Rechargeable batteries are great for storing energy and powering electronics, from smartphones to electric vehicles. In cold environments, however, they can be more difficult to charge and may even catch on fire.

Manufacturers that cannot meet the UK’s 2025 target of 28% of new car sales being EVs may simply stop selling petrol or diesel vehicles rather than risk fines. In the meantime, Chinese EV brands have been recruiting dealerships and showing off their latest models. Chinese cars can offer consumers a combination of low price, good specification, innovative design and technology that is often more advanced than that of “legacy” companies.

This means we will need to rethink how we get around – leaving the car-based model – rather than seeking to replace one kind of technology (the combustion motor) with another (the electric motor).