Author: Ryan Hayes

Cardiff-based charge point operator Plug Charging has acquired the UK and Ireland charging network of Wattif EV UK, adding around 350 electric vehicle charge points across both markets, the companies said. The portfolio includes installations at transport hubs, healthcare facilities, holiday parks, retail and hospitality venues, strengthening Plug Charging’s presence in destination and public-sector charging. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Plug Charging said all sites will be integrated into its operational platform, transitioning to its management and support systems. These include round-the-clock driver assistance, remote diagnostics, proactive fault monitoring and access to the company’s mobile app, with…

The first of 71 planned electric vehicle charging points from Believ is now operational in Leeds, marking the start of a broader deployment in partnership with Leeds City Council. The initial site, located at the Woodhouse Lane multi-storey car park in the city centre, offers rapid charging at up to 150 kW. Pricing at the location has been set at 79 pence per kilowatt-hour, according to local reports. The charger is designed for quick top-ups, complementing a wider network that will include slower units for overnight and long-duration parking. See also: UK’s Believ to Install Hundreds of EV Chargers in…

Volvo Cars has launched a Black Edition version of its all-electric Volvo EX30 compact SUV in the United Kingdom, featuring distinctive black exterior detailing and an exclusive interior theme. The model is now available to order with prices starting at £40,060 for the Single Motor Plus variant. The styling package applies high-gloss black finishes to several exterior components, including the 19-inch alloy wheels, front grille strikethrough, badges, rear lettering, roof spoiler, and mirror caps. The vehicle is offered in a single Onyx Black metallic paint option, complemented by tinted rear windows. Inside, the Black Edition features an Indigo colour scheme…

Geely Auto’s UK division has appointed Cord Power Technologies to supply and install home electric vehicle chargers for its customers, the companies said. The partnership includes the provision of Cord’s 7.4 kW Cord Zero unit along with a managed installation service typically completed within two weeks. The Cord Zero charger is available in both tethered and untethered (socketed) versions and supports features such as mobile app control, compatibility with smart energy tariffs, solar charging readiness, and dynamic load balancing. The company said each unit carries a five-year warranty. See also: Geely Launches Galaxy E5 Electric SUV in UK Market, Priced…

Tesla has introduced a new Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive version of the Model Y in the United Kingdom, expanding its lineup with a lower-priced configuration that trades equipment for affordability. The new variant starts at £44,990, making it £4,000 cheaper than the model it replaces and £3,000 more expensive than the entry-level rear-wheel-drive version. Tesla had already rolled out the configuration in other European markets earlier this year before bringing it to the UK. Despite the lower price, the vehicle retains the same battery pack as the previous Long Range RWD model, understood to have a capacity of about 82…

UK public transport operator Stagecoach Group has started construction of a new depot in Hull city centre that will support the introduction of electric buses across the region, marking a major step in the city’s public transport decarbonisation plans. The Foster Street Depot, being developed by Stagecoach East Midlands, will initially accommodate 42 battery-electric buses scheduled to enter service in spring 2026. The first tranche includes 32 Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double-deck buses, each capable of carrying 73 seated and 26 standing passengers, and 10 Yutong E10 minibuses with capacity for 31 seated and 39 standing passengers. The depot is part…

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced UK pricing and specifications for the all-electric Mazda6e, which will arrive in showrooms this summer with a starting price below £40,000. The model will be offered in two trim levels, Takumi and Takumi Plus, with the higher specification variant priced at £39,995. For the UK market, Mazda has streamlined the European powertrain line-up to a single 78 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. On the continent, the Mazda6e debuted with 68.8 kWh LFP and 80 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery options. According to Mazda, the 78 kWh LFP battery delivers a combined WLTP range…

The London Borough of Harrow said it will expand its on-street electric vehicle charging network with 500 new lamp-column charge points, as part of efforts to support residents who do not have access to off-street parking. The rollout is being delivered in partnership with char.gy and will focus on residential streets, using lamp-column-mounted charge points designed for low-powered AC charging. The council said 225 units have already been installed, with the remaining 275 scheduled to be deployed by Oct. 2, 2028. The charge points are intended for overnight and long-dwell charging while vehicles are parked near homes. Harrow said all…

McMurtry Automotive has opened a new production facility in southwest England and launched a separate technology division as the electric hypercar maker prepares to begin customer deliveries of its Spéirling PURE model in 2026. The company said the 2,700-square-metre site in Wotton-under-Edge will support manufacturing of the Spéirling PURE and provide capacity for future models, complementing its existing headquarters. McMurtry expects to deliver the £995,000 ($1.26 million) electric fan car to customers worldwide from the summer of 2026, excluding taxes, shipping and options. “Everything we are doing today follows the same principle my father set out from the start —…

Arriva UK Bus has secured a new seven-year contract to operate the 102/N102 bus route in North London from 2026, retaining the service after a competitive tender process run by Transport for London. Under the agreement, Arriva UK Bus will introduce 26 new battery-electric buses to replace the existing diesel fleet on the route. The vehicles will enter service once electrification works at the Palmers Green garage are completed, the company said. See also: Arriva to Deploy 167 Electric Buses in East Brabant From 2026 The 102/N102 route forms part of London’s outer orbital bus network and has been operated…

Renault has presented its new Twingo E-Tech electric in the UK for the first time, positioning the compact city car as a lower-priced entry into its expanding electric vehicle lineup as automakers seek to broaden EV adoption. The all-electric A-segment hatchback was shown from February 7 to 15 at Renault’s rnlt London Battersea concept store, located at Battersea Power Station. Orders are expected to open later this year. Renault has said the Twingo E-Tech electric is targeting a starting price below £20,000, placing it among the most affordable new electric cars planned for the UK market. See also: Renault Sets…

Hyundai’s Kona Electric has become the first model from the South Korean carmaker to qualify for the UK’s Electric Car Grant, unlocking a £1,500 discount and lowering its starting price to £33,500, according to industry reports. The grant applies to all variants of the Kona Electric and places the compact SUV among the more competitively priced electric vehicles in its segment. Under the revised pricing, the Kona Electric Advance starts at £33,500, while the N Line version begins at £37,000. The higher-spec N Line S and Ultimate trims are now priced from £39,400. See also: Hyundai Scales Back Kona Electric…