BRIEFLY: VW, Germany, Ford & more | 24 Jul 2026
Jul 28, 12:12 AM
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It's EV News Briefly for Friday 24 July 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
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VOLKSWAGEN OPENS UK ORDERS FOR TRANSPORTER EHYBRID
Volkswagen has opened UK orders for its first Transporter plug-in hybrid, badged eHybrid, offered in panel van, Kombi and Shuttle bodystyles with a 2.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor and 11.8kWh battery delivering 232PS and up to 35 miles of electric range. Prices start at £38,155 excluding VAT, and the van shares its Ford Transit Custom-derived plug-in hybrid platform while retaining a 1,132kg payload and 2,300kg towing capacity.
Volkswagen has opened UK orders for its first Transporter plug-in hybrid, badged eHybrid, offered in panel van, Kombi and Shuttle bodystyles with a 2.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor and 11.8kWh battery delivering 232PS and up to 35 miles of electric range. Prices start at £38,155 excluding VAT, and the van shares its Ford Transit Custom-derived plug-in hybrid platform while retaining a 1,132kg payload and 2,300kg towing capacity.
GERMAN BEVS GOT CHEAPER, NOT PRICIER
A study by ICCT and Fraunhofer ISI found that comparable battery EVs in Germany fell about 18% in real terms between 2020 and 2025, even though average list prices rose from roughly €37,000 to €53,000 due to larger, better-equipped models. Battery costs dropped 21-24% nominally over the period, but manufacturers mostly reinvested those savings into extra range and R&D rather than passing them fully to buyers.
A study by ICCT and Fraunhofer ISI found that comparable battery EVs in Germany fell about 18% in real terms between 2020 and 2025, even though average list prices rose from roughly €37,000 to €53,000 due to larger, better-equipped models. Battery costs dropped 21-24% nominally over the period, but manufacturers mostly reinvested those savings into extra range and R&D rather than passing them fully to buyers.
FORD APPROVES F-150 HOME BACKUP SWITCH
Ford has approved Global Power Products' GenerLink transfer switch for F-150 Lightning and PowerBoost Hybrid owners, letting Pro Power Onboard feed a home's main electrical panel directly without extension cords. The hardware costs $1,100 plus installation fees of $250-$1,500, positioning it as a cheaper alternative to Ford's automatic wall-charger-based backup system.
Ford has approved Global Power Products' GenerLink transfer switch for F-150 Lightning and PowerBoost Hybrid owners, letting Pro Power Onboard feed a home's main electrical panel directly without extension cords. The hardware costs $1,100 plus installation fees of $250-$1,500, positioning it as a cheaper alternative to Ford's automatic wall-charger-based backup system.
NISSAN LEAF NISMO LAUNCHES IN JAPAN
Nissan has launched the Leaf Nismo in Japan starting July 22, with North America and Europe to follow later; it keeps the standard 160kW/214hp motor and battery but adds recalibrated software for about 20% stronger initial acceleration, plus suspension, tyre and aerodynamic upgrades. Pricing starts at ¥6.60 million (~$40,600), rising to ¥7.23 million (~$44,510) for the weight-saving Recaro edition.
Nissan has launched the Leaf Nismo in Japan starting July 22, with North America and Europe to follow later; it keeps the standard 160kW/214hp motor and battery but adds recalibrated software for about 20% stronger initial acceleration, plus suspension, tyre and aerodynamic upgrades. Pricing starts at ¥6.60 million (~$40,600), rising to ¥7.23 million (~$44,510) for the weight-saving Recaro edition.
SILA RAISES $300 MILLION FOR US ANODES
Sila has raised $300 million to expand production of its Titan Silicon silicon-carbon anodes, which it claims can boost EV range by up to 20% and energy density by 20-40% with faster charging. Its Moses Lake, Washington factory is scaling toward 250 GWh of annual capacity within five years, with customers including Mercedes-Benz and Panasonic Energy already signed up.
Sila has raised $300 million to expand production of its Titan Silicon silicon-carbon anodes, which it claims can boost EV range by up to 20% and energy density by 20-40% with faster charging. Its Moses Lake, Washington factory is scaling toward 250 GWh of annual capacity within five years, with customers including Mercedes-Benz and Panasonic Energy already signed up.
MILENCE OPENS ZERO-EMISSION BUILT HENGLO TRUCK HUB
Milence has opened its fourth Dutch heavy-duty charging hub, at Deurningen-Hengelo on the A1, notable as the company's first built entirely using zero-emission construction machinery. The site offers five 400kW CCS bays plus rest facilities, and Milence, backed by Daimler Truck, Traton and Volvo, plans to replicate the all-electric construction approach at future hubs.
Milence has opened its fourth Dutch heavy-duty charging hub, at Deurningen-Hengelo on the A1, notable as the company's first built entirely using zero-emission construction machinery. The site offers five 400kW CCS bays plus rest facilities, and Milence, backed by Daimler Truck, Traton and Volvo, plans to replicate the all-electric construction approach at future hubs.
SPECTRE CLIMBS AS ROLLS-ROYCE KEEPS V12
The Rolls-Royce Spectre became the brand's second best-selling model worldwide in 2025, drawing a younger buyer base and showing little resistance from existing V12 customers, according to sales director Julian Jenkins. Despite this EV momentum and an upcoming Spectre Series II with 500kW output and 628km range, Rolls-Royce has dropped its 2030 V12 phase-out plan, citing regulatory changes, and will keep selling both powertrains.
The Rolls-Royce Spectre became the brand's second best-selling model worldwide in 2025, drawing a younger buyer base and showing little resistance from existing V12 customers, according to sales director Julian Jenkins. Despite this EV momentum and an upcoming Spectre Series II with 500kW output and 628km range, Rolls-Royce has dropped its 2030 V12 phase-out plan, citing regulatory changes, and will keep selling both powertrains.
GRIDSERVE OPENS FIFTH ELECTRIC FORECOURT AT M1
GRIDSERVE has opened its fifth Electric Forecourt at Markham Vale on the M1, featuring 39 ultra-rapid 400kW ABB charging bays, solar panels and rainwater harvesting, bringing its national network past 200 sites. The launch follows a record first half of 2026 in which battery electric vehicles reached about 24.9% of UK new car registrations.
GRIDSERVE has opened its fifth Electric Forecourt at Markham Vale on the M1, featuring 39 ultra-rapid 400kW ABB charging bays, solar panels and rainwater harvesting, bringing its national network past 200 sites. The launch follows a record first half of 2026 in which battery electric vehicles reached about 24.9% of UK new car registrations.
HOME CHARGING LEAVES RAPID NETWORK UNDER STRAIN
A YouGov survey of 2,086 EV drivers found 74.6% use public chargers only once every few months or less, reflecting that 91% of EV owners can charge at home where off-peak tariffs can fall to 7p/kWh versus 87p/kWh for public rapid charging. This heavy reliance on home charging is squeezing public chargepoint operators financially, even as rapid chargers remain essential for longer journeys.
A YouGov survey of 2,086 EV drivers found 74.6% use public chargers only once every few months or less, reflecting that 91% of EV owners can charge at home where off-peak tariffs can fall to 7p/kWh versus 87p/kWh for public rapid charging. This heavy reliance on home charging is squeezing public chargepoint operators financially, even as rapid chargers remain essential for longer journeys.
AUSTRALIA POST GETS $40.5M FOR HEAVIER EVS
Australia Post will receive a $40.5 million federal investment in 2026-27 to add electric vans, trucks, prime movers and depot charging infrastructure, building on its existing fleet of over 5,000 electric vehicles. The move aims to cut diesel use by about 1 million litres a year while supporting a delivery network handling 2.2 billion parcels annually.
Australia Post will receive a $40.5 million federal investment in 2026-27 to add electric vans, trucks, prime movers and depot charging infrastructure, building on its existing fleet of over 5,000 electric vehicles. The move aims to cut diesel use by about 1 million litres a year while supporting a delivery network handling 2.2 billion parcels annually.
AVILOO EXPANDS USED EV BATTERY WARRANTY NORTH
Aviloo has extended its used EV Battery Warranty to Norway and Denmark, adding to ten existing European markets, using its three-minute Flash Test to set an individual State of Health threshold for each vehicle. If a covered battery falls below that threshold within a year, buyers receive compensation of up to 34,000 kr in Norway or 23,000 kr in Denmark, plus a refund of the test cost.
Aviloo has extended its used EV Battery Warranty to Norway and Denmark, adding to ten existing European markets, using its three-minute Flash Test to set an individual State of Health threshold for each vehicle. If a covered battery falls below that threshold within a year, buyers receive compensation of up to 34,000 kr in Norway or 23,000 kr in Denmark, plus a refund of the test cost.