Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily, your trusted source of EV information. It’s Monday 17 March, I’m Martyn Lee and I go through every EV story so you don’t have to.
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BYD INTRODUCES HIGH-POWER SUPER E-PLATFORM
I mentioned last week this was coming, but now BYD has officially launched its new “Super e-Platform,” featuring blade batteries for ultra-fast charging, high-performance electric motors, and advanced silicon carbide power chips.
BYD had faced criticism for slow DC charging. While its Blade LFP batteries are safe, they took longer to charge than ternary NMC batteries from other brands.
The platform’s batteries have a 10 C charging rate, the highest among mass-produced power batteries. This allows a full charge in just six minutes. BYD redesigned the blade batteries to improve ion transfer and reduce diaphragm resistance for faster charging.
These batteries can handle up to 1,000 volts and 1,000 amperes, enabling charging power of up to 1,000 kilowatts (1 megawatt), the highest in the industry. BYD noted that this marks a shift to using megawatts as a standard unit for charging power.
BYD also introduced a supercharger that delivers 1,000 kW of power. It can add 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) of range per second or 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) in five minutes. This is twice the peak power of Tesla’s latest V4 supercharger at 500 kW.
During testing, the charger reached 1 MW within ten seconds while charging the Han L EV and Tang L EV models. Charging from 7% to 50% took only 4.5 minutes. The BYD Megawatt Flash Charger is now the most powerful passenger car charger in the industry, surpassing competitors like Tesla V4 (500 kW), Li Auto (520 kW), NIO Power (640 kW), and Xpeng S5 (800 kW).
The company plans to build over 4,000 supercharging stations with 1,000 kW support. These stations will include energy storage facilities to ensure consistent charging power even in areas with limited capacity.
At the event, BYD revealed a new high-revving motor that reaches up to 30,511 revolutions per minute, the highest among mass-produced motors. This motor has peak power of up to 580 kW, surpassing a V12 fuel engine’s performance.
To support this motor, BYD developed new silicon carbide chips rated up to 1,500 volts. The Han L EV sedan and Tang L SUV are the first models based on the Super e-Platform and are available for pre-sales today.
https://evne.ws/4ibHwIV
PROTESTERS RALLY AFTER SECOND TESLA SHOOTING IN TIGARD
Protesters gathered at a Tesla dealership in Tigard on Thursday after a second shooting at the site this week. The crowd was smaller than expected, but they made their presence felt near the dealership where police reported that someone fired 10-15 rounds into the building.
Authorities have not revealed the damage from the latest shooting, and no injuries were reported. Protesters condemned the violence against the dealership, saying each incident harms their goals.
The Oregon EV Association canceled its meeting planned for Thursday evening due to the shooting. Tigard police are working with the FBI and ATF to investigate. Protesters pledged to continue their cause peacefully and not let recent violence weaken their efforts.
https://evne.ws/4bE7l1S
TESLA IGNITED IN SUSPECTED SEATTLE ARSON
A Tesla was set on fire in a suspected arson incident in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood on Thursday evening at 15th Avenue East and East Harrison.
Seattle police said a 911 call came in at 8:15 p.m. A witness saw a man with a red gas can pouring gasoline on the parked Tesla before lighting it. The witness tried to chase the suspect but lost him.
Authorities found the red gas can at the scene. No injuries were reported, but the Tesla suffered thousands of dollars in damage and had to be towed, according to Seattle police.
https://evne.ws/41vBBat
TESLA VEHICLES SET ABLAZE IN BERLIN AMID PROTESTS
On Friday, multiple Tesla cars were set on fire in Berlin’s Plänterwald and Steglitz districts as global protests against Elon Musk’s company continued. German authorities reported that four Tesla vehicles were completely destroyed, with five nearby cars sustaining minor damage. The first fire was reported at 1:40 a.m. local time, with more fires occurring throughout the night. No injuries were reported.
Berlin police suggested the attacks might be politically motivated, leading the State Security Division of the Berlin State Criminal Police Office to investigate. This unit deals with threats related to terrorism, extremism, and organized crime.
These incidents are part of a larger trend of anti-Tesla protests worldwide, which grew after Musk became head of the Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump. Tesla’s stock price has also dropped recently, which many analysts attribute to Musk’s connection with Trump.
In Germany, protests against Musk have surged after he supported the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the February general election. These demonstrations often target Tesla manufacturing sites, highlighting rising tensions between the company and certain political groups.
https://evne.ws/4bxCHHf
TESLA DEVELOPS MORE AFFORDABLE MODEL Y IN CHINA
Tesla’s Chinese division is creating a more affordable Model Y SUV, called E41. Local outlet 36kr reports that this new version will keep key parts from the existing Model Y, including the battery, powertrain, and chassis.
The development of the budget-friendly Model Y is mainly led by Tesla’s team in China, highlighting the region’s importance. The launch of this lower-priced model depends on how well the updated Model Y sells. If orders for the refreshed Model Y fall short, Tesla may release the E41 version later this year.
The E41 Model Y will be priced 20% lower than the current model. Initial production will take place at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, with future assembly planned in the U.S. and Germany.
This move comes after a sharp drop in Tesla’s sales in China. In February 2025, total sales fell by 49% year-over-year to 30,688 units, marking its worst performance since July 2022. Specifically, Model Y sales dropped by 77% to 8,006 vehicles. This trend reflects a global slowdown, with sales also down in Europe and North America, leading to a 15% decline in Tesla’s stock price earlier this week.
The main challenge in China is increased competition from local EV manufacturers. Models like Xiaomi’s SU7 have outsold the Model 3 for three months straight. Upcoming competitors for the Model Y from brands like Huawei’s Aito and Xpeng pose significant threats to Tesla’s market position.
https://evne.ws/3FLDzfq
TESLA’S AUTONOMOUS DRIVING FACES CRITICAL TEST
Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes the company’s future is in fully autonomous vehicles, not just competing with electric car makers like BYD. Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving relies only on cameras and artificial intelligence, without using radar or lidar.
YouTuber and engineer Mark Rober recently demonstrated the weaknesses of this strategy. In his video, Rober, a former NASA engineer, tests whether a fake painted wall can trick a Tesla on Autopilot into crashing. The Tesla fails to see the wall and crashes, similar to Wile E. Coyote’s antics.
Rober then compares it to a lidar-equipped Lexus SUV from Luminar. Both vehicles initially stop for a simulated child crossing the road. However, when faced with the painted wall that blends in with the surroundings, the Lexus stops while the Tesla continues driving. Rober said, “I can definitively say for the first time in the history of the world, Tesla’s optical camera system would absolutely smash through a fake wall without even a slight tap on the brakes.”
Despite progress, Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems are linked to many accidents, including fatal ones, leading to state and federal investigations. Experts argue that Tesla’s camera-only method is not enough for creating self-driving cars that are safer and more reliable than human drivers.
https://evne.ws/4hhpAvc
XIAOMI YU7 EV REVEALED WITH ADVANCED SPECS
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has revealed the Xiaomi YU7 electric vehicle. It features a 96.3 kWh battery pack and offers three range options: 770 kilometers, 760 kilometers, and 675 kilometers. The 770-kilometer range is new. The YU7 will launch between June and July this year, with an estimated starting price of about 250,000 yuan (34,500 USD).
The vehicle has a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor for better autonomous driving. The Xiaomi YU7 is fully electric and comes in single or dual motor setups. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive version has front and rear motors producing up to 220 kW and 288 kW, giving a total output of 508 kW (691 horsepower) and a top speed of 253 kilometers per hour. This version uses ternary lithium batteries.
A lower-powered all-wheel-drive variant has front and rear motors with maximum outputs of 130 kW and 235 kW, totaling 365 kW. There’s also a single-motor rear-wheel-drive option that delivers up to 235 kW, reaches a top speed of 240 kilometers per hour, and uses a lithium iron phosphate battery.
Previously, the Xiaomi YU7 featured a larger 101.7 kWh ternary NMC battery pack, highlighting its strong energy storage capabilities.
https://evne.ws/4kVO6ow
EUROPCAR LEVELS EV RENTAL PRICES FOR BUSINESS CLIENTS
Starting April 2025, Europcar Mobility Group UK will offer electric vehicles (EVs) to business customers at the same rates as petrol and diesel vehicles. The available options will include electric hatchbacks, SUVs, saloons, and vans.
Europcar aims to remove a major financial barrier to EV adoption, as renting EVs is currently much more expensive than renting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. This pricing change, effective from April 1st, will include models like the Jeep Avenger, Mercedes EQ series, Renault Kangoo, and Skoda Enyaq.
Tom Middleditch, head of Electric Mobility at Europcar UK, stated, “We understand that cost is a significant factor for businesses considering electric vehicles. The Europcar EV barometer for 2024 revealed that the cost of purchasing and maintaining an EV is a barrier for around 40% of fleets.” He added, “By eliminating the price difference for rental, we’re making it easier than ever for our business customers to experience the benefits of electric mobility and contribute to a greener future.”
However, Europcar has not announced plans to offer similar pricing for retail customers. Currently, a typical rental from London Gatwick Airport lists most ICE vehicles between £36 (€30.25) and £58 (€48.74) per day. In contrast, the least expensive EV costs £58 (€48.74) per day, with prices going up to £101 (€120) daily.
https://evne.ws/3FwiIN6
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REALTORS CHOICE PHOTOGRAPHY
ROB FROM THE RSTHINKS EV CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE
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