It's ev.news Briefly for Monday 19 October 2026, only today's headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
MERCEDES REVEALS AMG GT SUV WITH 12-MINUTE CHARGING
Mercedes-AMG has unveiled its first in-house-developed full-size electric SUV, with the GT 55 and GT 63 offering 128 kWh batteries, up to 710 kW charging and a 10–80% charging time of just 12 minutes. Both target 620–700 km of WLTP range, while the flagship GT 63 produces up to 860 kW and accelerates from 0–60 mph in an estimated 2.6 seconds, with US deliveries expected in summer 2027.
HYUNDAI AND KIA GROW SMALL EV SALES AS TOTAL SALES FALL
Hyundai and Kia sold 97,689 small electric cars in Europe during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 14.4% despite their combined overall sales falling 2.2%, while BYD's European sales surged 163%. Hyundai's new IONIQ 3 starts at £18,495 in the UK after the government grant, with a larger-battery version offering up to 496 km of WLTP range, as both manufacturers expand European EV production.
VOLKSWAGEN SETS 80% CHARGING CAP FOR RECALLED ID.4s
Volkswagen plans to introduce an automatic 80% charging limit from around 27 October for 22,524 recalled US ID.4 vehicles from model years 2023–2026, unless owners decline the restriction by 21 October. The company warns certain charging patterns above 80% could trigger battery fires, but the root cause remains unknown and the restriction is only a temporary precaution until repairs are available.
FORD TURNS TO RENAULT FOR SMALL EVs IN 2028
Ford will launch two small electric cars in Europe from 2028, developed with Renault and manufactured in northern France using Renault's Ampere platform, as it attempts to reverse a 36% decline in European sales over the past decade. The partnership reduces development costs but won't utilise Ford's underused factories, while the company plans three new models by the end of 2029 and is exploring further cooperation with Renault on commercial vehicles.
FRANCE MOVES CHEAP ELECTRICITY HOURS INTO THE AFTERNOON
France will shift 9.3 million electricity customers onto revised off-peak schedules between December 2026 and October 2027, moving up to three of their eight daily cheaper hours into the 11am–5pm period to take advantage of increased solar generation. Customers will retain at least five consecutive overnight off-peak hours, but EV owners may need to reprogramme their charging schedules because existing vehicle and charger timers won't automatically follow the changes.
HONDA PREPARES ROADS THAT CHARGE MOVING EVs
Honda is developing wireless road charging that transfers electricity to vehicles while they drive, with motorway demonstrations in Japan planned from the 2027 financial year and an initial focus on commercial trucks. Its technology uses transmitters embedded beneath the road surface with momentary power peaks of 150 kW per transmitter, although sustained charging performance, durability and reliability at motorway speeds still require testing.
NEW ZEALAND EV BATTERIES OUTSIZE GRID STORAGE
New Zealand's electric vehicles collectively contain approximately 7 GWh of battery capacity, more than ten times the country's installed grid-scale battery storage, creating significant potential for vehicle-to-grid electricity supply during peak demand. However, bidirectional home chargers cost approximately NZ$7,000 and no retail V2G service is currently available, although trials in Queenstown and a separate project involving up to 100 chargers will examine the technology's practicality.
CANADA CONSIDERS EU RULES TO WIDEN EV CHOICE
Canada is considering recognising additional European vehicle safety standards to make importing affordable EVs easier, potentially opening its market to 20 European models priced below C$40,000 that are currently unavailable locally. Manufacturers including Stellantis, Volkswagen and Nissan support the proposal, which could reduce certification costs and help Canada access vehicles that manufacturers might otherwise exclude because of weak US demand.
DUKE OFFERS FLORIDA EV DRIVERS $90 A YEAR
Duke Energy Florida is offering EV owners a US$7.50 monthly credit, worth up to US$90 annually per vehicle, for charging during designated off-peak periods including weekday afternoons, overnight hours, weekends and holidays. Participants can charge during peak hours twice monthly without losing their credit, while programme data indicates 94% of participating vehicles' charging energy has been consumed off-peak.
ONTARIO SETS 3.7-CENT OVERNIGHT ELECTRICITY
Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight tariff will fall to 3.7 Canadian cents per kWh from 1 November, offering inexpensive EV charging between 11pm and 7am every day. However, weekday electricity prices rise to 37.7 cents per kWh between 4pm and 9pm under the same plan, meaning households must balance overnight charging savings against substantially more expensive evening electricity consumption.
BYD ATTO 2 PLUG-IN HYBRID STARTS AT A$24,990
BYD has priced Australia's ATTO 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid from A$24,990 before on-road costs, with the Essential offering a 7.9 kWh battery and 39 km of WLTP electric range, while the A$29,990 Premium provides an 18 kWh battery and 90 km of range. Both versions support just 3.3 kW AC charging, and Australian company-car buyers must consider that newly arranged plug-in hybrids no longer qualify for the fringe benefits tax exemption available to eligible fully electric vehicles.
RENAULT CHIEF CHALLENGES UK 2030 PETROL DEADLINE
Renault chief executive François Provost has urged Britain to reconsider its 2030 deadline for ending sales of new purely petrol and diesel cars, while arguing that closer European industrial cooperation should involve alignment with EU tariffs on Chinese vehicles. The UK is seeking access to proposed European manufacturing incentives, but these demands are not agreed conditions and Britain's existing deadlines remain unchanged, with a consultation on EV sales targets closing on 23 October.
RIVIAN SPIN-OUT E-BIKE MAKES TIME INVENTIONS LIST
Rivian spin-out ALSO's TM-B electric bicycle has been named among TIME's Best Inventions of 2026, with US deliveries under way and prices starting at US$3,500 for a modular design featuring generator-driven pedals rather than a conventional mechanical drivetrain. The bicycle offers claimed ranges of up to 60 or 100 miles depending on battery size, supports USB-C charging at up to 240 W and features interchangeable configurations for passengers or cargo, although European availability remains unconfirmed.
