A Rapidly Changing Electric Landscape

The electric vehicle (EV) industry has long moved beyond early adoption. The latest wave of developments—ranging from Tesla’s significant software strategy shift to Volkswagen’s breakthrough in global EV sales—shows that the transition to electric mobility is accelerating in both scope and complexity. From the fall of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure to the soaring popularity of two-wheel electrics, everything suggests that battery technology and smarter energy networks are rapidly becoming the defining foundation of global transport.

Tesla’s FSD Shake-Up: End of an Era

Perhaps the most surprising change comes from Tesla, which has announced that it will stop selling its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software outright, instead moving entirely to a subscription model. For years, Tesla marketed FSD as a permanent, premium add-on, integral to its appeal as a tech-forward automaker. This change represents a fundamental rethinking of how Tesla monetizes autonomous driving capabilities—and reinforces the growing trend of vehicle features being locked behind ongoing service charges rather than one-time purchases.

The shift may unsettle some owners who saw the previous purchase model as a long-term investment. Still, Tesla’s pivot underscores the importance of recurring revenue as EV makers increasingly resemble software companies operating on data and continuous updates.

Hydrogen’s Fading Future

At the same time that Tesla reorients toward new business models, other energy technologies are quietly being abandoned. A report highlights that the number of hydrogen refuelling stations is plummeting across Europe, as hydrogen cars fail to gain traction against the vastly expanding fleet of battery-electric vehicles. Infrastructure operators and policymakers appear to have concluded that hydrogen’s role in light vehicle fleets will remain minor, largely confined to niche use cases or heavy industry.

This decline marks a turning point in the clean energy narrative. Just a decade ago, hydrogen vehicles were touted as the future of zero-emission transport. But cost, inefficiency, and lack of consumer uptake have rendered them an evolutionary dead end—at least for now.

Charging Challenges: The Hotel Dilemma

While EVs surge ahead, charging costs remain a flashpoint—especially in the hospitality sector. A growing number of hotels and motels, once offering complimentary or low-cost destination charging, now impose steep fees for EV charging, mirroring the unpopular rise of paid internet access in hotels years ago. Such pricing trends threaten to discourage adoption at a time when travelers increasingly rely on destination charging to make long-distance electric trips feasible.

The move has reignited debate about the fairness of charging fees and whether accommodation providers should treat EV infrastructure as an essential amenity rather than a luxury service.

Volkswagen’s Big Leap

The data coming from Europe paints a different picture for legacy automakers. Volkswagen delivered nearly one million all-electric vehicles in 2025, representing a 32% increase over 2024, even as total sales declined. This growth signals that traditional manufacturers are completing their transition into electric mobility leaders. Global EV supply chains are maturing, production efficiency is improving, and consumer confidence in mainstream EVs continues to rise.

Volkswagen’s success illustrates how major automakers that once lagged behind Tesla and BYD are now gaining momentum through diversified offerings like the ID.4, ID.5, and ID. Buzz—vehicles that span multiple price segments and body styles.

The Human Element: Road Trips and Real-Life Range

Yet, for all the progress, range anxiety continues to loom large. One story captures the experience of an EV road trip rookie installing a remote charger in rural Australia, underscoring both the ingenuity and frustration of driving beyond urban charging corridors. For many potential EV buyers, the fear of long stretches between chargers persists, particularly when venturing beyond metropolitan networks.

The anecdote reveals that despite technological advances, real-world logistics—and the reliability of infrastructure—remain key to convincing more motorists that EVs can truly go anywhere.

The Rise of the Tiny EV: BYD’s Minimalist Move

On the other end of the market, innovation continues at the smaller scale. BYD’s new city car, the Racco, introduces a compact design with a 20 kWh battery aimed at urban drivers. Initially slated for Japan, it represents a vision of electric mobility that is not only efficient but accessible. The subcompact model is designed to cater to densely populated areas where space, affordability, and range efficiency matter more than power or luxury.

BYD’s strategy demonstrates how EVs are evolving into diverse solutions rather than one-size-fits-all products. As cities increasingly favour smaller, lighter vehicles with minimal environmental impact, cars like the Racco may shape the next generation of everyday transport.

Electric Two-Wheelers Take Center Stage

Amid all the talk of cars, 2025 also marked a breakthrough for electric two-wheelers, which captured a remarkable 15% share of the global market, led by adoption surges in China and Vietnam. Electric motorcycles and scooters are providing affordable, efficient solutions for urban mobility, particularly in regions where car ownership remains impractical or costly. These figures reveal an often-overlooked truth: the electric transition isn’t just about cars but about redefining personal transportation across all vehicle types.

Safety Challenges: The Volvo EX30 Fire Risk

Even as adoption grows, safety remains a headline issue. Reports of Volvo EX30 battery fire warnings have sparked discussion about lithium-ion battery risks and safety management. Experts are now looking closely at how battery design and chemistry intersect with real-world usage—and how lessons from one model can influence best practices across the industry.

Shifting Market Dynamics and the Used EV Boom

Finally, Australia’s second-hand vehicle market confirms that EVs are now part of the mainstream car economy. Data shows soaring sales of used hybrids and electric vehicles, reflecting greater trust in long-term battery performance and reduced fear of obsolescence.

This new phase of consumer confidence indicates the maturity of the EV sector: once new technology stabilizes, cars stay valuable in the resale market, reinforcing their practicality and expanding ownership to new budgets.

The Road Ahead

Taken together, these developments paint a vivid picture of an EV era in transformation. From subscription-based autonomy to shrinking hydrogen hubs, from affordable microcars to global delivery fleets, the momentum is undeniable. Energy infrastructure, policy frameworks, and consumer attitudes are all converging toward a shared outcome—the normalization of electric transportation as the default mode of travel. The journey is far from complete, but 2025 and early 2026 will be remembered as the years when electric mobility stopped being the future and truly became the present.