Electric car owners in the UK may soon find their zero-emissions glow dimmed slightly by the Labour government. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly preparing a pay-per-mile tax for EVs to help plug the giant hole left by declining fuel duty receipts.

Related: UK Brings Back EV Discounts But Only If You Don’t Spend Too Much

With more drivers ditching petrol pumps for charging cables, the Treasury suddenly finds itself missing billions in the “please drive somewhere so we can tax you for it” department.

The reported figure being floated? Around 3 pence ($0.04) per mile, which at 8,000 miles (12,900 km) a year would equate to a £240 ($315) bill. T

he government is expected to argue that while UK EV drivers might be disappointed by the new charge, they’ll still get a better deal than drivers of petrol and diesel-engined vehicles who pay around £600 ($784) per year in fuel duty.

But there’s no doubt the news first reported by The Daily Telegraph, if true – and these kinds of stories are usually leaked from within government – will be another blow to EV drivers, who from this year have been forced to pay the annual Vehicle Excise Duty previously only payable by petrol and diesel drivers.

Factor in that £195 ($255) annual VED bill, and an EV owner covering 8k miles a year could be asked to pay £435 more to drive their car in 2028, when the scheme is alleged to go live, than they did in 2024.

On the positive side, the new Labour government did introduce grants of up to £3,750 for buyers of new electric cars three years after the previous government axed the original scheme.

It’s not clear how such a scheme would be monitored; reports suggest that it would be up to drivers to volunteer their own mileage estimate figures for the coming year, rather than the government electronically tracking them. If they were later found to have driven more or fewer miles than estimated, they could either get a rebate or a bill.

EV drivers aren’t the only ones left dismayed by the still-unofficial news. The UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said it recognized the need for a rethink over vehicle taxation.

However, it described pay-per-mile as “entirely the wrong measure at the wrong time,” one that would end up “deterring consumers and further undermining industry’s ability to meet ZEV mandate targets, with significant ramifications for perceptions of the UK as a place to invest.”

The Super EV Concept previewed by Honda at the Goodwood Festival of Speed has morphed into this: the Super-One Prototype. Presented at the Japan Mobility Show this week, this model is a close preview of a new production model that’ll essentially serve as a successor to the Honda e.

Read: Honda’s Smallest Electric Car Can Power Your Home And More

Presented in Tokyo as the Super-One Prototype, the pint-sized electric city car will be sold across Japan, Asia, and Oceania as the Super-ONE, but sold in the UK as the Super-N.

It is based around Honda’s new N-One e: kei cars sold in Japan and has a sporty persona that’s bound to appeal to some performance car enthusiasts.

Honda hasn’t released powertrain details for the model, but says it’s equipped with a simulated seven-speed transmission and an Active Sound Control system that mimics the soundtrack of a “powerful” engine.

The virtual gear shifts and the ICE-inspired soundtrack will fire into life when the car is driven in Boost mode. Additionally, there’ll be dedicated interior displays and coordinated lighting sequences to enhance the thrill of driving.

A Sport Design to Match

It’s not just the driver-focused nature of the Super-One that makes it stand out from the old Honda e. It also has a fun exterior design. Looking more like a car that has been tweaked by an aftermarket firm for the Tokyo Auto Salon, the EV includes bulging wheel arches and sporty bumpers. It even has a small wing at the rear.

Found in the cabin are sporty seats trimmed in black, white, and grey upholstery. There’s also a small digital instrument cluster and a large central infotainment display similar to other Honda models.

The production model will hit the market next year, first launching in Japan, before being added to Honda’s UK range and in several other Asian markets.

“The Super-N Prototype promises to offer a great entry point to Honda EV ownership when it arrives in our market next year, building on the excitement we saw for the concept model at Goodwood this summer,” Honda UK head Rebecca Adamson said.

“By bringing Honda’s trademark ‘fun-to-drive’ performance to a compact all-electric model, we believe this is a unique proposition and we are excited for people to experience it from 2026.”

Does MG have a runaway car problem? With heightened scrutiny on the safety of Chinese-made EVs, there seems to be a worrying trend of reported issues seemingly going unresolved. Be it in China or in Europe, reports continue to stack up.

For one MG5 owner in the UK, that concern turned into something more immediate. After what appeared to be a charging fault, their electric estate reportedly behaved as if it had a mind of its own, a story that uncomfortably echoes a 2023 case involving an MG ZS EV that also lost control.

Runaway 5

Writing to The Guardian, the MG5 owner recounted how their electric estate reportedly went “out of control” after charging at a motorway service station. According to the owner, the car wouldn’t respond to any input, forcing them to call the AA roadside assistance service for help.

Read: These Two Cars Managed To Earn A Shocking Zero-Star Safety Rating

When the AA patrolman tried to back the car up the car, it reportedly “surged forward” when reverse was selected. The car subsequently collided with the AA van, yet continued to spin its wheels. The roadside assistance operative was eventually able to shut the MG5 down from outside the car, and unsurprisingly deemed the car unsafe to drive.

Despite this, and a £2,500 repair bill (which was footed by the AA), the report states that MG then investigated the problem, charging the owner of the car an additional £500, and closed the case.

It took further intervention from The Guardian for the company to carry out a more detailed 25-mile test drive, but again concluded that “no malfunctions with any of the relevant in-vehicle equipment” were found, attributing the issue to an unspecified external error.

However, to MG’s credit, they reportedly didn’t charge for the second test and retracted the previous bill.

Same Same, But Different

A second incident back in 2023, reported by the BBC, saw a Glasgow driver’s MG ZS EV lose all braking function while traveling at 30 mph. Brian Morrison, 53, was forced to call 999 when his car became stuck at speed. Police officers carried out a “controlled halt,” instructing Morrison to drive into the back of a police van to stop the runaway vehicle.

More: EU Regulators Say Drivers Are Dying Inside Cars With Electric Door Handles

When the RAC later inspected the car, the technician reportedly found “pages of faults” in the diagnostic log and refused to restart it.

While both drivers escaped unharmed, the incidents have left owners unsettled, especially given the growing reliance on complex electronic systems in modern EVs.

With MG’s UK sales having surged in recent years, maybe these cases underscore the urgent need for transparency and swift investigation when software or control faults are suspected in electric vehicles. Or perhaps they require swifter intervention or investigation from the authorities as well.

It might look like something dreamt up by a designer with a fondness for sci-fi gadgets for teens, but Toyota’s FT-Me concept is more than a flight of fancy.

The pint-sized two-seater EV has taken a tangible step toward production, thanks to a £15 million ($20 million) grant from the UK government that could bring it to European and UK streets before long.

More: Toyota Teased A New Corolla Concept So Radical You’ll Struggle To Recognize It

The investment comes through the UK’s Drive35 program, managed by the non-profit Advanced Propulsion Centre. It will back a Toyota-led consortium including lightweight EV specialists ELM, solar-tech firm Savcor, and the University of Derby.

What’s the Plan?

At its core, the study aims to determine the feasibility of developing a battery electric vehicle designed for Europe’s L6e light quadricycle category, drawing direct inspiration from the FT-Me concept.

Research will take place at Toyota’s Burnaston facility in Derbyshire, while the University of Derby will handle performance testing. The Burnaston plant could even serve as the base for limited local production should the project move forward.

The research will cover the integrated solar roof that was developed by Savcor, enhanced digital connectivity, the extensive use of recycled and sustainable materials, plus the possibility of sharing components with ELM’s last-mile delivery vehicle that was introduced in 2024.

It is safe to assume that some of the concept’s features like the futuristic LEDs will be toned down, although its basic form could be carried over.

The FT-Me was introduced in concept form in March 2025, with clear intentions for production. The sub-2.5 m (98.4 inches) model could compete with quadricycles like the Citroen Ami, Fiat Topolino, Opel Rocks Electric, Renault Mobilize Duo, and Microlino, promising a 90% reduction in carbon footprint compared to urban EVs.

More: Dacia’s Tiny EV Declares War On Europe’s Overpriced Cars

Toyota estimates a range of 100 km (62 miles), that could be further extended by 20-30 km (12-19 miles) if enough sunlight hits the roof-mounted solar panels.

The L6e regulations require a maximum power output of 5 hp (4 kW) and a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). On the bright side, light quadricycles can be driven by 14 year-olds in certain European markets.

Dariusz Mikolajczak, Managing Director of Toyota Manufacturing UK, said:

“We are delighted to receive support from the Advanced Propulsion Centre for this important study. The funding allows us to advance our understanding around the feasibility of creating a cutting-edge battery electric vehicle that addresses the growing demand for sustainable urban mobility. The study acknowledges TMUK’s overall project excellence and will further strengthen our members’ capabilities.”

Toyota hasn’t confirmed when the production-ready FT-Me will make its debut. The timeline depends on the results of the ongoing feasibility study, but if progress stays on course, the compact EV could begin appearing on UK roads within the next few years.

Toyota

EV sales are on the rise in the UK, thanks in part to surging demand for vehicles from Chinese manufacturers such as BYD. Plug-in hybrids and traditional hybrids have also enjoyed strong growth, pushing total electrified vehicle sales beyond the combined total of petrol and diesel cars last month.

Read: EVs Poised To Exceed Half Of Europe’s New Car Sales Sooner Than Expected

In September, 72,779 new battery-electric vehicles were registered nationwide, marking a 29.1 percent jump from the 56,387 sold during the same month last year.

The pace hasn’t slowed over the course of the year either. So far, 349,414 BEVs have been sold, up 29.4 percent year-on-year. That now gives electric models a commanding 22.1 percent share of the UK’s new car market, a sharp climb from 17.8 percent a year ago.

Hybrid Uplift

The demand for plug-in hybrids has increased significantly. In September, PHEV deliveries increased by 56.4 percent to 38,308 units, and year-to-date, sales have reached 172,639, resulting in a 10.9 percent market share.

Regular hybrid models have followed suit, with sales rising 23.5 percent in September and 8.6 percent across the year to 222,669 units in total. The steady growth across all electrified categories shows that buyers are increasingly open to alternative powertrains, even if they’re not ready to go fully electric just yet.

While the electric tide rises, traditional fuels are losing ground. From January through September, petrol vehicle sales slipped 8.2 percent to 749,794, and diesel fared worse, down 14.3 percent to just 83,656.

China’s Growing Footprint

A major contributor to the electrified upswing has been BYD, whose presence in the UK has expanded dramatically. In September alone, the brand sold 11,271 cars, representing an eye-catching 880 percent increase compared with the same month last year.

Over the first nine months of 2025, BYD has sold 35,000 vehicles in the UK, capturing a 2.2 percent share of the market. That performance makes the UK its largest single market outside China.

To put BYD’s results for this year into perspective, it sold just 5,260 vehicles in the UK in the first three quarters of 2024.

MG, another Chinese brand with established roots in the UK, also enjoyed strong results. September sales jumped 62.71 percent to 14,577 units, while year-to-date growth sits at 4.11 percent, totaling 65,394 vehicles.

Other new Chinese entrants, including Changan, Chery, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, and Omoda, have also seen their sales increase, reflecting the growing influence of Chinese automakers across the UK market.

As for Tesla, its sales remained steady, rising 4.4 percent in September to 7,993 cars compared with 7,656 in the same month last year. Year-to-date, though, sales have dipped 3.4 percent to 36,160 units.