Arval UK has more than doubled the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on its UK fleet in the 12 months to the end of June. There has been a 102% growth from 11,225 to 22,630 units, meaning that EVs now represent 12.2% of its total fleet – up from 6.4% at the same time last year and the total figure breaks down into a 98% increase in the number of electric cars to 21,639 and a 249% rise in electric … [Read more...]
Newcomers
EV interest growing, but there’s range anxiety
A quarter (26%) of car hirers would like to hire an electric car to test one out, and a fifth (20%) would like to ‘do their bit’ for the environment (17% men and 23% women). However the survey carried out by Opinium, on behalf of iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of stand-alone car hire excess insurance, did find some barriers to hiring an electric car even when drivers said they … [Read more...]
EV anxieties overblown and benefits overlooked – NFU
Research by electric vehicle insurer NFU Mutual suggests that concerns about electric vehicle range and charging are overblown when compared to the reality of owning an EV, and that non-EV owners are overlooking some key benefits of the technology. NFU Mutual, which offers insurance tailored to plug-in and hybrid EV owners, recently conducted a UK-wide survey of 1,107 people to find out attitudes … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Mazda CX-5 2.0 Newground
While not having a huge range, Mazda has a well-defined line up in significant sectors. Most people will blurt out MX-5 if asked to name their most identifiable model, so you may be surprised to learn that the crossover CX-5 has been their global best seller since 2014. Over 70,000 are now on UK roads and it makes up 25% of Mazda British sales. Produced from 2012, in the UK it replaced the … [Read more...]
Caring for and saving with an electric car
The cost of charging an electric car using a public charger has increased once again, as drivers will now need to fork out over £220 more per year on average. Just like looking after your smartphone, your electric vehicle’s battery also needs to be properly cared for if you’re going to get the best out of it in terms of range and longevity. And your charging and driving habits … [Read more...]
PHEVs face new emissions check
The climate ratings of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) will become a lot more realistic after the EU agreed to reassess their CO2 emissions based on how much they actually emit on the road. Green group Transport & Environment, which has campaigned for years to highlight the true impact of so-called ‘fake’ electric vehicles, said the new system would end the emissions scandal that is … [Read more...]
EV savings partly offset rising living costs
The take home salary boost available to employees who are able to switch from a petrol or diesel to an electric company car could help counteract cost of living pressures for them, Arval UK is reporting. Joel Lund, who was appointed as Commercial Director in March, said that for a 20% tax payer with access to an electric vehicle (EV) via a company car scheme, the saving in benefit in kind tax … [Read more...]
Lexus sail in with a raft of updates
This year marks the arrival of two new landmark Lexus models: the all-new RX large luxury SUV and the RZ 450e, a new all-electric SUV. The RX is a core global model for Lexus and the new generation line-up will include a first plug-in hybrid version and a performance-focused model that uses a new parallel hybrid electric powertrain (below). The RZ 450e is the first Lexus to be built on a new … [Read more...]
MG pushing boundaries in EV design & performance
MG Motor UK has revealed the first UK images of its all-new MG4 EV, ahead of the launch in September. The key new model will utilise MG’s innovative Modular Scalable Platform - state of the art battery architecture that will underpin the next generation of MG models. Designed for a wide range of vehicles, the MSP can be used flexibly in models across different vehicle segments, from hatchbacks … [Read more...]
New car sales slowing quicker than expected
The brakes have gone on hard for sales in Britain's car showrooms. UK new car registrations fell -24.3% in June, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders with 140,958 new vehicles registered, the weakest June performance in 26 years. Volkswagen emerged top last month with 8.27% of share, Vauxhall reached 7.07% and just behind was Ford … [Read more...]