In three short years, battery electric vehicles will be cheaper to produce than ICE vehicles of the same size due to improved manufacturing methods – at least that’s the latest prediction from market research firm Gartner. Of course, those gains may be lost to the rising price of EV repairs.
Gartner predicts, too, that by 2027 15% of EV companies founded since the last decade will be acquired or bankrupt. “This does not mean the EV sector is crumbling,” said Pedro Pacheco, vice president of research at Gartner. “It is simply entering a new phase where companies with the best products and services will win over the remaining.” Of course, at least 18 EV and battery startups that went public in recent years and attracted huge investments are now struggling for cash, with plenty going belly up, including Lordstown Motors and Proterra.
Still, new innovations will push BEV price down, Gartner states. “New OEM incumbents want to heavily redefine the status quo in automotive,” he added. “They brought new innovations that simplify production costs such as centralized vehicle architecture or the introduction of gigacastings that help reduce manufacturing cost and assembly time, which legacy automakers had no choice to adopt to survive.”
By 2027, next-gen BEVs will be cheaper to make than comparable ICE vehicles, with production costs dropping faster than battery costs. But there’s a rub: Repair costs will be more expensive, Gartner says. By 2027, it predicts that the average cost of an EV body and battery “serious accident repair” will increase by 30%.
That means that crashed or damaged cars are more likely to be a total write-off since the repair costs will outweigh residual value, Gartner said. Plus, more expensive crash repairs may lead to pricier insurance premiums or even the refusal of insurance companies to cover particular car models. All this, of course, could incite consumer backlash if reductions in production costs come at the expense of higher repair costs, Gartner warns.
Still, things are looking up for the EV world, Gartner says, with market penetration predicted to grow this year despite all the doom and gloom we’re reading these days. EV shipments are estimated to reach 184. million units this year, and 20.6 million units in 2025. But the mood is changing, less “gold rush” and more “survival of the fittest,” Gartner says.
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Nissan announced the new LEAF will start at just £32,249 in the UK after it became eligible for the maximum discount under the government’s Electric Car Grant.
The new Nissan LEAF gets a price cut with UK EV grant
After the UK government expanded the Electric Car Grant program on Friday, drivers will be able to save £3,750 ($4,900) on the new Nissan LEAF.
Nissan announced that the new 2026 LEAF will start at £32,249 ($42,200), including the grant. The government said in a press release that the discount will help boost Nissan’s sales, while also supporting jobs and UK manufacturing.
The new LEAF is on sale, and Nissan plans to begin production at its Sunderland plant in December. The first customer deliveries are scheduled for February.
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Nissan’s new LEAF will be available in four trims: Engage, Engage +, Advance, and Evolve. Initially, all versions will be equipped with a 75 kWh battery, providing a range of up to 386 miles (WLTP). Nissan said a cheaper 52 kWh battery pack will be available, delivering a range of up to 271 miles, which could bring prices under £30,000 ($39,300).
The new Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)
With 150 kW DC fast charging, the new LEAF can add 273 miles in about 30 minutes. It’s also the first vehicle to feature Nissan’s new 3-in-1 electric powertrain, boasting 160 kW (215 HP) and 355 Nm of torque.
The interior is revamped with new dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens with Google built in. Upgrading to the Engage+ or higher trim gets a bigger 14.3″ multimedia screen.
The interior of the new Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)
Including the new grant, the LEAF Engage+ trim is priced from £33,149, the Advance starts at £34,249, and the Evolve trim from £36,249.
For those in the US, the 2026 Nissan LEAF has the “lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale,” starting at just $29,990. It’s available in three trims: S+, SV+, and Platinum+, offering up to 303 miles of range. That’s a 25% improvement from the outgoing model.
Looking for a smarter, cooler, and genuinely more comfortable way to commute this winter? The NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter has officially entered the chat — and for Black Friday, it’s dropping to an unmissable low price. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to commit to electric travel, this is it.
From November 17 to December 2 (PDT), the NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter is 20% off, reducing the price from USD$949.99 to $759.99. Canadian pricing drops from CAD $1,299.99 to $971.09. (On Amazon, the discount window is November 20 to December 1 (PDT).)
And if that wasn’t already awesome, NAVEE has tacked on an extra 5% off for Electrek readers when you use one of these codes:
Official Website: Use code ST3PRO5 — valid in the US & Canada through February 28, 2026
Amazon: Use code NAVEEST3PRO — valid in the US & Canada through February 28, 2026
Why the NAVEE ST3 Pro is a standout
The NAVEE ST3 Pro pushes the boundaries of what an electric scooter can be. It’s built for real-world riders who want power, range, comfort, and safety with their convenience.
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Auto‑grade ride comfort
The automotive‑grade Damping Arm™ suspension system uses four swinging polymer arms on both front and rear wheels, absorbing impact in ways traditional scooters simply can’t. Whether you’re rolling over brick roads, patched‑up potholes, or gravel, the ST3 Pro smooths out the chaos.
Power that actually counts
The 48-volt platform delivers up to 1350W of peak power, allowing you to power through 28% inclines without any power loss. Switch into Sport Mode when you want max speed of up to 25 mph, confidence, and faster reaction ability.
Safety is priority
With the triple braking system, NAVEE didn’t hold back:
Disc brake
Drum brake
Automotive‑grade eABS + traction control
This blend gives you enhanced stopping precision and a shorter braking distance, even during high‑speed or downhill commutes.
Long ranges that end anxiety
The ST3 Pro features a 596.7Wh battery system offering up to 46.6 miles of TÜV‑certified range at maximum speed. That’s nearly two days of commuting for many riders. For comparison, the ST3 model, with its 477.36Wh battery, achieves a range of up to 37.5 miles.
Regenerative braking adds even more efficiency, reclaiming up to 12% of total range.
Style + smart features
Want a scooter that looks as good as it rides? The ST3 Pro goes full futuristic with ambient lighting built right into the footboard – and not just a basic glow, but 15 fully selectable lighting modes to match your mood. Control it all with a tap in the NAVEE app.
Both the ST3 and ST3 Pro also come fully kitted with commuter‑ready lighting and connectivity:
Bright headlight for late‑night rides
Clean, visible taillight + turn indicators for safer signaling
Full companion app support for smart control, monitoring, and customization
Final thoughts
The NAVEEST3 Pro isn’t just another Black Friday discount — it’s a chance to level up your urban commute with comfort, precision, and premium technology that feels years ahead.
The 20% off sale runs from November 17 to December 2 (PDT) (on Amazon, it runs November 20 to December 1 (PDT)) — don’t miss out. And don’t forget to use the extra 5% off codes for Electrek readers of ST3PRO5 on the official website and NAVEEST3PRO on Amazon.
You can buy the NAVEE ST3 Pro Damping Arm™ Suspension City E-scooter at the following links:
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Yamaha is doubling down on urban electrification in Japan with the launch of its new Jog E electric scooter – and in a twist that we’ve been waiting years to see, it runs on Honda’s Mobile Power Pack e: swappable batteries.
Yamaha shared on its social media that the Jog E is set to begin a region-limited pre-sale on December 22, 2025, exclusively through Yamaha EV shops in Tokyo and Osaka. This rollout makes it the first Yamaha two-wheeler built around the Mobile Power Pack e system, which is becoming Japan’s de facto standard thanks to the joint battery-swap venture Gachaco.
It’s the result of an initiative that began way back in 2019, when many of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers built a consortium to develop a single swappable battery standard. At the time, it was seen largely as a way to compete against Gogoro, which had already developed a single swappable battery standard. Ultimately, instead of developing a battery standard, the consortium simply chose to elect Honda’s relatively little-used battery design as its standard. Now we’re finally seeing that battery employed in another major motorcycle maker’s vehicles.
A Yamaha built for battery swapping
Unlike typical electric scooters sold with a fixed battery, the Jog E is offered as a body-only purchase. Riders must separately subscribe to Gachaco’s paid battery-sharing service, which gives access to swap stations located throughout major cities.
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As of now, Gachaco operates 42 battery swapping stations in Tokyo, 7 stations in Osaka, and 2 stations in Saitama. It’s a far cry from the thousands of stations operated by Taiwanese competitors like Gogoro and Kymco, but it’s a start.
It also means Yamaha is restricting initial sales to Tokyo and Osaka EV stores, ensuring that buyers actually have infrastructure available. Yamaha says standalone batteries and chargers will arrive in the second half of 2026 for riders who prefer to own rather than swap.
Built for stop-and-go city life
Yamaha says the Jog E is tuned specifically for dense urban commuting, with smooth acceleration for constant stop-and-go traffic, plus familiar Yamaha scooter ergonomics and universal EV-forward design touches. We don’t get performance specs yet, but the urban focus means we’re likely looking at limited power and speed figures.
Riders will get two color options at launch: dark gray and light gray. Not exactly going nuts with the color wheel, there.
Pricing lands at 159,500 yen (about US$1,050), though that excludes battery service fees, registration, insurance, and other common costs.
Part of Yamaha’s bigger climate strategy
Yamaha says the Jog E plays a key role in the company’s path toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Specifically, it helps reduce emissions under “Scope 3, Category 11” – basically emissions generated from customers using Yamaha products.
The scooter also symbolizes a closer collaboration among Japan’s Big Four motorcycle makers, all of whom co-founded Gachaco along with energy giant ENEOS. Battery swapping is shaping up to be Japan’s most aggressive approach to mainstreaming electric two-wheelers, and the Jog E is a big step in that direction.
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