The Governor of the State of São Paulo, João Doria, presented at the end of March the Pró-Veículo Verde (Pro Green Vehicle) programme for the production of hybrid vehicles or vehicles powered by clean energy in the state, the objective of which is to attract up to BRA20bn (USD4bn) of investments in the next three years.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has opened the application process for its Low or No Emission Program for buses. The scheme is offering USD1.1 billion in competitive grant funding. In addition, the government is offering USD372 million in funding under the Grants for Bus and Bus Facilities (BBF) Program.

Grammer AG, based in Ursensollen, Germany, is serving as the coordinator for the Adaptive Process Chains for Increasing Production Quality and Efficiency (AdaProQ) project initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Bridgestone Corporation, based in Tokyo, Japan, has launched a joint programme to develop chemical recycling technologies that utilise used tyres to achieve high-yield production of isoprene, a raw material used in synthetic rubber production.

Andy Palmer, CEO of Switch Mobility and Board Member of InoBat Auto, discusses the problems facing British manufacturing in an interview with Truck & Bus Builder

Businesses in the UK will be supported in buying vans (to 4.5t) and trucks (over 4.5t) with grants of up to GBP5,000 and GBP16,000 respectively.

The two companies plan to sell around 5,000 retrofitted trucks and buses in France by 2030, supported by over EUR1.5m raised earlier in the year by REV Mobilities.

The FTA will award grants to public transport operators through two programmes designed to defray the cost of procuring low- and zero-emission buses.

The EPA has proposed the introduction of more stringent restrictions on the emission of greenhouse gases and nitrogen oxides from heavy-duty vehicles as soon as model year 2027.

The Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) has announced an award of GBP62 million in funding to bus operators as part of Phase 1 of the ScotZEB project. The scheme is providing funding to operators and local authorities for the purchase of 276 zero emission buses and the associated charging infrastructure.

Changes to the UK’s Highway Code, the rules and regulations that govern UK road use, have increased the responsibility placed on drivers of larger vehicles to protect more vulnerable road users. The rule change was largely aimed at improving the safety of cyclists and pedestrians at turnings and roundabouts.

Ricardo's goal is to develop an electric motor with a smaller composition of scarce materials without compromising on performance.