Author: Joshua Morris

Norwegian charging technology company Zaptec has introduced the Zaptec Go 2 in the United Kingdom, describing it as the country’s first vehicle-to-grid (V2G)-ready AC charger designed for both residential and commercial use. The Go 2, now available to order, supports 3-phase charging at up to 22 kW and complies with ISO 15118, enabling plug-and-charge and bidirectional energy communication. While carmakers are still activating V2G functionality, Zaptec said the unit has been built to support the transition. The charger features dynamic load balancing to avoid grid upgrades, subscription-free 4G connectivity, OCPP 1.6J compliance for platform integration, and solar compatibility through energy…

Norway’s electric vehicle market continued its rapid expansion in August, with 13,482 new battery-electric cars registered, accounting for 97% of all new passenger car sales. The country has long held one of the highest electrification rates in the world, though the latest figures stand out even by local standards. “We have never seen such a high overall share of electric cars at the beginning of September, even though there have been individual months with a higher share,” said Øyvind Solberg Thorsen, Director of the Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV). “Of the almost 14,000 new passenger cars in August, fewer…

LiveWire Group has launched a limited-time promotion that reduces prices across its entire S2 electric motorcycle lineup by several thousand dollars, as the Harley-Davidson spinoff looks to attract more riders to its premium models. Under the “Twist & Go” campaign, which runs through Oct. 31, 2025, the S2 Del Mar now starts at $9,999, the S2 Mulholland at $10,999, and the S2 Alpinista at $11,999. The models previously retailed in the $15,000 to $17,000 range, depending on trim and region, according to the company. LiveWire is also rolling out a free software update for its motorcycles that introduces two new…

Mercedes-Benz plans to discontinue its EQE and EQE SUV models next year as part of an internal review of its electric vehicle (EV) strategy, according to a report by Autocar. The decision comes amid low sales and a broader effort by the German automaker to streamline its EV lineup. The EQE was introduced at the 2021 Munich Motor Show, followed by the EQE SUV roughly a year later. Combined sales of the two models in the United States fell 39% in 2024 to 11,660 units, highlighting weaker-than-expected market performance. Prices for the EQE start at $64,950 and rise to $96,600…

MAN Trucks Chief Executive Alexander Vlaskamp said electric semi trucks can achieve cost parity with diesel models in less than three years, supported by European subsidies and higher fuel prices, though limited charging infrastructure remains a major barrier. MAN, a unit of Volkswagen’s Traton Group, began series production of its eTruck electric semi in July on a flexible assembly line capable of building up to 100 trucks per day with either diesel or battery-electric drivetrains. The company said it has secured 700 orders to date and expects to reach 1,000 by year-end. “Incentives, combined with Europe’s higher diesel prices, mean…

Smart, the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, will launch a new two-seat electric vehicle (EV) called the Smart #2 in late 2026, the company said on Monday. The model will succeed the ForTwo city car and be rolled out in China, Europe and other international markets. The all-new Smart #2 will be a two-door compact urban vehicle built on a dedicated electric platform developed by the company’s research and development team, with design led by Mercedes-Benz. Production will take place in China, Smart added. The company said the new vehicle will mark its entry into the A-class ultra-compact segment…

Leapmotor has released new images of its upcoming Lafa 5 hatchback, a model the Chinese electric vehicle maker plans to debut at the Munich auto show on September 8. Cao Li, vice president of Leapmotor, shared three pictures of the vehicle on Weibo on Monday, showing its side profile and rear design. The Lafa 5 features roof-mounted LiDAR and styling similar to BYD’s Seagull, one of China’s best-selling small EVs with 329,410 units sold from January to July. Cao described the Lafa 5 as a “gift” for young buyers as the company marks its 10th anniversary. “We want to build…

Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle maker, has introduced a version of the geolocation game GeoGuessr that can be played in all its models. The move follows a partnership between the two Swedish companies and is aimed at offering drivers an additional digital feature during charging sessions. The GeoGuessr Polestar Edition highlights European driving routes and includes an option that mirrors the Polestar 4’s digital rear-view system by showing the game screen in reverse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znZ_769_INg “This partnership enhances the in-car experience, making charging sessions entertaining and engaging,” said Michael Lohscheller, chief executive of Polestar. The launch will be accompanied by a…

Ford’s electric Puma Gen-E has become the first vehicle to qualify for the full £3,750 ($5,000) discount under the United Kingdom’s newly launched Electric Car Grant program, the company said. The Puma, Ford’s top-selling vehicle in the UK last year, now sees its all-electric version priced from £26,245 ($35,500), making it even cheaper than the hybrid variant. Ford also announced that the E-Tourneo Courier electric van qualifies for the full grant, while 26 other eligible electric vehicles, including the Nissan Micra EV and Volkswagen ID.3, receive a £1,500 ($2,000) incentive. Ford said the Puma Gen-E delivers up to 233 miles…

Exeed, the premium brand under Chery Automobile, unveiled its new ET5 mid-size SUV on Friday at the Chengdu auto show, targeting young families with a focus on smart and safe mobility. The ET5, internally designated E05, continues Exeed’s ET lineup. The model is a range-extended SUV measuring 4,780 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,800 mm. It is powered by a 1.5-liter engine as a range extender and an electric motor delivering up to 195 kW and 324 Nm of torque, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. The vehicle is equipped with a 32.66-kWh lithium…

Kia’s EV9 has been recognized as a segment leader in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study, earning top marks in the Electric Vehicle advanced technology category for its One-Pedal Driving feature. The accolade highlights Kia America’s focus on integrating advanced technologies that improve convenience, efficiency, and overall driver satisfaction. Now in its 10th year, the TXI Study evaluates how effectively automakers incorporate new technologies into their vehicles, examining both innovation and execution. This year’s study analyzed 76,230 survey responses across 36 automotive brands, covering more than 100 technologies. Kia placed second overall among mass-market brands for…

Volkswagen’s Jetta brand plans to roll out five new models by 2028, including four New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), with the first expected in 2026 at a starting price of under €12,000, according to German publication Manager Magazin. Jetta, established in 2019 as part of Volkswagen’s joint venture with FAW, targets the Chinese market with affordable vehicles distinct from the company’s VW-branded lineup. While the brand has so far lacked electric models, its electrification strategy is accelerating following a March announcement of 11 new NEVs, including six battery electric vehicles (BEVs), two plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and two extended-range EVs (EREVs). In…