EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs Feb 2, 2026

BRIEFLY: Battery Degradation, Slate Trucks, Skoda PEAQ & more | 02 Feb 2026

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Car

Tesla Model

The Tesla Model Y is a type of electric car that looks like a small SUV. It's known for being very efficient and having a lot of high-tech features, like being able to drive itself a little bit. People talk about it because it can go a long way on a single charge, but its battery can lose some power as it gets older.

Car

Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is a popular electric car that can drive long distances on a single charge. It's known for being fast and having lots of tech features.

Term

battery packs

Battery packs are groups of batteries that store energy for electric cars. They help the car run by providing the electricity it needs.

Term

electric pickup

An electric pickup is a truck that uses electricity to run instead of traditional fuels like gas. They are becoming more common as technology improves.

Term

pricing

Pricing is how much something costs. In cars, it can change based on how popular they are or how much it costs to make them.

Term

sub 20,000

'Sub 20,000' means something costs less than $20,000. It's a way to talk about cheaper cars.

Term

federal tax credit

A federal tax credit helps lower the amount of money you owe in taxes. For electric cars, it can make buying one cheaper because you get money back when you file your taxes.

Term

mid-20s

'Mid-20s' means a price between $25,000 and $29,999. It's a way to talk about cars that are not too expensive but not the cheapest either.

Term

under 30

'Under 30' means something costs less than $30,000. It's a way to describe cars that are affordable for many buyers.

Term

MEB platform

The MEB platform is a special design that Volkswagen uses for their electric cars. It helps them make different types of electric vehicles more easily and efficiently.

Car

Peugeot E508

The Peugeot E508 is an electric car made by Peugeot. It's designed to be eco-friendly and has modern features that make it appealing to buyers looking for electric options.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a new electric car that looks very stylish and has a lot of room inside. It's designed to be eco-friendly and has cool tech features. People like to talk about it because it's a good choice for families who want an electric vehicle.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq 9

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a new electric SUV that Hyundai is planning to release. It's part of their Ioniq series, which includes various electric cars.

Company

Rivian

Rivian is a company that makes electric trucks and SUVs, and they focus on being environmentally friendly.

Term

software-defined vehicles

Software-defined vehicles are cars that use a lot of computer software to control how they work, making them smarter and easier to update.

Car

Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is a small car that many people like because it's easy to drive and has a lot of space inside.

Term

domain controllers

Domain controllers are special computers in cars that help manage different parts of the car, making everything work together better.

Term

physical zones

Physical zones are different areas inside a car where certain parts are located, making it easier to manage everything.

Concept

plug-in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid is a type of car that can use both electricity and gasoline. You can charge it at home, and it can drive on electric power for a while before it needs to use gas.

Term

Euro 7 rules

Euro 7 rules are new laws in Europe that limit how much pollution cars can produce. Car makers need to make their vehicles cleaner to meet these rules.

Term

800-volt architecture

800-volt architecture is a type of electrical system used in some electric cars that helps them charge faster and perform better. It's like having a stronger power source that can fill up the car's battery more quickly.

Car

Renault Trafic

The Renault Trafic is a popular van made by Renault, often used for businesses to carry things or people. It's been around for a long time and is known for being reliable.

Car

Ford Transit

The Ford Transit Custom is a type of van that many businesses use for transporting goods or people. It's known for being reliable and can be set up in different ways depending on what you need it for. People talk about it because it's been around for a long time and is trusted by many workers.

Concept

van culture

Van culture is about people who use vans for their jobs or hobbies. Many tradespeople prefer vans because they can carry more tools and equipment than smaller vehicles.

Car

Kia EV5

The Kia EV5 is a new electric car from Kia. It's made to be a practical choice for people who want to drive an electric vehicle.

Car

Volkswagen Id Buzz

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo is an electric version of the classic VW van. It's made for businesses that need to transport goods.

Term

flatbed

A flatbed is a truck or trailer that has a flat surface on the back. It's used to carry big items that can't fit inside a regular truck.

Term

chassis cab

A chassis cab is a type of vehicle that has the front part where the driver sits and the frame, but it's missing the back part. This allows businesses to add whatever they need, like a truck bed or a box for deliveries.

Car

Lotus Exige

The Lotus Exige is a small, fast sports car that is very light and handles well. It's designed for people who love driving and want a thrilling experience.

Term

kilowatt-hour

A kilowatt-hour is a way to measure how much energy a battery can store. It helps you understand how far an electric car can go before it needs to be charged again.

Term

EV

An EV, or electric vehicle, is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. They are often better for the environment and can save money on fuel.

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They were new, and even the oldest cars are holding up.

14-year-old models going back to 2012.

For instance, still 81% of their original range.

A three-year-old Tesla Model 3 that's done 150,000 miles

did do 270 when new.

Now we'll cover 247 miles.

Failure rates are improving as well.

Back in the day, the first Genevies 15 years ago had an 8.5% rate

of battery packs needing some attention over the years.

Current generation vehicles down at 0.3% more reliable

and lasting, frankly, longer than the cars that the batteries are.

In debunking that common myth that batteries don't last very long,

Slates is the small truck maker.

Betting buyers want the opposite to the status quo,

which is massive trucks stuffed with touch screens.

The first model is a two-door electric pickup.

They're being cagey on pricing.

Now, if you remember, they said sub 20,000,

but that was when there was a federal tax credit.

And we always knew that was going.

It's a little bit naughty to say that.

I mean, it could have been kept for the freak of nature,

but they really shouldn't have said that.

Now they're saying mid-20s.

Look, if it comes in under 30,

I think they'll still have plenty of customers.

Scodder will unveil their big seven-seater.

It's called the Peak PEAQs,

if it's in with their naming strategy.

And actually, they're going to use the MEB platform

that the Chinese VWs use.

This will be the first one on the Chinese MEB variant

outside of China.

And this will be the big five-meter-long seven-seater

up against things like Kyrie V9, Hyundai Ioniq 9,

Peugeot E5 008, and the rest.

Volkswagen is moving towards,

with the help of the Rivian partnership, of course.

Software-defined vehicles,

one of those will be the world-famous Golf.

Not in electric form,

but in terms of dozens of domain controllers,

just a handful of physical zones,

each run by a powerful computer,

or part of the Rivian partnership

to try and rethink and redesign

how they actually make the motor car.

VW struggled with patchy software back in the day.

Some will argue they still do.

Zonal architecture will give it a cleaner base for code,

shortened development cycles,

and help keep up with the Chinese.

Audi say that there's going to be a plug-in hybrid RS5,

their first plug-in hybrid RS model.

For those that want to reduce some emissions,

like these Euro 7 rules are forcing them to do,

but still with all the pops and bangs of the engine.

Renault's first 800-volt production model

isn't going to be some sort of Renault flagship.

It'll be something as mundane as a van.

Renault's first 800-volt architecture

will be the new traffic.

Now, traffic is a very famous name in terms of vans.

Maybe it's not quite up there with Ford Transit,

but been around for many, many generations.

And we don't have truck culture here in Great Britain,

but we do have van culture.

So if you're a tradee or a tradesperson,

you normally have a van, not a pickup truck over here.

So loads and loads of choice,

all electric up against PV5 from Kia,

VW ID buzz cargo, and the rest.

Couple of different sizes, van, chassis cab, platform cab,

tipper, flatbed, cargo box, and more,

should be coming this time next year.

Cambridge-based Nibalt has shown off their battery technology.

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0:00

4:16

BRIEFLY: Battery Degradation, Slate Trucks, Skoda PEAQ & more | 02 Feb 2026

Tesla Model

Tesla Model 3

battery packs

electric pickup

pricing

sub 20,000

federal tax credit

mid-20s

under 30

MEB platform

Peugeot E508

Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai Ioniq 9

Rivian

software-defined vehicles

Volkswagen Golf

domain controllers

physical zones

plug-in hybrid

Euro 7 rules

800-volt architecture

Renault Trafic

Ford Transit

van culture

Kia EV5

Volkswagen Id Buzz

flatbed

chassis cab

Lotus Exige

kilowatt-hour

EV

About this episode

Original notes