A consortium including industry and academia, led by Caerphilly-based advanced research and development firm Deregallera, will begin work on an alternative motor for electric vehicles that’s less harmful to the global environment, thanks to support from the £1.8m Ford Low Carbon Vehicle Transformation Fund. Administered by the Welsh Government as part of Ford’s legacy in Wales, the Low Carbon … [Read more...]
Newslines 25 July
The eagerly awaited Autolink networking event organised by the Welsh Automotive Forum will be held on 27 September at Cardiff City Stadium, Leckwith. It brings together key suppliers and automotive component makers, potential investors and specialists with a session of presentations, opportunities to discuss ventures and see the latest products created for the industry. Just 10% of a sample of … [Read more...]
Tolls to replace lost fuel duties and taxes
Road tolls are back on the Government's agenda. The fleet sector needs to start having a constructive discussion about the likelihood of road charging being introduced in the future and the kind of scheme it would like to see, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding, managing director at the fleet software specialist, said that the rapid growth in electric vehicles expected over the next few years – and … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 July
Mercedes-Benz will continue holding a stake in Aston Martin through an investment fund. Aston Martin said today it was looking to raise £653 million pounds through a right issue to shareholders, bringing in Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund as its second-largest shareholder after the Lawrence Stroll controlled Yew Tree Consortium and Mercedes-Benz AG will together invest £335 million pounds … [Read more...]
New Welsh speed law threat to deaf
Following the news that speed limits in built-up areas look set to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph in Wales from next year - a UK first that has caused some controversy among some drivers. Ministers say a 20mph speed limit will lower road collisions and traffic noise and encourage people to walk and cycle. However, will this lowered traffic noise be a problem to those who suffer … [Read more...]
Nonsensical new 20mph speed limit criticised
A decision to make all urban roads across Wales 20mph has been branded “nonsensical and deeply disappointing” by Natasha Asghar MS. Senedd members voted on the highly controversial scheme with the Welsh Conservatives voting against, and Plaid Cymru supporting Labour by giving it their backing. Natasha Asghar MS (above) – who represents South East Wales and is the Shadow Minister for Transport … [Read more...]
Knowing how long an EV battery will last before it’s made
Testing the lifespan of new electric vehicle battery designs could be made four-times quicker by a new streamlined process, researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) have claimed and reported by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. The new ‘optimisation framework’ developed by the team could also reduce the cost of assessments for new designs, they said. "The goal is to design a better … [Read more...]
EV interest growing, but there’s range anxiety
A quarter (26%) of car hirers would like to hire an electric car to test one out, and a fifth (20%) would like to ‘do their bit’ for the environment (17% men and 23% women). However the survey carried out by Opinium, on behalf of iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of stand-alone car hire excess insurance, did find some barriers to hiring an electric car even when drivers said they … [Read more...]
Seven in ten stolen cars never recovered
Seven in ten stolen cars are not now recovered with sophisticated gangs stealing them and breaking for parts and a lot of money, according to the latest study. One of the most popular to pinch because of easily bypassed security system is the Range Rover and its also one of the most expensive worth a lot in stripped out parts sold on the black market to back-street mechanics and owners. That’s … [Read more...]
Caring for and saving with an electric car
The cost of charging an electric car using a public charger has increased once again, as drivers will now need to fork out over £220 more per year on average. Just like looking after your smartphone, your electric vehicle’s battery also needs to be properly cared for if you’re going to get the best out of it in terms of range and longevity. And your charging and driving habits … [Read more...]