EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs Jan 19, 2026

BRIEFLY: Scout, Diesel Dying, Ford Delays & more | 18 Jan 2026

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Company

Scout

Scout is a company that makes electric cars. They have recently been given permission to sell their cars in California, which is an important market for EVs.

Term

Diesel cars are cars that run on a special type of fuel called diesel. They used to be very popular because they could go further on less fuel, but now many people are moving away from them because of pollution issues.

Term

EVs

EVs stands for electric vehicles, which are cars that run on electricity instead of gas or diesel. They are better for the environment because they don’t produce exhaust fumes.

Brand

Volvo

Volvo is a car brand from Sweden that makes safe and reliable cars. They are known for their focus on safety features and quality.

Brand

Tesla

Tesla is a car company from the United States that makes electric cars. They are known for their advanced technology and long-range vehicles.

Brand

Polestar

Polestar is a car brand that makes electric vehicles and is associated with Volvo. They focus on performance and sustainability.

Concept

giga Shanghai

Giga Shanghai is a large factory in China where Tesla makes its cars. It helps Tesla produce more vehicles to sell in Asia.

Car

Polestar 4

The Polestar 4 is another electric SUV from Polestar. It focuses on performance and luxury features.

Car

Polestar 3

The Polestar 3 is an electric SUV made by Polestar. It is designed to be both high-performance and environmentally friendly.

Term

EV

An EV, or electric vehicle, is a car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. They are known for being better for the environment because they produce fewer emissions.

Brand

Ford

Ford is a well-known car company that makes many types of vehicles, including trucks and electric cars. They have been around for a long time and are famous for their popular models like the Ford F-150.

Term

universal electric vehicle platform

A universal electric vehicle platform is like a common base that car companies can use to build different electric cars. It helps them save money and time when making new models.

Term

Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP is a program that tests how safe new cars are. They crash test vehicles and give them ratings to help buyers know how safe a car is.

Car

MG4 Urban

The MG4 Urban is a small electric car made by MG. It's designed to be affordable and is good for city driving, with a focus on being easy to handle.

Term

front wheel drive

Front-wheel drive means that the front wheels of the car are the ones that get the power from the engine. This is a common setup for many smaller cars because it helps with space and can be more fuel-efficient.

Concept

restyling

Restyling is when a car's look is changed a bit to make it more attractive or modern, without changing how it works. It's like giving a car a new outfit.

Car

Ram 1500 Rev

The Ram 1500 Rev is a new electric truck from Ram, designed to offer more range and utility than traditional electric vehicles.

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 on a single charge.

Term

CCS charger port

A CCS charger port is a type of plug used for charging electric cars quickly. It lets you charge your car's battery faster than regular chargers.

Brand

Stellantis

Stellantis is a company that makes cars and trucks. It was created when two big car companies, Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group, joined together.

Term

range extended engine

A range extended engine helps electric cars go further by using a gas engine to create electricity when the battery runs low, so you don't get stuck.

Part

V6 Pentastar 3.6 liter

The V6 Pentastar 3.6 liter is a type of engine made by Chrysler that has six cylinders and is used in many of their cars and trucks. It's designed to be both powerful and fuel-efficient.

Company

Unigrid

Unigrid is a company that makes special batteries that can store energy. These batteries are made from sodium and iron, which are more environmentally friendly than some other types.

Car

Bmw X3

The BMW X3 is a luxury SUV that offers a mix of performance and comfort, making it a popular choice among drivers.

Car

Volvo EX60

The Volvo EX60 is a new electric SUV from Volvo, focusing on eco-friendly driving and technology.

Car

Mercedes-Benz Mercedesbenz Glc

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a fancy SUV that is known for being comfortable and stylish. It's important because it can drive over 500 miles on a single charge, which helps more people consider electric cars.

Term

EV adoption

EV adoption is when more people start using electric cars instead of traditional gas-powered ones, often because they are better for the environment.

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It's EV News briefly for Sunday, the 18th of January.

Everything you need to know in less than five minutes.

You have the full podcast today.

It's just too much time.

If you don't want to miss out on the news,

let's get you up to speed.

Scout has cleared some hurdles in California,

now being allowed to sell their vehicles there.

Exacting regulators in California.

So lots of hoops to jump through,

but that's nothing compared to the very powerful dealer lobby

in the rest of America

that is intent on selling scouts through VW dealerships.

Thank you very much.

They insist you are not an independent entity,

but you're part of Volkswagen.

So we'd like our cut when the scouts are sold

through our four courts and dealerships.

Scouts say, no, no, we're independent from VW.

That one's still to go through the courts.

Diesel cars are heading for the scrap heap.

They've dropped over the last couple of years

from the peak of 12.4 million diesel cars on UK roads.

Now it's 9.9 and one data point predicts

that around 2030 is the crossover point

where there'll be more EVs on the road,

bevs than diesel cars.

A huge moment in a country such as this one

that really fell in love with diesels for a very long time.

Volvo, Polestar and Tesla look to be the early winners

from Canada's removal of the 100% subsidy

on imported Chinese cars.

Of course, Tesla has giga Shanghai,

Polestar Volvo owned by the Chinese making Chinese cars.

They've had to move some production

like Polestar three and four,

South Korea and American production,

but they could import Chinese made cars

at much lower cost into Canada

until they hit that 49,000 cap.

And they need to be quick

because a lot of those cars have now got to be cheaper cars.

There's also a cap within the cap,

but they look to be the early winners.

Chinese built EVs are dominating

the Australian safety ranking,

six out of the seven major classes

in the Australian and cap safety testing.

The safest car is now a Chinese built EV

in each of those categories.

Kind of another little reminder

that the made in China flimsy trope is such old news.

Ford is delaying its in house EV platform for Europe.

Yes, we like a lot of mid-sized

and smaller compact cars here.

And yes, then you universal electric vehicle platform

could work, but they say a better way to deploy capital

is to do that deal they've done

with Renault to use the AMPR small platform

and to have Renault make the vehicles in their factories.

Never saying never,

but just not right now for the new platform.

MG4 Urban has been crash tested by Euro NCAP.

Now our MG4 rear wheel drive, great chassis,

driver's car is not the new MG4 in China.

That is much more of a cheaper value car, front wheel drive.

They've softened the look,

also changed really the whole ethos of the car

to bring the cost really down.

It's not a driver's car, it just gets you from A to B.

So MG UK went, no, no, we won't have that one.

Don't worry, the car you love, the MG4.

We'll just tweak it a bit and restyling it.

Well, now they've been crash testing the Chinese MG4.

So we'll wait and see what MG bring here.

But either way, a lot depends on pricing

and the kind of car the MG4 wants to be known for.

That'd be a bit sad though,

if that brilliant driving rear wheel drive MG4 does.

Sadly, have to go.

Ram's range extender, the Ram 1500s Rev,

used to be called the Ram Charger,

has been shown off at the Detroit Auto Show.

It's gonna have a 90 kilowatt hour pack,

which will do you a lot of electric miles.

It'll charge at 145 kilowatts.

They've shown it off with a CCS charger port.

That'll be next, won't it, won't it?

Won't it, Stalantis?

Come on, don't make that mistake.

But they say it'll still be the first American built pickup

with a range extended engine.

That V6 Pentastar 3.6 liter, only ever a generator.

Unigrid are exporting sodium iron batteries

at commercial scale for storage from America

and Volvo's new CEO, who's the old chief executive,

he's back, back in the top job,

says that the new launch is coming

from the likes of Volvo EX60 BMW X3,

Mercedes-Benz GLC, these 500 mile plus cars

are crucial to drive the next wave of EV adoption.

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About this episode

Scout is making strides in California, navigating regulatory challenges to sell its vehicles, while the diesel market in the UK continues to decline, with predictions of EVs overtaking diesel cars by 2030. The episode also discusses the impact of Canada's subsidy removal on imported Chinese EVs, with brands like Volvo and Tesla poised to benefit. Ford is delaying its new EV platform in Europe, opting for a partnership with Renault instead. Additionally, the MG4's crash test results and Ram's new range extender pickup are highlighted, showcasing the evolving landscape of the automotive industry.

CCS charger port diesel cars Euro NCAP EV EV adoption Ford front wheel drive giga Shanghai kilowatt hour Polestar

BMW X3 Mercedes-Benz GLC MG MG4 Polestar 3 Polestar 4 Ram 1500

Original notes

It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 18 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

SCOUT CLEARS CALIFORNIA HURDLE IN EV SALES PUSH https://evne.ws/4sSi5lq
DIESEL CARS HEAD FOR SCRAPHEAP AS EVS SURGE https://evne.ws/4k6Gwrn
VOLVO, POLESTAR AND TESLA EARLY WINNERS FROM CANADA TARIFF SHIFT https://evne.ws/3LIaxAH
CHINA-BUILT EVS DOMINATE AUSTRALIAN SAFETY RANKINGS https://evne.ws/4qEEi4A
FORD DELAYS IN-HOUSE EV PLATFORM FOR EUROPE https://evne.ws/4jMVsKV
MG4 URBAN POINTS TO TWO-TIER MG EV RANGE https://evne.ws/49qT6hi
RAM’S RANGE-EXTENDER ARRIVES LATE BUT FIRST https://evne.ws/3ZhIonh
RANGE-EXTENDER RAM AIMS TO EASE EV PICKUP FEARS https://evne.ws/49KD2po
UNIGRID EXPORTS SODIUM-ION BATTERIES AT COMMERCIAL SCALE https://evne.ws/3NQYzW5
VOLVO BETS ON LONG-RANGE EX60 DRIVE EV ADOPTION https://evne.ws/3Nt6xoj

EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs

Martyn Lee

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