Europe's law makers are ignoring carbon-neutral fuels in the rush towards zero emissions and putting too much importance on pure evs, according to the components industry. The European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on the CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles today. While the political agreement positively includes … [Read more...]
Next Government must invest in hydrogen fuel
The new government that the UK is likely to see in 2024 should be pressured by fleets to deliver a more effective hydrogen van strategy, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding, managing director at the fleet software specialist, said there was huge potential for hydrogen as a factor in future fleet zero emissions strategies for light commercial vehicles, and much more needed to be done to support its … [Read more...]
Crash, bang, wallop – it’s National Pothole Day
To mark National Pothole Day, Go.Compare Car Insurance can reveal the top ten counties in England and Wales whose roads are most peppered with potholes today. Topping the peak pothole list was Derbyshire County Council, which reported 215,787 potholes over three years between January 2020 and December 2022. Two more northern counties took the 2nd and 3rd place spots, with Durham and Lancashire … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 January
Volkswagen will be the first volume manufacturer to offer Chat GPT as a standard feature from the second quarter of 2024 in many production vehicles. The new chatbot is to be offered in conjunction with the latest generation of infotainment in ID.7, ID.4, ID.5, ID.3, the new Tiguan and the new Passat, as well as in the new Golf. BT, has unveiled plans to repurpose street cabinets, traditionally … [Read more...]
Tradelines 10 January
KGM Motors UK says all 80 dealerships will showcase the brand’s new corporate identity by mid-2024. KGM Motors UK confirmed its name change from SsangYong Motors UK to KGM Motors on 19 December supporting KGM Global with its brand purpose and future strategy following its own transition from SsangYong Motor Company. Honda today unveiled the “Honda 0 Series,” a new EV series it will launch … [Read more...]
The dark side of headlight glare brings call for safety study
The RAC is calling on the Government to commission an independent study into the issue of headlight glare after new research found 85% of those affected believe the problem is getting worse. An RAC survey of 2,000 drivers found a huge nine-in-10 (89%) think at least some headlights on cars on the road today are too bright, of which three-in-10 (28%) – a higher proportion than ever – think most … [Read more...]
EVs being priced out of reach for many, says analysis
The cost-of-living crisis is causing a drop in demand for electric vehicles as these cars are typically more expensive than petrol equivalents, according to Compare the Market comparison site. Sales of new electric cars have declined by 17.1% year-on-year in November according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Upcoming tax increases may also make … [Read more...]
Sell evs or pay penalties, makers and dealers told
Expect a big drive by dealers and manufacturers to sell electric models from today or face £15,000 fines for each model above statutory limits laid down by the Government. The rules mandating the minimum number of new pure electric cars and vans that have to be sold in the UK have come into force. From today, (Jan 3) at least 22% of new cars sold by carmakers have to be zero-emission and for new … [Read more...]
Newslines 2 January
China's biggest electric car maker in the world, BYD, announced the next stage of its European strategy with the construction of a massive manufacturing and production centre in Szeged, Hungary. The state-of-the-art facility will be the first of its kind built by a Chinese automotive company in Europe and will have a highly advanced car production line as it gradually ramps up manufacturing and … [Read more...]
Avoid a flat start to 2024, say RAC
The RAC is warning drivers to plan ahead to avoid an unwelcome post-holiday tradition: ‘the flat battery blues’. Typically, the first working day after the festive break is one of the busiest of the year for RAC breakdown patrols, due to thousands of cars being left idle over the holidays. Coupled with cold, damp weather, this period of inactivity drains car batteries and leaves thousands at risk … [Read more...]