As the automotive and transport industries face some of the toughest challenges in recent years, a little known but immensely huge business is working behind the scenes to stop what is potentially the biggest threat of all, cybercrime. In 2019, working alongside Blaenau Gwent Council, the Welsh Assembly and the University of South Wales, Thales established a new National Digital Exploitation … [Read more...]
Features
Longer MoTs will stretch safety and push up costs, RAC
Majority of drivers believe changing the MOT to every two years is a dangerously bad idea, says the RAC. Only a fifth of drivers support recent Government proposal to change the annual MOT from every year to every two years Drivers have serious concerns about the Government’s plans to change the compulsory MOT from every year to every two years to reduce the cost of living, with many believing … [Read more...]
Motor racing & theatre in perfect harmony
Sublime late summer days usually end in cold, misty nights followed by dew layered mornings which is exactly what greeted visitors to the Duke of Richmond’s annual Goodwood Revival meeting, held at what was formerly known as RAF Westhampnett. But although the WWII airfield’s first distinguished incarnation as Goodwood circuit lasted 1948–1966, since the Revival opened in 1998 most visitors dress … [Read more...]
Fleet data tracking essential to businesses
Fleets are being urged not to reject the use of telematics despite the rise of manufacturer connected cars which risk leaving essential gaps in fleet management data, says RAM Tracking. While connected cars feature advantages such as the information coming directly from the vehicle, avoiding the need for a black box or other tracking device to be fitted, datapoints can vary from vehicle … [Read more...]
Charger availability will be 98% worse in 2031
Finding an electric car charger in 2031 will be 98% harder than it is today, according to a GoCompare Car Insurance. This emerges despite the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, which is set to come in from 2030, highlighting that the country’s infrastructure may struggle to accommodate electric vehicles. Last year, there were 266 electric vehicles (EVs) to each public charger in the UK, … [Read more...]
Homeowners cashing in with EV charge-points
Homeowners with an electric vehicle charging point on their driveway are earning an average of £1,020 a year by renting out their amenity to motorists looking for somewhere to park and charge. That’s according to the online parking portal, yourparkingspace.co.uk, who in recognition of World EV Day on 9 September, has analysed its booking data to reveal that clever homeowners are making a handy … [Read more...]
Royalty on the road
Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who sadly passed away aged 96, was a keen motorist. Not only did she serve during the Second World War as a driver mechanic in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service – but she was the only person in the UK that didn’t need a driving license to drive, due to every license being issued in her name. So to honour the Queen’s … [Read more...]
Higher charging costs threaten electric cars, says RAC
There’s potential for the Government’s net-zero transport ambitions to be derailed if higher electricity prices put drivers off from switching to an electric model, said RAC EV spokesperson Simon Williams. The 34p per kilowatt hour Energy Price Guarantee will significantly cushion the impact of rising energy prices affecting drivers of electric cars. “From 1 October it will cost on average … [Read more...]
How to look after your electric vehicle & keep it tip-top
With a huge hike in domestic utility costs, there’s an even greater focus on whether electric cars are still cheaper to fuel than petrol and diesel cars, says Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing. To extend the range of your EV battery without breaking the bank, I share my top tips on how to find the most cost-effective charging options. Charge off-peak Some energy providers … [Read more...]
Car insurance fraudster jailed
A 37 year-old man has been jailed for fraud offences following an investigation by the South Wales Police Economic & Cyber Crime Unit. In early 2021, the ECCU was contacted by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) with intel that they had received a number of fraudulent claim reports from car insurance companies. An investigation into the policies enabled police to link Osman Hamasharzad (below), … [Read more...]