Almost a quarter of fleets (23%) say they expect to lengthen their company car lease contracts because of growth in home working, according to new research. The 2023 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer found that the move towards contract extensions is more pronounced among larger companies with more than 1,000 employees (38%) compared to the smallest with fewer than 10 (24%). Fleets and … [Read more...]
JLR project to recycle old traction batteries
JLR will recycle old EV batteries from its I-Pace to create a new renewable energy storage system. Working with Wykes Engineering, Rushden, JLR is planning the ‘largest energy system’ in Britain to store solar and wind power and initially power up to 250 homes a day and have been taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles with a plan to power 750 homes by the end of the year. Each … [Read more...]
Car makers concerns over recycling laws
The EU has unveiled its End-of-life vehicles Regulation to boost vehicle circularity while pushing ambitious recycled content targets. ACEA is concerned that the proposal could duplicate or complicate existing rules and industry best practices on sustainable design. Law makers must instead ensure a coherent regulatory environment that enables manufacturers to scale up vehicle circularity … [Read more...]
Signs removal will lead to more speeding fines
Speeding convictions and fines will rise this autumn in Wales after the new default 20mph limit is introduced and Welsh Government ordered the removal of warning repeater signs and funded more camera vans. Existing 20mph repeater signs put up since 2016 and soon-to-be illegal 30mph repeater signs will be taken down, offered to English authorities or recycled as scrap. Wales is the first part of … [Read more...]
Newslines 9 June
STELLANTIS is moving into the scrap business with its newest cars. The multi-brands company covers 14 marques including Vauxhall, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and PSA and now wants to extend average life of models from 12 to 15 years by making them last longer and then reusing components from scrapped models and putting into remaining cars to improve their ‘green’ credentials and avoid punitive … [Read more...]
Struggle to decarbonise needs Government push
If the logistics sector is to effectively decarbonise in line with the government’s 2050 net zero deadline more support will be needed to enable operators to do so, according to a new report by business group Logistics UK. The organisation’s Electric Vehicle Report 2023 demonstrates that factors including a lack of fiscal support and an inadequate public charging network are having a significant … [Read more...]
Certified Recycled parts see booming demand
Motorists in the UK saved £99 million in 2022 by opting for used parts and accessories instead of brand-new replacements, according to research by eBay. The online marketplace revealed the impact of second-hand parts as it relaunched its Certified Recycled programme, which sells recycled vehicle parts from 81 certified sellers. Certified Recycled parts can be up to 70% cheaper compared to OEM … [Read more...]
EV batteries’ life expectency misunderstood
More than half of consumers “hugely overestimate” the time it takes for used electric car batteries to lose range, according to April’s Startline Used Car Tracker. Asked to estimate typical range loss after five years, 56% said they expected the fall to be 30% or more. In fact, research shows the real world result is likely to be less than half this figure. The average degradation for … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: GWM Funky Cat 1st Edition
The UK’s electric car revolution is becoming a bloody affair. From initially resisting the new technology on cost grounds including writing off established investments in petrol and diesel engine technology and having to develop hybrid or pure electric powertrains, along with making tens of thousands of workers redundant, manufacturers have struggled to convince buyers into showrooms or on-line … [Read more...]
Italian classics remastered for today’s enthusiasts
The Real Italian Car Company is turning back the clock with beautifully-restored bespoke examples of the classic Fiat 500 destined for new homes all around the world. The Fiat 500 is an icon of Italy, as well as being the most affordable and engaging way to enter the world of Italian classic car ownership. With easy maintenance and ultra-low running costs, the ‘Cinquino’ is an appreciating asset … [Read more...]