Driving lessons in Wales can restart on monday 12 April.Transport secretary Grant Shapps said driving tests will resume 10 days later on 22 April and to help clear the backlog of candidates, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will offer more tests and examiners, including at weekends and on bank holidays. Driving tests for motorcycles, lorries and cars with trailers can also take … [Read more...]
Governments must invest to reach zero target
Car makers have called on Governments to invest in electric vehicle charging points and hydrogen stations to ensure zero emission targets are met over coming decades. The EU automobile industry is open to higher CO2 reduction targets for cars in 2030, provided that they are directly linked to binding commitments from member states to roll out the required charging points and hydrogen … [Read more...]
Coronavirus exposed weak supply chain links in auto sector
Supply chain managers need to be much more proactive in setting up and improving business models according to research from Professor Jack van der Veen from Nyenrode Business University. In his recent white paper ‘Implementation of new Supply Chain Business Models: risk management in cross-border trade', he seeks to understand how new business models can be developed through taking a supply chain … [Read more...]
A quarter of new cars will be hybrids, say buyers
One in four UK drivers plan to opt for a hybrid car as their next vehicle purchase, according to research conducted for Close Brothers Motor Finance’s upcoming Britain Under the Bonnet Report. The fifth iteration of the report reveals that the desire to purchase a hybrid vehicle has accelerated to 26% from 21% in 2020. And this is largely stable across age groups, but highest at 28% for those … [Read more...]
Sharing chargers solution to shortfall
Independent research by Dodona Analytics reveals electric charger sharing is essential to support the UK's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. According to their research, if only 4% of motorists with a home charger share it with their neighbours living in flats and terraced houses where they can't have their own charger, then a successful transition to EVs can be achieved … [Read more...]
Better guidance for challenged drivers
Driving Mobility that accredits a network of driving assessment centres, has relaunched its website to provide comprehensive guidance on all aspects of adapted driving, accessible travel and personal mobility. Supported by the Department for Transport, Driving Mobility is the umbrella organisation that coordinates 20 independent driving assessment centres across England, Wales and Northern … [Read more...]
How to keep the heart of your EV car in good health
The battery in your electric vehicle is by far its most valuable component part, but do you know how to keep it in good health? Manufacturers give surprisingly little information about how to keep an EV battery in good shape on a day-to-day basis, and drivers tend to be focussed on the battery range or charge. The Li-ion battery and electric motor combination in an EV do the work not just of the … [Read more...]
Government move on motorways’ electric chargers
The government will break the monopoly on electric car charging at motorway services and will use legislation to ensure the points are reliable and can be accessed by anyone with a contactless card. Currently just one company -Ecotricity – has the contract to provide charging provision along the motorway network. It has been widely criticised by electric car users for its outdated and … [Read more...]
Mazda ease into electric and zero emissions
The Mazda MX30 pure battery car is easing into its range at the right time, according to UK MD Jeremy Thompson. “Although Mazda has been researching, developing and selling electric cars for over 50 years, they did not feel the time was right to launch the pure battery MX30 until now,” he said. Mr Thompson said that major markets around the world are shifting towards ending the internal … [Read more...]
Government immediately slashes grant for BEVs
The Government is immediately slashing the grant for battery electric vehicles, lowering the price ceiling while altering the qualification for electric vans and further reductions will come. It's unheralded announcement about the changes effective today have been criticised by car makers, dealers, motoring organisations and fleet companies who say it sends the wrong message to motorists who want … [Read more...]