TEN Episode 562 | Ford Kills The Lightning EV, Trump Kills Climate Research, Europe Backtracks

Welcome to this week’s episode of TEN — Transport Evolved News! Today on the show: Ford kills the F150 Lightning EV, cancels its T3, and future electric van projects - while refusing to bring the Ranger PHEV to the U.S., promising a plug-in hybrid Lightning (EREV) to replace the EV variant - and selling its batteries to AI farms. Plus, Europe backtracks on its ICE car ban, and President Trump's cabinet prepares to kill one of the world's premiere climate research bodies. Find full show notes, links to covered stories, and script at: https://www.transportevolved.com/2025/12/19/ten-episode-562-ford-kills-the-lightning-ev-trump-kills-climate-research-europe-backtracks/ --- *👥 Today’s Sponsors* 🌱 Electric Vehicle Association - https://www.myeva.org ⚡ EnergySage - https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-101290941-16952262 — ✊ Get Involved 🗳️ https://indivisible.org/town-hall-resources ❤️ Support the Show 📰 https://www.transportevolved.com 🔥 https://www.patreon.com/transportevolved ☕ https://ko-fi.com/transportevolved 📺 https://www.youtube.com/transportevolved 👕 https://www.redbubble.com/people/TransportEVd/ 🛍️ https://amzn.to/40xOyjm ₿ 1QRZRGCCXUKPDZ2DZ9KX9JYJXMZDYHYGFZ0MN4WH 💬 Join the Conversation 🐘 https://mastodon.transportevolved.com/@show 💬 https://discord.gg/9WAjfQn 🌀 https://bsky.app/profile/transportevolved.bsky.social 🔁 Subscribe to our 2nd channel - https://www.youtube.com/transportevolvedtake2 ---- *⏱️ Episode Timeline & Sources* 00:00 - Intro & sponsor shoutouts🎙️ 00:23 - Welcome 👋 00:29 - Editorial & viewer warning 01:14 - Ford kills F150 Lightning, will replace with EREV, no US PHEV Ranger ⚰️ 02:33 - EU weakens CO₂ targets & EV plans🌫️ 03:47 - Automakers may get super credits for compact EVs 🏅 04:57 - T&E warns push to PHEVs over EVs is bad ⚠️ 06:12 - VW ID. Polo to launch with 4 power levels 🔌 07:09 - Australia’s grid could be ⅓ cheaper with 82% renewables 🇦🇺 08:24 - Waymo raises $15B 💰 09:27 - Nissan Leaf UK series production 🍃 10:25 - Hyundai ramps up US EV production 🇺🇸 11:44 - Trump admin kills climate research 🛢️ 13:01 - Sponsor: Energy Sage!🌞 14:15 - Mercedes AMG EQE recall: warning sound 🔊 14:35 - Zero DSX/DSR recall: power issues 🔧 14:46 - Ford e-Transit recall: axle issue 🔩 15:06 - UK Royal Mail adds 8,000th EV 📦 15:24 - EU/China discuss min EV pricing 💰 15:36 - Anaphite secures funding 💸 15:53 - Fiat delays Grande Panda UK 🐢 16:06 - Scania 8x4 heavy tipper EV 🚛 16:19 - Renault drops “Mobilize” programs 🛑 16:30 - Ford EV battery facility → AI batteries 🤖 16:45 - Rad Power Bikes bankrupt 🚲 16:56 - Nio launches all EVs in Thailand 🚀 17:09 - Lucid & KACST EV innovation centre Riyadh 🏙️ 17:20 - Changan expands sales in Europe 🌍 17:35 - EVGo accelerates EV charging prefab skids 🏗️ 17:50 - Ford cancels new EV van, will make hybrids ❌ 18:04 - LAZ invests in Epic Charging, 50k stations 🔌 18:16 - Kia EV discounts extend to other markets 💸 18:27 - BYD teases new flagship EV SUV & Sedan ✨ 18:38 - BMW & Encroy announce EV battery recycling ♻️ 18:50 - ACEA Board gets hydrogen fan 🔥 19:00 - China to regulate EV prices 📉 19:11 - Renault Twingo E-Tech Europe 🚗 19:22 - Rivian software: digital keys & hands-free 📲 19:34 - VW designs vehicle w/ no steering wheel/pedals 🧠 19:45 - BMW Munich ready for Neue Klasse ⚙️ 19:57 - CustomCells out of insolvency 🔄 20:11 - UK gov accelerates ZEV restructuring 🇬🇧 20:24 - Ford cancels EV battery deal w/ LGES ❌ 20:41 - Quantumscape secures top-10 automaker client 🤝 20:50 - EU funds German truck motorway charging 🛣️ 20:59 - Windrose targets 5% market share by 2030 📈 21:12 - Hongqi plans solid-state EVs from 2027 🧪 21:25 - Seat opens battery plant Martorell, Spain 🔋 21:37 - Orbit Clipper 1st all-electric London voyage ⛴️ 21:49 - Nio starts RHD Firefly production 🏭 21:59 - VW keeps ID3 & Cupra Born production 🇩🇪 22:10 - Sweden EV incentive greenlit ✅ 22:22 - Renault Trucks electrifies EU logistics corridor 🚚 22:34 - WeLion claims massive energy density breakthrough 💥 22:48 - Jaguar targets $300k EVs 💸 23:06 - Tesla must change CA ads or lose license 📢 23:21 - Fortescue 2nd Infiniti train mines 🚂 23:33 - Lucid pre-certified program ✅ 23:44 - Polestar 4 deliveries North America 📦 23:58 - Motiv & Workhorse merge 🤝 24:12 - Battery storage hits $65/GWh 🔋 24:34 - Sponsor - You! 📣 26:30 - Electric pickups soar elsewhere, right-sized 📈 27:49 - ¼ of new 2025 cars are EVs ⚡ 29:13 - Thanks & Goodbye! 👋 ----- *🎙️ Credits:* Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Camera, Color: Vi Horton Art & Animation: Erin Carlie Producer: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Music: via Artlist.io © Transport Evolved LLC, 2025