The UK Automotive industry is unlikely to return to previous high levels of production and component suppliers in Wales must look elsewhere to survive, delegates to the Autolink 2022 conference were told yesterday. The gloomy outlook and warning was given by Prof Ian Henry, managing director of AutoAnalysis and a HM Government advisor on the motor industry speaking at the annual Welsh Automotive … [Read more...]
Welsh Government dictate road closure
Welsh Government has told Cardiff to reconsider traffic arrangements and consider permanently closing Castle Street. It was shut to traffic during the Covid pandemic in summer 2020 and then gradually reopened but modified with restricted lanes. The Welsh government has now told the city council to find alternatives to cut pollution. The council said its cabinet will take a … [Read more...]
Public EV charging costs rise 42%
The cost to charge an electric car on a pay-as-you-go basis at a publicly accessible ‘rapid’ charger has increased by 42% – or 18.75p per kilowatt hour – since May to reach an average of 63.29p per kilowatt hour, new data from RAC Charge Watch indicates. The increase – caused by the soaring costs of wholesale gas and electricity – means that it now costs drivers on average £32.41 to rapid charge … [Read more...]
Ultrafabrics to bring new touch to JLR models?
Ultrafabrics is delighted to unveil its brand-new partnership with Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM), the electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of global automobile manufacturing company, Tata Motors. The latest collections from the animal-free, high-performance fabric specialist have been selected for the contemporary interior of TPEM’s new EV, the AVINYA Concept. It is not unreasonable to … [Read more...]
Stopping the modern highwaymen & thieves
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]