EV News Daily - Electric Car Podcast

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart XIAOMI SU7 FACELIFT GETS GOOD FIRST REVIEWS https://evne.ws/4uSOoS6 XIAOMI BECOMES BYD'S TOP OUTSIDE BATTERY BUYER https://evne.ws/4c5v6BA CHINA'S VEHICLE EXPORTS SURGE IN FEBRUARY https://evne.ws/3NCIVhz AUDI OPENS A6L E-TRON PRE-SALES IN CHINA https://evne.ws/4dcewB1 AION UT JOINS GAC OUTPUT AT GRAZ https://evne.ws/41fsWt7 CHERY OPENS FULWIN T9L PRE-SALES https://evne.ws/4dJkf1h CHINA'S SHOOTING BRAKES CROWD INTO VIEW https://evne.ws/4dc4Q9D CHINESE CARMAKERS OVERTAKE JAPAN GLOBALLY https://evne.ws/3NGEEty

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart AFEELA EV PROGRAMME SCRAPPED https://evne.ws/47PAQgg MG TEASES SOLIDCORE BATTERY https://evne.ws/40OT3Xw EV CAR/VAN CONVERSIONS FROM RENAULT AND VOLVO https://evne.ws/4t5SG6X AUSTRALIAN FUEL SHORTAGES SPREAD WITHOUT SUPPLY LOSS https://evne.ws/4uQBVOI VAUXHALL ASTRA FACELIFT STARTS AT £29,995 https://evne.ws/3Pyu0pa UK PLEDGES £1 BILLION FOR FLEET ELECTRIFICATION https://evne.ws/47Sm8oI SK SIGNET STARTS TEXAS BUILD OF 400-KW CHARGER https://evne.ws/4uQBqUQ ROLLS-ROYCE OPENS ELECTRIC COACHBUILD PROGRAMME https://evne.ws/4t4DXZT FERRARI TUNES LUCE FOR FEEL, NOT FIGURES https://evne.ws/4bxsmNg XPENG AUSTRALIA DISTRIBUTOR ENTERS ADMINISTRATION https://evne.ws/4c2I5nw

It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 25 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyAFEELA EV PROGRAMME SCRAPPEDSony Honda Mobility has scrapped its Afeela EV programme after Honda's broader EV strategy reassessment — which included a writedown of up to 2.5 trillion yen ($15.7 billion) — left the joint venture with no viable route to market. The Afeela 1, priced from $89,900 with deliveries planned for late 2026, has been cancelled alongside a second model targeting 2028, with California reservation holders receiving full refunds.MG TEASES SOLIDCORE BATTERYMG Motor has opened a third European engineering centre in Frankfurt and unveiled SolidCore, a semi-solid-state battery cell using a manganese-based cathode, semi-solid electrolyte shield, and graphite anode — claiming improvements in safety, range, durability and cold-weather performance without providing specific figures. MG claims to be the first automaker to mass-produce a semi-solid-state battery, though the distinction from a similar cell already in China-market MG4s since December 2025 remains unclear; SolidCore is expected in European EVs by end of 2026.EV CAR/VAN CONVERSIONS FROM RENAULT AND VOLVORenault has revealed an electric Twingo van conversion developed for EDF, doubling load capacity from 360 to 797 litres via a removable rear seat, mesh bulkhead, and cargo cage — though the concept remains unlikely to reach UK sale. Volvo UK is already in market with the EX30 Cargo, a fleet-only compact van offering 1,000 litres of capacity, 390kg payload, and a top dual-motor variant producing 423bhp with a 0–62mph time of 3.6 seconds.AUSTRALIAN FUEL SHORTAGES SPREAD WITHOUT SUPPLY LOSSPanic buying — not supply disruption — has left over 500 petrol stations across Australia short of at least one fuel grade, with New South Wales worst affected at 289 sites, including 164 diesel-dry locations pushing diesel prices above $3 per litre. Authorities have not declared a national fuel emergency or introduced rationing, with Victoria's Energy Minister confirming the strain is entirely driven by consumer behaviour rather than any import disruption.VAUXHALL ASTRA FACELIFT STARTS AT £29,995The facelifted Vauxhall Astra starts at £29,995 across mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full EV variants in both hatchback and Sports Tourer estate, with the PHEV's battery growing from 12.4kWh to 17.2kWh for 52 miles of official electric range and a BiK rate of 10% — undercutting the Golf eHybrid by £6,490. The Astra Electric uses a 154bhp motor with 55.4kWh usable battery, 281 miles of quoted range, and 100kW DC charging covering 20–80% in around 30 minutes.UK PLEDGES £1 BILLION FOR FLEET ELECTRIFICATIONThe UK government has committed £1 billion to commercial fleet electrification, with the Zero Emissions Truck and Van scheme covering up to 40% of purchase costs — reaching £81,000 for the heaviest electric trucks and £5,000 for vans, though reduced from a previous maximum of £120,000 for trucks over 26 tonnes. A separate £170 million uplift to the Depot Charging Scheme allows businesses to reclaim up to 70% of depot charging installation costs, capped at £1 million per application.SK SIGNET STARTS TEXAS BUILD OF 400-KW CHARGERSK Signet has begun production of a 400-kW all-in-one DC fast charger at its Texas facility, using silicon carbide electronics to achieve 96.5% conversion efficiency while reducing its physical footprint by up to 54% versus its predecessor. A modular design offers 320–400kW output tiers, supports one to four CCS1/NACS ports delivering a stable 150–250kW per vehicle simultaneously, and features a 32-inch outdoor touchscreen with Plug & Charge, credit card, and RFID payment support.ROLLS-ROYCE OPENS ELECTRIC COACHBUILD PROGRAMMERolls-Royce has launched the Coachbuild Collection, a new electric coachbuilding programme for ultra-high-net-worth clients, with every vehicle fully road-legal and homologated — unlike predecessors Sweptail, Boatail, and Droptail. The first model will be fully electric, with powertrain, design, and interior details expected later in 2026, supported by a Private Office Network across Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai, New York, and Goodwood.FERRARI TUNES LUCE FOR FEEL, NOT FIGURESFerrari says its first fully electric car, the Luce, will prioritise driver feel over headline performance figures, with CEO Benedetto Vigna consulting NASA and medical centres to identify the point at which EV acceleration becomes neurologically disturbing. Ferrari identified five distinct generators of driving thrills and is focusing on issues such as battery placement to address the mismatch between visual and vestibular cues in cornering caused by heavy EV battery packs.XPENG AUSTRALIA DISTRIBUTOR ENTERS ADMINISTRATIONXPeng's sole Australian distributor, Sydney-based TrueEV, has entered external administration after a lender stepped in over unmet financing arrangements, with insolvency specialists now managing and selling close to 200 G6 vehicles across Melbourne, Brisbane, Wollongong, and Fremantle. A simultaneous legal dispute between TrueEV and XPeng has escalated to court action, leaving the brand's planned 2026 Australian expansion — including the X9 and G9 models — in serious doubt with no clarity offered to existing customers.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart RISING PETROL PRICES BOOST ULTRA-FAST CHARGING CASE https://evne.ws/3PHuskW BYD ADDS FREE FLASH CHARGING TO SONG ULTRA EV https://evne.ws/4lRzsj8 XIAOMI DEFIES CHINA EV MARGIN SQUEEZE https://evne.ws/40TQCms BAIC SHOWS 450 KM SODIUM-ION BATTERY https://evne.ws/4rP7dmn CHERY SETS OUT RHINO BATTERY RANGE https://evne.ws/4uRtoLm FREELANDER RETURNS ON MARCH 31 https://evne.ws/47WS0sn XPENG BRINGS TURING CHIP TO MONA M03 https://evne.ws/3PxewSi XPENG MONA D02 SUV BREAKS COVER https://evne.ws/4syN9pG NIO ES9 SPY SHOTS REVEAL FLAGSHIP SUV https://evne.ws/4sxnoWz

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BMW SETS 18 MARCH FOR I3 DEBUT https://evne.ws/3N5nIwz EU EV PRICES FALL AS RULES BITE https://evne.ws/4sMS5qx TESLA WINS UK POWER SUPPLY LICENCE https://evne.ws/4sKchta UK MAKERS BEAT 2024 ZEV TARGET https://evne.ws/4sNf5pg GREEN NCAP LINKS WITH CHARIN ON CHARGING TESTS https://evne.ws/4bs39lV ARVAL DATA SHOWS STRONG EV BATTERY LIFE https://evne.ws/4rDpzH1 AUSTRALIA EV TAX BREAK FACES BUDGET THREAT https://evne.ws/4uuCOwt ŠKODA POSTS RECORD 2025 RESULTS https://evne.ws/4lEqW74 SEAT SEES 2026 PROFIT LIFT AFTER TARIFF CUT https://evne.ws/4sNbS9d NISSAN LEAF BATTERIES RETURN AS VIGO CHARGERS https://evne.ws/417maoX

It's EV News Briefly for Monday 16 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyBMW SETS 18 MARCH FOR I3 DEBUTBMW will unveil the fully electric i3 sedan on 18 March, extending its Neue Klasse platform into the compact sedan segment, with assembly already underway at its Munich plant and series production expected to begin in late autumn. The i3 50 xDrive will be the first version to reach customers, featuring an 800V platform with up to 400kW peak charging and an expected range exceeding the iX3's 805km rating.EU EV PRICES FALL AS RULES BITEEU EV prices fell by an average of €1,800 in 2025, a 4% drop that ended five consecutive years of rising prices, taking the average to €42,700, driven by tighter CO2 emissions targets forcing carmakers to compete on price. T&E expects further price falls as more budget EVs launch, with affordable and mass-market EVs projected to outsell large and premium vehicles by 2027, alongside full price parity with ICE vehicles across all segments.TESLA WINS UK POWER SUPPLY LICENCETesla has been granted an electricity supply licence by Ofgem, allowing Tesla Energy Ventures to sell power directly to homes and businesses across England, Wales and Scotland from 11 March 2026, completing a six-year effort to become a full-service energy provider in Britain. Ofgem approved the licence despite over 8,400 objections citing Elon Musk's political activities, ruling that Tesla met all statutory requirements, and Tesla must now comply with standard UK consumer protection and billing obligations.UK MAKERS BEAT 2024 ZEV TARGETUK car makers met their 2024 ZEV mandate obligations despite a raw EV sales mix of 19.8% falling short of the 22% headline target, by using CO2 credits under the Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme to reach an effective 24.1%. The result gave manufacturers surplus credits to carry into future compliance years, with the government set to begin a ZEV mandate review later in 2026 and findings due in the first half of 2027.GREEN NCAP LINKS WITH CHARIN ON CHARGING TESTSGreen NCAP and the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) have agreed to collaborate on EV charging interoperability and performance transparency, with the goal of giving consumers independent, verified data on how well EVs work with charging infrastructure. The CharIN Label will be referenced within Green NCAP's Driving Experience assessment for electric vehicles, with testing following CharIN's own processes or recognised partner organisations.ARVAL DATA SHOWS STRONG EV BATTERY LIFEArval's analysis of 24,000 battery health certificates across 11 European countries found that EV and PHEV batteries decline by just 1% per 25,000km after an initial drop, with vehicles reaching 160,000km or six years of service still retaining battery health above 90%. Newer-generation models outperformed older ones by two to three percentage points, and the entire fleet comfortably exceeds the incoming Euro 7 requirement of 72% battery capacity retention at eight years or 100,000 miles.AUSTRALIA EV TAX BREAK FACES BUDGET THREATAustralia's Electric Vehicle Discount, which allows workers to reduce their tax bill by purchasing a new EV through salary sacrificing, is under review with reports suggesting the upcoming federal budget could remove it. Renewable energy advocates are opposing any scrapping of the scheme, arguing the timing is particularly poor given rising global fuel prices.ŠKODA POSTS RECORD 2025 RESULTSŠkoda posted record 2025 results with revenue up 8.3% to €30.1 billion, operating profit up 8.6% to €2.5 billion, and net cash flow reaching €2.3 billion. Electrified vehicle deliveries more than doubled to 218,700 units, with the Elroq ranking as the second best-selling BEV in Europe and plugged-in models accounting for 25.7% of European sales.SEAT SEES 2026 PROFIT LIFT AFTER TARIFF CUTSeat expects profitability to recover in 2026 after the EU dropped an additional tariff on the China-built Cupra Tavascan, which had cost the company an estimated €250 million in 2025 and forced it to absorb around €7,000 per vehicle rather than pass costs to buyers. EV margins still trail combustion-engine equivalents, but Seat expects improvement with the launch of the Cupra Raval small EV on April 9, priced comparably to combustion-engine cars and weeks away from series production.NISSAN LEAF BATTERIES RETURN AS VIGO CHARGERSNissan has partnered with Spanish firm Little Electric Energy to deploy a second-life battery charging system at the Port of Vigo, using 12 decommissioned 30 kWh Nissan Leaf packs to power four charging points supporting both 22 kW AC and 240 kW DC ultra-fast charging. The Green Charge Flex system targets sites with limited grid capacity by charging slowly from the available connection and delivering stored energy rapidly to EVs, avoiding costly grid upgrades.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BYD STUDIES CANADA PLANT, REJECTS JOINT VENTURE https://evne.ws/4bL1069 MERCEDES WEIGHS DEEPER GEELY TIES IN CHINA https://evne.ws/4s7Kymg VOLKSWAGEN ANHUI SETS FOUR 2026 LAUNCHES https://evne.ws/4uqQ2dn BYD FANG CHENG BAO LAUNCHES TI3 FLASH EDITION https://evne.ws/4sNYK3Y BYD FILES SEAL 06 DM-I WAGON https://evne.ws/4lx5Xmw BYD SEAL 08 FILED FOR Q2 2026 https://evne.ws/4sfjdPf BYD SETS SONG ULTRA EV LAUNCH DATE https://evne.ws/4sdS0fB LEAPMOTOR BRINGS LIDAR TO A BUDGET EV https://evne.ws/3PkHHrB ONVO PREPARES LIDAR L60 https://evne.ws/40C9ne3 CHINA CLIMATE PLAN KEEPS ITS OPTIONS OPEN https://evne.ws/3Niy9Nl HORMUZ SHUTDOWN HITS CHINESE CAR EXPORTS https://evne.ws/4sQTXyL

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart USED EV SUPPLY SET TO JUMP https://evne.ws/4b9e45c GLOBAL EV SALES FALL AS CHINA CORRECTS, EUROPE MOVES FORWARD https://evne.ws/41aQ1Nb PROLOGUE STUMLBES ON AS HONDA RETREATS FROM EVS https://evne.ws/4rCjaMj BYD SETS PARIS DEBUT FOR FLASH CHARGING https://evne.ws/3P6aeBi GERMAN MOTORWAY CHARGING OPENS TO COMPETITION https://evne.ws/4bJbjrs UK POWER NETWORKS STARTS UK-FIRST V2G TRIAL https://evne.ws/3N3bpRp GOVERNMENT HOLDS LINE ON ZEV REVIEW https://evne.ws/4seuhw0 ZERO SELLS XB AND XE DIRECT https://evne.ws/4ux6HMw BMW TEASES 2027 7 SERIES REFRESH https://evne.ws/3NyNQA1 NISSAN TO END LEAF REMOTE APP ACCESS https://evne.ws/4rsgXmp

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 15 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyUSED EV SUPPLY SET TO JUMPOver 300,000 EVs are expected to come off lease in 2026, driven by a post-2022 surge in EV leasing fuelled by a federal tax credit loophole under the Inflation Reduction Act. Used EVs are already selling faster than petrol cars, making the incoming supply wave a significant affordability opportunity for buyers.GLOBAL EV SALES FALL AS CHINA CORRECTS, EUROPE MOVES FORWARDGlobal EV sales hit 1.1 million units in February 2026, down 11% year-over-year, with year-to-date totals of 2.2 million units, down 8% versus 2025. Europe was the standout performer, up 21% year-to-date, with Italy posting a record February thanks to subsidies of up to €20,000, while North America fell 36% and China dropped 26% though Chinese EV exports surpassed 500,000 units.PROLOGUE STUMBLES ON AS HONDA RETREATS FROM EVSHonda has cancelled three planned US EVs — the 0 Series SUV, 0 Series Saloon, and Acura RSX — citing declining EV demand and the rollback of US EV incentives under the Trump administration. Honda is pivoting back to hybrids, and reports suggest the Prologue will also end production in December, though Honda has called that speculation.BYD SETS PARIS DEBUT FOR FLASH CHARGINGBYD will unveil its Flash Charging technology and the Denza Z9 GT in Paris on 8 April, showcasing a second-generation Blade Battery that charges from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. The Flash Chargers can deliver up to 1,500 kW using two cables simultaneously, though BYD has not confirmed European cable standards or peak output for that market.GERMAN MOTORWAY CHARGING OPENS TO COMPETITIONA Düsseldorf court ruled on 6 March that Germany's motorway EV charging market must open to full competition, ending Tank & Rast's de-facto monopoly over fast charging at around 360 motorway service areas. The decision, brought by Fastned, requires open tenders for charging installations later in 2026 and could set a Europe-wide precedent for breaking up incumbent charging monopolies.UK POWER NETWORKS STARTS UK-FIRST V2G TRIALUK Power Networks and Octopus Energy have launched a vehicle-to-grid trial in Amersham, Worthing, and Enfield, allowing EV owners to feed power back to the grid during peak demand. The initiative includes automatic approval of V2G charger connections — a UK first — with UK Power Networks approving 80% of requests compared to the national average of just 11%.GOVERNMENT HOLDS LINE ON ZEV REVIEWThe UK government has rejected industry calls to bring forward the ZEV mandate review, maintaining a 2026 review with findings due in early 2027. Ministers say the timetable will properly identify pressure points, though the car industry's lobby group SMMT argues the transition was built on assumptions that have since proved incorrect.ZERO SELLS XB AND XE DIRECTZero Motorcycles will sell its XB and XE electric dirt bikes directly to consumers online, shipping them in a crate for home assembly of key components like the battery and front fork. Dealers will continue to sell and service both models, with the direct channel aimed at streamlining fulfilment and better competing with electric off-road rivals.BMW TEASES 2027 7 SERIES REFRESHBMW has teased the updated 2027 7 Series ahead of its world premiere next month, with the mid-cycle refresh retaining the kidney grille rather than adopting Neue Klasse styling. The i7 electric variant is expected to receive a larger battery, silicon carbide inverters for better efficiency, and the full-width Panoramic Vision display from the iX3.NISSAN TO END LEAF REMOTE APP ACCESSNissan will shut down the NissanConnect EV app on 30 March, stripping remote charging, pre-heating, and battery monitoring from older Leaf models and e-NV200 vans. The move has drawn criticism from owners who note EVs often remain in use for over 12 years, highlighting a broader industry problem where digital features can become obsolete long before the vehicle itself does.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart LUCID SHOWS COSMOS AHEAD OF 2026 LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4d6MtDd LUCID SHOWS LUNAR ROBOTAXI CONCEPT https://evne.ws/47tj9mw UBER NEARS SECOND LUCID ROBOTAXI DEAL https://evne.ws/47CqK23 RIVIAN R2 TIMELINE TIGHTENS https://evne.ws/4lrcbUK POLESTAR 3 ADDS 800V TECH FOR AUSTRALIA https://evne.ws/4bs9oX0 STELLANTIS HOLDS TALKS WITH XIAOMI AND XPENG https://evne.ws/4boaXVR VOLKSWAGEN MISSES EU CO2 TARGET, AVOIDS FINES https://evne.ws/4lr5Jx4 LEAPMOTOR B10 OTA ADDS ONE-PEDAL DRIVING https://evne.ws/4brwVao GM BACKS RARE EV1 RESTORATION https://evne.ws/4sIhHVv

t's EV News Briefly for Saturday 14 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyLUCID SHOWS COSMOS AHEAD OF 2026 LAUNCHLucid Motors revealed the Cosmos, a midsize SUV targeting "upscale nurturers," with production planned by end of 2026 but meaningful sales not expected until 2027. The cab-forward SUV rides on an 800V architecture with Atlas drive unit motors, a J3400 charging port, and a new centralised electrical architecture designed to cut wiring costs and lower insurance expenses.LUCID SHOWS LUNAR ROBOTAXI CONCEPTLucid unveiled the Lunar, a two-seat robotaxi concept with steer-by-wire, no steering wheel or pedals, and a large central display, built on the same 800V midsize platform as the Cosmos. It targets an impressive 5.5–6 miles per kWh efficiency and DC fast-charging performance of 200+ miles of range in 15 minutes, achieved through aggressive aerodynamic tuning that allows a smaller battery pack.UBER NEARS SECOND LUCID ROBOTAXI DEALUber is finalising a deal with Lucid to deploy its midsize platform as a robotaxi at volumes comparable to the existing 20,000-unit Gravity SUV contract. If confirmed at similar scale, the combined Lucid-Uber robotaxi programme would total roughly 40,000 vehicles across two platforms.RIVIAN R2 TIMELINE TIGHTENSRivian has unveiled the R2 Performance starting at $57,990, but buyers cannot yet configure the car online and reservation holders won't learn their estimated order time until June. This puts Rivian's previously stated Spring delivery window in serious doubt, as orders won't enter production until June at the earliest.POLESTAR 3 ADDS 800V TECH FOR AUSTRALIAPolestar has updated the Polestar 3 with 800V architecture enabling up to 350kW DC fast charging and a 10–80% charge time of just 22 minutes, alongside a new NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin processor replacing the older Xavier chip. The range now spans three trims with battery packs of 92kWh or 106kWh, and existing owners will receive a complimentary hardware retrofit for the upgraded computing platform.STELLANTIS HOLDS TALKS WITH XIAOMI AND XPENGStellantis is in talks with Xiaomi and Xpeng about deals that could include Chinese carmakers taking stakes in Stellantis brands like Maserati and accessing European manufacturing facilities. In return, Stellantis hopes to gain EV and software technology it has struggled to develop competitively, and is also exploring a deeper tie-up with Leapmotor for affordable EVs in Europe.VOLKSWAGEN MISSES EU CO2 TARGET, AVOIDS FINESVolkswagen missed its 2025 EU fleet CO2 target, finishing at 100g/km against its 95g/km limit, despite BEV deliveries rising 32% to nearly 1 million units. The EU's three-year compliance mechanism means no immediate fines, but the group must now meet fleet limits in 2026 and 2027, primarily through an accelerated BEV push built around its Electric Urban Car Family rollout.LEAPMOTOR B10 OTA ADDS ONE-PEDAL DRIVINGLeapmotor pushed a major OTA update to the B10 six months after launch, adding one-pedal driving, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, split-screen navigation, and a Quick Start mode — all without requiring a dealer visit. The update also brings customisable steering wheel shortcut buttons and more natural adaptive cruise control behaviour in bends, with the B10 priced from €33,300.GM BACKS RARE EV1 RESTORATIONGM is actively supporting the restoration of V212, one of the few surviving EV1s, after the car sold at auction for over $100,000 following its discovery in a Georgia impound lot. GM President Mark Reuss invited the restoration team to GM's Global Technical Center, supplying parts and technical documentation, with the goal of completing the project before the EV1's 30th anniversary in November 2026.

On 5 March 2026, BYD held a landmark technology event unveiling the second-generation Blade Battery, a 1,500 kW megawatt Flash Charging network, eleven new or updated vehicle models, a next-generation LiDAR sensor from Robosense and an upgraded Gods Eye 5.0 ADAS suite.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart CHINA CAR SALES SLIDE AS EXPORTS SURGE https://evne.ws/40usYwD XIAOMI BRINGS SU7 LAUNCH INTO MARCH https://evne.ws/4sIZfMG ZEEKR SETS 8X PHEV DEBUT FOR 16 MARCH https://evne.ws/4um2sDv BYD SPLITS BLADE 2.0 IN TWO https://evne.ws/3Pfy6lS NIO FLAGS 2026 COST HIT, HOLDS PRICES https://evne.ws/4rt19zS LI AUTO PROFIT ALMOST VANISHES IN Q4 https://evne.ws/3P8nkOj LI AUTO SETS I9 LAUNCH FOR 2026 https://evne.ws/3N0w6xl AVATR SHOWS 06T WAGON BEFORE 2026 LAUNCH https://evne.ws/3P4Vl26 DREAME SETS 2027 SOLID-STATE BATTERY TARGET https://evne.ws/4sc8CVh

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart RIVIAN REVEALS R2 PRICING https://evne.ws/4cDy3Kq FORD CUTS EXPLORER ENTRY PRICE WITH LFP BATTERY https://evne.ws/4cDy3Kq LUCID NAMES MIDSIZE SUVS COSMOS AND EARTH https://evne.ws/3Pa2XQQ LUCID GRAVITY ADDS CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO https://evne.ws/47tVOB6 JAECOO 8 UK SALES START IN MAY https://evne.ws/416J9QV EU EV PRICES FALL AS SMALL CARS RETURN https://evne.ws/4sapcEY HONDA AXES THREE US EVS https://evne.ws/3P9W16g VOLKSWAGEN SETS ID. POLO FROM €25,000 https://evne.ws/416Un80 ENEL COMPLETES 3,730 CHARGING STATIONS https://evne.ws/4bDDSq5 ELECTREON COMPLETES INDUCTEV ACQUISITION https://evne.ws/4urNdJ7 SCANDLINES STARTS BALTIC WHALE SERVICE https://evne.ws/4baI1BO

It's EV News Briefly for Friday 13 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyRIVIAN REVEALS R2 PRICINGThe Rivian R2 launches in four trims, all sharing an 87.9 kWh usable battery, ranging from the $57,990 Performance AWD (656 hp, 330 miles) arriving this Spring to a ~$45,000 base RWD variant in late 2027 with 275+ miles of range. All trims charge 10–80% in 29 minutes via a native NACS port, with a $1,495 destination charge across the board.FORD CUTS EXPLORER ENTRY PRICE WITH LFP BATTERYFord has revised its European Explorer EV with a new LFP battery pack, growing usable capacity from 52 kWh to 58 kWh and boosting WLTP range 17% to 444 km (276 miles), while a stronger APP350 motor lifts output to 140 kW and cuts the 0–100 km/h time to 8.0 seconds. The updated model starts at €39,990 in Germany and adds vehicle-to-load charging, refreshed infotainment, expanded driver assistance features, and standard one-pedal driving, though peak DC charging drops from 145 kW to 110 kW.LUCID NAMES MIDSIZE SUVS COSMOS AND EARTHLucid revealed at Investor Day 2026 that its two upcoming midsize electric SUVs will be called Cosmos and Earth, targeting a ~$50,000 starting price and production before end of 2026. Both will use 800V architecture, bidirectional charging, the new in-house Atlas drive unit (23% lighter, 30% fewer parts), and Lucid claims just 69 kWh would be sufficient for 300 miles of range thanks to a 0.22 drag coefficient.LUCID GRAVITY ADDS CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTOLucid has rolled out an OTA update (UX 3.5) bringing wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the Gravity SUV for North American owners now, with Europe and the Middle East to follow in late March. Both systems display on the Gravity's 6K Clearview Cockpit screen, addressing one of the most requested features from Lucid customers.JAECOO 8 UK SALES START IN MAYThe Jaecoo 8, a three-row flagship SUV, goes on sale in the UK in May priced from £45,500, using Chery's Super Hybrid System pairing a 1.5-litre turbo petrol with a three-speed auto for 422 bhp, 83 miles of electric-only range, and over 700 miles of combined range. Two trims are offered — Luxury (seven seats, £45,500) and Executive (six Nappa leather captain's chairs, £47,500) — with DC fast charging up to 40 kW for a 30–80% charge in about 20 minutes.EU EV PRICES FALL AS SMALL CARS RETURNAverage EU electric car prices dropped €1,800 to €42,700 in 2025 — the first decline since 2020 — driven by a surge in affordable B-segment BEVs like the Citroën ë-C3 and Renault 5, whose average segment prices fell 13%. T&E expects further price pressure in 2026 as Volkswagen Group prepares a small-car family including the ID. Polo, Cupra Raval, and Skoda Epiq, all targeting around €25,000.HONDA AXES THREE US EVSHonda has cancelled the 0 Series SUV, 0 Series Saloon, and Acura RSX for U.S. production, warning of losses up to ¥2.5 trillion ($15.8 billion) as it reverses its EV strategy amid rollbacks of U.S. fossil fuel regulations and removal of EV incentives. CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the priority is to "stop the bleeding," with operating losses now expected up to ¥1.12 trillion in the current fiscal year; the Sony-Honda Afeela brand is unaffected.VOLKSWAGEN SETS ID. POLO FROM €25,000Volkswagen will world-premiere the entry-level ID. Polo next month, starting at €25,000 and marking the first ID model to carry an established VW brand name. The range spans 37 kWh LFP and 52 kWh NMC battery options with outputs from 85 kW to 166 kW, and includes an R-Line (~€35,000, ~211 hp) and a GTI variant, with up to 450 km (280 miles) of WLTP range from the larger pack.ENEL COMPLETES 3,730 CHARGING STATIONSEnel has finished installing 3,730 EV charging stations across five Italian regions under the first tender of Italy's PNRR recovery plan, with each station offering two points capable of up to 90 kW each. The network is accessible via Enel's app or card and integrates with around 160 mobility service providers, with a further 1,200 stations already contracted under subsequent tenders.ELECTREON COMPLETES INDUCTEV ACQUISITIONElectreon has finalized its acquisition of U.S.-based InductEV, combining dynamic in-road wireless charging with InductEV's high-power stationary wireless charging for heavy-duty transit and freight. The merged portfolio now covers highway and urban corridor charging (LINE), burst charging at stops (DASH), depot charging (DOT), and heavy-duty freight charging (Ultra DOT).SCANDLINES STARTS BALTIC WHALE SERVICEScandlines launched the Baltic Whale on 10 March 2026, claiming it as the world's largest electric freight ferry in operation at 147 metres, running the 18.5 km Rødby–Puttgarden route carrying 66 freight units. Its 10 MWh battery can fully recharge in just 12 minutes via a dedicated 50 kV / 25 MW cable, with an automated docking tower connecting in 15 seconds, while a hybrid diesel mode reduces crossing time from one hour to 45 minutes.

Rivian has spent four years and billions of dollars building electric vehicles that most people cannot afford. The R2 — a mid-size SUV that starts at $45,000 and tops out at $57,990 — is the company's answer to that problem. Full pricing and trim details dropped today, 12 March 2026, and deliveries of the first Performance variant begin this spring. If it works, Rivian becomes a proper carmaker. If it does not, the maths gets ugly fast.From Concept to ConcreteThe R2 platform was first announced in 2022, with production originally pencilled in for 2025 at a planned factory in Georgia. That changed in March 2024, when RJ Scaringe, Rivian's founder and chief executive, unveiled the production-ready R2 alongside the smaller R3 and R3X crossovers at a packed event at the Rivian Theater in Laguna Beach, California. Mr Scaringe also confirmed he was scrapping the Georgia plan — at least for now — and would build the R2 at the existing Normal, Illinois plant instead. That decision saved more than $2.25 billion in capital expenditure and, crucially, pulled the launch date forward.Within 24 hours of its unveiling, Rivian had taken more than 68,000 reservations at $100 apiece. By July 2024, the company's VP of manufacturing Tim Fallon said reservations had surpassed 100,000 and were still climbing. Rivian has not updated that figure publicly since.Production began in January 2026. Validation vehicles rolled off the Normal line first, and the factory is now ramping toward a target capacity of 155,000 R2 units per year — alongside the R1 models it already builds there. Each R2 takes roughly 15 hours to assemble, down from 18 hours for an R1.Why the R2 Matters More Than Any Vehicle Rivian Has BuiltThe R1T pickup and R1S SUV earned Rivian a devoted following and the top spot in Consumer Reports owner satisfaction surveys. They also bled money. Rivian posted a net loss of $3.65 billion in 2025, on top of a $4.75 billion loss in 2024. The R1S starts near $75,000 (around £59,000) — a price that limits the addressable market to a sliver of American buyers."R2 is really instrumental for driving the business to positive cash flow and overall profitability," Mr Scaringe told CNBC in February. He was not exaggerating. The bill of materials for the R2 is roughly half that of the R1. Rivian slashed the number of computing units from over 60 in a traditional vehicle to seven, and cut wiring length by about two miles (3.2 km). The result is what Mr Scaringe called "a dramatic reduction in the cost structure to build it."Rivian did scrape together a positive gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2025 — a milestone, though the margin was wafer-thin at around 2%, compared with Tesla's 17%. The R2, with its leaner architecture and lower price, is meant to close that gap at volume. Analysts expect around 15,000 R2 deliveries in 2026, though some believe Rivian could exceed that figure. By 2027, with three full shifts running, the Normal plant could produce roughly 155,000 R2s annually.Today's Pricing: What You GetThe lineup spans four trims, all sharing an 87.9 kWh usable battery and a $1,495 destination charge. Here is how they break down:The Performance trim arrives first, this spring, at $57,990 (around £46,000) including the Launch Package. It runs dual-motor all-wheel drive with 656 horsepower, 609 lb-ft (826 Nm) of torque and a 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) time of 3.6 seconds. Highway overtaking is savage: 50–70 mph (80–113 km/h) in 1.55 seconds. EPA-estimated range sits at up to 330 miles (531 km). The Launch Package bundles lifetime Autonomy+ access, a tow package rated at 4,400 lbs (1,996 kg) and an exclusive Launch Green paint option.The Premium trim follows in late 2026 at $53,990 (around £43,000). It shares the 330-mile range and dual-motor AWD layout but dials the power back to 450 hp and 537 lb-ft. Zero to 60 takes 4.6 seconds — hardly slow.The Standard RWD Long Range arrives in the first half of 2027 at $48,490 (around £38,500). A single rear motor delivers 350 hp and 355 lb-ft, reaching 60 in 5.9 seconds. Rivian estimates range at up to 345 miles (555 km) — the longest in the lineup, because rear-wheel drive is more efficient.Finally, the Standard RWD variant lands in late 2027 at approximately $45,000 (around £35,700). It uses a smaller battery pack and offers 275+ miles (443+ km) of estimated range. Rivian has shared few other details so far.All trims charge from 10% to 80% in 29 minutes via a native NACS port, which grants access to the Tesla Supercharger network. CCS adapters are supported too.Built Lighter, Built TougherThe R2 rides on an entirely new mid-size unibody platform — a departure from the R1's body-on-frame architecture. The result is a vehicle that weighs nearly 2,000 lbs (907 kg) less than its bigger sibling while sitting on a 115.6-inch (2,936 mm) wheelbase. At 185.9 inches (4,722 mm) long and 75 inches (1,905 mm) wide, it is squarely in Tesla Model Y territory.The weight savings translate directly into agility, but Rivian has kept the off-road DNA intact. Ground clearance of 9.6 inches (244 mm) is best in class — nearly three inches more than a Model Y. Approach and departure angles of 25° and 26° respectively, plus a wading depth of 19.7 inches (500 mm), mean the R2 can do more than look adventurous in a car park. The Performance trim gets semi-active suspension, eight drive modes including Rally and Soft Sand, and a low centre of gravity courtesy of the structural battery pack.Inside, the cabin seats five adults with 40.4 inches (1,026 mm) of rear legroom and headroom — enough, Rivian says, for occupants over six feet (1.83 m) tall. Total enclosed storage is 90.1 cubic feet (2,551 litres), with a front trunk that swallows a carry-on suitcase and a backpack, fold-flat rear seats that create a level loading surface, and dual gloveboxes. The rear drop glass — a powered window that lowers completely into the liftgate — is a genuine talking point, allowing surfboards and other long cargo to slide in or a breeze to sweep through. It is included on Performance and Premium trims.Materials lean sustainable: upcycled Birch wood accents, a headliner made from recycled ocean plastics and Rivian's second-generation Adventex material, which is designed to withstand muddy boots and wet dogs in equal measure.The Technology PlayRivian calls the R2 a "software-defined vehicle," and the specification sheet backs that up. The perception stack comprises 11 HDR cameras with a combined 65 megapixels and a five-radar system — hardware that comes standard on every trim.Rivian Autonomy+, the company's Level 2+ hands-free driver-assist system, covers 3.5 million miles (5.6 million km) of roads across the United States and Canada. It costs $49.99 per month or $2,500 as a one-off purchase. The Launch Package includes it for the lifetime of the vehicle. Every R2 gets a 60-day trial.On-board AI compute runs to 200 TOPS, dedicated to the in-cabin experience. This powers the forthcoming Rivian Assistant — a voice-controlled system that processes complex requests locally, even when offline. The 5G-connected architecture ensures updates arrive over the air, while the offline capability means the vehicle is not hobbled in areas without signal.At the steering wheel, Rivian's in-house Haptic Halo dials replace conventional switchgear. These context-aware controls scroll, push, pull and tilt with distinct tactile feedback for different functions — an attempt to bridge the gap between touchscreen convenience and physical control that many rivals have abandoned entirely. Two digital displays complete the cockpit: one behind the wheel for driving data, and one in the centre for everything else.The Elephant in the Room: TeslaThe R2 lands in the most contested segment of the electric vehicle market. The Tesla Model Y — the best-selling EV on the planet and briefly the best-selling car of any kind in 2023 — starts at $44,000 in the United States and delivers up to 357 miles (575 km) of range. It has a vast Supercharger network, a mature software ecosystem and years of manufacturing refinement behind it.The R2 fights back with 3 inches (7.6 cm) more ground clearance, genuine off-road hardware, a richer interior (Model Y's cabin has always divided opinion) and that distinctive outdoor-adventure identity that Rivian has cultivated since its founding. Whether that is enough to prise buyers away from Tesla — or from the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Chevrolet Equinox EV — remains the central question.Why Failure Is Not an OptionRivian burned roughly $3 billion in the first nine months of 2025 alone. It ended 2024 with about $5.3 billion in cash, a figure being steadily eroded by capital expenditure and operating losses. The Volkswagen joint venture — worth up to $5.8 billion in total — provides a lifeline, as does the potential for Department of Energy loan access. But lifelines do not last for ever.The company's stock tells its own story. Rivian went public in November 2021 at $78 a share, briefly touched $170 and now trades around $15. A 90% decline from the peak concentrates the mind wonderfully.The R2 must do three things at once: attract a materially larger customer base than the R1 ever could, generate a positive gross margin per vehicle and ramp to volumes that spread fixed costs across enough units to bend the loss curve downward. At a planned capacity of 155,000 units per year from Normal alone — with a second factory in Georgia eventually to follow — Rivian has the industrial ambition. The Volkswagen partnership supplies software licensing revenue and engineering credibility.Mr Scaringe has described the R2 as "the most important thing that we've developed as a company." On the evidence of today's specification sheet, it is also the most complete. The range is competitive, the technology is ambitious, the price is within reach of mainstream buyers and the off-road capability gives it a personality that few electric SUVs can match.None of which will matter if Rivian cannot build it at scale, on time and at a cost that leaves room for profit. The company that once dazzled Wall Street with a $170 share price now needs to dazzle customers with a $45,000 truck. That is the harder trick — and the one on which everything depends.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart RENAULT MEGANE TO ADD RANGE-EXTENDER OPTION https://evne.ws/4s06eAN ALPINE SETS OUT ITS ELECTRIC A110 PLAN https://evne.ws/47nO97q MICRA 52KWH GETS FULL UK EV GRANT https://evne.ws/4sBybP7 VOLKSWAGEN REBRANDS ID.3 SUCCESSOR AS ID.3 NEO https://evne.ws/4urnfWc VOLKSWAGEN TARGETS 50,000 JOB CUTS BY 2030 https://evne.ws/3P49pcb KIA ENDS NIRO EV WITH HYBRID REFRESH https://evne.ws/4s6GmU0 MG OPENS UK ORDERS FOR S9 PHEV https://evne.ws/4b6yvQf MG 4X BRINGS SEMI-SOLID BATTERY TO SUV https://evne.ws/4bn7PK0 BYD WEIGHS F1 AND LE MANS MOVE https://evne.ws/4dcb1uk

It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 12 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyRENAULT SETS 2030 EV PLAN WITH 800V AND 466 MILE RANGERenault Group's futuREady strategy targets 36 new models worldwide by 2030, with 16 fully electric European launches and 100% electrified European sales. A new RGEV medium 2.0 platform with 800V architecture enables up to 466 miles of range, or 869 miles with an optional range extender.RENAULT MEGANE TO ADD RANGE-EXTENDER OPTIONThe next-generation Renault Mégane will be offered as both a fully electric and a range-extender model, with the EREV version targeting an 870-mile total range. The new platform cuts production costs by around 40% versus current EVs, and the cabin will feature a Google-co-developed software system with future AI integration for safety and driver assistance.ALPINE SETS OUT ITS ELECTRIC A110 PLANThe next-generation Alpine A110 will launch as a battery-electric model on the Alpine Performance Platform, using an 800V architecture, dual rear motors, and targeting over 500 bhp, a sub-1.5-tonne kerbweight, and up to 373 miles of range. Alpine is aiming for a lightweight, driver-focused character closer to the current A110 than a performance EV like the Taycan, with torque vectoring recalibrating every 10 milliseconds.MICRA 52KWH GETS FULL UK EV GRANTThe Nissan Micra 52kWh now qualifies for the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant following a switch to a Europe-sourced battery, bringing its entry price to £23,245. The entry-level 40kWh variant retains the lower £1,500 grant, with Micra pricing starting from £21,495, and first UK deliveries scheduled for April.VOLKSWAGEN REBRANDS ID.3 SUCCESSOR AS ID.3 NEOVolkswagen will rename the ID.3 successor the ID.3 Neo, with a world premiere set for mid-April, bringing the brand's latest software including One Pedal Driving, enhanced Travel Assist with traffic light detection, and Vehicle-to-Load capability. The same software platform will extend to upcoming smaller EVs including the ID. Polo, ID. Polo GTI, and ID. Cross.VOLKSWAGEN TARGETS 50,000 JOB CUTS BY 2030Volkswagen Group plans to cut 50,000 jobs by 2030, 43% more than previously disclosed, as profits hit their lowest point since the 2016 diesel scandal due to weak China demand and US tariffs. After spending roughly €12 billion on its in-house software unit CARIAD, VW has scaled back and turned to outside partners including Rivian, committing $5.8 billion to use Rivian's software stack in future EVs starting with the ID.1 in 2027.KIA ENDS NIRO EV WITH HYBRID REFRESHKia has discontinued the Niro EV with the model's latest refresh, which launches only as a hybrid in South Korea. Kia CEO Jung Won-Jung confirmed the decision, stating the company now focuses its EV efforts on the dedicated EV3-through-EV9 lineup.MG OPENS UK ORDERS FOR S9 PHEVMG has opened UK orders for the S9 PHEV, a seven-seat SUV priced from £34,205 that offers 62 miles of electric-only range and sits in the 9% benefit-in-kind tax band. It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a 24.7kWh battery supporting 7kW AC charging, undercutting the rival Chery Tiggo 9 by nearly £9,000.MG 4X BRINGS SEMI-SOLID BATTERY TO SUVSAIC has unveiled the MG 4X, an electric SUV based on the MG4 platform that features a semi-solid-state battery as standard across all trims. The battery uses manganese-based lithium-ion chemistry, reduces liquid electrolyte content to 5% for improved safety and longevity, and the MG 4X targets a CLTC range from 510 km (317 miles).BYD WEIGHS F1 AND LE MANS MOVEBYD is considering entering Formula 1 and the Le Mans World Endurance Championship, either by building its own team or acquiring an existing one, though no decision has been made. The move would complement BYD's performance brand Yangwang, whose U9 Xtreme recently set a production car speed record of 496.22 km/h at a German test track.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart NIO TURNS A Q4 PROFIT https://evne.ws/4bF4vuQ XIAOMI OFFERS SU7 ULTRA HOOD UPGRADE https://evne.ws/40rwUOS MG 4X TURNS MG4 INTO AN SUV https://evne.ws/4sFwqjY MG SHOWS FIRST MG 07 IMAGES https://evne.ws/3Pwf9LM VOLKSWAGEN SHOWS ID.UNYX 08 INTERIOR https://evne.ws/46WEqoB CATL STARTS PILOT ON SULFIDE SOLID-STATE BATTERY https://evne.ws/4lxTbnS CALB SHOWS 60 AH SOLID-STATE BATTERY https://evne.ws/4sgzYth BYD BRINGS FLASH CHARGING TO LINGHUI E7 https://evne.ws/4sM56AV BYD JOINS IATF AS VOTING MEMBER https://evne.ws/3P2RjHw LI AUTO I6 HOLDS 16,000 IN FEBRUARY https://evne.ws/4cJUWvS

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart MERCEDES VLE TAKES AIM AT THE PREMIUM VAN https://evne.ws/4bfEH7b GM REVIVES BOLT, THEN SETS AN END DATE https://evne.ws/4sCH4rL PORSCHE ADDS CAYENNE S ELECTRIC https://evne.ws/4b6eF7K ELLI CONNECTS FIRST GRID BATTERY IN SALZGITTER https://evne.ws/3Nvl5Ek GENESIS GV90 SPOTTED CHARGING AT SUPERCHARGER https://evne.ws/4bDZ8Mw SLATE AUTO CHANGES CEO BEFORE TRUCK LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4uoD3c5 DACIA READIES SECOND SMALL ELECTRIC CAR https://evne.ws/4s4XrNX IVECO PUTS WIRELESS ROAD CHARGING INTO TRAFFIC https://evne.ws/4uptB8o BYD, CHERY AND GEELY EYE CANADA https://evne.ws/4cCtobD

It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 11 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyMERCEDES VLE TAKES AIM AT THE PREMIUM VANMercedes is launching the all-electric VLE on its new VAN.EA platform to replace the V-Class, offering two battery options: an 80 kWh LFP unit charging at 300 kW and a 115 kWh NMC pack from CATL on an 800-volt system charging at up to 315 kW, with a WLTP range of around 700 km. The cabin offers up to 8 seats, a 31-inch 8K rear cinema screen, electric sliding doors, a centre-console fridge, and pricing from roughly €68,000 to €135,000 in Germany.GM REVIVES BOLT, THEN SETS AN END DATEGM has brought back the Chevrolet Bolt for 2027 as the cheapest EV in the US at $28,995, featuring a 65 kWh LFP battery, 210 hp, 262 miles of EPA range, and 150 kW NACS fast charging with a 10–80% time of 25 minutes. However, GM plans only one model year of production, as ending Bolt output frees its Kansas City plant to shift Equinox assembly from Mexico to the US.PORSCHE ADDS CAYENNE S ELECTRICPorsche has added the 2026 Cayenne S Electric at $128,650, slotting between the 435 hp base model and the 1,139 hp Turbo with 536 hp standard and 657 hp on launch control, hitting 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds. It shares the range's 108 kWh battery and 400 kW peak DC charging, reaching 10–80% in under 16 minutes, and borrows the Turbo's direct oil-cooling system for improved thermal resilience.ELLI CONNECTS FIRST GRID BATTERY IN SALZGITTERVolkswagen's energy subsidiary Elli has connected its first large-scale battery storage system—a 20 MW / 40 MWh PowerCentre across 13 containers—to the grid in Salzgitter, Germany. The system uses cells from VW's PowerCo plant, trades energy on the European Power Exchange, and is designed to stabilise grids and support renewable energy integration.GENESIS GV90 SPOTTED CHARGING AT SUPERCHARGERA camouflaged Genesis GV90 has been photographed charging at a Tesla Supercharger in Mesquite, Nevada, confirming the model will feature a standard NACS port as Genesis rolls out NACS across all new US-market EVs from 2026 onward. The GV90 is expected to ride on Hyundai's new eM platform, which promises 50% more range than the current E-GMP architecture, with higher trims set to feature coach doors and panoramic displays.SLATE AUTO CHANGES CEO BEFORE TRUCK LAUNCHSlate Auto has replaced founder and CEO Christine Barman with Peter Faricy, a former Amazon VP and Ford executive, less than a year before the planned launch of its low-cost electric truck. Barman, the company's first hire and one of only two women leading a US automaker, moves to the role of president of vehicles at the Jeff Bezos-backed startup.DACIA READIES SECOND SMALL ELECTRIC CARDacia is preparing a second small EV to sit alongside the Spring, developed in under 16 months and targeted at under €18,000, built on Renault's AmpR Small platform that also underpins the Renault 5. The unnamed model is part of Dacia's plan to launch four new EVs by 2030, with design direction hinted at by the Dacia Hipster concept unveiled in October 2024.IVECO PUTS WIRELESS ROAD CHARGING INTO TRAFFICIveco has launched a real-world dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) trial on the A35 Brebemi motorway in northern Italy, using a production eDaily van fitted with inductive charging hardware that can charge both while stationary and while driving over embedded road sections. The project moves DWPT beyond lab testing into live traffic conditions, though it remains a technology demonstration rather than a commercial rollout due to the large infrastructure investment required for wide deployment.BYD, CHERY AND GEELY EYE CANADABYD, Chery, and Geely are preparing to enter the Canadian market by end of 2026 following a January trade reset between Canada and China, under which Canada agreed to allow 49,000 China-made EVs at the most-favoured nation tariff rate in exchange for lower Chinese tariffs on Canadian agricultural goods. Up to 15 additional Chinese brands could follow, though homologation remains the key bottleneck, with Tesla, Volvo, and Polestar best positioned to move quickly under the quota as they already have certified vehicles and established retail networks in Canada.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart FORD UPDATES PUMA AND PUMA GEN-E https://evne.ws/4sDmTdk BYD TO EXPORT FLASH CHARGING BY 2026 https://evne.ws/4bkD88a YOU GOV POLL FINDS EV KNOWLEDGE GAP https://evne.ws/4bvXMmZ MOST UK BUYERS MISS EV GRANT https://evne.ws/4b36etR MERCEDES SETS OUT 2026 GLA PLAN https://evne.ws/4ddDIH9 MG 4 EV URBAN SET FOR AUSTRALIA IN 2026 https://evne.ws/40q9KIz OCTOPUS EXPORTS PLUNGE PRICING EV CHARGING TO FRANCE https://evne.ws/4s5qBg3 PORSCHE CONSIDERING TAYCAN PANAMERA MERGER https://evne.ws/4rnzWyk SK BATTERY AMERICA CUTS 958 GEORGIA JOBS https://evne.ws/4ulQXMb VOLVO EX60 BETS BIG ON CENTRAL SOFTWARE https://evne.ws/47veIHJ REDWOOD SHIFTS EV BATTERIES INTO SECOND-LIFE STORAGE https://evne.ws/4bA6vV7

It's EV News Briefly for Tuesday 10 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyFORD UPDATES PUMA GEN-EFord has updated the all-electric Puma Gen-E with a redesigned battery lifting WLTP range from 376 km to 417 km (260 miles), alongside new BlueCruise hands-free driving, audio, connectivity, and colour updates. BlueCruise can be bought outright or via subscription, with all capable Puma models receiving a free three-month trial.BYD TO EXPORT FLASH CHARGING BY 2026BYD plans to roll out its 1,500 kW Flash Charging network internationally before the end of 2026, starting with a push to 20,000 stations across China and then expanding to plants in Thailand, Brazil, and Hungary. The system charges second-gen LFP Blade Battery vehicles from 10% to 70% in five minutes, with each unit also functioning as an on-site 200–300 kWh battery pack to protect local grid infrastructure.POLL FINDS EV KNOWLEDGE GAPA YouGov poll for the ECIU found that over half of non-EV drivers scored two or fewer correct answers out of ten on basic EV facts, with nearly half wrongly believing EVs catch fire more often than petrol cars. A House of Lords committee described the situation as a "concerted campaign of misinformation," warning that false narratives and deliberate anti-EV propaganda by some in the media are a major barrier to EV uptake in the UK.MOST UK BUYERS MISS EV GRANTCarwow research found that 64% of in-market UK car buyers were unaware of the Government's EV grant, despite 73% of those who did know about it saying a full £3,750 discount would make them more likely to choose an EV. EVs now account for just under a quarter of new car sales, with only 8 of the 46 qualifying models eligible for the maximum grant amount.MERCEDES SETS OUT 2026 GLA PLANMercedes will launch the third-generation GLA later in 2026 on its MMA platform, offering hybrid and fully electric variants with an 800V system, a new vehicle supercomputer, and over-the-air update capability. The flagship GLA 250+ pairs an 85 kWh battery with a 262 bhp rear motor targeting up to 420 miles WLTP range, and the cabin features a 14.5-inch touchscreen with AI-powered MBUX voice recognition.MG 4 EV URBAN SET FOR AUSTRALIA IN 2026MG will bring the MG 4 EV Urban to Australia from April 2026, featuring LFP batteries in 43 kWh and 54 kWh options and a front-wheel-drive-only layout on the newer E3 platform. Pricing has not been confirmed, but UK figures suggest it could land closer to A$30,000, putting it in direct competition with BYD's Dolphin Essential at $29,990.OCTOPUS EXPORTS PLUNGE PRICING EV CHARGING TO FRANCEOctopus Energy is extending its dynamic Plunge Pricing public charging model to France via Electroverse, offering up to 50% discounts on charging costs when wholesale power prices fall due to high wind and solar output. The launch covers around 7,000 ultra-rapid Powerdot charge points, with Electroverse already connected via roaming to roughly 97% of France's 172,000 public charging points.PORSCHE CONSIDERING TAYCAN PANAMERA MERGERPorsche is exploring merging the Taycan and Panamera into a single model line offering petrol, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric variants, following €1.8 billion in write-downs tied to delayed SSP Sport platform development. The merged line could follow the Macan and Cayenne model, where parallel ICE and EV versions share a name despite using distinct platforms.SK BATTERY AMERICA CUTS 958 GEORGIA JOBSSK Battery America has cut 958 workers — 37% of its workforce — at its Commerce, Georgia plant, citing weak US EV market conditions. The plant had supplied cells for the Ford F-150 Lightning, Volkswagen ID.4, and Hyundai and Kia models, with Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff blaming the losses on the Trump administration's stance on EVs.VOLVO EX60 BETS BIG ON CENTRAL SOFTWAREVolvo has positioned the all-electric EX60, due for customer deliveries in September, as Europe's first "true" software-defined vehicle, combining in-house batteries, motors, core software, and the new SPA3 platform under one roof. The centralised software architecture replaces dozens of supplier ECUs and kilometres of wiring, with Volvo claiming the freed-up space gives the D-segment SUV cabin room comparable to older E-segment cars.REDWOOD SHIFTS EV BATTERIES INTO SECOND-LIFE STORAGERedwood Materials is expanding into second-life battery energy storage after finding that incoming used EV packs are retaining more capacity and arriving in better condition than originally modelled. The strategy centres on a 12 MW/63 MWh second-life BESS project in Texas — claimed as the world's largest — with Redwood targeting GWh-scale deployments for data centres, renewables, and utility-scale installations.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart NIO COME BACK FIGHTING AGAINST BYD'S 5-MINUTE CHARGING https://evne.ws/4b1HthE BYD KEEPS TWO BLADE BATTERY LINES https://evne.ws/4bjQAcv Z9GT SHOW CARS REACH 40 DENZA STORES https://evne.ws/4dfYhCV ZEEKR 007 GT FACELIFT TIPPED TO COST MORE https://evne.ws/4s7akqW ZEEKR 8X INTERIOR REVEAL TARGETS X5 AND GLE https://evne.ws/3OS9vUf WERIDE AND GEELY FARIZON UPGRADE GXR ROBOTAXI https://evne.ws/3P1EQnp JETTA SETS 2026 LAUNCH FOR FIRST EV https://evne.ws/4ukAZSq CHINA BRACES FOR BIGGEST 2026 FUEL PRICE HIKE https://evne.ws/4bqC3fc SAIC H5 BRINGS HIMA DOWN TO 159,800 YUAN https://evne.ws/3PbQ6gV

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BYD CLAIMS 1.5MW CHARGING WITHOUT THE TAPER https://evne.ws/4rnVw5Z BYD SHOWS 2026 YANGWANG U8 CABIN, CHARGING PUSH https://evne.ws/4aZVQD8 CHINA CAR PRICE WAR SHOWS SIGNS OF COOLING https://evne.ws/4rnvNL6 LOTUS OPENS CHINA PRESALES FOR ELETRE X PHEV https://evne.ws/4s5xFcu LOTUS EYES CANADA EV ENTRY VIA 6.1% TARIFF https://evne.ws/4bfb8CF ARCFOX TEASES BATTERY-SWAP SEDAN AS ΑS5 PRE-SALES OPEN https://evne.ws/4rjwXXJ EXEED STARTS EX7 PRODUCTION WITH BRAKE SYSTEM CLAIM https://evne.ws/4rlJhGU GEELY PUSHES 1.5 MW CHARGING ACROSS CHINA https://evne.ws/4ufhnz7 NIO LAUNCHES FIREFLY BRAND IN THAILAND https://evne.ws/4sBET7Z WEY V9X UNVEILS 800V-LEANING PLUG-IN HYBRID SUV https://evne.ws/3PsnbVX

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart SCOUT RESERVATIONS SWING TO RANGE-EXTENDED HYBRIDS https://evne.ws/4ubF5wa RIVIAN DROPS $45,000 R2 STARTING-PRICE LINE https://evne.ws/4bfRhTQ BEVS NOW BEAT ICE ON COST IN MORE MARKETS https://evne.ws/40nkZBv GLOBAL PUBLIC EV CHARGERS HEAD FOR 9.01M IN 2026 https://evne.ws/4rYj1Uf UK SUPPLIERS PULL FIXED DEALS AS GAS SPIKES https://evne.ws/4sbPyX5 NEXTSTAR SWITCHES ON CANADA'S FIRST EV CELL PLANT https://evne.ws/4loAhQb STELLANTIS PLANS £50M ELLESMERE PORT VAN LINE https://evne.ws/4bbJeYh MET SEIZES 52 ILLEGAL E-BIKES AND MOPEDS https://evne.ws/4sEFfe7 FARLEY POURS COLD WATER ON ELECTRIC UTES https://evne.ws/40WNGW4

It's EV News Briefly for Monday 09 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailySCOUT RESERVATIONS SWING TO RANGE-EXTENDED HYBRIDSScout Motors now holds over 160,000 reservations for its Traveler SUV and Terra pickup, with 87% of reservation holders choosing the gas-assisted extended-range hybrid over pure BEV — well above the 60/40 split CEO Scott Keogh originally expected. First customer deliveries have slipped to 2028, with delays attributed to technical challenges in developing a rugged ladder-frame platform with dual powertrains.RIVIAN DROPS $45,000 R2 STARTING-PRICE LINERivian has quietly removed the "$45,000 starting price" reference from its R2 product page, replacing it with a countdown clock ahead of a March 12 reveal at South by Southwest where full pricing and specs are expected. The R2 will launch first as a higher-priced dual-motor variant, with a more affordable single-motor base model to follow shortly after.BEVS NOW BEAT ICE ON COST IN MORE MARKETSAyvens' 2026 Car Cost Index finds BEVs now undercut comparable ICE models on total cost of ownership in a growing number of European markets, with Western and Northern Europe leading the way. In the compact segment BEVs hold a TCO advantage in 19 of 30 markets, and the BMW i4 beats the petrol 3 Series on TCO in 20 of 30 European countries.GLOBAL PUBLIC EV CHARGERS HEAD FOR 9.01M IN 2026Global public EV charging infrastructure is forecast to reach 9.01 million plugs in 2026, up from 7.11 million in 2025, though China alone accounts for 67% of the global total and the top eight countries host 88% of all chargers. Growth is slowing in Europe and losing momentum in the US, while Germany is on track to overtake the Netherlands in installed chargers during 2026.UK SUPPLIERS PULL FIXED DEALS AS GAS SPIKESUK energy suppliers slashed available fixed tariffs from 38 to 17 in a matter of days as wholesale gas prices spiked roughly 75% following disruption to Middle Eastern gas infrastructure, with the cheapest typical annual dual-fuel fixed deal rising from £1,509 to £1,640. EV-specific tariffs were also affected, with EDF pausing some EV tariffs and E.ON briefly freezing one, threatening the cost advantage of off-peak home charging for EV drivers.NEXTSTAR SWITCHES ON CANADA'S FIRST EV CELL PLANTNextStar Energy, a Stellantis and LG Energy Solution joint venture, has opened Canada's first commercial-scale EV battery cell plant in Windsor, Ontario, having already produced over one million cells since production began in November 2025. Beyond supplying Stellantis brands, NextStar aims to expand into stationary energy storage for municipal and provincial grids.STELLANTIS PLANS £50M ELLESMERE PORT VAN LINEStellantis will invest £50 million at Ellesmere Port to add an assembly line for electric Vauxhall Vivaro vans and other midsize zero-emission commercial vehicles from next year, building on the site's existing all-electric output. However, Stellantis warns the plant may not be commercially viable under the UK's ZEV mandate for vans, which carries an £18,000 fine per non-compliant vehicle at a 24% electric sales threshold that the industry is currently only half-meeting.MET SEIZES 52 ILLEGAL E-BIKES AND MOPEDSThe Metropolitan Police seized 52 illegal electric bikes and mopeds across London over two days, using targeted checkpoints in high-pedestrian-risk areas including Harlesden and Cambridge Circus. Officers also made arrests for dangerous driving, weapons possession, and outstanding prison recall warrants, linking illegal e-bikes to phone snatches and broader street crime.MEXICO AUTO PLANTS PIVOT TO HIGHER-VALUE EVSMexico's auto sector is shifting focus from volume to higher-value output between 2025 and 2027, with GM concentrating Cadillac OPTIQ production at Ramos Arizpe and BMW committing its San Luis Potosí plant to build the iX3 — its first Neue Klasse EV — from 2027. Both manufacturers have maintained their Mexican strategies despite ongoing uncertainty from US tariffs and trade policy under President Trump.FARLEY POURS COLD WATER ON ELECTRIC UTESFord CEO Jim Farley says current BEV technology is poorly suited to mainstream ute and pickup buyers who tow heavy loads, calling a large-battery BEV "a really bad tow-er," and Ford has already shelved the F-150 Lightning following weak demand and a $19.5 billion EV writedown. Farley backs extended-range EVs as the near-term bridge solution for work-capable vehicles, while dismissing solid-state batteries and fuel cells as not yet on Ford's product horizon.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BYD PLANS 20,000 MEGAWATT CHARGERS BY 2026 https://evne.ws/4rhiMmh BYD OPENS SONG ULTRA EV PRESALES FROM 155,000 YUAN https://evne.ws/4b8blYx ZEEKR 009 REFRESH SWITCHES TO 900V FOR 2026 https://evne.ws/3OVazqo ZEEKR DELIVERS 7X IN GERMANY, ADDS SOUTHERN EUROPE https://evne.ws/4b9gqRH CHINESE EV EXPORTS STALL AS HORMUZ SHUTS https://evne.ws/4leDH7S MIDEAST CONFLICT JOLTS CHINA'S CAR EXPORT ROUTES https://evne.ws/46GPnuj NIO HITS TWO MILLION ELECTRIC DRIVE UNITS https://evne.ws/4rib5w5 NIO PLANS SHANGHAI BATTERY R&D BASE https://evne.ws/47l2D81 GEELY GALAXY SETS XINGYAO 7 FOR Q2 2026 https://evne.ws/3OXW6Ke POWER BANK SPARKED BYD SEAL FIRE IN HONG KONG https://evne.ws/40nt6y1

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart HYUNDAI AND KIA PULL BACK US EV PLANS https://evne.ws/4uhDIfl MG TEASES MG 2 SMALL EV FOR 2027 https://evne.ws/4sEwyR4 AMG SHOWS GT 4-DOOR PRODUCTION INTERIOR https://evne.ws/4lej2AQ FERRARI TEASES LUCE EV AHEAD OF DEBUT https://evne.ws/3OZzaKz IRELAND EXPANDS ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK AND BUS GRANTS https://evne.ws/4b9NKqd UK HITS 1,000 ELECTRIC HGV MILESTONE https://evne.ws/4s1BYWn MAN PUTS LION'S COACH 14 E THROUGH -30°C TEST https://evne.ws/4cCzXLg STELLANTIS WARNS UK SALES RETREAT OVER ZEV RULES https://evne.ws/46QnQ9J VW STARTS ID. BUZZ AD PRE-SERIES BUILD https://evne.ws/4bgRI0q UK EMISSIONS HIT LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1872 https://evne.ws/3NdSlQn

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 08 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyHYUNDAI AND KIA PULL BACK US EV PLANSHyundai and Kia are scaling back their US EV ambitions due to slowing sales, affordability pressures, and tariff uncertainty, with Hyundai cutting the Ioniq 6 to only the high-performance N variant and Kia indefinitely delaying the EV6 GT and EV9 GT. South Korean-built vehicles face a 15% US tariff that could rise to 25%, while US-built models from Kia's Georgia plant continue unaffected.MG TEASES MG 2 SMALL EV FOR 2027MG will reveal a concept car at Goodwood Festival of Speed in July previewing the MG 2, a small EV expected to measure around four metres long and sit below the MG 4 Urban in price and size. Due at the end of 2027, the MG 2 will target rivals like the Renault 5 and BYD Dolphin Surf, using the E3 platform and potentially a semi-solid-state battery.AMG SHOWS GT 4-DOOR PRODUCTION INTERIORMercedes-AMG has revealed the production interior of the GT 4-Door electric car ahead of its full unveil, featuring a 10.2-inch driver display, a 14-inch central touchscreen, and a 14-inch passenger screen targeting Chinese market tastes. The car is built on AMG's new AMG.EA electric platform and delivers 1,360 hp, proven during an eight-day 300 km/h endurance run at Nardo.FERRARI TEASES LUCE EV AHEAD OF DEBUTFerrari has released a brief nighttime teaser video of its upcoming Luce EV, which is set to debut next month and is expected to be a crossover slightly smaller than the Purosangue with a Jony Ive-designed interior. The Luce uses a bespoke in-house platform with a structural battery pack, four electric motors producing around 1,000 hp, and an anticipated range of over 310 miles.IRELAND EXPANDS ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK AND BUS GRANTSIreland has expanded its ZEHDV grant scheme to include a second funding stream, offering companies up to €500,000 per year for zero-emission truck and bus purchases and up to €300,000 for depot and hub charging infrastructure. The expanded programme aims to close the price gap with diesel alternatives while building out the charging network needed to support fleet electrification.UK HITS 1,000 ELECTRIC HGV MILESTONEThe UK reached 1,000 registered electric heavy goods vehicles in 2025, with eHGV registrations rising 171% year-on-year, though zero-emission trucks still represent just 1.4% of the total HGV market. GRIDSERVE's Electric Freightway programme supplied over a quarter of all new electric truck registrations and has opened the first publicly accessible eHGV charging hubs, with more sites planned through 2026.MAN PUTS LION'S COACH 14 E THROUGH -30°C TESTMAN Truck & Bus has completed winter testing of its first battery-electric coach, the Lion's Coach 14 E, in conditions as low as -30°C in northern Sweden and Turkey, focusing on battery performance, thermal management, and interior heating. The coach offers 320–480 kWh of usable energy and a range of up to 650 km under optimal conditions, seating up to 63 passengers with luggage capacity matching its diesel equivalent.STELLANTIS WARNS UK SALES RETREAT OVER ZEV RULESStellantis has warned it may reduce its UK sales operations unless the government reforms the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, arguing the rules force manufacturers to lose money while giving Chinese importers a competitive advantage. Chinese brands now hold 14% of the total UK market and 17% of the UK EV segment, while Stellantis faces potential fines of £12,000 per car for missing its compliance targets.VW STARTS ID. BUZZ AD PRE-SERIES BUILDVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles has begun pre-series production of the autonomous ID. Buzz AD at its Hanover plant, with around 500 vehicles planned before the end of 2026 for deployment in European and US projects. Developed with subsidiary Moia and Israeli partner Mobileye, each vehicle receives a roof module with cameras, radar, and lidar after the main production line, with full series production set for 2027.UK EMISSIONS HIT LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1872UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.4% in 2025 to 364 MtCO2e, the lowest since 1872, driven largely by the closure of the last coal-fired power plant and a 56% drop in coal demand. The UK's nearly three million electrified vehicles now save over seven million tonnes of CO2 annually, with transport remaining the country's largest emitting sector and the primary focus for future cuts.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart VW SHOWS WORKERS NINTH-GEN GOLF PLAN https://evne.ws/4regyUx STELLANTIS CUTS ELECTRIC VAN PRICES TO DIESEL LEVEL https://evne.ws/4rZj5TZ TESLA EYES 400-STALL SUPERCHARGER SITE IN YERMO https://evne.ws/4cAm6Fg UBER BACKS POD HOME CHARGING SUBSCRIPTION FOR DRIVERS https://evne.ws/3NiYMlb BYD SURGES IN GERMANY AND UK https://evne.ws/4svuMl1 NIO SHIFTS EUROPE TO DISTRIBUTORS https://evne.ws/4u6Z5Ah MILENCE OPENS 400 KW TRUCK CHARGING HUB IN GHENT https://evne.ws/4lgutrT UK ADDED TO EU PLANS FOR EV PRODUCTION LIMITS https://evne.ws/3NkZkqI ETHIOPIA'S EV IMPORT SHARE JUMPS AFTER ICE BAN https://evne.ws/4aY18iz ORBÁN'S BATTERY BET HITS A DOWNTURN https://evne.ws/46LMmsA QUEENSLAND PUSHES UNDER-16 BAN FOR E-MOBILITY https://evne.ws/4aU2ZF1

It's EV News Briefly for Saturday 07 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyVW SHOWS WORKERS NINTH-GEN GOLF PLANVolkswagen has given Wolfsburg workers a first look at the ninth-generation Golf, expected to carry the ID Golf name and built on VW Group's new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). From summer 2027, current combustion-engine Golf production shifts to Mexico, freeing Wolfsburg to retool for the ID Golf and an electric VW T-Roc successor.STELLANTIS CUTS ELECTRIC VAN PRICES TO DIESEL LEVELStellantis Pro One is running a European campaign until end of June that matches the purchase price of eight battery-electric vans to their diesel equivalents across compact and mid-size segments. The offer directly closes gaps such as the €7,150 difference between the Opel Combo Cargo Electric and its diesel counterpart, testing whether price parity alone will push fleets to commit.TESLA EYES 400-STALL SUPERCHARGER SITE IN YERMOTesla is planning a 400-stall V4 Supercharger station in Yermo, California on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, which would more than double the current record of 164 stalls. The site would be built in six phases as part of a wider retail hub called Eddie World 2, with Phase 1 delivering 72 stalls breaking ground in 2026.UBER BACKS POD HOME CHARGING SUBSCRIPTION FOR DRIVERSUber has partnered with Pod in the UK to offer drivers a home EV charger subscription for £25 per month over three years, with no upfront cost, a lifetime warranty, and potential cash rewards of up to £170 a year through smart charging. The offer arrives as Uber expands its Uber Electric category to eight new UK cities including Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds.BYD SURGES IN GERMANY AND UKBYD registrations surged 1,550% year-on-year in Germany in February to 3,053 vehicles, while also rising 83% in the UK to 2,154 units and tripling in Spain to 3,003 registrations. The gains come as BYD ramps up its first European plant in Hungary, built partly to sidestep EU tariffs on Chinese-imported EVs imposed in October 2024.NIO SHIFTS EUROPE TO DISTRIBUTORSNio is overhauling its European operations by switching from direct sales to a distributor-led model in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, while retaining direct sales only in Norway. The restructure, moving from a country-led to a function-led organisation, has already seen Nio Germany general manager David Sultzer step down.MILENCE OPENS 400 KW TRUCK CHARGING HUB IN GHENTMilence, backed by Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and Traton, has opened a 400 kW HGV charging hub at the Volvo Trucks plant in Ghent, its fourth Belgian site, positioned on the TEN-T North Sea–Mediterranean freight corridor. A second phase will add Megawatt Charging System infrastructure, targeting charge times of 30 to 45 minutes for large HGV batteries.UK ADDED TO EU PLANS FOR EV PRODUCTION LIMITSThe European Commission's Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) will open EU manufacturing subsidies to up to 40 "trusted partner" nations including the UK and Japan, following lobbying by UK business secretary Peter Kyle after fears that Nissan's Sunderland plant could close under earlier exclusionary proposals. The IAA also targets lifting manufacturing's share of EU GDP from 14.3% to 20% by 2035, though US firms are expected to be excluded due to American public procurement restrictions.ETHIOPIA'S EV IMPORT SHARE JUMPS AFTER ICE BANAfter Ethiopia banned ICE vehicle imports in 2024 and cut EV import duties, EVs rose from under 1% to around 6% of all vehicle imports, surpassing the reported global average of roughly 4%. The government is driving electrification as energy sovereignty, aided by low electricity costs of around $0.10 per kWh and a tiered tariff structure that exempts domestically assembled EV kits from import tax entirely.ORBÁN'S BATTERY BET HITS A DOWNTURNHungary has attracted approximately €26 billion in foreign EV battery investment, mainly from South Korean and Chinese manufacturers, but battery output has fallen during a prolonged sector downturn weeks before the April 12 national election. The strategy faces additional political pressure after a news investigation into health and safety violations at Samsung SDI's factory undermined the narrative around foreign-capital-led industrialisation.QUEENSLAND PUSHES UNDER-16 BAN FOR E-MOBILITYA Queensland parliamentary inquiry has tabled 28 recommendations including a ban on under-16s riding e-bikes and personal mobility devices, prompted by 12 e-mobility deaths and over 6,300 emergency department presentations in the state last year. Key proposals also include requiring at least a learner car licence to ride, cutting footpath speed limits to 10 km/h, and reclassifying any device capable of exceeding 25 km/h as a motorcycle.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BMW TO UNVEIL ELECTRIC I3 SALOON ON 18 MARCH https://evne.ws/4aWdOGE TESLA UK DROPS 37% AS UK EV SALES RISE  https://evne.ws/4br1a2q EVGO ENDS 2025 WITH 5,100 FAST-CHARGING STALLS https://evne.ws/4b0qkn2 LUCID FEBRUARY US SALES JUMP ON GRAVITY RAMP https://evne.ws/4b8hlAn VW DEALERS SUE OVER SCOUT DIRECT SALES https://evne.ws/4rfDdzK VOLKSWAGEN GROUP HITS FOUR MILLION BEV DELIVERIES https://evne.ws/4uxreAL EGBATT LAUNCHES NOVA 60 DUAL BUFFERED CHARGER https://evne.ws/3PmUx8H LOTUS ADDS RANGE-EXTENDER ELETRE X FOR CHINA https://evne.ws/4rVPDhl

It's EV News Briefly for Friday 06 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyBMW TO UNVEIL ELECTRIC I3 SALOON ON 18 MARCH  BMW will reveal the new i3 saloon on 18 March as the first fully electric 3 Series, using the Neue Klasse Gen6 platform with 800V architecture, 400kW charging, and an expected 50 xDrive dual-motor, 108kWh setup targeting around 500 miles of range and potentially more thanks to its saloon aerodynamics. It will be the second Neue Klasse model after the iX3, aimed squarely at the Tesla Model 3 and future premium rivals from Mercedes, Audi, Xpeng and BYD's Denza, with a full line-up planned including an electric M3.  TESLA UK DROPS 37% AS UK EV SALES RISE  Tesla's UK registrations fell 37% year-on-year in February to 2,422 units, even as the overall market hit its strongest February since 2004 and BEVs grew to 24.2% of new registrations, with Chinese brands like BYD surging 83%. Tesla has argued that monthly registration data is misleading versus orders and quarterly shipments, but critics note all brands face similar timing issues, and for now the headline picture is a growing UK EV market in which Tesla's share is shrinking.  EVGO ENDS 2025 WITH 5,100 FAST-CHARGING STALLS  EVgo closed 2025 with 5,100 DC fast-charging stalls in operation, up 25% year-on-year after a record Q4 net gain of about 510 stalls, including 320 company-owned units and 190 eXtend-branded stalls at partner sites. The network is getting both denser and faster, with nearly a third of stations now offering six or more stalls and 62% of all stalls equipped with 350kW hardware, up sharply from 50% in late 2024.  LUCID FEBRUARY US SALES JUMP ON GRAVITY RAMP  Lucid's US sales jumped to 1,500 vehicles in February, almost double January, driven by a sharp ramp in Gravity SUV deliveries alongside 900 Air sedans. With Gravity now starting at $79,900 (via the Touring trim) and supported by a $7,500 lease credit plus targeted trade-in offers for Tesla, Rivian and Polestar owners, Lucid is boosting US momentum even as European registrations remain minimal. VW DEALERS SUE OVER SCOUT DIRECT SALES  Two Volkswagen dealerships in Connecticut and New York have launched a class-action lawsuit against Scout Motors and Volkswagen, arguing that Scout's Tesla-style direct-to-consumer sales model violates existing VW franchise agreements and deprives dealers of a lucrative new brand. Scout and CEO Scott Keogh counter that Scout is a separate entity from Volkswagen Group of America and therefore not bound to use VW's franchised dealer network.  VOLKSWAGEN GROUP HITS FOUR MILLION BEV DELIVERIES  Volkswagen Group has delivered its four-millionth battery-electric vehicle, accelerating from nearly a decade to reach the first million to adding the fourth million in just one year, powered largely by its MEB platform and around 30 all-electric passenger models. Most BEVs are built and sold in Europe, where compact SUVs and crossovers such as the VW ID.4/ID.5 dominate, while China and the US account for smaller but growing shares of volume and production. EGBATT LAUNCHES NOVA 60 DUAL BUFFERED CHARGER  EGbatt's new Nova 60 Dual combines a 60kW DC fast charger with a 60kWh LiFePO₄ battery in a single outdoor unit, allowing sites to deliver full fast-charging power without expensive grid upgrades by relying on buffered energy. Optional 20kW DC solar input lets operators integrate rooftop PV directly, helping cut operating costs and increase the share of renewable energy used for charging. LOTUS ADDS RANGE-EXTENDER ELETRE X FOR CHINA  Lotus has responded to softer demand for high-end pure EVs by launching the Eletre X plug-in range-extender SUV in China, pairing a 70kWh battery and 900V fast-charging system with a 2.0-litre turbo engine that mostly drives a generator but can also clutch to the front wheels for motorway efficiency. Delivering 952bhp, 0–62mph in 3.3 seconds and around 150 miles of electric-only range in a 2.6-tonne package, the Eletre X shares its new Geely-platform underpinnings with the Zeekr 9X and is slated to reach the UK no earlier than 2027.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BYD UNVEILS NEXT GENERATION TECH https://evne.ws/46Ktryt XIAOMI PUTS NEXT-GEN SU7 IN 492 SHOWROOMS https://evne.ws/4suSeyX XPENG ADDS G6 EREV WITH 1,704 KM CLAIM https://evne.ws/4d69YvV ZEEKR 009 TEASES 900-VOLT UPGRADE FOR 2026 https://evne.ws/3P3XsTE GAC AION TARGETS 99-SECOND BATTERY SWAP IN 2026 https://evne.ws/46Ktryt HUAWEI-GAC QIJING TEASES L3 SHOOTING BRAKE https://evne.ws/4rYa9OD GWM UNVEILS TANK 700 HI4-Z PHEV SUV https://evne.ws/4stKq03 MERCEDES DENIES GEELY-BASED COMPACT EV PLATFORM REPORT https://evne.ws/40f7vry ROBOSENSE UNVEILS 2,160-BEAM EM4 LIDAR https://evne.ws/4s1A7Ro

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT LIFTS UK FUEL AND ENERGY COSTS https://evne.ws/40f83xE EUROPEAN FLEETS COULD SAVE €246BN BY 2030 https://evne.ws/4sxj8WX CUPRA BORN FACELIFT BRINGS SHARP NOSE, SMALL TWEAKS https://evne.ws/474KXxB FORD EV SALES SINK 71% AFTER LIGHTNING EXIT https://evne.ws/4b8DL4m LUCID PATCHES GRAVITY SOFTWARE AGAIN https://evne.ws/46K3miY MITSUBISHI READIES LEAF-BASED EV FOR CANADA https://evne.ws/4udwrND ALPITRONIC UNVEILS HYC400 SERIES 2 CHARGER https://evne.ws/4u4s9bo APTERA SHOWS FIRST VALIDATION-LINE VEHICLE PHOTO https://evne.ws/4aT8QdE GEELY TARGETS DEFENDER WITH GALAXY BATTLESHIP https://evne.ws/4cxtRvQ EU UNVEILS LOCAL-CONTENT RULES FOR CLEAN TECH https://evne.ws/4ucuIYT

It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 05 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyMIDDLE EAST CONFLICT LIFTS UK FUEL AND ENERGY COSTSBrent crude surged past $84 per barrel and UK gas prices spiked to a three-year high of £1.44 per therm after Qatar halted LNG exports following Iran's threat to attack tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, with the RAC warning UK forecourt prices will feel the full impact within a week. Home EV charging costs are shielded for now by the energy price cap — fixed at 24.67p per kWh for electricity until end of June — but wholesale price rises could push the cap higher from July, making both home wallbox and public charging more expensive.​EUROPEAN FLEETS COULD SAVE €246BN BY 2030A new EY and Eurelectric report finds that fully electrifying Europe's corporate fleets could deliver up to €246 billion in cumulative savings and cut one billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. However, the authors warn that cheaper running costs alone will not drive mass uptake, calling for coordinated action from manufacturers, policymakers, grid operators and finance providers to tackle high upfront costs, uncertain residual values, and charging infrastructure delays.CUPRA BORN FACELIFT BRINGS SHARP NOSE, SMALL TWEAKSCupra has facelifted the Born with a "shark nose" front end, triangular matrix LED headlights, a continuous rear light strip, and new 235 mm tyres across all five wheel options, while the aerodynamically improved 79 kWh variants now claim around 600 km (373 miles) of WLTP range. A new entry "Born Plus" trim pairs a 58 kWh battery with a 140 kW motor — figures that match Ford's Capri LFP option and strongly suggest a switch to LFP cells from the updated MEB+ platform — though Cupra has not confirmed drivetrain details and appears to be saving that announcement for a related reveal, likely the VW ID.3 facelift later in 2026.FORD EV SALES SINK 71% AFTER LIGHTNING EXITFord's US EV sales collapsed 71% in February 2026 to just 2,122 units, the steepest monthly drop in its EV history, driven by the discontinuation of the F-150 Lightning and the expiry of the federal EV tax credit. Ford's Model e division lost $4.8 billion in 2025 and is forecast to lose another $4–5 billion in 2026, with profitability not expected until 2029; the company has already booked a $19.5 billion writedown and is pivoting to a new ~$30,000 midsize electric pickup it hopes will revive the business by 2027.LUCID PATCHES GRAVITY SOFTWARE AGAINLucid Motors has pushed software update 3.4.4 to the Gravity SUV, targeting AC charging improvements and Drive Assist availability, following a January update that resolved around 95% of earlier software issues — with the car averaging a new update every 24 days since launch. Lucid has closed its online configurator for both the Air and Gravity while it prepares its 2027 model year announcement, and Air owners face a $950 hardware upgrade bill to access the newer UX 3.0 platform already running in the Gravity, due to arrive by autumn 2026.MITSUBISHI READIES LEAF-BASED EV FOR CANADAMitsubishi is preparing its first all-new model since the Eclipse Cross for Canadian dealerships in 2026, built on Nissan's CMF-EV platform and LEAF architecture, with spy shots showing a heavily camouflaged prototype that shares the LEAF's roofline, proportions, and rear hatch panel. Both models will be built side by side at Nissan's Kaminokawa plant in Japan, and Mitsubishi may receive the smaller battery pack to undercut the LEAF on entry price — a strategy that would see Nissan supply the foundations while a cheaper sibling competes for the same buyers.ALPITRONIC UNVEILS HYC400 SERIES 2 CHARGERAlpitronic has launched the HYC400 Series 2, retaining the 400 kW maximum output of its predecessor while upgrading to a 22-inch touchscreen (up from 15.6 inches), second-generation silicon carbide power stacks, and a higher continuous output current of 600 A (up from 500 A). The unit maintains 97.5% charging efficiency but standby power consumption rises significantly from 43 W to under 100 W, and cable options narrow to a single 5-metre length; Alpitronic will sell both generations simultaneously to suit different site requirements.​APTERA SHOWS FIRST VALIDATION-LINE VEHICLE PHOTOAptera Motors has published the first photo of a vehicle off its validation assembly line, marking a milestone for its three-wheeled, solar-assisted EV that claims 400 miles of range from a 44 kWh battery and up to 40 miles of daily solar charging, classified as a motorcycle to bypass certain safety regulations. The launch edition price has risen to $40,000 — a $9,300 increase from prior estimates — though a $28,000 model is planned for the future, and with nearly 50,000 pre-orders and a stated daily capacity of 80–100 vehicles, Aptera claims it could fulfil all orders within 500 days of full production, though the end-of-year delivery timeline remains uncertain.​GEELY TARGETS DEFENDER WITH GALAXY BATTLESHIPGeely plans to launch the Galaxy Battleship in the UK in 2028, a blocky hybrid 4x4 aimed squarely at the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser, with a production design expected to stay 90–95% true to the Galaxy Cruiser concept shown at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show. Built on the GEA Evo platform with steer- and brake-by-wire, it may use an AI-driven plug-in hybrid system with a stated output of around 858 bhp, and Geely is promising an interior that surpasses the Defender's for luxury — a bold claim for the Chinese brand's first foray into the 4x4 segment.​EU UNVEILS LOCAL-CONTENT RULES FOR CLEAN TECHThe European Commission has unveiled the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), tying over €2 trillion in public procurement and subsidies to low-carbon and "Made-in-EU" conditions across sectors including EVs, steel, cement, and wind turbines, with the goal of raising manufacturing's share of EU economic output from 14% to 20% by 2035. China is excluded from the initial trusted-partner list — which includes the UK, Canada, and the US — and foreign investments above €100 million from countries controlling 40%+ of global production would face strict conditions including capped 49% foreign ownership and mandatory technology transfer; BMW and Mercedes oppose the Act over fears of higher costs, while Renault backs it and the text must still clear the European Parliament before becoming law.​

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BYD SHOWS NEW TANG CABIN BEFORE SHENZHEN DEBUT https://evne.ws/4b83avd HUAWEI AND SAIC UNVEIL Z7 AND Z7T https://evne.ws/4rVPdrx SAIC VOLKSWAGEN STARTS EA211 RANGE EXTENDER PRODUCTION https://evne.ws/4l7XpSO LI AUTO TROLLS VW AS RANGE EXTENDER LAUNCHES https://evne.ws/3MYLx9c GAC HYPTEC A800 LAUNCHES WITH 598 HP FLAGSHIP https://evne.ws/3MNUKkF HIMA UPGRADES MAEXTRO S800 AND AITO M9 https://evne.ws/4uacHut CHINA'S EV CHARGING BOOM SHIFTS HOME https://evne.ws/3ONUW3X CANADA OPENS SMALL QUOTA FOR CHINESE EVS https://evne.ws/40MOYTw HONDA TO EXPORT CHINA-BUILT E:NS2 TO JAPAN https://evne.ws/47cTqyy LOTUS REVEALS FOR ME CABIN, SETS 2026 LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4sbrTWZ

In November 2021, the Belgian parliament passed a tax reform that most Europeans never heard about. It phased out depreciation write-offs for petrol and diesel company cars. By 2026, the deduction disappeared entirely — combustion-engine company cars became zero per cent tax-deductible. Battery-electric vehicles stayed at 100 per cent.The market responded without hesitation.Corporate electric vehicle uptake surged — climbing 13 to 15 percentage points per year. By 2025, Belgium's fleet zero-emission vehicle share hit 54.2 per cent. In 2021, it was 8.8 per cent. Over the same period, Germany — Europe's industrial heavyweight — crept to 19.1 per cent.Belgium proved something simple: change the tax, change the market. Fast.Those precedent matters because in December 2025, the European Commission unveiled a regulation that could remake how Europeans buy, drive and eventually inherit their cars.The Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation (CCVR) — part of the wider Automotive Package — sets out to electrify corporate fleets, the single largest slice of Europe's new car market. The strategy is elegant: turn company cars into a conveyor belt that pushes affordable electric vehicles into the hands of ordinary drivers within a few years.If Europe wants to change what people drive, it should start with the cars that businesses buy in bulk, run hard and swap out quickly so the rest of us can buy them second hand.​The Commission agrees with that much. Its proposal for a Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation, tucked into the EU's automotive package, aims to push corporate fleets towards zero and low emission vehicles from 2030.Transport & Environment, the clean transport group that spends its days reading the small print, has now read it. It likes the premise. But it does not like the numbers.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart RENAULT CHIEF ATTACKS “FAKE” PHEVS, EYES RANGE EXTENDERS https://evne.ws/47mn04F NORWAY'S EV SHARE RECOVERS AND HITS 98% https://evne.ws/4bhtPqF NORWAY PASSES ONE MILLION BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLES https://evne.ws/4rcnKQV EV UPTAKE SPREADS BEYOND WEALTHIER EARLY ADOPTERS https://evne.ws/4b7EfrP QUANTUMSCAPE UNVEILS PRODUCTION LINE IN CALIFORNIA https://evne.ws/4clEcuA KIA UK SETS EV2 FIRST DRIVE WEEKENDS https://evne.ws/3OL6JQE BMW TEASES FOUR-MOTOR ELECTRIC M3 AT NÜRBURGRING https://evne.ws/4rbwFlM ROYAL ENFIELD SETS 2026–2027 EV AND ICE PUSH https://evne.ws/4sm0ocC NEXT POLESTAR WILL BE SPORTIER AND ON CHINESE PLATFORM https://evne.ws/4aWi213 ITALY LAUNCHES FIRST OFFICIAL ELECTRIC PORSCHE CLUB https://evne.ws/4s6OEvb

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart VOLVO ADDS CAPACITY TO BUILD EX60 https://evne.ws/4bm6X9s VOLVO PUSHES NEW UX TO 2.5 MILLION CARS https://evne.ws/4711jr1 CUPRA RAVAL SPIED UNCOVERED AHEAD OF MARCH 2026 REVEAL https://evne.ws/4baSYlP DENMARK HITS 81.6% BEV SHARE IN FEBRUARY https://evne.ws/408faIb 2026 WORLD CAR AWARDS SHORTLISTS TILT ELECTRIC https://evne.ws/4aRjthc 2027 BMW IX4 SET FOR X4 REPLACEMENT https://evne.ws/4bpmZiM BARCELONA TO PAY €600 FOR ELECTRIC MOPED SWAPS https://evne.ws/4ba0mhe ENBW SIGNS MULTI-YEAR XCHARGE DEAL FOR HYPERNET https://evne.ws/4cXlCJu STELLANTIS SETS 2026 SPAIN BUILD FOR LEAPMOTOR B10 https://evne.ws/3OYSK9K THATCHAM TARGETS EV WRITE-OFFS WITH REPAIR BLUEPRINT https://evne.ws/40LvazS

It's EV News Briefly for Tuesday 03 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyRENAULT CHIEF ATTACKS "FAKE" PHEVS, EYES RANGE EXTENDERSRenault CEO François Provost has condemned short-range plug-in hybrids from German and Chinese manufacturers as "fake PHEVs" that discourage regular charging and undermine consumer and regulatory confidence in electrified vehicles. Renault is exploring range-extender EV (EREV) technology for its next-generation electric platform — underpinning models like the Scenic successor — where a combustion engine acts only as a generator for trips up to 1,000km, and Provost is pushing for EREVs to be explicitly permitted for sale in the EU and UK beyond the 2035 all-BEV mandate.NORWAY'S EV SHARE RECOVERS AND HITS 98%Norway registered 7,272 new passenger cars in February 2026, with BEVs accounting for 7,127 of them — a 98.01% market share — as the market began to stabilise after a turbulent end to 2025 driven by expiring VAT exemptions. OFV Director Geir Inge Stokke compared the post-surge normalisation to the period following the 2022 VAT reform, with diesel, petrol PHEVs, hybrids, and pure petrol cars dividing up the remaining 2% between them. NORWAY PASSES ONE MILLION BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLESNorway's battery-electric passenger car fleet has crossed one million, with 951,300 BEV passenger cars and 50,300 BEV light commercial vehicles (LCVs) on the road, representing 32.4% of all passenger cars in the country's 2.94 million-strong fleet. Oslo leads with a 48.9% BEV share in its passenger car fleet and is expected to crack 50% before summer, while rural Finnmark trails at 12.2%, and the Norwegian EV Association's Christina Bu says the LCV transition — currently at just 9.7% — urgently needs to accelerate.UPTAKE SPREADS BEYOND WEALTHIER EARLY ADOPTERSResearch from charging firm char.gy and think tank New Automotive shows that EV adoption in England, once closely tied to wealth as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation, has spread significantly into poorer areas by Q3 2024–2025, with growth rates converging across most neighbourhoods. Used BEV transactions surged 45.7% in 2025 to a record 274,815 units, lifting used BEV market share to 3.5%, and with more than two million plug-in vehicles now on UK roads, the main remaining challenge is delivering reliable, affordable on-street charging in the most disadvantaged communities. QUANTUMSCAPE UNVEILS PRODUCTION LINE IN CALIFORNIAQuantumScape officially inaugurated its Eagle Line — a highly automated solid-state battery pilot production facility in San Jose, California — on February 4, 2026, designed not for mass production by QuantumScape itself but as a scalable blueprint that licensing partners, including Volkswagen (which has invested over $300 million), can replicate at gigawatt-hour scale in their own plants. With roughly $850 million in liquidity but a history of burning over $100 million annually and Volkswagen having scaled back its involvement in 2023 after missed timelines, QuantumScape's strategy pivot toward licensing means the next 18–24 months are critical for securing a major customer agreement.KIA UK SETS EV2 FIRST DRIVE WEEKENDSKia UK will run First Drive Weekend events for the EV2 across nearly all 190 UK dealers from April 16 to June 27, 2026, offering structured 30-minute accompanied drives ahead of first deliveries expected later in the year. The EV2 is a compact SUV just over four metres long built on the 400V E-GMP platform, supporting 10%–80% DC rapid charging in around 30 minutes, with two battery options (42.2kWh and 61.0kWh) and an expected starting price of around £25,000 — potentially undercutting rivals like the Renault 5 and Ford Puma Gen-E after the UK's £3,750 plug-in vehicle grant.BMW TEASES FOUR-MOTOR ELECTRIC M3 AT NÜRBURGRINGBMW M has released camouflaged footage of the electric M3 prototype — codenamed ZA0 — lapping the Nürburgring, featuring a unique four-motor all-wheel-drive setup with a front-motor decoupling mode for rear-wheel-drive capability that doesn't appear on any other Neue Klasse model. The ZA0 uses a bespoke battery pack with more than 100 kWh of net energy capacity not shared with regular i3 variants, with production targeted for March 2027 — well after the standard i3 sedan, which entered pre-series production at BMW's Munich plant in February 2026.ROYAL ENFIELD SETS 2026–2027 EV AND ICE PUSHRoyal Enfield is launching its first electric motorcycles under a new sub-brand called Flying Flea, starting with the minimalist urban C6 in 2026 and followed by the scrambler-inspired S6 in 2027, both sharing a common battery architecture that signals a modular platform approach. The brand is also developing an electrified Himalayan adventure bike, pushing its EV ambitions beyond city commuting into a segment that demands tougher performance credentials around weight, range, and durability. NEXT POLESTAR WILL BE SPORTIER AND ON CHINESE PLATFORMPolestar will replace the Polestar 2 in 2027 with a lower, sportier saloon that will be meaningfully longer than today's 4.6-metre car — potentially rivalling the BMW 3 Series — with UK pricing expected to start just below £50,000. The new model shifts to a Geely Holdings group-wide platform shared with Volvo, Lotus, Lynk&Co, and Zeekr, developed at "China speed" in a 30-month cycle versus the typical five-to-seven-year European timeline, with software-defined vehicle capability and advanced central computing at its core.ITALY LAUNCHES FIRST OFFICIAL ELECTRIC PORSCHE CLUBRegistro Italiano E-motion has become the world's first Porsche club built exclusively around battery-electric vehicles, earning official recognition from Porsche after beginning life as a pandemic-era chat group for Italian Taycan owners in 2021. The club's inaugural tour brought together 131 participants and 73 vehicles — a mix of 42 Taycans and 31 Macan Electrics, including two Taycan Turbo GT Weissach models — on a multi-day Alpine drive from Porsche Experience Center Franciacorta in northern Italy to the Hans Peter Porsche Traumwerk museum near Salzburg, Austria.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart XPENG CUTS X9 PRICE AS VLA 2.0 NEARS https://evne.ws/4b0ZUBP XPENG CUTS X9 PRICE 14% AFTER DELIVERY SLUMP https://evne.ws/4b0ZUBP GOTION FINISHES DESIGN FOR 2 GWH SOLID-STATE LINE https://evne.ws/47519yE NIO EXTENDS SEVEN-YEAR FINANCE DEAL TO END-MARCH https://evne.ws/3OYPo6F GLOBAL NEV SALES SLIP AS SUBSIDIES FADE https://evne.ws/3OLgqhV MERZ TAKES GERMAN CAR BOSSES TO BEIJING https://evne.ws/4cXY9I6 BYD SETS 5 MARCH “DISRUPTIVE” TECH LAUNCH https://evne.ws/403o49M ROX MOTOR FEBRUARY DELIVERIES HIT 1,298 https://evne.ws/4sq3BYU SAIC-GM UNVEILS BUICK ELECTRA ENCACA BEV FOR CHINA https://evne.ws/4rSeqD6 SHENZHEN LAUNCHES BONUSES FOR EV SCRAPPAGE AND TRADE-INS https://evne.ws/4razYtE

It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 04 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyVOLVO ADDS CAPACITY TO BUILD EX60  Volvo will extend production at its Torslanda plant to meet surging demand for the all-electric EX60 SUV, which has seen strong early orders across Europe. German wait times now stretch up to 17 months, prompting Volvo to negotiate shorter summer breaks with unions, mirroring BMW's own ramp-up for the iX3. VOLVO PUSHES NEW UX TO 2.5 MILLION CARS  Volvo is rolling out a major over‑the‑air update to around 2.5 million vehicles, bringing its latest infotainment system from the EX30, EX90 and EX60 models to cars as old as 2020. The update ushers in a unified user interface and, later this spring, a switch from Google Assistant to the more conversational Google Gemini AI. CUPRA RAVAL SPIED UNCOVERED AHEAD OF MARCH 2026 REVEAL  Cupra's upcoming Raval — its most affordable EV yet — has been spotted fully uncovered during Scandinavian winter testing. Riding on the new MEB+ platform with two battery options, it launches mid‑2026 from around £23,000 to rival the Renault 5 and Peugeot e‑208 in the urban EV segment.  DENMARK HITS 81.6% BEV SHARE IN FEBRUARY  Battery‑electric vehicles made up 81.6% of Denmark's new car sales in February, surging to 94.4% among private buyers. The shift reflects strong government incentives and rapid public adoption as EVs become the mainstream choice in the Danish market.  2026 WORLD CAR AWARDS SHORTLISTS TILT ELECTRIC  Electric models dominate the 2026 World Car Awards shortlist, with the BMW iX3, Nissan Leaf and Mercedes‑Benz CLA leading major categories. Luxury and performance finalists like the Lucid Gravity and Hyundai Ioniq 6 N further show how EVs now span every segment from affordable urban cars to high‑end models.  2027 BMW IX4 SET FOR X4 REPLACEMENT  BMW's 2027 iX4 coupe SUV is testing in Sweden, set to replace the X4 with two all‑wheel‑drive variants and a 108 kWh battery offering up to 800 km WLTP range. It adopts BMW's latest design language and a minimalist cabin similar to the iX3, with a large central screen and refreshed controls.  BARCELONA TO PAY €600 FOR ELECTRIC MOPED SWAPS  Barcelona will grant residents €600 to trade in petrol mopeds for new electric ones starting March 2026, covering up to 40% of the purchase price. With €15 million in funding through 2030, the scheme could replace around 24,000 mopeds and is open on a first‑come, first‑served basis.  ENBW SIGNS MULTI-YEAR XCHARGE DEAL FOR HYPERNET  German utility EnBW has sealed a multi‑year deal with XCharge to supply 400 kW DC fast chargers for its HyperNet network after successful trials. The high‑power C7 units, supporting dual CCS connectors and liquid‑cooled cables, will serve high‑throughput highway and hub charging locations.  STELLANTIS SETS 2026 SPAIN BUILD FOR LEAPMOTOR B10  Stellantis will start producing the Leapmotor B10 electric SUV in Spain in late 2026, marking the brand's European manufacturing debut. The €29,990 model anchors Leapmotor's expansion through Stellantis's joint venture, which now runs over 800 European sales points and continues rapid growth.  THATCHAM TARGETS EV WRITE-OFFS WITH REPAIR BLUEPRINT  Thatcham Research has launched an EV Blueprint to stop repairable electric cars being written off after minor crashes by improving safety, diagnostics and battery repair standards. The plan calls for modular, serviceable battery designs, open diagnostic tools, and replaceable safety components to cut repair costs and extend EV lifespan.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart BMW USA SHOP LEAK POINTS TO 2027 LINEUP https://evne.ws/4081MUf TESLA BERLIN RUNS HALF FULL AS UNION ROW SIMMERS https://evne.ws/4d4gL9g T&E: LOCAL BATTERIES COULD CUT COST GAP https://evne.ws/3Na5t94 TRIBUNAL BACKS 5% VAT ON SOME PUBLIC CHARGING https://evne.ws/4bl4PPi SKODA OPENS €205M CTP BATTERY PLANT IN CZECHIA https://evne.ws/3N2pBK9 MG CLOSES IN ON EUROPEAN FACTORY PLAN https://evne.ws/4slQRCu CITROËN UPDATES C5 AIRCROSS PHEV FOR EURO 7 https://evne.ws/4u7vBC3 CANADIAN TRIAL PEGS ELECTRIC SEMI SAVINGS AT $157,126 https://evne.ws/4rMIKiv DENZA D9 ELECTRIC MPV ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA https://evne.ws/46yDNRY CHINESE CAR BRANDS SPLIT US BUYERS https://evne.ws/4aMajm3

It's EV News Briefly for Monday 02 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyBMW USA SHOP LEAK POINTS TO 2027 LINEUPA leak on BMW USA's online shop revealed two fully electric i3 sedan variants — the i3 40 xDrive and i3 50 xDrive — confirmed for the US in 2027, sharing the Neue Klasse platform with the iX3 and featuring Gen6 batteries, 800-volt hardware, and an iDrive X interior. The 2027 lineup also adds a first-ever iX4 coupe-SUV in two variants, an iX3 in three configurations launching in North America this summer, an electric iX5, and an i3 M60 alongside a full electric M3 positioned as the spiritual successor to today's M3 Competition.TESLA BERLIN RUNS HALF FULL AS UNION ROW SIMMERSTesla's Gigafactory Berlin produced 211,235 vehicles in 2024 against a stated annual capacity of 375,000 — a 56% utilisation rate — and output has since declined further, with the factory now reportedly running at around 40% capacity and BYD outselling Tesla in Europe in January 2026. Labour tensions are deepening ahead of works council elections, with IG Metall pursuing collective wage agreements similar to those at Volkswagen and BMW, while Tesla filed a criminal complaint against a union member and Elon Musk warned that "outside organisations" could hinder the site's ambition to become Europe's largest factory complex.T&E: LOCAL BATTERIES COULD CUT COST GAPA Transport & Environment report argues the EU can shrink the cost gap between domestically made and Chinese batteries from 90% to around 30% through scaled-up local production, with higher automation and lower scrap rates potentially cutting the gap to $14 per kWh by 2030 — equivalent to roughly €500 on an average EV. The findings align with the EU's forthcoming Industrial Accelerator Act, which targets ~70% local content thresholds for publicly supported EVs, though some carmakers warn this risks making batteries prohibitively expensive while T&E's Julia Poliscanova calls it "a sovereignty premium worth paying," particularly given China's export restrictions on critical minerals.TRIBUNAL BACKS 5% VAT ON SOME PUBLIC CHARGINGA UK tax tribunal has ruled against HMRC in a case brought by community charging operator Charge My Street, finding that a de-minimis clause in the VAT Act 1994 — capping "domestic" supplies at 1,000 kWh per month per customer — can qualify most neighbourhood charge points for the 5% reduced VAT rate rather than the 20% rate currently applied to public charging. The ruling is significant for drivers without off-street parking, though it also raises commercial complications, as many charge point operators have multi-year contracts priced on 20% VAT, and it opens the door to networks gaming the threshold by splitting sites or charger banks into separate "premises".ŠKODA OPENS €205M CTP BATTERY PLANT IN CZECHIAŠkoda has opened a €205 million (~$216M), 55,000 m² battery production facility at Mladá Boleslav, making it the Volkswagen Group's largest BEV battery system site and the first VW Group plant in Europe to manufacture cell-to-pack (CTP) systems at scale. The line produces over 1,100 battery systems per day — targeting up to 335,000 annually — and Škoda's switch to LFP cells has cut battery production costs by 30% compared to its previous MEB systems.MG CLOSES IN ON EUROPEAN FACTORY PLANMG has narrowed its European factory search to five countries, aiming to begin production by 2027 to circumvent the EU's 45% tariff on Chinese-built BEVs — a levy that caused MG's European BEV sales to fall 33% to 48,479 units last year, even as overall European sales rose 26% to 307,282 units in 2025. MG Europe head William Wang declared "it's time to build local," positioning the brand as a European marque rather than a Chinese import, as rivals BYD, Chery, and Leapmotor also race to establish European manufacturing footholds.CITROËN UPDATES C5 AIRCROSS PHEV FOR EURO 7Citroën has refreshed the C5 Aircross plug-in hybrid with a new 21.5 kWh battery (17.8 kWh usable), delivering up to 96 km (60 miles) of WLTP combined electric range — a 33% improvement over the outgoing model and ahead of rivals like the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (69 km) and Ford Kuga PHEV (64 km). Priced in the €40–50k range, Citroën positions the updated C5 Aircross as one of the most tax-efficient family SUVs in the mainstream segment across EU markets while still targeting Euro 7 compliance.CANADIAN TRIAL PEGS ELECTRIC SEMI SAVINGS AT $157,126A real-world Canadian trial by FPInnovations' PIT Group and Transport Canada tracked two commercial fleets over 12 months and more than 200,000 km of Montreal-area operations, projecting savings of $157,126 per truck over six years — described as the most comprehensive dataset of its kind outside controlled demonstrations. The study compared the Freightliner eCascadia (BEV) directly against the diesel Cascadia and found that despite the electric truck's higher purchase price, higher-than-expected maintenance costs, and lower residual value, a six-year saving still emerged and may prove conservative.DENZA D9 ELECTRIC MPV ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIADenza has launched the D9 electric MPV in Australia from A$85,990, powered by a 103.3 kWh Blade Battery with 200 kW DC fast charging, 11 kW AC charging, and V2L capability across both variants, all built on BYD's e-Platform 3.0 with a cell-to-body battery structure. The seven-seat, three-row cabin targets the premium end of the people-mover segment with nappa leather, open-pore white ash wood trim, a 14-speaker Dynaudio sound system, adaptive suspension, and second-row captain's chairs offering over 900 mm of legroom, massage, and individual screens.CHINESE CAR BRANDS SPLIT US BUYERSA Cox Automotive survey of 802 prospective US car buyers found the country almost evenly divided — 38% would consider Chinese brands if available, 39% would not — with Gen Z showing notably higher openness at 69%. Chinese brands remain locked out of the US market by high tariffs and software regulations, but cost pressure is a key driver of interest, with 68% of open buyers expecting lower prices against an average new car price of $50,000, while BYD has already surpassed Tesla in European EV sales.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart CHINA EV REPORT MIXED RESULTS FOR FEBRUARY https://evne.ws/4014B9I BYD TESTS 1,500 KW FLASH CHARGE NETWORK https://evne.ws/4rGzkF3 BYD SHOWS SEAL 07 EV AHEAD OF MARCH LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4cUBZ9x DENZA Z9 GT SET FOR 1,036 KM CLAIM https://evne.ws/4b0rP4P LEAPMOTOR'S STELLANTIS DEAL DRIVES EUROPEAN GROWTH https://evne.ws/3Pb93QP SAIC-VW SHOWS ID. ERA 9X CABIN AHEAD OF 2026 https://evne.ws/4u41KdR XIAOMI SPY SHOTS POINT TO TWO NEW SUVS https://evne.ws/4rO4RoO CHINESE EVS FACE UK INSURANCE SURGE https://evne.ws/4b4l029

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart VOLKSWAGEN HITS 2 MILLION EV DELIVERIES https://evne.ws/4l0YITF SKODA GIVES SUPERB HATCH A 200 KW PHEV https://evne.ws/4bh1noS CANADA OPENS CHINA-BUILT EV QUOTA AT 6.1% TARIFF https://evne.ws/4qYzA0Z CUPRA SETS 5 MARCH BORN FACELIFT REVEAL https://evne.ws/47giMLV RANGE ROVER VELAR EV SPOTTED ON WINTER TEST https://evne.ws/3NbVkst RIVIAN LAUNCHES RAD PERFORMANCE SUB-BRAND https://evne.ws/4l1uAYd TESLA TELLS MODEL Y OWNERS TO CHARGE GENTLY https://evne.ws/3NdjanE VOLVO PLOTS FASTER ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK PUSH https://evne.ws/4kYSx2d LYTEN TAKES OVER NORTHVOLT'S SWEDISH BATTERY ASSETS https://evne.ws/4sb8qF6 BRIM EXPLORER ORDERS TWO ELECTRIC TRIMARANS https://evne.ws/3NcVkbJ

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 01 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyVOLKSWAGEN HITS 2 MILLION EV DELIVERIESVolkswagen delivered its 2 millionth battery electric vehicle — an ID.3 handed to customer Kirsten Vormbrock at the Transparent Factory in Dresden — capping a journey that began with the e-up! in 2013. The ID.4 leads the tally with roughly 901,000 units sold globally, while the brand now looks ahead to four new affordable EVs including the ID. Polo, arriving in 2026.ŠKODA GIVES SUPERB HATCH A 200 KW PHEVŠkoda has unveiled a 200 kW plug-in hybrid for the Superb Hatch, pairing a 1.5 TSI petrol engine with an 85 kW electric motor and a 25.7 kWh battery — making it the most powerful combustion-engine model in Škoda's current lineup. The launch reflects growing demand: one in four Superb models now sells with a PHEV powertrain, and more than 68,000 Superb iV models have been delivered since 2019.CANADA OPENS CHINA-BUILT EV QUOTA AT 6.1% TARIFFCanada began accepting import permit applications from 1 March 2026, allowing up to 49,000 China-built EVs per year to enter at a 6.1% tariff — a sharp cut from the 106.1% rate imposed in 2024 — on a first-come, first-served basis. Tesla, Polestar, and Volvo are considered frontrunners to use the allocation, which Ottawa plans to scale to 70,000 vehicles annually by 2030, with 50% of that expanded quota reserved for EVs below a set price threshold.CUPRA SETS 5 MARCH BORN FACELIFT REVEALCupra will unveil the Born facelift on 5 March, bringing harder-edged front and rear styling that aligns the model visually with the newer Terramar and Tavascan, plus expected interior upgrades including more premium materials and a revised infotainment layout. The refresh matters commercially: the Born has sold nearly 30,000 units in the UK alone since its 2022 launch, and Cupra will also soon introduce the smaller Raval electric hatchback from approximately £23,000.RANGE ROVER VELAR EV SPOTTED ON WINTER TESTA Range Rover Velar EV prototype has been caught in European winter testing, revealing a dramatically reshaped body with a cab-forward stance, angular haunches, and a fastback-leaning roofline that breaks sharply from traditional boxy SUV design. Crucially, it will be the first Jaguar Land Rover model built on the new 800-volt Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) platform, which is engineered to deliver over 300 miles of range and faster charging capability.RIVIAN LAUNCHES RAD PERFORMANCE SUB-BRANDRivian has launched the Rivian Adventure Department (RAD), a dedicated performance sub-brand targeting harder and faster off-road driving that puts it in direct competition with Land Rover's Octa and Ford's Raptor line. RAD formalises the engineering team already responsible for the R1S and R1T Quad Motor variants, giving Rivian's performance ambitions an official identity and a public-facing platform.TESLA TELLS MODEL Y OWNERS TO CHARGE GENTLYTesla has updated the Model Y Owner's Manual to advise owners to rely on home Level 1 or Level 2 charging for daily use — keeping limits at 80% — and to reserve Superchargers for road trips, warning that frequent DC fast charging accelerates long-term battery degradation. For long-term storage, Tesla recommends parking at approximately 50% state of charge and flagging that features like Sentry Mode and Dog Mode can silently drain the battery at roughly 1% per day while the car sits idle.VOLVO PLOTS FASTER ZERO-EMISSION TRUCK PUSHVolvo Group is accelerating its battery-electric heavy truck strategy from a position of strength, holding a 19% share of the European heavy-truck market for the second consecutive year. Its flagship FH Aero Electric packs 780 kWh of batteries for up to 600 km of range and supports megawatt charging that takes the pack from 20% to 80% in just 45 minutes — aligning recharge stops with mandatory driver rest breaks.LYTEN TAKES OVER NORTHVOLT'S SWEDISH BATTERY ASSETSLyten has completed its acquisition of Northvolt's Swedish operations — covering Northvolt Ett, Ett Expansion, and Northvolt Labs — in a deal encompassing nearly $5 billion in book value, 16 GWh of manufacturing capacity, and Europe's largest battery R&D centre. The company plans to restart lithium-ion NMC cell production at the Skellefteå site in the second half of 2026, and will use Northvolt Labs in Västerås to advance its proprietary lithium-sulfur battery technology.BRIM EXPLORER ORDERS TWO ELECTRIC TRIMARANSOslo-based Brim Explorer has signed contracts for two fully electric trimarans — each 24 metres long, carrying 180 passengers — which the firm claims will be the world's most efficient battery-powered vessels upon their spring 2027 delivery. The boats will operate silent, emission-free sightseeing cruises along Norway's coast with a battery-only range of 100 nautical miles at speeds up to 20 knots, expanding Brim's existing five-vessel fleet.

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart RENAULT 5 E-TECH WINS 2026 UK CAR OF YEAR https://evne.ws/3OAv77q POLESTAR ADDS LIVE LANE GUIDANCE TO DRIVER DISPLAY https://evne.ws/4bcjzQm WAYMO LAUNCHES ROBOTAXIS IN FOUR NEW US CITIES https://evne.ws/4cieaIK EU “BUY EUROPEAN” DRAFT PUTS GERMAN EV AID AT RISK https://evne.ws/4aGfqEk CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 UK SALES START MARCH 1 https://evne.ws/4l2iv55 ACCIONA TO BUILD 4MW EV HUB INSIDE M-30 https://evne.ws/4bdCJp1 SCANIA ENGINEER TAKES ELECTRIC TRUCK THROUGH 21 COUNTRIES https://evne.ws/4aG1DO7 FACTORIAL TAPS KOREAN PARTNER TO SCALE SOLID-STATE CELLS https://evne.ws/3N2jhCx

It's EV News Briefly for Saturday 28 February 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyRENAULT 5 E-TECH WINS 2026 UK CAR OF YEAR https://evne.ws/3OAv77q POLESTAR ADDS LIVE LANE GUIDANCE TO DRIVER DISPLAY https://evne.ws/4bcjzQm WAYMO LAUNCHES ROBOTAXIS IN FOUR NEW US CITIES https://evne.ws/4cieaIK EU “BUY EUROPEAN” DRAFT PUTS GERMAN EV AID AT RISK https://evne.ws/4aGfqEk CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 UK SALES START MARCH 1 https://evne.ws/4l2iv55 ACCIONA TO BUILD 4MW EV HUB INSIDE M-30 https://evne.ws/4bdCJp1 SCANIA ENGINEER TAKES ELECTRIC TRUCK THROUGH 21 COUNTRIES https://evne.ws/4aG1DO7 FACTORIAL TAPS KOREAN PARTNER TO SCALE SOLID-STATE CELLS https://evne.ws/3N2jhCx