EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs Feb 27, 2026

BRIEFLY: Ford, Hyundai, Polestar & more | 27 Feb 2026

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Term

front trunk

A front trunk is a storage area at the front of some cars, especially electric ones. Since these cars don't have a big engine in front, they use that space to store things.

Car

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is an electric car shaped like an SUV. It usually has extra storage space in the front called a front trunk, but Ford decided to stop including that in the basic version because most people didn't use it.

Concept

unbundling previously standard features

Car companies sometimes stop including things for free that used to come with the car. Instead, you have to pay extra if you want those features.

Concept

body-on-frame

Some trucks are built with a strong frame and then the car part is put on top. This makes them tougher and better for carrying heavy stuff.

Car

Kia Tasman

The Kia Tasman is a type of pickup truck that is built more like a car, making it smoother to drive.

Car

Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger is a medium-sized truck that is good for work and everyday driving.

Car

Toyota Hilux

The Toyota Hilux is a tough pickup truck that can handle rough roads and heavy work.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai plans to make an electric pickup truck called the Ioniq T7 in the next few years.

Brand

Polestar

Polestar is a car company that makes electric cars. They work with Volvo and make cars that are good for the environment.

Term

smart charging

Smart charging means charging your electric car at the best times to save money and use cleaner energy. The car or charger decides when to charge.

Term

Intelligent Octopus tariff

It's a special electricity plan that makes power cheaper at certain times, so you can save money by using electricity when it's less busy.

Term

off-peak windows

Off-peak windows are times when fewer people use electricity, so it's cheaper and better for the environment to charge your car then.

Concept

car-controlled charging

Car-controlled charging means your electric car decides the best time to charge itself to save money and use clean energy.

Car

Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger is a big car that can be very fast and strong. People talk about it because it can connect to special chargers at home that help it get power in a smart way. This means it can charge itself more easily and safely.

Part

Zappi V2 charger

The Zappi V2 is a special charger for electric cars that helps you charge your car using clean energy and at the best times.

Term

48-volt system

A 48-volt system is a way cars use electricity that is stronger than the usual 12-volt system, helping cars work better and use less energy.

Company

Rivian

Rivian makes electric cars, especially trucks and SUVs, that are designed for outdoor activities and off-road driving.

Term

12-volt system

Most cars use a 12-volt electrical system to run things like lights and radios, but newer cars sometimes use stronger systems to work better.

Term

rear-wheel steering

Rear-wheel steering means the back wheels can turn a little bit to help the car turn better or stay steady.

Term

steer-by-wire

Steer-by-wire means the car uses computers to turn the wheels instead of a physical connection, making steering smoother and more flexible.

Term

level 4 autonomy

Level 4 autonomy means the car can drive itself most of the time without the driver needing to do anything, but sometimes the driver might have to take over.

Car

Volvo EX30

The Volvo EX30 is a small electric SUV that can get updates for its software through the internet without needing to go to the dealer.

Term

over-the-air update

Over-the-air updates mean the car can get new software or fixes through the internet without going to the shop.

Term

vehicle to load capability

Vehicle to load means the car can give power to other things like tools or appliances, acting like a big battery you can take with you.

Term

electric vehicle charge point grant

This grant helps people pay for a charger at home so they can easily charge their electric cars.

Concept

on-street charging

This means you can charge your electric car on the street, even if you don't have a driveway or garage.

Car

G-Class Gwagon

The G-Class is a fancy, tough SUV that looks like a box and can drive on rough roads. There's talk about a smaller version that might use two types of power to run, like gas and electric, which is becoming popular in some countries.

Term

plug-in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid is a car that uses both gas and electricity. You can plug it in to charge the battery and drive some distance just on electricity.

Term

BEV

A BEV is a car that runs only on electricity from batteries, with no gas engine.

Term

all-wheel drive

All-wheel drive means the car sends power to all four wheels, helping it grip the road better, especially when it's wet or snowy.

Car

Geely Galaxy EX5

The Geely EX5 eREV is a car from China that mainly runs on electricity but has a small gas engine to help it go farther when the battery runs low.

Term

kWh

kWh is a way to measure how much electricity a car's battery can hold. Bigger numbers mean the car can drive farther on electric power.

Term

LFP pack

LFP means the car's battery uses a special kind of safe and long-lasting lithium battery to store electricity.

Term

WLTP range

WLTP range is a way to test how far an electric car can drive on a full battery in normal driving situations.

Concept

emissions policy

Emissions policy means rules that control how much pollution cars and trucks can make. Different countries have different rules to keep the air cleaner.

Concept

heavy-duty transport

Heavy-duty transport means big trucks and buses that carry lots of stuff or people. They make more pollution than small cars, so rules try to reduce that.

Concept

electric vehicles (EV)

Electric vehicles, or EVs, are cars that run on electricity instead of gas. They don't make pollution from their exhaust, so they're better for the environment.

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It's EV News briefly for Friday 27th of February.

Everything EV in less than five minutes.

For those without the time for the full podcast.

Ford has removed the front trunk from the standard equipment list on the Mustang Mac E,

citing low usage among existing owners.

It now charges you $495 if you'd like an underbonnet storage space.

The move fits a broader industry,

a trend of unbundling previously standard features,

but risks a backlash from potential buyers on the perceived loss of value.

Hyundai is developing a mid-sized body-on-frame pickup truck for 2028,

and the CEO committing to the project last September.

Now Australian COO say it'll be distinct from something like a Kia unibody Tasman.

It'll be a body-on-frame to compete with competitors like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.

They've also trademarked the name Ioniq T7,

so maybe that's what they'll use for the branding of the electric truck from Hyundai.

We'll find out.

Polestar is expanding its smart charging program to Germany and France,

joining the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium.

German owners on the Intelligent Octopus tariff can save roughly 300 euros annually

by shifting charging to cheap low-carbon off-peak windows.

A key differentiator is the program now runs car-controlled charging.

So whether your charger on the side of your house wall is smart or dumb,

and I obviously have a Polestar too.

I've got the Zappi V2 charger from my energy.

Polestar now runs the tariff alongside Octopus, taking them out of the loop.

A Rivian engineering job listing asking for somebody with experience of 48-volt systems

could be hinting towards Rivian moving to, like Tesla and Ford with their new UEV platform,

replacing the 12-volt system with a 48-volt system.

Along with other recent job ads, we could be seeing a 48-volt,

steer-by-wire rear-wheel-steered level 4 autonomy Rivian coming in the future.

That means that you can make the cables smaller or lighter, thinner and save costs

and weight, of course, in an EV.

Volvo is upgrading the EX30 over the air.

They're adding vehicle to load capability.

You'll need a new adapter to do that, but that's a great new feature and no visit to the dealer required.

There's also a new motor, an entry-level 148 horsepower entry-level powertrain.

That's new, cheaper motor with either a 51 or 70 kilowatt-hour battery

for range of 250 miles LTP.

WLTP could be a $30,000 vehicle.

The UK government extending its electric vehicle charge point grant to March 2027

kicks off this April.

You now get £500 as your maximum contribution to install a home charger,

now including renters, flat owners and homos without driveways if you need a gully.

Put in the pavement to sort of just drop the cable into,

so it's not a trip hazard, a lot of on-street charging happens here,

or will happen here, by the way, because people don't have driveways.

The Baby G-Wagon, the Baby G from Mercedes is coming,

and they say it could well be dual powertrain like we see a lot in China,

so Pure Bev and the plug-in hybrid version as well.

That'll be an all-wheel drive vehicle.

We should get the full Bev version being made in 2027 of that.

Leaked pricing in Australia shows that the new Geely EX5 eREV

will either be $42,000 or $46,000.

That's very good value for a vehicle with a 68 kWh LFP pack,

up from 60 kWh in the old one pushing WLTP range to 475 km.

And finally, Mexico is doing the opposite to what the USA is doing,

as the US unwinds its policy on emissions.

Mexico is tightening it, linking the Ministry of Health

to transport, saying if we can clear up emissions from heavy-duty transport,

it'll make people's health better, but if for children, pregnant women,

it'll save the country money, and they're serious about going EV.

That's briefly.

I can't believe it! Max has asked me to move in with him.

I mean, you practically live with each other already, but that's great!

Did you hear that, Joe?

Yes! Thanks for letting us know!

I see you've updated your universal credit claim.

Now you're going to be living together.

If you're telling other people about a change in your circumstances,

tell us too to avoid a penalty.

Search TEL DWP.

About this episode

Ford has removed the Mustang Mach-E's front trunk from standard features, charging $495 for it due to low usage. Hyundai is developing a body-on-frame pickup truck, possibly named Ioniq T7, to compete in the mid-sized segment by 2028. Polestar expands its smart charging program across Europe, offering cost savings with car-controlled charging. Rivian hints at adopting 48-volt systems for future models, potentially enabling advanced autonomy. Volvo upgrades the EX30 with over-the-air updates including vehicle-to-load capability and a new entry-level motor. The UK extends EV home charger grants, and Mercedes plans a dual powertrain Baby G-Wagon. Mexico tightens emissions policies to improve public health.

12 volt system 48 volt system all wheel drive BEV body on frame car-controlled charging electric vehicle charge point grant electric vehicles (EV) emissions policy front trunk

Dodge Charger Ford Mustang Ford Ranger Geely Galaxy EX5 Hyundai Ioniq Kia Tasman Mercedes-Benz G-Class Toyota Hilux Volvo EX30

Original notes

It's EV News Briefly for Friday 27 February 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

FORD MAKES MACH-E FRUNK A $495 OPTION
Ford has removed the front trunk from the standard equipment list on the 2026 Mustang Mach-E, citing low usage among owners, and now charges $495 to unlock access to the under-bonnet storage space that has been part of the car's appeal since its 2021 launch. The move fits a broader industry trend of unbundling previously standard features, but risks a backlash on perceived value — particularly given the frunk already lost roughly half its original five cubic feet of space when a heat pump was added in 2024.
HYUNDAI TARGETS BODY-ON-FRAME PICKUP BY 2028
Hyundai is developing a midsize body-on-frame pickup truck targeting a ~2028 launch, with CEO José Muñoz committing to the project at last September's investor day and Australian COO Gavin Donaldson confirming it will be a distinct vehicle from Kia's unibody Tasman — designed to compete with the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Trademarked "IONIQ T7" branding hints the truck may sit under Hyundai's electric sub-brand, and the same platform could underpin a rugged SUV previewed by the Crater Concept at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show.
POLESTAR ENERGY ADDS GRID REWARDS IN GERMANY, FRANCE
Polestar is expanding its smart charging programme to Germany and France, joining Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK, with German owners on an Intelligent Octopus tariff able to cut home charging costs by up to roughly 50% per session and save around €300 annually by shifting charging to cheap, low-carbon off-peak windows. A key differentiator is that the programme now runs car-controlled charging directly through the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 via the in-house app, removing the need for a compatible smart wallbox — and Polestar has also activated V2G and V2H capability for the Polestar 3 in California.
RIVIAN JOB POSTING POINTS TO 48V PLATFORM
A Rivian engineering job listing has surfaced that explicitly names a 48V DC architecture — a first for the company in any public-facing document — calling for someone to design vehicle topologies spanning 12V, 48V and 120/230V AC systems for an active, undisclosed vehicle programme. When read alongside recent postings for steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering and Level 4 autonomy roles, the listing points toward a next-generation platform that could combine all four technologies; a 48V system is notable because it delivers the same power as 12V at one-quarter the current, enabling lighter, cheaper wiring harnesses
VOLVO PLANS 2027 EX30 UPDATE WITH V2L
Volvo is planning a 2027 EX30 refresh that adds vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability and a new 148 hp entry-level powertrain via an over-the-air software update requiring no dealer visit, alongside a reworked touchscreen interface. The cheaper motor — pairable with either a 51 kWh or 69 kWh battery for up to 251 miles of WLTP range — could push the UK entry price toward £30,000, narrowing the gap to rivals like the Alfa Romeo Junior and Mini Aceman, though UK availability has not been confirmed.

UK EXTENDS HOME CHARGER GRANT TO 2027
The UK government has extended its Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant to March 2027 and is raising the maximum contribution from £350 to £500 from 1 April 2026, with the grant covering renters, flat owners and homeowners without driveways — groups previously locked out of cheap home charging. The extension complements a separate £600 million public charging fund, with ChargeUK noting the UK public charging network has reached 88,500 chargepoints, but underscoring that most drivers rely on a blend of home and public infrastructure.
MERCEDES BABY G GAINS HYBRID OPTION
Mercedes-Benz has reversed its EV-only plan for the smaller "Baby" G-Class, adding a hybrid variant that will use the CLA's turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit from Horse Powertrain producing 188 hp, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox with an integrated electric motor. Both the battery-electric and hybrid versions will feature four-wheel drive as standard on a bespoke platform, with BEV production pencilled in for 2027 and the hybrid expected to follow — and Mercedes insisting the smaller model will match the full-size G-Class for off-road capability.
LEAKED PRICING LIFTS 2026 GEELY EX5 RANGE
Industry guide Redbook has leaked Australian pricing for new Extended Range variants of the 2026 Geely EX5 — AU$41,990 for the Complete and AU$45,990 for the Inspire, each AU$1,000 above current equivalents — though Geely Australia has not officially confirmed figures, specs or an on-sale date. The Extended Range models swap in a larger 68.4 kWh LFP battery (up ~14% from 60.22 kWh), pushing WLTP-rated range to 475 km and 450 km respectively, gains of 45 km over standard versions.
MEXICO TIGHTENS AIR RULES AND PUSHES ELECTRIC TRUCKS
Mexico is combining tightened air quality monitoring under the Ministry of Health with a push to electrify its medium- and heavy-duty fleet, which makes up roughly 25% of the vehicle fleet but generates more than half of all transport-related emissions. Electric truck sales have surged 800% over three years with 25 brands now offering more than 60 commercial EV models in Mexico, while new import rules cap used diesel commercial vehicles at engines no older than 10 years — closing a significant back door for ageing, high-emission trucks.

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