Midlands secures £40.8 million for EV charging expansion as UK hits key EV milestones
Last week, 13 local authorities in the Midlands were awarded £40.8 million from the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund. This funding will support the installation of over 16,000 charge point sockets across the region, with specific numbers to be determined through future contracts.
The announcement comes as new data reveals that one in four new cars sold in February was an EV. Additionally, the UK has surpassed 75,000 public EV chargers, reaching a total of 75,675 charge points by the end of February.
BYD claims its new fast-charging system could match the speed of refueling a tank
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has introduced a new charging system that could enable EVs to charge as quickly as refuelling a petrol car.
This new “super e-platform” can reach peak charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts, allowing vehicles to gain 400 km (249 miles) of range in just five minutes. The announcement was made by BYD founder Wang Chuanfu during a livestream event.
With charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts, this system is twice as fast as Tesla’s superchargers, which currently provide a maximum of 500 kW. Fast-charging technology is considered essential for accelerating the adoption of EVs.
Stagecoach ditches diesel with new electric bus depot
Bus and coach operator Stagecoach has completed the first of four EV-first bus depots as part of its initiative to electrify its fleet. The new depot, located in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, will be home to 57 electric buses, set to launch in spring 2025. These buses will replace over two-thirds of Stagecoach’s diesel fleet serving Chesterfield and the broader northeastern Derbyshire region.
The infrastructure at the electric bus depot includes 27 dual DC 120kW chargers with 54 charging sockets, alongside a 2.5MVA power upgrade. This setup is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 48 tonnes annually while easing demand on the grid and cutting energy costs. Once fully operational, the depots will support a total of 150 electric buses across Chesterfield, Leamington, Nuneaton, and Rugby.
Volkswagen ID. EVERY1 concept offers a glimpse of their new entry-level EV
Volkswagen has taken a significant step towards making electric mobility more accessible with the unveiling of the ID. EVERY1 concept. This new entry-level electric vehicle is set to hit the market in 2027 with a starting price of approximately £21,500, bringing affordable electric driving to a wider audience across Europe. This new model will help form the brand’s Electric Urban Car Family.
