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 Thursday 27 March, I’m Martyn Lee and I go through every EV story so you don’t have to.
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NISSAN UNVEILS CROSSOVER TRANSFORMATION OF LEAF
Nissan unveiled the third-gen LEAF crossover, set for release this year. Introduced in 2010 as a mass-market EV, the Leaf has shifted from hatchback to a higher-riding design to match consumer preferences.
Built on the Alliance’s CMF-EV platform (shared with the Ariya and upcoming Juke EV), both models will be manufactured at Nissan’s expanding Sunderland facility.
The new Leaf is slightly shorter than before but appears larger with its taller stance. It borrows design elements from the Ariya and achieves a 0.25 drag coefficient for better efficiency and range.
While full specifications await, François Bailly, Nissan’s European product director, confirmed the Leaf will offer over 372 miles (600 kilometers) of “real-world range.”
NISSAN MICRA EV UNVEILED FOR EUROPEAN MARKET
Nissan has shown the first image of its sixth-gen Micra, now fully electric and launching in Europe this year.
The Micra uses the CMF-B EV platform, shared with Renault 5 E-Tech, with likely similar specs. Designed in the UK, it targets European buyers with “audacious style and simplicity in a compact package – updated for the electric age.”
While full specs aren’t revealed, the base Micra should match the Renault 5 with a 94-horsepower motor and 40-kilowatt-hour battery, giving 300 kilometers (186 miles) WLTP range.
A version with a smaller battery may offer a stronger 122-horsepower motor for better performance without range loss. The top model likely has a 150-horsepower motor, 0-100 kilometers per hour (0-62 miles per hour) in eight seconds, and a 52 kWh battery extending range to 400 kilometers (248 miles).
Nissan may add a Nismo hot hatch Micra with an Alpine A290-inspired powertrain. This could deliver 218 horsepower and reach 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in 6.4 seconds, making it a standout electric car for winding roads.
Design-wise, the Micra differs from Renault 5 with rounder shapes instead of sharp lines. Its angular headlights with large round running lights resemble big circular headlights, giving a Mini Cooper-like front while keeping its own identity.
NISSAN UNVEILS NEXT-GEN ELECTRIC JUKE
Nissan previewed its new electric Juke, which will start production at Sunderland next year. The electric Juke appeared alongside the Mk3 Leaf and electric Micra. It will be manufactured alongside the existing ICE Juke. Its design draws from the Hyper Punk concept shown last year.
The electric Juke will join the Leaf on Nissan’s UK production line next year. A new electric Qashqai is planned too, but its launch is delayed due to global EV adoption uncertainties.
Nissan wants to price the electric Juke close to the current ICE version, starting around £21,000 (€23,000 / $27,000), though this may be difficult. No specific launch date has been set.
Little is known about the electric Juke yet. All three future Sunderland vehicles will likely use the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-EV platform for C- and D-segment EVs. This suggests the Juke may be bigger than the current ICE model built on the smaller CMF-B platform for B-segment cars.
Performance specs for the electric Juke aren’t available yet. The new Leaf is expected to have a maximum range over 372 miles (600 kilometers).
Despite sharing a platform, Nissan Europe’s R&D chief David Moss said the Juke, Qashqai, and Leaf will each have unique features and different wheelbases.
PEUGEOT TO LAUNCH ELECTRIC E-208 GTI VARIANT
Peugeot is reviving its GTi badge with an e-208 GTi, the brand’s first electric performance car since the 308 GTi ended in 2021. CEO Alain Favey confirmed: “We will reintroduce the GTi on the e-208 as soon as possible.”
Future GTi models or combustion-engine performance cars depend on customer response. Favey stated: “We’ll start with the 208 and listen to customer input. Other 208 GTi versions aren’t ruled out, but nothing’s planned yet.”
The e-208 GTi may use the Abarth 600e’s powertrain, which shares the e-CMP platform. The Abarth has a 237 bhp motor, weighs 1,625 kg, and reaches 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. A lighter e-208 GTi could be sub-6 seconds. A 278 bhp motor in the Abarth’s limited edition hints at a potential Peugeot Sport e-208 GTi variant.
This move could lead to a performance Vauxhall Corsa Electric, given the models’ similarities.
BYD INTRODUCES 1-MW ULTRA FAST CHARGING STATIONS
BYD will launch 1,000 kW (1 MW) ultrafast charging stations next month.
BYD plans 4,000 1-MW flash charging stations, with the first 500 ready when the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV launch in early April, according to Li Yunfei, BYD’s brand and PR general manager.
These chargers deliver twice the power of Tesla’s 500 kW V4 supercharger. The 1,000 kW units add 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) of range per second or 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) in five minutes.
BYD will use energy storage systems at charging stations to ensure 1,000 kW capability where power infrastructure is limited.
During pre-sales, BYD confirmed both Han L and Tang L models launch in early April.
Li said BYD focuses on rapid mass production of new tech and invited skeptics to try the first 1,000 kW station upon opening. He noted this technology won’t greatly impact other charging methods.
BYD’s approach to supercharging, 1-MW flash charging, and battery swapping aligns with the industry’s new energy vehicle (NEV) direction, Li stated.
“In some technologies, BYD is currently leading, but it is possible that in time, it will be surpassed by other companies with even better technologies, which is a good thing!” he said.
The 1 MW charging requires BYD’s blade battery with a 10 C flash charging rate—highest among mass-produced batteries—enabling full charge in six minutes. The battery supports up to 1,000 V and 1,000 A for a total output of 1,000 kW.
RIVIAN EXPANDS NORMAL PLANT, R2 DELIVERIES IN 2026
Rivian’s R2 electric vehicles will debut in 2026, following expansion of its Normal factory.
The company is adding 1.1 million square feet (102,200 square meters) to its existing 4.3 million square foot (399,000 square meters) plant. This expansion includes new painting, battery production, and material handling areas.
The Normal plant currently produces R1 SUVs, pickup trucks, and commercial vans. Post-expansion, it will have a 215,000 electric vehicle annual production capacity.
Rivian invested $1.5 billion in the expansion, with a 30-year state incentive package creating over 550 new jobs. Construction progresses steadily, with new buildings “going vertical,” according to VP Tony Sanger.
Local leaders await Rivian’s decision on a potential $200 million expansion, adding 2.4 million square feet (223,000 square meters) and 600-700 jobs. Local governments extended the enterprise zone for tax benefits.
TESLATAKEDOWN ORGANIZES WORLDWIDE PROTESTS AGAINST MUSK
The US government is making major cuts, led by Tesla’s CEO. In response, TeslaTakedown is urging people to sell Tesla cars, sell stock, and join protests.
The movement plans its largest demonstration yet, with protests worldwide this weekend. Events will take place in the US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, and other countries.
March 29 is designated as a “global day of action” on the TeslaTakedown website. The site claims, “Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he’s using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it. We are taking action at Tesla to stop Musk’s illegal coup.” It also states that “Tesla Takedown is a peaceful protest movement. We oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property.”
Most protests will be in the US, spanning over 30 states.
Musk has received support from US administration members. The President recently hosted a White House event featuring five Tesla models. When asked if buying a Tesla would help its stock and sales, he replied, “I hope it does.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also endorsed Musk and urged Americans to buy Tesla stock, stating on Fox News, “It’s unbelievable that this guy’s stock is this cheap. It’ll never be this cheap again.”
Recently, a dispute occurred between Bondi and Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett after Crockett mentioned wanting Musk “taken down” on her birthday during a TeslaTakedown mobilization effort.
BOSTON EXPANDS CURBSIDE EV CHARGING
Boston EV owners struggle to find charging stations. To fix this, the city is adding curbside chargers across neighborhoods.
Juan Manuel from Roslindale hesitated to buy an EV due to charging concerns. This changed when he discovered the city’s program. “I was on the City of Boston website looking at EV information and saw something about curbside charging,” he said. “I signed up for a waitlist, and in about a week, they got back to me.”
After getting permits, a charger was installed near his home, prompting him to buy his first EV. Boston partnered with “It’s Electric” for these chargers. The company gives drivers a free charging cable for the curbside units, though users pay for charging. Currently, Boston has two chargers: one in Roslindale and one in Charlestown.
This program supports Boston’s environmental goals. Brian Swett, Boston’s Chief Climate Officer, noted that transportation creates nearly 30% of Boston’s emissions. On social media, he said, “One of the things we can do is expand EV infrastructure and empower folks to make decisions that are better on climate action,” referring to the curbside program.
Homeowners can earn money too. “It’s Electric” pays for extra energy costs and shares profits with them. Manuel said, “Every quarter, I believe you get a small percentage of whatever their profits are, so it’s not going to be more than $1,000 a year, but if it’s helping the environment, I’m all for it.”
GM, EVGO, PILOT EXPAND US EV CHARGING
GM, EVgo, and Pilot have installed electric vehicle chargers at 130 locations in 25 states to create a nationwide EV charging network. Launched in 2022, the goal is to deploy 2,000 DC fast chargers at 500 Pilot and Flying J truck stops across the U.S.
The companies announced that this expanded network will help with road trip planning as more people adopt EVs and travel during spring and summer. Pilot noted that its charging stations now stretch along Interstate 75 from Michigan to Georgia and connect cities like Minneapolis to Milwaukee, Detroit to Cleveland, San Antonio to Houston, and Dallas to Nashville.
So far, the project has achieved just over a quarter of its goal. By the end of 2023, they established 25 EV station locations with about 100 charging stalls. Each station has gas station-style canopies that can accommodate electric trucks with trailers.
Pilot offers a website showing the locations of EV charging stations and their status. Most sites can charge four vehicles at once. Each stall has two CCS1 plugs and supports speeds up to 350 kW for a single compatible EV.
NOVA SCOTIA STOPS TESLA ELECTRIC VEHICLE REBATES
Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative government, along with the NDP and Liberal opposition, voted on Friday to remove Tesla from the province’s electric vehicle rebate program, which offered subsidies of $2,000 to $3,000 Canadian dollars per EV purchase.
The decision came from an amendment by NDP legislator Susan Leblanc. She said that Elon Musk and the U.S. President are “waging economic war on our country, and this is a small way to take a stand against that.”
CTV News noted Musk’s recent political activities abroad. He leads the Department of Government Efficiency and has faced controversies for supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany and trying to access personal data of millions of Americans to cut government spending.
Musk’s reputation in Germany has declined due to his political actions. Manitoba and British Columbia have also taken similar steps against Tesla recently.
CANADA REVISES EV REBATE POLICY AFTER TESLA CLAIMS
Canada’s federal government revised its EV rebate rules after Tesla claimed over 43 million Canadian dollars ($30 million USD) in public funds within three days.
Transport Canada’s website initially stated dealerships “must” apply for rebates before delivering vehicles. Tesla, however, filed for rebates on 8,653 vehicles over one January weekend, which would have required delivering two cars per minute to meet the original rules.
Following Tesla’s claims, the website wording changed from “must” to “should,” allowing retroactive filings and validating Tesla’s actions. The modification date is listed as July 5, 2024, months before the actual change, raising concerns about transparency.
Ian Stedman, a public law professor at York University, commented, “It looks bad. It seems like they’re trying to cover up either an initial mistake or a discreet policy change.”
Tesla’s filings accounted for 60% of the remaining funds in Canada’s iZEV program, which provides up to 5,000 Canadian dollars ($3,600 USD) per eligible EV. Other dealerships reported over 10 million Canadian dollars in rebates already given to customers.
Terry Budd, owner of eight dealerships in southern Ontario, said he is still owed 175,000 Canadian dollars. “There’s no way [Tesla] sold or delivered that many cars in a weekend. Suddenly Tesla claimed the entire amount and left everyone else out.”
Some dealers told the *Toronto Star* that Transport Canada allowed backdated filings even before the policy change. The updated website now implies this leniency was always intended.
A federal investigation into Tesla’s claims is underway, with Transport Canada auditing submissions individually. No timeline has been set for fund distribution, but investigfators are now working with the four Tesla locations responsible for most filings.
GENESIS EVS GAIN ACCESS TO TESLA SUPERCHARGERS IN THE U.S.
Genesis EV owners in the U.S. can now use about 20,000 Tesla Superchargers nationwide, following Hyundai’s announcement of Tesla network access. While Kia doesn’t officially support this access, some Kia owners have used third-party adapters at certain Superchargers.
Genesis will provide free NACS to CCS adapters to customers who bought or leased their EVs by January 31, 2025. To receive an adapter, owners need an active MyGenesis account with email notifications enabled. After receiving an invitation, customers have 60 days to accept before the adapter ships to their account address.
Tedros Mengiste, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Motor North America, stated: “At Genesis, we pride ourselves on providing customers with the best possible ownership experience. By offering complimentary NACS adapters, we will make charging even more convenient for our current EV owners.”
Starting with 2026 models, Genesis will build U.S. electric vehicles with NACS ports, eliminating the need for adapters at Superchargers.
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