Switzerland

An electric compact excavator was airlifted to a summit in the Swiss Alps to help rebuild one of the world’s most iconic cable car routes – because diesel machines aren’t up to the job.

A Volvo FH Electric 40-ton semi-trailer truck made a 3,000 km (1,864-mile) trip between Zurich, Switzerland, and Valencia, Spain – the longest distance traveled by a commercial electric truck so far.

Citing a report which found hybrid cars offered negligible emissions and fuel consumption advantages when tested on Switzerland’s Alpine roads, one Swiss region has decided to “pull the plug” on subsidies – even calling the claims of hybrids’ environmental advantages a “con.”

It’s arguable but generally accepted that Tesla’s main advantage over other electric vehicle manufacturers is its pain-free network of fast-charging stations: Tesla Superchargers. Combined with Tesla’s range, the Superchargers enable real long distance driving – something painful with level 2 charging or even low DC charging (~60 kW).

Several alternatives to Tesla’s proprietary charging system are available and promise to soon deliver up to 150 kW, which can charge most vehicles in about 30 to 45 minutes. The latest system is going to come online in Switzerland this summer and will operate over 150 chargers at 100 locations by 2018.
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Switzerland was Tesla’s breakout European market last year and it continues to be an impressive market for the company. Deliveries were up 213% year-over-year at the end of 2015 and now we learn that  Model S deliveries are up 117% in the first quarter 2016 versus the same period last year, according to registration data.
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Switzerland continues to be an impressive market for Tesla where the company delivers just as many cars as in Germany, even though it’s a much smaller market than its neighboring country. According to registration data, Tesla delivered 1,556 Model S’s in Switzerland last year and 193 units in December alone.
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The city of Sion in Switzerland approved a pilot project with two all-electric and fully autonomous buses which will hit the road as soon as spring 2016. The project could become the first fully autonomous public transportation system in operation.

The buses are being introduced in collaboration with the city of Sion, France-based electric bus manufacturer Navya and self-driving software firm BestMile.
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Switzerland continues to be an impressive market for Tesla. Based on registration data, Tesla delivered 120 Model S’s in the country last month, which brings the year-to-date total to 1,269 cars versus 357 during the same period in 2014.
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Tesla has been the best-selling electric vehicle in Switzerland for over 2 years now, but recently it’s been doing so well that it is not only outselling all EVs, but also every gas-powered vehicles in its class.

Based on registration data, Tesla delivered 513 Model S’s in Switzerland during the third quarter 2015 (July to Sept.), a 450% increase over the same period last year.
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