Fourteen Tory MPs are among signatories to a FairFuelUK open letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps calling for an end to the road narrowing, blockages and dedicated cycle lanes eating into urban roadspace. Others who have added their names represent hauliers, drivers’ group and motorcyclists who say the policies have become a war on the motorist, who contribute billions of pounds to the … [Read more...]
Industry
Speakers announced for ‘futurist’ event
The annual Low Carbon Vehicle (Cenex-LCV) and Connected Automated Mobility (Cenex-CAM) events have announced the headline speakers, taking place virtually on 18 and 19 November. Among the Cenex-LCV speakers are Graham Hoare, Chairman and Executive Director of Business Transformation Ford UK, Mike Hawes, CEO SMNT and Ian Constance, CEO APC. The Cenex-CAM event includes Iain Forbes, Head of the … [Read more...]
Ford’s £1M legacy payout to Bridgend
A £1 Million charity payout has been allocated to local communities recommended by workers at the Ford Bridgend Engine plant, which closes next month. A skeleton staff is running down the operation after it stopped making engines in September and the site will close after 40 years of production as part of a reassessment of its European operations. Over half the money will go to local sports … [Read more...]
Time for a new approach to selling EVs, says report
A new approach to the likely success of electric vehicles is needed say analysts, who question the claims of the car makers' body in Britain. Tesla became the most valuable car manufacturer for many reasons, from glamour to having the longest-range vehicles. The IDTechEx report, "Electric Vehicles: Land, Sea and Air 2021-2041" gives the big picture. A … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 November
Vauxhall has released prices and specifications for the new Crossland with order banks now open. The new Crossland will start from £19,060 on-the-road in SE trim, with first customer deliveries of the compact SUV starting in early 2021 with a range of petrol and diesel engines, including automatics. Valmet Automotive is extending the battery plant in Salo, Finland after less than 12 months of … [Read more...]
Smart charge trial planned for Wales
A smart charging trial for cars is planned for North and Mid Wales. SP Energy Networks is seeking participants to take part in a major trial of an innovative electric vehicle (EV) charging solution across Cheshire, Merseyside, North Shropshire, and North and Mid-Wales. The trial will evaluate the performance of ‘smart charging connections’, which can intelligently control the power … [Read more...]
Welsh lockdown badly hits car dealers
The firebreak lockdown has wiped 25% off new car sales in Wales, revealed figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It is a warning to England which has just gone into a month's lockdown as opposed to the fortnight shutdown in Wales which ends on monday after 3,677 new cars were sold by Welsh dealers in the three weeks they could open last month. October new car … [Read more...]
Mission Motorsport sparks new venture for industry
Mission Motorsport, the Service charity which run ‘Mission Automotive’, has secured Electric Vehicle Training Centre approval from the Institute of the Motor Industry. This will open the door for ex-services personnel to apply their expertise in the automotive sector with wide-scale electric vehicle adoption on the horizon as the government is potentially set to ban the sale of new petrol … [Read more...]
Transit Connect now better than before
Ford’s enhanced the Transit Connect, offering customers best-in-class fuel efficiency and introducing a 1.0-tonne payload for the first time. Class-leading fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions will help minimise fuel costs for operators and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Transit Connect light commercial vehicle now offers up to 2,501kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) on selected variants, … [Read more...]
Latest flying car is BMW powered
AirCar (V5) is the latest generation flying car that transforms from road vehicle into air vehicle in less than 3-minutes. Useful for leisure and self-driving journeys, and also as a commercial taxi service, the dual mode transformation vehicle can go from driving to flying mode with the click of a button. The fifth generation flying car designed by Professor Stefan Klein completed two 1500’ … [Read more...]