Tag Archives: EVs

News

ADAC’s Long-Haul EV Showdown: Who Really Rules the Electric Autobahn?

If you’ve spent any time in an EV forum, you’ve heard it all before: “This car charges at 350 kW!” or “This one does 800 kilometers on a charge!” But in the real world—where temperatures fluctuate, chargers age, and batteries heat up—those manufacturer promises often melt faster than a lithium pack under peak load.

So Germany’s ADAC decided to put a little truth serum into the mix. Their approach was refreshingly simple: simulate a long-distance trip across the autobahn, include a single fast-charging stop, and measure what actually happens—not what glossy sales brochures claim should happen.

The result? A surprisingly shuffled hierarchy of long-distance champions, proving once again that usable long-range performance isn’t just about battery size. It’s about chemistry, thermal management, efficiency… and, critically, how long a car can sustain fast-charging speeds, not just the number a manufacturer brags about on paper.

How ADAC Measured the Real Winners

Each EV was run under identical conditions, driven through 90% of its usable battery, then plugged into a fast charger for exactly 20 minutes. ADAC then combined the pre-charge and post-charge totals into a single “grand-touring range” metric.

The magic of this test? It reflects what drivers actually experience: start driving, recharge briefly, and keep going. No lab conditions. No fantasy numbers.

And the outcome produced a top-10 list where several cars crossed the 800-kilometer barrier—one even flirted with a thousand.

The Top Performers: Real-World Range Royalty

1. Porsche Taycan Performance Plus – 981 km (513 + 468 km)

The Taycan didn’t just win—it dominated. Porsche’s 97-kWh sports sedan delivered a staggering 981 kilometers of total travel, pairing solid baseline range with unmatched charging stamina. Its 468 kilometers gained in a single 20-minute session was the highest of the entire test, finally silencing anyone who thought Porsche’s vaunted charging curve was marketing hype.

2. Hyundai IONIQ 6 2WD – 931 km (502 + 429 km)

Hyundai continues to embarrass legacy automakers with physics-defying efficiency. Despite having one of the smallest batteries in the test (77.4 kWh), the IONIQ 6 nearly cracked the 1,000-kilometer club. It didn’t just beat bigger, pricier cars—it humiliated them.

3. Audi A6 Avant e-tron Performance – 921 km (524 + 397 km)

Audi’s long-roof EV proved that the brand’s upcoming next-gen electric architecture has serious legs. With over 900 kilometers of combined range, the A6 Avant sits just a whisker behind Hyundai—and does so with a more conventional German luxury demeanor.

Efficiency vs. Battery Size: The Plot Twist

Interestingly, none of the top three were the efficiency kings. Four other EVs actually outperformed the Taycan in pure battery-only range. The surprise leader?

BMW iX xDrive50 – 553 km before charging

Despite weighing roughly as much as a small moon, the iX squeezed the most kilometer-per-kWh results in the group. Credit its massive 111-kWh pack—but also BMW’s excellent highway tuning. Yet its charging recovery (282 km) couldn’t keep pace with Porsche and Hyundai, dropping it to sixth overall.

The Remaining Contenders

Here’s how the rest of the top 10 shook out:

  1. Audi Q6 e-tron Performance – 884 km (509 + 375 km)
  2. Lucid Air Grand Touring AWD – 859 km (550 + 309 km)
  3. BMW iX xDrive50 – 835 km (553 + 282 km)
  4. Hyundai IONIQ 9 Techniq – 832 km (482 + 350 km)
  5. Mercedes EQS 450+ – 825 km (521 + 304 km)
  6. XPeng G6 Long Range – 820 km (454 + 366 km)
  7. Mercedes EQE SUV 350+ – 806 km (503 + 303 km)

The standout among the final group is the XPeng G6—the only Chinese EV to elbow into the top ten, and with impressive charging recovery to boot.

What This Test Really Shows

EV road-tripping is no longer an experiment—it’s everyday reality. But ADAC’s results highlight some big takeaways:

  • Fast-charging curves matter more than peak kW numbers. Sustained power beats momentary spikes.
  • Battery size isn’t destiny. Hyundai’s IONIQ 6 proves efficiency can trump capacity.
  • Premium brands aren’t guaranteed winners. Porsche and Audi deliver—but Hyundai is right there with them.
  • China is coming. XPeng’s appearance in the top 10 won’t be its last.

Long-distance EV travel may still require planning, but range anxiety is rapidly becoming yesterday’s problem. And if Porsche keeps this up, the 1,000-kilometer barrier might not last long.

Source: ADAC

News

Spain Drops €1.28B to Go All-In on EVs by 2035

Spain just fired the loudest shot yet in Europe’s electric-vehicle transition. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a sweeping €1.28 billion support package designed to supercharge both EV adoption and manufacturing in 2026—and ultimately transform the country’s auto sector by 2035.

For a nation that has long been Europe’s second-largest carmaker, the stakes are high. Internal-combustion manufacturing still dominates Spanish assembly lines, but the government’s new plan aims to boost the EV share of production to 95 percent within a decade. It’s a massive pivot, and Madrid is making it clear: build electric or fall behind.

A Three-Part Plan to Spark an Electric Surge

The funding package hits three crucial areas of the EV ecosystem:

  • €400 million in direct subsidies will go toward consumer incentives, making electric cars more attainable for everyday buyers. Spain has long lagged behind northern Europe in EV uptake, and the government hopes the extra financial push will widen the market.
  • €580 million will flow into industrial investment, backed by EU recovery funds. This is meant to keep automakers operating in Spain—and encourage them to build their next generation of electric platforms locally rather than offshore.
  • €300 million is earmarked for charging infrastructure, focused on expanding highway fast-charging coverage. Range anxiety still looms large for Spanish drivers, especially outside major cities, and Madrid wants that barrier gone.

Saving Jobs by Electrifying the Assembly Line

The shift isn’t just about climate commitments; it’s also about employment. Hundreds of thousands of jobs in Spain depend on the auto industry, and the government is signaling that the only way to preserve them is to transform them. With domestic EV production still sitting at just 10 percent of new vehicles built between January and October, Spain is racing to catch up.

Hybrid powertrains—those blending gasoline engines with batteries—made up 26.7 percent of the cars rolling out of Spanish factories during the same period. But if Sánchez’s projections hold, by the mid-2030s Spaniards will be buying almost exclusively electric vehicles.

A Quiet Battery Giant Has Already Arrived

One major player is already moving in: CATL, China’s battery titan, recently opened a Spanish plant in partnership with Stellantis. The €4-billion project anchors part of Spain’s EV supply chain, but it also raises concerns about overreliance on foreign technology. Madrid’s message here is unmistakable—Spain wants local innovation, not just local assembly.

The Road Ahead

If Spain pulls this off, the country could leapfrog into a leadership position in Europe’s electric future. But there are hurdles: consumer adoption remains slow, supply chains are still forming, and competition across Europe is fierce.

Still, with more than a billion euros now on the table and an aggressive timeline, Spain isn’t just dipping a toe into the EV pool—it’s diving in headfirst. Whether the industry can swim fast enough remains the question.

Source: Reuters; Photo: EPA

NEW CARS

2026 Cupra Raval — The Small EV With Big Attitude

Cupra has dropped the first official photos of its upcoming electric hatchback, the 2026 Raval, and even though the prototype is still wearing heavy camouflage, the message is loud and clear: this isn’t just another city-friendly EV. It’s a statement piece. And a spicy one at that.

The Raval rides on the Volkswagen Group’s updated MEB+ platform, which will also underpin the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo, ID. Cross, and Škoda Epic. All four will be built in Spain, but Cupra isn’t merely borrowing the architecture—it’s leading chassis development for the entire family. That sets expectations high, especially since the brand has become the VW Group’s designated “performance soul.”

Small Footprint, Big Character

At roughly 4 meters long, the Raval sits firmly in the subcompact category, but Cupra doesn’t want you thinking of it as a simple runabout. Engineers dropped the ride height 15 mm compared with other MEB+ models, stiffened the suspension, and fitted progressive steering to give the Raval the sharpness its badge demands.

Adaptive dampers (Cupra’s Dynamic Chassis Control) likely won’t be part of the base package, but the entry version still delivers a 211-hp single front electric motor, which should be more than enough to give lightweight hatchback vibes a proper electrified punch. Battery specs remain under wraps, yet Cupra claims an official range of 450 km—a strong figure for its segment.

Trims and Tech: From Dynamic to VZ

The Raval will launch with multiple trims, starting with the Dynamic model. Step up to Dynamic Plus, and Cupra adds a more premium feature set: additional ADAS, intelligent parking functions, matrix LED headlights, sport seats, and a 12-speaker Sennheiser audio system—a rare flex in its class.

But enthusiasts will be eyeing the VZ, Cupra’s performance-focused trim. Power climbs to 226 hp, and the chassis gets a serious upgrade with an electronic differential, sportier steering calibration, and a 10-mm wider track. The VZ also rolls on standard 19-inch wheels with a distinctive circular-saw design—one of Cupra’s boldest wheel styles yet. Inside, the VZ gets deeper sport seats wrapped in Dinamica material.

There is a trade-off: range drops to 400 km, a penalty that comes with the added performance and larger wheels.

Pricing and Arrival

Cupra plans to open sales in 2026, with the first Raval variants priced from €26,000. More affordable versions—likely using smaller motors—may follow.

If Cupra delivers on its promise of mixing everyday usability with hot-hatch energy, the Raval could become one of the most compelling small EVs on the market. Based on what we’ve seen so far, it’s shaping up to be the attitude-packed electric hatch we didn’t realize we were waiting for.

Source: Cupra