Welcome to the September edition of Electro Beat - your monthly roundup of the biggest stories shaping the electric vehicle world. This month, we’ve got a mix of music, mobility, and milestones: Sam Fender breaks new ground with an all-electric tour, Fastned unveils its largest and greenest charging hub in Belgium, and Vietnam’s motorbike market sees a surge in EV adoption led by Dat Bike. Keep reading to discover more stories!
Let’s get plugged in..
Singer-songwriter, Sam Fender, has officially become the first artist to ensure all vehicles on the summer leg of his tour were electric! Whilst live music tours are often environmentally unfriendly, with artists taking private jets around the world, Sam Fender’s paving the way to a new and more sustainable way to tour.
Spanning over 900 miles in total, Sam Fender’s summer leg of his tour named ‘People Watching’, was completed with the help of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Their partnership provided Sam Fender with four electric trucks, which took him from: Manchester (England) to Edinburgh (Scotland) and Belfast (Northern Ireland) to Stradbally (Ireland)!
Sam Fender, known for his famous hit ‘Seventeen Going Under’, stated:
“We’ve just finished our summer tour where we used some Mercedes-Benz electric trucks with help from KB Event. Hopefully, this will show what can be achieved on future tours, and other artists will jump on board too.”
The trucks Sam Fender used were eActros 600s; this make of truck also recently won the “International Truck of the Year” award!
Let’s take a look at some of the stats and see why the eActros 600 won this award:
500 kilometres of range before needing to recharge!
Predictive Powertrain Control - an intelligent cruise control system used in heavy-duty trucks, utilised to: anticipate road topography (hills, curves, obstacles etc.), optimise speed and increase battery efficiency.
A maximum output of 600kW!
On a megawatt charger, the eActros 600 will be able to charge from 20% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes.
According to the International Truck of the Year site, “the judging is based on a number of critical criteria, including: technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, energy efficiency, environmental footprint, and total cost of ownership (TCO)”.
Overall, this was a great step forward in the transition to electric transportation and we look forward to seeing what Sam Fender and other artists pledge to do next!
On 17th September 2025, Fastned officially opened its largest charging hub to date at Gentbrugge on Belgium’s busy E17 highway. When Fastned first won the Gentbrugge site, it was nothing more than an empty parking lot. Now, it’s been transformed into a functioning service hub with everything from fast charging for cars, vans and trucks to a restaurant, 24/7 shop, play areas, picnic benches, and even showers.
With 16 ultra-fast 400kW chargers for cars and vans on each side of the highway (32 total), plus 4 dedicated truck chargers. Under Fastned’s signature solar tree canopies, drivers can add hundreds of kilometres of range in the time it takes to enjoy a coffee.
With trucks making up about 25% of Europe’s road transport emissions, Gentbrugge includes four 400kW CCS chargers designed for heavy vehicles. Accessible from both sides of the highway, these spots are built to handle the unique needs of truck drivers, supporting Europe’s push toward electrified logistics.
Located on the busy E17, which connects Antwerp to northern France, the station makes long EV road trips and freight transits, like Amsterdam to Paris, easier than ever.
On top of restaurants and coffee, Fastned partnered with One Hundred Restrooms to provide clean, modern, and secure bathrooms. Drivers can also take advantage of warm showers, making it an ideal refresh point for long-haul truckers.
Unlike traditional service areas that focus on cars first, Gentbrugge was designed with people in mind. Green landscaping, play areas, and picnic spots make the stop feel more like a park than a gas station, creating a place where families and commuters alike can actually relax.
The entire Gentbrugge site runs on 100% renewable energy, with a green roof, rainwater recycling, and an on-site wastewater treatment system. Even the benches are made from recycled Fastned materials.
As Program Manager, Rafael Nuñez Larios put it:
“Every company talks about sustainability - we wanted to make it real and embed it in every aspect of this station.”
With Gentbrugge, Fastned now operates 47 stations in Belgium and more than 380 across nine countries. By the end of 2025, the network is set to hit 400+ locations, with a goal of 1,000 by 2030.
Green NCAP has introduced a new, super comprehensive sustainability rating system that evaluates a vehicle’s total environmental impact, from manufacturing to recycling. The initial results are in, and they show that electric vehicles (EVs) come out on top.
The MINI Cooper E and FIAT 600e were top performers, scoring 97% and 96% respectively. Their impressive performance is thanks to their modest battery sizes. This design choice not only makes them more efficient on the road but also significantly reduces the environmental impact of their production.
This new rating system goes beyond traditional tailpipe emissions, assessing factors like the energy required for vehicle manufacturing and emissions from brake and tyre wear. This so-called "cradle-to-grave" approach gives a really transparent, complete picture of a car’s true environmental footprint.
Whether you're managing a fleet or simply driving your own car, these new ratings offer a straightforward way to see the full picture and make a truly informed choice!
Mini Cooper E
FIAT 600e
Citroën ë-C3
Volvo EX30
Mercedes-EQ EQE 350+
Vietnam’s electric motorbike scene is heating up - and local startup Dat Bike just raised $22 million to take on giants like Honda and Yamaha in one of the fastest-growing two-wheeler EV markets in the world.
Motorbikes are central to daily life in Vietnam, with 13.5 million petrol bikes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City alone. But with rising pollution and new government policies, electric alternatives are speeding onto the streets.
Vietnam = 3rd largest EV motorbike market globally (behind China & India).
Sales jumped 99% in early 2025, with over 209,000 units sold in 2024.
Dat Bike will expand production capacity from 30,000 → 100,000 units/year by 2026.
Plans to double retail stores to 50 this year.
International ambitions: pilot in Thailand later this year, full entry in 2026.
Hanoi plans to phase out gas motorbikes in central districts within a year, with a full fossil-fuel vehicle ban by 2030.
Ho Chi Minh City is preparing to replace 400,000 petrol bikes with EVs starting next year.
Battery swapping stations are being introduced to make charging faster and more convenient.
Why it matters: Vietnam’s shift shows how EV adoption isn’t just about cars. In markets where two-wheelers dominate, the transition could have an even bigger impact on cutting emissions and improving air quality.
Kerbo Charge has unveiled Kerbo Glide, a brand-new product designed to make charging electric vehicles (EVs) at home easier for disabled drivers. Developed in collaboration with Motability Operations and shaped by feedback from real EV users, Kerbo Glide tackles one of the biggest barriers faced by disabled drivers without a driveway: the physical challenges of plugging in at home.
Kerbo Glide is designed to work seamlessly with Kerbo Charge’s cross-pavement charging system, which safely routes charging cables across pavements without creating trip hazards.
Until now, many disabled drivers have found charging physically difficult, especially if bending, kneeling, or using both hands was required. The Glide tool solves this by being:
Lightweight and simple to handle
Usable with one hand
Operable from a seated position, making it suitable for some wheelchair users
This means disabled drivers who once struggled to plug in their EVs can now charge more independently and comfortably.
For many disabled drivers, home charging has been one of the biggest obstacles to going electric. By reducing physical barriers, Kerbo Glide helps ensure that no one is left behind in the transition to electric mobility. Early feedback has been highly positive, with Motability Scheme drivers praising it as “the perfect solution” for those who find bending or stooping difficult.
Kerbo Glide is priced at £59 and is available to pre-order now, with deliveries expected in December 2025.
Local authorities across the UK are already supporting Kerbo Charge’s pavement channel system, meaning Kerbo Glide could quickly become part of a much wider rollout of inclusive charging options nationwide.
Accessibility isn’t just about individual drivers; fleets face the same challenge. Kerbo Charge’s cross-pavement charging channel offers a practical solution:
Installed in partnership with 27 local authorities (and expanding)
Flush with pavements, with a self-closing lid for safety
Lets drivers use cheaper overnight electricity tariffs
The government’s new £650m EV grant scheme may already be doing its job. According to a survey commissioned by Renault, more than a third of UK drivers (35%) say the incentive has made them more likely to buy an electric car.
The effect is most pronounced in the capital. Over half of Londoners (54%) surveyed said the grant has increased their likelihood of going electric - a promising sign for one of the UK’s busiest car markets.
The scheme, which launched last month, gives buyers access to two tiers of support:
Top-tier grant - £3,750: Already awarded to Ford’s Puma Gen-E, the first car to qualify.
Second-tier grant - £1,500: Available across Renault’s electric lineup, including the Renault 4, Renault 5, Megane, and Scenic.
To find out more about the grant, check out our blog The Electric Car Grant is back: Get up to £3,750 off a new EV in the UK
Championship-winning driver Jason Plato welcomed the results as a sign of real momentum:
“More and more people are switching on to the benefits of electric motoring. These results highlight how, when great savings are available on great cars, the grant is working to persuade buyers to move to electric.”
Nationally, the survey also found that 55% of respondents expect to buy an EV within the next two years - reflecting a significant acceleration in consumer intent. So far in 2025, 21.9% of new car registrations have already been electric.
The poll also highlighted differing attitudes across age and gender:
Younger drivers (under 34): 85% expect to switch within two years.
Older drivers (55+): Just 27% are likely to do so in the same timeframe, with concerns focused on range (45%) and charging availability (47%).
Men vs women: 63% of men say they’re likely to switch soon, compared to 46% of women, who prioritise affordability and a stronger second-hand EV market.
Looking ahead
Education will play a big role in bridging these gaps, Plato suggested:
“While we have to respect people’s concerns, many of them are looking outdated as some of the latest cars to be launched offer incredible technology at great value.”
It's full steam ahead for Rivian as the company begins construction on a massive new production facility in Georgia. This multi-billion-dollar investment isn't just a big win for the local community; it's a major step forward for the entire electric vehicle market. The new plant will be the home of Rivian’s next-generation vehicles, including the highly anticipated R2 SUV and R3 crossover, which are designed to be more accessible and affordable.
This new facility, which is expected to begin production in 2028, will have the capacity to produce up to 400,000 vehicles annually once fully operational. That’s a huge number! This signals a major shift in the industry, where EVs are in high demand as they become the norm.
This investment is a powerful signal of the automotive industry's commitment to EVs and that Rivian is thinking long term. By expanding production on this scale, companies like Rivian are accelerating the availability of next-generation EVs, making it simpler for everyone, from large fleets to individual drivers, to make the switch to electric.
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