A plug-in hybrid is a car that can use both electricity and gasoline. You can charge it like an electric car, but it also has a regular engine for longer trips.
An ultra rapid EV network is a system of charging stations for electric cars that can charge the vehicle's battery very quickly. This means you can get back on the road faster compared to regular charging stations.
A kilowatt hour is a way to measure electricity usage. When you charge an electric car, the amount of energy you use is measured in kilowatt hours, which helps determine how much you pay for charging.
Tesla Superchargers are special charging stations for Tesla cars that allow you to charge the battery very quickly. This makes it easier for Tesla drivers to travel long distances without waiting too long to recharge.
Car
Kia EV2
The Kia EV2 is a new electric car that Kia is introducing. It's a small SUV that will be available soon, which is great for people who want an electric vehicle that's easy to drive and park.
The Renault 4 is an older model of a small car made by Renault. It's known for being practical and was popular in many countries for its simple design and usefulness.
The Renault 5 is another small car from Renault that was made a long time ago. It was well-liked for being affordable and easy to drive around the city.
Weight distribution is how the weight of a car is balanced between the front and back. It affects how well the car handles and drives, especially during turns.
Skateboard design is a way to build electric cars where the battery and motors are placed in a flat base, which helps keep the car low to the ground for better handling.
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It's EV News briefly for Wednesday, 7th of January.
Everything EV in less than five minutes.
If you haven't got full time for the podcast,
let's get you up to speed.
Volvo cars is bucking the trend
by doing really well in the US
and not so well in Europe.
In fact, the big pain point was China
where they were down 46% for battery electric vehicles.
But in the US, they were surging by 91%.
We'll see what this year brings.
BYD ended the year 2025 with a sharp jump in UK sales.
Particularly strong with plug-in hybrids.
UK buyers giving BYD the seal of approval.
Sorry about that.
The Seal UDMI is a plug-in hybrid SUV
central to their performance.
The little electric dolphin surf
was their top selling old electric vehicle.
New York City getting its largest public
electric vehicle charging site of ultra rapid
just north of JFK Airport
off the Nassau Expressway.
The World Car Awards have named their finalists.
The 2026 World Car Awards have begun judging now
down to 10 contenders and you won't be surprised to hear
most of them are battery electric models
and the subcategory is pretty much all electric as well.
Dongfeng China's EV maker is weighing
whether to build vehicles in Turkey
according to local sources.
It would mirror a strategy by other Chinese brands like BYD.
Turkey's customs union with the European Union
makes it very appealing.
Vehicles made in Turkey can enter the EU
with no import duties, the ones that are now levied
on Chinese made electric cars.
You can sell into Europe and sidestep the trade barriers
alongside BYD.
Other Chinese firms like Dongfeng
have now got boots on the ground, so to speak.
Looking for sites and looking for places to build,
BYD of course have done that already.
Their factory should be up and running by the end of the year
making 150,000 vehicles for European customers
with no tariffs.
Arnold Clark Charge, the charging arm
of a big Scottish dealer group.
So they are now Scotland's largest ultra rapid EV network.
They've got 50 hubs at their branches across the country
all open to the public, 150 kilowatt plus charges.
And they say they might expand south of the border
into other parts of the United Kingdom.
Costs 55 pence per kilowatt hour to charge there
which does sound expensive to some of my international
listeners, but trust me that is a lot cheaper
than the UK average if they do expand down here.
Could be a bit like Tesla Superchargers,
cheaper than all of the rest and ones to seek out.
The Brussels auto show opens in two days time.
It'll be on for a couple of weeks or so
and they say they've had a record demand
both from the Europeans and from Asian manufacturers as well.
Space sold out well before the opening.
Extra capacity was added.
64 car brands are gonna be there.
They say from Alpha to Zika.
See what they did there.
Big Chinese contingent turning up as well of course.
And they say that Brussels auto show is now neutral territory
for anyone and everyone to show off their wares.
Kia will be a big launch in two days time by the way.
The EV2 will be launched on Friday.
That's gonna be a small 25,000 or so crossover style SUV.
The boxy Kia shape at the moment,
but right up against the Renault Fours,
Renault Fives of the world.
Made in Slovakia, designed in Europe,
built in Europe for European drivers.
Very interesting.
Caterham is a famous name in track day stuff
and they're gonna bring their new electric car
to the United States.
They're ready to talk about it now.
And they say they're gonna feature two batteries
and they're gonna try and mimic
the front and rear weight distribution.
Not use a skateboard design to get the driver really low
to the track, expensive though, 100 grand plus.
Lucid's gonna move to a Panasonic US battery supply
from the middle of the year.
And a Democratic member of Congress introducing a new bill
to oblige new vehicles that have flush handles
to have some sort of mechanical backup
in the event of power failure.
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About this episode
BYD sees a significant boost in UK sales, particularly with plug-in hybrids, while Volvo experiences contrasting fortunes in the US and Europe. New York City is set to unveil its largest public EV charging site near JFK Airport. The World Car Awards have announced their finalists, predominantly featuring electric models. Additionally, Dongfeng is considering manufacturing in Turkey to bypass EU tariffs, and Arnold Clark Charge expands its ultra-rapid EV network in Scotland. The Brussels auto show is approaching, showcasing a strong interest from both European and Asian manufacturers.
It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 07 January 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
