Daily EV news · Global · 9 February 2026
EV Charging
Be.EV and Uber sign exclusive charging discount deal for North West England drivers
Manchester-based Be.EV has launched a 12-month pilot offering discounted ultra-rapid charging rates to Uber drivers using pure-electric vehicles across England's North West. The partnership aims to deliver lower and more predictable charging costs for drivers reliant on public infrastructure, with discounts available at both peak and off-peak times. Be.EV is expanding its network nationally while focusing on locations that match driver routes and needs.
Why it matters
The deal demonstrates how CPOs can secure fleet partnerships by tailoring pricing and network placement to professional drivers without home charging access. It signals a commercial model where ultra-rapid infrastructure becomes essential utility provision for gig-economy fleets, potentially opening procurement opportunities for similar B2B discount schemes in other regions.
Global public charging network added 1.3 million new chargers in 2024, StartUs Insights reports
StartUs Insights' Mobility Market Report 2026 states that 1.3 million new public EV chargers were installed worldwide during 2024. The figure appears in a report tracking global mobility infrastructure trends. The data provides a benchmark for annual charging network expansion across all markets.
Why it matters
The 1.3 million unit figure offers procurement teams and charge point operators a global baseline for comparing regional rollout pace and identifying markets with accelerated or lagging infrastructure investment. Understanding annual installation volumes helps CPOs and funders calibrate capacity planning and competitive positioning.
Electric Vehicles
BYD targets 2027 for limited solid-state battery production after key breakthroughs
BYD confirmed to investors on 9 February 2026 that it expects to begin producing sulfide-based solid-state EV batteries in 2027 in limited batches, following breakthroughs in battery life and fast charging. The company's battery CTO Sun Huajun stated the first two years will serve as a demonstration phase with limited production, with mass production planned toward the end of the decade. BYD is advancing sulfide electrolytes that promise superior conductivity, safety and significantly higher energy density compared to traditional liquid lithium-ion batteries.
Why it matters
Solid-state batteries with faster charging and higher energy density could reshape EV infrastructure requirements and charging-site economics from 2027 onward. CPOs and procurement teams should monitor BYD's timeline as the technology may influence future charging-power specifications and site-design standards once mass production begins later in the decade.