There’s mounting concern at the Government’s reaction to a House of Lord’s Committee study into electric vehicles. Baroness Parminter, Chair of the inquiry said, “Whilst we welcome the Government’s acceptance of some of the recommendations in our report, it is particularly disappointing that it is not committing to incentivising the purchase of more EVs, equalizing the VAT differential between … [Read more...]
Which EV charger is right for you?
Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids now account for more than 23% of UK market share and are used by a huge range of people, organisations and businesses. There are numerous types of EV charger, costing from under £800 to tens of thousands of pounds, including installation. So what are the best options according to your needs and lifestyle? Commuters with long journeys Even if you’re driving … [Read more...]
EV price war on horizon
A price war is looming in the ev sector which will benefit buyers but hit dealers and fleets, an analyst said this week. This week, as Tesla cut prices again and the number of cheaper Chinese-made models are coming into Britain, the European motor industry and trade is seriously worried about how they will make money as spending tightens. Early this year, the UK Government introduced the Zero … [Read more...]
Parts suppliers struggling and issue warnings
The European automotive supply industry, a vital pillar of the EU economy, is confronted with volatility and uncertainty from both their customers and upstream suppliers. Despite facing substantial headwinds, industry players maintain a cautious optimism, navigating through challenges and strategising for transformation. High levels of uncertainty surrounding new projects and EV demand in … [Read more...]
Government and National Grid are failing truck industry
Government should reform its dated Plug-in Truck Grant introduced eight years ago to reflect the progress made by the sector in developing new zero emission truck technology and help cut CO2 by 18.8 million tonnes a year, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Following billions in investment from manufacturers, there are now 27 models of zero emission trucks available to UK … [Read more...]
Kia is king among dealers, trade survey shows
Kia dealers are the happiest in UK, but Jaguar franchise holders are most pessimistic. Dealer satisfaction regarding current profit returns have experienced a slight decrease, with an average score of 6.1, down by – 0.1 from the Summer 2023 edition (-1.6% change) of surveys by the National Franchised Dealers Association. Assessing the trends, from previous DAS surveys, current profit return … [Read more...]
RAC report over 50% jump in potholes damage
The RAC attended 7,904 breakdowns in the first quarter of 2024 due to bad road surfaces, up 53% on the last three months of 2023, a clear sign that the UK is suffering a pothole epidemic as roads continue to crumble. Analysis from the driving services company shows it’s been far from a smooth start to the year for the nation’s drivers, with pothole-related breakdown numbers up by 10% in the last … [Read more...]
Hacks to save on EV charging
EVs are growing in numbers but money is tight so looking for ways to save when possible and charging and maintaining their EV is one of them. With this in mind, EV charging expert Chris Moniz at Volta EV has given his advice on 5 money-saving hacks when charging. “Charging an electric vehicle (EV) can be a significant expense, especially in the UK where electricity prices can be high. To help … [Read more...]
Used cars with hidden hit histories
UK drivers are at risk of making a huge mistake when buying used cars, as seven in 10 admit to not knowing what it means when a car has a category S or N insurance classification against it. This means the vehicle was ‘written off’ after being involved in an incident that resulted in an insurance claim. Being unable to identify these categories could mean many used car buyers are purchasing … [Read more...]
Newslines 19 April
The RAC predicts petrol could hit 150pp litre and diesel 160pp litre as tensions rise in the Middle East over coming weeks. The motoring body said retailers had pushed up profits since January and this added £5.00 to fill up a typical car. Labour and Plaid Cymru have voted against a Welsh Conservatives' motion in the Senedd to roll back the controversial 20mph default speed limit and end the ban … [Read more...]