ev.news

It's ev.news Briefly for Monday 19 October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
MERCEDES REVEALS AMG GT SUV WITH 12-MINUTE CHARGING
Mercedes-AMG has unveiled its first in-house-developed full-size electric SUV, with the GT 55 and GT 63 offering 128 kWh batteries, up to 710 kW charging and a 10–80% charging time of just 12 minutes. Both target 620–700 km of WLTP range, while the flagship GT 63 produces up to 860 kW and accelerates from 0–60 mph in an estimated 2.6 seconds, with US deliveries expected in summer 2027.
HYUNDAI AND KIA GROW SMALL EV SALES AS TOTAL SALES FALL
Hyundai and Kia sold 97,689 small electric cars in Europe during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 14.4% despite their combined overall sales falling 2.2%, while BYD's European sales surged 163%. Hyundai's new IONIQ 3 starts at £18,495 in the UK after the government grant, with a larger-battery version offering up to 496 km of WLTP range, as both manufacturers expand European EV production.
VOLKSWAGEN SETS 80% CHARGING CAP FOR RECALLED ID.4s
Volkswagen plans to introduce an automatic 80% charging limit from around 27 October for 22,524 recalled US ID.4 vehicles from model years 2023–2026, unless owners decline the restriction by 21 October. The company warns certain charging patterns above 80% could trigger battery fires, but the root cause remains unknown and the restriction is only a temporary precaution until repairs are available.
FORD TURNS TO RENAULT FOR SMALL EVs IN 2028
Ford will launch two small electric cars in Europe from 2028, developed with Renault and manufactured in northern France using Renault's Ampere platform, as it attempts to reverse a 36% decline in European sales over the past decade. The partnership reduces development costs but won't utilise Ford's underused factories, while the company plans three new models by the end of 2029 and is exploring further cooperation with Renault on commercial vehicles.
FRANCE MOVES CHEAP ELECTRICITY HOURS INTO THE AFTERNOON
France will shift 9.3 million electricity customers onto revised off-peak schedules between December 2026 and October 2027, moving up to three of their eight daily cheaper hours into the 11am–5pm period to take advantage of increased solar generation. Customers will retain at least five consecutive overnight off-peak hours, but EV owners may need to reprogramme their charging schedules because existing vehicle and charger timers won't automatically follow the changes.
HONDA PREPARES ROADS THAT CHARGE MOVING EVs
Honda is developing wireless road charging that transfers electricity to vehicles while they drive, with motorway demonstrations in Japan planned from the 2027 financial year and an initial focus on commercial trucks. Its technology uses transmitters embedded beneath the road surface with momentary power peaks of 150 kW per transmitter, although sustained charging performance, durability and reliability at motorway speeds still require testing.
NEW ZEALAND EV BATTERIES OUTSIZE GRID STORAGE
New Zealand's electric vehicles collectively contain approximately 7 GWh of battery capacity, more than ten times the country's installed grid-scale battery storage, creating significant potential for vehicle-to-grid electricity supply during peak demand. However, bidirectional home chargers cost approximately NZ$7,000 and no retail V2G service is currently available, although trials in Queenstown and a separate project involving up to 100 chargers will examine the technology's practicality.
CANADA CONSIDERS EU RULES TO WIDEN EV CHOICE
Canada is considering recognising additional European vehicle safety standards to make importing affordable EVs easier, potentially opening its market to 20 European models priced below C$40,000 that are currently unavailable locally. Manufacturers including Stellantis, Volkswagen and Nissan support the proposal, which could reduce certification costs and help Canada access vehicles that manufacturers might otherwise exclude because of weak US demand.
DUKE OFFERS FLORIDA EV DRIVERS $90 A YEAR
Duke Energy Florida is offering EV owners a US$7.50 monthly credit, worth up to US$90 annually per vehicle, for charging during designated off-peak periods including weekday afternoons, overnight hours, weekends and holidays. Participants can charge during peak hours twice monthly without losing their credit, while programme data indicates 94% of participating vehicles' charging energy has been consumed off-peak.
ONTARIO SETS 3.7-CENT OVERNIGHT ELECTRICITY
Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight tariff will fall to 3.7 Canadian cents per kWh from 1 November, offering inexpensive EV charging between 11pm and 7am every day. However, weekday electricity prices rise to 37.7 cents per kWh between 4pm and 9pm under the same plan, meaning households must balance overnight charging savings against substantially more expensive evening electricity consumption.
BYD ATTO 2 PLUG-IN HYBRID STARTS AT A$24,990
BYD has priced Australia's ATTO 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid from A$24,990 before on-road costs, with the Essential offering a 7.9 kWh battery and 39 km of WLTP electric range, while the A$29,990 Premium provides an 18 kWh battery and 90 km of range. Both versions support just 3.3 kW AC charging, and Australian company-car buyers must consider that newly arranged plug-in hybrids no longer qualify for the fringe benefits tax exemption available to eligible fully electric vehicles.
RENAULT CHIEF CHALLENGES UK 2030 PETROL DEADLINE
Renault chief executive François Provost has urged Britain to reconsider its 2030 deadline for ending sales of new purely petrol and diesel cars, while arguing that closer European industrial cooperation should involve alignment with EU tariffs on Chinese vehicles. The UK is seeking access to proposed European manufacturing incentives, but these demands are not agreed conditions and Britain's existing deadlines remain unchanged, with a consultation on EV sales targets closing on 23 October.
RIVIAN SPIN-OUT E-BIKE MAKES TIME INVENTIONS LIST
Rivian spin-out ALSO's TM-B electric bicycle has been named among TIME's Best Inventions of 2026, with US deliveries under way and prices starting at US$3,500 for a modular design featuring generator-driven pedals rather than a conventional mechanical drivetrain. The bicycle offers claimed ranges of up to 60 or 100 miles depending on battery size, supports USB-C charging at up to 240 W and features interchangeable configurations for passengers or cargo, although European availability remains unconfirmed.

BYD DAHAN FALLS SHORT OF XIAOMI IN HIGHWAY TEST
BYD’s DaHan achieved just 566.4 kilometres against its 1,008-kilometre CLTC rating in Autohome’s highway test, beaten by Xiaomi’s SU7 Pro at 678.6 kilometres despite having a larger battery, while Tesla’s Model 3 Long Range managed 527.8 kilometres. The results expose the gap between advertised and real-world motorway range, although BYD’s claimed nine-minute charging capability could change the rankings on longer journeys.
BMW STARTS NEW BATTERY PACK PRODUCTION IN CHINA
BMW has started producing sixth-generation battery packs in Shenyang for its China-built Neue Klasse iX3 and i3, using CATL and EVE Energy cylindrical cells that promise over 20% greater energy density, up to 30% improvements in range and charging, and targeted cost reductions of 40–50%. With Chinese sales down 24.8% in the third quarter, BMW is deepening its reliance on local suppliers, manufacturing and software expertise to compete with domestic EV brands.
IM LS9 SPIED WITH EXTRA DRIVING SENSORS
An updated IM LS9 extended-range luxury SUV has been spotted testing in Shanghai with additional cameras and LiDAR hardware, suggesting upgraded driver assistance for the SAIC and Alibaba-backed brand’s six-seat flagship. The prototype also features revised door handles, potentially addressing China’s incoming safety regulations requiring mechanical emergency access, although neither the new technology nor regulatory compliance has been confirmed.
AVATR 06 DROPS ENTRY TRIM AND ADDS ADS 5
Avatr has simplified its 06 saloon range to two rear-wheel-drive models, introducing Huawei’s ADS 5 driver assistance as standard while removing cheaper entry-level and dual-motor versions, with promotional prices starting around $30,800 for the range extender and $32,300 for the fully electric model. Despite larger batteries, claimed electric ranges remain unchanged at 230 and 650 kilometres respectively, making improved assistance technology and revised emergency door releases the main attractions.
BMW i3 COVERS 1,213 KM ON ONE CHARGE
BMW’s China-market i3 50L has travelled 1,213 kilometres on a single charge, exceeding its official range rating by 18% while consuming just 8.8 kWh per 100 kilometres from its 113.4 kWh battery. The long-wheelbase electric saloon, arriving in early 2027, also promises 400 kW charging capable of adding 400 kilometres in ten minutes, although its mixed-road demonstration cannot be directly compared with controlled highway tests.
XPENG MONA L05 OFFERS TWO POWERTRAINS AT ONE ENTRY PRICE
Xpeng has opened pre-sales for its Mona L05 family SUV at approximately $25,400, offering both fully electric and range-extended powertrains at the same starting price, with electric versions delivering up to 635 kilometres and the range extender promising 310 kilometres electrically or 1,310 kilometres combined. Launching on 29 October, the five-seat SUV combines standard adaptive suspension with optional advanced driver assistance as Xpeng targets more than 60,000 monthly deliveries in the fourth quarter.
XIAOMI SU7 ULTRA TEST CAR ADDS BIGGER REAR WING
A modified Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been spotted testing at the Nürburgring with a larger rear wing and revised aerodynamics, potentially signalling another attempt to challenge Porsche’s production EV lap record of six minutes 55 seconds, compared with Xiaomi’s seven minutes 4.957 seconds. With only 50 Chinese insurance registrations in September, the 1,138 kW electric super-saloon increasingly serves as an engineering showcase, although Xiaomi has not confirmed whether the revised car will enter production.
CHINESE CARMAKERS FIND NO ITALIAN FACTORY TO BUY
Chinese manufacturers are shifting their European factory searches towards Spain and France after finding no suitable Italian plants available for acquisition, with BYD reportedly insisting on outright ownership rather than shared production facilities. While BYD plans further European manufacturing expansion, Geely is pursuing a joint venture with Ford in Valencia, highlighting different strategies for localising production as Brussels considers new European-content requirements.
CHINA OPENS MAEXTRO BRAKE PEDAL FAILURE PROBE
Three Chinese government agencies have launched an investigation after emergency-braking tests reportedly caused brake-pedal brackets to break in three Maextro V800 luxury people carriers, forcing testers to use an emergency stopping function. Huawei and JAC’s luxury brand disputes the relevance of the extreme testing conditions and cites successful laboratory results, but has promised upgraded components for existing and undelivered vehicles while investigators work to establish the cause.

GLOBAL EV SALES FALL AS EUROPE SETS A RECORD
Global electric vehicle sales fell 2% in September to 2.15 million, despite Europe setting a new record with almost 600,000 vehicles sold, up 39%, while North American sales dropped 44% and China's declined 18%. China exported a record 558,000 new-energy passenger cars as domestic demand weakened, but proposed EU restrictions on Chinese hybrid imports could complicate its export strategy, even as global EV sales remain 3% higher for the year.
RIVIAN LIMITS NEW DRIVING SYSTEM TO INVITED OWNERS
Rivian will begin testing its point-to-point autonomous driving system with selected US owners of second-generation R1 vehicles and the R2 in December, initially in California and Florida, with wider availability planned for 2027. Participants must have paid Autonomy+ subscriptions, share driving data and provide feedback, while remaining responsible for monitoring the road, as Rivian targets hands-off, eyes-off driving capabilities in 2027.
CHANGAN BRINGS 450 KM FAMILY EV TO EUROPE
Chinese manufacturer Changan will launch its Nevo Q05 electric crossover in Italy and Spain in early 2027, with a UK version called the E06 offering 450 kilometres of WLTP range, a 63.8 kWh battery and 174 kW rapid charging capable of replenishing 30–80% in approximately 15 minutes. Competing against the BYD Atto 3, Leapmotor B10 and Kia EV3, Changan plans to expand its European dealership and service network from nearly 400 locations this year to 650 in 2027, although pricing remains unannounced.
FRANCE AND GERMANY AGREE CAR PLAN WITH UK CONDITIONS
France and Germany have agreed a proposed European automotive policy that could give British manufacturers access to EU subsidies and public contracts in exchange for reciprocal market access and tighter safeguards against circumventing European trade restrictions, potentially affecting Chinese EV imports. The agreement proposes requiring 70% European-made components, excluding batteries, and 10% European battery content for qualifying vehicles, while reducing the EU's 2035 emissions target from 100% to 90%, allowing combustion-engine cars to remain on sale beyond 2035 if the proposals secure legislative approval.
LEAPMOTOR STARTS SPANISH B10 PRODUCTION
Leapmotor has begun assembling its B10 electric SUV at Stellantis' Zaragoza factory in Spain, with customer deliveries expected in December or January and production of the B05 scheduled for early 2027. European assembly avoids additional EU tariffs on Chinese-built electric cars, although the B10's current local content of more than 40% may not satisfy proposed Made in Europe requirements, while British customers will continue receiving Chinese-built vehicles.
VOLKSWAGEN WEIGHS CHINA-DEVELOPED CARS FOR EUROPE
Volkswagen is considering importing China-developed electric vehicles into Europe, potentially including the ID Unyx 09 saloon developed with Xpeng in just 24 months, exploiting China's faster development cycles and lower manufacturing costs. However, European regulatory requirements and import tariffs could undermine those savings, making local production increasingly attractive as Volkswagen simultaneously supports Made in Europe policies favouring European manufacturing.
RIMAC REVEALS NEVERA THRUSTER STUDY
Mate Rimac has revealed that his engineers investigated compressed-gas thrusters for the Nevera electric hypercar in 2020, exploring technology capable of delivering extraordinary acceleration, additional downforce and potentially lifting the vehicle off the ground. The concepts never reached production, with engineering resources redirected towards the Bugatti Tourbillon, whose naturally aspirated V16 engine is supplemented by three electric motors and a 24 kWh battery.
US CLEAN-ENERGY RECORD FORECAST AS GAS ALSO EXPANDS
BloombergNEF forecasts a record 89 gigawatts of new US clean-energy capacity this year, driven by data-centre electricity demand and expiring tax incentives, but also expects 67.8 gigawatts of additional gas-fired generation by 2030 against just 14.3 gigawatts of retirements. Grid connection bottlenecks could require 48 gigawatts of on-site gas generation by 2035, illustrating how growing electricity demand is driving investment in both renewable energy and fossil fuels, with US wholesale electricity prices forecast to rise 11% this year.

It's ev.news Briefly for Sunday 18 October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
GLOBAL EV SALES FALL AS EUROPE SETS A RECORD
Global electric vehicle sales fell 2% in September to 2.15 million, despite Europe setting a new record with almost 600,000 vehicles sold, up 39%, while North American sales dropped 44% and China's declined 18%. China exported a record 558,000 new-energy passenger cars as domestic demand weakened, but proposed EU restrictions on Chinese hybrid imports could complicate its export strategy, even as global EV sales remain 3% higher for the year.
RIVIAN LIMITS NEW DRIVING SYSTEM TO INVITED OWNERS
Rivian will begin testing its point-to-point autonomous driving system with selected US owners of second-generation R1 vehicles and the R2 in December, initially in California and Florida, with wider availability planned for 2027. Participants must have paid Autonomy+ subscriptions, share driving data and provide feedback, while remaining responsible for monitoring the road, as Rivian targets hands-off, eyes-off driving capabilities in 2027.
CHANGAN BRINGS 450 KM FAMILY EV TO EUROPE
Chinese manufacturer Changan will launch its Nevo Q05 electric crossover in Italy and Spain in early 2027, with a UK version called the E06 offering 450 kilometres of WLTP range, a 63.8 kWh battery and 174 kW rapid charging capable of replenishing 30–80% in approximately 15 minutes. Competing against the BYD Atto 3, Leapmotor B10 and Kia EV3, Changan plans to expand its European dealership and service network from nearly 400 locations this year to 650 in 2027, although pricing remains unannounced.
FRANCE AND GERMANY AGREE CAR PLAN WITH UK CONDITIONS
France and Germany have agreed a proposed European automotive policy that could give British manufacturers access to EU subsidies and public contracts in exchange for reciprocal market access and tighter safeguards against circumventing European trade restrictions, potentially affecting Chinese EV imports. The agreement proposes requiring 70% European-made components, excluding batteries, and 10% European battery content for qualifying vehicles, while reducing the EU's 2035 emissions target from 100% to 90%, allowing combustion-engine cars to remain on sale beyond 2035 if the proposals secure legislative approval.
LEAPMOTOR STARTS SPANISH B10 PRODUCTION
Leapmotor has begun assembling its B10 electric SUV at Stellantis' Zaragoza factory in Spain, with customer deliveries expected in December or January and production of the B05 scheduled for early 2027. European assembly avoids additional EU tariffs on Chinese-built electric cars, although the B10's current local content of more than 40% may not satisfy proposed Made in Europe requirements, while British customers will continue receiving Chinese-built vehicles.
VOLKSWAGEN WEIGHS CHINA-DEVELOPED CARS FOR EUROPE
Volkswagen is considering importing China-developed electric vehicles into Europe, potentially including the ID Unyx 09 saloon developed with Xpeng in just 24 months, exploiting China's faster development cycles and lower manufacturing costs. However, European regulatory requirements and import tariffs could undermine those savings, making local production increasingly attractive as Volkswagen simultaneously supports Made in Europe policies favouring European manufacturing.
RIMAC REVEALS NEVERA THRUSTER STUDY
Mate Rimac has revealed that his engineers investigated compressed-gas thrusters for the Nevera electric hypercar in 2020, exploring technology capable of delivering extraordinary acceleration, additional downforce and potentially lifting the vehicle off the ground. The concepts never reached production, with engineering resources redirected towards the Bugatti Tourbillon, whose naturally aspirated V16 engine is supplemented by three electric motors and a 24 kWh battery.
US CLEAN-ENERGY RECORD FORECAST AS GAS ALSO EXPANDS
BloombergNEF forecasts a record 89 gigawatts of new US clean-energy capacity this year, driven by data-centre electricity demand and expiring tax incentives, but also expects 67.8 gigawatts of additional gas-fired generation by 2030 against just 14.3 gigawatts of retirements. Grid connection bottlenecks could require 48 gigawatts of on-site gas generation by 2035, illustrating how growing electricity demand is driving investment in both renewable energy and fossil fuels, with US wholesale electricity prices forecast to rise 11% this year.

Getting paid to plug in your electric car sounds appealing—but is vehicle-to-grid worth it for you? In Part Two of this V2G special, we examined the deal for the owner: how availability payments work, which hours qualify and what you give an energy provider permission to control. We explore offers from BMW and E.ON, Mercedes, Renault, Octopus and BYD, and We Drive Solar and Hegg, including the conditions behind the advertised rewards.
The return depends on more than the headline payment. We look at charger prices, installation costs, subscriptions and eligibility, plus how solar panels, export approval and changing your car or electricity supplier can affect the service. We also explain why powering your home during a blackout requires the right installation, and where a stationary home battery offers a different benefit.
Finally, we compare V2G with ordinary smart charging—the savings you could already make without exporting electricity. We examine energy losses, battery ageing, warranty conditions, data security and long-term repairs and support. The central question is whether V2G can deliver a dependable extra benefit after costs, even when introductory rewards end or your circumstances change.