Also on the topic of electrified transport, French start-up Transition-One has recently applied for permission from national and EU-wide regulators to sell retrofitting “kits” that enable motorists to convert their old diesel cars into electrified models.

The kits contain the equipment and instructions necessary to add an electric engine, battery pack and connected dashboard to some of the most popular old (10+ years) diesel models in Europe, including Fiat Chrysler, Volkswagen, Renault and PSA Group cars. Crucially, the kits will retail for around €8,500, or €5,000 in France after Government subsidies. Transition-One founder Aymeric Libeau told Bloomberg that his innovation will, therefore, help motorists who cannot afford new EVs, which typically retail for a minimum of €20,000, to electrify their transport.

Libeau expects French and EU regulators to give him the go-ahead by the end of the year and has plans to start taking pre-orders for the kits in autumn.