Category: Energy & Charging

Ford may have walked back its decision to go all-electric in Europe by 2030, but its commitment to electrification persists. Today, Ford announced a landmark alliance with French automaker Renault to co-develop a series of small electric vehicles for the European market.

The strategic collaboration should see jointly developed EVs rolling out as early as 2028, with plans to expand the partnership to include small commercial vehicles.

With the EU’s EV mandate up for debate and the politicisation of electric vehicles casting doubt on the American EV market, the global outlook for EV uptake seems, at first glance, murky.

However, if we look more broadly at the global landscape, the race to electrify is only just beginning. In Latin America, EV adoption is steadily growing thanks to a huge influx of Chinese models from automakers such as Geely and BYD.

London’s congestion charge is set for one of its biggest shifts in years, with both the cost of entering the zone and the treatment of electric vehicles set to dramatically shift in 2026. The development represents mayor Sadiq Khan’s latest step to incentivize public transportation over personal vehicles.

From January 2, the daily fee will rise from £15 to £18, the first increase since 2020. Transport for London (TfL) says future rises will track Tube fares or inflation to keep public transport from becoming the more expensive choice.

Two years ago, the European Union decided to impose a mandate, banning the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by the year 2035.

Now, just a decade out from this historic target, the mandate is up for review with the process likely to begin in the coming year.

For EV evangelists and climate activists alike, this potential rollback represents a regressive legislative decision that could slow down the widespread adoption of EVs and jeopardise a successful green transition.

Chinese automaker BYD has announced the launch of a “Super Hybrid” vehicle developed specifically for the Brazilian market.

The new hybrid model comes with biofuel compatibility, enabling users to run the vehicle on any ratio of petrol and ethanol. BYD’s strategic decision responds directly to the highly advanced Brazilian market, which is a global frontrunner in the adoption of this “flex-fuel” technology.