In the UK, as in many other countries, the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) has been swift. Incentives, a broader selection of options, and positive public relations have contributed to electric car sales reaching nearly 500,000 vehicles in 2025, accounting for around 24% of the market. However, the government's budget proposal in late November, which introduced new charges for EV owners, may have hindered this momentum.

The UK’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 hinges on replacing millions of petrol and diesel vehicles with cleaner alternatives. But transitioning to electric transport isn’t just about manufacturing new cars, installing chargers and so on. It’s a gargantuan energy generation challenge that could push the power grid to its limits.

The results showed that batteries tested using real-life scenarios degraded substantially slower than expected and had higher battery expectancy than those tested under lab conditions. Even better, the more realistic the battery use, the slower the battery degrades.

Rechargeable batteries are great for storing energy and powering electronics, from smartphones to electric vehicles. In cold environments, however, they can be more difficult to charge and may even catch on fire.

Manufacturers that cannot meet the UK’s 2025 target of 28% of new car sales being EVs may simply stop selling petrol or diesel vehicles rather than risk fines. In the meantime, Chinese EV brands have been recruiting dealerships and showing off their latest models. Chinese cars can offer consumers a combination of low price, good specification, innovative design and technology that is often more advanced than that of “legacy” companies.

This means we will need to rethink how we get around – leaving the car-based model – rather than seeking to replace one kind of technology (the combustion motor) with another (the electric motor).