Alternatively fuelled vehicles, pure electric, petrol-electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids saw a 21% increase in UK new car sales last year to 141,270 units but only 15,474 of those vehicles were pure electric models, writes David Miles. So far this year only around 2,000 battery electric cars were sold in the first five months of the year. Still small steps might lead to big strides as … [Read more...]
Volvo takes a head start in cycling safety
Volvo Cars, a leader in automotive safety, is teaming up with top Swedish sports and safety brand POC for a series of world-first crash tests of bike helmets against cars as part of a ground-breaking new research project that aims to further protect cyclists. The partnership is the latest example of Volvo Cars’ leading position in safety development and its ambition to improve road safety for … [Read more...]
Hard-hitting report on greenhouse gas emissions
The Committee on Climate Change has published a landmark report which calls for the UK to adopt a world-leading target of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The report calls for the target for electric cars introduction to be brought forward and for the accelerated introduction of low carbon technologies for other harder-to-electrify vehicle types, such as long-range trucks. The … [Read more...]
Call to speed up clean-up of cars and cvs
Only 10 million of the 43 million highly-polluting diesel cars and vans that were caught in the "Dieselgate" emissions scandal have been recalled since 2015. And although these measures only require the cheapest, least effective form of fixes – software recalls – they will not be completed for another two years, analysis of new EU data indicates. Transport & Environment (T&E), which … [Read more...]
Cycle to the core through Wales
Determined Tina Evans, who suffers from Friedreich’s Ataxia, is taking on the challenge of cycling from Bangor to Cardiff next week. The challenge will see Tina and her friend Nia cycling an adapted tandem and their ride will last 7 days, from 3 – 9 June. Diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia at 16, Tina has been using her wheelchair as a tool for independence rather than a limitation, she … [Read more...]
E-scooters offer real environmental benefits
Ground-breaking research from Cenex found that moving to electric scooters and mopeds from petrol equivalents significantly lowers energy use and emissions. Cenex’s first study of its type, the report shows that electric scooters use 72–91% less energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70–90% compared to a 250cc scooter of similar specifications. Electric cars typically use 50–70% less … [Read more...]
Drivers dicing with danger and poor eye-sight
There are 37 million cars registered in the UK and four million motorists admit to putting road safety in the back seat. Research by Asda Opticians suggests more than 4 million motorists in the UK admit to driving illegally by not wearing the correct eyewear, which is required of them by law. Despite ‘roadside eye tests’ being introduced in various regions across the UK, many motorists still … [Read more...]
Government asked to explain breathing pace
Paul Davies AM has asked the Welsh First Minister to explain how the Welsh Government intends to slow the increase in pollution-related deaths in Wales. The Welsh Conservative Leader used his question in the Welsh Parliament to highlight the Welsh Government’s record on meeting emission targets. Despite declaring a climate change emergency last month, the Welsh Government has achieved only a … [Read more...]
Further boost for Welsh transport projects
Wales’s Economy and Transport Minister Ken Skates has announced a pot of £32.9 million to improve transport across Wales. The allocation of local authority grants will help fund schemes which support the Welsh Government’s economic priorities for jobs and growth, promote economic activity through improved access to employment, encourage active and sustainable travel and connect … [Read more...]
Newslines 17 May
About 42% of Cardiff commuters admit to being stressed by their journeys and the Welsh capital ranks eighth in the list of the UK’s top ten worst cities. The poll for property company Good Move put York and London at the top of the stress list with 51% of drivers affected. New info-tainment systems are proving a headache for owners of the latest cars with unreliability the main feature of … [Read more...]