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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

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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.

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BMW GIVES I7 MORE RANGE AND SCREEN SPACE
BMW 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 ILLINOIS
Rivian 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 PROGRAMME
GM 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 RETURN
Smart 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 TECH
Volkswagen 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 SOLO
ChargePoint 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 PLAN
France'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 TRUCKS
Coca-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 PILOT
PG&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 2026
Volkswagen 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.

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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

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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.

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HYUNDAI REVEALS IONIQ 3 DETAILS
Hyundai 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 EVS
Hyundai 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 MARCH
Battery 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 MARCH
Americans 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 RETREAT
Sony 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 THRESHOLD
The 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 PRICES
Ford 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 2030
Germany 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 DRIVERS
The 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 EVS
The 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 LAYERS
Nissan 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.

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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

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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

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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.

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MERCEDES PREVIEWS ELECTRIC C-CLASS CABIN
Mercedes-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 Q4
SpaceX 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 £38,995
Mazda 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 GERMANY
BMW 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 VARIANTS
BYD 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 MARKET
Allego 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 EVS
A 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-ONLY
Rivian 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 LAUNCH
Honda 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 BAYS
UK-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.