Two months after opening pre-orders for its EVs in Europe, ZEEKR has begun exporting its 001 models from China to begin initial deliveries overseas. This milestone is part of an ambitious, multifaceted strategy from the Geely-owned subsidiary to make a name for itself in the global EV market.
If you’re not already aware of Geely’s ZEEKR sub-brand, you may soon be – especially if you’re living in Europe. The all-electric marque was founded a mere two years ago and has already built over 100,000 vehicles in China and introduced three models, including its flagship 001 sedan.
In an internal letter sent out this past January, ZEEKR CEO Andy An laid out five key goals for 2023, one of which included entry into new markets in Europe. This past May, ZEEKR’s head in Europe, Spiros Fotinos, upped the ante, stating the company intends to become a top three premium EV brand by the end of the decade.
That journey through Europe will begin with ZEEKR’s 001 sedan, which began pre-orders in late June, alongside news that the first two EU markets to receive the EVs will be Sweden and the Netherlands.
Today, the European versions of 001 were loaded up at the port of Taicang, Jiangsu province, in China and will make their trip overseas to Europe soon.
All dressed up and ready to go / Credit: ZEEKR
ZEEKR 001 EVs begin company’s invasion of Europe
With 001 EVs en route, ZEEKR’s January prophecy is finally being fulfilled, but it’s merely the start for a company that is young but fast and backed by one of the largest automotive conglomerates in China.
When ZEEKR announced the opening of pre-orders in Sweden and the Netherlands, it shared that the first EU-specific 001s had rolled off its assembly lines in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on August 2. The original timeline was to ship the EVs out in mid-August, so ZEEKR appears slightly behind schedule, but deliveries in Europe are now imminent nonetheless.
The automaker shared some cool images of the 001 sedans being loaded up on its Weibo page with the following text (translated):
On August 25, the first batch of new export cars of the European version of 001 left Hong Kong for Europe. ZEEKR going further in globalization. Now, let’s set sail!
First deliveries in Sweden and the Netherlands are expected to begin in Q4 2023 as ZEEKR intends to continue its expansion to at least six countries outside of China by next year and reach eight by 2025. The next ZEEKR model to make the trek to Europe will be the X SUV, which also began pre-orders in those first two EU markets alongside the 001.
There has been no mention of when those EU-specific models will leave port, but expect to see that next. Earlier this month, ZEEKR introduced a performance version of the 001, but the automaker has yet to share any plans to bring that version to Europe.
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DHL Express has more than 10,000 eSprinter vans in its global delivery fleet, but none of those have been deployed in North America – until now, that is! The company recently added 45 new Mercedes eSprinter panel vans, and they’ve got plans for plenty more!
While Mercedes offers its eSprinters with a promised 206 mile estimated range, DHL says it’s consistently seen them exceed 240 miles in stop-and-go delivery duty, making them the longest-range battery electric vehicles in DHL’s US fleet.
And, of course, the eSprinter will do all of that without the noise, vibration, and harmful carbon emissions of diesel.
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“Electrifying our fleet is one of the most visible and impactful ways we are moving toward a more sustainable future,” explains Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express, US. “The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter brings an extended range and proven cargo capabilities that allow us to serve our customers with zero emissions, while also advancing our global goal of more sustainable logistics. These vehicles not only strengthen our operations in major US cities but also set the stage for future electric fleet growth across the Americas.”
The 45 eSprinters will see deployment in Chicago, Indiana, and Pittsburg, and will act as a first step DHL’s global Sustainability Roadmap, which will see the company electrify 66% of its last-mile US delivery fleet (and some of its long-haul fleet operations) by 2030.
In short, they’re doing the right thing – or seem to be, anyway. Whether or not that commitment to decarbonization will win them more American customers remains to be seen.
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Enphase Energy just launched a new off-grid system that lets homeowners power their homes without a utility connection – even for extended periods. The California-based Enphase says the off-grid setup delivers a seamless way to live independently from the grid while still using solar, batteries, and a standby AC generator.
A full off-grid setup
The new system combines Enphase’s IQ Battery 5P with embedded grid-forming microinverters, IQ8 Series Microinverters with Sunlight JumpStart, and a third-party standby AC generator. The components work together to supply power to a home and automatically manage energy sources to maximize efficiency and reliability.
If the batteries are drained and the generator runs out of fuel, the Sunlight JumpStart feature can automatically recharge the batteries the next morning once the sun comes up.
The IQ Battery 5P delivers 3.84 kVA of power per 5 kWh of capacity, and systems can be scaled up to 40 kWh and 15.4 kVA. That’s enough power to start big household appliances like HVAC systems or water pumps. The IQ System Controller 3G provides the backbone, managing solar, batteries, and generator inputs to deliver up to 46 kVA of off-grid power.
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Smarter control and connectivity
Each system connects to the cloud through Enphase’s IQ Combiner 5C HDK, which bundles solar interconnection, communications, and metering into one box. For homes without reliable broadband, the built-in 4G LTE Cat 4 modem keeps the system online for monitoring, firmware updates, and remote support.
Homeowners can manage everything from the Enphase App – from solar generation and battery status to generator integration and load control.
Why it matters
As grid outages become more common and homeowners look for ways to gain energy independence, off-grid systems like this are becoming more appealing.
“With the launch of our off-grid solution, we are giving homeowners a reliable path to complete energy independence,” said Nitish Mathur, Enphase’s SVP of customer experience. Enphase says over 100 homes are already operating entirely off-grid using its technology. The company plans to expand availability beyond the US in 2026.
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Global offshore wind targets are still strong enough to triple global capacity by 2030, despite the US’s offshore wind stagnation under Trump. A new analysis from energy think tank Ember and the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) shows that the rest of the world is charging forward, underscoring confidence in offshore wind as a cornerstone of future clean energy systems.