Audi’s flagship all-electric model is on course to make waves in the luxury sector. The Q8 e-tron available in both SUV and Sportback coupe bodystyles comes with different battery sizes, charging and range potential but all get 4WD. There are four trim levels beginning with Sport, moving onto S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung. All versions can be charge up to 80% capacity in about 30 … [Read more...]
EV News
ECA criticises Government over mixed messages in King’s Speech
Leading electrotechnical and engineering services body ECA said the King’s speech had little to offer the sector, despite it being a driving force in the transition to Net Zero carbon. The association, which represents over 60,000 professionals, welcomed the prospect of accelerated investment in renewables and grid connections. However, it sees additional oil and gas licensing as an unnecessary … [Read more...]
Sleeker Toyota C-HR announced
The sleekly styled latest generation Toyota C-HR is now on sale with deliveries beginning in January. The new model presents an even more dramatic rendering of the coupe-like design that set the original Toyota C-HR apart from the SUV mainstream. It also raises the bar in terms of equipment features, with seamless connectivity, responsive and powerful multimedia functions, fully digital and … [Read more...]
Tradelines 8 November
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...]
EVs gaining ground for some journeys but not all
Petrol and diesel vans are likely to be used by fleets for rural journeys and motorways but business car users are most likely to rely on evs for any trip. Few businesses are considering the type of journeys being taken, for example – rural, urban and motorway – when electrifying their company car fleets, according to new research. The 2023 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer shows that among … [Read more...]
Fleet discounts driving slight rise in new car registrations
October’s new car market grew by 14.3% to reach 153,529 registrations, 7.2% above pre-pandemic levels and marking the best performance for the month since 2018, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The 15th month of consecutive growth was driven almost entirely by large fleet registrations, which grew 28.8% to reach 87,479 units. Private demand was stable at 62,915 … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda MX-30 R-EV first drive
Mazda is never afraid to be different and it shows in their latest MX-30 R-EV. Keeping its quirky ‘suicide’ rear passenger doors for easy access to the back seats the real change is up front under the bonnet in the newcomer. It joins the pure battery MX-30 and the CX-60 PHEV in the marque’s range with a PHEV powertrain which utilises a sub-900cc rotary engine acting as a generator to power the … [Read more...]
Wales’ drivers get more out of evs in winter
South and West Wales drivers will suffer less than the north of Britain as winter sweeps in and cuts the mileage from their electric cars and vans. Technical components distributor Distrelec estimates that the ideal climate for an EV is 21°C to get the most miles out of a single charge. Comparatively, EVs tend to achieve more mileage in climates that are milder. Distrelec’s research found Truro … [Read more...]
Car makers call for push-back from cliff
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, automotive industry leaders have joined forces to call for immediate action to prevent unnecessary tariffs being imposed on vital electric vehicle trade between the EU and the UK. With around two months to go until the current rules of origin (ROO) in the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) expire, European automotive … [Read more...]
Fleets warned of possible Chinese burn
Fleets need to check new entrant Chinese manufacturers for credibility before committing to buying their vehicles, FleetCheck is warning. Peter Golding, managing director at the fleet management software company, said that electric vehicle manufacturers from China were undergoing a period of rapid consolidation, and that some were likely to export simply as a survival strategy. “The Financial … [Read more...]