In March, electric cars accounted for 16.21% of all new car registrations in the UK, as the exponential growth in EV uptake seen in recent years begins to stabilise. While demand for electric vehicles is still high, it is likely that slower rates of growth will continue until the ZEV Mandate is implemented in 2024, and supply is able to consistently match consumer demand. Ben Nelmes, Chief … [Read more...]
EV News
Newslines 6 April
Welsh government is very unlikely to see £7.35m it spent on an ill-fated Circuit of Wales racetrack project, it has told the BBC. Officials say there is "little chance" of getting it back from the insolvent company behind the £433M Circuit of Wales after the project fell apart in 2017 when the Welsh government rejected a request to guarantee almost half its funding after it discovered there were … [Read more...]
New car sales slowly rising
The first quarter of 2023 has been positive for UK new vehicle sales, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. “It is extremely encouraging to see sales figures starting to emulate pre-pandemic trends, particularly for the plate change month of march and consecutive months of optimism and growth,” she said, commenting on the latest SMMT’s new passenger … [Read more...]
KIA blazing a trail through Wales
The Kia Sportage is blazing a trail as the latest recruit to join Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Covering nearly 12,000 square kilometers - almost two-thirds of Wales it is served by 58 stations across six counties and MAWWFRS attends around 255 incidents weekly on average. The five Kia Sportage PHEV ‘GT-Line’ in eye-catching infra-red paint, were bought from business specialist … [Read more...]
Government likely to miss its zero carbon goal
The Government threatens to miss its own zero carbon targets for transport, say car makers. It set out obejectives it wants to attain in a new consultation document last week but critics say it is late, lacks choice, does not address costs and is confusing for vehicle makers. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said, “Automotive is on track to deliver zero emission motoring, so we welcome this … [Read more...]
Welsh trials power new drive
AFTER trials in North and Mid Wales a new “energy map” to quickly identify the best places to install public chargepoints for electric vehicles (EVs) has been developed as part of an innovative project led by SP Energy Networks. The project also investigated how increased charging demand can be effectively accommodated by the local electricity network. The Charge Project – funded by the … [Read more...]
Dealers putting brakes on buying EVs
Dealer margins are being squeezed as despite strong demand it is proving difficult to push retail prices up, according tp CAP HPI. This is due to consumers cost-of-living concerns and high used car prices from increases since the start of COVID, and especially in 2021 when values increased by c.30% on average. Plus there is strong competition from other physical and online retailers. When you … [Read more...]
Government is failing drive towards EVs
More than seven out of 10 car dealers (71%) say that not enough is being done to support the UK motor industry’s transition to electric vehicle manufacturing. March’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows that 50% believe that the blame lies with the government and 7% with motor manufacturers. Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said, “Electrification is the single biggest change to motor … [Read more...]
Newslines 28 March
European countries are failing to provide enough ev charging or hydrogen refuelling points for their aim to cut carbon emissions, according to vehicle makers. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation agreed last week was welcome but “Already today, a lack of charging and refuelling stations is severely hampering the market uptake of zero-emission vehicles,” stated ACEA Director General, … [Read more...]
Wales’ green drive is stalling
Wales continues to lag behind rest of Britain for EV charging points Commenting on the latest Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS said, “Despite their insistence on being a green government, this report highlights Labour’s continued abysmal record on electric vehicle charging provision. “Wales still has … [Read more...]