EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs Mar 6, 2026

BRIEFLY: Pump Prices, Cupra, Ford & more | 05 Mar 2026

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Term

EV

An EV is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. It helps reduce pollution and can save money on fuel.

Term

Brent Crude

Brent Crude is a type of oil that many countries use to set the price of fuel. When its price goes up, gas at the pump usually gets more expensive.

Car

Cupra Born

The Cupra Born is a fully electric small car with cool lights and two battery sizes to choose from. It's a newer car that some people might like instead of other electric cars.

Term

Matrix LED lights

Matrix LED lights are special car headlights that can turn on and off little lights inside them to help you see better without blinding other drivers.

Term

battery sizes (58 or 79 kilowatt hours)

The battery size tells you how much energy the car's battery can hold. Bigger batteries let the car drive farther before needing to recharge.

Car

The Volkswagen ID.3 is a small electric car that runs on batteries instead of gas, so it doesn't make pollution while driving. It's designed to be easy to use and good for everyday trips. People talk about it because it's part of the new kind of cars that help the environment.

Term

federal tax credit

A federal tax credit is money the government gives back to you when you buy an electric car, making it cheaper to buy.

Car

Ford F-150 Lightning

The Ford F-150 Lightning is a big electric pickup truck made by Ford. It's like their regular truck but runs on electricity instead of gas.

Car

Ford Model

The Ford Model T was one of the first cars that many people could afford to buy, helping lots of families get around easily. It was made a long time ago and changed how cars were built so they could be made faster and cheaper. People talk about it because it was very important in car history.

Concept

Model E division

Model E is the part of Ford that works on making electric cars.

Term

software update

A software update is like updating an app on your phone, but for your car's computer to make it work better or fix problems.

Car

Lucid Gravity

The Lucid Gravity is a new electric SUV made by Lucid, a company that makes fancy electric cars.

Term

AC charging

AC charging means charging an electric car using the kind of electricity you get from normal outlets or chargers, which is usually slower than fast charging.

Term

drive resistance

Drive resistance means how hard it is for the car to move, like when things slow it down. Making it better helps the car go further and use less battery.

Term

online configurator

An online configurator is a website tool where you can pick the color, features, and options you want on a car before buying it.

Car

Lucid Air

The Lucid Air is a fancy electric car made by Lucid that can go a long way on a single charge and has lots of cool features.

Concept

2027 model year

The model year is the year a car is made or updated, like the 2027 version of a car.

Car

Mitsubishi Eclipse

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a sporty car made by Mitsubishi that was popular in the 1990s and 2000s.

Car

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is an electric car that many people use because it is affordable and easy to drive.

Concept

CMF EV platform

The CMF EV platform is a special base that several electric cars are built on, making it easier and cheaper to make different electric cars.

Company

Alpetronic

Alpetronic makes special chargers that help electric cars get power quickly and safely. People like them because they work well and don't break easily.

Part

silicon carbide power packs

These are special parts inside chargers that help send electricity to electric cars faster and without wasting much energy. They make charging quicker and better.

Term

400 kilowatt charging

This means the charger can give a lot of electricity to an electric car very quickly, so the car's battery fills up faster than usual.

Car

Aptera

Aptera is a special kind of electric car with three wheels that uses sunlight to help it drive farther without needing to plug in as often.

Car

Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender is a tough and strong car that can drive on rough roads and in difficult places. People use it for adventures and off-road trips.

Car

Toyota Land

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a big, strong car that can go off-road and handle rough places. Many people trust it because it lasts a long time.

Concept

European Commission Industrial Accelerator Act

This is a new rule in Europe that helps make sure electric cars and their parts are made in Europe. It gives money to companies that build things locally.

Concept

EV assembly and local subsidies

It means that if electric cars are put together or made with parts from nearby, people can get money off when they buy them. This helps local businesses.

LIVE

It's EV News briefly for Thursday, 5th of March, everything EV in less than 5 minutes.

If you haven't got time for the full podcast, Patreon supporters get the shows ad-free, save even more time.

And support the work that I do here. Check out the Patreon page if you'd be so kind enough, but no worries if not.

We'll kick off the news with the Middle East conflict lifting fuel prices.

Brent Crude has surged past $84 per barrel and people will be paying more at the pumps as soon as maybe a week or so goes past

and they use the stocks that are in the ground as it were, but maybe now's not the time as an EV driver to be doing a lap of honour.

First of all, there's a human cost of what's happening, the conflict in the Middle East.

Plus, our friends and our neighbours who drive petrol cars and diesel cars, it's not their fault, they have to pay more at the pumps

and perhaps going around saying I'm a smug EV driver, it's not the best way to talk to them about the benefits of driving EV.

I don't know, that's just my opinion. Lots of articles have been taking that tack.

I'm not sure that is very tactful given the circumstances, but it is happening.

A new EY report finds that fully electrifying Europe's corporate fleets could deliver almost 250 billion euros in savings

and cut a billion tons of CO2 by 2030.

Coupre has facelifted the Bourne with a new shark nose front end, Matrix LED lights and a continuous real light strip,

two battery sizes, 58 or 79 kilowatt hours and great material choice, the buttons are back on the steering wheel,

it's a great steering wheel, it's a great double screen system, bigger screens inside as well.

Honestly, the Bourne, if you don't fancy the ID3, the Coupre Bourne, if you can get it where you're listening,

is a really good choice for you to be checking out.

Ford's US EV sales collapsed 71% in February compared to the same time last year and that's not surprising

because they've got nothing new to sell you, they discontinued the F-150 Lightning, federal tax credit is gone,

the Ford Model E division lost 4.8 billion dollars last year and Ford really have nothing new on the table

for at least a couple of years with this new platform coming.

Lucid has pushed a new software update to the Gravity, last time round they fixed a bunch of annoying bugs,

this time they're pushing AC charging improvements and drive resistance improvements as well.

Lucid has just closed the online configurator for the air and the gravity to clear some stock

for getting ready for the 2027 model year as well.

Mitsubishi is preparing its first all-new model since the Eclipse for dealerships.

This is effectively their version of the Nissan Leaf.

It's built on the same architecture, same platform, CMF EV.

Spy shots at the minute still show it camouflaged but it shares the Leaf's roofline and proportions

and indeed will be made alongside the Leaf at the plant in Japan.

Alpetronic has launched Series 2 of their HYC 400 Chargers.

I love the Alpetronic hardware because in my experience, I know just my opinion, it just always works

and it's reliable and it's good.

400 kilowatt maximum output sustained 600 amps up from 500 with new silicon carbide power packs.

They say the screen's really big 22-inch touchscreen on the front of the unit as well

and they say a 97.5% charging efficiency as they generally improve that.

400 kilowatts is about as good as you're going to get outside of China for charging at the moment.

Aptera showing off a first photo of a vehicle off its validation assembly line.

The three-wheeled, solar-resisted EV that's been coming for, frankly, decades is another step closer.

Geely will launch their competitor to a Land Rover Defender or a Toyota Land Cruiser.

They've given it an amazing name outside of China.

So here in the UK, for instance, it'll be the Geely Galaxy Battleship and it looks proper as well.

And finally, the European Commission has unveiled their new Industrial Accelerator Act.

In other words, tying public subsidies to made-in-Europe conditions for the parts

and how EVs get assembled, money off buying locally.

And that's briefly.

About this episode

Fuel prices are rising due to Middle East conflicts, impacting petrol drivers while EV drivers are encouraged to be considerate. Europe's corporate fleets could save billions and cut emissions by going fully electric. The Cupra Born gets a stylish facelift with improved features. Ford's US EV sales plummet amid a lack of new models and discontinued favorites. Lucid improves charging software, and Mitsubishi prepares a new EV akin to the Nissan Leaf. Alpetronic launches powerful new chargers, Aptera nears production, and Geely unveils a rugged new SUV. The EU introduces subsidies favoring locally made EV parts.

2027 model year 400 kilowatt charging AC charging Alpetronic battery sizes (58 or 79 kilowatt hours) Brent crude CMF EV platform drive resistance European Commission Industrial Accelerator Act EV

Aptera Aptera Cupra Born Ford F-150 Lightning Ford Model T Land Rover Defender Lucid Air Lucid Gravity Mitsubishi Eclipse Nissan Leaf Toyota Land Cruiser Volkswagen ID.3

Original notes

It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 05 March 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

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT LIFTS UK FUEL AND ENERGY COSTS
Brent crude surged past $84 per barrel and UK gas prices spiked to a three-year high of £1.44 per therm after Qatar halted LNG exports following Iran's threat to attack tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, with the RAC warning UK forecourt prices will feel the full impact within a week. Home EV charging costs are shielded for now by the energy price cap — fixed at 24.67p per kWh for electricity until end of June — but wholesale price rises could push the cap higher from July, making both home wallbox and public charging more expensive.

EUROPEAN FLEETS COULD SAVE €246BN BY 2030
A new EY and Eurelectric report finds that fully electrifying Europe's corporate fleets could deliver up to €246 billion in cumulative savings and cut one billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. However, the authors warn that cheaper running costs alone will not drive mass uptake, calling for coordinated action from manufacturers, policymakers, grid operators and finance providers to tackle high upfront costs, uncertain residual values, and charging infrastructure delays.
CUPRA BORN FACELIFT BRINGS SHARP NOSE, SMALL TWEAKS
Cupra has facelifted the Born with a "shark nose" front end, triangular matrix LED headlights, a continuous rear light strip, and new 235 mm tyres across all five wheel options, while the aerodynamically improved 79 kWh variants now claim around 600 km (373 miles) of WLTP range. A new entry "Born Plus" trim pairs a 58 kWh battery with a 140 kW motor — figures that match Ford's Capri LFP option and strongly suggest a switch to LFP cells from the updated MEB+ platform — though Cupra has not confirmed drivetrain details and appears to be saving that announcement for a related reveal, likely the VW ID.3 facelift later in 2026.
FORD EV SALES SINK 71% AFTER LIGHTNING EXIT
Ford's US EV sales collapsed 71% in February 2026 to just 2,122 units, the steepest monthly drop in its EV history, driven by the discontinuation of the F-150 Lightning and the expiry of the federal EV tax credit. Ford's Model e division lost $4.8 billion in 2025 and is forecast to lose another $4–5 billion in 2026, with profitability not expected until 2029; the company has already booked a $19.5 billion writedown and is pivoting to a new ~$30,000 midsize electric pickup it hopes will revive the business by 2027.
LUCID PATCHES GRAVITY SOFTWARE AGAIN
Lucid Motors has pushed software update 3.4.4 to the Gravity SUV, targeting AC charging improvements and Drive Assist availability, following a January update that resolved around 95% of earlier software issues — with the car averaging a new update every 24 days since launch. Lucid has closed its online configurator for both the Air and Gravity while it prepares its 2027 model year announcement, and Air owners face a $950 hardware upgrade bill to access the newer UX 3.0 platform already running in the Gravity, due to arrive by autumn 2026.
MITSUBISHI READIES LEAF-BASED EV FOR CANADA
Mitsubishi is preparing its first all-new model since the Eclipse Cross for Canadian dealerships in 2026, built on Nissan's CMF-EV platform and LEAF architecture, with spy shots showing a heavily camouflaged prototype that shares the LEAF's roofline, proportions, and rear hatch panel. Both models will be built side by side at Nissan's Kaminokawa plant in Japan, and Mitsubishi may receive the smaller battery pack to undercut the LEAF on entry price — a strategy that would see Nissan supply the foundations while a cheaper sibling competes for the same buyers.
ALPITRONIC UNVEILS HYC400 SERIES 2 CHARGER
Alpitronic has launched the HYC400 Series 2, retaining the 400 kW maximum output of its predecessor while upgrading to a 22-inch touchscreen (up from 15.6 inches), second-generation silicon carbide power stacks, and a higher continuous output current of 600 A (up from 500 A). The unit maintains 97.5% charging efficiency but standby power consumption rises significantly from 43 W to under 100 W, and cable options narrow to a single 5-metre length; Alpitronic will sell both generations simultaneously to suit different site requirements.

APTERA SHOWS FIRST VALIDATION-LINE VEHICLE PHOTO
Aptera Motors has published the first photo of a vehicle off its validation assembly line, marking a milestone for its three-wheeled, solar-assisted EV that claims 400 miles of range from a 44 kWh battery and up to 40 miles of daily solar charging, classified as a motorcycle to bypass certain safety regulations. The launch edition price has risen to $40,000 — a $9,300 increase from prior estimates — though a $28,000 model is planned for the future, and with nearly 50,000 pre-orders and a stated daily capacity of 80–100 vehicles, Aptera claims it could fulfil all orders within 500 days of full production, though the end-of-year delivery timeline remains uncertain.

GEELY TARGETS DEFENDER WITH GALAXY BATTLESHIP
Geely plans to launch the Galaxy Battleship in the UK in 2028, a blocky hybrid 4x4 aimed squarely at the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser, with a production design expected to stay 90–95% true to the Galaxy Cruiser concept shown at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show. Built on the GEA Evo platform with steer- and brake-by-wire, it may use an AI-driven plug-in hybrid system with a stated output of around 858 bhp, and Geely is promising an interior that surpasses the Defender's for luxury — a bold claim for the Chinese brand's first foray into the 4x4 segment.

EU UNVEILS LOCAL-CONTENT RULES FOR CLEAN TECH
The European Commission has unveiled the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), tying over €2 trillion in public procurement and subsidies to low-carbon and "Made-in-EU" conditions across sectors including EVs, steel, cement, and wind turbines, with the goal of raising manufacturing's share of EU economic output from 14% to 20% by 2035. China is excluded from the initial trusted-partner list — which includes the UK, Canada, and the US — and foreign investments above €100 million from countries controlling 40%+ of global production would face strict conditions including capped 49% foreign ownership and mandatory technology transfer; BMW and Mercedes oppose the Act over fears of higher costs, while Renault backs it and the text must still clear the European Parliament before becoming law.

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