[ARCHIVE] ev.news Briefly: Aion UT, EV Vans, Favouring Local & more | 13 Sep 2026

It's ev.news Briefly for Sunday 13 September 2026, only todays headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

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AION UT ARRIVES IN UK FROM £28,950

AION has launched the UT electric hatchback in the UK from £28,950, offering 268 miles of WLTP range, 30-80% charging in 24 minutes and UK-specific chassis tuning. Its strongest differentiator is the transferable Great 8 Promise covering warranty, servicing, roadside assistance and MOTs for eight years, aimed at reducing concerns over buying and later reselling a relatively unfamiliar Chinese brand.

DPD UK ORDERS 341 MERCEDES-BENZ ESPRINTER VANS

DPD UK has ordered 341 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter vans, taking its electric fleet beyond 4,000 vehicles and extending battery-electric delivery operations into larger vans and longer routes around London and elsewhere in Britain. The order suggests improving battery range, payload capability and UK licensing rules are making full-size electric vans practical for a broader range of commercial delivery work.

EU DRAFT AIMS TO FAVOUR EUROPEAN EV SUPPLIERS

The European Commission has proposed procurement rules allowing public authorities to favour European suppliers by considering resilience, industrial capacity and fair competition alongside price when buying products including electric buses, chargers and municipal EV fleets. The draft could disadvantage some Chinese suppliers, but European-built vehicles from companies such as BYD may still qualify depending on final rules governing product origin and European component content.

EU DRAFT SEEKS EUROPEAN PREFERENCE IN BUS TENDERS

Europe’s proposed procurement reforms distinguish between where a company is headquartered and where its products are manufactured, meaning Chinese-owned manufacturers with EU factories could potentially remain eligible for public contracts. For companies such as BYD, European production may therefore become increasingly important not only for tariffs and supply chains but also for maintaining access to taxpayer-funded transport and fleet tenders.

ALSTOM AND TRANSPENNINE PLAN 29 BATTERY-ELECTRIC TRAINS

Alstom and TransPennine Express plan to introduce 29 battery-electric Adessia Stream trains from 2034, designed for long-distance UK routes with around 300 passengers and speeds of up to 110 mph. The programme would move battery propulsion beyond current UK trials and retrofits into purpose-built mainline passenger trains, while also supporting production and employment at Alstom’s Derby facility.

LAWMAKER ASKS NHTSA TO ACT ON TESLA FSD

US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has asked federal regulators to examine whether Tesla does enough to prevent misuse of Full Self-Driving and Autopilot after NBC identified videos and police cases involving drivers apparently sleeping or becoming distracted while the systems operated. Tesla requires drivers to remain attentive and uses cameras and other monitoring measures, but the question now facing NHTSA is whether those safeguards adequately prevent foreseeable misuse.

PURPOSE ENERGY PROPOSES PERTH-BUNBURY HEAVY-VEHICLE CHARGING NETWORK

Purpose Energy has proposed an AU$137 million electric-truck charging corridor between Perth and Bunbury, with hubs at Forrestfield, Rockingham and Picton offering 12 charging bays each alongside two battery-swapping stations. Backed by logistics operator Centurion, the proposal will first test fleet demand and could demonstrate whether shared high-capacity infrastructure is more practical than individual operators building expensive charging facilities at separate depots.

CHINA POLICY SEEKS STRICT CONTROL OF NEW INDEPENDENT EV-MAKER APPROVALS

China has set 2030 targets for new-energy vehicles to reach 70% of domestic passenger-car sales and 40% of commercial-vehicle sales while tightening approval of new independent manufacturers and encouraging consolidation through mergers and the closure of inefficient capacity. With NEVs already accounting for 65.2% of domestic passenger-vehicle sales in August, the policy signals that Beijing’s next priority is managing competition, industrial discipline and global scale rather than simply stimulating EV demand.