Everything that happened in EVs on 15 September 2026

Solid-state batteries are edging closer to the road. BYD plans a drivable Yangwang prototype for 2027, although a production model remains at least another two to three years away. Meanwhile, ProLogium has begun small-scale production of 381 Wh/kg cells in Taiwan, with capacity initially limited to 0.5 GWh a year.

Tesla has a striking real-world durability example in a Model 3 that has covered 402,000 km on its original battery and motors, retaining a reported 84% capacity despite former taxi duty. On the software side, FSD v15 promises earlier hazard detection but is expected to require HW4, leaving HW3 cars on optimized versions of FSD v14.

Electric trucks are gaining serious momentum. Tesla will hold a Semi rollout event at its new Nevada factory on September 24, while Amazon has received its first 27 Mercedes eActros 600 trucks in Germany. The MAN eTGX now offers up to 720 km of range and 750 kW charging, and Ford is adding practical Transit City variants while upgrading the larger E-Transit with a 96 kWh battery and up to 432 km of range.

Several new passenger vehicles are taking shape. Cupra intends to turn the radical Tindaya concept into a flagship model, potentially using an electric powertrain and 800-volt architecture. Chery’s European debut will be led by the compact electric Q, featuring a 41 kWh battery, rear-wheel drive and V2L, while Volvo is giving the XC60 and XC90 plug-in hybrids up to 200 km of electric range.

Autonomous mobility could get a notable German test, with a fleet of up to 50 Waymo robotaxis reportedly under discussion for Berlin and possible commercial service in 2027. The wider transport debate is sharpened by an analysis putting the annual global social cost of privately owned combustion cars at around €8 trillion, including crashes, pollution, noise and infrastructure.

Volkswagen is exploring efficiency and simplification at the same time. A low-slung electric concept will attempt an ultra-efficient drive from Wolfsburg to Vienna using near-production technology, while the Group could halve its model range to about 75 lines by 2035. VW also leads Germany’s latest incentive statistics, with Tesla ranking second among brands receiving EV subsidy approvals.

China’s automotive export surge continues, with 6.2 million passenger cars shipped abroad in the first eight months of 2026. That already exceeds the full-year 2025 total, driven largely by electric cars and plug-in hybrids.

Finally, for drivers sorting out home and public charging, our guide to choosing an 11 or 22 kW Type 2 cable explains phases, amperage, cable length and compatibility with cars, wallboxes and charging stations.