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CHINA: Huawei Megawatt Charging, Chinese Brands Hit Highs Overseas and BYD Sealion 08 Flagship | 30 Apr 2026 Apr 30, 2026

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HUAWEI SHIFTS MEGAWATT CHARGING INTO ROLLOUT https://evne.ws/48yzgQq
CHINESE BRANDS HIT NEW EUROPE SALES HIGH https://evne.ws/41Z08p0
CHINESE CARMAKERS RAMP UP OVERSEAS PRODUCTION https://evne.ws/4cBpsYg
BYD REVEALS SEALION 08 FLAGSHIP SUV https://evne.ws/4vZTFHZ
BYD SEAGULL GETS 505KM RANGE https://evne.ws/49j1wGS
CHERY TAKES TIGGO X UPMARKET https://evne.ws/4t2kYyE
FANG CHENG BAO ADDS SEDANS AND A SUPERCAR https://evne.ws/3QA0oZa
HYUNDAI LAUNCHES IONIQ BRAND IN CHINA https://evne.ws/4t2kGry
MAZDA’S CHINA NEV PUSH GATHERS PACE https://evne.ws/4vQ0X0Y
XIAOMI OPENS MUNICH R&D CENTRE https://evne.ws/4eQcyqK
CHINA DELIVERS RECORD 10,800-CAR CARRIER https://evne.ws/4tN8BIg

CHINA: Auto China Show, Buick Electra E7 and BYD Refreshes Denza D9 MPV | 28 Apr 2026 Apr 28, 2026

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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

DAILY: Kia Cuts Prices, BYD Makes A Tesla Roadster and Oil Shocks Speed Up EV Adoption | 27 Apr 2026 Apr 27, 2026

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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

BRIEFLY: Kia, BYD, Oil Shocks & more | 27 Apr 2026 Apr 27, 2026

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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/EVNewsDaily

KIA CUTS EUROPE PRICES TO FIGHT CHINESE
Kia 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 TESLA
BYD 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 UPTAKE
Rising 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 RUN
ECIU 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 SALES
Omoda & 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 UK
GWM 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 PRICES
Leapmotor'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 FIGHT
US 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 PLANT
MG 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 YEARS
Recurrent'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.

CHINA: April EVs Head Towards 60%, Porsche Cayenne Gets China Spec and BYD Great Tang Starts Strong | 27 Apr 2026 Apr 27, 2026

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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

DAILY: BMW i7 Gets Updated, Rivian Starts Building R2 and Smart Bring Back ForTwo | 23 Apr 2026 Apr 23, 2026

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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

BRIEFLY: BMW i7, Rivian R2, Smart Hashtag 2 & more | 22 Apr 2026 Apr 23, 2026

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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.

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.

CHINA: CATL Makes Battery Breakthroughs, Leapmotor D19 and VW’s China EVs | 22 Apr 2026 Apr 22, 2026

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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

DAILY: IONIQ 3 Revealed, Euro EV Sales Surge Again and U.S. Used EVs Smash New Record | 21 Apr 2026 Apr 21, 2026

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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

BRIEFLY: IONIQ 3, EU Sales, US Used EVs & more | 21 Apr 2026 Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

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.

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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