BRIEFLY: ID.Buzz, Superchargers, Ford Europe & more | 16 May 2026
May 19, 12:21 PM
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➤ VW BRINGS BACK ID. BUZZ TO U.S FOR MY2027
➤ TESLA TESTS VIRTUAL SUPERCHARGER QUEUE
➤ FORD URGES BROADER ELECTRIFICATION PITCH
➤ CANADA ZEV SALES JUMP AS MARKET SHRINKS
➤ POLESTAR EXPANDS UPDATED 3 AND 4 ORDERS
➤ MAN ADDS 16-TONNE ETGM TO ELECTRIC RANGE
➤ CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES $250 MILLION ELECTRIC TRUCK REBATE
➤ BAGLINO LAUNCHES SECOND STARTUP IN HEAT PUMPS
➤ CATERHAM PROJECT V HITS TEST TRACK
It's EV News Briefly for Saturday 16 May 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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VW BRINGS BACK ID. BUZZ TO U.S FOR MY2027
Volkswagen is returning the ID. Buzz to the US market for model year 2027 after skipping 2026, with four trims including a new Tourer 4Motion camping variant featuring a fold-out mattress, Overnight Mode, and factory-built sleeping setup. The 2027 model also adds true one-pedal driving and updated ID.S 6 software with a larger App Store including YouTube and Spotify.
Volkswagen is returning the ID. Buzz to the US market for model year 2027 after skipping 2026, with four trims including a new Tourer 4Motion camping variant featuring a fold-out mattress, Overnight Mode, and factory-built sleeping setup. The 2027 model also adds true one-pedal driving and updated ID.S 6 software with a larger App Store including YouTube and Spotify.
TESLA TESTS VIRTUAL SUPERCHARGER QUEUE
Tesla has launched a virtual queue pilot at five Supercharger stations, allowing drivers to join a waitlist via the Tesla app instead of forming a physical line, a feature that arrived a year later than promised. The system is voluntary with no enforcement, and has been opened to non-Tesla EVs — significant given roughly 70% of Supercharger stalls now accept third-party vehicles.
Tesla has launched a virtual queue pilot at five Supercharger stations, allowing drivers to join a waitlist via the Tesla app instead of forming a physical line, a feature that arrived a year later than promised. The system is voluntary with no enforcement, and has been opened to non-Tesla EVs — significant given roughly 70% of Supercharger stalls now accept third-party vehicles.
FORD URGES BROADER ELECTRIFICATION PITCH
Ford's European boss Jim Baumbick argued at the FT's Future of the Car summit that the industry must sell EVs on personal benefit rather than CO2 reduction, and that PHEVs and range-extender hybrids should be accepted alongside pure BEVs as valid routes to net zero. He highlighted a stark policy contrast: Sweden's PHEV charging tax incentive results in 70% of drivers plugging in regularly, while the UK's lack of equivalent incentive sees that figure drop to just 10–20%.
Ford's European boss Jim Baumbick argued at the FT's Future of the Car summit that the industry must sell EVs on personal benefit rather than CO2 reduction, and that PHEVs and range-extender hybrids should be accepted alongside pure BEVs as valid routes to net zero. He highlighted a stark policy contrast: Sweden's PHEV charging tax incentive results in 70% of drivers plugging in regularly, while the UK's lack of equivalent incentive sees that figure drop to just 10–20%.
CANADA ZEV SALES JUMP AS MARKET SHRINKS
Canadian EV adoption nearly doubled from 6.5% to 12.2% of total vehicle sales in March 2026, with battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles combining for 21,574 units even as the broader new-vehicle market fell 6.6% year-over-year. Ottawa's reinstated CA$5,000 purchase incentive in February and competitive pricing — with some models starting from CA$30,000 — were key drivers of the surge.
Canadian EV adoption nearly doubled from 6.5% to 12.2% of total vehicle sales in March 2026, with battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles combining for 21,574 units even as the broader new-vehicle market fell 6.6% year-over-year. Ottawa's reinstated CA$5,000 purchase incentive in February and competitive pricing — with some models starting from CA$30,000 — were key drivers of the surge.
POLESTAR EXPANDS UPDATED 3 AND 4 ORDERS
Polestar has opened orders for updated versions of the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 across Canada, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Germany, with the headline change being the Polestar 3's upgrade to an 800V architecture enabling 350 kW DC charging and a 22-minute 10–80% charge time. The Polestar 3 also gains a major compute upgrade from Nvidia DRIVE AGX Xavier to Orin — lifting processing power from 30 to 254 TOPS — with existing owners receiving the chip upgrade at no cost.
Polestar has opened orders for updated versions of the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 across Canada, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Germany, with the headline change being the Polestar 3's upgrade to an 800V architecture enabling 350 kW DC charging and a 22-minute 10–80% charge time. The Polestar 3 also gains a major compute upgrade from Nvidia DRIVE AGX Xavier to Orin — lifting processing power from 30 to 254 TOPS — with existing owners receiving the chip upgrade at no cost.
MAN ADDS 16-TONNE ETGM TO ELECTRIC RANGE
MAN Truck & Bus has unveiled the eTGM, a 16-tonne battery-electric truck for urban and regional distribution, debuting at Transpotec Logitec 2026 in Milan and completing a fully electric range from 12 to 50 tonnes. It offers up to 320 kWh of usable battery capacity, a 480 km maximum range, and a mechanical power take-off (mPTO) that MAN says is rare in the segment and reduces bodybuilder conversion costs.
MAN Truck & Bus has unveiled the eTGM, a 16-tonne battery-electric truck for urban and regional distribution, debuting at Transpotec Logitec 2026 in Milan and completing a fully electric range from 12 to 50 tonnes. It offers up to 320 kWh of usable battery capacity, a 480 km maximum range, and a mechanical power take-off (mPTO) that MAN says is rare in the segment and reduces bodybuilder conversion costs.
CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES $250 MILLION ELECTRIC TRUCK REBATE
California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched the California Clean Fuel Reward, a $250 million rebate programme for electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks funded by Low Carbon Fuel Standard revenue, with rebates ranging from $7,500 to $120,000. The state expects over $1 billion in total rebates through 2030, making it the largest utility-administered electric truck rebate programme in the US.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched the California Clean Fuel Reward, a $250 million rebate programme for electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks funded by Low Carbon Fuel Standard revenue, with rebates ranging from $7,500 to $120,000. The state expects over $1 billion in total rebates through 2030, making it the largest utility-administered electric truck rebate programme in the US.
BAGLINO LAUNCHES SECOND STARTUP IN HEAT PUMPS
Drew Baglino, former Tesla SVP who left in April 2024, has launched Sadi Thermal Machines, a heat pump startup incorporated in June 2025 and co-located with his first venture, Heron Power, in Scotts Valley, California. Baglino is well-positioned for the role, having been a named inventor on Tesla's thermal management patent that underpinned the octovalve system debuted in the Model Y.
Drew Baglino, former Tesla SVP who left in April 2024, has launched Sadi Thermal Machines, a heat pump startup incorporated in June 2025 and co-located with his first venture, Heron Power, in Scotts Valley, California. Baglino is well-positioned for the role, having been a named inventor on Tesla's thermal management patent that underpinned the octovalve system debuted in the Model Y.
CATERHAM PROJECT V HITS TEST TRACK
Caterham has released new test track footage of its Project V electric sports car running under its own power, performing high-speed charging and braking manoeuvres. The car targets 268bhp, a 1,430kg kerb weight, a sub-5.0-second 0–62mph time, a 249-mile range, and a 20-minute 20–80% charge time.
Caterham has released new test track footage of its Project V electric sports car running under its own power, performing high-speed charging and braking manoeuvres. The car targets 268bhp, a 1,430kg kerb weight, a sub-5.0-second 0–62mph time, a 249-mile range, and a 20-minute 20–80% charge time.