Welcome to Electro Beat, where we round up the biggest stories powering the EV world forward. This month, we’re looking at a battery that charges in just 18 seconds, BYD's push to bring megawatt-speed chargers to Europe, Nissan's fresh new take on the Leaf & Micra, and more!
Let’s get plugged in…
A UK company says it’s about to transform the electric vehicle game with a battery that can go from empty to fully charged in just 18 seconds. No, that’s not a typo - 18 seconds. The engineering team at RML Group has officially received approval to mass-produce its high-powered VarEVolt battery, meaning more electric car makers can soon tap into this tech.
The battery has now passed Conformity of Production (CoP) certification, a key regulatory step that clears the way for large-scale manufacturing. Until recently, RML has been producing VarEVolt in very limited numbers for niche projects. With this green light, it’s ready for much broader use in the industry.
VarEVolt’s superpower lies in its 200C charge/discharge rating, allowing it to fully recharge or discharge in just 18 seconds. That’s an eye-popping leap from the current benchmark; take the Porsche Taycan, for example, one of the fastest-charging EVs on the market. It still takes about 12 to 15 minutes to recharge from 10% to 80%.
VarEVolt can also deliver 6 kilowatts per kilogram, meaning it excels in high-performance driving. According to RML, the battery can “dump all its power really, really quickly,” making it ideal for hypercars and motorsport applications where explosive bursts of energy matter.
One of the coolest things about VarEVolt is its modular design. That makes it adaptable, not just for brand-new cars, but for upgrading older high-end EVs and hybrids, too. RML is already working on kits that could replace ageing battery packs in hypercars like the LaFerrari or McLaren P1, significantly boosting their range and performance.
“We can build a replacement pack that offers way more range, and if the hardware can handle it, up to eight times the power,” - RML’s Michael Mallock.
So far, VarEVolt has mostly been used in small-scale, high-performance projects, like the futuristic Czinger 21C hybrid hypercar. But now that it’s certified for wider production, the door is open for it to power more electric vehicles.
With range anxiety and long charging times still holding some drivers back from going electric, this kind of ultra-fast charging tech could be a game changer, not just for luxury performance EVs, but eventually for mainstream cars as well.
If you thought EV charging couldn’t get any faster, think again. Chinese automaker BYD has confirmed plans to bring its megawatt-speed EV chargers to Europe within the next 12 months. These 1,000kW+ chargers could be the fastest public chargers in Europe, capable of delivering a full charge in as little as five minutes for compatible BYD vehicles.
This follows BYD’s announcement that it’s installing 15,000 megawatt chargers in China, and now, it’s set its sights on Europe.
“We’re talking about petrol-pump speeds - without the petrol,” said BYD Executive VP Stella Li.
While most rapid chargers top out at 350kW, BYD’s system reaches up to 1,360kW. That’s nearly four times faster than the highest-speed chargers widely available in the UK and Europe today.
At top speed, BYD’s new charger could give:
100km of range in under 1 minute
A full charge in ~5 minutes
Comparable time to refuelling a petrol car
These speeds have mainly been reserved for electric lorries or heavy-duty vehicles- but BYD wants to make them standard for passenger EVs too.
Not yet, at least, not in Europe.
Currently, only two BYD models (the Han L and Tang L) support megawatt charging, and those are exclusive to China for now. But European versions of these models are already on sale, and updates could be coming soon.
BYD’s rapid tech rollout signals how quickly EV infrastructure is evolving, and how aggressively it’s challenging European brands.
BYD isn’t just disrupting Europe with faster chargers, it’s now outselling Tesla.
In April 2025, BYD registered 7,231 fully electric cars in Europe, edging out Tesla’s 7,165 registrations. It’s a narrow lead, but a significant milestone- the first time BYD has overtaken Tesla in the region’s EV market.
What makes this shift so striking is how fast it’s happened. Just over two years ago, BYD only operated in Norway and the Netherlands. Today, it’s challenging long-time leaders across the continent.
BYD’s approach isn’t just about launching cars — it’s about building a brand that feels tailored to local needs, while delivering at global scale.
“This is a watershed moment for Europe’s car market,”- Felipe Munoz, Jato Dynamics
And the data backs it up:
BYD’s EV + PHEV sales jumped 359% year-on-year
Tesla’s sales dropped by 49%
Globally, BYD has already overtaken Tesla as the largest EV manufacturer by volume, largely thanks to soaring demand in China. But its rapid rise in Europe suggests this isn’t just a one-market story, it’s a global momentum shift.
Worried your EV battery won’t go the distance? You can officially relax.
A new study from vehicle telematics company Geotab has found that electric vehicle batteries are not just durable, they can outlive most petrol or diesel cars on the road today.
The study analysed data from over 10,000 electric vehicles and found that most high-voltage EV batteries show just 1.8% degradation per year on average. That means after:
5 years → You’ll still have around 91% of your original range
10 years → Around 83%
20 years → 64% of original capacity — more than enough for daily use
With most EVs now offering a range well over 250km, even reduced capacity after 20 years won’t leave you stranded.
Quick myth-busting: Do EV batteries just ‘fail’? Nope. Battery failure is extremely rare. In fact, the failure rate for modern EVs is less than 0.5%, making battery pack issues statistically insignificant for most drivers.
EV ownership no longer needs to come with anxiety about your battery pack’s longevity. While range will slowly reduce over time, it’s a gradual and manageable decline, especially compared to the mechanical wear and tear on petrol or diesel engines.
You won’t need to replace your battery in a few years
You won’t wake up to find it suddenly ‘dead’
You can confidently invest in a used EV and expect years of service
In short: the “EV batteries don’t last” myth just doesn’t hold up.
Nissan is turning up the voltage with the launch of its upgraded Leaf and Micra electric models! Packed with fresh features and sleek design updates, these EVs are ready to make a statement - let’s dive into what’s new.
Nissan Leaf 2010
Nissan Leaf 2025
Since their first Leaf was released in 2010, Nissan have come a long way. For many years, other EV models have been overtaking the Leaf in every category: range, charging time, style and so much more… until now!
Let’s do a quick fact comparison - from the 2010 Leaf to the brand new 2025 Leaf:
| Nissan leaf 2010 | Nissan Leaf 2025 |
|---|---|
| 73 miles (117 km) driving range | 375 miles (604 km) driving range* |
| 30 mins charge from 20 to 80% | 30 mins charge from 20 to 80% |
| 3.4 miles/kWh energy consumption | 4.38 miles/kWh energy consumption |
*There is a choice of battery when deciding on your new Leaf model: a Standard Range 52kWh model, promising up to 270 miles (434 km), and an Extended Range 75kWh battery that offers up to 375 miles (604 km).
What these statistics suggest is that while public charging may take the same length of time as it did in the older Leaf, you’ll receive around five times the range - an epic, significant increase! So now you can take your new Leaf on all those long EV road trips you have planned.
In addition to the innovative internal improvements, the new Leaf has also upped the ante with its external features! You have seen it in its ‘Luminous Teal’ form (pictured above), but it also comes in: Fuji Sunset Red, Pearl White, Sukumo Blue, Ceramic Gray and Gun Metallic, all with a panoramic roof! Whilst these names are quite extravagant, they match the fun individuality each of these colours bring to the EV.
Fun fact: The 3D brake lights shown in the black bar across the tailgate have a fun hidden meaning. They say two-three in Japanese, which is ‘Ni-San’.
It’s official: the petrol Micra is out and the EV Micra is in!
The first Nissan Micra was released in Japan in 1982 and, since then, four more generations have been released. But now it’s time for the sixth generation to set a new precedent, as the first electric Micra to ever be released!
Nissan Micra 2017
Nissan Micra 2025
So, “what is there to like” we hear you ask! Well firstly, it comes with two battery options: a 40 kWh battery or a 52 kWh battery. If you choose the 40kWh battery, when driving you will receive up to 192 miles (309 km) of range, or if you choose the 52kWh then you’ll get even more range, with distances up to 253 miles (407 km)!
This bold, little city car has plenty to offer, including:
Charging from 20 - 80% in under 15 minutes, to get you back on the road in no time!
326 litres of luggage capacity in the boot - for all your travel baggage needs.
Six different colours to choose from: Authentic blue (pictured above), Elegant Silver, Rebel Red, Mystery Black, Pure White and Nobel Marine (Navy blue).
Unique circular brake lights and headlights that wink at you as you approach 😉.
48 interior lighting colours, so your interior can be just as bold as your exterior!
Head to the Nissan website to find out more about the new Leaf and Micra!
More than one in four cars sold globally in 2025 will be electric. That’s the key takeaway from two major new reports by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and BloombergNEF, which show electric vehicles continuing to gain ground despite some market turbulence and shifting policies.
Here’s a quick breakdown of where the EV market stands today, what’s driving (and slowing) growth, and what’s coming next:
Electric vehicles are no longer niche. According to the IEA’s latest Global EV Outlook, global EV sales are expected to top 20 million this year, making up more than 25% of all cars sold.
2024 saw over 17 million EVs sold, pushing market share above 20% for the first time. And the growth hasn’t slowed; in Q1 2025, EV sales were up 35% year-over-year.
China remains the world’s largest EV market, where nearly half of all new cars sold in 2024 were electric. That’s more than 11 million vehicles, about the same number sold globally just two years ago.
Elsewhere, growth is booming in emerging markets too. EV sales in Asia and Latin America surged by more than 60% in 2024, as lower-cost imports and new local policies helped make EVs more accessible.
A major factor driving electric vehicle adoption: lower prices. In 2024, the global average cost of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) dropped, helped by declining battery prices and more competition.
In China, two-thirds of EVs sold were cheaper than fuel-powered cars, even without incentives. In slight contrast, electric vehicles in Germany were still 20% more expensive, and in the US, 30% more.
Electric trucks are on the rise, too. Global sales jumped 80% in 2024, thanks largely to rapid growth in China. Some heavy-duty electric trucks are now cost-competitive with diesel models!
Three-wheelers are going electric even faster: in 2024, over 80% of all three-wheelers sold worldwide were electric.
On the whole, predictions for the electric vehicle market are that:
Electric vehicles will make up over 40% of global car sales by 2030
Electric vehicles will displace 5.3 million barrels of oil per day by 2030
Electric vehicle-related electricity demand is set to grow 2.4x by 2030, but global electricity grids are poised to cope
Solid-state batteries are coming: 10% of battery demand could be solid-state by 2035
Electric vehicles are no longer just the future; they’re reshaping the global auto industry right now. With more than one in four new cars sold in 2025 set to be electric, the transition is gaining real momentum.
While adoption is uneven across markets, the overall trend is clear: electric vehicles are becoming more affordable, more available, and more appealing to drivers everywhere. China continues to lead, emerging markets are accelerating, and despite challenges in the US, progress is still happening.
Battery prices are falling, new models are arriving at every price point, and infrastructure is expanding. As policies catch up and innovation continues, EVs are poised to move from early adoption to the mainstream.
Exciting news from Finland! A new project called MACBETH is gearing up to make electric trucks much easier and faster to charge across Europe. Backed by €10 million in EU funding, this four-year initiative aims to take electric truck charging to the next level!
So, what’s MACBETH all about? The project focuses on developing megawatt charging systems that can power up heavy-duty electric trucks super fast. We’re talking charging stations that can deliver up to 1,200kW of power - a big jump from the charging options most electric trucks have now.
One cool feature they’re testing is a robotised charging arm - a hands-free system that automatically connects the charger to the truck, making the charging process even smoother and more convenient.
The project is led by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and involves 19 partners, including well-known names like MAN Truck & Bus and Kempower. Together, they’re building two full-scale pilot hubs where they’ll test these ultra-fast charging systems with different types of electric trucks, both for commercial fleets and private use.
Yancho Todorov (above), Senior Scientist and Project Coordinator at VTT, mentioned that the initiative will also look into developing new business models to support the rollout of charging infrastructure.
The EU has set ambitious climate goals, aiming to reduce transport emissions by 90% by 2050, and electric trucks will play a huge role in that. But to make electric trucks practical for everyday use, charging needs to be fast, reliable, and easy to use - and that’s exactly what MACBETH is working on.
Besides the technology, the project is also looking into how these charging hubs can fit into real-world logistics and exploring new business models for charging infrastructure.
In short, MACBETH is a big step toward making electric trucks a common sight on Europe’s roads, with fast, efficient, and smart charging solutions to support them.
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