Author: Ryan Hayes

First Bus has launched a smart charging trial for electric buses in Glasgow aimed at coordinating vehicle charging with periods of surplus renewable electricity generation. The trial, described as the first of its kind for electric buses in the United Kingdom, is being carried out in partnership with Optimo Energy and will later expand to First Bus’s depot in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. See also: First Bus Launches Fully Electric Fleet in Essex With £25.8 Million Investment The initiative uses Optimo Energy’s platform to optimise charging schedules based on real-time grid conditions while ensuring buses remain ready for daily operations. Charging…

Nissan will close one of two production lines at its vehicle plant in Sunderland, England, as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at improving operational efficiency in Europe. The company said the production line shutdown is expected to take place during the second half of 2026, although an exact date has not been announced. Nissan currently manufactures the Nissan Qashqai, Nissan Juke, and third-generation Nissan Leaf at the Sunderland facility. From 2027, the plant is also scheduled to begin production of battery-electric versions of the Juke and Qashqai, expanding the site’s electric vehicle lineup to three fully electric model…

Motor Fuel Group (MFG) has connected its MFG EV Power network to Hubject’s Plug&Charge infrastructure, enabling automatic authentication for electric vehicle (EV) drivers across thousands of charging points in the United Kingdom. The integration went live on May 1, 2026, following more than a year of technical development. It covers approximately 2,000 rapid and ultra-rapid charging points across MFG’s network, marking one of the largest single activations of Plug&Charge technology to date. See also: Windrose and Hubject Partner to Enable Plug&Charge for Electric Trucks MFG EV Power, which operates across more than 500 locations in the UK, offers chargers ranging…

The Department for Transport has announced plans to expand electric vehicle charging access by easing rules on cross-pavement installations, as part of a broader push to accelerate the shift to clean energy in the United Kingdom. Under the proposed legislation, homeowners would be allowed to install charging cables through a channel embedded in the pavement outside their property without requiring planning permission. The measure would bring cross-pavement charging under permitted development rights, simplifying installation for households without private driveways. The move is intended to support wider adoption of EVs, particularly among urban residents who rely on street parking. It also…

Volkswagen has introduced technical updates for its ID.4 and ID.5 electric vehicles in the United Kingdom, including revised battery capacities, efficiency improvements and vehicle-to-load functionality. The automaker said selected variants of both models now feature higher-capacity battery packs, extended driving range and updated equipment levels. For ID.4 and ID.5 Pure variants, net battery capacity has been increased from 52 kWh to 58 kWh, while other trims now use battery packs with 79 kWh net capacity instead of the previous 77 kWh to 79 kWh range. Volkswagen said the larger battery in certain variants increases driving range by up to 40…

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said the UK new car market grew 6.6% year-on-year in March, reaching 380,627 registrations, its strongest performance since 2019, driven largely by private demand. Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations hit a record 86,120 units during the month, up 24.2% from a year earlier, while total electrified vehicle volumes—including hybrids and plug-in hybrids—reached 196,059 units. Private registrations rose 10.1% to 162,470 units, while fleet demand increased 3.5% to 208,853 units. Business registrations climbed 18.8% to 9,304 units, according to SMMT data. Despite the record BEV volumes, electric cars accounted for 22.6% of total registrations in…

Kia said more of its electric vehicles now qualify for the UK government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG), including the Kia EV3 and a newly introduced Kia EV4 ‘Motion’ variant, as the company expands its presence in the country’s subsidized EV segment. The ECG scheme provides a £1,500 reduction on the on-the-road price of eligible electric vehicles and is available to both retail and fleet buyers. Kia said the EV3 qualifies for the grant for the first time, with both ‘Air’ and ‘GT-Line’ trims included. With the subsidy applied, the EV3 ‘Air’ Standard Range, equipped with a 58.3 kWh battery, is…

South Korean automaker Kia has announced UK pricing and specifications for the EV2, its smallest electric vehicle to date, as the company expands its battery-electric line-up in Europe. The B-segment SUV will start at £27,995 for the ‘Air’ variant with a 61.0 kWh battery, or £24,245 with a £3,750 reservation saving, which Kia said is designed to reflect the potential UK government Electric Car Grant if approved. Reservations are now open, with first customer deliveries expected later in 2026. Additional variants include the ‘First Edition’, priced from £28,495 (or £26,995 with a £1,500 saving), while the ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’…

German automaker BMW has introduced the iX3 40 in the United Kingdom as a more affordable entry point into its next-generation Neue Klasse electric SUV range, with prices starting at £53,250 and first deliveries scheduled for the summer. The iX3 40 follows the earlier rollout of the iX3 50 xDrive, priced at £58,755, and was announced in the UK one day after its debut in Germany. Despite the lower price, BMW said the new variant maintains the same standard equipment and core features as the higher-spec model, underscoring its strategy to broaden access to its latest electric vehicle platform. The…

The Go-Ahead Group and Oxfordshire County Council have jointly invested more than £5.1 million to introduce 13 additional electric buses in Oxfordshire, expanding zero-emission transport services beyond Oxford city into surrounding communities. The new fleet, operated by the Oxford Bus Company, includes nine large single-deckers and four smaller vehicles manufactured by Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis. The buses are being deployed on regional routes linking areas such as Abingdon, Great Milton, Wytham, Bicester and Chesterton, with the first vehicles already entering service. Funding for the rollout comprises £3.9 million from Go-Ahead and £1.2 million from the council through its Vehicle Improvement…

London is assessing potential new charges for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) as part of its Vision Zero strategy to improve road safety, the BBC reported, citing concerns over vehicle size and urban traffic risks. The Vision Zero plan, led by city authorities, outlines the growing impact of larger vehicles on urban infrastructure and safety. It notes that around half of new cars are now too wide for standard on-street parking spaces, reflecting a broader shift in vehicle design and consumer preference. City Hall analysis indicates that larger vehicles occupy more road space, reduce visibility at junctions and crossings, and limit…

The UK Government has announced a £1 billion funding package to support the adoption of electric vans and trucks, aiming to reduce costs for businesses and accelerate the decarbonisation of road transport. The funding will be distributed through two programmes: the Zero Emissions Truck and Van scheme and the Depot Charging Scheme. Together, they are designed to address key barriers to electrification, including high upfront vehicle costs and limited charging infrastructure. Under the vehicle subsidy programme, businesses can receive grants covering up to 40% of the purchase price of electric trucks, with a maximum of £81,000 per vehicle for heavy-duty…

The Hackney Council has launched the first nine rapid electric vehicle chargers as part of a broader plan to install more than 50 units across the borough by 2030. The chargers, supplied and operated by ESB Energy, offer up to 100 kW of charging power and are designed to deliver approximately 30-minute charging sessions. The rollout is aimed particularly at residents who do not have access to private home charging. Each charging unit is installed in a dedicated parking bay large enough to accommodate delivery vans and commercial vehicles, reflecting a focus on both residential and business users. Access to…

Volvo Car UK has introduced the Volvo EX30 Cargo, its first fully electric car-derived van designed for commercial customers, as automakers expand into compact electric utility vehicles for urban fleets. The EX30 Cargo is based on the Volvo EX30 and is offered in two variants: the standard Cargo and the Cross Country Cargo. The model is tailored for fleet and business users, combining passenger car features with added practicality. To create cargo space, the rear seats have been removed and replaced with a flat load floor and access panel, resulting in up to 1,000 litres of load capacity and a…

All 22 local authorities in Wales have been granted free access to ChargePoint Navigator, a digital planning tool designed to support the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, marking the first nationwide deployment of the platform outside England. The tool was developed through a collaboration between Field Dynamics, Cenex, Zap-Map and UK Power Networks. It provides local authorities with a comprehensive data dashboard covering factors such as grid capacity, cabling infrastructure, pavement dimensions, off-street parking availability and projected charging demand. ChargePoint Navigator is designed to streamline the planning process for EV infrastructure, from identifying optimal sites to estimating connection…

A fleet of 30 new electric buses has been introduced in Salisbury, southern England, as part of a £15 million investment involving Salisbury Reds, Wiltshire Council and the Department for Transport. The rollout includes 18 double-decker and 12 single-decker electric buses, primarily supplied by Wrightbus. Some of the vehicles will be used for tourist services, including routes serving Stonehenge. Additional vehicles have been provided by Alexander Dennis, including Enviro100EV single-deck models designed for narrower or more challenging routes. Ed Wills said the initiative reflects a joint commitment to cleaner transport. “Salisbury Reds and Wiltshire Council have, together, made a significant…

Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus has secured an order for 55 electric buses from Greater Manchester, as the region continues to expand its zero-emission fleet under the Bee Network transport initiative. The order was announced by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham during a visit to Wrightbus’s headquarters in Ballymena. While the exact model of the newly ordered buses has not been confirmed, Burnham also inspected production of a previous order of 76 battery-electric StreetDeck Electroliner double-deckers, which are scheduled to enter service from April. See also: Wrightbus Expands Rapidly as Electric Buses Lead, Hydrogen Finds Targeted Role With the addition…

The United Kingdom’s Department for Transport said the country’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) targets were met in 2024, with both passenger car and van markets exceeding required thresholds under the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (VETS). In its first annual assessment of the framework underpinning the UK’s ZEV mandate, the department reported a compliance rate of 24.3% for passenger cars, surpassing the mandated 22% target. The van segment reached 11.5%, above its 10% requirement. See also: Study Finds Nearly One-Third of UK EV Chargers Show Energy Measurement Errors The evaluation covered both the ZEV mandate, which sets annual quotas for electric vehicle…

Sheffield is set to introduce 186 electric buses from 2027 as part of a wider push to decarbonise public transport, with funding support from the UK government and regional authorities, officials said. The project forms part of the UK’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme, which is designed to accelerate the adoption of cleaner bus fleets across England. While the supplier of the vehicles has not yet been confirmed, the new buses will replace older diesel models operating in the city. See also: Be.EV Opens Ultra-Rapid EV Charging Hub in Sheffield, Expanding UK Network The UK government has committed…

Council-owned operator Reading Buses has secured £3 million in government funding to expand its electric bus fleet, bringing the total number of battery-electric double-decker buses in operation in Reading to 49. The grant comes from the UK Department for Transport through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 initiative. The funding will support the introduction of 17 new electric buses on the emerald 5 and emerald 6 routes, which serve the southern part of the borough. Officials have not yet disclosed the bus manufacturer or specific models that will be purchased. Local authorities said the vehicles will be “high-spec…