ev.news Briefly: VW, Volvo, Porsche & more

It's ev.news Briefly for Thursday 17 September 2026, only todays headlines and nothing else, in just 4 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

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VOLKSWAGEN REVEALS 322BHP REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE ID.3 GTI

Volkswagen has revealed the 322bhp ID.3 GTI, the first rear-wheel-drive GTI and the most powerful series-production GTI yet, with 0–62mph in 5.6 seconds, GTI-specific chassis tuning and a dedicated driving mode with simulated engine sound. Its 79 kWh usable battery delivers up to 601 km WLTP range and 183 kW charging, with pre-sales beginning in early 2027 as the GTI replaces the GTX at the top of the facelifted ID.3 range.

VOLVO PLANS 13 NEW CARS BY 2030

Volvo plans 13 new electric and hybrid cars by the end of 2030, comprising seven SPA2/SPA3-based models for Western markets and six China-exclusive vehicles developed with Geely on shared platforms and a dedicated Chinese technology stack. The company wants to double its share of the BEV market while also developing a third-generation hybrid system, with regionalisation driven by tariffs, technology restrictions and differing customer preferences.

PORSCHE CAYENNE WIRELESS CHARGING COSTS £7285

Porsche has launched an 11 kW wireless charging system for the Cayenne Electric costing £7,285 in the UK, comprising a £1,930 vehicle-mounted receiver and £5,355, 50kg ground pad that cannot be embedded into a driveway. The approximately 90%-efficient system automatically guides and lowers the Cayenne into position, includes foreign-object detection and app connectivity, and removes the need for a wallbox but still requires substantial dedicated hardware on the ground.

MERCEDES-BENZ VANS SHOWS VLE WITH 800V CHARGING

Mercedes-Benz Vans has shown the VLE Grand Limousine at IAA Transportation, offering more than 700 km WLTP range from a 115 kWh usable battery and more than 300 kW charging capable of adding up to 355 km in 15 minutes. The VLE is the first production vehicle on Mercedes’ new Van Architecture, while the company also previewed future Sprinter and mid-size vans that will use the same architecture and MB.OS software platform.

BMW IX5 60 XDRIVE JOINS CONFIGURATORS 8 OCTOBER

BMW will add the iX5 60 xDrive to European configurators on 8 October as the only fully electric iX5 at launch, with a provisional 645–845 km WLTP range from a 141 kWh usable battery. Its 800-volt architecture supports charging at up to 460 kW and a quoted 10–80% time of 23 minutes, while US deliveries begin in the first quarter of 2027 with a 144 kWh battery and prices from $81,250 including destination.

57% OF US DRIVERS SAY GAS PRICES ARE RAISING EV INTEREST

The HERE-SBD EV Index found 53% of surveyed US drivers are more open to considering an EV than a year ago, while 57% said gasoline prices had increased their interest as the national average reached $4.43 a gallon on 17 September. The shift comes as federal emissions and potentially fuel-economy requirements are being weakened, creating a divergence between reduced regulatory pressure on automakers and apparently increasing consumer interest in EVs.

GERMAN STUDY FINDS HALF OF COMBUSTION DRIVERS CANNOT YET SWITCH TO EVS

A USCALE survey of 1,066 German combustion-car drivers found fewer than 10% rule out EV ownership, while around half belong to a “Constrained Majority” prevented from switching by affordability, parking, charging access and the limited supply of suitable used EVs. The findings suggest future EV growth depends less on persuading outright sceptics and more on addressing practical barriers such as purchase cost, residential charging and affordable second-hand vehicles.

EU CARMAKERS SEEK DELAY TO 2027 EU-UK BATTERY RULES

ACEA wants the current EU-UK battery rules of origin extended through 2029, warning that 82% of the 520,000 electric cars and vans it expects the EU to export to the UK in 2027 could otherwise face a 10% tariff costing manufacturers an estimated €1.47 billion. Carmakers say they can meet the separate vehicle-level localisation requirement but argue that tougher rules covering battery cells and cathode materials are arriving before sufficient European and UK supply chains exist.

NYC SELECTS IT’S ELECTRIC FOR 600 NEW KERBSIDE CHARGING POINTS

New York City has selected Brooklyn-based it’s electric to install 600 kerbside EV charging points over three years, expanding the citywide network from 88 chargers to nearly 700 and focusing on dense neighbourhoods where drivers lack private parking. The rollout also supports the city’s electrification requirements for Uber and Lyft, which rise from 25% zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible trips at the end of 2026 to 100% by 2030.