News of the week
Flexis, OPES Solar Mobility, Mercedes-Benz and more
Flexis reveals details on its new generation of electric vans, OPES Solar Mobility launches a new line of flexible solar modules for commercial vehicles, Mercedes-Benz celebrates 30 years of the Sprinter with a major production milestone, and Incat Tasmania unveils the world’s largest fully electric ferry — these are our top stories from Week 19 of 2025.
Flexis reveals details on its new generation of electric vans, OPES Solar Mobility launches a new line of flexible solar modules for commercial vehicles, Mercedes-Benz celebrates 30 years of the Sprinter with a major production milestone, and Incat Tasmania unveils the world’s largest fully electric ferry — these are our top stories from Week 19 of 2025.
Flexis — a joint venture between Renault, the Volvo Group, and CMA CGM — has released new information about its upcoming line of electric delivery vans. Designed specifically for urban logistics, the vehicles are built on an EV-native skateboard platform and feature a Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) architecture.
Three models are planned: a step-in van with 1.9 meters of interior height, a panel van, and a cargo van. All versions are expected to offer a range of up to 450 kilometers (280 miles) and support fast charging from 0 to 80% in under 20 minutes.
A newly developed 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor with 345 Nm of torque, engineered and manufactured in Europe, will power the vehicles. Renault reports a 95% efficiency rate for the motor, meaning nearly all electrical energy is converted into mechanical power.
Two battery options will be offered: a long-range NMC battery with around 450 km of range, and a lower-cost LFP battery providing up to 350 km. Production is set to begin in 2026 at Renault’s Sandouville plant.
OPES Solar Mobility has launched a new generation of flexible solar modules designed for commercial vehicles. The new O.Motion modules use a proprietary “matrix” architecture that delivers high energy output even under partial shading conditions.
Starting in fall 2025, the modules will be produced at a new facility in Zwenkau, near Leipzig, Germany. Designed specifically for mobile applications, they promise high energy yield and long service life.
Two Fraunhofer Institutes and multiple vehicle manufacturers contributed to development. Initially, the solar panels will be installed on diesel-powered trucks with large roof surfaces to supplement onboard power.
Mercedes-Benz is marking the 30th anniversary of its iconic Sprinter van. CEO Ola Källenius announced on LinkedIn that the five-millionth Sprinter has rolled off the production line — and it’s a fully electric eSprinter, built in Charleston, South Carolina.
The milestone vehicle was delivered to longtime partner FedEx. Källenius called the occasion a testament to “innovation, quality, and craftsmanship.
Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania has unveiled the world’s largest fully electric ferry — a 130-meter-long catamaran capable of carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles.
The ferry features a massive battery system weighing more than 250 tons with over 40 megawatt-hours of capacity — four times more than any maritime system to date. Power is delivered via eight electric waterjet propulsion units.
The vessel is set to operate between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Colonia, Uruguay.