Electric construction equipment is quieter, cleaner, and safer to operate than diesel equipment anywhere, but that’s especially true in crowded urban areas where more people live and work. Charging that equipment isn’t always as easy as driving over to the nearest BP Pulse fast charger, however. Now, a new pilot program in London is hoping to eliminate the need to take equipment to chargers, and bringing charging to them.
In a six week trial program with TfL (Transport for London, the public body that manages London’s transportation system), contractor FM Conway is bringing mobile charging to Volvo CE electric construction vehicles deployed at various construction sites in and around London.
UK startup Charge Fairy (really) works by bringing electricity to site on a battery-packed mobile charging van. The van takes power to whichever machines need it, helping to address the challenges of having reliable grid access on hand or trailering the equipment assets back and forth to charging stations.
“The trial of electric construction vehicles at (London’s) Redcliffe Gardens is such a vital part of achieving our goals, and our work with FM Conway, Volvo CE, and Charge Fairy shows how construction across our transport network can be environmentally conscious,” explains Carl Eddleston, TfL’s Director of Network Management and Resilience and manager of the new pilot. “We are going to review the trial results and carry on exploring the best ways to decarbonize our network construction chain.”
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The pilot plans its charging routes using on-board vehicle telematics to get real-time updates on the machines’ charging levels. When a machine’s battery reads low, the van gets deployed and the asset can typically get juiced up in as little as one hour.
Electrek’s Take
Volvo EC18 Electric excavator in London; via Volvo CE.
As the electric construction equipment market evolves, the winners will be the manufacturers who deliver bulletproof, seamless operation from a dealer and support network that’s just as bulletproof and seamless. The municipal equipment market deals with complaints of noises and smells more than most, meaning it is primed for electrification – it’s just a matter of which brand will deliver the most capable, flexible solutions to market first.
Tesla drivers, if you’ve been looking for a way to protect your OEM wheels, turn heads, and bonus – squeeze out more range! – the all-new HALODISC 2 Custom Numbers wheel covers from Haloblk (pronounced “halo-black”) check every box.
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These aren’t just any wheel covers. They’re explicitly engineered for Tesla and proven by thousands of drivers to boost range by up to 10%. The sleek, aerodynamic design cuts through air resistance and reduces wheel turbulence, so you get more miles out of every charge – especially on highways and long road trips. Available in black or white, you can pick the color that best matches your Tesla’s look.
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Choosing one is more than just an aesthetic decision; it’s a cultural nod to motorsport heritage and a way to stand out from uniform OEM emblems. It ships together with your HALODISC 2 order (US only).
Tesla has partnered with its recent foe, Disney, to promote its latest movie, Tron: Ares, with an in-car update that is not making everyone happy.
Many owners view it as Tesla making in-car advertisements and/or working on something that distracts them from needed software updates.
Today, Tesla announced and began pushing an update to its car owners, which essentially amounts to an advertisement for Disney’s new movie, Tron: Ares.
The update enables owners to turn their in-car visualization into a Tron bike.
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The update is surprising on several levels, as it essentially serves as an advertisement for a Disney movie.
However, more importantly, Tesla is pushing advertisements to its vehicle owners inside their cars, and people are not happy.
Examining the first few dozen comments below the announcement, the reaction is mainly negative.
Tesla owner Matt Chinander wrote:
“Oh good, advertisements are making it in my car.”
Austin Harrison added:
I’m sorry but this is an absolutely worthless update. Also, when did Tesla start partnering with woke companies like Disney? Didn’t Elon just go a rampage LAST WEEK against woke?
Tesla owners are also upset that the automaker spent time and resources developing this software update rather than working on more significant updates, such as delivering on its long-promised full self-driving capabilities, especially on older HW3 cars, which have been left untouched for more than a year.
Electrek’s Take
Yes, this is not a good look. This is definitely a promotional effort for the movie. The question is: Is Tesla getting paid for this?
Is it really pushing advertising inside its vehicles?
Even if it is a cross-promotional effort, it doesn’t look great, and it’s a clear step toward automakers pushing ads inside connected vehicles.
I am not a fan all around. The idea of Tesla pushing ads in-car is not ideal, and this partnership itself is a questionable move.
I loved the original Tron movie. Legacy wasn’t great, but the soundtrack was outstanding. That said, I don’t have high hopes for this new one based on the trailer, which looked cheesy. It currently holds a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The most disappointing aspect is that Tesla would spend any effort on this rather than on much-needed updates to its user interface and other software features within its vehicles.
Prediction: within the next year, Tesla will start doing this more often and offer an “ad-free experience” with its “premium connectivity subscription.”
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Ford is no longer planning to offer a program that would extend the $7,500 EV tax credit for at least another few months. The company said it will continue offering competitive lease payments.
Ford ends $7,500 EV tax credit program for leases
Just a day after GM suddenly ended plans for a program to extend the $7,500 EV tax credit for leases, Ford announced it will also end the offer.
“Ford will not claim the EV tax credit,” a company spokesperson confirmed with Reuters on Thursday. However, don’t expect all the savings to disappear. At least, not yet. The spokesperson added Ford will still offer the “competitive lease payments we have in the market today.”
The move comes after crosstown rival GM announced a similar decision on Wednesday. Last week, Reuters reported that Ford and GM were planning to launch programs to extend the $7,500 tax credit for EV leases.
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The program involved purchasing EVs from dealer inventories through their financing divisions, enabling them to become eligible for the credit.
Ford Mustang Mach-E (left) and F-150 Lightning (right) (Source: Ford)
Ford and GM would then use the funds to continue offering the $7,500 credit for those leasing an EV. The programs were expected to run at least a few months after the September 30 deadline.
The company spokesperson said Ford Credit is still offering 0% APR financing for 72 months, along with other incentives, for electric vehicle buyers.
2025 Ford F-150 Lightning (Source: Ford)
A source close to the matter told Reuters that GM scrapped the program after Republican Senator Bernie Moreno called to close a loophole that enabled the credit to be passed on through leasing.
“GM worked on an extended offer for the benefit of our customers and dealers,” a company spokesperson said, adding, “After further consideration, we have decided not to claim the tax credit.” The company will provide about $6,000 of its own cash instead to continue supporting EV leases. GM will also continue to fund the incentive lease terms until the end of October.
Several automakers are promising to keep the savings going with incentives of their own, including Hyundai, BMW, and Stellantis.
Looking to grab the savings while they are still here? You can use our links below to find available models in your area.
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