This Week in EV: Marriage or Divorce

We kick off this week with the will they won’t they between Honda and Nissan continuing, last week it looked like their merger was off but there might be a way back to the negotiating table. It’s been reported that Honda would reopen talks if the CEO of Nissan stepped down. It’s a big if but it seems possible with talks of renault and other board members keen for the CEO to step down given the precarious nature of the business at the moment. With both companies struggling to keep pace in the EV market, a partnership could provide the scale and technology sharing needed to compete with Tesla, BYD, and emerging Chinese brands. However, cultural and strategic differences have derailed similar deals in the past. If this one goes ahead, it could reshape Japan’s auto industry.

Tesla is testing new anti-theft measures at its Superchargers as criminals target high-value copper wiring in charging cables. The issue has left some sites unusable, frustrating drivers and highlighting an unexpected challenge for EV infrastructure. Solutions being trialled include reinforced cables that have the Tesla’s ownership engraved on them and explosive dye similar to that used by banks and others who transport large amounts of cash.

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi’s upcoming Yu7 EV has surfaced in regulatory filings, revealing an estimated range of over 500 miles under the generous CLTC scheme but it's still likely to be an eye catching 400-450 miles in the real world. If accurate, this would put Xiaomi among the best in the industry, rivalling the likes of Tesla and Lucid. Particularly given the range is coming from a 96.3 kWh battery meaning an incredibly efficient vehicle. While Xiaomi is still a newcomer to the car game, its deep pockets and tech expertise make it one to watch. The real question: can it scale production and compete with established automakers, or will it go the way of other tech firms that have struggled in the EV space?

BYD has confirmed that its firsts EVs will be equipped with all-solid-state batteries by 2027 albeit in a demonstration phase until 2030. In 2030 BYD expects to adopt solid state batteries in mass production. The company said the expect the batteries to last longer offer faster charging and be more stable than current batteries. BYD aren’t alone in aiming for 2027 with CATL also looking to produce all-solid-state batteries in small volumes in 2027.

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