It's EV News Briefly for Tuesday 14 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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MERCEDES-BENZ GIVES EQS ITS BIGGEST UPDATE https://evne.ws/3QDQc1x
NISSAN CONFIRMS ELECTRIC JUKE FOR EUROPE IN 2027 https://evne.ws/4myW2gS
EUROPE EV SALES HIT MARCH RECORD https://evne.ws/4sqOs97
KIA CONFIRMS EV1 FOR 2027 https://evne.ws/3Q715c8
FRANCE PREPARES THIRD EV SOCIAL LEASING ROUND https://evne.ws/48ko6yH
FRANCE TIES ELECTRIFICATION TO ENERGY SECURITY https://evne.ws/4swljta
US SOLAR SURGE DEEPENS COAL DECLINE https://evne.ws/4dRChyN
VOLVO TRUCKS PUSHES ELECTRIC HEAVY HAULAGE FURTHER https://evne.ws/3Q9YRbZ
2026 EQS ADDS RANGE AND 800V CHARGING https://evne.ws/3Qb1uu2
MERCEDES-BENZ GIVES EQS ITS BIGGEST UPDATE
The updated Mercedes-Benz EQS is the most comprehensively overhauled version since the car's 2021 launch, with more than a quarter of its components newly developed or reworked, headlined by a new 800V architecture enabling 350 kW DC charging and a WLTP range of 926 km (575 miles) on the EQS 450+. Key new technologies include steer-by-wire — a first for a German production car — bidirectional charging, silicon oxide-graphite anodes pushing usable battery capacity to 122 kWh, a rear two-speed gearbox, and 385 kW regenerative braking, with a new entry-level EQS 400 starting at around £80,500 in the UK.
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NISSAN CONFIRMS ELECTRIC JUKE FOR EUROPE IN 2027
Nissan has revealed the third-generation Juke as a fully electric model, built at its Sunderland factory and going on sale exclusively in Europe in 2027, based on the CMF-EV platform shared with the new Nissan Leaf. The EV Juke will run alongside a continuing petrol version due to uncertainty around EV adoption, and is expected to offer up to 622 km (386 miles) of WLTP range with the larger 75.1 kWh battery option, though official specs have not yet been confirmed.
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EUROPE EV SALES HIT MARCH RECORD
European BEV and plug-in hybrid registrations hit a monthly all-time high of nearly 540,000 units in March 2026, up 37% year-on-year, driven partly by sharp fuel price rises following the disruption of shipping routes at the start of the Iran war in late February. Global EV registrations also rose 3% to over 1.7 million in March, though China bucked the trend with a 14% fall in BEV sales after the end of purchase tax exemptions and trade-in subsidies.
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KIA CONFIRMS EV1 FOR 2027
Kia has confirmed a 2027 launch for its most affordable EV yet, expected to wear the EV1 badge, targeting the segment occupied by the BYD Dolphin and Renault 5 EV with European pricing expected around €25,000 (~£21,200). Built on the 400V E-GMP platform, it will offer two battery options — 42.2 kWh and 61 kWh — and is also set to replace Kia's last entry-level combustion car, the petrol Picanto.
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FRANCE PREPARES THIRD EV SOCIAL LEASING ROUND
France will launch its third social EV leasing round in June, maintaining a quota of 50,000 contracts aimed at helping low-income households switch to EVs, with Prime Minister Lecornu citing EV running costs of just €2–3 per 100 km versus around €11 for diesel. The government has also set targets for Renault and Stellantis to produce 400,000 electric cars per year by 2027 and one million by 2030, alongside a new 50,000-contract programme for high-mileage middle-income workers such as carers and nurses.
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FRANCE TIES ELECTRIFICATION TO ENERGY SECURITY
France has become the first country to announce a major national electrification package directly in response to the Strait of Hormuz energy crisis, doubling annual state support from €5.5 billion to €10 billion through 2030 and targeting fossil dependence in both transport and heating. The plan includes banning gas heating in new buildings from late 2026 or 2027, subsidising 50,000 EVs for high-mileage drivers, offering businesses up to €100,000 per electric truck or van, and building 1 million domestically manufactured heat pumps per year by 2030.
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US SOLAR SURGE DEEPENS COAL DECLINE
The US Energy Information Administration forecast on 6 April that solar energy generation will rise 17% this summer compared to 2025 levels, with solar projected to grow from 293 billion kWh in 2025 to 415 billion kWh in 2027, while coal generation is expected to fall roughly 10% in the first half of 2026. Over 90% of net new US generating capacity in 2026 is forecast to come from solar, wind, and battery storage, though rising solar shares are already exposing grids to sharper afternoon price swings and driving increased investment in battery storage alongside new capacity.
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VOLVO TRUCKS PUSHES ELECTRIC HEAVY HAULAGE FURTHER
Volvo Trucks has launched the FH Aero Electric with up to 700 km of range, 460 kW output, MCS charging at 700 kW (20–80% in around 50 minutes), and support for gross combination weights of up to 48 tonnes, directly targeting the range and payload objections that have held back heavy electric freight. Alongside it, updated FH, FM, and FMX Electric models for regional and construction work offer up to 470 km range, a new dual-motor driveline producing up to 540 kW, and an integrated gearbox PTO capable of driving equipment such as concrete mixers and cranes, with market rollout beginning in phases from 2026.
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