Features

EU charging plan welcomed, with reservation on size

11 June 2020

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association and Eurelectric welcome the focus on infrastructure for electrically-chargeable vehicles in the coronavirus recovery plan announced by the European Commission but warned that still more charge points would be needed. The associations support the goal of funding 1 million public charging points referred to … [Read more...]

Wales & West Utilities testing hydrogen vehicles

11 June 2020

Wales & West Utilities is one of two Gas Distribution Networks exploring the possibility of using hydrogen to reduce their fleet's carbon emissions in line with UK Government Net Zero 2050 targets. Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities, supported by the EIC, formerly the Energy Innovation Centre, are working on an ambitious project with … [Read more...]

Fiat launch ‘Pay As You Go’ deal

8 June 2020

Fiat has become the first car firm in the UK to launch a ‘Pay As You Go’ finance deal where the average commuter can drive a brand-new vehicle to work for less than £10.50 per day. The government continues to advise against the use of trains and buses where possible, despite lockdown starting to ease. And research by Fiat has revealed 35 per cent of … [Read more...]

Greener light for German motor industry

8 June 2020

Germany’s green rescue package points the way for Europe. The German rescue package announced last week will help fight the worst economic shock in decades by transforming the economy to make it greener and stronger, said environmental group Transport & Environment. Under the plan, €2.2 billion will be spent on incentivising electric cars and car … [Read more...]

Cars are an escape from Coronavirus

6 June 2020

Cars, councils and the country make strange bedfellows, but they now depend on one another to fight Coronavirus-19. After decades of being squeezed out, criticised and taxed as a milk-cow it now seems that councils and the country cannot survive without cars. All the investment pushed into public transport at the expense of improving roads and parking … [Read more...]

Newslines 6 June

6 June 2020

GoCompare is warning would-be car buyers to check their insurance before heading out for a test drive because 92% of policies don’t cover driving cars other than their own. If a motorist test drives another vehicle without checking they’re covered, they could be prosecuted for driving without insurance. Dyfed Powis Police has stopped and turned away from … [Read more...]

Fuel prices fall but rise coming, says RAC

5 June 2020

The average price a litre of unleaded petrol fell below the 106p mark in May, the first time in more than four years that the price has dropped to this level, although drivers should be braced for the start of price rises, suggest latest RAC Fuel Watch data. As the lockdown in England was eased and more drivers headed onto the roads, the cost of refilling a … [Read more...]

Newslines 5 June

5 June 2020

Passengers might have to pre-book bus and train tickets in future to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, Wales' economy minister has warned. Ken Skates said space on services would be "vastly reduced" for passenger safety but Transport for Wales said passenger numbers have collapsed in ten weeks and social distancing has cut … [Read more...]

Aston Martin St Athan plant importance grows

4 June 2020

Aston Martin Lagonda’s Welsh plant will play an increasingly important part in the company’s “reset plan” to boost sales around the world. The luxury car maker has seen a steep collapse in its sports cars sales and introduced new management as it prepares to roll out production of its DBX SUV at St Athan in coming weeks. Today it announced 500 job cuts … [Read more...]

World’s car sales stall but EVs silently move on