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Chinese brands dominate most popular electric cars list amid surge in Octopus EV interest Gb News

The Omoda E5 has been ranked as the most popular electric car in the third quarter of 2026, as drivers continue to make the switch to EVs. As diesel prices hit a new record high of £2 per litre, an ever-increasing number of drivers are making the transition to electric vehicles. A typical 55-litre diesel car now costs around £110 to fill, while a long-range EV with a 109kWh battery can cost as little as £8 to charge using a smart EV tariff. At £2 a litre, a diesel car costs around 16.5p per mile, compared to just 2p per mile for an electric vehicle. New data from Octopus Electric Vehicles shows that a range of electric cars are proving popular with drivers up and down the country. In Q3 of 2026, the Omoda E5 was ranked as the most popular EV on Octopus Electric Vehicles, having previously placed fourth. The Omoda is followed by sister brand Jaecoo and its E5 electric car, which has also proved to be popular among Octopus EV drivers. Another Chinese brand, Leapmotor, has cracked the top five, coming in third with its impressive B10 SUV. Outside the top five, which also features Tesla and MG, European manufacturers are also retaining interest, specifically with the Citroen C3 Aircross, Vauxhall Frontera and Renault 5. Alvin Castillo, procurement director at Octopus Electric Vehicles, said the expanding offering of zero emission cars for motorists can only be a good thing. He continued, saying: "Established household names are competing with brands that are relatively new to the UK, and that competition is pushing everyone to deliver better technology, more equipment and better value. "That's ultimately brilliant news for drivers. While the cost of sticking with diesel keeps climbing, the choice available to people considering an EV keeps getting better." LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Petrol and diesel drivers face huge fuel costs as 'postcode lottery' causes price mayhem Major car brands issue urgent recall for 330,000 vehicles over serious faults - Ford, VW and more Record diesel prices could see electric vehicle hauliers benefit from 'substantial savings' 1. Omoda E5 Price: From £299 per month Range: 228 miles Delivery: 8-12 weeks Extras: Free charger 2. Jaecoo E5 Price: From £349 per month Range: 200 miles Delivery: 4-8 weeks 3. Leapmotor B10 Range: 220 miles Delivery: 16-20 weeks 4. Tesla Model Y Price: From £399 per month Range: 215 miles Delivery: 2-6 weeks Extras: £99 charger 5. MG4 Urban Delivery: 4-12 weeks Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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Abarth to VW: Every sub-£30k electric car on sale – and how far they go Autocar

Market for affordable EVs is heating up, and they're not all short-range city slickers Did you know, the UK’s cheapest new car is an EV? It’s a milestone for a technology that’s traditionally come with a price premium, and good news if you’re making the switch to electric power. As competition heats up, there’s a fast-growing choice of EVs under £30,000. We’ve rounded them up below, including the maximum range you can get below that price threshold. See which takes your fancy and click on the links to see what we think of them all. Abarth 500e The Fiat 500e’s sporty sibling packs 152bhp and an optional folding roof. Price: From £24,245 with Electric Car Grant (ECG) Range: 158-164 miles Aion UT A spacious supermini with hot hatch performance, generous interior space and a single-trim model range. Price: From £28,950 Range: 268 miles BYD Dolphin Surf Compact, efficient and cleverly packaged, ultra-low pricing has helped BYD’s city car find strong demand in the UK. Price: From £18,675 Range: 137-193 miles Citroën ë-C3 This electric supermini is barely pricier than its petrol counterparts, thanks to the government grant. Price: From £18,495 with ECG Range: 132-200 miles Citroën ë-C3 Aircross A surprisingly spacious crossover focused on comfort but lacking the seven-seat option available for fuel-burning versions. Price: £23,615 with ECG Range: 189-248 miles Citroën ë-C4 Our price cap limits the ë-C4 fastback to the smaller of its two battery options. Price: £27,215 with ECG Range: 219 miles Cupra Raval Newly launched, the Raval is a compact SUV with a sporty side. Stick to the entry-level V1 and you will get one of the longest ranges for under £30,000. Price: From £25,495 with ECG Range: 203-276 miles Dacia Spring The UK’s cheapest car recently gained a retuned chassis and more power (now 100bhp). But move quickly: it’s about to be replaced by a pricier second-generation model. Price: From £11,990 Range: 139 miles Fiat 500e A chic city car with a choice of short- and longer-range batteries. Price: £20,245 with ECG Range: 118-202 miles Fiat 600e The 500’s larger sibling packages similar styling into a family-friendly crossover body with a longer range. Price: £25,495 with ECG Range: 247-251 miles Fiat Grande Panda Electric A city-focused crossover inspired by the boxy 1980s hatchback, distinctive for its vivid colours, pixel lighting and steel wheels. Price: From £20,995 Range: 199 miles Ford Puma Gen-E Ford electrified its best-seller in 2025, and the Gen-E gets the full £3750 government grant. It also retains the petrol Puma’s deceptively large boot with underfloor storage. Price: From £25,245 with ECG Range: 251-259 miles Geely EX2 A keenly priced electric supermini offered with two batteries and three generously specced trims. Price: From £20,990 Range: 156-214 miles Honda Super-N Taking cues from the 1980s Honda City, the Super-N shares its upward-folding rear bench with the hybrid Jazz. Price: From £18,025 Range: 128 miles Hyundai Ioniq 3 While European rivals lean on retro cues to stand out, Hyundai's new supermini has a very different shape altogether. Price: From £18,495 Range 213-308 miles Hyundai Inster The distinctive Inster stands out for its versatile interior. All the seats fold flat to carry longer items – or for taking a nap. Price: From £22,995 Range: 188-229 miles Jaecoo E5 Premium styling and a supermini price tag have made this compact crossover a popular newcomer. Even top-spec versions are only just over £30,000. Price: From £27,505 Range: 248 miles Kia EV2 Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, the EV2 gets the full £3750 government grant and takes Kia’s EV technology into the compact SUV segment. Price: From £24,245 with ECG Range: 195-275 miles Leapmotor T03 Offered in a single trim level, the T03 is one of the UK’s cheapest cars, yet it gets a panoramic roof, sat-nav and adaptive cruise control as standard. Price: From £12,995 Range: 165 miles MG 4 EV The popular, dynamic MG 4 hatchback just edges under our price limit with the second longest range on this list. Price: From £29,995 Range: 280 miles MG4 EV Urban Slightly larger than the MG 4 but with less range and lower pricing, the 4 Urban is a VW Golf-sized hatchback claiming class-leading luggage space. Price: From £23,495 Range: 201-258 miles MG S5 Our price cap limits the S5 to the entry-level SE trim and smaller battery pack, but that get you a full-size family SUV with adaptive cruise control and navigation included. Price: From £28,995 Range: 211 miles Mini Cooper Electric Cooper E and SE versions of the Mini hatchback come in under £30,000, with the usual abundance of personalisation options and go-kart agility. Price: From £26,905 Range: 186-247 miles Mini Aceman If you need more space than the Mini hatchback, the Aceman is one size larger – but has a more restrictive powertrain choice at this budget. Price: From £29,060 Range: 189-192 miles Nissan Micra The sixth-generation Micra is electric-only and mechanically identical to the fabulous Renault 5. Price: From £21,495 with ECG Range: 196-257 miles Peugeot e-208 Grant funding brings electric 208 pricing close to petrol 208 pricing. The newer 156bhp powertrain is more efficient and offers a useful uplift in range. Price: From £23,495 with ECG Range: 226-268 miles Peugeot e-2008 Peugeot’s popular electric crossover comes in under £30,000 in Allure and Envy trims. Price: From £27,995 with ECG Range: 247-248 miles Renault 4 A compact SUV inspired by the seminal 1960s hatchback. It qualifies for the £3750 grant, which means even the canvas-roofed Plein Sud models are within budget. Price: From £23,445 with ECG Range: 241-250 miles Renault 5 Retro styling and competitive pricing have made the ‘Cinq’ hard to miss. Only the larger battery gets the full government grant, which means it’s a cheap upgrade. Range: 198-260 miles Skoda Epiq A close relation to the Cupra Raval but majoring on clever storage – including an umbrella compartment and a large boot with side hooks. A smaller, cheaper battery will follow. Price: From £26,200 with ECG Range: 267-272 miles Smart #1 Stick with the most basic version and Smart’s smallest SUV just edges under the £30,000 threshold. Price: From £29,960 Range: 193 miles Suzuki eVitara Suzuki has slashed £3750 off its first EV, matching the government grant and undercutting the near-identical Toyota Urban Cruiser. Price: From £26,249 Range: 213-264 miles Vauxhall Astra Electric Recently updated, the electric Astra boasts the longest range under £30,000. Price: From £28,495 Range: 281 miles Vauxhall Corsa Electric The ubiquitous Corsa supermini went electric back in 2020, and the EV version has never been more affordable. Price: From £26,780 with ECG Range: 220-265 miles Vauxhall Frontera Electric A close relation to the Citroën ë-C3 Aircross, with similarly generous space and limited frills. Price: From £26,495 with ECG Range: 190-247 miles Volkswagen ID Polo The first electric Polo offers more luggage space than the ICE Golf and a choice of two powertrains with up to 208bhp. Price: From £23,945 Range: 203-281 miles

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Up-to-date Sunderland's fuel prices shown on new app feature Sunderland Echo

The lowest - and highest - fuel prices in the Sunderland area

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Broadcom Redefines AI Infrastructure with Industry-Leading Networking Innovations at 2026 OCP Global Summit Investing News Network (inn)

Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), a global technology leader that designs, develops, and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions, today announced it is set to present its latest innovations in scale-up, scale-out, and scale-across AI networking at the 2026 Open Compute Project (OCP...

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