Heriot-Watt University has created a study looking at the attitudes towards the use of autonomous vehicles. The sample targeted 18-24-year-old, ride-hailing users who live in the United Kingdom. This group is believed to be the most frequent users of application-based taxi services, and they are likely to be the first to gain access to autonomous taxis. Overall, attitudes towards AVs from this … [Read more...]
Beat the heat & recirculate
The ultimate hack for driving this summer is the recirculation button on the AC unit in most vehicles. We all know it’s there, but many of us don’t know how best to use it. Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, UK’s largest independent specialists for car and van leasing, has revealed exactly how we should be using the recirculation feature to get the most from your vehicle's … [Read more...]
Disabled drivers and the electric vehicles challenge
Disabled drivers are facing an uphill task to get new electric vehicles they can afford for their purposes. Motability Operations, Motability the Charity, and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Converters Association (WAVCA) hosted a dedicated event this summer to start the conversations on tackling the significant challenges facing the move to electric for manufacturing and adapting Wheelchair … [Read more...]
Newslines 12 August
With its reputation for toughness and go-anywhere ability stretching back more than 70 years, the Toyota Land Cruiser is consistently the vehicle of choice for off-the-beaten-track expeditions. At this weekend’s Adventure Travel Film Festival, 12-14 August, overlanders from opposite ends of the spectrum will entertain audiences with tales of two Land Cruiser journeys made more than 20 years … [Read more...]
InstaVolt raising public charging price
EV charging network InstaVolt has raising its price 15.7% to 66ppkWh from Monday. The rise from 57ppkWh applies to all payment types and the company says the steep rise is due to the enforced 20% VAT rate on public chargers compared to just 5% levied on domestic points. Other public point providers are expected to follow suit as the electric supply industry faces enormous increases this … [Read more...]
Skoda Enyaq iV enhanced for 2023
ŠKODA is introducing a number of key specification and equipment enhancements to its award-winning ENYAQ iV range. The updates, which are part of the 2023 Model Year package, include enhancements to the infotainment system, updated battery management system and a revised set of option packages. All new ENYAQ iV models benefit from the latest version of ŠKODA’s MEB platform software (v3.2) … [Read more...]
Breaking the EV myth of franchise dealers
The idea that franchise dealers are required more for electric vehicle service, maintenance and repair than their internal combustion engine counterparts is a “myth”, shows new research from epyx. Statistics taken from its 1link Service Network platform, used to manage SMR for more than four million company vehicles largely operated by leasing companies, show hardly any difference in the … [Read more...]
Tradelines 3 August
Duplicated and wasted journeys are on average costing £71 a week in unnecessary fuel per vehicle, businesses have been told by RAM Tracking. The comprehensive fleet management software embracing dashcam and tracking systems also encourages careful driving to reduce bills and accidents as well as downtime when avoidable repairs are needed. A new report has revealed a significant increase in the … [Read more...]
Brits falling out of love with evs
Brits’ appetite for electric vehicles appears to be declining with fewer people saying they expect to own an EV in the next decade, according to a recent CarGurus study. Despite petrol prices reaching record highs and the sale of new petrol and diesel cars banned from 2030, UK motorists’ appetite for EVs has decreased when comparing interest in 2021 versus 2022. Notably, potential … [Read more...]
Car production stutters on shortages
UK car production declined -19.2% in the first six months of the year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, with 95,792 fewer vehicles built compared with the same period in 2021. Just 403,131 units were built, representing the weakest first half since the pandemic-ravaged 2020 and worse than 2009 when the global financial crisis decimated demand. The main cause remains … [Read more...]