The Vauxhall Vivaro-e, its first factory-built, fully-electric van to arrive in the market as more and more UK cities welcome emissions-free vehicles. Orders can be placed from June and deliveries begin in the autumn for the 188miles EV with a 1,226kg payload. Audi is pulling out of the German touring car series after this season. It has been involved since 1990 but now decided for … [Read more...]
Industry
Newslines 27 April
Russell George AM, the Shadow Minister for Transport, has called on the Welsh Government to provide support to Holyhead Port during the Covid-19 pandemic. While some freight services continue between Wales and Ireland, the reduction in the number of passenger services has led to calls for Welsh Government financial support to fill the gap between a reduced income and the running costs of … [Read more...]
Seabed could save the planet in EV technology
A coalition of leading researchers and scientists has released the findings of a year-long study into the impacts of sourcing metals to produce battery cathodes and wiring for electric vehicles. As calls for a transition to renewable energy and electric transport grow louder in the face of increasing global climate chaos, the study — commissioned by DeepGreen — examines how we can source the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: On the road and in the news 26 April
As the COVID-19 lock-down continues for another three weeks at least the motoring world needs to carry on, as does our service to supply interesting news items you may have overlooked. Here are a few I have selected for this week’s news briefing. Still ‘Moving the Metal’ via on-line virtual showrooms Numerous car brands are now operating virtual on-line tours and dialogues with potential … [Read more...]
Newslines 24 April
The Welsh Government has effectively made it illegal to visit second homes in Wales under the latest lockdown legislation. It has moved beyond the UK Government and made it unlawful to remain away from your normal home without good reason, so owners and tenants cannot use casual accommodation. Renault is seeking €600M from the French Government to protect it during the production lockdown. It … [Read more...]
Real world emissions show cleanest cars and vans
New real-world data on vehicle emissions will allow revitalisation of an automotive industry and global economy devastated by the COVID-19 outbreak but with cleaner air and reduced impact on climate change. The AIR Index at airindex.com identifies the cleanest cars to give buyers confidence to switch to cleaner vehicles and restore the automotive industry badly impacted by the pandemic. The … [Read more...]
More older drivers giving up licences
Prince Philip’s hair-raising traffic accident last year has been credited with a 21% rise in the number of very old motorists handing back their driving licences — including a huge 39% jump for drivers his own age or older. The Duke of Edinburgh was left hanging upside down after a collision with another vehicle as he pulled out of a driveway near the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on 17 January … [Read more...]
AM St Athan begin return to work early next month
Aston Martin’s St Athan factory will begin to return to normal later than initially thought and resume DBX suv production on 5 May. Work at the company’s UK headquarters site in Gaydon will begin later in the month. The majority of its employees are currently furloughed and those who continue to be laid off from 1 May will get 80% of their base salaries from next month. It has also announced … [Read more...]
Fuel prices rip off claim
Motorists are being ripped off by petrol companies,claims the AA has which says falling oil prices are not being reflected on forecourts. The motoring group calculates drivers are overcharged by more than £5 a tank. "Questions will be asked about the fairness of pump prices during the great oil crash of 2020," the AA said. The RAC has said the same. Bu Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol … [Read more...]
EVs a third cleaner than conventional cars
Environmental group Transport and Environment has developed a tool that compiles all the most up-to-date data on CO2 emissions linked to the use of an electric, diesel or petrol car. It took into account all possible criteria such as the amount of CO2 emitted when electricity is produced or fuel is burnt, as well as the carbon impact of resource extraction for batteries or of building a power … [Read more...]