As the world starts to transition away from internal combustion engines and towards electric vehicles, couriers, delivery fleets and individual traders are itching to make the move to electric vans. Yet while electric van uptake has doubled in the past year, the market is still around two years behind that of cars, causing the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to call for a ‘Van Plan’ by … [Read more...]
Britain’s ‘not spots’ for vehicle charging revealed
A new national map that shows for the first time where UK businesses need kerbside charging close to the homes of 75,000 company van drivers has been unveiled by the Association of Fleet Professionals. The map shows where drivers employed by AFP member companies need kerbside charging in order to adopt an electric vehicle. Key findings include that nearly four out of 10 homes (38.7%) are without … [Read more...]
Wales “hot-vans” business booming & jobs coming
Wales' leading commercial vehicle converter MS-RT will create more than 170 new jobs when it expands operations and launches a new manufacturing facility with turnover expected to more than triple to £66 million by 2025. Based at Mamhilad Park Estate near Pontypool, MS-RT is a design-led automotive engineering company creating bespoke Ford vehicles, comprising the Ford Transit Connect MS-RT, Ford … [Read more...]
Tradelines 20 April
Tesla is recalling almost 600,000 pure electric models which may be inaudible to pedestrians in their path. The models cover all series and were sold over the last two years but the pedestrian warning system may be inaudible, dangerous and therefore illegal, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is also checking side airbags operation on over 7,600 Tesla cars. Kia UK is … [Read more...]
EVs spark life into 24 year car sales slump
New car registrations collapsed to a 24-year low last month, despite bulging orders which car makers cannot supply. UK new car registrations fell by -14.3% to 243,479 units in March, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Wales bucked the trend and saw 9,523 new cars registered with the new 71-plate in March, a 2.52% rise on the same time last year … [Read more...]
Van Driver of the Year competition resumes
Logistics UK has launched its annual call for the UK’s best van drivers to compete in its Van Driver of the Year competition 2022. A change in venue will now see the contest take place at the free-to-attend ITT Hub – an industry-led event showcasing the best in transport innovation and technology – at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre on 11 May 2022. The … [Read more...]
Tradelines 16 March
Next month sees introduction of the Kia Sportage PHEV model, the latest in the new Sportage line-up. Its pure electric driving range is 43 miles, enough for the average daily commute without using its 265ps 1.6 litre petrol engine, and that gives it a 25gkm emissions figure attracting just 8% BIK while it’s priced from £38,395 for its four trim levels. Petrol and diesel continues its upward … [Read more...]
JustPark rental boosts households incomes
With the legislated transition to clean-air powertrains looming many businesses are looking to swap their commercial fleets to electric, but there's a looming problem. There’s a barrier currently, which is that most drivers take these vehicles home at night and finding safe and reliable charging is difficult. Broker JustPark finds a homeowner with a driveway within a short walk of the fleet … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 March
With Europe's first all-electric bus and transporter range, Volkswagen is providing yet another solution to sustainable and CO2-free mobility. The ID. Buzz looks like the historic campervans but there the similarity ends as the futuristic model comes with the latest ID. software and sets new standards in its segment with the latest systems and functions for safety, comfort and charging taking up … [Read more...]
UK car production slumps to 13 year low
UK car production fell -20.1% to 68,790 units last month, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It was the weakest January since 2009 and output was down 17,262 units against the same month last year, which itself was one of the worst Januarys on record when volumes were impacted by friction in the new post-Brexit trading arrangements, extended shutdowns and the … [Read more...]