Daily EV news · UK · 4 January 2026
Electric Vehicles
Battery electric cars set to outnumber diesels in Great Britain by 2030 as diesel fleet falls 21 per cent from peak
Battery electric vehicles are on track to overtake diesel cars on Great Britain's roads by 2030, with diesel numbers dropping to 9.9 million in June last year, down 21 per cent from a 12.4 million peak, according to New AutoMotive analysis. London is predicted to become the first UK city to go diesel free, driven largely by the ultra low emission zone. However, the transition to cleaner vans lags behind, with diesel vans reaching a record 4.4 million.
Why it matters
The accelerating shift from diesel to battery electric cars will drive sustained demand for public and workplace charging infrastructure across Great Britain, with London's diesel phase out likely requiring the earliest and densest network build. The slower van electrification signals a gap in commercial charging provision that procurement teams and charge point operators must address to support fleet operators.
UK security review finds Chinese Yutong buses could be remotely disabled via internet connection
Security officials from the Department for Transport and the National Cyber Security Centre have concluded it is technically possible for approximately 700 Yutong electric buses operating in major UK cities to be shut down remotely through their internet connected SIM cards, which are normally used for maintenance and software updates. The review, launched late last year following warnings in Norway about remote access to Yutong bus batteries, found no evidence that such a shutdown has ever occurred. Investigators describe the vulnerability as a potential kill switch scenario.
Why it matters
The finding may influence future procurement decisions for public transport operators evaluating Chinese manufactured electric buses, particularly as cybersecurity becomes a key criterion alongside cost and performance. Operators with existing Yutong fleets may face pressure to implement additional security measures or consider alternative suppliers for fleet expansion.