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 AUTO CHINA SHOWS EV MARKET SPLIT https://evne.ws/4ugBbkZ BUICK ELECTRA E7 PLUG-IN HYBRID LAUNCHES IN CHINA https://evne.ws/4tCjIn3 BYD'S DENZA LAUNCHES SECOND-GENERATION D9 https://evne.ws/3R6TpqD CATL LANDS 60 GWH SODIUM-ION BATTERY ORDER https://evne.ws/4sU08kZ HIMA TARGETS CHINA'S PREMIUM EV MARKET https://evne.ws/3OUwazk LEAPMOTOR PLANS PREMIUM BRAND FOR 2027 https://evne.ws/420kxKo MERCEDES DEBUTS CHINA-ONLY ELECTRIC GLC https://evne.ws/3OrXkxC ONVO L80 LEADS WITH CARGO CLAIMS https://evne.ws/4vWnAkq YIJING AUTO DEBUTS WITH HUAWEI-BACKED X9 https://evne.ws/4mY0TrV VOYAH TAISHAN X8 GETS 20,000 PRESALE ORDERS https://evne.ws/4uikrdd BYD JAPAN OFFERS 66-HOUR TEST DRIVES https://evne.ws/3QAa0Di

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 KIA CUTS EUROPE PRICES TO F BYD https://evne.ws/3OOvDiy BYD DENZA Z TAKES AIM AT TESLA https://evne.ws/4cz4ZDo OIL SHOCK COULD SPEED UK EV UPTAKE https://evne.ws/3OFRZ5R PHEVS COST MORE TO BUY AND RUN https://evne.ws/420eEwJ OMODA & JAECOO HITS ONE MILLION SALES https://evne.ws/4ubNXB4 GWM PULLS ORA 03 FROM UK https://evne.ws/4vVgBYZ LEAPMOTOR B05 TARGETS EUROPE WITH LOW PRICES https://evne.ws/4cJTZSp US EV MAKERS PRESS DIRECT SALES FIGHT https://evne.ws/4tvTzGx MG WEIGHS SPAIN FOR EUROPEAN EV PLANT https://evne.ws/4cQL6qm

It's EV News Briefly for Monday 27 April 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/EVNewsDailyKIA CUTS EUROPE PRICES TO FIGHT CHINESEKia CEO Song Ho-sung announced a deliberate price-cutting strategy at the company's Investor Day, narrowing the price gap with Chinese rivals like BYD from 20–25% to 15–20%. Despite reporting a quarterly profit decline on 24 April due to higher European sales incentives, Kia says its solid profit base can sustain the strategy, with the upcoming EV2 small SUV set to challenge the BYD Dolphin Surf directly.BYD DENZA Z TAKES AIM AT TESLABYD unveiled the production Denza Z at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show — an all-electric supercar with around 1,000 hp, a sub-two-second 0–60 mph claim, and three variants including a coupe and convertible. Estimated at around $65,000 in China, it targets the Tesla Roadster 2 and is prioritised for European sales, with a Goodwood Festival of Speed debut planned and full technical details due in July 2026.OIL SHOCK COULD SPEED UK EV UPTAKERising oil prices following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz are shifting the economic case toward EVs, accelerating a consumer tipping point already supported by better batteries. A large EV fleet could transform UK grid stability through vehicle-to-grid systems, with Ofgem estimating that half of projected EVs on V2G by 2030 could provide 16GW of flexible capacity — five times the projected output of Hinkley Point C.PHEVS COST MORE TO BUY AND RUNECIU data shows eight of the UK's 10 best-selling PHEVs carry a higher sticker price than comparable EVs, with an average gap of £4,150 or 10%, even as the average new EV has fallen below the average new petrol car for the first time. Real-world PHEV fuel costs run 490% above official figures, pushing annual fuelling costs to around £1,030 — £620 more per year than an equivalent EV — making total cost of ownership over £1,000 per year higher than going fully electric.OMODA & JAECOO HITS ONE MILLION SALESOmoda & Jaecoo reached one million cumulative global sales in April 2026, just three years after its international debut, recording monthly sales of over 60,000 units in March and operating across 69 markets with 1,364 dealers. Europe drove 41.5% of total global sales, with a 246% year-on-year rise in March, and the brand ranked sixth in the UK with a 4.7% market share — with Omoda & Jaecoo now targeting one million annual sales by 2027.GWM PULLS ORA 03 FROM UKGWM has withdrawn the Ora 03 electric hatchback from the UK market after only 542 units were registered across all of 2025 and just 26 in Q1 2026, ending a four-year run for the model originally launched as the Funky Cat. No new stock will be supplied, with the car available only from existing dealer inventory as GWM shifts focus to a broader European growth strategy.LEAPMOTOR B05 TARGETS EUROPE WITH LOW PRICESLeapmotor's B05 compact hatchback will launch in Europe starting at €26,900 in Italy, undercutting every major rival by at least €10,000, including the Volkswagen ID.3 at €40,990, the BYD Dolphin at €35,000 and the MG4 at €34,000. At 4,430 mm long with rear-wheel drive, 160 kW, a 0–100 km/h time of 6.7 seconds and DC fast charging peaking at 174 kW, it combines size, performance and price in a package that directly targets the mainstream European EV market.US EV MAKERS PRESS DIRECT SALES FIGHTUS EV makers including Tesla, Rivian and Lucid are escalating efforts to bypass the dealer franchise model, which still controls 96% of new-vehicle deliveries, using new legal strategies and ballot initiative threats — though the three brands combined held less than 4% of the US light-vehicle market in 2025. The bigger industry fear is not EV startups but legacy or foreign brands like Volkswagen's Scout Motors breaking the model open for all manufacturers, which could fundamentally reshape US auto retail.MG WEIGHS SPAIN FOR EUROPEAN EV PLANTMG Motor reportedly favours Spain — particularly Galicia — over Hungary for its first European EV manufacturing plant, driven largely by Galicia's strong shipping links to the UK, MG's most important European market. No final decision has been made, but the move is driven by SAIC facing the EU's highest Chinese automaker tariff rate of 35.3%, even as producing cars in Europe will cost more than manufacturing them in China.AVERAGE EV RETAINS 97% OF ITS RANGE AFTER THREE YEARSRecurrent's 2026 EV Market and Trends Report found that the average EV retains 97% of its range after three years and 95% after five years, with five brands — Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes and Rivian — showing zero apparent range loss over five years. Used EV demand surged 53.9% between February and March 2026, with the average used EV now priced at $34,653 — just $1,012 below an equivalent ICE vehicle — while average new EV range for 2026 models rose 11% to 325 miles.

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 APRIL NEV PENETRATION TOPS 60% https://evne.ws/4eKWnec PORSCHE PRICES ELECTRIC CAYENNE TURBO IN CHINA https://evne.ws/42Azi6E CHINA'S CHARGING NETWORK HITS 21.481 MILLION https://evne.ws/41WVxDS BYD GREAT TANG TOPS 30,000 PRE-ORDERS https://evne.ws/4mTxcs8 GAC HYPER OPENS S600 ORDERS IN BEIJING https://evne.ws/42wFHQo FREELANDER 8 BREAKS COVER ON WEIBO https://evne.ws/4tA3oDp LEAPMOTOR CHASES 1 MILLION SALES IN 2026 https://evne.ws/4euEEb9 ARIDGE TOPS 7,000 PRE-ORDERS IN BEIJING https://evne.ws/3Op0ulK CHERY SHOWS FULWIN A9 WAGON CONCEPT https://evne.ws/3QtvqSt SAIC VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHES ID. ERA 9X https://evne.ws/4euEtfZ NIO OPENS BLUE LIGHT RETROFIT PRE-ORDERS https://evne.ws/4uckozu

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 GIVES I7 MORE RANGE AND SCREEN SPACE https://evne.ws/4e5h1pd RIVIAN STARTS R2 PRODUCTION IN ILLINOIS https://evne.ws/4e4bW0y GM SAYS NO DELAY TO  ELECTRIC TRUCK PROGRAMME https://evne.ws/4ctZvtK SMART #2 SETS UP FORTWO RETURN https://evne.ws/3QohDMV ID. BUZZ ADDS AWD AND NEW TECH https://evne.ws/3QWmJA3 CHARGEPOINT LAUNCHES 600 KW EXPRESS SOLO https://evne.ws/4vM5Gkc FRANCE SETS 2035 ROAD CHARGING PLAN https://evne.ws/4tYMBtj COKE CANADA ADDS VOLVO ELECTRIC TRUCKS https://evne.ws/4mHYlOw PG&E ADDS CYBERTRUCK TO V2G PILOT https://evne.ws/4tYMPRb VOLKSWAGEN SETS GERMAN V2G LAUNCH FOR 2026 https://evne.ws/3Qndd96

It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 22 April 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 GIVES I7 MORE RANGE AND SCREEN SPACEBMW has revealed what it calls the most extensive refresh ever applied to a BMW, with the updated electric i7 arriving first in September 2026 and plug-in hybrids to follow, with pricing expected to rise from the current £105,000 starting point. The new i7 swaps its old 105.7kWh battery for a 112.5kWh pack using Gen6 cylindrical cells, pushing maximum range from 387 miles to 452 miles and DC charging speed from 195kW to 250kW, while adaptive dampers and active rear steering become standard across the whole range.The styling adopts BMW's Neue Klasse design language with slimmer crystal-embedded headlights, a horizontal-slat grille, 22-inch alloys as standard, and up to 500 exterior colour combinations including a new two-tone option. Inside, the i7 becomes the first BMW to offer a front-passenger touchscreen (14.6 inches), gains a 17.9-inch central display and a sweeping 43.3-inch Panoramic iDrive dashboard, while rear passengers keep their 31.3-inch 8K cinema screen and 35-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system.***RIVIAN STARTS R2 PRODUCTION IN ILLINOISRivian has begun production of the R2 at its Normal, Illinois plant, with CFO Claire McDonough confirming the start in a Reuters interview and first customer deliveries expected later this spring. Reservation holders will receive configuration invitations in June, with the $57,990 Launch Edition shipping first, followed by the $53,990 Premium later in 2026 and the more affordable Standard and entry variants arriving through 2027.Rivian expects R2 to cost less than half of what an R1 costs to build once higher volumes are reached in 2027, and the vehicle also underpins the company's broader ambitions including the $2,500 Autonomy+ self-driving package and an Uber robotaxi partnership worth up to $1.25 billion across 25 cities.***GM SAYS NO DELAY TO ELECTRIC TRUCK PROGRAMMEGM publicly denied cancelling any electric trucks after Crain's Detroit Business — citing three anonymous sources — reported that the automaker had indefinitely delayed its next-generation electric truck programme, which had been targeting a 2028 production start for refreshed versions of the Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Hummer, and Escalade IQ. GM told Motor1 that "EVs remain the end game" and confirmed no impact to current electric truck production, though the company gave no timeline for when the next-generation programme might resume.Supplier executives and analysts told Crain's they do not expect a new generation of GM's all-electric truck line until 2030 or beyond, suggesting the delay is substantial even if GM stops short of calling it a cancellation.***SMART #2 SETS UP FORTWO RETURNSmart has unveiled the Smart #2 concept, a two-door, two-seat electric city car that revives the spirit of the original Fortwo, with a production model expected to launch in October 2026. Built on the Electric Compact Architecture platform, it offers an estimated 186-mile range — a dramatic leap over the old EQ Fortwo's 58-mile range — along with a 10–80% charge time of under 20 minutes and vehicle-to-load capability.Expected to measure around 106 inches (2.7 metres) long, the Smart #2 would be smaller than the Dacia Spring and Renault Twingo, placing it among Europe's smallest new EVs at launch.***ID. BUZZ ADDS AWD AND NEW TECHVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles is rolling out a 2026 model year update for the ID. Buzz this summer, headlined by the new Pro 4MOTION variant that pairs a 210kW rear motor with a front motor for a combined 250kW and raises towing capacity to 1.8 tonnes on the standard wheelbase. The update also brings one-pedal driving capable of bringing the vehicle to a full stop, a new Innovision infotainment system with an integrated app store, traffic-light-responsive Connected Travel Assist, a welcome return to physical steering wheel buttons, and optional vehicle-to-load capability at up to 2.0kW.***CHARGEPOINT LAUNCHES 600KW EXPRESS SOLOChargePoint has unveiled the Express Solo, a standalone DC fast charger capable of delivering up to 600kW, which the company says sets a new benchmark for public charging in the US. The unit supports two simultaneous sessions, accepts direct DC input for integration with on-site battery storage, enables bidirectional charging, and uses an Omni Port combining CCS1 and NACS connectors — all at a claimed 30% lower purchase and operating cost than comparable high-power chargers.***FRANCE SETS 2035 ROAD CHARGING PLANFrance's government has published a national strategy to deploy around 30,000 EV charging points on motorways and national roads by 2035, targeting corridors that carry roughly one third of all traffic despite representing just 2% of total road length. The plan includes approximately 22,000 fast chargers at around 150kW for light vehicles across 900 service areas — a fivefold capacity increase — plus 8,000 heavy-duty charging points across 560 locations.***COKE CANADA ADDS VOLVO ELECTRIC TRUCKSCoca-Cola Canada Bottling is expanding its electric fleet to nearly 40 vehicles by adding Volvo VNR Electric trucks in Quebec City and the Vancouver area, building on a 2023 pilot programme that tested six of the trucks in real-world conditions. Each VNR Electric uses a six-battery configuration with a range of up to 440km, and the expansion is supported by a new 180kW Heliox Flex charging station in Quebec City and two additional chargers in Vancouver.***PG&E ADDS CYBERTRUCK TO V2G PILOTPG&E and Tesla have added the Cybertruck to PG&E's residential vehicle-to-grid programme, using Tesla's Powershare Gateway and Universal Wall Connector in what is the first AC-based V2G application approved for California customers. Participants can receive up to $4,500 in incentives for bidirectional charging equipment and earn additional compensation for exporting electricity back to the grid during peak demand events.***VOLKSWAGEN SETS GERMAN V2G LAUNCH FOR 2026Volkswagen and its energy subsidiary Elli plan to launch a fully integrated vehicle-to-grid service for private customers in Germany in Q4 2026, with pre-registration opening in June, promising annual earnings of €700–€900 under favourable conditions. Elli will manage the full stack — dynamic tariff, DC bidirectional charger, smart meter integration, and a control app — backed by around one million bidirectional-capable MEB-platform EVs already on European roads.

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 CATL PUSHES SIX BATTERY BETS https://evne.ws/4u2R3Yf CATL CLAIMS FASTER CHARGING THAN BYD https://evne.ws/4tWWWpF CATL LAUNCHES THIRD-GENERATION QILIN BATTERY https://evne.ws/3QzVtqX CATL SETS 2026 SODIUM BATTERY START https://evne.ws/3OlUkmm CATL PUSHES EREV BATTERY RANGE TO 600 KM https://evne.ws/4tpqH2u CATL LINKS SWAP AND SUPERCHARGING NETWORKS https://evne.ws/4cWd9FY CHANGAN TO MERGE AVATR, DEEPAL BACK ENDS https://evne.ws/4vIyPgb LEAPMOTOR LAUNCHES D19 FROM 219,800 YUAN https://evne.ws/48e9UqN VOLKSWAGEN ADDS TWO CHINA-MARKET NEVS https://evne.ws/4cA6Czn VOLKSWAGEN ANHUI LAUNCHES ID. UNYX 08 https://evne.ws/3Qns976 VOLKSWAGEN USES JETTA FOR CHINA'S BUDGET EV PUSH https://evne.ws/42lM8FM ONVO L90 HOLDS PRICE AS TECH RISES https://evne.ws/4eCgM5b

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 REVEALS IONIQ 3 DETAILS https://evne.ws/4cUKnWi HYUNDAI REVEALS PLEOS OS FOR FUTURE EVS https://evne.ws/3QASEpz EU EV SALES SURGE IN MARCH https://evne.ws/4n14llT U.S. USED EV SALES HIT RECORD IN MARCH https://evne.ws/3OCIq7E AFEELA SCALES BACK AS SONY AND HONDA RETREAT https://evne.ws/41OaYOx UK RAISES EV LUXURY TAX THRESHOLD https://evne.ws/4u0TJWj FORD CUTS EXPLORER AND CAPRI PRICES https://evne.ws/4tAkalC GERMANY EYES 8 MILLION BEVS BY 2030 https://evne.ws/4tlaBab EV RANGE NOW OUTRUNS MOST DRIVERS https://evne.ws/48U40ez DUTCH SCRAPPAGE SCHEME SHIFTS TO USED EVS https://evne.ws/3OAxyXK NISSAN STACKS 23 SOLID-STATE CELL LAYERS https://evne.ws/4tulWF2

It's EV News Briefly for Tuesday 21 April 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 REVEALS IONIQ 3 DETAILSHyundai unveiled its first compact electric hatchback, the IONIQ 3, at Milan Design Week, featuring an "Aero Hatch" silhouette, E-GMP platform, and battery options of 42.2 kWh (213 miles) or 61 kWh (308 miles). At 4.15 metres long with a 441-litre boot, Android-based Pleos Connect infotainment, and an expected starting price of around £25,000, it will be built in Turkey with no US launch planned.HYUNDAI REVEALS PLEOS OS FOR FUTURE EVSHyundai has unveiled Pleos OS, an Android Automotive-based software platform debuting on the Ioniq 3 before rolling out across future EVs, featuring a large map-based home screen and its own App Market rather than Google Automotive Services. The system adopts a zonal controller architecture to reduce wiring and complexity, while retaining physical controls for volume, temperature, and seat functions to address criticisms of Hyundai's ageing in-car software.EU EV SALES SURGE IN MARCHBattery EV registrations across 14 key EU and EFTA markets jumped 51% year-on-year in March 2026 to over 224,000 units, representing 22% of all new car sales. Q1 2026 saw more than 500,000 new EVs registered across the EU — up 33.5% from Q1 2025 — with Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Poland all posting year-to-date BEV growth above 40%.U.S. USED EV SALES HIT RECORD IN MARCHAmericans purchased 42,924 used EVs in March 2026, setting a new all-time monthly record and marking a 27.7% year-on-year increase, driven by off-lease vehicles returning to dealerships and elevated petrol prices. This came as new EV sales fell nearly 25% year-on-year to around 83,000 units in the same month.AFEELA SCALES BACK AS SONY AND HONDA RETREATSony Honda Mobility is winding down its Afeela EV joint venture following the March 25 cancellation of its first two models — a sedan and a crossover SUV — with its roughly 400 employees set to return to Sony Corp. and Honda Motor Co. The retreat marks the end of a venture that had positioned Afeela as a software-defined vehicle brand blending Sony's tech expertise with Honda's manufacturing, with the Afeela 1 sedan having been due for delivery later in 2026.UK RAISES EV LUXURY TAX THRESHOLDThe UK has raised the Expensive Car Supplement threshold from £40,000 to £50,000, removing an annual £425 charge that had applied to many electric cars since April 1, 2025. Over the five-year duration of the supplement, this represents a total saving of £2,125 for affected EV buyers.FORD CUTS EXPLORER AND CAPRI PRICESFord has reduced prices on its Explorer and Capri EVs by up to £5,000, with the Explorer now starting at £35,185 and the AWD Premium variant dropping below £50,000. Both models gain a new LFP battery, upgraded motor, and increased Standard Range net capacity from 52 kWh to 58 kWh, adding 43 miles of WLTP range, while the Capri also gets a power boost to 140 kW via Volkswagen Group's new APP350 motor.GERMANY EYES 8 MILLION BEVS BY 2030Germany is targeting 8 million BEVs and 2.4 million PHEVs on its roads by 2030, forecasting annual BEV sales growth of 24% and electric vehicles taking around 70% of total new car sales by the end of the decade. The number of available BEV models is expected to rise 40% between 2026 and 2030, alongside growing adoption of bidirectional V2X charging to support grid stability.EV RANGE NOW OUTRUNS MOST DRIVERSThe SMMT reports average BEV range has reached nearly 300 miles per charge — almost double the 141 miles the average UK motorist covers weekly — meaning the typical driver could go nearly a fortnight without plugging in. Research from Close Brothers Motor Finance found 74% of UK drivers travel fewer than 150 miles weekly, suggesting real-world range anxiety is increasingly at odds with actual driving habits.DUTCH SCRAPPAGE SCHEME SHIFTS TO USED EVSThe Dutch government is launching a scrappage scheme as part of a roughly one-billion-euro package, directing 52 million euros toward buyers of used electric cars who trade in older ICE vehicles of Euro 1–4 emission class. The scrappage premium is expected to be around 3,500 euros per vehicle and is targeted at low- and middle-income buyers, though income thresholds have not yet been confirmed.NISSAN STACKS 23 SOLID-STATE CELL LAYERSNissan has successfully stacked 23 cell layers into a solid-state battery prototype that meets real-world charge and discharge targets, as it works toward launching its first solid-state battery EV by fiscal year 2028. The company is partnering with US-based LiCAP Technologies for mass production using solvent-free Activated Dry Electrode technology, while broader industry momentum builds with Factorial claiming its Solstice platform can deliver up to 450 Wh/kg and over 600 miles of range, potentially reaching production vehicles as early as 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 FORD LOOKS TO BYD, NOT TESLA https://evne.ws/4sHXEGj BYD SEALION 05 ADDS PHEV AND EV https://evne.ws/4tYcoSz VW SAYS OIL SHOCK COULD SPEED CHINA NEVS https://evne.ws/3QxGk9B CHINA NEV EXPORTS DOUBLED IN MARCH https://evne.ws/4cpwaAB ZEEKR 8X STARTS FAST, EYES EXPORTS https://evne.ws/4vIVRDy TANK 700 UPDATE ADDS TWO PHEV PATHS https://evne.ws/48bRJ53 SUNWODA PUSHES 15C LFP CHARGING https://evne.ws/4cWiywH HONGQI UPDATES TIANGONG EVS WITH 800V CHARGING https://evne.ws/4thHjt4 ASIA TURNS TO EVS AS OIL JUMPS https://evne.ws/42lLh84 GEELY SETS OUT TWO-TRACK ROBOTAXI PLAN https://evne.ws/4tYcDgr BEIJING SHOW MARKS CHINA'S PREMIUM EV TURN https://evne.ws/41Ifk9Z

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 2026 ONVO L90 ADDS LIDAR AND SHENJI https://evne.ws/4tmmT2b THIRD-GEN NIO ES8 HITS 100,000 https://evne.ws/4cnrJGt XIAOMI DELIVERIES HOLD, BUT YU7 MOMENTUM FADES https://evne.ws/41Jk3Is BYD HITS 16 MILLION NEVS https://evne.ws/41LKkG1 BYD LAUNCHES YUAN PRO DM-I IN MEXICO https://evne.ws/4tFuER7 BYD SEEKS ACEA MEMBERSHIP https://evne.ws/48eH7lT HESAI SHIFTS LIDAR FIGHT TO PERCEPTION https://evne.ws/3OC6jMt AITO JOINS BMW-MERCEDES CHARGING VENTURE https://evne.ws/4tXJ4eL JETTA X PREVIEWS CHINA ELECTRIFICATION SHIFT https://evne.ws/4cmqFCI CATL SETS APRIL 21 TECH LAUNCH https://evne.ws/4vGbUCf

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 PREVIEWS ELECTRIC C-CLASS CABIN https://evne.ws/41Ar7XP MUSK COMPANIES PROPPED UP CYBERTRUCK Q4 https://evne.ws/4tL3pnu MAZDA6E UK PRICED FROM £38,995 https://evne.ws/3OoZeyY BMW ADDS CONTRACT-FREE PLUG & CHARGE IN GERMANY https://evne.ws/4tsBIAf BYD ADDS TWO SHARK 6 VARIANTS https://evne.ws/4mDGRTw ALLEGO ADDS SMART OVERNIGHT CHARGING IN DUTCH MARKET https://evne.ws/4cQ351b FUEL SPIKE PUSHES DRIVERS TOWARDS EVS https://evne.ws/4tlNlce RIVIAN MAKES FOUR RAN SITES NACS-ONLY https://evne.ws/4cgCLx4 HONDA SUPER-N SET FOR UK JULY LAUNCH https://evne.ws/3QvWctf MAV SYSTEMS LAUNCHES BAYIQ FOR EV BAYS https://evne.ws/3OJx5mg

It's EV News Briefly for Friday 17 April 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 PREVIEWS ELECTRIC C-CLASS CABINMercedes-Benz has revealed the interior of its first all-electric C-Class ahead of a full reveal on 20 April, showcasing a screen-dominated cabin featuring either a standard Superscreen or an optional 39.1-inch Hyperscreen spanning nearly the full dashboard width, with 10 colour schemes and matrix backlighting using nearly 10 million pixels. The EV platform frees up more interior space than any previous C-Class, and the car adds a new multi-source heat pump that heats the cabin twice as fast as combustion models while using roughly half the energy, alongside Vegan Society-certified upholstery, electropneumatic lumbar seats with massage and ventilation, an optional Burmester 4D system with seat exciters, and an optional Sky Control roof with 162 illuminated stars.MUSK COMPANIES PROPPED UP CYBERTRUCK Q4SpaceX purchased 1,279 Cybertrucks in Q4 2025, accounting for nearly 20% of all US Cybertruck registrations in the period, with Musk-owned entities including xAI, The Boring Company, and Neuralink collectively taking 1,339 units out of 7,071 total US registrations. Analysts estimated that without these affiliated-company purchases, Cybertruck registrations would have fallen more than 50% year-over-year, and Musk-linked companies continued buying in early 2026 with 158 units in January and 67 in February.MAZDA6E UK PRICED FROM £38,995Mazda will launch the all-electric Mazda6e in the UK this summer with orders open now, priced from £38,995 for the Takumi trim and £39,995 for the Takumi Plus, featuring a 78kWh LFP battery with up to 348 miles of WLTP range and a 10–80% DC fast charge time of just 24 minutes. Unlike mainland European versions, the UK model gets a single-battery setup, paired with a rear-mounted motor doing 0–62mph in 7.9 seconds, a five-door hatchback body, a 14.6-inch touchscreen, and an augmented reality head-up display.BMW ADDS CONTRACT-FREE PLUG & CHARGE IN GERMANYBMW Group has launched a contract-free Plug & Charge service in Germany, allowing drivers of compatible BMW and MINI EVs to authenticate at public DC charging points simply by plugging in, with billing going directly to the credit card stored on their BMW or MINI account. The first rollout covers over 1,400 charging points across Germany and Austria via partner Mer Germany using Hubject's system, and is the first time Plug & Charge has been extended to drivers without an existing charging contract, including tourists and fleet users.BYD ADDS TWO SHARK 6 VARIANTSBYD has expanded its Shark 6 ute range in Australia from one model to three, adding the Shark 6 Dynamic Cab-Chassis (from A$55,900) and the Shark 6 Performance (from A$62,900) alongside the existing Shark 6 Premium. All variants use BYD's Dual Mode Off-Road plug-in hybrid system combining a turbocharged petrol engine with front and rear electric motors and a Blade battery, with the Performance variant boosting towing capacity to 3,500kg and adding a dedicated Crawl Mode for off-road use.ALLEGO ADDS SMART OVERNIGHT CHARGING IN DUTCH MARKETAllego has launched a smart overnight charging scheme in the Netherlands using Deftpower technology, offering drivers a choice from 6 PM between immediate and smart charging, with the latter shifting sessions to off-peak hours to reduce grid strain during evening peaks. Drivers who opt in receive cashback rewards of up to 5% of charging costs, and Allego plans to expand the model from its initial rollout to around 9,000 charging points in the Netherlands before extending it to Belgium.FUEL SPIKE PUSHES DRIVERS TOWARDS EVSA survey by Electrifying.com of over 1,000 visitors found that more than 70% of non-EV drivers said rising fuel prices — spiked by US-Israel air attacks on Iran and disruption to oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz — are making them more actively consider switching to electric. Electrifying.com founder Ginny Buckley reported a near-50% week-on-week surge in site traffic since the start of the US-Iran conflict, while analyst Tom Barnard noted some used EVs priced under £5,000 can pay for themselves within a few years through fuel savings alone.RIVIAN MAKES FOUR RAN SITES NACS-ONLYRivian has converted four California-based Rivian Adventure Network charging sites to NACS-only, removing CCS1 connectors entirely in a first for the network, a move likely driven by the ramp-up of the R2 and the 2026 R1S and R1T, all of which ship with NACS as standard. Owners of older CCS1 Rivians and other non-NACS EVs will need a NACS-to-CCS1 adapter to use these four sites, with the switch also simplifying site logistics as NACS-equipped Rivians grow in number.HONDA SUPER-N SET FOR UK JULY LAUNCHHonda has revealed the Super-N, an all-electric kei-inspired hatchback measuring 3.4 metres in length, due on sale in the UK from July at under £20,000, directly rivalling the Dacia Spring and Hyundai Inster. Power comes from a compact e-axle producing 47 kW (rising to 70 kW in BOOST Mode), with Honda quoting a UK urban range of 199 miles and a combined range of 128 miles, though battery and charging specifications have not yet been disclosed.MAV SYSTEMS LAUNCHES BAYIQ FOR EV BAYSUK-based MAV Systems has launched BayiQ, an ANPR camera system designed to help parking operators, councils, and transport authorities tackle overstaying, ICEing, and poor turnover at EV charging bays. A single BayiQ unit can monitor multiple adjacent bays simultaneously, unlike conventional ANPR systems that require one camera per bay, reducing installation costs and civil works for operators managing busy charging locations.

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 BEIJING SHOW TURNS TO BIG ELECTRIC SUVS https://evne.ws/4syejMp LEAPMOTOR LAUNCHES D19 AS UPMARKET PUSH https://evne.ws/42cwPz8 VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHES ID. UNYX 08 IN CHINA https://evne.ws/4tSytSm IM MOTORS LS8 OPENS STRONGLY IN CHINA https://evne.ws/4sJiPrA NIO PLANS 450 GEN-5 SWAP SITES https://evne.ws/3QeoBnC GEELY OPENS GALAXY STARSHINE 7 PRESALES https://evne.ws/4sKzM55 BYD UPDATES HAN EV WITH FLASH CHARGING https://evne.ws/41EgpQ0 AUDI PLANS CHINA-ONLY ELECTRIC SALOON FOR 2027 https://evne.ws/4857N8F NISSAN TALKS TO CHERY OVER SUNDERLAND OUTPUT https://evne.ws/4cu3B3L

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 DOUG FIELD TO LEAVE FORD https://evne.ws/3QGBy9M DACIA READIES SUB-£16,000 ELECTRIC CITY CAR https://evne.ws/4vzKLRq MERCEDES-BENZ LAUNCHES VLE RANGE FROM €82,260 https://evne.ws/3O7XiLb KIA EV2 FIRST EDITION JOINS UK ECG https://evne.ws/41BH2Fm TMH PLANS GERMAN V2G TARIFF https://evne.ws/4sAwtNK BYD GAINS GROUND IN GERMANY https://evne.ws/4dQerU3 BYD'S JINAN HEADS FOR GERMANY https://evne.ws/4sD4eho BYD PRICES SEAL 6 PHEVS IN AUSTRALIA https://evne.ws/4tIT4Zs POLESTAR AUSTRALIA BOSS ATTACKS PHEVS https://evne.ws/47Zxpnu TESLA ADDS SUNWODA AS FIFTH BATTERY SUPPLIER https://evne.ws/4cOf4w8 HONDA DROPS E:NY1 FROM UK LINE-UP https://evne.ws/48CYkWh

It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 16 April 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/EVNewsDailyDOUG FIELD TO LEAVE FORDDoug Field, who joined Ford in 2021 from Apple and previously helped launch the Tesla Model 3, will depart next month on a voluntary basis, with CEO Jim Farley praising him as an "invaluable partner" in Ford's electrification journey. Ford is simultaneously restructuring, creating a new "Product Creation and Industrialization" organisation under COO Kumar Galhotra that unifies EV, petrol, and hybrid programmes, with the first vehicle on Ford's new Universal EV architecture — a midsize electric pickup — due next year.DACIA READIES SUB-£16,000 ELECTRIC CITY CARDacia has revealed spy shots of a new electric city car priced from under €18,000 (£15,600), designed in just 16 months with help from its China team, featuring a design closer to its SUV range than the related Renault Twingo. Expected to use a 27.5kWh battery with around 160 miles of range, the car will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026, with Dacia also planning three further EVs before 2030.MERCEDES-BENZ LAUNCHES VLE RANGE FROM €82,260Mercedes-Benz has launched the VLE range starting at €82,260, built on an 800-volt architecture capable of charging at up to 300 kW, enabling 355 km of WLTP range to be added in just 15 minutes. The range spans from the entry-level VLE 250 with an LFP battery to the VLE 400 4MATIC with a 305 kW all-wheel-drive system, with seating configurations from five to eight seats and pricing up to €113,000 depending on specification.KIA EV2 FIRST EDITION JOINS UK ECGThe Kia EV2 First Edition now qualifies for the UK government's £1,500 Electric Car Grant, bringing its net on-the-road price to £26,995. The EV2 had its world premiere in January 2026, entered series production in March at Kia's Slovakia plant, and sits as the entry point to Kia's dedicated BEV line-up designed and built in Europe.FREE ELECTRICITY ON GERMAN V2G TARIFFMunich-based The Mobility House plans to launch a V2G electricity tariff in Germany, initially paired with the Renault 5, that could allow EV owners to drive for free by charging when renewable energy is cheap and selling power back to the grid at peak times. A 2024 French pilot with Renault showed that connecting a car for an average of 14 hours per day can reduce charging costs for 10,000 km of driving to effectively zero, with the Mercedes-Benz CLA and GLC also set to join the programme later in 2026.BYD GAINS GROUND IN GERMANYBYD is surging in Germany, with Carwow recording a 135% jump in purchase queries for the brand in Q1 2026, driven by rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict and increasing new car costs making Chinese EVs more attractive. Interest centred on BYD's electric SUVs and the Dolphin hatchback, with Chinese-owned MG also seeing increased demand on the platform.BYD'S JINAN HEADS FOR GERMANYBYD's car carrier Jinan, one of the world's largest at 9,200-vehicle capacity, departed Shanghai on 17 March carrying fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles bound for Germany, arriving around 33 days later. The shipment highlights BYD's continued reliance on Chinese exports while European local production ramps up, with trial assembly underway in Szeged, Hungary since January and series production targeted for Q2 2026.BYD PRICES SEAL 6 PHEVS IN AUSTRALIABYD Australia has confirmed pricing for the Seal 6 Sedan and Seal 6 Touring PHEVs, with the Sedan Essential starting at A$34,990 (around £18,380) — undercutting the Toyota Camry Hybrid — and first deliveries expected around June 2026. Both models use BYD's DM 5.0 plug-in hybrid system with Blade battery technology, offering 55 km electric range on the Sedan and around 100 km on the Touring Premium.POLESTAR AUSTRALIA BOSS ATTACKS PHEVSPolestar Australia's managing director Scott Maynard has publicly called PHEVs "the worst of both worlds," arguing they combine electric drivetrain complexity with petrol engine weight, rarely get charged by owners, and can actually be less efficient than a pure petrol car due to the added battery mass. He also claimed PHEVs are "fast becoming irrelevant" as EV range improves — a notable stance given that Polestar's parent company Geely continues to sell PHEVs across Volvo, Lotus, and Lynk & Co.TESLA ADDS SUNWODA AS FIFTH BATTERY SUPPLIERTesla has signed Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery as its fifth battery supplier, with Sunwoda set to provide third-generation LFP cells capable of charging at up to 3C — cutting charge time to around 20 minutes, compared to Tesla's current 2C LFP packs. The cells are destined for export vehicles built at Giga Shanghai, with Tesla buying raw prismatic cells from Sunwoda and assembling the modules and packs in-house.HONDA DROPS E:NY1 FROM UK LINE-UPHonda has removed the e:Ny1 from its UK configurator, leaving it with no fully electric models on sale in Britain after the car sold just 7,122 units in three years, hampered by a high price and limited range requiring heavy dealer discounts. This creates a serious ZEV mandate problem for Honda, which must hit 22% BEV sales this year rising to 80% by 2030, with fines of up to £15,000 per non-compliant vehicle — relief is expected from mid-2026 when a retro-inspired compact EV on the new Super-N platform arrives priced under £20,000.

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 GX OPENS AT 399,800 YUAN https://evne.ws/41CvIbT STELLANTIS AND DONGFENG EXPLORE NEW PRODUCTION TIE-UP https://evne.ws/4ub81nt BYD FILES REAR-DRIVE YUAN PLUS UPDATE https://evne.ws/4tmPBA8 BYD HITS 100,000 AUSTRALIAN DELIVERIES https://evne.ws/4myeTsl FOTON PICKS IML FOR UK LAUNCH https://evne.ws/48K7WOX GREAT WALL H10 NAME CONFIRMED https://evne.ws/41BVUDE SMART SETS UP #2 CONCEPT AND #6 DEBUT https://evne.ws/4vzB0T9 SVOLT STARTS FORTRESS 2.0 BATTERY PRODUCTION https://evne.ws/4mI9kYj

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 GIVES ID 3 A NEO RESET https://evne.ws/4tJbI3d VOLKSWAGEN UPDATES ID.4 AND ID.5 IN UK https://evne.ws/4vLJA1s IONNA TO ADD CHARGING AT 350 CIRCLE K SITES https://evne.ws/42d5gFS BMW BEV DELIVERIES FALL AGAIN https://evne.ws/3O8eTCF RIVIAN TO POWER PLANT WITH USED EV BATTERIES https://evne.ws/4tcXMif OHIO AWARDS $51 MILLION FOR EV CHARGING https://evne.ws/4dPq4dL LUCID TIES NEW CEO PAY TO VALUE https://evne.ws/4cd1p1z SCENIC E-TECH GETS FULL UK EV GRANT https://evne.ws/3OH8VZB LIGHTSHIP DOUBLES PLANT, CUTS AE.1 TO ONE MODEL https://evne.ws/4cecf7D ROLLS-ROYCE REVEALS £7M ELECTRIC NIGHTINGALE https://evne.ws/42a7rKo

It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 15 April 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 GIVES ID 3 A NEO RESETVolkswagen is relaunching its compact EV as the ID 3 Neo, with new styling, three larger battery options, improved range of up to just under 400 miles WLTP and faster DC charging up to about 183 kW. The bigger story is a completely new, more “Volkswagen-like” interior with physical buttons and a unified cockpit philosophy that responds directly to past usability criticism and signals a wider rethink of the brand's EV strategy.VOLKSWAGEN UPDATES ID.4 AND ID.5 IN UKVolkswagen's updated ID.4 and ID.5 in the UK add larger batteries, longer range up to 341 miles WLTP, vehicle-to-load capability, more practical towing and an optional heat pump, all with only small list-price increases. The cars also gain physical steering wheel buttons, improved driver assistance and infotainment tech, and potentially further effective price cuts if Volkswagen regains eligibility for the UK Electric Car Grant.IONNA TO ADD CHARGING AT 350 CIRCLE K SITESIONNA, the automaker-backed charging joint venture, will roll out up to 400 kW fast chargers with both NACS and CCS connectors at more than 350 Circle K locations under the Rechargeries @ Circle K brand. The deal gives IONNA prime highway and commuter-corridor sites, includes taking over and upgrading about 85 existing Circle K charging stations, and supports its goal of 30,000 high-power bays by 2030.BMW BEV DELIVERIES FALL AGAINBMW Group's global BEV deliveries fell 20.1% year on year to 87,458 units in Q1 2026, marking a second consecutive quarterly decline despite strong full-year 2025 volumes. The company blames the loss of US tax credits, the end of Chinese subsidies and a temporary gap in its mid-size electric SUV offering before the new iX3 arrived, even as European orders for that model have surged.RIVIAN TO POWER PLANT WITH USED EV BATTERIESRivian will use more than 100 repurposed EV battery packs, supplied and integrated by Redwood Materials, to create a 10 MWh energy storage system that helps power its Normal, Illinois plant from later in 2026. The project, described as the largest such deployment by a US automaker, reuses packs from test and end-of-life vehicles and reflects the rapid growth of grid-scale lithium-ion storage alongside EVs.OHIO AWARDS $51 MILLION FOR EV CHARGINGOhio has awarded $51 million in federal NEVI funding, matched by at least $26 million in private money, to build 64 new fast-charging sites statewide. Each location will host four chargers at amenity-rich venues such as Sheetz, Tesla sites, Aldi and major travel centers, adding more than 260 new public charge points along key routes.LUCID TIES NEW CEO PAY TO VALUELucid Motors has appointed Silvio Napoli as CEO with a $1.5 million base salary, up to a 200% bonus, a $9.5 million equity grant, performance-based options on up to one million shares and generous relocation and housing support. Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff will stay on until Napoli secures US work authorisation, then return to the COO role with a higher $1 million base salary and increased bonus potential.SCENIC E-TECH GETS FULL UK EV GRANTThe Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric now qualifies for the UK's full £3,750 Electric Car Grant, cutting its starting price to £33,245 and making all three trims more accessible. With a 220 hp motor, 87 kWh battery and WLTP range up to 381 miles, it joins the Renault 4 and 5 E-Tech as models benefiting from maximum support after Renault proved their Polish battery cell plant runs entirely on renewable energy.LIGHTSHIP DOUBLES PLANT, CUTS AE.1 TO ONE MODELElectric trailer startup Lightship is more than doubling its Broomfield, Colorado plant to quadruple AE.1 output by around late 2027 while simplifying the lineup to a single, configurable model. The new AE.1 starts at $157,500 with the previously range-topping 77 kWh battery now standard, reflecting customer demand for the highest-spec pack and replacing the old Cosmos, Atmos and Panos trims with option packages for different use cases.ROLLS-ROYCE REVEALS £7M ELECTRIC NIGHTINGALERolls-Royce's Project Nightingale is a £7 million, Phantom-length, two-seat electric convertible limited to 100 units, designed as both a design manifesto and a major earner for its new Coachbuild Collection tier. Inspired by the historic 17EX Torpedo, it offers a larger battery than the Spectre, targeted range near 329 miles, a likely 650 bhp dual-motor setup, and an immersive co-creation-lite process where buyers join from early sketches through global testing.

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 CHINESE OEMS PULL FURTHER AHEAD IN SOFTWARE https://evne.ws/4vtwXaW SHANGHAI NEV EXPORTS TOP 400,000 IN Q1 https://evne.ws/47X024I GAC LAUNCHES AION UT IN EUROPE https://evne.ws/4sAwbXe GAC LAUNCHES AION UT IN EUROPE https://evne.ws/4sAwbXe BYD LAUNCHES LINGHUI E7 FOR FLEETS https://evne.ws/4cuHA4Q BYD SHOWS SEAL 08 CABIN AHEAD OF LAUNCH https://evne.ws/3O5vc3b BYD UNVEILS SEAL 08 DM-P PHEV https://evne.ws/4tT2h1w 2026 MG4 DEBUTS AHEAD OF BEIJING SHOW https://evne.ws/3OqLpQu RENAULT TO CUT UP TO 2,400 ENGINEERING ROLES https://evne.ws/4mx9XUC SGMW OPENS BINGUO PRO PRE-SALES https://evne.ws/4teEjhh

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-BENZ GIVES EQS ITS BIGGEST UPDATE https://evne.ws/3QDQc1x NISSAN CONFIRMS ELECTRIC JUKE FOR EUROPE IN 2027 https://evne.ws/4myW2gS EUROPE EV SALES HIT MARCH RECORD https://evne.ws/4sqOs97 KIA CONFIRMS EV1 FOR 2027 https://evne.ws/3Q715c8 FRANCE PREPARES THIRD EV SOCIAL LEASING ROUND https://evne.ws/48ko6yH FRANCE TIES ELECTRIFICATION TO ENERGY SECURITY https://evne.ws/4swljta US SOLAR SURGE DEEPENS COAL DECLINE https://evne.ws/4dRChyN VOLVO TRUCKS PUSHES ELECTRIC HEAVY HAULAGE FURTHER https://evne.ws/3Q9YRbZ 2026 EQS ADDS RANGE AND 800V CHARGING https://evne.ws/3Qb1uu2

It's EV News Briefly for Tuesday 14 April 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-BENZ GIVES EQS ITS BIGGEST UPDATE https://evne.ws/3QDQc1x NISSAN CONFIRMS ELECTRIC JUKE FOR EUROPE IN 2027 https://evne.ws/4myW2gS EUROPE EV SALES HIT MARCH RECORD https://evne.ws/4sqOs97 KIA CONFIRMS EV1 FOR 2027 https://evne.ws/3Q715c8 FRANCE PREPARES THIRD EV SOCIAL LEASING ROUND https://evne.ws/48ko6yH FRANCE TIES ELECTRIFICATION TO ENERGY SECURITY https://evne.ws/4swljta US SOLAR SURGE DEEPENS COAL DECLINE https://evne.ws/4dRChyN VOLVO TRUCKS PUSHES ELECTRIC HEAVY HAULAGE FURTHER https://evne.ws/3Q9YRbZ 2026 EQS ADDS RANGE AND 800V CHARGING https://evne.ws/3Qb1uu2 MERCEDES-BENZ GIVES EQS ITS BIGGEST UPDATEThe updated Mercedes-Benz EQS is the most comprehensively overhauled version since the car's 2021 launch, with more than a quarter of its components newly developed or reworked, headlined by a new 800V architecture enabling 350 kW DC charging and a WLTP range of 926 km (575 miles) on the EQS 450+. Key new technologies include steer-by-wire — a first for a German production car — bidirectional charging, silicon oxide-graphite anodes pushing usable battery capacity to 122 kWh, a rear two-speed gearbox, and 385 kW regenerative braking, with a new entry-level EQS 400 starting at around £80,500 in the UK.***NISSAN CONFIRMS ELECTRIC JUKE FOR EUROPE IN 2027Nissan has revealed the third-generation Juke as a fully electric model, built at its Sunderland factory and going on sale exclusively in Europe in 2027, based on the CMF-EV platform shared with the new Nissan Leaf. The EV Juke will run alongside a continuing petrol version due to uncertainty around EV adoption, and is expected to offer up to 622 km (386 miles) of WLTP range with the larger 75.1 kWh battery option, though official specs have not yet been confirmed.***EUROPE EV SALES HIT MARCH RECORDEuropean BEV and plug-in hybrid registrations hit a monthly all-time high of nearly 540,000 units in March 2026, up 37% year-on-year, driven partly by sharp fuel price rises following the disruption of shipping routes at the start of the Iran war in late February. Global EV registrations also rose 3% to over 1.7 million in March, though China bucked the trend with a 14% fall in BEV sales after the end of purchase tax exemptions and trade-in subsidies.***KIA CONFIRMS EV1 FOR 2027Kia has confirmed a 2027 launch for its most affordable EV yet, expected to wear the EV1 badge, targeting the segment occupied by the BYD Dolphin and Renault 5 EV with European pricing expected around €25,000 (~£21,200). Built on the 400V E-GMP platform, it will offer two battery options — 42.2 kWh and 61 kWh — and is also set to replace Kia's last entry-level combustion car, the petrol Picanto.***FRANCE PREPARES THIRD EV SOCIAL LEASING ROUNDFrance will launch its third social EV leasing round in June, maintaining a quota of 50,000 contracts aimed at helping low-income households switch to EVs, with Prime Minister Lecornu citing EV running costs of just €2–3 per 100 km versus around €11 for diesel. The government has also set targets for Renault and Stellantis to produce 400,000 electric cars per year by 2027 and one million by 2030, alongside a new 50,000-contract programme for high-mileage middle-income workers such as carers and nurses.***FRANCE TIES ELECTRIFICATION TO ENERGY SECURITYFrance has become the first country to announce a major national electrification package directly in response to the Strait of Hormuz energy crisis, doubling annual state support from €5.5 billion to €10 billion through 2030 and targeting fossil dependence in both transport and heating. The plan includes banning gas heating in new buildings from late 2026 or 2027, subsidising 50,000 EVs for high-mileage drivers, offering businesses up to €100,000 per electric truck or van, and building 1 million domestically manufactured heat pumps per year by 2030.***US SOLAR SURGE DEEPENS COAL DECLINEThe US Energy Information Administration forecast on 6 April that solar energy generation will rise 17% this summer compared to 2025 levels, with solar projected to grow from 293 billion kWh in 2025 to 415 billion kWh in 2027, while coal generation is expected to fall roughly 10% in the first half of 2026. Over 90% of net new US generating capacity in 2026 is forecast to come from solar, wind, and battery storage, though rising solar shares are already exposing grids to sharper afternoon price swings and driving increased investment in battery storage alongside new capacity.***VOLVO TRUCKS PUSHES ELECTRIC HEAVY HAULAGE FURTHERVolvo Trucks has launched the FH Aero Electric with up to 700 km of range, 460 kW output, MCS charging at 700 kW (20–80% in around 50 minutes), and support for gross combination weights of up to 48 tonnes, directly targeting the range and payload objections that have held back heavy electric freight. Alongside it, updated FH, FM, and FMX Electric models for regional and construction work offer up to 470 km range, a new dual-motor driveline producing up to 540 kW, and an integrated gearbox PTO capable of driving equipment such as concrete mixers and cranes, with market rollout beginning in phases from 2026.

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'S CHINA EV SLUMP https://evne.ws/4elfI5u XPENG SHOWS GX CABIN BEFORE LAUNCH https://evne.ws/41zbnUV FARLEY WARNS ON CHINESE CARS https://evne.ws/4dLTREm FANG CHENG BAO TO SHOW FIRST SEDAN https://evne.ws/4sqBxUF FIREFLY BACKS DOWN ON UPGRADE PRICING https://evne.ws/4emsNvn GREATER BAY SHOWS A-SAMPLE SOLID-STATE CELLS https://evne.ws/4dMIig8 CADILLAC SETS 22 APRIL FOR VISTIQ LAUNCH https://evne.ws/421ylnM LEPAS L6 SET FOR UK IN 2026 https://evne.ws/4tH3DMm JD.COM TAKES DEEPAL L06 SALES ONLINE https://evne.ws/3OBw4g0

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 EV ENQUIRIES JUMP AS FUEL PRICES SPIKE https://evne.ws/4sy2vtL US EV SALES DROP 27% IN Q1 https://evne.ws/3Q5K0iJ VOLKSWAGEN ADMITS ITS EVS LOST THE PLOT https://evne.ws/4ckUm5B VOLKSWAGEN Q1 DELIVERIES FALL 4% https://evne.ws/41yNOeT CYBERTRUCK US SALES HIT NEW LOW https://evne.ws/4tGywAF SLATE AUTO RAISES $650 MILLION https://evne.ws/4eennCI SÁNCHEZ COURTS XIAOMI AS SPAIN EYES EV ROLE https://evne.ws/4c8b7SR GERMANY SEEKS SOFTER EU EMISSIONS RULES https://evne.ws/4tJ05cy GERMANY PUSHES TO WEAKEN EU CO₂ RULES https://evne.ws/4t8nSTl KIA PASSES 100,000 UK EV SALES https://evne.ws/4cs0IAx POLESTAR POSTS BEST-EVER FIRST QUARTER https://evne.ws/41rJuhB EUROPCAR UK EV RENTALS JUMP 93% https://evne.ws/4moeFnk

It's EV News Briefly for Monday 13 April 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/EVNewsDailyEV ENQUIRIES JUMP AS FUEL PRICES SPIKE https://evne.ws/4sy2vtL US EV SALES DROP 27% IN Q1 https://evne.ws/3Q5K0iJ VOLKSWAGEN ADMITS ITS EVS LOST THE PLOT https://evne.ws/4ckUm5B VOLKSWAGEN Q1 DELIVERIES FALL 4% https://evne.ws/41yNOeT CYBERTRUCK US SALES HIT NEW LOW https://evne.ws/4tGywAF SLATE AUTO RAISES $650 MILLION https://evne.ws/4eennCI SÁNCHEZ COURTS XIAOMI AS SPAIN EYES EV ROLE https://evne.ws/4c8b7SR GERMANY SEEKS SOFTER EU EMISSIONS RULES https://evne.ws/4tJ05cy GERMANY PUSHES TO WEAKEN EU CO₂ RULES https://evne.ws/4t8nSTl KIA PASSES 100,000 UK EV SALES https://evne.ws/4cs0IAx POLESTAR POSTS BEST-EVER FIRST QUARTER https://evne.ws/41rJuhB EUROPCAR UK EV RENTALS JUMP 93% https://evne.ws/4moeFnk

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 WANTS 6,000 OVERSEAS CHARGERS TIED TO DENZA LAUNCH https://evne.ws/3OlT2HU BYD DOMESTIC PICKUP SHOWS UP IN CHINA https://evne.ws/4t9kI1W CHERY SEEKS MORE EUROPEAN FACTORY PARTNERS https://evne.ws/4couI02 NIO WANTS STANDARDS FOR BATTERY AND CHIP SUPPLY https://evne.ws/4mAYwev CHERY SETS OUT NEW JOINT VENTURE MODEL WITH FREELANDER https://evne.ws/41vlcmH XPENG SETS 15 APRIL GX TECH DEBUT https://evne.ws/4mnKvAG CHINA SEES EVS TAKING 90% SHARE BY 2040 https://evne.ws/4dKzMOI LEAPMOTOR SETS 24 APRIL FOR LAFA 5 ULTRA https://evne.ws/47RTGUc BUICK REVEALS ELECTRA E7 SPECIFICATION https://evne.ws/4mqACCp LI AUTO CHIEF ACCUSES NISSAN RIVAL OF TROLLING https://evne.ws/4t1iAJo

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