The Kilowatt Half Hour

Chinese cars are having a big moment in the UK, and this week we're asking whether some of them could soon be built here too.

Vicky, Batch and Lucas discuss Nissan's talks with Chery about using spare production capacity at Sunderland, the latest customer satisfaction data which suggests Chinese brands are winning over British buyers, and another record month for EV sales as electric cars take more than 27% of the UK new-car market.

There's also a look at what we've been driving, including the Alpine A390 GTS and the Kia EV2, plus the latest Electrifying videos featuring the Polestar 5, Toyota Hilux BEV, Zeekr crash testing and a Kia EV2 range test.

As always, we welcome a new pair of Electric Virgins, answer a listener question about whether rear-wheel drive is really a problem on British roads in winter, and dive into your comments on everything from the Ferrari Luce to Mercedes-AMG styling and the brilliance of YASA's axial-flux motors.

All that, plus Bargain of the Week and the usual collection of comments, questions and moans.

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Ferrari has finally shown its hand with the upcoming Luce EV – and the internet has had thoughts. Lots of them. In this week’s Kilowatt Half Hour, Ginny, Vicky and Mike dive into the fierce reaction to Ferrari’s first electric car, asking whether the criticism is justified or if we’re all judging too soon.

Away from Maranello, the team catches up on the latest cars they’ve been driving, including the Alpine A290, Skoda Elroq, Renault 5 and Renault 4, plus a brief encounter with a diesel Transit. There’s also a look at BYD’s reported interest in Formula 1, some cracking EV bargains in the new and used markets, and another Electric Virgin success story as a listener takes the plunge with a brand-new Renault 5.

As always, we tackle your comments, questions and hot takes – from charger etiquette and Chinese challengers to retro-inspired Citroëns, automatic-only licences, and whether Mercedes has completely lost the styling plot.

All that, plus the week’s favourite comment and plenty of automotive moaning along the way.
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This week on the Kilowatt Half Hour, Vicky, Batch and Tom tackle another packed week in the world of EVs, from rumours of a cut-price electric Škoda Citigo revival to Volvo’s bold claim that cars “wouldn’t be accepted” if invented today.

There’s chat about the stunning new Volvo EX60, the tiny Škoda Epiq, and whether the AMG GT Coupe is actually… good looking? Plus, the team discuss manual gearboxes and diesel engines potentially disappearing by 2030, and the latest cars added to the UK government’s EV grant scheme.

Also this week:
⚡ Could MG’s new parking tech cure Britain’s worst parkers?
⚡ Lee from Doncaster needs help choosing his next company EV
⚡ Barnard’s Bargain returns with a tempting Volvo EX30 lease deal
⚡ Your comments on battery degradation, charging, terminology nitpicks — and complaints that the podcast STILL isn’t long enough…

As always, expect news, views, gentle arguing and questionable tangents from the Electrifying.com team.

Email your questions and comments to: podcast@electrifying.com

Watch the podcast and all our latest videos on the Electrifying.com YouTube channel.
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James Batchelor has seized the host’s chair this week on the Kilowatt Half Hour, proving that in the glamorous world of podcasting, promotion can happen very quickly indeed. Joined by Tom and Lucas, the team dive into another packed week in the world of EVs, including the rebirth of a legendary hot hatch badge, fresh details on Jaguar’s long-awaited electric future, and encouraging signs from the booming used EV market.

Tom brings news of the electric Volkswagen ID.Polo GTI and asks whether it could become the EV hot hatch to beat, while Lucas talks us through the latest on Jaguar’s upcoming Type 01 and why the brand is leaning heavily into heritage with its naming strategy.

There’s also discussion around:
Why used EV sales are surging in 2026
The growing appeal of second-hand electric cars
The complicated world of funding solar panels and home chargers
Whether ultra-long-range batteries really matter
EVs for caravan towing
And the increasingly competitive electric hot hatch market, featuring the Corsa GSE, Cupra Raval, Alpine A290 and more

Barnard’s Bargains returns with more tempting lease and used EV deals, while the listener questions cover long-term EV ownership, keeping a Kia Niro EV beyond finance, and whether today’s technology is already “good enough” for most drivers.
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This week on the Kilowatt Half Hour podcast, the team finally recover from the chaos of the Beijing Motor Show… only to dive straight into another packed week of EV news, launches and listener questions.

We've been driving the new Vauxhall Corsa GSE — a properly quick electric hot hatch with 281hp, checked seats, three-spoke alloys and a 0–62mph time that’s somehow almost identical to a Lotus Carlton. Plus, it’s cheaper than the old Corsa Electric used to be. Naturally, opinions are shared.

Vicky’s been living with the Skoda Elroq, preparing for the international launch of the Cupra Raval and getting familiar with the Geely EX2, while Batch breaks down the latest UK car sales figures and what they tell us about the state of the EV market right now.

There’s also plenty to discuss from CATL, including claims of a 930-mile semi-solid-state battery, ultra-fast 10C charging capable of adding charge in minutes, and sodium-ion batteries designed to work in extreme cold.

As always, there are bargains too — including a surprisingly tempting used Corsa Electric for under £10k — plus your questions and comments. This week the team tackles whether heat pumps really matter on EVs like the upcoming Cupra Raval and Volkswagen Polo EV, helps one listener choose between a Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia EV3 for a brutal motorway commute, and suggests affordable used EVs that won’t completely destroy insurance premiums for teenage drivers.

There’s also a brilliant efficiency flex from an Ioniq 6 owner averaging 3.8 miles per kWh over nearly 14,000 miles, plus your thoughts on future battery tech, lightweight EVs and the new generation of electric hot hatches.

Oh, and Tom apparently now sounds like Morgan Freeman.

All that and more on this week’s Kilowatt Half Hour.
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