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BRIEFLY: Pump Prices, Cupra, Ford & more | 05 Mar 2026
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It's EV News Briefly for Thursday 05 March 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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MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT LIFTS UK FUEL AND ENERGY COSTS
Brent crude surged past $84 per barrel and UK gas prices spiked to a three-year high of £1.44 per therm after Qatar halted LNG exports following Iran's threat to attack tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, with the RAC warning UK forecourt prices will feel the full impact within a week. Home EV charging costs are shielded for now by the energy price cap — fixed at 24.67p per kWh for electricity until end of June — but wholesale price rises could push the cap higher from July, making both home wallbox and public charging more expensive.
EUROPEAN FLEETS COULD SAVE €246BN BY 2030
A new EY and Eurelectric report finds that fully electrifying Europe's corporate fleets could deliver up to €246 billion in cumulative savings and cut one billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. However, the authors warn that cheaper running costs alone will not drive mass uptake, calling for coordinated action from manufacturers, policymakers, grid operators and finance providers to tackle high upfront costs, uncertain residual values, and charging infrastructure delays.
Brent crude surged past $84 per barrel and UK gas prices spiked to a three-year high of £1.44 per therm after Qatar halted LNG exports following Iran's threat to attack tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, with the RAC warning UK forecourt prices will feel the full impact within a week. Home EV charging costs are shielded for now by the energy price cap — fixed at 24.67p per kWh for electricity until end of June — but wholesale price rises could push the cap higher from July, making both home wallbox and public charging more expensive.
EUROPEAN FLEETS COULD SAVE €246BN BY 2030
A new EY and Eurelectric report finds that fully electrifying Europe's corporate fleets could deliver up to €246 billion in cumulative savings and cut one billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. However, the authors warn that cheaper running costs alone will not drive mass uptake, calling for coordinated action from manufacturers, policymakers, grid operators and finance providers to tackle high upfront costs, uncertain residual values, and charging infrastructure delays.
CUPRA BORN FACELIFT BRINGS SHARP NOSE, SMALL TWEAKS
Cupra has facelifted the Born with a "shark nose" front end, triangular matrix LED headlights, a continuous rear light strip, and new 235 mm tyres across all five wheel options, while the aerodynamically improved 79 kWh variants now claim around 600 km (373 miles) of WLTP range. A new entry "Born Plus" trim pairs a 58 kWh battery with a 140 kW motor — figures that match Ford's Capri LFP option and strongly suggest a switch to LFP cells from the updated MEB+ platform — though Cupra has not confirmed drivetrain details and appears to be saving that announcement for a related reveal, likely the VW ID.3 facelift later in 2026.
Cupra has facelifted the Born with a "shark nose" front end, triangular matrix LED headlights, a continuous rear light strip, and new 235 mm tyres across all five wheel options, while the aerodynamically improved 79 kWh variants now claim around 600 km (373 miles) of WLTP range. A new entry "Born Plus" trim pairs a 58 kWh battery with a 140 kW motor — figures that match Ford's Capri LFP option and strongly suggest a switch to LFP cells from the updated MEB+ platform — though Cupra has not confirmed drivetrain details and appears to be saving that announcement for a related reveal, likely the VW ID.3 facelift later in 2026.
FORD EV SALES SINK 71% AFTER LIGHTNING EXIT
Ford's US EV sales collapsed 71% in February 2026 to just 2,122 units, the steepest monthly drop in its EV history, driven by the discontinuation of the F-150 Lightning and the expiry of the federal EV tax credit. Ford's Model e division lost $4.8 billion in 2025 and is forecast to lose another $4–5 billion in 2026, with profitability not expected until 2029; the company has already booked a $19.5 billion writedown and is pivoting to a new ~$30,000 midsize electric pickup it hopes will revive the business by 2027.
Ford's US EV sales collapsed 71% in February 2026 to just 2,122 units, the steepest monthly drop in its EV history, driven by the discontinuation of the F-150 Lightning and the expiry of the federal EV tax credit. Ford's Model e division lost $4.8 billion in 2025 and is forecast to lose another $4–5 billion in 2026, with profitability not expected until 2029; the company has already booked a $19.5 billion writedown and is pivoting to a new ~$30,000 midsize electric pickup it hopes will revive the business by 2027.
LUCID PATCHES GRAVITY SOFTWARE AGAIN
Lucid Motors has pushed software update 3.4.4 to the Gravity SUV, targeting AC charging improvements and Drive Assist availability, following a January update that resolved around 95% of earlier software issues — with the car averaging a new update every 24 days since launch. Lucid has closed its online configurator for both the Air and Gravity while it prepares its 2027 model year announcement, and Air owners face a $950 hardware upgrade bill to access the newer UX 3.0 platform already running in the Gravity, due to arrive by autumn 2026.
Lucid Motors has pushed software update 3.4.4 to the Gravity SUV, targeting AC charging improvements and Drive Assist availability, following a January update that resolved around 95% of earlier software issues — with the car averaging a new update every 24 days since launch. Lucid has closed its online configurator for both the Air and Gravity while it prepares its 2027 model year announcement, and Air owners face a $950 hardware upgrade bill to access the newer UX 3.0 platform already running in the Gravity, due to arrive by autumn 2026.
MITSUBISHI READIES LEAF-BASED EV FOR CANADA
Mitsubishi is preparing its first all-new model since the Eclipse Cross for Canadian dealerships in 2026, built on Nissan's CMF-EV platform and LEAF architecture, with spy shots showing a heavily camouflaged prototype that shares the LEAF's roofline, proportions, and rear hatch panel. Both models will be built side by side at Nissan's Kaminokawa plant in Japan, and Mitsubishi may receive the smaller battery pack to undercut the LEAF on entry price — a strategy that would see Nissan supply the foundations while a cheaper sibling competes for the same buyers.
Mitsubishi is preparing its first all-new model since the Eclipse Cross for Canadian dealerships in 2026, built on Nissan's CMF-EV platform and LEAF architecture, with spy shots showing a heavily camouflaged prototype that shares the LEAF's roofline, proportions, and rear hatch panel. Both models will be built side by side at Nissan's Kaminokawa plant in Japan, and Mitsubishi may receive the smaller battery pack to undercut the LEAF on entry price — a strategy that would see Nissan supply the foundations while a cheaper sibling competes for the same buyers.
ALPITRONIC UNVEILS HYC400 SERIES 2 CHARGER
Alpitronic has launched the HYC400 Series 2, retaining the 400 kW maximum output of its predecessor while upgrading to a 22-inch touchscreen (up from 15.6 inches), second-generation silicon carbide power stacks, and a higher continuous output current of 600 A (up from 500 A). The unit maintains 97.5% charging efficiency but standby power consumption rises significantly from 43 W to under 100 W, and cable options narrow to a single 5-metre length; Alpitronic will sell both generations simultaneously to suit different site requirements.
APTERA SHOWS FIRST VALIDATION-LINE VEHICLE PHOTO
Aptera Motors has published the first photo of a vehicle off its validation assembly line, marking a milestone for its three-wheeled, solar-assisted EV that claims 400 miles of range from a 44 kWh battery and up to 40 miles of daily solar charging, classified as a motorcycle to bypass certain safety regulations. The launch edition price has risen to $40,000 — a $9,300 increase from prior estimates — though a $28,000 model is planned for the future, and with nearly 50,000 pre-orders and a stated daily capacity of 80–100 vehicles, Aptera claims it could fulfil all orders within 500 days of full production, though the end-of-year delivery timeline remains uncertain.
GEELY TARGETS DEFENDER WITH GALAXY BATTLESHIP
Geely plans to launch the Galaxy Battleship in the UK in 2028, a blocky hybrid 4x4 aimed squarely at the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser, with a production design expected to stay 90–95% true to the Galaxy Cruiser concept shown at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show. Built on the GEA Evo platform with steer- and brake-by-wire, it may use an AI-driven plug-in hybrid system with a stated output of around 858 bhp, and Geely is promising an interior that surpasses the Defender's for luxury — a bold claim for the Chinese brand's first foray into the 4x4 segment.
EU UNVEILS LOCAL-CONTENT RULES FOR CLEAN TECH
The European Commission has unveiled the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), tying over €2 trillion in public procurement and subsidies to low-carbon and "Made-in-EU" conditions across sectors including EVs, steel, cement, and wind turbines, with the goal of raising manufacturing's share of EU economic output from 14% to 20% by 2035. China is excluded from the initial trusted-partner list — which includes the UK, Canada, and the US — and foreign investments above €100 million from countries controlling 40%+ of global production would face strict conditions including capped 49% foreign ownership and mandatory technology transfer; BMW and Mercedes oppose the Act over fears of higher costs, while Renault backs it and the text must still clear the European Parliament before becoming law.
Alpitronic has launched the HYC400 Series 2, retaining the 400 kW maximum output of its predecessor while upgrading to a 22-inch touchscreen (up from 15.6 inches), second-generation silicon carbide power stacks, and a higher continuous output current of 600 A (up from 500 A). The unit maintains 97.5% charging efficiency but standby power consumption rises significantly from 43 W to under 100 W, and cable options narrow to a single 5-metre length; Alpitronic will sell both generations simultaneously to suit different site requirements.
APTERA SHOWS FIRST VALIDATION-LINE VEHICLE PHOTO
Aptera Motors has published the first photo of a vehicle off its validation assembly line, marking a milestone for its three-wheeled, solar-assisted EV that claims 400 miles of range from a 44 kWh battery and up to 40 miles of daily solar charging, classified as a motorcycle to bypass certain safety regulations. The launch edition price has risen to $40,000 — a $9,300 increase from prior estimates — though a $28,000 model is planned for the future, and with nearly 50,000 pre-orders and a stated daily capacity of 80–100 vehicles, Aptera claims it could fulfil all orders within 500 days of full production, though the end-of-year delivery timeline remains uncertain.
GEELY TARGETS DEFENDER WITH GALAXY BATTLESHIP
Geely plans to launch the Galaxy Battleship in the UK in 2028, a blocky hybrid 4x4 aimed squarely at the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser, with a production design expected to stay 90–95% true to the Galaxy Cruiser concept shown at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show. Built on the GEA Evo platform with steer- and brake-by-wire, it may use an AI-driven plug-in hybrid system with a stated output of around 858 bhp, and Geely is promising an interior that surpasses the Defender's for luxury — a bold claim for the Chinese brand's first foray into the 4x4 segment.
EU UNVEILS LOCAL-CONTENT RULES FOR CLEAN TECH
The European Commission has unveiled the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), tying over €2 trillion in public procurement and subsidies to low-carbon and "Made-in-EU" conditions across sectors including EVs, steel, cement, and wind turbines, with the goal of raising manufacturing's share of EU economic output from 14% to 20% by 2035. China is excluded from the initial trusted-partner list — which includes the UK, Canada, and the US — and foreign investments above €100 million from countries controlling 40%+ of global production would face strict conditions including capped 49% foreign ownership and mandatory technology transfer; BMW and Mercedes oppose the Act over fears of higher costs, while Renault backs it and the text must still clear the European Parliament before becoming law.
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