Daily EV news · Global · 9 November 2026
EV Charging
comemso launches Easy Chester Micro portable tester for AC charger and ISO 15118-2 communication checks
German test-equipment maker comemso has launched the Easy Chester Micro, a 5.4 kg portable tester rated IP 66 when closed, combining charging and communication tests with optional safety tests for AC wall boxes and charging stations. It simulates the vehicle to IEC 61851-1 and SAE J1772, measures Control Pilot voltage, PWM duty cycle and Proximity Pilot values, and sets up ISO 15118-2 communication without an external protocol converter, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen guiding users and no laptop or customer vehicle needed. The report notes that since 8 January 2026 the EU's AFIR has required new or renovated public charging points to comply with EN ISO 15118-1 to 5, and the ISO 15118-2 test also checks the station's powerline communication chip and link to the vehicle.
Why it matters
With AFIR requiring ISO 15118 compliance on new or renovated public points, CPOs and installers need a way to verify communication at commissioning and during maintenance without tying up a vehicle. A single portable tool covering inspection, repair and periodic checks could simplify service workflows and acceptance testing in procurement specifications.
BYD demonstrates robotic arm that plugs in and unplugs electric cars automatically at UAE event
According to a Turkish-language report, BYD showed a robotic arm in the United Arab Emirates that finds the charging inlet by visual recognition, opens the flap, inserts the plug and removes it when charging ends, using force feedback to control insertion. The demonstration paired automatic parking with the robot on a site combining solar panels, energy storage and high power charging equipment, with charging power reported at 1,000 kW. BYD says its Flash Charging reaches up to 1,500 kW per connection under suitable conditions and that its second generation Blade Battery charges from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in five minutes and to 97 per cent in nine; the report also cites a European Flash charging rollout of 100 by the end of 2026 and 3,000 by the end of 2027, though the text provided cuts off, and no launch date for the robot was given.
Why it matters
Automated connection removes the cable handling step and could shape future site specifications for high power and autonomous charging, but with no commercial timeline or pricing stated, it remains a development to watch rather than something to procure. The Europe rollout figures, if confirmed, would signal significant new ultra fast capacity from a vehicle maker.
Paua and Powerverse partner to simplify home EV charging for fleets
Paua, a UK EV charging payment platform for businesses, has partnered with Powerverse to give its customers access to Powerverse's network of compatible home chargers and installation services. Through Powerverse, Paua can now support home charging reimbursement for a wider range of charge points, including Cord, WaEV, KEBA, Injet, Teltonika, go-e, Sevadis, Garo, Stevie and EVTEC. The partnership, reported on 9 November 2026, combines Powerverse's charger sourcing, installation and connected energy platform with Paua's fleet payment and reimbursement technology.
Why it matters
Fleet managers may need to install equipment in hundreds or thousands of homes while collecting reliable charging data and reimbursing drivers, so a single route covering hardware, installation and reimbursement could reduce administrative load. For procurement teams and CPOs, the wider list of supported charge point brands may also widen the hardware choices available for home charging programmes.
Zaptec reaches one million installed EV chargers worldwide
Norwegian charging manufacturer Zaptec has reached one million installed EV chargers worldwide, with the majority in Europe. According to LCP Delta, Zaptec holds approximately 10% of Europe's installed EV charging base across residential and non-residential charging, with leading positions in both segments. The company has focused on EV charging since 2016, expanding from shared charging to home charging and energy management, supported by local sales organisations, distribution partners and a European manufacturing network.
Why it matters
A one million installed base, with roughly 10% of the European market per LCP Delta, shows Zaptec has proven scale in homes, apartment buildings, workplaces and commercial properties. For procurement teams and CPOs, that track record and its European manufacturing and partner network are useful evidence when assessing supplier maturity and support capacity.
Load balancing presented as a way to charge more fleet vehicles without costly power upgrades
In a piece by Phil Wiltshire, contracts manager at Pensdown, the electrical contractor, the argument is that how electricity is distributed at a depot matters as much as the number of charging points installed. Vehicles often return at similar times, concentrating demand, and the number of chargers a site can support is frequently limited by its existing electrical infrastructure. The article positions load balancing as a realistic way to manage that demand without driving up electricity costs or investing heavily in extra power capacity.
Why it matters
For CPOs and installers bidding on depot work, load balancing is a lever for fitting more charge points within a constrained grid connection, which can avoid or defer costly upgrades. It also shapes how tenders should specify capacity, since charger count alone no longer defines what a site can deliver.
Electric Vehicles
Mercedes EQS 450+ covers 539 miles in Edmunds range test
The 2027 Mercedes EQS 450+, which pairs a 122 kWh battery with an 800V architecture, drove 539 miles without charging in the Edmunds EV Range Test, 72 miles beyond its EPA estimate of 467 miles. That makes it the longest range electric sedan Edmunds has tested, ahead of the Lucid Air, with only the Cadillac Escalade IQ higher at 558 miles from a 205 kWh battery. It used 29.6 kWh per 100 miles against an EPA figure of 28, a clear improvement on the 2025 EQS 450+, which managed 464 miles at 34 kWh per 100 miles, and Edmunds recorded a 350 kW peak charging rate with a 222 kW session average.
Why it matters
Real world range above 500 miles means fewer en route charging stops, but when drivers do stop, 800V cars like this can draw a sustained 222 kW on average. Sites competing for these drivers need hardware that delivers high power reliably, not just headline peak ratings.
BMW to expand use of cheaper LFP batteries in selected Neue Klasse EVs
Speaking on BMW's third quarter earnings call, CEO Milan Nedeljkovic confirmed the company will add lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to Neue Klasse vehicles, while keeping cylindrical nickel manganese cobalt cells in most cars for their range. He said BMW will be "very specific in which vehicle and for which purpose", named no models and gave no launch date outside China, where the iX3 30L already uses a 77 kilowatt hour LFP pack. The compact Neue Klasse EV due in 2028 is a likely but unconfirmed candidate, and lower battery costs were not promised to cut sticker prices, as reported in the publication's coverage.
Why it matters
A cheaper, lower range BMW option could widen the customer base for premium EVs and shift charging demand towards buyers who use public networks more often on longer trips. Procurement teams should note that timing, models and pricing remain unconfirmed, so fleet and site planning should not yet rely on it.
Euro Bus Expo 2026 showcases BYD C12 DUO electric coach and new manufacturers entering the UK market
Held at the NEC Birmingham from 3 to 5 November, Euro Bus Expo 2026 brought together more than 80 buses, coaches and minibuses, with Volvo Buses, Wrightbus and Daimler Buses returning after missing the 2024 edition. Highlights included the world premiere of the BYD C12 DUO battery-electric coach, the UK presentation of the next-generation Scania Touring in a battery-electric configuration, and the Scania Irizar i6S Efficient plug-in hybrid coach, winner of the Sustainable Bus Award 2027. Australian manufacturer Custom Denning presented its Element 2.2 battery-electric city bus as it targets the British market, as reported in a show overview.
Why it matters
Electric coaches moving closer to commercial deployment point to a new category of depot and en-route charging demand beyond city buses. More manufacturers entering the UK also widens the range of vehicles and charging requirements that CPOs and fleet charging suppliers will need to plan for.
BYD (global) · Custom Denning (uk) · Higer (global) · Source
Isuzu D-Max EV Cross reviewed as first fully electric D-Max reaches the UK
In a week-long review published by EVNews' source, Matt Smith tests the Isuzu D-Max EV Cross, the first fully electric D-Max on the UK market. It has a 66.9kWh battery, permanent four-wheel drive, a payload of more than one tonne and a maximum braked towing capacity of 3,500kg. The EV Cross is the range-topping version, offered only as a Double Cab, and the review asks whether it can replace a diesel pick-up for working users.
Why it matters
Payload and towing have been the main obstacles to electric pick-ups in fleets, so a model that keeps both raises the prospect of depot and site charging demand from farms, construction firms and utility operators. Procurement teams serving those users should watch how this vehicle's battery size and duty cycle shape charger specification and location.
BYD launches C12 DUO electric coach at Euro Bus Expo 2026 with up to 547 km range and 360 kW charging
BYD gave the C12 DUO its world premiere at Euro Bus Expo 2026 in Birmingham, with the UK as the first market and first deliveries expected in spring 2027. The two axle coach seats up to 57 and offers 429 kWh or 495 kWh LFP batteries, a range of up to 547 km and a 15 year battery warranty. DC charging reaches 215 kW through a single CCS2 connection and 360 kW across two connections, with 1.2 MW Flash Charging support planned later.
Why it matters
Dual CCS2 charging at up to 360 kW and a planned 1.2 MW option point to depot and en route coach charging needs well beyond typical bus installations. CPOs and fleet procurement teams serving tourism, airport transfer and regional routes should consider power capacity and connector provision ahead of 2027 deliveries.
Mercedes AMG electric GT four door simulates V8 sound and gear shifts, according to evo and electrive reviews
On 5 November evo published its test of the electric Mercedes AMG GT four door coupe, unveiled on 20 May 2026, and electrive followed on 8 November with a more reserved view. On the GT 55 and GT 63, the AMGFORCE Sport+ mode combines an interior and exterior V8 sound, simulated gear shifts via the paddles, torque interruptions and a dedicated display. Mercedes says the sound base comes from the GT R, with more than 1,600 files mixed in real time, and that there is no combustion engine or nine speed gearbox. The account comes from Rouleur Électrique, which did not drive the car.
Why it matters
Premium manufacturers are differentiating electric performance cars through software that can be updated and tuned, not through mechanical hardware. The source gives no charging figures, so the link to charging is indirect, but it shows the kind of driver experience that high end EV buyers are being sold.
CATL lists lithium-air batteries among long-term research directions, with a theoretical 3,505 Wh/kg
According to a French-language report citing CarNewsChina, CATL chief scientist Wu Kai named lithium-air technology as one of the group's long-term research axes. Lithium-air cells draw oxygen from the atmosphere to form lithium peroxide on discharge, a reaction reversed on recharge, and calculations put theoretical energy density at around 3,505 Wh/kg, above current lithium-ion and future solid-state batteries. Some commentators speculate about cars covering 2,000 km without recharging, but the report stresses the gap between theoretical potential and real-world performance, and the technology remains experimental.
Why it matters
This is early-stage research with no commercial timeline, so it should not change charger deployment or procurement plans. It is a reminder that long-range vehicle claims rest on theoretical figures, and that near-term charging demand will be shaped by lithium-ion and solid-state developments.
Grid & Energy
Thales warns smarter grids need a clearer view of cyber security as digital dependencies grow
In a piece by Mike Sewart, Chief Technology Officer at Thales UK, the argument is that one of the hardest questions in a grid cyber incident is what can safely be switched off next, not just how the attacker got in. Thales' latest critical infrastructure research found that 76% of organisations in the sector use five or more data protection tools, yet only 40% are confident in their understanding of those tools. The article links the problem to growing links between operational technology, corporate IT, cloud services, remote access, third-party suppliers and intelligent assets at the grid edge, as more renewables, storage and electric vehicles are added.
Why it matters
Charging networks are part of the same increasingly interconnected grid environment, so CPOs and suppliers can expect tougher scrutiny of how their systems, remote access and third-party links behave during an incident. Procurement teams should favour partners who can show clear visibility of dependencies rather than simply a long list of security tools.
COP31 Presidency proposes '35 by 35' electrification goal as infrastructure readiness is questioned
The COP31 Presidency of Türkiye and Australia has proposed raising electricity's share of global final energy consumption from around 20% today to 35% by 2035. In a commentary, Mike Torbitt of Cressall Resistors warns that electrification risks outpacing supporting infrastructure, citing the IEA's Electricity 2026 report forecast of average global demand growth of 3.6% a year between 2026 and 2030. Demand is expected to come from industrial electrification, electric vehicles, air conditioning and data centres, putting pressure on distribution networks, substations and industrial electrical systems.
Why it matters
High-power charging hubs are named alongside factories and data centres as loads that need sufficient grid capacity plus appropriate protection and control systems. CPOs and procurement teams should expect competition for network upgrades and should specify equipment that responds safely to changing operating conditions.