ZEV Mandate Escalates, Skoda Peaq & EV Charging Bootcamp Ep.3: kW vs kWh | Primetime EV Live
About this episode
Political turmoil meets industrial policy as the UK's ZEV mandate faces a potential watering down, threatening billions in economic losses amidst a prime ministerial transition. On the product side, Skoda's massive new seven-seat Peaq SUV debuts with an impressive 390-mile range, strategically undercutting rivals like the Kia EV9. Finally, a helpful EV charging bootcamp demystifies the costly confusion between kilowatts and kilowatt-hours, helping drivers optimize their home charging setups.
00:00:00 EV news this week: 4 stories, 1 Bootcamp episode00:01:30 Is the ZEV Mandate about to be cut in half?00:07:30 How much is the Skoda Peaq in the UK?00:12:00 What's the difference between kW and kWh?00:18:30 Is a company EV still worth it as BIK tax rises?00:22:30 How much have used EV prices actually fallen?00:24:30 Your EV charging questions answered00:30:00 Subscribe & Join the Club
ZEV Mandate UK 2026. Skoda Peaq price UK. Company car tax EV UK 2026. This week on Primetime EV Live — four stories and an EV Charging Bootcamp episode in 30 minutes.ZEV MANDATE — THE FOLLOW-UP. We flagged the government softening the 2030 EV sales target brewing last week. Now there's new detail: trade body BEAMA says cutting the target from 80% to 50% could cost the UK economy £2.9bn in the best case, up to £16.7bn worst case. It's landing mid-way through a Labour leadership handover, with Andy Burnham expected to take over as PM around 18-19 July, and the SMMT has now called directly on the next PM to act.SKODA PEAQ REVEALED. Skoda's biggest electric car ever — a seven-seat SUV from £51,980, up to 390 miles WLTP range, 199kW rapid charging, and an 86kWh battery. Order books open September 2026.EV CHARGING BOOTCAMP — EPISODE 3: kW VS kWh EXPLAINED. The difference between kilowatts (rate) and kilowatt-hours (amount) trips up more EV owners than almost anything else. What it means for your home charger, your rapid-charging times, and your electricity bill.COMPANY CAR TAX ON EVs IS RISING. Benefit-in-Kind tax on electric company cars climbs from 4% this year to 9% by 2029/30 — still far below petrol's 30%+ rate, but the direction matters for anyone timing a fleet order.USED EV PRICES HAVE NEARLY HALVED. The average used electric car in the UK now costs around £20,000, down from roughly £39,000 three years ago. Used EV sales jumped 45.7% in 2025, and they're the fastest-selling fuel type on the market.──────────────────────────────⚡ FREE: Join the Primetime EV ClubCheapest public charging rates every month · best lease deals · weekly EV digest👉 primetimeev.com/club 📧 [email protected]──────────────────────────────
ZEV mandate
"Right. Let's get into it. The ZED EV mandate. Let's talk about that because there's been lots of change on the ZED EV mandate recently"
This is a government rule that forces car companies to make and sell a certain percentage of electric cars every year. If they don't sell enough, they have to pay big fines.
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is a government policy requiring automotive manufacturers to sell a rising percentage of electric or zero-emission vehicles each year. Manufacturers who fail to meet these targets face steep compliance fines or must buy credits from competitors who exceed their targets.
Skoda Peaq
"Okay, next up we've got the SCODA PIAC. I'm just going to take that off and run some b-roll. So you can see the car itself is a huge, huge new SCODA that's been all electric launch."
This is a brand-new, very large electric family car from Skoda that has seven seats. It can travel up to 390 miles on a single charge and is designed to be a more affordable alternative to luxury electric SUVs.
The Skoda Peaq is a large, all-electric seven-seat SUV built on the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform. It features an 86 kWh battery pack, offering up to 390 miles of WLTP range, and supports DC fast charging up to 199 kW.
WLTP
"390 miles WLTP is a genuinely useful figure, not a lab number. Nobody hits it in real life."
This is an official laboratory test used to measure how far an electric car can drive on a single charge. Real-world driving, especially on fast highways or in cold weather, usually results in about 10% to 20% less range than this official number.
The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) is the global laboratory testing standard used to measure fuel economy, CO2 emissions, and electric driving range. While more realistic than the older NEDC standard, WLTP range figures are still typically higher than what drivers achieve in real-world highway or winter driving.
Kia EV9
"The Kia EV9, genuinely the closest rival on paper, starts north of £60,000 once you're into a decent spec."
This is a large, futuristic-looking electric SUV from Kia with three rows of seats. It is known for charging incredibly fast and having plenty of space for families.
The Kia EV9 is a mid-size, three-row battery electric SUV powered by the Hyundai Motor Group's E-GMP platform. It features an 800-volt electrical architecture that enables ultra-fast charging, alongside a boxy, futuristic design language.
Hyundai Ioniq9
"The Hyundai IONIQ9 is a similar story, so SCODA is undercutting both of the obvious comparisons by several thousand pounds"
This is Hyundai's largest electric SUV, offering three rows of seats and sharing its high-tech mechanical parts with the Kia EV9, but styled with a more rounded, aerodynamic body.
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a large, three-row electric SUV sharing its E-GMP platform underpinnings with the Kia EV9. It features a highly aerodynamic 'aeroback' silhouette, a spacious lounge-like interior, and high-speed 800V charging capabilities.
kilowatt
"What's the difference between kilowatts and kilowatt hours? A kilowatt, kw, small k large w measures the rate of power or actually large k large w quite often."
A kilowatt is a measure of speed or power. When talking about charging, a higher kilowatt number means the charger can pump electricity into your car's battery much faster.
A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power that measures the rate of energy transfer. In electric vehicles, kilowatts are used to express the output of an electric motor or the speed at which a charging station can deliver electricity to the battery.
charging taper
"But and this is the bit that trips people up. You almost never actually get the full number because charging speed tapers off once hard once the battery passes about 80 percent to protect the battery."
As an electric car battery gets full, the car automatically slows down the charging speed to protect the battery from getting damaged or too hot. It is like slowing down a water hose as a glass gets close to spilling over.
Charging taper refers to the automatic slowdown in charging speed as an electric vehicle's battery fills up, typically becoming pronounced after reaching 80% state of charge. This management strategy is programmed into the vehicle's battery management system (BMS) to prevent overheating and degradation of the lithium-ion cells.
benefit-in-kind tax
"Is a company car electric car still worth it now but benefit kind in benefiting kind tax is rising yet comfortably but the gap is narrowing electric company cars now pay 4% benefit in kind tax"
This is a tax you pay in the UK if your employer gives you a company car for personal use. Because electric cars emit zero emissions, their tax rates are set extremely low compared to petrol or diesel cars, saving drivers thousands of pounds.
Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax is a UK tax levied on employees who receive non-cash perks or benefits from their employers, such as a company car. For company cars, the tax rate is calculated based on the vehicle's P11D value, its CO2 emissions, and the employee's personal income tax bracket.
Renault Zoe
"...rage that moves entry-level used EVs think Nissan Renault Zoe are available under 14 000 pounds now stretched t..."
The Renault ZOE is a very small, electric hatchback made by the French company Renault. It is designed primarily for driving in cities and tight spaces, and it runs entirely on electricity.
The Renault ZOE is a supermini electric car produced by the French manufacturer Renault and was one of Europe's best-selling EVs for a decade. Known for its compact city-friendly dimensions, it evolved over its lifespan to feature battery sizes up to 52 kWh, offering a very respectable real-world range for a small car. It is a staple of the European used EV market, offering cheap, zero-emission urban transport.
Hyundai Kona
"available under 14 000 pounds now stretched to 10 to 15 000 a unit to genuinely good cars like the early Tesla Model 3 second-generation Leafs Hyundai Kona's with 200 to 250 miles of real-world range and manufacturer warranty still running speed of sale backs us up too used EVs are taking an"
The Hyundai Kona is a small, high-riding hatchback or compact SUV made by the South Korean company Hyundai. The electric version runs entirely on battery power and can travel a long distance on a single charge.
The first-generation Hyundai Kona Electric (produced up to 2023) is a subcompact crossover that became highly popular for offering an impressive EPA-rated range of 258 miles at an accessible price point. Equipped with a 64 kWh battery, it delivers punchy performance and a conventional, user-friendly interior that eased the transition for buyers moving from gas to electric. It is frequently discussed as an excellent value proposition in the used EV market.
Tesla Model
"... 000 a unit to genuinely good cars like the early Tesla Model 3 second-generation Leafs Hyundai Kona's with 200..."
The Tesla Model Y is a popular, mid-sized electric SUV made by Tesla. It looks like a taller, more spacious version of the Model 3 sedan and is known for its high-tech interior, large touchscreen, and long driving range.
The Tesla Model Y is an all-electric compact crossover utility vehicle that has become one of the best-selling vehicles globally. Sharing about 75% of its parts with the Model 3 sedan, it offers elevated seating, a spacious cabin, and optional three-row seating, combined with Tesla's industry-leading range and charging infrastructure. It is a benchmark in the EV segment for its packaging, efficiency, and technology.
Nissan Leaf
"...rs like the early Tesla Model 3 second-generation Leafs Hyundai Kona's with 200 to 250 miles of real-worl..."
The Nissan Leaf is a small, all-electric hatchback made by the Japanese company Nissan. It is designed to be an affordable, easy-to-drive everyday car that does not use any gasoline.
The second-generation Nissan Leaf, introduced for the 2018 model year, is a practical five-door hatchback that significantly improved upon the range and styling of the pioneering original. With battery options ranging up to 62 kWh in the 'Plus' models, it offers a usable real-world range of 150 to 226 miles, making it a highly accessible entry point into the used EV market. It is often discussed as an affordable, reliable commuter vehicle that represents excellent value on the secondhand market.
Tesla Model 3
"stretched to 10 to 15 000 a unit to genuinely good cars like the early Tesla Model 3 second-generation Leafs Hyundai Kona's with 200 to 250 miles of real-world range"
This is a highly popular, mid-sized electric sedan from Tesla. It is known for its high-tech minimalist interior, great driving range, and easy access to Tesla's fast-charging network.
The Tesla Model 3 is an all-electric four-door compact executive sedan. Launched in 2017, it popularized the mass-market EV segment with its minimalist interior, long driving range, and direct access to Tesla's proprietary Supercharger network.
Nissan Pulsar
"...l these new home charges as well uh wool box plus pulsar plus coming in at the cheapest and on the rapid c..."
While 'Pulsar' is an older car name, in this context, it refers to a popular brand of home charging box that you mount on your wall to plug in and charge an electric car at home.
The Nissan Pulsar nameplate has been used on various compact cars globally, but in the context of EV charging equipment, the transcript is actually referring to the 'Wallbox Pulsar Plus'—a popular, compact smart home EV charger. The Pulsar Plus is highly regarded for its small physical footprint, tethered cable design, and smart charging features. It is discussed here as an affordable and reliable home charging solution rather than a vehicle.
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