The Earthshot Prize, hosted by Prince William and Luciano Huck, has announced its 2025 winners in Rio de Janeiro, celebrating 5 solutions aiming to tackle climate and environmental challenges. Each winner received £1m to scale their impact and continue their journey. Brazil’s re.green is using AI and drones to restore degraded rainforest land, making reforestation economically viable. The City of Bogota is transforming urban air quality with electric buses, green corridors, and cycling infrastructure. The High Seas Treaty sets a new global standard for protecting marine biodiversity in international waters. Lagos Fashion Week is reshaping the fashion industry by requiring designers to prove sustainable sourcing and production, with plans to replicate the model across Africa. In Bangladesh, Friendship is delivering climate-resilient infrastructure, ranging from storm-proof villages to mangrove restoration, thus empowering vulnerable communities. These winners were selected from 2,500 entries across 72 countries, with the winners reflecting the Earthshot ethos: scalability, inclusivity, and locally driven innovation.
Hyundai Motor Group has announced it has launched its new €150m Square Campus at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre (HMETC) in Russelsheim, Germany. Thus, significantly boosting its European R&D capabilities, as it spans 25,000 m², and the facility includes one of the world’s largest semi-anechoic chambers for comprehensive noise, vibration, and harshness testing. It also hosts an EV charging laboratory, a high-fidelity driving simulator, and dedicated electronics labs focused on over-the-air software updates, cybersecurity, and advanced driver-assistance systems. Designed to complement other global R&D hubs, Square Campus enhances Hyundai’s ability to tailor vehicle development to European standards and preferences. Built with sustainability in mind, the campus incorporates recycled materials, solar panels, and heat pump systems. Currently employing over 500 specialists, HMETC is actively expanding its team. This investment underscores Hyundai’s strategic commitment to Europe, reinforcing its position in sustainable transport.
ZeroAvia has announced it has secured €21m from the EU Innovation Fund to launch the world’s 1st commercial network of hydrogen-electric aircraft in Norway. The project, HyFlyer II Norway, will retrofit 15 Cessna Caravan aircraft with ZeroAvia’s hydrogen propulsion systems and deploy them across 15 regional routes by 2028. This initiative supports Norway’s goal of achieving zero-emission domestic aviation by 2040. The grant will also fund the development of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and operational frameworks, including airport integration, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance. ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric technology uses fuel cells to power electric motors, offering a clean alternative to conventional aviation. The project involves collaboration with airports, airlines, and energy providers to ensure readiness for commercial operations. This milestone positions Norway as a leader in sustainable aviation, accelerating the transition to zero-emission regional air travel across Europe.
Porsche has announced that its upcoming Cayenne Electric SUV will integrate advanced technologies directly derived from its Formula E race car, the championship-winning 99X Electric. Key tweaks include a direct oil‑cooling system that delivers up to 98% efficiency by circulating coolant through the motor’s copper stator, mirroring the performance-focused technique used on the track. The SUV offers up to 600 kW of (regenerative) braking capacity, allowing it to recover energy during deceleration on par with the race car. Charging capabilities also reflect its motorsport lineage: the Cayenne Electric supports high-speed 400 kW DC charging, enabling 10–80% charge in around 16 minutes. The crossover between racing and production extends beyond hardware to software and development methods, with close collaboration between motorsport and road-car teams speeding up vehicle refinement. The Cayenne Electric exemplifies Porsche’s approach of leveraging racing technologies to enhance efficiency, performance, and development agility in its EV lineup.
SMMT has released data that indicates that in Q3 25, the UK used-car market saw BEVs reach a record 4% market share, representing 80,614 units sold, a 44.4% increase YoY. Overall used sales reached 2,021,265 transactions, marking the strongest Q3 since 2021 and extending an 11-quarter growth streak. Conventional petrol vehicles, although the best-selling segment, remained essentially stagnant, selling c.1.15 million units (+1.9%), alongside diesel at 659,000 units (-2.8%). Hybrids showed notable gains: HEVs grew by 30% to 107,727 units, while PHEVs edged up 2% to 23,480 units. Popular used car segments included superminis, lower-medium cars, and dual-purpose vehicles, which surged 9.3%. Interestingly, specialist sports and upper-medium/executive cars declined, potentially due to social macro headwinds. The average age of vehicles sold climbed to 9.5 years, though nearly one-third of cars under a year old were electrified. The strong uptake of used EVs underscores their growing appeal.
The European Commission has announced it is committing €2.9bn by 2027 to accelerate sustainable fuel production for the aviation and maritime sectors. Funded through multiple pots of capital, €2bn will be allocated via InvestEU, with an additional €300m from the European Hydrogen Bank to support hydrogen-based fuels. The Innovation Fund will contribute €446m toward synthetic aviation and maritime fuel projects, while Horizon Europe allocates €133.5m for fuel research and innovation. By late 2025, the European Commission and member states plan to launch an early movers coalition pilot for synthetic aviation fuel, aiming to mobilise at least €500m in investment under the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan. In the medium term, work will begin on mechanisms to connect producers and buyers of sustainable fuels, thus reducing investment uncertainty and increasing coordinated collaboration. These efforts support EU climate targets, including ReFuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime regulations, which require substantial volumes of bio- and e‑fuels, totalling around 20 million tonnes, by 2035.
Rivian has announced it has launched its East Coast headquarters in Atlanta, reinforcing its commitment to expanding operations in the region. The new office is in the Junction Krog District building near the Atlanta Beltline and will have around 500 employees. Full occupancy is expected by winter, with the facility playing a key role in supporting Rivian’s upcoming manufacturing plant in Social Circle (Georgia). A bespoke feature of the headquarters is Rivian Commons, a public-facing space designed to educate visitors about the company’s vehicles and its future Georgia-based operations. Rather than functioning as a retail showroom, the Commons offers interactive exhibits and visualisations of Rivian’s planned production site. This move aligns with Rivian’s broader investment in Georgia, where it is developing a $5bn manufacturing facility in Stanton Springs North. The plant is projected to create 7,500 jobs and produce up to 400,000 EVs annually once fully operational. Furthermore, Rivian plans to collaborate with local universities and technical colleges to build a skilled workforce and strengthen community ties. The establishment of the Atlanta headquarters marks a significant step forward in Rivian’s growth strategy, positioning the company to scale production and deepen its presence in the Southeastern USA clean energy sector.
COP 30 in Belem started this week, and the intersection of trade and climate policy is becoming increasingly central to global discussions. Key themes will revolve around how governments are turning to trade-related instruments, such as border carbon adjustments (BCAs), green subsidies, sustainability standards, and deforestation-free import regulations, to help meet climate goals. While these tools offer promising pathways to reduce emissions and promote cleaner production, they must be carefully designed to avoid unintended consequences like carbon leakage, trade disputes, and economic inequality. BCAs aim to equalise carbon costs between domestic and imported goods, discouraging companies from relocating to countries with weaker climate policies. The EU’s CBAM, set to fully launch in 2026, is a leading example, though challenges remain around data collection, system compatibility, and fairness for developing nations. Other tools, including green subsidies and eco-conscious procurement, can drive demand for clean technologies but risk creating trade barriers if not harmonised. Deforestation-free import rules are gaining traction, but must be implemented in ways that support small producers through financial aid, training, and transparent supply chain systems. At COP 30, stakeholders will push for open dialogue, targeted support for developing countries, and globally aligned frameworks. These efforts aim to ensure trade mechanisms reinforce climate action while promoting equity and cooperation across borders.
Deals
Evotrex, a California-based mobility startup, has raised $16m in a Pre‑A funding round led by Xstar Capital. Investors such as Unity Ventures, Kylinhall Partners and Vision Plus Capital also participated. The capital raised will be used to expand engineering and product teams and to advance the commercialisation of its debut product, its 1st power-generating RV trailer. Designed to overcome off-grid power and EV towing limitations, the trailer features an integrated advanced energy management system capable of powering onboard appliances efficiently and potentially extending the range of electric tow vehicles, thus reducing, or hopefully eliminating, the need for charging stops. The RV trailer is positioned to redefine off-grid adventure by combining electric convenience with self‑sufficient power generation. It aims to empower adventurers to have extended stays in remote locations without worrying about charging (infrastructure).
Beta Technologies, a Vermont-based electric aviation startup, made a strong public market debut on the New York Stock Exchange. Pricing its IPO at $34 per share, above the expected range, it consequently sold 29.9 million shares, raising $1.02bn and achieving a valuation of $7.6bn. Interestingly, rather than pursuing the (traditional) Silicon Valley startup funding route, the company built Beta in Vermont, attracting $1.15bn in backing from institutional investors such as Fidelity & the Qatar Investment Authority. In a rather bold move, Beta proceeded with its IPO filings during a government shutdown, taking advantage of SEC rules that automatically approved statements after 20 business days. Beta is now focused on achieving commercial certification for its electric aircraft via the FAA. The company has developed 2 platforms, the Alia CX300 eCTOL for regional flight and the Alia A250 eVTOL for urban operations. It’s also expanding its electric aircraft charging infrastructure business, already servicing clients such as Archer Aviation.