Everything Electric Podcast What does KEIR's CHINA 'TRIP' mean for UK automotive?' Glut Instinct? Biofools?
Jan 30, 2026
A fast-paced look at what a UK trade trip to China could mean for carmakers and cross-border factory deals. They debate Europe’s looming production glut and why forecasting drives tough boardroom calls. Solar vs biofuels gets a sharp takedown. Polestar’s design and sustainability push gets plaudits, and battery tech for extreme cold and sodium-ion developments get explored.
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Solar Beats Biofuels At Scale
- Replacing biofuel cropland with solar panels would generate roughly the world's annual electricity demand.
- Hannah Ritchie shows biofuels currently supply only ~4% of transport and are grotesquely inefficient compared to solar-plus-EV.
Overcapacity Is The Year’s Big Threat
- The global auto industry faces serious overcapacity that will drive consolidation and job losses.
- Overcapacity is not just China; Europe also has excess production causing restructuring and layoffs.
Support Workers Through The Transition
- Plan for continuity and predictable policy to help automakers manage the EV transition.
- Support workers with retraining and policies that minimise sudden livelihood losses during industry shifts.