Volvo Construction Equipment has officially transitioned the A30 Electric and A40 Electric articulated haulers into serial production at its Braås site in Sweden. Originally unveiled as prototypes at bauma 2025, these machines represent the largest electric articulated haulers currently available on the global market, boasting payloads of 29 and 39 tons, respectively.

Designed for high-utilization environments like large-scale infrastructure projects and mining, the haulers offer up to six hours of operation on a single charge, depending on the application. The first production units are scheduled for delivery to customers in the United Kingdom and Norway this month.

This move solidifies Volvo’s commitment to lead the heavy-duty transition, moving beyond compact machines into the most energy-intensive segments of the construction industry.

Source: Volvo  Read The Article

PSR Analysis. The serial production of 40-ton electric haulers is a “proof of concept” for the entire European construction sector. For years, the industry argued that electrification was only viable for small excavators or urban projects; Volvo has now shattered that ceiling.

For competitors like Komatsu and Caterpillar, the pressure is now on to move their European fleets toward serial production rather than limited pilot programs. For fleet operators, the “total cost of ownership” (TCO) equation is shifting; while the upfront cost remains high, the reduction in fuel costs and maintenance for such high-utilization machines makes them increasingly attractive.

This is particularly relevant given the Industrial Accelerator Act’s focus on green procurement, as public infrastructure projects in Scandinavia and the UK are now likely to mandate zero-emission machinery of this scale.   PSR

Emiliano Marzoli is Manager of European Operations at Power Systems Research

Simultaneously, KTM’s corporate structure shifted as Stephan Reiff (formerly of BMW Motorrad) officially assumed the role of Chief Commercial Officer on April 1. On the community front, KTM confirmed that the 2026 KTM Europe Adventure Rally in Gubbio, Italy, has reached near-capacity registrations.

These developments signal a move away from the “overproduction” issues of 2025 toward a leaner, premium-focused strategy centered on Austrian-made electric innovation and high-margin “Orange Family” events.

Sources: Bajaj, AutoEvolution, KTM   Read The Article, Read The Article, Read The Article

PSR Analysis.  The stabilization of KTM through Bajaj’s $642.72$ million USD (€550 million) refinancing and the Mattighofen hub expansion is a critical “rescue story” for the European motorcycle industry. By localizing the production of high-performance electric components like the Freeride E’s drivetrain in Austria, KTM is positioning itself to benefit from the EU Industrial Accelerator Act’s “Made in EU” incentives.

For the broader industry, KTM’s aggressive pivot to a “premium-core” strategy—divesting from bicycles and non-core sports cars—highlights a trend of consolidation among European motorcycle manufacturers facing pressure from Asian imports.

The successful registration of the Adventure Rally also underscores the rising importance of “experiential retail”; for players like BMW and Triumph, the message is clear: survival in the 2026 market depends as much on building a gated community of riders as it does on the technical specs of the bikes.

The integration of Indian financial capital with Austrian engineering creates a formidable competitor. KTM now possesses the scale of Bajaj Auto for global sourcing and the high-end R&D capability of Mattighofen for the European premium market. This “hybrid” model allows KTM to weather economic volatility better than it did as a standalone entity in 2024.

As the Freeride E hits dealerships this month, it serves as a laboratory for the next generation of electric street bikes. If KTM can successfully migrate this technology to a “Duke E” or “SMC E” platform by 2027, it will likely dominate the urban European motorcycle segment, particularly as cities tighten noise and emission regulations. For your newsletter, the key takeaway is that KTM has successfully “right-sized” and is now the leading European edge for electric off-road technology.  PSR

Emiliano Marzoli is Manager of European Operations at Power Systems Research

In response to the growing adoption of electric construction equipment, HD Construction Equipment has introduced South Korea’s first safety management certification system for high-voltage systems. The system is designed to educate specialists in maintaining and inspecting high-voltage batteries and electrical systems in electric excavators and other machinery.

Recognizing that the expansion of electric construction equipment requires addressing safety risks that differ from those of conventional diesel machines, the company has developed educational programs and a certification system. Certified individuals receive specialized training in handling high-voltage equipment, troubleshooting, and maintenance operations.

The company positions this initiative as part of the infrastructure development required for the expansion of the electric construction equipment market. HD Construction Equipment plans to continue fostering relevant talent and strengthening its service infrastructure.

Source: HD Construction Equipment

PSR Analysis: I think this initiative shows that South Korean construction equipment manufacturers are starting to see electrification as more than just product development. They view it as an “operation-oriented industrial infrastructure” that includes service systems and workforce development.

Electric construction machinery requires high-voltage batteries and electrical systems, so it demands different maintenance skills than conventional diesel machines. Against this backdrop, manufacturers’ move to establish a certification system reflects their intention to establish electrification in the market as a total solution that includes operation and maintenance, not as a standalone product.

In this regard, South Korean manufacturers’ approach appears to differ from that of their European and American counterparts. In Europe and the United States, service systems based on existing dealer networks are well-established, and efforts regarding electric construction machinery proceed as an extension of these frameworks.

In contrast, Korean manufacturers are proactively establishing certification systems and training programs to address the new risks associated with electrification. This proactive approach effectively mitigates operational uncertainties during the initial stages of electrification, potentially providing a competitive advantage, especially in regions with underdeveloped service infrastructure. PSR

Akihiro Komuro is Research Analyst, Far East and Southeast Asia, at Power Systems Research

The April 2026 issue of the Alternative Power Report produced by Power Systems Research and authored by Guy Youngs, features articles on problems with biofuels in Europe and how drivers consider EVs again. Read these articles and more in the April 2026 issue of Alternative Power Report today. PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Ashok Leyland’s move to develop and assemble its own battery packs marks one of its most strategically significant announcements in recent years. As India transitions toward a cleaner, multi-fuel commercial mobility ecosystem, this decision places the company at the center of the country’s electric commercial vehicle (ECV) transformation. The implications extend across technology, cost structure, competitive positioning, and long-term industry dominance.

At the core, battery packs account for 35–45% of an electric vehicle’s total cost, making them the single most influential factor in pricing and margins. By internalizing battery pack development, Ashok Leyland is aiming to break its dependence on third-party suppliers, reduce bill-of-materials cost, and secure tighter control over the EV value chain. This is crucial as global cell prices fluctuate and supply chains remain vulnerable to geopolitical shifts. In-house pack assembly gives the company cost stability, greater design flexibility, and freedom to optimize packs specifically for Indian duty cycles—ranging from stop-and-go urban e-buses to long-haul e-LCVs and future heavy-duty platforms.

Source: Ashok Leyland   Read The Article

The timing of this move is equally important. India’s e-bus demand is set to surge under government-led procurement models, while private fleet operators in logistics, e-commerce, and urban distribution are accelerating their shift to electric vehicles to reduce total cost of ownership.

With the ability to design and customize battery packs, Ashok Leyland can deliver superior range, enhanced thermal management, and higher safety standards—key parameters that fleet buyers evaluate while choosing OEM partners. This directly strengthens the company’s position against emerging EV-focused rivals as well as traditional competitors who are still dependent on external battery suppliers.

Furthermore, battery pack capability aligns with Ashok Leyland’s broader multi-fuel road map. The commercial vehicle market is evolving into a portfolio of fuels—CNG, LNG, electric, hydrogen ICE, and eventually hydrogen fuel cells. Among these, electrification will dominate the urban and medium-duty segments due to regulatory push, operational viability, and falling battery costs. Owning battery pack manufacturing ensures Ashok Leyland is structurally ready for this shift, while also enabling cross-application synergies for future hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, which too require battery-buffering systems.

This decision also future-proofs supply-chain resilience. As global OEMs increasingly localize components in India to meet Production Linked Incentive (PLI) norms and reduce import dependence, Ashok Leyland’s move places it ahead of the localization curve. It enhances long-term scalability, protects margins, and positions the company as a technology-integrated OEM rather than a traditional vehicle assembler.

In summary, Ashok Leyland’s entry into battery pack manufacturing is far more than an operational development—it is a forward-looking strategic investment that strengthens technological depth, enhances cost competitiveness, and secures leadership in India’s fast-evolving electric CV landscape.  PSR

Aditya Kondejkar is Research Analyst – South Asia Operations for Power Systems Research

In the January 2026 issue of the Alternative Power Report produced by Power Systems Research and authored by Guy Youngs, you’ll find articles on Tesla’s very weak 2025 sales in Europe, CATL’s winning position in the shipping electrification race, CATL’s upgrade to its sodium-ion battery, and the possibility that China is running out of critical battery materials. Read these articles and more in the January Alternative Power Report today. PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

SIBs hold a potential advantage over LIBs due to the abundance and accessibility of sodium, a material that is considerably cheaper than lithium. IRENA says the price of sodium carbonate between 2020 and 2024 ranged between $100/ton and $500/ton, while the price of lithium carbonate over the same period of time ranged between $6,000/ton and $83,000/ton.

Source: PV Magazine: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Not only is Sodium 1,000 times more abundant than Lithium and it’s readily accessible, SIBs also offer promising safety features, good performance across a range of temperatures and competitive lifespans. So, while there is phenomenal potential, we are at early stages and only time (and investment) will tell if we reach this lower cost.  PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Shipping is, by its nature, conservative for structural reasons tied to safety, long asset lifetimes, and unforgiving certification regimes, so deployment at this scale signals that electrification is no longer a pilot exercise but operating infrastructure.

China’s national policy environment reinforces that positioning. Inland shipping and ports sit squarely within China’s dual carbon objectives of peaking emissions before 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060, with national and provincial policies emphasizing low carbon ports, electrification of port equipment, expansion of shore power, and modernization of inland waterways.

Source: Clean Technica: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: While this is important as part of the drive to de-carbonize, none of these vessels are true shipping giants, as energy density and battery weight would make it impossible for large container ships to ply the worlds oceans as they do currently. PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

The program’s key points include:

• A national initiative aiming to popularize 20,000 electric motorcycles in 2025

• The national subsidy is US$ 10.86 million  (16 billion won), which significantly reduces the purchase price when combined with local government subsidies

• Particularly favors battery swap systems (BSS), subsidizing up to 70% of the vehicle price (previously 60%)

• Plans to establish 500 new battery swap stations to develop swap infrastructure

• A separate US$ 3.4 million (5 billion won) will be invested in swap station development

• Subsidies are limited to batteries and stations that comply with national standards (KS specifications)

• A policy mechanism will promote standardization to prevent fragmented specifications among manufacturers

• Additional subsidies will be provided for high-performance models with fast-charging capability (3 kW or higher) and battery condition monitoring

The primary target for adoption is commercial two-wheelers for delivery riders to solve charging wait times through the swap system

The objectives are to reduce noise and exhaust emissions, improve the urban environment, and accelerate the integration of electric motorcycle (EV) infrastructure

Battery-swap electric motorcycles: 1,654 units in 2023, doubling to 3,429 units in 2024. As of 2024, there are 1,872 swap stations nationwide. The plan is to add another 500 stations.

Source: Seoul Shinmum

PSR Analysis: This initiative is more than just a policy to distribute 20,000 electric motorcycles. Rather, it is a comprehensive package that encompasses infrastructure, standards, and demand creation.

The goal is to rapidly establish a “battery-swap EV motorcycle + standardized battery-swap station network” across South Korea. This system aims to advance the electrification of delivery bikes, eliminate charging wait times, standardize fragmented specifications through national regulation, and promote high-performance electric motorcycles. The strategy seeks to drive low-quality, low-cost vehicles out of the market. If sustained, the system will likely create a structure in which those controlling the battery pack, swap station, and subscription model will profit more than manufacturers selling vehicles alone.   PSR

Akihiro Komuro is Research Analyst, Far East and Southeast Asia, for Power Systems Research

Critical minerals essential to clean tech, defense, and AI have become the new fault lines in global supply chains. The IEA also states that energy has become a central focus of geopolitical power struggles, making it one of the defining economic and security challenges of our time

The IEA’s annual “World Energy Outlook” explores three possible scenarios for the future, emphasizing that none are predictions. Instead, they are roadmaps that show what could happen depending on the choices governments and industries make on policy, technology, and investment.

Across every scenario, one theme stands out: electricity demand is surging faster than for any other form of energy. Electricity currently accounts for only about 20% of global energy use, yet it powers more than 40% of the global economy.

Source: Electrek: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Driving this growth are data centers, AI, and electrification across transportation, heating, and manufacturing sectors and the IEA warns that grid expansion and storage aren’t keeping up with this growth.    PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research