DAILY: Renault Attacks ‘Fake PHEVs’, Norway EV Share Recovers and Electrics Becoming More Attainable | 03 Mar 2026
About this episode
Renault's CEO criticizes short-range plug-in hybrids as 'fake PHEVs' that hinder EV adoption, while highlighting Renault's focus on range-extended electric vehicles. Norway's EV market shows strong recovery with BEVs making up nearly a third of all vehicles, though rural areas lag behind. In the UK, EV uptake is spreading beyond affluent areas, with used EV sales rising. QuantumScape shifts strategy to licensing solid-state battery production amid growing Chinese competition. Kia launches a UK nationwide EV test drive program targeting first-time buyers, and BMW teases its upcoming electric M3. The episode offers insights into evolving EV tech, market trends, and manufacturer strategies.
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RENAULT CHIEF ATTACKS “FAKE” PHEVS, EYES RANGE EXTENDERS https://evne.ws/47mn04F
NORWAY’S EV SHARE RECOVERS AND HITS 98% https://evne.ws/4bhtPqF
NORWAY PASSES ONE MILLION BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLES https://evne.ws/4rcnKQV
EV UPTAKE SPREADS BEYOND WEALTHIER EARLY ADOPTERS https://evne.ws/4b7EfrP
QUANTUMSCAPE UNVEILS PRODUCTION LINE IN CALIFORNIA https://evne.ws/4clEcuA
KIA UK SETS EV2 FIRST DRIVE WEEKENDS https://evne.ws/3OL6JQE
BMW TEASES FOUR-MOTOR ELECTRIC M3 AT NÜRBURGRING https://evne.ws/4rbwFlM
ROYAL ENFIELD SETS 2026–2027 EV AND ICE PUSH https://evne.ws/4sm0ocC
NEXT POLESTAR WILL BE SPORTIER AND ON CHINESE PLATFORM https://evne.ws/4aWi213
ITALY LAUNCHES FIRST OFFICIAL ELECTRIC PORSCHE CLUB https://evne.ws/4s6OEvb
Renault
"The Renault CEO still reasonably new in the post Francois Provost has taken aim at short range plug-in hybrids calling them fake fevs"
Renault is a car company from France that makes electric cars and is working on new electric technologies.
Renault is a major French automotive manufacturer known for its electric vehicles and innovations in affordable EV technology. The company is focusing on electrification and new technologies like range-extended electric vehicles.
plug-in hybrids
"The Renault CEO still reasonably new in the post Francois Provost has taken aim at short range plug-in hybrids calling them fake fevs PHEVs fake fevs fail to push drivers to charge overnight and weaken the adoption of EVs"
Plug-in hybrids are cars that use both gas and electricity. You can charge them like an electric car, but they also have a gas engine to drive longer distances.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are vehicles that combine a gasoline or diesel engine with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery that can be charged from an external power source. They can run on electric power alone for a limited range before switching to the combustion engine.
fake EVs
"Renault CEO has taken aim at short range plug-in hybrids calling them fake fevs PHEVs fake fevs fail to push drivers to charge overnight and weaken the adoption of EVs"
Fake EVs means cars that say they are electric but mostly use gas, so they don't help people switch to real electric cars.
The term 'fake EVs' is used here to criticize plug-in hybrids that have very short electric-only ranges, implying they do not encourage drivers to fully adopt electric driving and thus slow down the transition to true electric vehicles.
range extended technology
"Mr. Provost statement also says a lot about his business Renault and where it's going they will explore range extended technology"
Range extended technology means electric cars that have a small gas engine to help them go farther when the battery runs low.
Range extended technology refers to electric vehicles that include a small combustion engine or generator to recharge the battery and extend driving range beyond the electric-only capacity.
Nissan e-power technology
"...there is a plug socket unlike for instance the Nissan e-power technology which is quite shabby in my opinion because there's no plug socket come on Nissan what..."
Nissan e-power uses a gas engine to make electricity, but the car moves only with electric power. The gas engine never directly turns the wheels.
Nissan e-power is a hybrid system where the gasoline engine acts solely as a generator to charge the battery, while the electric motor drives the wheels. Unlike typical hybrids, the engine does not directly power the wheels.
plug socket
"...there is a plug socket unlike for instance the Nissan e-power technology which is quite shabby in my opinion because there's no plug socket come on Nissan what are you doing you invented the leaf and yet you have to go to a petrol station for that..."
A plug socket is where you can connect the car to electricity to charge its battery, like plugging in your phone.
A plug socket on an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle allows the battery to be charged from an external electrical source, such as a home charger or public charging station.
Nissan Leaf
"...me on Nissan what are you doing you invented the leaf and yet you have to go to a petrol station for th..."
The Nissan Leaf is an electric car that runs on batteries instead of gas, making it cleaner for the environment. It was one of the first electric cars many people could buy easily. The comment probably points out that even though Nissan made this electric car, some people still need to use gas cars sometimes.
The Nissan Leaf is one of the first mass-market electric vehicles, introduced in 2010 as a pioneering EV that helped popularize electric mobility. It is significant for its role in making electric cars more accessible, though some drivers still rely on petrol vehicles for longer trips due to range limitations. The mention likely highlights the irony of Nissan's EV innovation alongside continued dependence on petrol infrastructure.
e-rev
"hour packs in e revs alone I mean you'd never ever put combustion fuels in the thing would you anyway they are pitched at people who want to do 620 miles or a thousand kilometers or more and Mr. Bravost challenged the mandate to go all be V in the European Union by 2035 saying it's misguided and that he wants clearer rules that highly electrified long range e revs would also be on sale I don't worry about that because the technology is going to move so quickly we're only in 2026 what I mean I've been doing this podcast eight years but the battery technology is going to move so fast that the engine is redundant now people get a bit stressed over e revs I get complaints about talking about gas guzzlers because you still have to perpetually in them if you want to go more than the battery and I understand that and I'm sympathetic to that however it is a big part of the industry I cannot ignore it I just don't worry about it"
An e-rev is a car that mainly runs on electricity but has a small gas engine that helps make more electricity when the battery runs out, so you can drive farther.
An e-rev, or extended range electric vehicle, is a type of electric car that uses a small combustion engine as a generator to extend the driving range when the battery is depleted, allowing longer trips without recharging.
Volkswagen Golf GTE
"many car makers are adding double the battery size like Volkswagen doubling the battery size of their GTE and more of their cars"
Volkswagen GTE cars can run on electricity for a while and then switch to gas to go farther, helping save fuel.
The Volkswagen GTE is a plug-in hybrid variant of Volkswagen models, combining electric driving capability with a gasoline engine to extend range and improve efficiency.
all-electric range
"to get closer to 100 miles of all electric range if you charge them of course"
All-electric range means how far a car can drive using just electricity before it needs gas or another fuel.
All-electric range refers to the distance a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle can travel using only electric power before the gasoline engine or other power source is needed.
BYD
"in the UK plug-in hybrids last year a quarter of them were Chinese BYD CLU DMI JQ7 MGHS and many more"
BYD is a car company from China that makes electric and hybrid cars.
BYD is a Chinese automotive brand known for producing electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, with a growing presence in Europe and other markets.
7 Jq7
"... year a quarter of them were Chinese BYD CLU DMI JQ7 MGHS and many more all offering decent this rang..."
The '7' seems to be talking about a type of car made by Chinese companies like BYD and MG that use electricity or a mix of gas and electricity to run. These cars are becoming popular because they are cheaper and have good driving range. People talk about them because they are changing how cars are made and sold.
The reference to '7' in the context of Chinese brands like BYD, MG, and others likely points to the BYD Qin Plus DM-i or a similar model, which is a popular plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle offering competitive range and features. These vehicles have gained traction in markets due to their affordability and advanced technology. The discussion probably centers on the growing presence of Chinese EVs in global markets.
Geely Starray
"some of them like the new Geely one there's the Geely star ray I think that's going to come in two battery sizes"
The Geely Star Ray is a car from China that runs on electricity and comes with different battery options so it can drive different distances.
The Geely Star Ray is an electric vehicle from Chinese automaker Geely, offered with different battery sizes to provide varying electric driving ranges.
VAT changes
"market's stabilizing similar to a period when there were some VAT changes back in 2022"
VAT is a tax added to things you buy, like cars. When the tax changes, it can make cars cheaper or more expensive.
Value Added Tax (VAT) changes can affect vehicle prices and market dynamics, influencing when people buy cars.
BEV
"Norway's BEV fleet just crossed a million that's a third of the vehicles on the road the Norwegian public roads administration just revealed they have over 951,000 passenger bevs"
A BEV is a car that runs only on electricity from batteries, so it doesn't use gas or diesel.
BEV stands for Battery Electric Vehicle, which is a type of vehicle powered entirely by electricity stored in batteries, with no internal combustion engine.
Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
"They looked at the shift using the index of multiple deprivation IMD which measures relative poverty in English neighborhoods"
IMD is a way to see which areas in England are poorer or richer by looking at things like income and living conditions.
The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) is a UK government measure that ranks neighborhoods based on relative poverty and deprivation across multiple factors.
EV
"being able to get an EV at a slightly higher price because they wanted to for whatever reasons they had however now in 20 at the end of 2025 we now see that that link has broken"
An EV is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. It uses batteries to store power and is better for the environment.
EV stands for Electric Vehicle, which is a car powered entirely or partially by electricity instead of traditional gasoline or diesel engines.
on-street charging
"the remaining hurdle is perhaps the most disadvantaged areas and also reliable affordable on-street charging"
On-street charging means places on the street where electric cars can be plugged in to get more battery power.
On-street charging refers to electric vehicle charging stations located on public streets, allowing EV owners without private garages to recharge their cars.
used car market
"used bev market share to 3.5% of the used car market still a fraction really most cars bought here are used anyway"
The used car market is where people buy and sell cars that have already been owned by someone else.
The used car market refers to the buying and selling of pre-owned vehicles, which typically make up a large portion of total car sales.
plug-in vehicles
"there are now more than 2 million plug-in vehicles in the UK but priority should be given to those who need accessible charging yes if you haven't got a driveway that's incredibly important now"
Plug-in vehicles are cars you can charge by plugging them into a power outlet, like charging a phone. They use electricity to help the car move.
Plug-in vehicles are cars that can be recharged by plugging into an external power source, typically electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. They use batteries to store electricity for propulsion.
QuantumScape
"quantum scape has spent more than a decade on solid state batteries they were founded in 2010 and it now points to over 2 million tests done over 200 patents and applications more than 1.5 billion dollars in funding and yet it still has no product revenue in February the firm unveiled a new production line in California called the Eagle line not to use it to manufacture millions of cells at scale but rather to show off the blueprint that its customers can then copy that change matters because it's more of a strategy shift for quantum scape now focusing on licensing the process of making solid state batteries compared to making them all themselves"
QuantumScape is a company working on new types of batteries that could make electric cars better and charge faster.
QuantumScape is a company specializing in the development of solid state battery technology, aiming to revolutionize electric vehicle batteries with higher capacity and faster charging.
solid state batteries
"quantum scape has spent more than a decade on solid state batteries they were founded in 2010 and it now points to over 2 million tests done over 200 patents and applications more than 1.5 billion dollars in funding and yet it still has no product revenue in February the firm unveiled a new production line in California called the Eagle line not to use it to manufacture millions of cells at scale but rather to show off the blueprint that its customers can then copy that change matters because it's more of a strategy shift for quantum scape now focusing on licensing the process of making solid state batteries compared to making them all themselves"
Solid state batteries are a new kind of battery that uses solid materials inside instead of liquids. This can make electric car batteries safer and last longer.
Solid state batteries use solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones, offering potential advantages like higher energy density, improved safety, and longer life. They are considered a promising technology for future electric vehicles.
Volkswagen
"the pitch aims at automakers that want to test prep and produce solid state Volkswagen has been a big"
Volkswagen is a big car company from Germany that makes many cars, including electric ones, and is working on new battery technology.
Volkswagen is a major German automotive manufacturer known for a wide range of vehicles including electric models. They are investing in solid state battery technology for future electric vehicles.
solid state battery
"the current moment is a critical inflection point for solid state we see in China true solid state not semi-solid state or not a percentage being a liquid electrical electrolyte but a true solid state battery is now in many of the automakers medium term plans"
A solid state battery is a new type of battery that uses solid materials inside instead of liquids. This makes the battery safer, last longer, and charge faster, which is great for electric cars.
A solid state battery uses a solid electrolyte instead of the liquid or gel electrolytes found in traditional lithium-ion batteries. This technology promises higher energy density, improved safety, and faster charging times, making it a key focus for future electric vehicles.
CATL
"Chinese manufacturers catl byd and more accelerating their plans and quantum scape ended last year with another 850 million in liquidity"
CATL is a big company from China that makes batteries for electric cars. They work on new battery technologies to improve electric cars.
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) is a leading Chinese manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. They are actively developing solid state battery technology.
42 kilowatt hour battery
"...the cars will have the 42 kilowatt hour batteries and allowing there'll be four of them at each kia location across the uk..."
The 42 kilowatt hour battery is like a big rechargeable battery in an electric car that stores electricity to make the car go. The bigger the battery, the farther the car can drive before needing to recharge.
A 42 kilowatt hour (kWh) battery refers to the capacity of the electric vehicle's battery, indicating how much energy it can store. This capacity affects the vehicle's driving range and charging time.
EV specialist
"...you get a one-to-one walk around with an ev specialist to learn all about evs then you get a half hour test drive..."
An EV specialist is a person who knows a lot about electric cars and helps people learn about them and how to use them.
An EV specialist is a knowledgeable professional who helps customers understand electric vehicles, including their features, charging, and driving experience, often assisting during test drives or sales events.
Kia EV2
"buyers of electric vehicles perhaps um with a clear eye on people who want to learn more the ev2 is a small vehicle just over four meters or 13 feet long it's got up to 362 liters of boot space almost 13 cubic feet so useful as a small family car with either the 42 or the 61 kilowatt hour pack underneath has the 400 volt version of egmp and the dc rapid charging doesn't need to be good on it it's going to be somewhere um around 100 kilowatts or so 10 to 80 in 30 minutes they did say it's also engineered for things like colder temperatures not to lose any more than maybe 10 percent of its capacity in really cold weather and it's really high specced as well the kia rev2 has the three screens over the air updates digital key plug and charge vehicle to load vehicle to grid capable oh man what does that mean"
The Kia EV2 is a small electric car that can be used by families. It has batteries that store electricity to power the car and comes with the latest electric car features.
The Kia EV2 is a small electric vehicle approximately 4 meters long, designed as a practical small family car. It offers battery options of 42 or 61 kilowatt-hours and features modern electric vehicle technology.
DC rapid charging
"underneath has the 400 volt version of egmp and the dc rapid charging doesn't need to be good on it it's going to be somewhere um around 100 kilowatts or so 10 to 80 in 30 minutes"
DC rapid charging is a way to charge electric cars very fast, so you don't have to wait a long time to fill up the battery.
DC rapid charging is a fast charging method for electric vehicles that uses direct current to quickly replenish the battery, significantly reducing charging time compared to standard AC charging.
BMW M3
"bmw released a video of its new m3 the electric m lapping the nir burgering in full camouflage so they haven't even begun series production of the i3"
The BMW M3 is a sporty car made by BMW. The new version is electric, meaning it runs on batteries instead of gas, making it faster and cleaner.
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, known for its sporty handling and powerful engines. The new electric M3 mentioned is a departure from traditional combustion engines, featuring electric motors and advanced battery technology.
Ford Puma
"...cing ends up versus reno five per joe e2 008 for puma gen e and more bmw released a video of its new m3..."
The Ford Puma is a small SUV, which means it’s a car that’s a bit bigger than a regular car and good for families or carrying stuff. It looks sporty and is easy to drive in the city. People talk about it when comparing small SUVs from different brands.
The Ford Puma is a compact crossover SUV that combines sporty styling with practical utility, reintroduced in recent years as a modern small SUV. It competes in a popular segment against rivals like the Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008, offering efficient engines and advanced tech. The mention likely relates to comparisons among popular compact SUVs in the market.
BMW i3
"... they haven't even begun series production of the i3 they have begun pre-series production of the i3 ..."
The BMW i3 is a small electric car made by BMW that uses batteries instead of gas. It looks different from most cars and is made to be light and easy to drive in cities. People mention it because it was one of the first electric cars from a big car company.
The BMW i3 is an innovative electric car introduced as BMW's first mass-produced EV, featuring a unique design and lightweight carbon fiber construction. Its pre-series production phase marked BMW's careful approach to entering the electric vehicle market. It is often discussed for its pioneering technology and urban-friendly electric driving.
Polestar
"about poll star's plans so uk sales open next summer pricing below 50 000 pounds and the current kind of jacked up stance will be shifted to a lower sportier saloon according to design chief philippe romers um the man behind the audi e-tron gt over a volkswagen group before he joined poll stars"
Polestar is a car company that makes electric cars that are fast and stylish. It is connected to Volvo and a big Chinese company called Geely.
Polestar is a Swedish automotive brand focused on electric performance vehicles. It is jointly owned by Volvo and Geely and aims to compete in the premium electric car market.
Audi e-tron GT
"philippe romers um the man behind the audi e-tron gt over a volkswagen group before he joined poll stars"
The Audi e-tron GT is a fast electric car made by Audi. It looks cool and uses electricity to run instead of gas.
The Audi e-tron GT is a high-performance electric sedan developed by Audi, known for its sporty design and advanced electric drivetrain. Philippe Romers, the design chief mentioned, was involved in its creation before joining Polestar.
Geely platform
"under the skin they'll move to a new geely platform the parent chinese company they'll also have platforms running at volvo lotus link and co and zika"
A platform is like the car's basic frame and parts that many cars can share. Polestar will use a new one made by Geely, the company that owns Polestar.
A vehicle platform is the underlying structure and components shared among different models. Polestar moving to a new Geely platform means it will use a modern architecture developed by Geely, the Chinese parent company of Polestar, Volvo, and others.
software updates
"...formed for italian ticon owners to compare notes on charging their cars and software updates and with backing from Porsche italia they've now formalized into an official Porsche club..."
Software updates are like upgrades for the car's computer that make it work better or add new things. They can be sent to the car through the internet.
Software updates in electric vehicles refer to improvements or fixes to the car's operating system and features, often delivered over-the-air. These updates can enhance performance, add new features, or improve charging and battery management.
self-charging hybrid
"and remember there's no such thing as a self-charging hybrid"
Some cars say they charge themselves without plugging in, but really they use the engine and braking to recharge the battery. They still need fuel to work.
A self-charging hybrid is a term sometimes used to describe hybrid vehicles that recharge their batteries through regenerative braking and the internal combustion engine, without needing to be plugged in. However, this term is misleading because all hybrids require some external charging or fuel to operate.
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