The latest news about electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, regulation and the EV market
Hyundai says the IONIQ 3 is attracting more customer interest than any vehicle it’s ever launched. With over 300 miles of range, Hyundai’s new high-tech infotainment system, and a starting price around $30,000, the electric hatch checks all the boxes.
Volvo has confirmed it’s dropping lidar for good on the EX90 and ES90, and it’s paying owners compensation for a feature they were promised but will never get. In Norway, that payout is NOK 18,000 (about $1,900) per car, one of several market-by-market checks Volvo is writing after cutting ties with lidar supplier Luminar.
Freenow by Lyft and Baidu's autonomous driving unit Apollo Go have launched road tests of robotaxis in London. The trials mark the first concrete step in implementing the commercial robotaxi partnership the two companies announced for Europe in 2025.
Hongqi says its experimental battery can add 60% charge in under four minutes with a peak charging rate of 12C.
Hongqi says its new battery charged from 10 to 70 per cent in under four minutes during tests. The development marks another step in China's race to cut EV charging times with ultra-fast battery technology.
A pilot project involving 12,000 public charging points is launching in the Dutch province of Gelderland to reward EV drivers for charging at grid-friendly times. The six project partners aim to assess whether financial incentives for flexible charging behaviour can help reduce peak loads on the electricity grid.
Just months after the Hyundai Inster established itself in the market, the Korean carmaker has launched a major safety recall. Due to a potential fire risk, Hyundai is recalling around 40,000 units of its battery-electric compact car worldwide, including approximately 14,610 vehicles in Germany.
In a major step toward making deeper inroads into the Japanese auto market, BYD has commenced sales of its electric kei car, the Racco. The company manufactures this model in Changzhou (Jiangsu Province), China, and says it is the first kei car designed by any overseas automaker.
The EU commercial vehicle market grew in the first half of 2026, with electric trucks and buses continuing to gain ground. Battery-electric truck registrations rose by 47.7%, while electric buses captured 27.7% of the market, although ACEA says uptake remains too slow overall.
Bosch has started real-world testing of its new fuel cell system for buses in Madrid. The company is trialling the technology in an Irizar bus operating on the Spanish capital's public transport network.
Following the impending end of the BMW i4 Gran Coupé, the Munich-based automaker apparently plans to introduce a fully electric i4 Cabriolet. According to insider information, the model is said to be developed under the internal code NA3 and will be based on the Neue Klasse electric architecture. First spy shots have already emerged.
While many Smart fans in Europe are eagerly awaiting the all-electric Fortwo successor, the Smart #2, the Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture is also updating its existing model range. The Smart #1 electric SUV is receiving a comprehensive facelift, including an 800-volt architecture and a battery capable of 6C charging.