BRIEFLY: Xiaomi In Germany, Sodium-Ion Batteries, Fisker & more | 30 Sep 2025
EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs
Martyn Lee
4.8 • 749 Ratings
🗓️ 30 September 2025
⏱️ 4 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
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Xiaomi has established its first overseas EV R&D and Design Center in Munich, Germany, a milestone that strengthens its commitment to innovation and global collaboration. This initiative will advance Xiaomi's smart mobility ecosystem, setting the stage for its European market entry in 2027 through partnerships and historic industry integration.
China will introduce export licenses for electric vehicles starting January 2026, aiming to ensure high-quality after-sales support and address overseas demands while maintaining market discipline. The new system mirrors existing practices for hybrid and combustion vehicles, supporting the sustained growth and credibility of China’s EV industry abroad.
BYD now boasts 100 franchised dealerships in the UK, making its innovative EVs more accessible with an average drive time of only 27 minutes to a showroom for most UK residents. Launching a certified pre-owned program and preparing for ultra-fast charging infrastructure, BYD’s rapid growth and record sales highlight its rising status as a mainstream brand in Europe.
BYD’s eighth ocean-going car carrier, the BYD Jinan, enhances its ability to export over a million vehicles per year, supporting the brand’s impressive global growth and logistics capacity. With international shipments up 136% year-on-year, BYD’s expanded fleet ensures smooth deliveries and meets soaring demand worldwide.
Sodium-ion batteries have matched lithium iron phosphate (LFP) packs in both cost and energy density, promising broader EV adoption and diversification of battery chemistry by 2026. These affordable batteries offer excellent cycle life and temperature tolerance, supporting the continuous innovation and sustainability of future EVs.
EVE Energy’s new Hungary plant has reached a critical construction milestone, underscoring progress toward supplying advanced batteries for European automakers like BMW. The large facility will boost local employment and play a central role in Europe’s expanding clean energy sector.
California’s long-running EV carpool lane exemption will sunset after a successful 26-year run that supported over a million decal holders, marking a major milestone in the state’s clean transportation history. The end of the exemption highlights California’s achievements in EV adoption and signals the maturity of its electric vehicle market.
Fisker owners have proactively formed a nonprofit association to maintain and repair their EVs, securing parts and expertise, and even developing open-source fixes. This collaborative solution showcases the ingenuity and commitment of the EV community, keeping vehicles on the road despite the manufacturer’s closure.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ research shows 75% of van drivers are confident that electric options meet business needs, as electric van sales soar more than 50% year-on-year. Drivers value cost savings and sustainability, while innovative incentives and improved vehicle options further encourage the switch.
France’s eco bonus program is set to enhance EV affordability with an additional €1,000 incentive, supported by a comprehensive published list. While there is some confusion over eligibility, the initiative reflects France’s dedication to promoting cleaner vehicles and supporting buyers with practical benefits.
India has launched ambitious guidelines to rapidly roll out over 72,000 public EV charging stations, offering generous subsidies across strategic locations. The tiered incentives ensure widespread access, supporting the country’s transition to cleaner transportation and energy independence.
Tesla has started regulatory testing of FSD V14 in Sweden through close cooperation with national agencies, marking a key step toward broader autonomous driving approval in Europe. The initiative builds on successful processes in Norway and exemplifies constructive collaboration between industry and regulators for advanced vehicle technology.
New York City is implementing a clear 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters to promote rider and pedestrian safety, aligning with international best practices. The positive policy, shaped by extensive community input, will help ensure safer streets while supporting growth of sustainable urban mobility.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's EV News briefly for Tuesday, September 30th. Everything EV in less than five minutes. |
| 0:04.4 | Have you haven't got time for the full podcast today? Let's get you up to speed. |
| 0:07.8 | Today, Xiaomi opens their EU headquarters for R&D. They've chosen Munich in Germany to do their next global collaboration, they say, with engineering, design, and more set to be their European base for their European expansion. |
| 0:21.9 | China is going to require EV export licenses, a bit like combustion cars have to, by the way, |
| 0:26.9 | all to do with ensuring that if a Chinese EV does get exported overseas, and there's plenty of |
| 0:31.2 | them that are, that they are the real deal, that they have got high-quality standards, they've |
| 0:35.8 | got after-sale service and things like |
| 0:38.1 | that. So yes, they're going to restrict overseas exports. They don't want to slow that down, |
| 0:42.9 | by the way. I think this is about raising the bar to make sure that only the best companies |
| 0:47.0 | are out there and don't let Western buyers down by going fast or having terrible after-sales, |
| 0:52.6 | if there is any service. yd had a hundred uk |
| 0:55.9 | dealerships after 30 months of saying that they're going to enter the uk market b yd is also |
| 1:01.9 | adding its eighth car carrier they're going to stop here by the way after having eight in the fleet |
| 1:05.9 | such a vertically integrated company uh eight of their own car carriers shipping those cars overseas to other |
| 1:11.8 | markets. Sodium iron batteries, we've been talking about a bit lately. There was a conference |
| 1:15.8 | made the news on Saturday or Sunday on this podcast, and today we're talking about how |
| 1:20.3 | sodium iron batteries have now reached manufacturing and energy parity with LFP, lithium ion |
| 1:26.9 | phosphate. That's important because this would decouple batteries from the lithium supply chain. |
| 1:32.0 | Sodium-ion batteries now hitting maybe 150, 175 watt hours per kilogram, |
| 1:38.4 | and actually by terms of 2026 commercialization, the price will be price parity as well with LFP. That's a really big deal. |
| 1:45.8 | Eve Energy are going to be supplying BMW and their cylindrical cells for Neue Klasa. |
| 1:51.9 | They'll be doing that from their Hungarian plant, the Debrecen facility that BMW make those |
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