It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 15 April 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
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VOLKSWAGEN GIVES ID 3 A NEO RESET
Volkswagen is relaunching its compact EV as the ID 3 Neo, with new styling, three larger battery options, improved range of up to just under 400 miles WLTP and faster DC charging up to about 183 kW. The bigger story is a completely new, more “Volkswagen-like” interior with physical buttons and a unified cockpit philosophy that responds directly to past usability criticism and signals a wider rethink of the brand’s EV strategy.
VOLKSWAGEN UPDATES ID.4 AND ID.5 IN UK
Volkswagen’s updated ID.4 and ID.5 in the UK add larger batteries, longer range up to 341 miles WLTP, vehicle-to-load capability, more practical towing and an optional heat pump, all with only small list-price increases. The cars also gain physical steering wheel buttons, improved driver assistance and infotainment tech, and potentially further effective price cuts if Volkswagen regains eligibility for the UK Electric Car Grant.
IONNA TO ADD CHARGING AT 350 CIRCLE K SITES
IONNA, the automaker-backed charging joint venture, will roll out up to 400 kW fast chargers with both NACS and CCS connectors at more than 350 Circle K locations under the Rechargeries @ Circle K brand. The deal gives IONNA prime highway and commuter-corridor sites, includes taking over and upgrading about 85 existing Circle K charging stations, and supports its goal of 30,000 high-power bays by 2030.
BMW BEV DELIVERIES FALL AGAIN
BMW Group’s global BEV deliveries fell 20.1% year on year to 87,458 units in Q1 2026, marking a second consecutive quarterly decline despite strong full-year 2025 volumes. The company blames the loss of US tax credits, the end of Chinese subsidies and a temporary gap in its mid-size electric SUV offering before the new iX3 arrived, even as European orders for that model have surged.
RIVIAN TO POWER PLANT WITH USED EV BATTERIES
Rivian will use more than 100 repurposed EV battery packs, supplied and integrated by Redwood Materials, to create a 10 MWh energy storage system that helps power its Normal, Illinois plant from later in 2026. The project, described as the largest such deployment by a US automaker, reuses packs from test and end-of-life vehicles and reflects the rapid growth of grid-scale lithium-ion storage alongside EVs.
OHIO AWARDS $51 MILLION FOR EV CHARGING
Ohio has awarded $51 million in federal NEVI funding, matched by at least $26 million in private money, to build 64 new fast-charging sites statewide. Each location will host four chargers at amenity-rich venues such as Sheetz, Tesla sites, Aldi and major travel centers, adding more than 260 new public charge points along key routes.
LUCID TIES NEW CEO PAY TO VALUE
Lucid Motors has appointed Silvio Napoli as CEO with a $1.5 million base salary, up to a 200% bonus, a $9.5 million equity grant, performance-based options on up to one million shares and generous relocation and housing support. Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff will stay on until Napoli secures US work authorisation, then return to the COO role with a higher $1 million base salary and increased bonus potential.
SCENIC E-TECH GETS FULL UK EV GRANT
The Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric now qualifies for the UK’s full £3,750 Electric Car Grant, cutting its starting price to £33,245 and making all three trims more accessible. With a 220 hp motor, 87 kWh battery and WLTP range up to 381 miles, it joins the Renault 4 and 5 E-Tech as models benefiting from maximum support after Renault proved their Polish battery cell plant runs entirely on renewable energy.
LIGHTSHIP DOUBLES PLANT, CUTS AE.1 TO ONE MODEL
Electric trailer startup Lightship is more than doubling its Broomfield, Colorado plant to quadruple AE.1 output by around late 2027 while simplifying the lineup to a single, configurable model. The new AE.1 starts at $157,500 with the previously range-topping 77 kWh battery now standard, reflecting customer demand for the highest-spec pack and replacing the old Cosmos, Atmos and Panos trims with option packages for different use cases.
ROLLS-ROYCE REVEALS £7M ELECTRIC NIGHTINGALE
Rolls-Royce’s Project Nightingale is a £7 million, Phantom-length, two-seat electric convertible limited to 100 units, designed as both a design manifesto and a major earner for its new Coachbuild Collection tier. Inspired by the historic 17EX Torpedo, it offers a larger battery than the Spectre, targeted range near 329 miles, a likely 650 bhp dual-motor setup, and an immersive co-creation-lite process where buyers join from early sketches through global testing.
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