Welcome back to Electro Beat - your monthly pit stop for everything buzzing in the EV world! August has been full of exciting news, with record breaking used EV sales in the UK, a long-awaited funding green light in the US, and a brand new budget EV hitting European roads. Add in big charging plans from Prague and UK councils, plus Volkswagen’s 1.5 millionth ID. delivery, and you’ve got plenty of stories to keep your EV brain interested.
Let’s get plugged in…
The UK’s used electric car market is booming, and EVs are leaving petrol and diesel cars in the dust at auctions.
New data from British Car Auctions (BCA) shows EVs are currently topping the charts across key metrics. They’ve got the highest first-time sale rate (meaning they’re more likely to sell the first time they’re listed) and the strongest prices compared to guide values of any fuel type. Translation? They’re selling faster and for more money than gas cars.
BCA says it’s selling around 1,000 used electric vehicles every week, with July 2025 marking a record month of over 5,000 EVs sold.
It’s not just about supply. According to Stuart Pearson, BCA’s COO, more trade buyers are realising the profit potential of used electric cars, as consumer demand continues to rise. In his words: “Buyers are starting to recognise the real value and profit opportunity with EVs, especially as more consumers are warming up to going electric.”
The numbers back him up. Despite industry worries after EV grant changes, used EV values have held firm - and in some cases improved.
In July, BCA sold more than 5,000 EVs in a single month for the first time. And so far this month, used EV sales are still running at record highs. With over 1,000 EVs sold each week, it’s clear demand isn’t slowing anytime soon.
If you’ve got a used EV that you want to sell, the timing couldn’t be better. In particular, 3 to 5-year-old models with solid battery health reports are seeing the strongest competition at auction.
To boost confidence for buyers (and help sellers get more), BCA has introduced detailed battery health grading and an upgraded EV report certificate, which compares models of similar age and mileage. That means well-kept EVs are standing out even more and fetching stronger bids.
Across all fuel types, the UK’s used car market has stayed surprisingly strong this year. Average car prices at BCA have hovered around £7,700, with only slight dips month-to-month. But compared to petrol and diesel cars, EVs are proving the most resilient - and the most in demand.
Used EVs aren’t just holding their value; they’re thriving. With record sales, stronger-than-expected prices, and growing buyer confidence, EV sellers are in a great position right now.
Some positive news out of the U.S., as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which was created to invest $5 billion in building America’s EV charging network, is officially back on track. After a months-long freeze earlier this year, the federal government has released funds to the states and simplified the rules to speed up the roll-out.
For months, many projects sat in limbo while states and industry partners waited for clarity. Now, with the freeze lifted, states can award new contracts and finally accelerate the rollout of charging stations. This is a huge step forward for drivers and for the EV transition!
The updated guidelines give states more flexibility, removing some of the earlier requirements around standards and charger spacing. The Department of Transportation has made it clear: the priority now is to cut through red tape and get chargers in the ground faster. For EV drivers, that means more charging options, sooner.
Groups representing truck stops and fuel marketers have already welcomed the changes, saying that putting site hosts in charge of owning and operating chargers will help ensure reliability and a better customer experience.
With billions now available, NEVI has the potential to transform long-distance EV travel in the U.S. and hopefully marks a turning point: a faster, more flexible approach that will make charging more accessible to everyone!
NIO’s new budget-friendly brand, Firefly, has officially arrived in Europe. The first deliveries just rolled out in Utrecht (Netherlands) and in Oslo and Stavanger (Norway), kicking off NIO’s push into the affordable EV market.
The Firefly is NIO’s take on a no-frills, urban-friendly EV. It’s a small, five-door hatchback that comes with a 42.1 kWh LFP battery, good for about 330 km of WLTP range (or up to 470 km in city driving).
Charging is practical too: with 100 kW DC fast charging, the battery goes from 10 - 80% in under 30 minutes, enough to top up during a coffee stop.
Price-wise, Firefly lands at €29,900 in the Netherlands and about €23,500 in Norway. Norway’s lower price is thanks to tax breaks and the lack of EU import tariffs on Chinese-built cars.
That positions Firefly right in the hotly contested €25k - €30k range, the space many buyers have been waiting for. Here, it’ll go head-to-head with the Renault 5 e-Tech, Fiat 500e, and Volkswagen’s upcoming ID.2.
One of Firefly’s standout features is its swappable battery system, a signature NIO innovation. In theory, you could swap out an empty battery for a full one in under three minutes. But in Europe, there’s a catch: the current NIO swap stations don’t fit Firefly’s smaller packs.
Battery swapping will become available once NIO’s 5th-gen swap stations arrive, likely in 2026. Until then, Firefly owners will stick with fast charging.
The Firefly isn’t just for Europe. After launching in China earlier this year, NIO plans to expand it to 16 markets worldwide, including Denmark, Portugal, Austria, Poland, Costa Rica, Singapore, and New Zealand. Deliveries in Germany are expected later this autumn, with prices likely around €30k.
Exciting news for the EV industry - Prague, capital of Czech Republic, is upping its game when it comes to public EV chargers!
Prague is planning on adding 1,500 charging stations to its infrastructure, raising its total number of EV public charging stations to over 2,700*. The launch of this project symbolises a step towards green mobility in Prague, increasing the charging infrastructure significantly and, therefore, enabling the transition to cleaner transport!
*Accurate as of August 2025 (Prague currently has 1214 charging stations).
“Without accessible charging options, electromobility will remain the privilege of a small group. Prague must ensure that every resident has the opportunity to make the switch,” - Zdeněk Hřib, Prague’s First Deputy Mayor for Transport.
Prague’s nearly CZK 493 million (over £17 mill / over 20 € mill) charging infrastructure expansion (funded entirely by the city) comes with a list of goals:
Cut greenhouse gas emissions
Improve air quality
Reduce traffic noise
Improving the accessibility for EV owners by adding more chargers will only encourage more EV ownership, thus urging the city towards achieving these goals!
The rollout focus will be on slower (AC) street chargers, prioritising those in residential areas who need on-street chargers due to lack of driveways and home chargers - the majority of people who live in a tightknit city. Slower chargers mean people can happily leave their EVs on charge overnight and wake up in the morning to a fully charged vehicle, a simple and convenient method of charging for those only doing shorter city journeys.
Chargers are expected to appear in the ‘next few years’ but, whilst the timeline isn’t exact at the moment, it’s great to see the first steps towards clean transport in Prague being taken!
Volkswagen has just hit a major EV milestone - delivering its 1.5 millionth all-electric ID. model. The lucky car? A sleek black ID.7 Tourer Pro, built in Emden, a town in Germany, and handed over to its new owner from Vechta in Lower Saxony, Germany!
The handover wasn’t just any key exchange either - Lower Saxony’s Minister President Olaf Lies, plus VW board members Martin Sander and Kai Grünitz, were on site to celebrate. With a range of up to 606 km, the ID.7 Tourer is one of Volkswagen’s crown jewels, and it’s already proving popular - topping German EV registration charts in the first half of 2025.
The first ID.3 hit the roads only five years ago! Since then, VW’s electric family has grown to include the ID.4, ID.5, ID. Buzz, and most recently, the ID.7 and ID.7 Tourer. And with factories like Emden now fully dedicated to electric production, it’s clear VW isn’t just dipping its toes into the EV world - it’s gone all in.
Looking ahead, Volkswagen’s got its sights set on making EVs even more accessible. Coming down the line are the ID.2all (under €25,000/£22,000, expected 2026) and the ID. EVERY1 (around €20,000/£17,000, expected 2027). Affordable, reliable, and sustainable - VW says that’s the goal.
From 1.5 million and counting, the road to mass EV adoption looks a lot smoother when one of the world’s biggest carmakers is putting its weight behind it. And with milestones like this, we can say with confidence that the electric era really is here to stay.
The UK government has given businesses a major boost in their transition to electric vehicles, confirming that the plug-in van and truck grant will now run until 2027. Announced by Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood, the extension provides long-term certainty for fleets planning to invest in zero-emission transport.
The grant directly reduces upfront costs, offering up to £2,500 off small vans, £5,000 off large vans, £16,000 off small trucks, and as much as £25,000 off large trucks. These savings, combined with lower running costs, make EVs an increasingly compelling choice.
| Vehicle Type | Max Savings |
|---|---|
| Small vans | £2,500 |
| Large vans | £5,000 |
| Small trucks | £16,000 |
| Large trucks | £25,000 |
Research suggests businesses could save more than £2,800 a year on fuel alone by switching to electric vans, if you needed another reason for businesses to go electric!
Industry leaders have warmly received the decision. Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), called the extension a “critical step” in driving adoption across commercial fleets. Affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to EV uptake, and grants like this help businesses make the switch with confidence.
Commercial transport accounts for over a third of road CO₂ emissions in the UK, making this move pivotal for the nation’s climate goals. The grant also complements recent government investment in charging infrastructure, including a £30m initiative to install 3,000 depot chargepoints.
With over 1.4 million EVs already on UK roads and charging networks expanding rapidly, the extension of the plug-in van and truck grant helps build real momentum. It gives fleets the stability to plan ahead, while ensuring businesses and communities alike benefit from cleaner air, lower costs, and a greener economy.
Public charging in the UK is about to get a serious boost. Over the next two years, councils are expected to install an additional 24,687 chargers, taking the total to more than 50,000 council-owned EV charge points nationwide.
The move comes as demand grows - more than 10,000 requests for better charging access have already been made by residents, and councils are stepping up to deliver.
Several areas are leading the charge with major rollout plans by 2027:
Tower Hamlets: 2,235 chargers planned
Greenwich: 2,000 - 2,500
Hounslow: 2,000
Brighton & Hove: 1,650
Newham: 1,260
Surrey: 1,120
Today’s front-runners already include:
Westminster: 2,468 chargers (UK’s highest)
Milton Keynes: 956 chargers outside London’s top spot
The upcoming rollout will make public charging more visible, more accessible, and more reliable across the UK. And drivers who took part in a recent Confused.com survey are clear on what would make the switch even easier:
Faster charging times (50%)
More convenient locations (39%)
Better safety & lighting at sites (39%)
Affordable or subsidised charging (30%)
Every new charger rolled out by local councils makes EV adoption easier - particularly for drivers without home charging. Faster, more accessible charging hubs also help fleets, taxis, and commuters.
With government funding continuing to flow, and councils taking a lead role, the UK’s charging landscape is moving in the right direction.