-kilowatt, 800-volt charging station. The new technology...

European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-May 2017

2017 Renault ZoeAnother month, and another round of European electric car sales data is ready for dissemination. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles continue to earn a healthy share of the European car market, and it's clear there's still a definitive electric car for Europeans. That is the Renault Zoe, which once again leads the way in the...

Electric Mini may not be made in U.K. (but would anyone care?)

MINI E electric car used in vehicle-to-grid test. Photo by University of Delaware/Evan KrapeMini, despite being owned by BMW since 1994, has long been a decidedly British brand. But its British roots may be overlooked as a decision on where Mini's electric car is to be built closes in. Most Mini production takes place at the brand's Oxford plant in England, but both supply-chain factors and Brexit may sway BMW board members into...

Even BMW’s hometown may ban older diesel cars

A semi-autonomous BMW 5 Series, on the highway outside of Munich Diesel-powered vehicles are facing a tough road ahead as more European cities move to ban older, dirtier, oil-burning cars. Diesel has long been the preferred fuel of European drivers thanks to its efficiency and lower carbon dioxide levels. However, mounting research has shown diesel-powered cars spew harmful toxins that may cause cancer and...

European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-April 2017

2017 Renault ZoeElectric vehicle sales are holding steady in Europe; the latest sales data shows popular battery electric vehicles remain popular. Plug-in hybrids continue to hold their own as well, according to data aggregated from numerous individual national markets. The Renault Zoe, in particular, continues to sell quite well. DON'T MISS: European electric...

Deutsche Post and Ford to build Transit-based electric van

Electric mail delivery van based on Ford Transit chassis, by Deutsche Post StreetScooter with FordDeutsche Post, the German mail service, has long hoped to replace its fleet of 30,000 internal-combustion delivery vans with electric vehicles. In 2014, it bought the company Street Scooter, which has since built thousands of small car-sized electric delivery vans. Now Deutsche Post has announced it is partnering with Ford to put a larger...

UBS study predicts electric-car cost parity in Europe could arrive by 2018

Volkswagen e-Golf recharging at curbside Autolib station, Paris, Sep 2016With the prospect of multiple long-range electric cars hitting the market over the next few years, the prediction market is in full swing. Battery costs have fallen faster than predicted eight years ago, and virtually every carmaker plans to introduce at least one battery-electric vehicle with 200 miles of range or more. The Chevrolet Bolt EV...